If Minato is a wimp, then Sekirei is still not mine
action galore in this chapter, though looking back on it i'm not happy with a few sections of this, they just seem a little rushed. Still i think it's good.
Chapter 11 initial salvo
"What the hell're you doing?!" Mere seconds after sending out his message, Minaka was knocked from his theatrical pose on a balustrade, nearly falling off the roof of MBI Tower. Behind him stood an angry woman dressed in a lab coat with spiky, close cut hair and a small scar on her face, highlighting her livid expression. Despite his brush with death his voice was playful as he addressed her, "Ah, Takami-chan."
"Don't you dare '-chan' me! What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
MInaka scrambled up onto his feet, laughing madly. "The imperial capital has become too calm of late. As the game master I must correct this. This event will get the players excited again. After all, it'll be the last act before the main event begins."
"You are a fucking mad man you know."
"Ah but you knew that when you slept with me. I am the same now as I ever was." Takami cursed again, but didn't answer. She'd known for months that her attempts to curb Minaka's excesses had failed miserably. The only thing she could do now was lessen the chaos, and pray that the Sekirei plan did not get completely out of control….
"Speaking of sex is there any chance" Takami's fist impacted with his groin and she stomped off, leaving him moaning around his private pain on the rooftop. She had a call to make.
Across the city, Ashikabi received the message from MBI and had various reactions. Most cursed, knowing that they had no chance to wing the last one, while others were sad that the last one would probably not have a choice in his or her true Ashikabi because of the message. The more powerful Ashikabi had various reactions….
All his associates knew Ise Higa as a young man who calculated his every move very carefully both in the world of business and in his personal life. He had not been given control of his families Japanese assets through nepotism alone (though that did play a major role). He had earned it, and the pharmaceutical business and their other holdings had all done well under his control. He had also swiftly become one of the most powerful Ashikabi in the game, having a total of seventeen Sekirei (even with the defeat and apparent defection of Katsuragi, the ungrateful slut) under his personal control, and a further fourteen (not counting the dead Sekirei and Tatsuo) allied to his cause through various means.
Higa was not out to beat his opponents in the game, that was not his goal. No, Higa was a businessman, not a general, a leader or even a gamesman. He simply saw the game as a means to an end, the end being taking Minaka's place on top of the mountain. What he did there of course would be entirely dependent on his own wishes. Higa was ambitious, and saw no need to limit his aspirations.
This was the personality of the man who read the message sent to all Ashikabi by Minaka. After a brief perusal of the message he looked up at his personal assistant Kakizaki, standing by for orders. "Don't bother relaying this to the others. Starting tonight, take six of the Sekirei and start searching the north for the last one. It will be either #3 Kazehana or #6 Homura."
Kakizaki, Higa's right hand man, nodded. He owned a Sekirei, #22 Kocho, who had some of the same skill set that Matsu gave Minato access to. Because of her, Higa had known for a few months that the host Kagari was in fact the Sekirei of fire. However, he had not moved openly to acquire Kagari, as he had no way to calculate how the demon of the north would react to a direct attack on one of her tenants. He had read reports about her power, and had no desire to rouse a sleeping dragon.
Instead he had attempted subterfuge several weeks back, funding an attempt to drug and kidnap Kagari, but his plan had failed due to his pawns failure to follow orders. He had selected two college girls who he'd fooled around with a few months back to drug Kagari. Instead of returning with him as a captive the two girls, more than a little buzzed themselves, had instead simply had fun with him, taking pictures and videos of the drugged pretty boy before dumping him off back home.
The two girls in question had since been expelled from Umihara University, their tuition seemingly disappearing into the computer system and their character called into question from public posting of the pictures. Higa did not suffer incompetence or failure lightly.
Kazehana was another Sekirei known to be difficult to wing, despite being the first let out in the second stage. He had in fact attempted to court her several months ago, but the older woman had rejected his advances and eluded his forces, going into hiding so well that no one was able to find her. (Higa was of course in error on that point, but Kocho had not yet passed on to him that she was no longer able to access MBI's network since the start of the third stage, and thus had no way of knowing that Kazehana had been winged)
Kakizaki nodded but felt bold enough to ask, "Are you certain this is a good idea? We haven't had much success in the north since Sahashi Minato appeared. We could lose face among our allies if we suffer further losses."
Higa considered his input for a minute before rejecting it. "Tatsuo's death was his own fault; he should never have upped the ante by pulling out a weapon. However, we will use three of our allies and only two of our own. Send Yui and her Sekirei as well as Akira and his. That way, our allies will share the risk, and our force will be stronger."
Kakizaki nodded. "Do you also wish myself and number 11 involved?"
Higa again thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes, but only for the first few days. I want her to concentrate on weakening Sahashi from now on. Also, station a lookout at the club where Homura works, that way we can strike at the most opportune moment."
Kakizaki nodded, not showing any of his own thoughts about the plan. However, he was becoming concerned that his employer was underestimating Sahashi Minato. He knew better than to voice that thought however. And really, with the numbers advantage we can bring to bear, Minato is little more than an irritant away from the impenetrable fortress of Izumo House.
To the west, Nishi Sanada sipped reflectively on his morning beer. He wasn't the type to force himself on a Sekirei, far from it in fact. However, he was interested in witnessing the event that Minaka had set up. It would give him another chance to scope out the competition before the fourth stage began. He turned to one of his Sekirei, Kuzuri, a girl as tanned as himself. "Hey Kuzuri, when you're done eating, could you get Barei up for me? I think she and I are going to go on a bit of an adventure."
Kuzuri looked up from her breakfast ramen and nodded, slurping up a long noodle. "Hai."
Sanada lost it, launching himself at her. "Aw, you're so cute. All of my little babes are so cute!"
"Master, I'm still eating, at least wait until Ahhn!" Kuzuri soon stopped talking, and it was a long while until Sanada remembered what he had been thinking.
To the south, Hayato passed his phone over to Mutsu. He let him read the message before asking, "Any chance we can sneak in and grab her?"
Mutsu shook his head quickly. "I honestly don't think we could 'sneak' in, and I know Miya will react violently to any aggressive attempts anywhere near Izumo House. Besides this would be a violation of our agreement with Sahashi." Hayato grunted irritably, but nodded acknowledging the point. Mutsu decided to reinforce the point. "It might not be a 'her' in any case. It might be a 'him'. The defender of Sekirei, the fire user may be the one the message is referring to."
Hayato blanched. Having Mutsu was one thing; he was like a big brother that Hayato could tease and order around, which was really cool. But I don't want another male Sekirei. So the question is, "Do you think that might happen, that number 1 will take part of any fighting?"
"No." Mutsu was adamant. "I don't think anyone is foolish enough to force the issue, and she will not step one foot away from Izumo house. So long as nothing threatens it or anyone living there in her presence she will not take action." Though if she does, the result will be deadly for whoever was idiotic enough to provoke her. The memory of Miya sinking a whole fleet of warships from over a hundred miles away with a few swings of her sword during the invasion of Karikiri Island was an image burned indelibly into his mind. Her power was simply on a completely different level than any other Sekirei.
"Good. In that case, maybe we should just sit on the sidelines for this one. You, me and maybe one other should go and see what happens. We won't try to find the last one or start anything we'll simply observe the event from the outside." That way, I'll be on hand to turn anything that comes up to my advantage but not be instigating anything myself. It will also give me a good idea of Sahashi's abilities as an Ashikabi. "But I do want everyone's training stepped up. The fourth stage'll start soon after the last one is winged, and I want to be ready to win big."
Mutsu nodded agreement, relieved he was being so sensible about this, as well as thinking past the self-gratification of adding one more Sekirei to his collection and seeing the big picture. Now if he would only stop trying to dress us all up in cosplay attire whenever he's bored, I'll be happy.
Despite his anger, Minato had no intention of waking Akitsu just yet. The two of them had been up most of the night after all. Though even now the sight of her naked body, white skin luminescent in the darkened room, breasts moving gently in time with her breathing and face set in a content smile, made him almost lose his reason.
