(I don't own all of Sekirei or all of Bleach, only my character. It's a harem and I hope you like it.)
Seishin: Hey, everyone! Seishin here and I'm with Tsukiumi for the next chapter for Sekriei EX II!
Tsukiumi: That is true. I am sick of losing to Shopping Races and Paper, Rock, Scissors!
Seishin: I'm sorry to see you like this Tsukiumi. Don't worry, I'm sure there's something you are sure to win.
Tsukiumi: Hmph! I hope so. Let's go, Seishin. We have a chapter to start.
Seishin: Ya heard the Water Queen. On with the chapter. *Leaves with Tsukiumi*
*As the lights turn off and the room goes dark, the camera mysteriously turns back on and a sillouhette of a male figure appeared in front of it. He opened his piercing chrome colored eyes and made a wry smile that resembles the Chessire Cat*
?: It's only a matter of time... *Chuckles maliciously* Only a matter of time...
Sekirei EX II
Chapter 11: Past Times and Playdates
The story continues a few days after Seishin saved Akitsu and the annual Sekirei Diagnostics. It was a somewhat normal day in Shinto Teiho as Yukari Sahashi and her sekirei Shiina were walking down the crowd covered sidewalks, searching for Kusano as usual. While doing so, they came across an email; the same email sent by Minaka to all available ashikabis regarding the the new rule that will take effect next week.
"That email Minaka sent us has definitely made us targets." Shiina said.
"We've never made some cease functioning before." Yukari replied. "We've been fighting to find Ku. It looks like we're stuck in this one way or the other."
"At this rate there won't be any way around it." Shiina sighed.
"Then it's settled!" Yukari exclaimed with full of zeal. "From here on out, we're gonna be in it to win it! Besides I don't want us to split up."
Shiina smiled and nodded. Elsewhere the new news Minaka had announced has spread all across the residents of Shinto Teiho; Seo was one of the many who got the announcement after Seishin. He recieved the mail while he was in the bathroom with his twin sekireis, Hibiki and Hikari.
"That idiot Minaka's forcing us to fight with this new rule!" Hikari said angrily while she was cleaning herself.
"Yeah, and let's not forget that we never made an enemy cease functioning before, Seo." Hibiki added as she rinsed herself under the showerhead. She turned to Seo, who was relaxing in the bathtub with a warm compress on his head.
"So what should we do about it?" Seo wondered, until... "Hibiki, hold on!"
"Hmmm?" She wondered. (Looks like someone has an idea...!)
"Do we have any more beer in the fridge?" Seo asked in a somewhat serious tone.
"STOP GOOFING AROUND!" Hikari yelled as she zapped him with her lightning while he's in the tub. (...and there it goes. Mama-mia...)
Anyway, the news then spreaded out to the same tan skinned ashikabi with his three tan skinned sekireis. The four of them were in a garage when they got the text.
"Did you get something new master?" The little sekriei named Shijime asked.
"Did you get a new email, Sanada?" The sekirei named Kujika wondered. Sanada smirked as he closed his phone up and put it in his pocket.
"Just as things couldn;t get any more exciting, another twist gets added." Sanada replied. "Alright girls, first we get a bite to eat. Let's get us some grub first!"
"Ok!" They replied.
As the news stretched out all across Shinto Teiho, it even rang the ears of the unwanted. It reached the hands of Higa Izumi and his secretary in crime, Kakizaki.
"I would like you to convey the entire contents of this email." Higa ordered in a calm voice.
"Absolutely, sir." Kakizaki replied.
"I never would have expected to give her a little push." Higa looked out the window and stared at MBI Tower as he chuckled.
The sun began to set down as Seishin and Musubi were returning from the market. Musubi carried her things in a large blanket-like bag; the same one she used when they firse moved to Maison Izumo and for Seishin; thanks to his training in the Soul Society, he was able to carry his share of bags without straining himself. He still carries his Combat Pass in his back pant pocket, even though it's still cracked almost entirely.
"You never cease to surprise me, Musubi." Seishin smirked a little. "Able to carry that large load of groceries on your back so easily."
