A/N: What a cliffhanger. I also know I left you all feeling like the last chapter was the last. HAHA. Yes, I love the occasional joke. So you wanted to shoot me not knowing if there would be closure? I understand completely. I would shoot me too if I did that. I wanted to know what would happen after 'the kiss' just as badly if not more than all of you. In fact, after writing the last chapter,
I had three options in my mind. Stop there, leave it, let the readers imagine what came next, Two take the path of disappointment, and let Beni remain unwinged, and then she had to choose if she will return to Natsuo, or remain with Minato. Great for possible extension of the story ala american soap opera. Or three, blow everything we know up, and take the new path, one I think many might want to see take place, even knowing the impossibility of what it entails.
In truth, I started writing this less than 15 minutes after I finished Part 9. I could NOT put it down. I can not say however, it was all written the same day in one sitting.
SpecH82: Yes, she did! Shhh, I dont want to spoil it..
I hope you enjoy it!
- o MBI HQ o -
Takami looked up. Alarms going off, she looked at her computer terminal and tapped a key. Then a sequence of keys before her brow furrowed "What the hell?" she cursed loudly.
"Ma'am?" Yukie, her caramel haired assistant appeared at her doorway, "There's a problem".
"No fucking shit sherlock". Takami's fist came down on the keyboard, she then threw the damn thing across the room, towards the window.
"Ma'am?", the assistant paused, pressed her finger to her earpiece, signalling she was in conversation.. "Yes. yes, it happened here too. Both Takami-san's workstation, and my own are down" she paused, listening.
"I see, yes, I'll let her know."
"Ma'am? It seems. There is a problem with the winging data. They were working on the system, when it crashed." Yuki spoke carefully. Watching her employer's temper and mood carefully.
"What did those stupid fucks do now? I have enough problems then to have to deal with IT's shit", Takami's fists balled up, ready to hit something else. Looking around, who she really wanted to strike, obviously was no-where near.
"Uhm, ma'am? I.T. told me, the debug data system is still up. They checked the moment the system crashed." her voice wary, she knew she certainly didn't want to be the one to deliver this news.
"And? what caused it?" she inquired
"Well, it seems somehow there is duplicated data..."
Takami just stared at her. "Wait, you said the winging system. Duplicate data in the winging system?" she growled. "That system is supposed to be uncrackable, and foolproof. How could it have duplicated data?" she paused, growled and charged at the door.
Takami had taken up her cell phone and began hitting buttons, a moment later Minaka could be heard vaguely on the other end, "Yes, we have a problem. No, Im looking into it now; Don't interrupt me, or my teams in the meanwhile. I'm on it". She hung up without a second thought.
Takami's assistant fell in behind her, occasionally answering her earpiece, collecting data as it came in. "We have 107 winged Sekirei in the system. One duplicate".
"107? We have 108 Sekirei, discounting Akitsu, and number 1. We should have 106, no more. the system surely didn't crash cause too many entries did it?" Takami shot back.
"No ma'am, its confirmed. One Sekirei, is in the system twice, listing two Ashikabi." the assistant just froze in place "Uhm, Ma'am?".
"What?!" Takami snapped, looking over her shoulder she saw her assistant was frozen in place. "What? no, wait, Who?". She felt a growing pit in her stomach.
"I think, I think Ma'am, you're gonna want to see it for yourself, just let me get far away before you see it please", the assistant shuddered. "Please. I need my job".
"You're fine, you're not gonna get fired. Maybe charged as an accomplice to murder if its got anything to do with Minaka.." Takami shot back.
Yuki nodded "Ye.. Yes ma'am" she stammered "Well, you see.. The Sekirei, its.. number... number 105".
Takami froze. "Wait, who? repeat that?".
"I confirmed it twice ma'am. Sekirei number 105 is listed as having TWO Ashikabi." she then held up a finger to the earpiece again, answering it.
"Ah, I see, ok. I'll let her know", closing her eyes, the assistant again looked to Takami, before taking a step back, more worried.
"Tell me, who is the second Ashikabi?" Takami inquired.