All his wives had this effect on him, but it was as if the act of sleeping next to them heightened the effect. Waking up next to them continually made Minato realize this was not a dream, but real, that they loved him as much as he did them and that they were really together.
Unfortunately, he had more serious business on his agenda today.
He quietly left, closing the bedrooms door behind him. He made his way downstairs to the kitchen where he found Kazehana making breakfast dressed only in an apron and panties as Tsukiumi, dressed normally, set the table, glowering at the older woman occasionally.
Kazehana adored getting a rise out of him and was by far the most open of his wives in showing her affection for him outside of the safe confines of the bedroom and the master bathroom. Akitsu would willingly do anything anywhere in the house with Minato so long as they knew the 'younger' members of their family could not interrupt. Tsukiumi refused to do more than kiss lightly anywhere but the master bedroom and bathroom but was extremely affectionate within those bounds. Kazehana on the other hand was very open with her affections and more than willing to have a quickie anywhere or to cosplay anything to get a rise out of him. They had started the private portion of their date on a roof near the club where they met Benitsubasa, and the times she joined him for lunch almost always developed into quick passionate trysts on the nearest flat rooftop (and once balancing on a girder right above the construction site).
Now, Kazehana giggled as she noticed him standing in the doorway. "Breakfast will be ready shortly Minato, or would you like dessert first?" She twitched her rear at him enticingly, which would normally have the same effect on him as waving a red flag at a bull. Exerting his willpower however Minato shook his head clearing it of the image that sentence had conjured. Cream and strawberries and chocolate no, bad libido, down libido not now, bringing his mind back to his present conundrum.
Tsukiumi looked at him shrewdly. Of all his Sekirei, she was the best at reading his emotions through his body language. Perhaps because she understood his warrior spirit more than the others, who all sometimes treated him as if he was some fragile vase that needed to be guarded. "What's wrong, my husband?"
Minato shivered. Just like his wives, he really enjoyed it when one of them made possessive comments like that.
He walked over, enfolding her in a hug as he explained the message on his phone. Immediately both Kazehana and Tsukiumi became serious. "What are we going to do?" Tsukiumi asked, arms still around Minato's waist as she stared into his face, worry clear in her eyes.
"Nothing until tonight, we'll start patrolling our territory more aggressively then. I have some things I need to research before we take offensive action."
Tsukiumi was all for offensive action but, "Against which set of enemies are you talking about? Higa and those allied with him, or MBI, or Hayato, or simply against anyone who shows up to force themselves onto this last free Sekirei the message mentions? I thought you said we weren't strong enough to take direct action against Higa or MBI."
"I was thinking of Higa actually. He's the only one who we know that has, without doubt, abused his Sekirei. It stands to reason he'll make a move for this last Sekirei, so I think it's time he feels the pinch more." He gently disengaged from Tsukiumi, moving over to sit down as she did likewise. "Now, put yourself in our enemy's shoes."
Kazehana made a moue of distaste but complied. Minato was constantly pushing his Sekirei to expand their minds, and each had shown a flare in different specialties.
Tsukiumi's specialty was tactical thinking. She had come up with several techniques for herself and for the others, as well as showing the most flare for combination attacks, and had been given several books on tactics and strategy to share with Akitsu.
Akitsu in turn had outpaced everyone else, even Matsu and Minato, in information analysis and long-term strategy, especially in thinking up long term threat analysis of the Disciplinary Squad and the other powerful Ashikabi. Her latest job was to look at logistics, imagining a time when the city would be wholly dominated by the Sekirei game, with everything else shut down, and what their needs in terms of supplies would be to offset that. She and Miya had already begun to hoard supplies for this eventuality.
Kazehana, besides bringing a lot of combat experience into the group, specialized in thinking like their enemies, especially individuals she had personally met like Higa. It wasn't something she liked, but she was able to do it far better than the others. "If I'm Higa, I want to recoup my losses from a few weeks ago, and would also like to make the north, i.e. us, lose some power in return for losing Katsuragi and that scumbag a few weeks back. Higa likes to think he's driven by cold facts and calculation but he's really an egotist. When I turned him down I made him look bad, so he continued to try and find me, getting several of his Sekirei and a few of his men injured in the process. If he really thought in terms of facts and calculation he would have given up chasing me almost immediately. He'll fool himself into thinking that his move will be a calculated one, but it won't be. We stopped him, we cost him an ally and one of his personal Sekirei. That's something his ego won't be able to stand."
Minato ground his teeth remembering Katsuragi's rape at Higa's hands as Kazehana continued. "I also think Hayato will want to do the same. He may have not liked Yomi much, but he's the kind who feels loyal to his Sekirei and treats them well. He won't start anything because of our agreement, but if something does happen he'll try to take advantage of it if he can gain enough to offset breaking our agreement. But if it helps Higa as well he won't do it."
Minato looked at Tsukiumi who nodded. "Matsu found several notes referencing fights between Hayato and Higa's Sekirei, and they both seem to hate one another. Akitsu thinks it's a personal thing, not like Higa's business rivalry with MBI, but we can't tell what it is."
Kazehana went on. "Sanada doesn't seem like the type to forcibly wing someone from Matsu's reports, though he may put himself in a position to watch in case the last one reacts to him."
Minato nodded approvingly. "But would Higa use his own Sekirei and take the risk of weakening himself or use his so called allies to do his dirty work?"
"Allies," Kazehana and Tsukiumi spoke at the same. Kazehana elaborated. "The three of us have actually talked about this. We all came to the conclusion that Higa is more of a user than a leader or even a partner to any of his subordinates and Sekirei. He considers his Sekirei property he owns, pieces in the game. It all ties into his ego. He'll certainly use the ones he can most afford to lose before risking those Sekirei personally bonded to him from now on because they're of lesser value to him personally."
With his construction work and taking his Sekirei on dates Minato had not had time to look at the information Matsu had collected. He was thrilled that the three of them had looked at it, as well as the fact that their information confirmed his initial plan. He showed this now by kissing both Kazehana and Tsukiumi so hard they practically swooned.
After they recovered he said, "In that case, I think we need to limit the so called pieces he can field. I need to go talk to Matsu."
Tsukiumi grimaced, and immediately volunteered to go with him. She hadn't forgotten the way Matsu had winged herself on him behind their back, and was never happy to let Minato alone with her. It was no longer worry for him so much as worry about her influence onhim: the last thing Tsukiumi wanted was Minato to become as perverted as Matsu (Kazehana was bad enough, but she at least did not bring objects into their relationship, and knew better than to flirt with him too outrageously in front of Musubi or Kusano-though everyone and everywhere else was fair game, something Tsukiumi had become resigned to). She and Matsu simply had incompatible personalities.
Minato realized this, and hugged Tsukiumi to him harder, nuzzling into her neck and wordlessly reaffirming their bond. "Don't worry, this will be purely a business discussion. But what are your plans for the day?"
Kazehana put the finishing touches on three boxed lunches and smiled at her husband. "We three sisters are going to go on a picnic. We have some things to talk about. Musubi is already practicing with Miya, and Kusano is watching TV over there with Uzume."
"Alright, we'll reconvene here at around six to go over our plans for the night. I have a few errands I wanted to do today anyway." Tsukiumi and Kazehana agreed, so long as he took Musubi along for protection. He acquiesced with poor grace to this command, and kissed each on the cheek before exiting the house.
Outside Minato looked around the silent neighborhood and sighed sadly. It just didn't seem right not to walk out the door and be greeted by one of the neighbors greting him or complaining about the 'mysterious lights'. Ever since the start of the third stage, more and more people who can are leaving the city. He'd noticed an even sharper reduction in the city's population the past few days, as Sekirei fights, driven by the cash prizes for victory being given out as part of the revamped stage three, became more and more common. Even when we went to the park yesterday there wasn't nearly as many people as there should be on a Friday.