"Yep!" Musubi replied. "Gotta live up to my shopping reputation. You're not so bad yourself. You're pretty strong for a young Soul Reaper."
The two have chuckled.
"Hey, Musubi..." He called her as his smile faded. "That email we got; I know it doesn't have to do with us, but I am a little worried about this. Aren't you?"
"Don't worry, everything's gonna be alright." Musubi replied. "After all you won't be alone. Whenever you go out, one of us will go with you. I know you're strong but let's not forget, your power's fading when you're in Soul Reaper form."
"Yeah, I know..." Seishin replied. "I also know Matsu watching out for us from her computer as well.
"Seishin... I sense two others approaching you and Musubi from behind. Be on your toes." His inner hollow said.
"I will but you need rest, hollow." Seishin mentally replied. "You're even sicker than before."
"Don't worry... about me." His hollow replied. "I'll be alright. Worry about yourself for now. Matsu's bound to call you any second now."
As his inner hollow ended the conversation, Seishin's phone began ringing. It was Matsu like his inner hollow said.
"What's up, Matsu?" Seishin said.
"I got some disturbing news..." Matsu said until Seishin spoke in her place.
"I know Matsu... Me and Musubi are not alone." Seishin said. Musubi heard.
"H-How'd you know?" Matsu asked astonishingly.
"A little birdie knows." Seishin said. "Could be an ashikabi and a sekirei, but don't worry, we'll be on our P's and Q's. I'll keep the phone on so you and Kagari can hear it as well, ok?"
"Got it- Hey, how did you know Kagari's with me?!" Matsu cried out.
Seishin chuckled and with that, he pocketed his phone in the inner pocket of his Leon Kennedy jacket. .
"We're being followed?" Musubi wondered.
"Yeah," Seishin said kinda sternly, "we better keep out guard up for any opposing sekireis targeting us."
"Right!" Musubi replied cheerfully until she turned and saw the shadows behind the corner from where the two are in. "Hey there! Who might you be?"
Silence loomed over where they are at while Seishin facepalmed himself.
"Sweet kami, she goofed." Seishin thought.
Suddenly the silence was broken when a haired man wearing a black suit, red shirt and glasses appeared with his sekirei. She wore wearing a cream colored top which revealed her shoulders, short dark orange skirt, black stockings and light brown boots. She also carried a spear-type weapon on her back. Meanwhile back at Maison Izumo, Tsukiumi and Kusano were sitting on the rooftop, waiting for the two of them to return.
"Where forth art thou gone, Seishin..." She asked worrily after she sneezed. "Paper, Rock, Scissors is not my cup of tea. Can't thou think of anything to be that vile Musubi in, instead of shopping or of that game?"
Just then, Kusano just came up with an idea. Back at the walkway back to the inn...
"Hey, you!" He said. "You're that ashikabi from the North aren't you; the one who helped Haruka and Kuno escape?"
"Yeah, I'm the one." Seishin replied.
"I've been looking for you." Himura said. "You're not an easy guy to find in these parts. My name's Himura Youichi and this is my sekirei: Number 78: Nanami."
"What do you want with me?" Seishin asked.
"Right now, there's a plan for multiple ashikabis and their sekireis that are taking part in." He said.
"Are you friends with Haruka?" Seishin asked while remaining calm.
"Not exactly." Himura said. "I've been playing around in this game for a long time before we met."
"Playing around?" Seishin repeated those words while showing a slight angry glare.
"Truthfully he didn't make much of a first impression, since he has a weak sekirei." The guy with the glasses said with a small sneer of a smile worn on his face. His words angered Musubi; though Seishin held her back, it did anger him more. He remembered the time he helped him and Kuno out of the city and again when he got the postcard from them.
"Though it did give me a hell of a laugh, but seeing small fries like those two escape the city gave me hope." He added.
"Small fries..." Seishin muttered as he looked down with his hair covering his eyes while the guy in the glasses chuckled. Musubi noticed Seishin's left hand tightened up to a degree that his palm might bleed from his fingernails lightly digging into his skin.
"I still can't believe they got away." He continued. "Of course things might had changed before that email came, we would've taken a feather or two before coming. So, what do you guys say; wanna lend a hand or not?"