"Well, they confirmed Natsuo, as the Ashikabi of record for 105, but..." she stumbled, "They just confirmed the second entry, it came in a split second before the crash", her eyes were swiftly looking for an escape route.
"Just tell me" Takami pinched the bridge of her nose, knowing she was NOT going to like the answer.
"Th.. The.. The second Ashikabi listed, is..is.. Sahashi Minato ma'am"
"FUCK, Goddamn fucking Minaka, I'm gonna fucking kill him, I'm gonna slice his body up into a bazillion pieces and feed him to the lions at the gawd-damn fucking zoo." Takami let loose, a constant tirade of curses and commentary slipped from her tongue as she stormed off, a quick glance over her shoulder told a quick story -if you want to keep your job, come-. No-one was absent-minded enough to get in her way.
- o The Warehouse o -
She lingered into him, her lips against his. Locked together, she could not bring herself to withdraw from his touch. 'is this love? is this what it really feels like to be wanted? desired?' she thought to herself. She could feel it, the wings, her wings, had lit a flair, powerful, spreading, magnificent. It was never like this with Natsuo.
Tsukiumi watched on angrily, Kazehana, smiling and swooning, Musubi celebrating, jumping for joy, pumping her fist as if she had one the world title after 40 rounds. She had a new sparring partner.
Kagari just shook his head 'Damn. More fun, not..', he found himself thinking as he pinched the bridge of his nose, smiling regardless. He pulled out his phone, and dialed a number.
"Miya-san? yea. Project red was successful, expect at least one more for dinner"
Meanwhile, Tsukiumi was overheating. 'Just how long, is this strumpet going to kiss mine husband!' she angrily thought her fists clenched; steam pouring out her ears angrily as she watched on, trying hard to hold herself back. 'That ought to be me, my lips, my body. WHY WHY WHY..', it was then that she saw it, Minato's right hand, had slowly released Benitsubasa's and was traveling upward along her side, resting near her breast... and HER hand.."WATER CELEBRATION" she called quickly, dousing the two in a downpour of water.
Benitsubasa's hand had reached its target, she swooned, latched into his grasp, her hand cupping his groin wantonly, ignoring the water drenching her, Minato, only barely realized Tsukiumi had let loose with her anger. It was then, that he broke the kiss, smiling, red faced.
Minato's hand, hovered, just beside her breast, close enough still to anger Tsukiumi that yet another woman was getting his attentions. "MIN-A-TO!" she yelled loudly at him.
"Ooops a little longer than I expected eh?" he grinned.
"YA THINK mine husband?" Tsukiumi declared while shaking in anger, barely maintaining control.
Minato smiled at Tsukiumi. "I'll kiss you in a few minutes ok? I promise. I also promise it will be just as long" he winked at her, attempting to disarm the blond powderkeg. His attention returned to Benitsubasa.. "I didn't see, but I felt.."
Benitsubasa nodded "I can feel it, I know, Yours now and forever Minato Sahashi, command me as you will". Her gaze fell to where his hand lingered, took it with hers, and placed it to her breast. "do you like them?" she inquired, bashfully "They are nothing like the others".
Minato had held himself in check for far too much longer than he thought possible, suddenly he felt a hard long stream of blood flooding from his nose as he fell backwards fainting.
"I would take that as a -yes-" Kazehana pipped up jovially. "Welcome to the family onee-san" Suddenly Kazehana had laid Minato out flat on his back, having caught him, and found herself all over number 105.
"No, No, probably best to put out enough for two additional. Number 104 was extended an invitation also. Which she seems likely to accept regardless of what happens next" Kagari spoke still into the phone. "Yes, I will let him know Miya. New sleeping arrangements, and rules remain the same" he chuckled. He flipped his cell phone closed, looked at it a moment, wondering if he should make that -other- phone call.
- o The Eastern District, the offices of Higa o -
"Sir, we have a problem", the short grey haired woman stated, as she stared at the screen before her. She motioned him over to her side.
"Yes Kocho?" the slim man inquired, as his tall frame moved to her side to look over her shoulder "Is that..?"