This section of the city had been among the hardest hit. At least two-thirds of the houses surrounding Izumo house were now empty. The only ones who had stayed were those who could not afford to leave and those with the most to lose, college students like Yukari who had no one back home and business owners/workers who had no means of support if they left, or were working directly or indirectly with MBI. It still scares me to think about how much power Minaka is arrogantly showing off here. This is supposed to be Tokyo, the capital of Japan, a major trade center with China, the U.S. and other countries, and this one company has taken full control of it, its infrastructure and its populace.
All the world powers have to be involved in this in some way. So If, and at this point it is still a big if, I take him out what is going to happen next? And why the hell are the other countries going along with this game? I can't believe China, Russia or America is happy with what's going on. America especially, this is something their bleeding heart democrats/commies would hate. He shook his head banishing that train of thought. Forget it for now and concentrate on what you can control. He made his way into Izumo house, greeting Miya and Musubi on his way up to Matsu's room.
To say Matsu was surprised by how serious Minato was when he came into her room would be an understatement. She was almost scared by how intense he was.
Minato quickly informed her of the message and ordered her to pull up the list of intensive and long term patients of every hospital in the city. It had taken him a few days to think of this, but the clues had been there for a while.
Akitsu had said it a few weeks ago, that Higa may be threatening an Ashikabi to force the Sekirei to obey him, and using her secretly in a way that was against the rules of the 'game. What better way than to pay for their hospital care if they were already in need of it, especially with his companies connections to various hospitals in the city. MBI only paid for the Sekirei's needs after all, not the Ashikabi. If their cards were used for things that were not connected to their bearers, they were cancelled.
After Minato explained why he was looking for it Matsu spent about fifteen minutes pulling up that information from around the city.
After they had these names and profiles pulled up on Matu's system, the two spent the next three hours going through the list, eliminating names and faces. First, they eliminated anyone over thirty. All the Sekirei were young, and Minato thought it unlikely that any would bond with someone older than that. They also eliminated the patients who had a date of dismissal or decreasing care, as would be case from an accident patient who was slowly recovering. Either would end Higa's control over them. They then narrowed it further by looking at methods of payment and guest lists, eliminating a large portion of the numbers remaining due to ongoing family connections paying for their care.
Of the thirty names remaining throughout the city, 27 were male and three were female. Minato had Matsu print this list out, and took it with him to study more closely. He thanked Matsu and told her she may be needed at some point that night.
He left, rolling his eyes at the lecherous laughter this statement evoked.
Downstairs he ran into Miya and Musubi coming in from training in the yard. Minato told Musubi to change to street cloths as they would be going out. I may be unhappy with my wives 'suggestion' that I need protection I ain't stupid enough to ignore it!
He then went in search of Kusano and Uzume. "Uzume-san are you doing anything today?"
Uzume looked up from playing card with Kusano, who also looked up, grinning widely behind a large pile of betting chips. Both Sekirei cocked their head to the side in unison, slightly freaking Minato out. "Not, really, why?"
"I was wondering if you would like to join me for a shopping trip. I need a woman's opinion on something." Seeing Uzume hesitate he wheedled, "I'll buy you lunch." Uzume nodded, before putting her cards down and leaving to go get ready.
Kusano pouted. "Can I come too papa?"
Minato shook his head. "No, I want you to go over the homework Matsu-san assigned to you. Remember? You said last night you would finish it before tonight, so that you and Musubi could stay up late and watch that movie you wanted to see on Sunday." Kusano pouted but nodded obediently, leaving to get her homework and start on it right away. Minato smiled, and kissed the little girl on her cheek in passing, causing her to giggle as she ran off.
Musubi came down, and the three of them left, the two girls chatting happily the entire way to the train station. They followed Minato, exiting the train in central Tokyo, near the biggest shopping district in the city.
This part of the city had felt the population pinch as well, though the shops were still doing a brisk business. Minato and the two women moved through the streets, getting wary glances from all around them. Everyone had learned to be cautious of extremely beautiful women of late.
Minato stopped at a small shop with a small, understated sign above the door. Uzume blinked as she recognized La Oudinaire, one of the most expensive and upscale jewelry stores in the city.
Musubi went next door to a bookstore advertising a manga sale, as Uzume and Minato went inside. Minato immediately walked up to a computer screen set into a display case, and began to punch buttons while Uzume looked around in awe.
The display cases showed various pieces, and even without knowing much about jewelry, she could tell that each was unique. In one display case, dozens of rings adorned with jewels glimmered in the overhead light. In another were row upon row of earrings and in a third jewelry sets glistened, each exhibit set apart in silken cushions of unremitting black.
I doubt construction work could pay for even a pair of earrings from this place. What are we doing here? Uzume carefully did not meet the slightly accusing and very suspicious gazes of the two saleswomen or the harder stare of the guard by the door. Essh, talk about a stranger in a strange land.
Minato waved her over to look at the computer screen. He murmured in a low voice. "This store just started doing custom jewelry using laser planning and cutting. Customers can actually design the ring themselves. It costs slightly more than buying a off the shelf ring but it's worth it if you want a unique piece."
What Uzume saw on the screen took her breath away. On the screen were three rings of the same design, but very different details. Each ring was a solitaire, its face centered on a small jewel set into a large circular silver face, which elongated and entwined with a gold band to form the ring. One jewel was a dark blue sapphire, one was a clear diamond, and the third was a deep purple garnet. On the left of the jewel, engraved on each ring face was the kanji symbol for 'soul'.
The symbol on the other side of the jewel was different on each ring. On the jewel with the diamond was the kanji for 'wind'. On the ring with the purple garnet was the symbol for 'ice'. On the last, the ring with the dark blue sapphire was the symbol of 'water'.
Minato stood next to her, and as Uzume looked at the rings he had designed, he looked young and insecure for one of the few times since she had met him. "Do, do you think they'll like them?"
Uzume tore her eyes from the engraving that would go on the inside of the rings, which read 'Unwavering devotion, never-ending love' in kanji. She nodded wordlessly, stunned by the beauty of the words and the images before her.
Minato seemed to sag in relief, and promptly printed out the images and requirements from the computer, taking the printout over to the cashier. The cashier ran it through his system quoted a number, and Minato took out his checkbook.
As they exited the shop, Uzume felt bold enough to ask, "Minato, how exactly are you paying for those?"
Minato shrugged. "Most of my remaining savings and almost all of my earnings from my construction work. I think it's worth it though." Most of the money he had made from selling his some-what legally gotten gains from Constantinople were now gone. A chunk of it had gone to paying his medical bill after his run-in with Karasuba. More than half of the remainder had gone to buying a backup generator and various computers and screens, which he would give to Matsu once they arrived (he had bought them online from outside the city from several small scale computer stores and they would be delivered to the inn) to create a command and communications center. The remainder was now almost entirely gone, spent on his wives rings.
"But won't you have to pay more once they're done? The salesman said it was a two payment system, and I know you said you wouldn't accept cash rewards for winning Sekirei battles."
"Ah, but they don't know I have no more collateral." Uzume laughed aloud. "Maybe I will once the rings are finished, or perhaps something else will come up. I just wanted to get the order in now, before the fourth stage began."
Later, Uzume sat across from Minato at a café. Musubi had taken some money and gone to a fast food restaurant where they served super-size portions, but Minato wasn't hungry, and Uzume hated fast food.
She picked at her sandwich and salad combo, glancing across at Minato, who, now they were away from the jewelry shop, had gone back to emitting rage and sadness in equal parts as he had on and off since this morning. She watched as he flipped through a packet of printouts. She couldn't see the contents but they seemed to be the source of his depression. "Uh, Minato, what's got you in such a bad mood? I thought you would be happy having ordered the rings and all."
Minato wordlessly took out his pager, handing it across to her with the message from MBI still showing. "That is part of what's bothering me. The other part is dealing with Higa."
Uzume's face had clouded as she read the message, and it shut down completely at his last sentence. Ever since Katsuragi had moved in, she had known how vile Higa truly was, but hadn't been able to see a way out of her own predicament, her desperate concern for her Ashikabi warring with her basic decency.