"You want to escape Shinto Teiho?" Seishin asked without looking at him, since his hair covered his eyes. He remembered the bitter memory of Musubi being terminated by Benitsubasa that one night. He gritted his teeth as his anger steadily rises.
"First we go see an ashikabi-" Himura said until Seishin interupted him.
"Named Seo... Am I right?" Seishin calmly spoke out, which surprised the guy and his sekirei.
"Y-Yeah, that's right." He replied.
"So that's how you know me, huh?" Seishin replied.
"Please! There isn't a single ashikabi who haven't heard of the Teiho escape lead by you." He said. "Even you had fought against the Discipline Squad with your sekireis. Everyone knows that. You're a famous guy in this city. It's obvious that a pair of weaklings like that would never get out of the city with some help."
"How dare you say that!" Musubi called out. "Haruka and Kuno are not weak."
"They should be if they need help with a powerhouse like yo-" Himura's sentence was cut off by Seishin delivering an instantaneously powerful right jab at the center of his face. Musubi, Nanami, and Himura didn't see it happen. Even Kagari and Matsu didn't catch the slightest glimpse of Seishin making the move until it happened.
"Master Himura!" Nanami cried as she was about to aid him until Seishin trapped her using Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō.
"Sorry... I must speak with your ashikabi alone." Seishin replied as he took his combat pass out and transformed into his Soul Reaper form. As Himura slowly sat up, he was stopped by Seishin's zanpaktou pointed down at his head.
"What the hell are you going!" Himura yelled.
"Himura, I've known Haruka and Kuno, longer than you have." Seishin replied while his eyes were still covered by his hair. "We should know, since I helped them out of the city. But what you don't know, is that they are stronger than what you think. You may think they're weak, but they are strong enough to stand up against the Discipline Squad, even if the odds are against them!"
(Flashback; Now playing Inspirational Music - Playing The Guts to "Never Give Up" from the Naruto Shippuden OST)
"Kuno, run!" Haruka cried. "You have to get out of here! Don't worry about me, seeing you safe is more important!"
"No... I'm going to fight them." Kuno said as it surprised Haruka; her sekirei symbol. "Seishin and Musubi taught me about courage and how I should stand up and face my problems head on. You're precious to me, Haruka... and I love you so very much..." Kuno placed her hands on his face and pressed her lips against his. Then her wings were shown. "By the song of my pact, my ashikabi's perils will be illuminated!" As she stood and looked at Haihane running towards her, she closed her eyes and began singing with a voice of an angel. With that, Haihane fell on her hands and knees as the song struck her.
"What the hell...?" Haihane said. "My strength, it's draining away."
"She's singing?" Benitsubasa watched Kuno sing as also affects her inconspicuously.
"Her voice is beautiful..." Haihane said as she fell on the floor and then imagined it to be a field of flowers. "That must be her special power...
"That's right!" Haruka said. "You're hearing Kuno's secret weapon: The Mellow Mellow Song!"
"Haruka, please... You had to call it by such a silly title?" Kuno asked. "Call it the Swaying Song instead."
"It's so comfortable right now..." Haihane said. "Instead of disciplining you two, all I want to do... is sleep..." Haihane closed her eyes and dozed off.
"Hey! Don't fall asleep on me!" Benitsubasa said to her until she felt the music affecting her. "This can't be... The song's affecting me as well?"
As Kuno finished her song, she coughed out a lot of blood as she fell back. Haruka rushed to her aid just in time.
"Kuno, please say something!" Haruka said.
"I finally did something useful did I, Haruka?" She said.
"Yeah, you did really well, Kuno." He smiled. "Just promise me not to sing that long again."
"But I will do it to save you..." Kuno replied. "Even if it hurts me a little."
(Flashback ended)
"They may look weak, but their courageous hearts make up for that!" Seishin barked. "You call yourself an ashikabi, you hardly scratched the surface of what a REAL bond between a sekirei and their ashikabi is. Haruka and Kuno has a bond that not even the Discipline Squad can sever!
(Flashback)
"You have a heart of a Captain, Haruka." Seishin said. "You risked yourself to help defend your sekirei... and for that you deserve my Haori."