"Yes sir. I was successfully able to penetrate the last layer of MBI's security. I had full access. I had begun downloading a full data dump.. but.." Kocho answered then her voice trailed...
"So, thats good news right? Higa-san will be pleased" he smiled, looking at her.
"No, No sir he won't" she frowned.
"... Why?" he carefully inquired. He already knew he wasn't going to like the answer.
"Well, I just started. Its less than one percent, less than one percent of one percent really; and it froze." she looked at him. A keystroke or three later, she displayed it wasn't a local issue. Her system was running fine, efficient. "It's MBI's servers. Everything is down".
"Everything?" her Ashikabi inquired.
Kocho nodded. "I can't even access telepathically. Its down, dead. Everything we ever had access to. Offline"
"Damnit. I doubt you'll get back in either. They'll do a full audit and find how you got in" Kakizaki sighed "I'll let Higa know. In the meantime. See what you can do".
- o MBI o -
"So we have confirmation?" Takami muttered as a cigarette dangled from her lips, ashes fell onto the control board beneath, as she surveyed the data from the systems the I.T. team had managed to bring up.
"Affirmative Ma'am. Sahashi, Minato, winged Benitsubasa, number 105, about 15 minutes ago." he paused, watching her carefully.
The Ginger haired man shook his head 'It's no wonder they stuck me giving her the damn report. I can see why everyones afraid of her.' he found himself thinking, and reaffirming.
Takami just stood there, staring. Fists clenched in anger, 'it just had to be him, just had to..' She thought quietly. 'First Musubi, now Benitsubasa... What next? Raise the fucking dead?', she shook her head ,'wait, already done that, the Musubi event...'
"How long til the system can be brought up?", she inquired, looking sideways at the technician.
"Uhm, ma'am. I'm really sorry but.."
"But what?" Takami inquired carefully, preparing herself for more bad news.
"We don't have an ETA on that. It seems it was a cascading error, it got into everything else..." The technician tried to slide further away from the woman, "the backups were running at the time..." he paused, his next words were lost to the woman's tirade "The Hospital division is barely accessible, but its maintained separately".
"GODDAM STUPID FUCKING SHIT", her hand swung wide, sending any combination of coffee mugs, snacks, and other miscellany flying. "I want a full system audit. No external connections til I approve it personally. REGARDLESS OF FUCKING MINAKA" she paused angrily, "AM-I-UNDER-STOOD?" Her voice raised even further.
"Yes ma'am, Takami-San", not only the technician quivered and shuddered at this, but anyone in the department who was within earshot.
Minaka giggled, in his office, clapping his hands. Enjoying the mysteries of what fate, and the Gods rained down on his little game. He then sneezed violently.
"My dear dear Takami, I hope your having fun" he whispered to himself as he looked out the large windows near his desk.
- o Maison Izumo o -
The phone had just rung downstairs
"MIIIIIIIIIYA" Matsu hollered, "MIIIIIIIIYA!" her fingers were raining down on her keyboards,. checking her systems, her connections, she reached out with her mind, attempting to connect to any and all information systems nearby, that might lend a path to MBI and its servers.
"AAAAAH I'm BLIND!" she screamed in frustration.
Ku looked at her puzzled, having jumped at Matsu's frustration, she slipped away to watch her friend, her onee-san angrily work her magic on the computers, magic that was failing her.
Moments later, the red-haired former disciplinary squad member was under her desk, checking physical connections, counting, resetting, everything she could think of, she reached out with her mind to MBI's servers direct, and got nothing. "MIIIIIIIIYA" she screamed.
Ku stood, and sprinted out Matsu's door, worried, seeking out Miya.
Miya had just picked up the phone, she had been sitting next to it, waiting. She had given blessings before they departed, even warded off bad spirits. She had remained in one place hoping. Praying for safety for her tenants.
"Miya-san, onee-san", Ku called as she came bounding down the stairs, pausing and seeing she was on the phone, tugging at the Landlady's kimono as she looked up at her with those big green eyes.
