TRTSS12: The Winged Horse! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, Sekirei and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 10
Meanwhile…
"What is this?" said the Sun goddess Amaterasu, as she peers from her perch in "Ama", the umrbal realm of Mt. Fuji, which is the home of the gods of Japan.
"Hmmm?" Tsukiyomi said, as he stopped writing his latest thoughts in "The Analects of the Amatsu-Kami".
"It looks like a presumptuous mortal seeks to create so-called 'New Gods' for our children," Amaterasu replied.
Tsukiyomi nods his head, as he takes a closer look at the city of Shintou Taito…
"Hahahahaha!" said the god of magic and mystery, as he laughs heartedly.
"What is it, Tsu-chan?" Amaterasu asked indignantly.
"My dear sister, there is nothing to worry about."
"How?"
"For one thing, Father is involved."
"Oh?"
"And appears that your presumptuous mortal is incorrect…and right, after all."
"What? Speak plainly."
Tsukiyomi explains that the Sekirei did come from the "Heavens", but were originally from the planet Jurai. The mortal responsible for unleashing them, a man named Minaka Hiroto, saw himself as a self-proclaimed "shepherd" for a new age of legends. Inspired by the very folklore that their father, the Izanagi, had inspired others to write, Minaka sought to replicate the old legends by through the creation of New Gods. In fact, Minaka sought to create a game out of his so-called "Sekirei Plan", in order to allow a special breed of metahumans—called "Sekirei"—to battle each other until the last one is strong enough to lead this new pantheon. Individual Sekirei can become stronger by linking themselves to "Ashikabi", who are typically individuals with a special destiny or gift. Furthermore, the more Sekirei the Ashikabi collects, the stronger all the collected Sekirei becomes. The problem, however, was that Minaka, a self-proclaimed "Game Master", was using humanoid aliens—and their bio-engineered "offspring"—and their technology as a means to create this falsehood, either as a means of accumulating more Earthly power, or simply because he was an insane, yet brilliant, "otaku" who happened to stumble upon an ancient, alien ship with his ex-wife twenty years earlier. Regardless of the reasons, Minaka sought to create new legends to inspire Japan to greatness, whether or not his Sekirei or other people appreciated his "master plan".
"Interestingly, it was only recently that the Moon Princess, through one of her many secret organizations, that she has gotten involved with Minaka and his agenda."
"Why would Father's wife, the Moon Princess, be involved in such a thing?" Amaterasu asked. "I didn't think she would be…this craven."
"She isn't actually," Tsukiyomi said. "She actually wants Father to free the Sekirei from the obligations of the Sekirei Plan. However, she had to manipulate events in order to get Father's involvement. So, she, as Queen Thordis, asked Lady Lokidis, as the mortal Nabiki Kuno, to arrange things for Father's mortal self's involvement. The Moon Princess in convinced that Father would put an end to that foolish mortal's machination, by participating as an Ashikabi."
"But if the Moon Princess is so concerned about stopping Minaka, why not participate herself?"
"Because, sister, she doesn't want to risk Father's ire, when he learns that SHE was the creator of the first generation of the Sekirei, numbers one through twelve, who were found on that alien ship."
"In what way is the Moon Princess involved?"
"The first generation of Sekirei is her genetic clones, though she used genetic samples in order to induce variation."
"Whose?"
"Lord Kagato of Jurai, who is Father's uncle."
"So, what is wrong with that?"
"Kagato is one of Father's enemies, having tried to usurp the throne of his Mother's family for a long time. Even when Kagato and Father were friends, he didn't trust him. So, what do you think might happen if Father learns the truth?"
"Oh, I see," Amaterasu said, as she rubbed her chin. "But, Father is a lot more forgiven than what you are implying. He'll get annoyed, but he has always been the noblest, and most understanding, out of all of us."
"Perhaps. But, what should we do, sister? Should we interfere in this silly game?"
Amaterasu ponders her thoughts…
"Sister?"