"Seishin..." Haruka said as he accepted and put on the Haori. "I don't know what to say..."
"It's ok, Haruka." Seishin replied and smiled as he turned to Kuno. "As for you Kuno, your will to find your ashikabi is indeed powerful. Keep that Will of Fire burning inside and for that I want you to have this..." He gave her his lucky medallion.
"Seishin..." Tears ran down Kuno's face; she closed her eyes as she hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much, Seishin."
Haruka also hugged Seishin as well. Seishin, still in his Final Burning Soul form, smiled as he was able to help them get out of the capital.
"You two... go on ahead and live your new lives together." Seishin said to them as they nodded and ran off.
"Seishin, thank you for everything!" Haruka said to him as they ran to the end of the bridge.
(Flashback ended)
"Their bond; their path is like mine and my sekireis..." Seishin continued. "They experienced many battles long before they met and after the two became one. So much hardships, so much pain and loneliness. That's similar to how I felt... but here I am now: Standing strong with my team."
"Seishin..." Musubi smiled at his bold words.
"Seishin, you're amazing." Matsu agreed; Kagari, Kazehana and Akitsu were even impressed at his words of wisdom while they watched the whole thing from the computer.
"Haruka and Kuno are a powerful team. Don't underestimate their power: the TRUE POWER of an ashikabi and sekirei. Remember those words, Himura." Seishin said as he moved his sword away from Himura and returned it back in its sheath. He then snapped his fingers causing Nanami to be freed from his Rikujōkōrō. Himura, on the other hand was crying from the bold words Seishin had said as he got up.
"Master Himura?" Nanami called his name.
"He was right, Nanami." Himura said as he wiped the tears away from him. "Though we've been together, for some time, we haven't shown our true potential. Seishin opened my eyes and saw the truth. I'm sorry, Nanami."
"Master Himura!" Nanami cried as she then hugged him.
"Seishin... Musubi... I appologize for my harsh words, and for misjudging Haruka and his sekirei." Himura said as he bowed. Seishin smiled and placed his hand on Himura's head.
"Now that you've seen the error of your ways, do me one favor..." Seishin said to him.
"What's that?" He and Nanami wondered.
"Keep fighting and survive..." Seishin said to him which made Himura Nanami all wide eyed. "I'll do my end and change the fate of the Sekirei Plan... so we all can live in peace."
"I, no... We will." Himura replied.
"Thank you, Samayou of the North." Nanami said as she bowed.
Seishin smiled and nodded.
"Seishin... I sense some forces approaching!" His hollow said.
"Got it." Seishin replied. "I sense something coming. You two head to your home, immediately. Something tells me it's MBI."
"Got it!" Himura obeyed. "Let's go Nanami."
"Head down two blocks and go North!" Seishin said.
"Ok!" Himura replied. "Keep winning... for all of us." Seishin watched the two flee for safety.
(Song ends)
Then both him and Musubi noticed the MBI helicoptors passing by and the tanks rolling out. Seishin got her and the bags and moved out the way. As the tanks pass, dust had clouded the area. Just then, Seishin sensed a dark aura, the same aura he felt. He and Musubi turned and saw a sillouhette of a slender woman walking towards them.
"You sensed it too, didn't you Musubi." Seishin said.
"Yeah..." Musubi replied.
"Hmph, no doubt about it." Seishin said. "It's..."
As the smoke clears, they saw the before them. She wore the traditional clothing of the Discipline Squad, long grey hair and her wry chuckle gave it away.
"Well, hello." The woman said.
"Karasuba!" Musubi cried cheerfully when she saw her. "What are you doing here... and what happened to you?"
"I came here on business." She replied.
"Let me guess... Slaughtering more sekireis in cold blood?" Seishin asked while showing his glare through his hair. She chuckled when she turned her attention to the Shinigami Captain before her. Her skin was slightly pale, yet she looks the same.
"I see you've matured since last time, huh Samayou?" Karasuba replied.
"I sense something different about Karasuba, Seishin." Seishin's hollow said. "Be on your toes"
"What happened?" He wondered. "You look different."
