Rin, Musubi and Homura arrived the Botanical Gardens in short order, thanks to Musubi carrying the magus most of the way. Although, standing outside the gardens there was one fact that Rin was having a hard time getting over.

"This isn't a garden, its freaking jungle!" she exclaimed as she stared at the thick foliage in front of her. Indeed, she couldn't see father in than perhaps 30 feet before her vision became obscured by giant trees and underbrush. "I mean, who builds a freaking jungle in the middle of a city?!"

Homura gave a grunt. "It wasn't like this before. I imagine that the Sekirei did this in order to protect herself from the others."

"You mean all this was done by one Sekirei?" Rin asked incredulously. She looked back at the forest in front of her, spanning at least a city block. The idea that a creature could create all this within the span of a few hours was rather humbling. She predicted that she would need to put in a number of late nights to figure out just how these Sekirei worked.

She turned back to Homura to ask him something, but stopped when she noticed that he seemed to be anxious for some reason, repeatedly looking around before looking back in the woods. "Are you alright? Shouldn't you be out hunting other Ashikabi?"

The man frowned at her through his face mask. "Yes, but Shirou is probably in there right now. I can't let my Ashikabi run into such a dangerous situation like this."

Rin put on a mischievous smirk. "Ah, are you worried about your husband?"

"Ye- what?! No! I mean, yes! I – we're not like that!"

Rin snickered at the flustered male. "Well, whatever you are like, you really shouldn't worry. I assume that he told you about the more dangerous part of his job, correct?"

Homura shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah… but I still don't know if he can handle himself against a Sekirei."

Rin briefly glanced at the woods again before looking back at him. "Look, Shirou is probably the most dangerous person I know. In fact, I think he's one of the most dangerous people in the whole Church, and that is by no means a small feat."

"Ah! So Shirou-san is really strong?" Musubi asked excitedly, the conversation hitting something she cared about.

Rin glanced at her Sekirei, idly wondering how she would react to the secret of magic before thinking better of it. "You could say that, and he certainly is, but I would still consider him more dangerous than strong. He's good at using everything he has, from his more… esoteric abilities to those blades he carries on him."

The fire Sekirei gave a grunt. "Yeah, but what if he loses those and a Sekirei gets up close? I've seen him hold three of those in each hand, and that can't possibly be a stable grip."

"First of all, it's impossible for him to run out of those, but that's not important. Secondly, he's quite proficient at using his aforementioned abilities in close range. Thirdly, even if he didn't have the first two, he's also incredibly skilled in unarmed combat, particularly eagle claw style."

The man titled his head to the side. "That's the martial art that focuses on grabs and grip strength, right?"

"Right. The training he's done with his hands for that style is the reason he can wield those blades between his fingers." Shirou had once told her that every Executor was required to have mastery in one form of martial art that focused on finger strength for the expressed purpose of wielding the Black Keys. "It's said that true masters of the style can strip flesh from bone with just their fingers."

"That has to be an exaggeration." Homura said with a snort.

She shook her head. "In Shirou's case, that is not a hyperbole. The man is literally capable of ripping people apart with his bare hands." She shivered slightly as the memory came back to her. "I should know. I saw him do it once." Shirou's mind had been very close to breaking that day. She was lucky that she and Nero managed to bring him back from the brink.

"That's amazing, Rin-san! Do you think I could fight with him someday?"

Rin gaped at her Sekirei cheerfully proclaiming that she wanted to spar with a man that could tear people to pieces. There's something wrong with this one, Rin thought to herself. Out loud, she said "Ma-maybe later. Right now we need to do what we came here to do. Homura, just trust me that Shirou can handle himself."

The man grimaced for a moment before he relented with a sigh. "Alright. I've wasted enough time here anyway." He then began to move off along the perimeter of the tree. "But don't you be reckless too! Stick with Musubi!" he shouted before disappearing.

"Yeah, yeah." Rin said as she rolled her eyes. "Musubi, it's time to see what this Sekirei Plan has in store for us."

Homura jumped from rooftop to rooftop, his eyes constantly scanning for any Ashikabi entering the area. It had been about an hour since he had last seen Rin and he had already encountered two dozen pairs looking to wing the last Sekirei. He had never been so glad that he was winged, as this would have been a lot more difficult if his powers hadn't stabilized.