"Yes, I see. Alright, I will let Matsu know. Let Minato know too the rules remain the same, and I will redo the room arrangements" she smiled, as she looks down at Ku, "yes? whats wrong?"
Miya had not yet hung up, as Ku spoke "Matsu angry at computers. Crashed?" looking at her puzzled.
"Oh, I see." turning back to the phone "oh, and Kagari? It seems Matsu is worried sick, her computers all crashed so hurry home please". Words of affirmation on the other end spoken and she laid the hand-piece to rest.
"Well Ku, looks like we have two new places to set for dinner tonight" Miya smiled
Ku just nodded, and took Miya's hand "Onee-san wants Miya-san" she grinned. They both climbed the stairs side by side. Moments later, Miya had her hands over Ku's ears, as they both slipped into Matsu's room, a tirade of curses spoken widely and wildly as she worked, or tried to work her magic with the various systems piled along the wall.
"Matsu-san, ooh Matsu-san, be mindful of little ears please" she sang nicely as the hanya face hung right in front of the red haired girl. giving her a fright, and nearly a heart attack "Geez Miya, warn a person.. would-ya?" she climbed out from under the desk, and turned to look at her.
"Its no use. Its dead, MBI is officially offline, with the exception of a couple very very mission critical systems at the hospitals. Nothing, its completely black" she frowned, "worse I have no idea whats happening with Mina-tan"
"Minato is fine, Homera just called" Miya smiled, finally releasing Ku's ears. "Mission Red is a success, a unparalleled success".
Matsu screeched loudly in pleasure "OOOH even better Miya" she leapt to her feet, and began dancing about the pair of them, taking them forcefully arm in arm "I just knew he could do it, I did, I did!"
- o The Warehouse o -
"Uhm, Hello?" Haihane spoke up, the commotion dieing down finally, "I'm still tied up here.." she half grumbled. She rolled about where she had been placed, struggling with the ropes which bound her. "A little help?"
Minato had finally gotten back to his feet, Tsukiumi had used a small taste of her water ability to -refresh- him. He was thoroughly drenched however. He smiled, a sheepish smile as he and the others turned to look over Haihane.
"Before we do that.." Minato started, moving towards her, Benitsubasa bit her lower lip worried, "Ashikabi-sama" she whispered. "Please".
Minato nodded, "Its ok.". He slipped again to sit before the other disciplinary squad member. "Have you ever dreamt of me? Are you feeling any sort of reaction to me?" he began, watching her carefully.
Haihane shook her head. "No. Nothing" she looked at him sadly, but her eyes went to Benitsubasa only to return to the raven haired Ashikabi before her.
Minato nodded, "I see. There is an offer extended to you. It remains open. I would not have made it otherwise. But… " he paused for an eternity, it was an eternity for Benitsubasa, worse over for Haihane, they both worried if now there was a condition to that offer.
"Tell me, did you ever feel a reaction from Natsuo? Ever feel a connection like what you have heard described here with my girls?" he paused a moment.. "Or from Kagari?"
Haihane laid there, for what seemed an eternity, almost depressed, struggled with herself, and the ropes. "N.. No, nothing like what I heard described here.. In fact, Natsuo is like an empty cardboard box. When he talks about something like love, its like hearing a computer synthesize the words. Empty." she frowned "No emotion, no feeling to it"
Minato nodded, "Ok, then, you'll swear yourself to me? At the least until the end of this game? I'll never hold you back from going to another, or back to MBI or Natsuo, as long as you give me warning" he smiled, watching her another long minute.
"My ashikabi, now and forever" she whispered softly, without even hesitating.
Minato pulled out his cell phone, and nodded to Kagari "You can let her up" he looked at his phone, and dialed a number. Time to certainly get this over with.
A/N: Boy oh boy. I figured chapter 10 might be the end. Im still writing! Sept 19th I barely got chapter 7 posted. Today is Sept 20th, and I've breezed right through to chapter 10. I already have another 600 words in Chapter 11. Just, wow. Glad that writers block dried up.
Internal monologue: Pace yourself Godric, pace yourself. Don't rush things.. *grins*