"You like what I see, huh?" She replied. "Let's just say, I am slowly transforming, thanks to a little blood sample I picked up the night you saved Number 6."
"In other words... You possessed a sample of my spiritual pressure now, huh?" Seishin glared still.
"You sensed your over whelming aura coarsing through me, huh? I'm glad you noticed. " Karasuba smirked opened her eyes a bit while looking at him. Only her left eye has a black sclera and a violet cornea then turned back to Musubi. "I see you've changed since we last met. Your core's glowing very brightly, Musubi."
"Yeah, I learned and master the Kuma-Ken!" Musubi said.
"I truely can't wait until the promised day, Musubi... and especially you, Shinigami Captain. Till we meet again, you two." Karasuba said as walked off to the direction Himura and Nanami ran off at.
"You sensed it too, didn't you Seishin." Musubi asked.
"Yeah, she has my spiritual pressure mixed with her power." Seishin replied. "Though I stood my ground, her power's on a higher level from mine, dwarfing my own potential."
"Yeah..." Musubi replied. "What about Himura and Nanami?"
"They're safe." He replied. "While we were in the smoke when the MBI tanks passed us, I used my Hono Kuron to make a clone and have it check on those two. They're ok, now... away from Karasuba."
"You're a brave one, Seishin." Musubi smiled. "You saved another Ashikabi and Sekirei yet again."
"Heh, thanks Musubi." Seishin replied while smiling with ambition. "Anyway, let's head back home. I hope Tsukiumi and the others aren't mad at me."
Musubi nodded as she held on Seishin's shoulder after gathering the groceries as he left using flashstep to return to Maison Izumo. When the two returned, irony smacked Seishin hard like a ton of bricks as he saw Tsukiumi and Kusano mad at Seishin, returning home late. Musubi, like when they first moved in, has her back stuck between the doorway again.
"Deja vu all over again..." Seishin chuckled until...
"Seishin!" Tsukiumi called him as she and Kusano jumped off the roof.
"Mama-mia... not you girls too..." Seishin said until they landed on him. "Ow..." Seishin groaned until he felt someone biting his leg. As he sat up, the first glimpse he saw were a pair of clothed breasts in his sight. He then realized that Tsukiumi on top of him and Kusano biting his leg again.
"Thou art very late, Seishin!" Tsukiumi said while gritting her teeth in anger.
"I know and I'll explain what happened once I get up and... AFTER KU STOPS EATING MY LEG! I AM NOT MADE OF FOOD!" Seishin cried out.
After that nostalgic drop-in by Tsukiumi and Ku, Seishin along with the others went to Matsu's room. He explained what had happened from encountering Hiruma and Nanami to encountering Karasuba who has a portion of his reiatsu in her from his blood sample she tasted.
"It does make sense." Matsu said. "So far, all of the ashikabis and sekireis who plotted individual escapes have failed. There are strength in numbers so, the odds might go in their favor."
"I understand." Seishin said. "However, I did manage to reconsider and get them to safety before MBI appeared."
"Thou had surprised me, Seishin." Tsukiumi said. "Thou had managed to prevent an event before it met its unfortunate end. I am rather impressed with thine efforts, Seishin. Well done."
"Yeah, Tsukiumi's right." Kazehana added while she had her arms behind her hair. "You did the same thing for Haruka and Kuno, but this time, you managed to stop them before they attempted to make that move. Gotta hand it to you, Seishin... You got that charm to change their fates."
Seishin chuckled as he blushed while brishing the back of his head.
"That's right, Seishin made a right move." Musubi agreed, Kusano nodded with her.
"Master's words of fate saved another sekirei and ashikabi." Akitsu said in a calm cheerful manner. "I'm happy he did it."
"Yeah, you made the right choice Seishin. Just know that we share the same feelings you have." Kagari said while standing beside the other girls who were hugging him.
"I can see that." Seishin blushed even more.
"You were right to turn him down, but you also saved him and his sekirei." Matsu said. "Revealing his plan in the open is very much careless and completely dumb; and the fact that MBI was trying to pursue them was proof enough for it to fail from the start."