"Right now, I'm trying to figure out who the bastard is controlling and if I can do anything about it. He owns a pharmaceutical company and has dealings with every hospital in the city other than the two owned wholesale by MBI, so Matsu and I thought that would be a good place to start. I think I've narrowed it down to two people out of thirty who have the correct profile, though I'll have Akitsu look the list over later just to make sure. It makes for grim reading."
Uzume made certain her voice was under control as she looped a loose piece of cloth around her hand under the table, hardening it to a point. If push came to shove, she'd kill Minato right now to defend her Ashikabi. She would have to kill not only one of her best friends, but all of them through him in order to protect her secret and her Ashikabi. It made her want to weep, but if push came to shove she could do that after the deed was done. "O-oh, why is it bothering you?" Oh yes, cry a lot and maybe drink myself into an early grave.
Minato put the two pieces of paper on the table between them indicating each as he put it down. "This first is tragic and kinda hits close to home for me. He's an ex-member of the JSDF, and apparently is dying from some kind of slow acting chemical agent he was accidently exposed to in South Korea. A good man, judging by his officers and sergeants reports, he's been in the Tokyo Prefectural for a few months while they try to cure him."
He put another paper on the table, and it took all of Uzume's power to scream at the injustice of the universe as she prepared to kill her best friends. "This is a young woman who developed a major blood related illness, which is an entirely new type. The records of the hospital say there's no cure, and even lists the things they've tried."
Uzume stilled her cloth knife a bare inch from Minato's stomach as his words registered on her suddenly panic-stricken mind. "What do you mean no cure?"
Minato shrugged still staring down at the paper. "It lists all the different types of medicine they've tried, the two surgeries she's undergone, nothing seems to have worked. It's a pity, she seems to be a nice girl; no family left, but she donated their house to a local philanthropist group, and seems to take care of the younger patients on days when she has enough energy to move around. That's in a personal note added by one of her doctors. It breaks my heart to think about how someone like these two would react to knowing his or her Sekirei is being used to hurt others."
Uzume was beyond shock now, unable to even concentrate enough to keep control of her cloth spear. No cure, no cure, but then why, no cure, but then why I have I been, no cure. Her mind was so frazzled from what she was hearing, that all her sacrifices might be in vain, that Higa had lied that eventually her Ashikabi would get better, and used her for nothing and that her Ashikabi would die regardless that she blurted out "But-but wouldn't she thank her Sekirei for doing whatever it took to get her treatment? I mean, as long as she's alive doesn't, isn't that the most important thing, couldn't they come up with a cure somehow?"
Minato looked up at her, finally noticing his companion's strange level of distress. He very carefully did not say oh shit, it's her. Brown hair and a big bust with long legs, why didn't any of us put together Uzume's appearance with that of the cloth wielder?
He leaned back slowly, looking up at the sky as he formed his reply, knowing that his life and the lives of those he loved depended on what would happen in the next few minutes. "I suppose from the Sekirei's point of view that may seem the case at first. But there are some things that are worth more than one's own life, principles being one of them. I think if the Ashikabi ever found out that her Sekirei was hurting and threatening others just to keep him or her alive, it would drive a permanent wedge between them. It may even force him or her to reject the Sekirei entirely."
Uzume shook even more, emotional walls crumbling as her inner thoughts and fears were given voice. "But if, if she never finds out, won't she just be happy and not question it?" Even to her it sounded shrill and lame as she said it.
Minato shook his head again. "Something like that can't be hidden forever and the longer it is, the worse it will be. I remember hearing a story once when I was in Constantinople. There was a family of Buddhists, staunch pacifists, living between two contested streets at the very start of the rioting. They moved out, but could not get out of the city, and the father died during the fighting. The mother was badly injured, and taken to a hospital. But she would have been left for dead if not for the young boy. He convinced the aid workers to take of her. He did so by first using his body."
Uzume gasped but Minato went on inexorably. "He became the personal slave to the UN workers who helped her, doing anything they asked, anything. When the workers became tired of him and demanded money he joined a local militia and took part in the fighting, using this as cover to loot some of the local shops and houses. After a few months, his mother was able to leave the hospital and they began to try and leave the city with the other refugees. He tried to hide his deeds as he kept doing them to pay for their travels. But his mother found out what he had been forced to do for her, and disowned him, for going against their religion's beliefs."
Uzume looked at him in shock. "I'm not saying I agree with her decision to do so, but I can see her point of view. If someone you cared for, someone you loved debased himself/herself and went against everything you taught them and believed in for your benefit, how would it make you feel? How could you trust or relate to him or her ever again? How could you look yourself in the mirror and know you're the reason for his or her dishonor? There is no way that the trust can be regained, no way the bond can be true again. Not unless you're the one to make it stop and set them back on the right path."
By the end of the story, tears were slowly leaking down Uzume's cheeks, and she had begun to rock back and forth in her chair, all her worst fears and thoughts given voice right in front of her in a way she couldn't deny or ignore. Chiho will never forgive me, Chiho's a pacifist, she'll be disgusted by what I've done. Chiho will reject me, what have I done, what have I done?
Minato looked at her, keeping his face as calm and kind as he could. "Is there something you want to say Uzume?"
Uzume looked at him from under her hair, tears cascading from her eyes as she spoke two words. "Help me!"
That evening the residents of Izumo house (minus Kagari, who was asleep, still pulling double shifts at his club to make up for time lost while sick) and Minato's family, (minus Kusano, who was watching TV after finishing her homework) listened as Uzume explained her situation.
She told them how Higa had controlled her, holding her Ashikabi's continued health over her head. Chiho was a young girl who had been sickly since birth with a rare blood related disease, which required constant care and had gotten worse in the past two years. Her parents had died when she was young, and she had no other relatives willing to foot the ongoing bill for her care. She and Uzume had met when Uzume tried to hide in the hospital grounds from her pursuers, having escaped from MBI after her controller had been fired for being too friendly with her. Something about Chiho drew Uzume to her, and within a few days, they bonded. Uzume moved into Izumo house soon after, and went to see Chiho every day. Her efforts to cheer up Chiho were why she had so many costumes which had led to her first job.
It didn't take Higa long at all to find out their connection and start taking over Chiho's care, and with it, Uzume, who had been trying to pay for her care by doing kids shows using her costume making skills. Thereafter, she became the Veiled Sekirei, removing bonded Sekirei from the game on orders passed to her by Higa's right hand man, Kakizaki.
As the Veiled Sekirei, she had hunted down several Sekirei and put them out of the game before she tried to hunt down Kuno only to run into Akitsu. She'd tried to fight Kazehana before that only to be completely outclassed. She apologized for attacking Akitsu and Kuno, and for fighting with Kazehana weeks ago, who had recognized her from Izumo house at the time.
As she finished, Minato glared at Kazehana. He was angry that she had kept Uzume's secret from him, but understood why she had. After all, her loyalty to her friends is one of the things I like most about her. But it does make me wonder if she's keeping any more secrets. I'll have to talk to her about that tomorrow. Kazehana winced, she knew she had a conversation coming, and that it would be unpleasant in the extreme.
Tsukiumi was all business however having a vested interest in finding out who the last un-winged Sekirei was. She believed it was Homura, who she had mentioned to Minato before but hadn't seen since she joined him. "I realize that this is personally reprehensible to you Minato as it is to us all, but what exactly are we going to do about it? And are we also going to search for and help the last free Sekirei?"
Minato leaned back, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully as Miya remonstrated with Uzume about how she could have come to her for help at any time rather than undertake such underhanded tasks. Tsukiumi's right. I want to free Uzume but how do I do that and help this last free Sekirei that's out there? And can we even help Chiho- san? He voiced this last question, hoping that one of the others had an answer for it.
Matsu shook her head sadly. "Her disease is so far advanced that no treatment currently on the market or being researched would be able to save her. MBI may have something but with our relationship to them being so bad, there's no way they would help us. I wish we could help her, but the best we could do is get her out from under Higa's control."