It wasn't long before he spotted another pair making their way to the gardens, these two taking a shortcut through the alleyway made by the building he was standing on and the one adjacent. Wasting no time, he jumped down, bouncing between the walls of the buildings before landing in front of them. "So, I assume that you're here to-" Homura abruptly cut his statement off when he got a good look at the two of them. It was hard to see the Ashikabi as the Sekirei moved in front as soon as he appeared, but it was the Sekirei that held his attention more anyway. She was a well-endowed woman wearing a white kimono with back trim that barely fit her. It was only kept on the number of chains around her body, giving her a rather fetishistic look. She also had short, light hair and an empty expression, but all of that took a back seat to the crimson Sekirei crest emblazed on her forehead.

"A Scrapped number?!" Homura said in shock and surprise. "What are you doing out the MBI labs?" A Scrapped number was a Sekirei that had become so powerful that they winged themselves. Something like that should never have been let into the Sekirei plan.

The Scrap in question said nothing, merely continuing to stare at Homura intensely. The look she was giving him was cold enough that it actually felt like the temperature had dropped in the alleyway. It was instead the person behind her that spoke up. "I would imagine that she left because they were treating her poorly, though I had not asked." Stepping out from behind the Sekirei, Homura saw a young woman with long white hair and red eyes. He wondered if she was an albino, but her skin, while light, did not seem particularly pale. While studying her, he also noticed some faded markings extending from the lower part of her face to beneath her collar which eerily reminded him of his own Ashikabi.

The woman, despite her mildly unsettling appearance, gave him a warm smile and said "Now why is it that you've stopped us?"

Though there was a great deal about this situation he was uncertain of, Homura continued forward with his warring. "I'm here to tell you that if you're here to wing the Sekirei, you can forget it. I'm not going to let anyone take an unwinged against their will."

The woman seemed genuinely surprised at this. "But why would I do that if she was unwilling?"

Homura blinked. "That's not what you're here for?"

"Well, when I noticed that there were a lot of people were coming this way, I asked one what this was about. When I heard that everyone was going to find an unwinged, I thought that I would present myself to see if I was her… Ashikabi is the word, correct?" She said as she looked at the woman in the kimono who gave her a nod in return. "That is how it works right?"

The fire Sekirei narrowed his eyes at her, trying to tell if she was being sincere. It was possible that she was simply being naïve and only wanted to see if the new Sekirei would react to her. The woman certainly did look innocently confused. Cautiously, Homura replied "Well, yes, though I should tell you that she is already reacting to someone. Most of the people here are trying to get to her before her real Ashikabi arrives so they can wing her for themselves."

The white haired woman's eyes went wide and her hands came to her mouth. "That's horrible! These people are trying to keep the Sekirei away from the one she's supposed to be with?"

"Yes. Am I to assume that you wouldn't do so?"

The woman became still, her express sliding into a more neutral one. "Of course not. I am not the kind of person who would steal away someone's beloved just so I could selfishly have them for myself." She smiled. "Unlike some people I might know."

Unlike the smile that had been warm and pleasant, this one filled Homura with an inexplicable feeling of dread. The only time he had ever felt something similar to this was when Miya was unleashing her Hannya technique. If fact, as he looked at the woman more, he could see that the alley behind her had become darker, and the shadows behind her writhed as if alive and filled with all the malice of the of the world. Oh God, not another one, Homura thought desperately.

Despite the palpable malice, the woman continued in her sweet tone. "People like that are the lowest kind of people. They are not deserving of respect or mercy." She gave something a moment's thought before she said. "You have been fending off these people, yes? Would you perhaps want some help?"

"Uh, yes! Sure!" Homura yelped, hoping that this would make her stop the ominous shadow of doom.

The shadow did indeed recede and the warm smile returned. "Then I will be glad to help. I must thank you… Ano, what was your name?"

"Homura." The man breathed out.

"Homura. Thank you for telling me about this." She turned and began to walk away. "Come Akitsu. It seems that we have to take care of some business before we can find our destined ones."

"Yes mistress." The Sekirei said and she quickly fell in line behind her.