"We'll leave it up to Father for now," Amaterasu said. "And besides, I am curious as to how this will turn out…"
Meanwhile, back on Earth…
"So, what schemes are you up to now, Seo?" Ranma said, as he, Seo and Kusano walked down the street.
"Doing some client work," Seo said.
"And that involves catching cats," Ranma said with a smirk, as he sees Kusano petting the cat that almost fell on his head earlier, only to be caught by the young girl…
"Hey, a yen is a yen, of course," Seo said. "And besides, this isn't even my client's cat."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, as long as the cat looks like the owner's. After that, the only thing I want is to get paid."
"You don't say…"
Silence.
"Huh," Seo said, as he stops in his tracks.
"What?" Ranma replied.
"I sense that you picked up another 'Sekirei'. Matsu, am I right?"
"How did you know that?"
"I have a special gift given to me by Miya's husband Takehito. In fact, I "
"Huh-"
"SEO!" yelled a voice from above.
All eyes turn to see the Lightning Twins drop from the sky.
"Ah, great," Ranma said drolly. "The Lightning Twins are back."
"Oh, shut up!" Hikari yells.
"Hey, I found our money supply with this cat-" Seo began to say.
"Never mind that!" Hibiki yells. "We got someone on our tails-"
"HEY, YOU!" said another angry, female voice from above.
Ranma looks up.
"Get out of my way-!" said a blond girl, who was dressed in a short, white skirt and wore an open-wide, black duster. Strangely, the girl reminded Ranma of an angry, haughtier version of his wife Usagi-
"Oh, no," Ranma said with realization. "It's her-"
BAM!
The girl lands on top of Ranma in a heap.
"Minato-san?" Kusano asked Ranma out of concern.
"I told you to get out of the way!" the girl said, before she felt a wave of heat envelop her.
TH-THUMP!
"Ah!" the girl said, as she collapsed on her knees. Waves of heat went from her loins to the rest of body.
"Why…why do I feel this way?" the girl said. She then looked at Ranma.
"It's YOU!" the girl said angrily.
"Um, hi?" Ranma said nervously.
"Grrrrr!" the girl said, as swirls of water formed around her. "I will not be winged by you, so you can ravish my body!"
"Look, um, Tsukiumi…right?" Ranma said, as he gets up. "All I can say is that you and I should walk away. Just let us both forget ALL this, and go on with our lives-"
"No! As long as you exist, I can never reach my full potential on my own…"
Globes of water forms in her hands…
"Um, Seo, could you watch Kusano for a moment?" Ranma said, as he backs up a bit.
"Minato-san?" Kusano asked.
Ranma turns towards Kusano.
"Don't worry, kiddo," Ranma said with a smile. "It'll be okay."
Kusano smiles back.
"Eh, sure," Seo said. "But it'll cost you."
"Okay, how about my lunch I hared with you last week?"
"Deal," Seo said with disappointment.
"Good-"
"DIE, FIEND!" the girl said, as she unleashed a concentrated blast of water.
"Yikes!" Ranma said, as he leaps out of the way. In many ways, the attack was similar to Sailors Neptune, but not as strong…
"Come back here and take your punishment, ravisher-!" Tsukiumi said, as she gave chase.
After running a few blocks, Tsukiumi corners Ranma in a dead end street.
"Huh," Ranma said, as he stops. He then turns around to see Tsukiumi's arrival.
TAK!
"There you are!" Tsukiumi said, as she prepares for her next attack. "Prepare to die, ravisher!"
"Ah, come on!" Ranma protested. "We just met-!"
"Then consider this your 'exit'-!"
"Don't hurt him!" Kusano said, as she seemingly appeared out of nowhere to stand in Ranma's way.
"Kuu-chan?" Ranma said.
"Don't hurt him-!"
Kusano causes the potted to sprout huge roots and limbs that began to sprout, just before they began to smash and embed into the nearby buildings.
BOOM!