Akitsu, ever the cool one, spoke up. "Ahh…But if we remove Chiho-san from the hospital, won't it hasten her death? We need to think how to help her before removing her."
Uzume paled at this cavalier reference to her Ashikabi's demise, and Kazehana enfolded her in a comforting hug. Miya however, was silent for a moment, before looking at Minato speculatively. "I believe we may have a way." She turned to Matsu. "Go get the jinki that you stole."
Matsu looked shocked and was going to protest, but Miya's demon appeared and glared at her. She scampered off in fright, and returned moments later with a large crystal, about three hands long and one wide. It seemed to glow with an inner light, which increased as Miya took it from her.
Miya looked into the jewel for a few moments, silently communicating with it. She looked up at the others. "A jinki allows certain features of the ship to be used outside of it. One of those is a low level stasis field. I think I can use this to stop the growth of Chiho-sans disease where it is now. It will not heal her, but it will keep her alive. If we can bring more jinki's together and use them in tandem, then we can produce even better effects, possibly even somehow reversing the disease, though I don't know how."
Minato stared at the jewel in her hand for a few seconds, rubbing the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. We're back to the problem of how to accomplish both our goals at once. Time is of the essence for one of these goals, and may be for both. I think I'll have to split our forces, which is normally not a good idea, but it can't be helped. "I think we're going to split into two groups. One group will patrol our territory and either hinder other search groups or help this last Sekirei that's still out there. Uzume, do you think you can continue to act as if you're following Higa's command for the night?"
Uzume nodded. "I guess bro, but what are you going to do?"
Matsu handed her one of the extra pagers Minato had bought all those weeks ago (it seemed like a lifetime but had been little under a month). "Once we free your Ashikabi and have her safely back here, you can turn on the other searchers Higa sends. That way we'll have the advantage of surprise."
He looked at all of his Sekirei in turn. "Musubi, Tsukiumi. You two will be the search team. You both are the most offensive minded" and least subtle "of my Sekirei. I think you're the best choice." Musubi and Tsukiumi visibly brightened at his praise.
"Akitsu, you and Kusano will come with me. Kazehana will stay close, but will only come in to transport Chiho-san back here as fast as possible."
Everyone looked at him in shock. They all knew he had said several times that he didn't want to involve Kusano in any fighting. Minato smiled at their confusion. He motioned them to follow him and they moved from Izumo houses back yard into the family room of Minato's house.
Kusano was watching an educational cartoon as they came in. Minato reached out, pulling the young girl into a surprise hug. "And how are you this evening princess?"
Kusano squealed happily wriggling in his arms and kissing his check. "Papa! I finished all of the homework Miya and Matsu nee-san assigned to me."
"Good girl. If you do well enough on your homework for a week, I'll take you out to the park for a picnic next weekend." Kusano nodded rapidly as the others smiled at this familial scene, still wondering why he was thinking of having her accompany the breakout team. He put the girl down and nodded to them. "And how have your practices with your power gone? Can you control your power from a greater distance now?"
Kusano grinned. "Hai, though l can't grow plants as fast if I do more than five at a time from more than" she paused, before subtly looking over at Kazehana who silently mouthed the words and she continued "two hundred feet."
"Excellent. How would you like to help us out on a little job tonight?" Kusano responded by hugging him even harder, happy that she was going to be useful to her Ashikabi-papa.
Minato put her down and left her there, telling her he would call her in a few hours time and they would set off. The others joined him in the kitchen and he outlined his plan. "Akitsu goes in and causes a distraction at the front of the hospital. Matsu finds out what room Chiho is in before we leave and Kusano uses her power to create a plant ladder to get the two of us up there, and leaves behind some plants to slow down pursuit if we have to. We go in, convince her to come with us, and leave. "
Akitsu, Musubi, and Kazehana nodded, though the latter was not happy about her limited role in the plan. Tsukiumi however was skeptical of breaking their numbers up, something that tactically speaking was almost never a good idea. "What happens if either group runs into something they can't handle?"
Minato nodded. "My group will have Kazehana in close support, but you and Musubi will be on your own. I'll rely on you Tsukiumi to know when not to as much as when to fight. You'll also be able to use your norito's if you feel the need." He smiled whimsically. "Though I would like to see them the first time you use them. I wish we could enlist Seo to help, but I don't think we could find him in time to help, and we need to do this as quickly as possible."
Tsukiumi nodded eagerly as did Musubi.
Miya shook her head in disgust at the thought of Seo, knowing that Minato was correct in not trusting him. She could threaten him again, but his work under duress would be sub-par at best. Besides, she already knew who the last un-winged Sekirei was. She kept it a secret however, because she did not want to alienate the person by spreading their secret around. Good friends were hard to find, after all. She looked across at Minato and that as yet unnamed feeling rose up, making her speak up. "If," they all looked the landlady and she went on, "If you need any help, please don't hesitate to call. After all" she went on hurriedly not certain why she was trying to justify herself "Usume-san is one of my tenants, and I'm willing to pitch in and help if needed." Minato nodded thankfully but responded with the hope that her help wasn't needed.
For the next two hours, Matsu researched the hospital, finding out in what room Chiho was in the building. She also accessed an MBI spy satellite and trained it on the building, giving them real time data on its environs. She showed this to Minato and his group, pointing out where two Sekirei were patrolling around the building. More were probably stationed inside somewhere.
Minato and his Sekirei waited until around ten, and then moved out. Uzume had left earlier to meet up with Higa's search party, having received orders over the phone from her handler.
Minato nearly collided with Kagari as the other man was exiting Izumo house, dressed in his 'work clothes'. He grinned at the handsome silver haired club-host, who he hadn't seen for a few days. Whatever had been slipped the other man, it had knocked him on his ass for a week and given him debilitating migraines for even longer. It was only in the past six days that he had been back to normal, and he had been working double shifts to make up for time lost while sick. "Yo Kagari, off to another hard 'day' at work?"
Kagari returned his smile before shifting his gaze to the cell phone in his hand, "soon as I find out why I have over a thousand messages on my cell phone, yes. After all, I have a reputation to keep." He blinked as the other Sekirei came out after Minato, and his eyebrow rose in surprise as Minato kissed each in turn flooding the neighborhood with light. He watched Musubi and Tsukiumi bounding away over the rooftops before asking "What're you all up to now? Not another breakout I trust?"
Minato pulled his pager out and showed him the message from that morning. "Tsukiumi and Musubi are going to see if we can help this last Sekirei mentioned here, while the rest of us are going to throw a bit of a wrench into Higa's long term plans. Uzume can fill you in on the details tomorrow."
Minato motioned to her and Akitsu picked him up around the waist, Kazehana doing the same to Kusano and Matsu, who could travel by herself, just not as fast as the others. The four of them raced off over the rooftops, leaving behind Kagari, who was now staring at the pager in his hand. I really have run out of time. Damn you Minaka.
Minato looked out of the alley a block from the target hospital where he, Kusano, Matsu and Kazehana were hiding, waiting until Akitsu reported that she was in position. A minute after their arrival, Kazehana's pager went off with a faint buzz. Minato motioned to Kusano, and the little girl concentrated, reaching out with her power to a plant underneath the window Matsu had indicated upon their arrival. At the same time Matsu activated her power, mentally taking control of the exterior security cameras and looping the last five minutes to cover their activity.
As the others watched, the plant Kusano was concentrating on began to twitch and blossom odd growths one of which made its way up the side of the building, growing in size as it did. Minutes later Minato and Matsu ran forward stepping onto a leaf the size of a small car. Bracing themselves Minato nodded back at Kusano, who concentrated again, and the plant grew further, lifting them skyward.
At the front of the building two Sekirei were watching as Akitsu slowly walked toward them. They could feel her power as she approached, but both thought that together they would be able to handle a single opponent.
They thought wrong. One of them, who had a bulky build and a buzz cut, looked down in shock as her walkie-talkie suddenly shattered into pieces as she went to push a button. Even as her eyes widened her weapon became too cold to hold. She dropped it with a curse as her companion did the same with her own weapon before charging toward the unknown Sekirei in front of them.