Homura breathed a sigh of relief as seeing them go. It was weird; the human had him far more worried than the Sekirei for some reason. He snorted to himself. I've been meeting a lot of terrifying humans of late. The gods really do hate me.

He was about to leave on his patrol again when he noticed something. There had been a trash can sitting behind the pair which he had lost sight of when the shadows of doom appeared, but now that the woman was gone he still didn't see it. He moved forward to where it used to be and was surprised to find a dark pile of something in its place. He ran his hand through it and frowned as he brought the stuff up to his face.

"Ash?"

I ran through the woods as fast as I could without tiring myself out too quickly. After I had sorted things out with my mother, I had quickly departed for the Botainical Gardens to find the Sekirei. My sister (though she didn't fully understand what was going on) had wanted to come too, but Takami had quickly shot that down. It was somewhat reasonable, as there were going to be all sorts of shady characters there and she didn't want Yukari getting hurt. She had only let me go because I said that I would be meeting up with Homura when I got there. It was a lie, but I knew Homura would be busy protecting the entire garden in general and I couldn't exactly explain to my mother that I killed vampires for a living. So, that left me currently searching for the one who caused this massive flora growth on my own. There was just one small problem with that plan…

"I'm so freaking lost!" I yelled out in frustration. I really hated forests. Nothing good ever happens in forests. I might be slightly biased in this in that I have absolutely no sense of direction when it comes to heavily wooded areas, but still. Sometimes I wonder if I may have pissed off an Elemental of the woods at some point by burning so many trees down over the course of my relatively short life, but that is neither here nor there. What was important now was that I felt like I had been running around in circles for an hour and was no closer to finding the woman.

Though it seemed someone else found me, as a moment later I heard a voice say "Aww, can't the little human find his way through the woods?"

I jumped to the side, facing the direction the voice had come from and found a pair of women looking at me. The one who addressed me was a lithe blonde haired one in a stripped tank top with cut off sleeves, attached to which were a number if cords ending in blades. The second woman was in a shrine maiden outfit (seriously, what's with all the shrine maidens?) with dark hair, and she had a pair of katars attached to her arms.

I suppressed a grumble as I looked at them. I have been so distracted by my search that I hadn't been paying attention to all the Sekirei scents that had been moving around. "You shouldn't be so quick to make assumptions." I casually remarked. As far as I could tell, Sekirei didn't have a method to identify each other on sight, so for all they knew I could be one of them. I had closed my overcoat and pulled the hood up so that no one would be able to easily identify me, and as it was I was no more outlandishly dressed then Homura was when I first met him. Still, considering the fact the majority of Sekirei I had met so far were female, it was likely that the gender balance simply leaned in that direction.

"I 'assume' that you're trying to find the No. 108 before we do, and are sucking at it." The first one replied smugly, misinterpreting what I meant. She gathered the cords into her fingers and gave me a vicious grin. "That one belongs to my master, you twerp. I think I'll be proactive and kill off a potential Ashikabi before he can become a nuisance."

"Sai," the other one said nervously. "A-are you sure we should be doing this? We need to look for the 108."

The newly named Sai scoffed at this. "So what, Shi? We can get back to it after this guy is dead. It's not like this is going to take too long."

"A-alright." The second one looked back at me. "You're going to have to die now, I guess."

My fingers twitched at my side and I felt a very familiar sense of anticipation inside of me. I am not sure why, but almost every time I went into battle, I felt a sense of… delight I suppose I would call it. Perhaps it was my nature as a fire incarnation, the drive to burn and consume, to dance and simply exist on the edge of life and death. Even Nero, who had an inner fire which I was drawn too, sometime found it unsettling. It was thanks in no small part to that bit of my personality that I was known for… let's say, really loving my job.

Still, it would be prudent to make at least some effort to avoid conflict. Trying to keep the grin off my face, I replied "Now, now, there's no need to get lively. I don't suppose we could do this without any violence?"

Sai gave me a mocking laugh. "Oh, please. You think that we'll just walk away if a stupid little human pleads for his life? Just for that, I think I'm going to play with you a bit!" With that, she lashed out her arm and a trio of bladed whips came at me.

Well, with an invitation like that, how's a man supposed to refuse?