"Kusano, wait!" Ranma said, as he gently touched Kusano's right shoulder.
"Huh?" Kusano replied.
"You don't need to protect me from 'Miss Princess'."
"Oh?"
"'Miss Princess'?" Tsukiumi asked.
"Yes. You think you're better than everyone else, but you're just a girl with some power," Ranma said with a cocky smile. As always, one of the main tenets of the Musabetsu Kakuto-ryu (i.e. "Anything Goes Martial Arts") is for the practitioner to taunt his or her opponent into distraction…
"WHAT?" Tsukiumi yells. "How DARE you?"
"Yeah, so?" Ranma said, as he gently scoots Kusano out of the way. "What are YOU going to do about it?"
"I was going to hurt you, but not I will consign you to OBLIVION!" Tsukiumi said, as a cyclone of water circled her. She then twirls around, and points at Ranma.
"MIZU IWAI!!!"
A huge blast of concentrated water was discharged, and had the force and destructive capability of a standard ki attack.
FWOOSH!
Ranma sees this, but stands his ground. Just as the attack was about to connect, Ranma swats the attack.
BLOOSH!
"Huh?" Tsukiumi said in surprise.
"You got good aim, and a bit a power," Ranma said. "But you're not the first to attack me with the water element."
"Fine, then I-"
TH-THUMP!
"Gah!" Tsukiumi said, as she felt hot and flustered. She can't believe that her body was being compelled to physically bond with this particular Ashikabi.
"Hey, um, we could just…stop fighting and talk," Ranma said. "We don't have to do this."
"Grrr!" Tsukiumi said, as she prepared her next attack. She was determined to avoid not having to bond with ANY Ashikabi. And yet, in the back of her mind, there was a growing desire to be with THIS particular Ashikabi…
"I will destroy you, no matter what it takes-"
"Perhaps you should deal with us, first?" said a voice from above.
All eyes turn to see the Lightning Twins and their Ashikabi.
"You seemed more focus when dealing with us, dear," Hikari said with smirk.
"Perhaps you want a more appropriate challenge?" Hibiki said.
"Fine!" Tsukiumi said. "First, I'll take care of YOU two, then the ravisher!"
"Excellent!" Hikari said. She and her twin sister turn towards Seo.
"Hey, Seo!" Hibiki yells.
"Yeah?"
That's when Tsukiumi noticed the twenty-something slacker with the cat.
'He's an Ashikabi?' Tsukiumi said.
"It's time to show this girl what a bonded Sekirei can REALLY do!" Hikari said.
"Huh?" Ranma said.
"Fine, but no peeking for Kusano!" Seo said, as he clutches the twins.
Violet-colored energy began to swirl around the Lightning Twins and their Ashikabi, as Seo kissed both Hikari and Hibiki, causing their respective wings of light to sprout."
"What's going on?" Kusano said, as she tried to look through Ranma's fingers.
"Ah, just some grown up stuff, kiddo," Ranma said. He was amazed that the Lightning Twins' power levels had increased dramatically, without the need for training…
"What are you trying to prove-?"
"That a bonded Sekirei is MORE powerful than a non-bonded Sekirei…like yourself," Hikari said.
"You lose," Hibiki said, as she clasped her hands with her sisters, while raising their closed hand in the air.
"THUNDER BORN OF OUR OATH, DESTROY THAT WHICH ENDANGERS OUR ASHIKABI!"
CHOOM!
Ranma sees the power of his son, Susanoo the Warrior, being evoked, as script circled a ball of collected energy.
"I better do something before things get REALLY out of hand," Ranma said, recalling a conversation with Musubi, who stated that a Sekirei can call upon greater attacks through prayer or by invocation…
The Lightning Twins then points to Tsukiumi.
"LIGHTNING STRIKE!" the twins say in unison.
"Oh!" Tsukiumi said, as an energy discharge was released.
"Got to move-!" Ranma said, as he moved to intercept the attack.
TH-BOOOM!
Tbc.