Akitsu raised an ice shield blocking her enemy's progress momentarily. The longhaired Sekirei smashed through the shield only to find her opponent directly in front of her. Akitsu reached out a hand, touching the longhaired Sekirei's throat, freezing it solid under her grip before the other girl could react.
She gasped, clutching at her throat, trying to get a hold of the ice now slowly choking her.
The bulky Sekirei dashed forward too only to be slammed back by a moving wall of ice. Seconds later her back crashed into the hospitals outer wall. She snarled, breaking some of the ice only to be met with more and more. The weight of the ice slowly crushed her, and despite her desperate efforts the pain caused her to black out after only a few moments.
Akitsu turned to her previous opponent, who was now writhing on the ground, gasping for air, desperately trying to remove the ice from her neck, which was proving impossible as she couldn't get a strong enough grip on it. With a touch, Akitsu removed the ice.
Her opponent looked at her gratefully through her long black hair, disarrayed by her convulsions, though there was something else there, disappointment perhaps?
Akitsu ignored that for a moment, nodded cordially at her before bringing down a large boulder sized piece of ice directly onto the back of her head. The other Sekirei's eyes rolled up into her skull and she fell forward to sprawl on the pavement.
Akitsu turned back, bringing her full power to bear on the hospital entrance. Sweat beaded her brow as the air began to chill around Akitsu in a wide circle, ice forming at her command. Within minutes, the entire front of the building was a frozen wall, including the bulky Sekirei with the buzz cut. Interns and doctors gasped as the temperature inside the building plummeted drastically.
Two other Sekirei coming out to switch places with their fellows gasped in shock as they found their progress blocked. Akitsu's power had penetrated the entrance thirty feet in, filling the hospital entrance and anteroom with a sold glacier of ice. They quickly turned around and ran the other way hoping to exit from the loading doors at the back of the building.
Mission accomplished, Akitsu turned to her other opponent. She gazed down at the longhaired Sekirei thoughtfully. Katsuragi had informed them that she had not been the only one abused by Higa. The bulky one fought as hard as she could surprised and weaponless, but this one just charged forward like she had a death wish, and that look she gave me when I released her... If this girl was violated like Katsuragi, she might not fight to win like one winged willingly, but to simply end it one way or another. Can I really leave her here to suffer whatever punishment Higa deals out for failure? After a moment's thought, Akitsu decided she couldn't. Reaching down she lifted the other Sekirei to her back and jumped away, making toward the rendezvous point that they had set up on their way to the hospital.
Minato and Matsu were happy to find the target window open. Matsu entered first, startling the young girl in the bed next to the window.
Chiho blinked in surprise from her bed where she had just pulled up her covers to her chin in response to a sudden chill. A young woman with orange-brown hair and large coke-bottle glasses had just jumped into her room from the open window. Hmm, perhaps an acquaintance of Uzume's? She often comes in from the window. She blinked again nonplussed as a young man, maybe a little older than herself with unkempt black hair and dark eyes followed the other woman inside.
He bowed politely to her, and she returned the gesture automatically. "Chiho-san?"
Chiho nodded. "Yes, that is my name. Er, may I help you?"
Minato blinked in momentary surprise at her ultra polite tone, but taking in her appearance and the sense of calm she seemed to radiate he realized it was simply part of her personality. He had met other women like that, Miya chief among them, who seemed to carry an air of calm serenity within themselves. "It's actually me that is here to help you. I don't think we have time to explain it all, but suffice to say that Uzume's a friend of ours and we're here to take you away from here."
"I am sorry but that is impossible. I need to stay here for my treatment."
Matsu looked up from reading her chart by the foot of the bed. "Mina-tan, we were right! None of these treatments are to cure her disease, only to hide the symptoms for short amounts of time!"
Minato nodded and explained the situation as briefly as possible while Matsu checked the corridor. He left out what Uzume had been doing to pay for her treatment. That was something Uzume would have to tell Chiho herself.
After hearing the explanation Chiho nodded agreeing to come with them.
Minato moved forward, lifting her off the bed easily. The young woman weighed even less than she first appeared, and his work in construction (plus his still unexplained and mysterious Ashikabi-Sekirei bond given powers) had built on his already extremely strong physique.
Chiho blushed slightly as she leaned against Minato's muscled chest. My, he certainly is fit…
Matsu checked the corridor again and saw a blond woman in a business outfit and wearing stylish glasses walking down the corridor towards their room, talking rapidly into a cell phone. "Mina-tan, we should get out of here."
Minato nodded and the two dashed to the window, jumping onto Kusano's plant, which began to shrink down to its original size.
Behind them the door slammed inward and the woman in glasses began to curse at the empty room before her.
Kazehana met them on the ground, where Minato handed Chiho over to her. Chiho's blush intensified to a deep rosy color as she found herself pressed into Kazehana's truly gigantic chest and she had to fight a rush of desire. It had been a long time since she and Uzume had been able to do more than hug after all. Her flush deepened further as the older woman noticed her reaction and began to chuckle wickedly. "Seeing as you're Uzume's Ashikabi, I assume you swing that way. Who knows, Minato may let us all experiment sometime together. But for now, let's get you home."
Chiho's eyes widened at the implication as Kazehana started moving, gathering her power and leaping away from the hospital at impossible speeds before her passenger could say anything.
Halfway there, they met up with Akitsu and saw the burden on her back. With no time for explanations, Minato and the prisoner changed places quickly. Matsu being physically the weakest of his Sekirei took the prisoner, who weighed far less than Minato. Kazehana continued to carry Chiho in her arms while Kusano clung to her back, and Akitsu carried Minato as the group continued moving as fast as possible away from the hospital.
Tsukiumi sighed in boredom. She and Musubi had been on patrol throughout the north of the city for the past three hours and nothing had happened. Not only had they not run into any search parties from Higa or anyone else, they had also not run into the last free Sekirei.
Tsukiumi had kept it to herself, not wanting to betray a friend, but she was almost certain that the last free Sekirei mentioned in the message sent to Minato was her former rival Homura, Sekirei of fire. He had mentioned that he had an odd condition that made it hard for him to find his destined one, so it made sense he would be one of the last winged.
She had not seen him since Minato had winged her, and was becoming worried about him, though Akitsu had told her Homura had shown up at the park during their mission to free Kusano.
The thought struck her that she never would have made the connection between Homura and the last free Sekirei without Minato's continued efforts to expand all of their horizons beyond the Sekirei plan. His demands that they read and watch the news had added to their knowledge of the human world, far beyond what Minaka and MBI would be comfortable with and helped her personally in learning to connect facts. We're becoming more than we were before because of our bond as is Minato, just like Homura said we would. Hopefully that means we will be able to help him when the time comes.
Musubi stirred beside her as they walked along a rooftop, stretching her arms. "Tsukiumi-san, I'm bored."
Tsukiumi growled low in her throat. "So am I Musubi but whining won't do anything." She relented at her partners pouting face. "We'll make one more pass around the district, then head home." Musubi nodded happily and followed her.
The two soon found themselves within a few blocks of the host-club Kagari worked at. Tsukiumi perched on the corner of a toyshop, making note of the location as somewhere to bring Kusano sometime. Needless to say she did not notice that the toys being advertised were not the type for children. Kazehana would later explain that to her as she and Kusano were walking out the door. Her resultant blush would not go away for hours.
Musubi leaned on the balustrade next to her looking around the street below them. Tsukiumi sighed. "Alright Musubi, I don't think we're going to have any luck tonight. Let's head back."
"Arah, and here we just arrived. That's not very hospitable of you." Tsukiumi and Musubi turned swiftly to face the new voice. On an adjoining rooftop stood six Sekirei and three Ashikabi.
Two were young, looking like teenagers and dressed in school uniforms. One had short brown hair in a bowl cut the other had long light blue hair tied into twin pony tails. Behind them stood an older woman in a business suit, which did little to hide her curvaceous body. She had a kindly face, but her eyes were hooded as she looked across at Tsukiumi and Musubi.