In an instant, six Black Keys slid from my sleeves into my hands, blades extending from the hilts just before I brought my arm up to knock away the incoming blades. The two Sekirei in front of me gave a start of surprise at this, and became even more wary as I started to chuckle. "Hehehe… Alright, but I'll have you take responsibility!" I cried out as I bust towards them at super-human speeds.

Exectuors we expected to engage things like heretics and vampires in combat, so while all were definitely highly skilled, they need something extra to level the playing field. As a magus I had some training in the Reinforcement technique to strengthen my body (though I was not nearly as proficient as some others at that particular magecraft), but like all other Executors I used Sacraments to enhance myself as well. In particular, we used Sigils.

Sacraments, being rituals, were somewhat impractical to use in combat, so those in the Assembly of the Eighth Sacrament (naturally) devised a better way to empower it's agents in the field. Sigils are symbols used to represent certain entities and concepts, superficially similar to runes but working on a different Thuamaturgical Theory. The Sigils of archangels sewed into the insides of my holy garb were lesser copies of the much larger and more impressive Sigil arrays deep within the Vatican. Those have the actual Sacraments preformed on them, drawing in the energy created by the faith of some 2 billion Christians of various denominations worldwide. As the ones in my possession were copies of those holy objects, there were able to draw some of that power into themselves to perform their mysteries.

The truly amazing thing was that you didn't even need to have functioning magic circuits for it to work, all you needed to do was believe that it would. I would imagine that the Church would love to outfit all of its followers if it could, but unfortunately the power generated by the faith of all Christians, while large, is still finite. As such, it has just as much cause to keep the secret of magic as magi so that it's Executors and Exorcists could continue to work.

What all of that boiled down to at that moment was that the Sigil of Michael, Archangel of Might and Fire, was emblazed across my back and was allowing me to punch my fist full of blades at the alien creature in front of me at 200 kph.

However, Sai was quick enough to snap out of her surprise and jump back before I could skewer her. I was unable to pursue as a moment later I had to block a strike from a katar with the blades in my other hand. I brought my other arm under it to strike at Shi, but she merely jumped back as well, this time into a tree which she used to spring back at me. I deftly ducked to the side, but was again unable to counter attack as the bladed whips arced toward me and I had to deflect them with my Kevlar lined sleeve.

It went on like that for a while the two combats moving quickly and in concert to try and overwhelm me, but they were quite simply not good enough to do so. I wouldn't say that they were incompetent with their weapons (in fact I was sure that those whips were moving in a way that should have been impossible), but were inexperience with combat in general. It also didn't help that my close combat style with Black Keys focused on movement and using my rather large reach to its fullest effect. Shi just couldn't get close enough with her katars, and I was too good at judging the path of the whips to be hit by Sai.

The blonde one let out a growl of frustration. "Dammit! Just what the hell are you?! Are you a Sekirei?!" She then renewed her assault, sending the whips after me in even more complicated patterns. I was able to block or dodge most, but one of them got close enough to cut the buttons off my overcoat to reveal my priest uniform.

"I told you, you shouldn't make assumptions!" I shouted with a smile on my face. "Praeuro Laminas!" And with that, the blades in my hands ignited like they were bars of magnesium.

After fighting them for a while, I found that the two Sekirei were not a big enough threat to get me really excited. If that were the case, I probably would have started using my more powerful fire magecraft, and then the Elemental of the Forest that hated me would add another tick mark to its burned down forest counter. Still, such as it was they were still good enough that if I wanted to end this battle soon, I would need to up my game a bit. And I had just the thing in mind.

I cast out my arms and threw the Black Keys at the two Sekirei, turning the blades into fiery missiles. Again they managed to get out of the way, but this time not unscathed as a few of the blades managed glancing hits causing deep cuts and burns. The ones that missed continued until they hit tree or foliage causing bursts of flame to erupt where ever they hit. I quickly reached into my overcoat which Sai so helpfully opened and touched one of the Holy Scriptures lined on the inside of it. I channeled prana into the paper and drew out three more hilts from the nothingness in which they were stored, the blades extending and igniting the instant before I threw those as well.