Next to this group stood a man and a single Sekirei, who was possibly the tallest woman Tsukiumi had ever seen, standing at maybe seven feet tall. She was rail thin, with an almost boyish appearance, but had long hair tied into a single bun going down her back. She wore a short skirt and a tank top. The man beside her was of more normal height, wearing a punk rocker outfit: ripped jeans, a loose t-shirt with a skull motif, and greased up hair in a mohawk.
A third group stood next to that one, and Tsukiumi saw two familiar faces there. Oriha, the girly Sekirei that Tsukiumi had beaten a few weeks ago stood to one side. Next to her stood the veiled Sekirei, and Tsukiumi had to stop herself from flinching at seeing Uzume still working for HIga. Behind them stood another younger Sekirei, who was dressed in a Chinese evening gown and was holding two folded Chinese fans. Next to her stood a young man, maybe a little older than Minato, dressed in a good business suit. He had swept back brown hair and wore a pair of glasses. Everything about him screamed upper-class businessman.
Oriha, who had been the one to shout the challenge, stepped forward aggressively. "I'm here for some payback you water-using bitch. " The curse sounded odd coming out in her usual cutesy voice, but behind her the other Sekirei tensed for action.
Tsukiumi and Musubi both readied themselves, not retreating despite being outnumbered. Tsukiumi knew that this was precisely the sort of situation that she had warned Minato about and that he would want them to fall back rather than risk fighting against such odds, yet the thought of retreat never crossed her mind. Her Sekirei blood was boiling and she was itching for some action. "Oh yes, and you're so brave, coming after me with all your new friends, bravo."
Without further ado the three Ashikabi backed off and the battle began.
Oriha threw her chakra swiftly, hoping to catch Tsukiumi off balance but the water Sekirei was not caught unawares. She raised a shield of water and thrust it forward, blocking both chakra. The wall of water then became a wave, which sped towards Oriha's group as Musubi launched herself forward at the two Sekirei dressed in school uniforms. "#88 Musubi here I come!"
The two girls split up introducing themselves, one rushing forward "# 100, Kana!" while the other stayed back, "#99, Saki."
Saki brought her hands together and they began to glow purple. A light shot out from the bottom and top of her hands, forming into a bow. She pulled her right hand towards her body from her left and an arrow shaped out of the same purple light grew between her hands. She aimed the light arrow at Musubi and fired, forcing her to dodge away from Kana.
The tall Sekirei joined in against Musubi, pulling out twin ko-dachi from under her long hair behind her neck. She jumped into the air rotating over Musubi in the air and bringing them upward in a twin slash at Musubi's back. "#18 Naru, die for my Ashikabi big tits!"
Her Ashikabi yelled encouragement in the background, screaming about wanting to see some blood.
Musubi rolled into a forward ball, dodging Naru's blades. She kicked out backwards and caught the tall Sekirei in the side with her foot. Kana tried to take advantage but Musubi blocked her punch, catching her arm and pulling the younger girl in close, head-butting her hard.
Tsukiumi had leapt from one roof to another, trying to put some distance between herself and Uzume's attacks while Oriha recalled her Chakra. The girly Sekirei was more cautious now, spinning her chakra and only throwing one at a time to keep Tsukiumi off balance.
The blond Sekirei retreated and waited as Uzume and Oriha jumped after her. As they jumped from one roof to another she summoned water spouts below them, slamming up and into both Oriha and Uzume.
One spout caught Oriha under the chin, throwing her off balance mid-leap, causing her to slam into the edge of the roof. She dropped back into the alley with a squeal of pain and surprise.
Uzume, also caught in midair, was able to dodge enough to receive only a glancing blow from the water spout below her. She raised her veils in a shield, blocking another water cannon shot from straight on. The blast still threw her backwards to land hard on the roof she and her 'allies' had first shown up on.
Tsukiumi followed up on her advantage jumping back to the other roof and summoning up her one of her most powerful attacks. Eight snakes of water formed behind her and with a shout "Yamato no Orochi!" She sent them forward at Uzume and the enemy Sekirei engaged with Musubi, carefully choosing her targets based on something Minato called Threat Level Identification.
Naru slashed at the one targeting her dissipating it. Kana dodged the one sent her way, and both remained closely engaged with Musubi, trading blows with her.
Uzume's veil shield was still up and she adroitly redirected Tsukiumi's attack from her.
Saki swiftly evaded the first one sent her way, but the other two, sent after her as she was the only distance fighter there and therefore most dangerous to Musubi and Tsukiumi, hammered into her from both sides crushing her between them. She gasped in agony and her light bow disappeared as she lost her concentration.
The un-introduced Sekirei flicked her fan open and with a wave of her fan the two water snakes sent at her disappeared. She smiled bowing formally toward Tsukiumi. "#66, Shizuku, the null Sekirei."
Tsukiumi nodded equally formally, pleased someone was following what she thought of as the proper forms, regardless of the melee type of combat going on. "number 9, Tsukiumi." She was forced to jump to the side as Uzume sent a cloth spear at her. The spear came apart and attempted to wrap around the water Sekirei, but she sliced it to pieces with her water sword. She jumped forward, closing the distance and forcing Uzume backward. As she did Shizuku moved forward joining the fight against the water user.
Saki tried to get up from the rooftop where she had fallen to her knees from the pain of Tsukiumi's attack. Her Ashikabi however placed a gentle hand on the back of head, kneeling down on one knee next to her. "Take your time. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"But…"
"No," the older woman smiled down at Saki, stroking her hair soothingly. "Your health is more important than any mission from Higa could be." Saki closed her eyes and nodded, leaning against her Ashikabi's side, slowly recovering.
The fight had escalated again with Oriha rejoining the action, using her Chakra for quick short-range throws and stabs. The combination of her attacks, Uzume's continued assaults and Shizuku's nullifying her water powers if she tried to control water further than her own reach was taking a major toll on Tsukiumi's abilities.
Her water sword was now her only weapon as she tried to hold off her attackers. I have to get far enough away from Shizuku, stop her from using her power.
Musubi gasped in pain as a snap kick from Kana caught her in the stomach. She doubled over, using her momentum to roll forward into Naru, taking the tall Sekirei's legs out from under her. She slammed a fist into the side of Naru's head as she fell forward. Naru groaned in agony and swiftly rolled away, shaking her head to clear it.
Naru's Ashikabi screamed vindictively. "What the hell Naru, get in there and gut those bitches! I want to see some blood!"
Saki at last got to her feet and began to form her weapon again, ready to rejoin the fight.
At the same time Tsukiumi scowled as Oriha's chakra cut a gash into her shoulder. She fell back, acting as if she was suddenly panicking as Naru switched from attacking Musubi to attacking her.
Oriha and Naru pressed forward as Shizuku stayed close on the periphery, out of the action but close enough to cancel out Tsukiumi's powers with her fans.
Suddenly, Uzume turned away from her attack as her pager went off at its place on her waist.
Tsukiumi kept her face under control, revealing none of her sudden excitement at Uzume's retreat.
Uzume trembled as she took out her pager. It showed a simple message, which she and Minato had agreed to 'back home safe, join us soon'. She fell to her knees, worries, guilt, concern and fear battling it out in her head with a sudden, almost violent surge of joy as she realized she was free from Kakizaki and his master's control.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Kakizaki appeared next to her. "What are you doing, Vieled One. Get back in the fight." Uzume raised her head, eyes flashing as she slowly got to her feet.
Back in the battle, Oriha smiled vindictively, pushing forward with Naru and forcing Tsukiumi back to the edge of the roof. Behind her Shizuki lowered her fan from canceling another one of Tsukiumi's attacks.
The blond Amazon jumped onto the roof's balustrade, blocking Naru's twin swords as she concentrated, preparing herself. She growled as Oriha pressed in again, slashing her hand, and dissipating one of her swords.
Naru grinned from her other side, where her twin swords were locked with Tsukiumi's other blade and kicked out, catching Tsukiumi just above her knee.