After a few seconds, I had thrown a few dozen of the Black Keys around the area we were in, following the movements of the two women trying to avoid me. By the end of it, the three of us were standing in a small field of blades and small fires. The two Sekirei's bodies were covered in cuts and burns, their clothes not fairing any better. Shi in particular was trembling in fear. "W-we have to get out of here! I don't want to fight him anymore!"

"The hell we are!" Sai growled. "I'm not going to let this asshole Sekirei make a fool out of me! I'm going to kill you, you hear me!" She said, directing that last statement at me.

I chuckled. "Now, now, you're making assumptions again. What makes you think I would allow you to leave?"

"Damn it, stop screwing with us! I don't care that you can pull a bunch of flaming blades out of nowhere! I'm going to rip you to pieces!"

I put my hand up in front of me. "Ah, but you're missing the best thing about them."

"And what the hell is that?!"

"They explode." I snapped my fingers "Displodo."

"Wha-" that was as far as she got before the Black Keys nearest to them briefly glowed bright before bursting into fire and shrapnel. It was my own personal modification on the Cremation Sigil that were normally on the Black Keys which I was rather proud of. I would have to thank Ciel later for giving me the idea.

After the light and noise died away, I was left with a pair of bodies and a much larger fire than before. I quickly grabbed some more blades on the way to them to make sure that they were down, and that did indeed appear to be the case. They were alive, but in pretty bad shape. Turning away from them, I swiftly gathered the blades that were still intact and mutter a quick incantation to convert the fire around me into mana, pouring it into my command seal to give it to Nero.

I took a moment's pause in the sudden stillness I had created to try to figure out where to go next. I still didn't have any better clue as to which direction to go. That was solved a moment later when, through the smell of ash and smoke, I pick up the scent of flowers. I was a little confused at first as I wasn't sure how I could smell it, but a moment later I picked up the smell of honey that went with it. It was the smell of a Sekirei, and likely the one I was looking for.

It was also moving away, as seemed to have another Sekirei scent along with it. Shit! I thought. I took too long! Someone else got to her first! With that, I took off after the faint scent as fast as I could. I was not as fast as I wanted though, as I had to be carefully of not tripping on any upturned roots or bramble. I was still going faster that a normal human, but I was losing ground and the scent was fading.

A minute later, I saw a light up ahead and the trees began to thin out. I had reached the edge of the garden. A moment later I jumped out onto the street looking everywhere for a sign of where the Sekirei was taken. But I didn't find any. And the scent I had been using to track them had faded.

I had failed.

Mutsu calmly leaned against the car, his subdued demeanor a counterpoint for his much more excited master. Mikogami had sent Yomi out to find the Sekirei girl that had slipped away from them before, and now they were waiting to see if she had succeeded.

"Do you think she got the 108, Mutsu?" Mikogami asked, practically bouncing up and down in anticipation. "Oh, I can't wait to have such a powerful addition to my team!"

"We shall see." The Sekirei said neutrally. In truth, he really didn't think much of No. 43. She was a rather unpleasant girl who was too arrogant when it came to her own abilities.

So it came as some surprise to Mutsu when the scythe wielding Sekirei appeared before them from around the corner, all but dragging the small 108 behind her. "Master! I brought you her, like I said I would!" She turned and scowled at the little girl. "Come on you little brat! Don't keep my master waiting!"

The small blonde hair girl sniffed. With her eyes wet and her face red, it was clear that she had been crying. And with the bruise on her cheek, it was clear how Yomi had gotten her to stop.

Mutsu suppressed a grimace. He had always found his master's practice of forcibly winging Sekirei to be distasteful, but the male Sekirei found this situation to be a whole new level of wrong. Still, there was nothing he could do; his master wanted this Sekirei, so Mutsu would oblige.

However, that did not mean he wouldn't have a 'word' with Yomi over the treatment of the small girl.

Mikogami also noticed the bruise, though he had slightly different priorities. "Ah! You didn't damage my new Sekirei did you?" he said with some anger in his tone.

"Of course not, master." Yomi lied. "She merely tripped and landed on her clumsy face."

His master gave a sigh. "Well, it can't be helped." He knelt down and addressed the small blonde haired girl. "Now, how about we try this again? You're going to come with me."

The little girl shook her head violently and the tears began to flow again. "No! I want my Onee-san! Onee-san!"

"You little-!" Yomi said as she raised her scythe to chastise the young girl.

Before Mutsu could do anything though, a new voice spoke up from behind them. "Ara, I hope nothing unsavory is going on here."

Mutsu instantly moved to put himself in between the voice and his master. No, it can't be, he thought to himself. However, walking casually towards them was indeed No. 01, Miya Asama. He made particular note of the sheathed blade she carried in her left hand. "Ah, Mutsu-san." She said in a pleasant voice while touching her hand to the side of her face. "Long time no see. How have you been?"

"…" The male Sekirei was silent for a moment while he considered his options. "I've been alright. It's nice to see you too."

"Mutsu, who is this?" Mikogami asked curiously.

"Yeah, and who does she think she is butting into our business!" Yomi spouted angrily. "I think I'm going to teach her a lesson!"

Before she could move forward, Mutsu put his own blade out in front of her. "Do not attack the 01." He said in a tone that left no room for argument.

"W-what?! This old lady is the 01?!" Yomi said incredulously.

"Really?!" His master said with stars in his eyes. "That must mean she's really powerful. Mutsu, go get her for me!"

Mutsu resisted the urge to face palm at the reactions of his companions.

"Ah, that is a face I have missed." The former head of the Disciplinary Squad said cheerfully. Then her expression fell somewhat. "Though it seems you have fallen into some bad company."

"Listen you old crow-" Yomi began, but that was as far as she got.

Even Mutsu's combat hardened senses only managed to pick up a blur of movement before the scythe wielding Sekirei crumpled to the ground, Miya standing over her body with her still sheathed blade. "Ara, you shouldn't call me old. I'm a very young widow after all." He tone hadn't changed, but the threat of danger was still present.

The lavenderette turned away from the unconscious body and knelt before the very uncertain looking blonde child. "Hello little one. Would you like me to help you find your onee-san?"

The little girl looked uncertainly at the 01, then at Mutsu and Mikogami. She then threw herself into Miya's arms, deciding risk it with this new person rather than go with the people who had hurt her.

This is bad, Mutsu thought to himself. I thought she didn't want any part of the Sekirei Plan. MBI will not stand of her interference.

"Hey! She was mine!" His master said petulantly. "Mutsu, go get her back!"

The male Sekirei paused uncomfortably. "I'm sorry master. I can't fight the 01."

"Why not?!"

Mutsu mind raced for an explanation that his Master would understand and accept. An idea came to him when remembered Mikogami's love of games. "She's the final boss of the Sekirei Plan. If we fight her now, the game will end."

"Oooh!" the boy said, as if that made perfect sense. "Well, I guess there's no helping it then. I shall see you at the Final Stage!" He said, dramatically pointing at Miya.

Miya giggled at this, but Mutsu was still serious. "Are you really making a move, 01?" he asked.

"Move? I don't know what you're talking about." She said while dismissively waving her sword around. "I was merely out for a walk when I encountered a lost little girl look for her onee-san."

He gave a grunt, knowing that MBI probably wouldn't buy that. "Why are you doing this? I thought you didn't want to get involved. What changed?"

Miya became silent, her demeanor shifting from cheerful to a more solemn one. After a moment, she finally said. "I've found that there is more in this world beyond this city we should be concerned about."

Mutsu gave a start of surprise at this. He had known the 01 long enough to know she meant that there was something beyond MBI that would affect their species. Another factor? Or perhaps another faction?

She continued on, her tone becoming more like the leader of the Disciplinary Squad he once knew. "If we wish to survive, it is unacceptable for us to continue like we are. Let my will be known to them, Mutsu: No more forced wingings. No more attacking humans. If not, they will have the 01 to answer to."

The male Sekirei could only feel a sense of nostalgia at the sense of command the woman before him radiated. It reminded him why she was the leader of their kind in the first place. He gave a short bow. "Yes, Miya-sama."

Her posture relaxed and the smile came back to her face. "Oh, and do come visit sometimes. It has been far too long since we've had tea." And with that she turned around, carrying a child in one arm and sword in the other, walking back to her inn to prepare for what she had started.