Tsukiumi yelled aloud falling backwards off the roof, but kept her concentration. Oriha and Chizuru both plunged forward for the kill.
Tsukiumi fell two stories before a waterspout caught her. She looked up as Chizuru and Oriha both jumped off the roof after her, their eyes suddenly going wide as they realized what was below them. Tsukiumi smiled grimly, shouting out "Hydra!"
For the last twelve minutes Tsukiumi had been concentrating, slowly building up her attack in the alley, where Shizuku could not see to cancel it. Now dozens of very small, incredibly fast streams of water shot forward at both her enemies, and unlike the barrage she had used to kill Yomi, this group was able to change direction in midair, coming at her enemies from multiple directions just like her larger scale Yamato no Orochi.
Even in midair both were able to block a few of them, but nowhere near enough to save them. Naru gasped as five of them pierced her body before coming out her back. For a moment she hung suspended in midair, held there by the power of Tsukiumi's attack before the water spouts dissipated, letting her limp body plummet to the ground below.
Oriha was able to save herself by grabbing onto a fire escape, wrenching her arm horribly and sending herself crashing through a window. She cried aloud as one of the Hydra's heads caught her, piercing her calf.
Tsukiumi ignored her defeated opponents, rocketing back up to the rooftop. The scene she found was very different from the one she had left.
Shizuku was unconscious, held in the air next to Kakizaki and the punk rocker, completely wrapped up by Uzume's veils. The mohawk haired man was screaming obscenities and Tsukiumi saw Uzume firmly loop a veil around his mouth stifling it.
Kana was on the ground, slammed to the concrete by Musubi's Kuma-ken punch, and Saki was locked in close quarter combat with Musubi, her energy weapon now almost useless. But Kana was groggily getting back to her feet as Tsukiumi leaped back onto the roof.
She glared at the two school uniform clad Sekirei, feeling the effect of continually using her power taking its toll. It's time to finish this. She again summoned her power, and the giant eight headed monster again appeared, shooting forward with another shout of "Yamato no Orochi!"
"Stop!" With a shout, the other Ashikabi jumped forward, interposing her body between her Sekirei and Tsukiumi's attack.
Tsukiumi's eyes widened and she halted her attack. The woman's interposing herself would not have mattered much, but it was the action itself that made her stop. This is the first time I've seen an Ashikabi besides Minato care enough about her Sekirei to risk her own life for them.
"Yui! Get out of the way!" Kana and Saki both tried to pull their Ashikabi to safety as Musubi moved to stand next to Tsukiumi.
The woman turned, gathering her Sekirei into a fierce hug, pressing her head into their shoulders. "No. No more. I agreed to Higa's orders because I had no choice, but I refuse to watch you get hurt when the fight is already decided."
Tsukiumi breathed in deeply calming herself as Musubi looked at her hopefully. Minato had put Tsukiumi in charge, and it was her call whether to continue the fight or not. Musubi didn't want to hurt someone who cared so much for her Sekirei.
The blond woman stood tall, eyes flashing imperiously as she glared at the three still conscious enemies. "What's your name?"
Yui turned back to face Tsukiumi and Musubi, her arms still around her Sekirei. "Yui Monotori, school teacher at St. Abigail girl's high school."
Tsukiumi nodded, glancing over at Uzume. Oriha burst through the rooftop door, only to walk right into an uppercut from Musubi. She fell to the concrete senseless. Tsukiumi pointedly ignored the overly frilled Sekirei. "Uzume what do you think?"
The veiled Sekirei removed her veil, showing her flushed face and red eyes, tear tracks visible on her cheeks. Her voice shook slightly as she spoke. "I never met any of these three; they never had anything to do with me." At a thought, her wrappings tightened around Kakizaki and Shizuku, as another loop wrapped itself around Oriha.
"Alright, we'll let you go, on your word of honor that you will not participate in further forays into the territory of our Ashikabi." Tsukiumi made her decision swiftly. Yui nodded and made the promise, realizing there were some things that her so-called benefactor had left out of his briefing on this job. Her Sekirei scowled, but she kept a firm grip on them.
Uzume turned back to Kakizaki. "The only reason I don't kill you or Shizuku right now is I don't want to give you that satisfaction. I'm no longer under your control, you can't hold Chiho-chan's life over my head anymore. I'm free, and the next time I see you I won't be so nice."
Tsukiumi glared at Kakizaki as well for a moment before switching her glare to the punk rocker, who had never stopped cursing under the cloth covering his mouth. "You, your Sekirei is down below. I honestly don't know if she is alive or dead, nor do I care as you obviously wanted her to try to either kill us rather than simply remove our bonds. Do not come back into the north, or you well be met with the same force again. You have been warned." The man's eyes widened and he started to curse even louder.
Tsukiumi looked into his eyes. She saw no concern for his Sekirei there, only rage at being ordered around and having lost. She shook her head sadly. This man was everything she had long thought all Ashikabi were like, and it pained her to see her fears made reality.
Her gaze shifted back to Kakizaki. "This is the second group from the east we've beaten. Take the hint and stop coming here. You're very lucky that our Ashikabi is not here, for he is not as lenient with other Ashikabi as we are." Kakizaki looked back at her for a moment, before nodding slightly.
Uzume released her captives, and they dropped to the rooftop, though she left the gag in place on the unnamed man, binding his hands together at the same time. Uzume stood for a moment glaring at the spectacled man. Musubi gripped her shoulder comfortingly. "Come on Uzume-san, there's someone waiting for you." Tsukiumi nodded agreement, and the three moved off as the sound of helicopters began to fill the air.
Behind them Kakizaki and Akira looked at eachother and the two unconscious Sekirei left on the roof as Yui led her own girls away. Higa was not going to be pleased….
The trio of exhausted Sekirei landed outside Izumo house, stumbling in their weariness. Uzume looked at her friends in sudden trepidation, wondering if Chiho would even want to see her, if Minato had told her of what Uzume had done to pay for her care. Musubi grinned cheerfully at her, and Tsukiumi wordlessly pushed her forward. Uzume nodded, and opened the inn to the door.
Tsukiumi and Musubi turned and entered their own house. Minato and his other wives had stayed up and greeted them at the door. He took one look at Tsukiumi and wordlessly grabbed her hand, dragging her to the master bedroom and the shower beyond. Stories could wait until tomorrow.
Kazehana and Akitsu gave Musubi a large plate of food and stayed with her as she ate, treating her wounds from a small first aid kit in the kitchen.
Musubi eventually fell asleep at the table. Kazehana and Akitsu carried her upstairs and put her to bed next to an already snoring Kusano. They then joined Tsukiumi and Minato, finding their sister wife bandaged and cuddling next to their husband, eyes already closed in sleep.
Kazehana and Akitsu shrugged. There would be no lovemaking for them tonight. They joined their life-mates in bed, cuddling up next to them, turning out the lights. Minato kissed all his wives on the lips gently, watching in adoration as the symbol of their love burst forth in the darkened room.
Uzume walked into Izumo house. She found Matsu and Miya awake and having tea in the living room. Neither said anything as she came in. Matsu grinned like a perverted pumpkin and Miya, smiling gently, pointed upwards. Uzume nodded and went up to her room.
Chiho was there, laying down on a futon, the jinki lying next to her on its own pillow, pulsing in time with her heartbeats. In her hands she cradled the head piece of an outfit Uzume had made to cheer her up a few months ago, a bright green cat head. In the corner a monitor, the same one used weeks ago on Minato, read her life signs from a small wristband she wore on her left hand. Chiho smiled radiantly as Uzume stepped into the room. Remonstrations could wait; they were unimportant now that they were back together. "Okairi-nissai, Uzu-chan."
Uzume broke down completely, tears running down her face as she rushed forward, hugging Chiho as if she would never let her go again. Chiho returned the hug as hard as her frail body could. Uzume pulled back just enough to smile at her Ashikabi. She wiped her tears away and grinned. "I'm home."
end chapter
Higa is the mid-boss of the sotry as you can see. He and Minato will clash several times, and the culmination will be huge.