"Before Musubi and I encountered Karasuba again, I managed to use my Hono Kuron to help them to safety." Seishin said. "The two are safely at home, but there's one thing you girls should know what happened when we saw her."
"What; what is it?" Matsu wondered.
"T he one night when we saved Kagari, one of Higa's sekirei, by the name of Oriha..." Seishin explained until Tsukiumi remembered her.
"That trollop with those flying discs, am I right?" She asked.
"That's right Tsukiumi." Seishin replied. "During the time I faced Higa's secretary, Oriha tries to defend him by throwing one of her discs at me, grazing my left cheek. Because of that, a slither of my blood got on the disc she threw and a little landed on the ground beside me. I suppose after we left, Karasuba arrived to the same spot we were in, found the sample and tasted it."
"When you met her again, how did she look?" Matsu asked
"She still looks the same; only her left eye appears to have hollowfied. " Seishin explained hesitantly. "But her power... it's greater than mine. In another level than mine, actually. She's nearly as strong as Juha Bach or Aizen. I never thought I would say this, but I am getting a little nervous."
He looked at his hand shaking out of fear as he grew more and more nervous. Musubi and the others saw him feeling hesitant.
"Big brother...?" Kusano snapped him out when she called him. "I don't want you to feel nervous. We're all right here with you."
"Master, you are the bravest man I had ever met." Akitsu joined in. "You pushed yourself to save me from Mikogami."
"Yeah, and you saved me from burning myself out." Kagari said while placing her hand on his right shoulder. "You endured those burns just to save me, as well as healing me while I passed out."
"Yeah and let's not forget, you showed me how much you cared for me back at the Wine Shack by the pier, Seishin." Kazehana said. "You risked yourself to save me as well. You can do it, Sei."
"Kazehana's right." Tsukiumi added. "Thou showed me so much valor and honor when thou saved me from those twin strumpets back then, and again during the bridge escape."
"Same for me, Tsukiumi." Musubi chimed in and then turned to Seishin. "You saved me so many times as well. Even Ku knows since you saved her as well."
Kusano nodded.
"You won't be alone. We're right with you all the way, Seishin." Matsu said while she placed her hand on his shoulder.
Seishin remembered when he saved each of the sekireis; he used so much of his strength and stamina to his devotion to saving his sekireis. Seishin smiled a little as his hesitance has faded a little.
"Thanks, everyone. You got my back and I got yours." Seishin said while he kept his calm while he looked at his hand no longer shaking and then he balled up his fist.
"Hmmm, sekriei #4: Karasuba." Matsu said. There isn't any sekirei alive other than the former leader of the First-Gen of the Discipline Squad that can handle her."
"They still don't know that I remembered who she is, thanks to that one moment after Karasuba visited us one day." Seishin thought while he remembered that one day.
"Something wrong?" Musubi asked him.
"No, it's nothing." Seishin replied as he got up. "I'm gonna get a litle bite to eat and then do some meditation. Maybe Miya might have something ready."
As Seishin was about to head for the door, suddenly Miya appeared out of the blue; like a serial killer in a horror movie. At least she didn't carry the knife with her this time. However it spooked Matsu to an extreme and almost gave Seishin a heart attack as he fell on his rear on the floor.
"Everyone, dinner is ready and the table is set. Time to eat" Miya announced.
"Sweet Kami, Miya! Stop scaring me like that!" Seishin cried. "You almost gave me a heart attack again!"
"Girls, you go ahead down to eat, I wanna have a talk with Seishin alone." Miya said.
"Ok." Musubi and the others replied as they all left, leaving Seishin alone with Miya.
"Seishin, I want to talk to you about something." Miya said to him. "I know you were there when Karasuba and I re-encountered."
"So you knew..." Seishin said. "all this time."
"Out of all people in Shinto Teiho other than Takehito, you knew I was Sekirei number 1." Miya said. "I also know that you didn't tell the others that, didn't you?"
"T-That's right." Seishin replied with a slight nod.
"Good... I know this means breaking a rule but i want you to keep this and what I will share between us, ok?: Miya suggested. "We'll wait until the time is right until then."
"Ok, Miya." Seishin nodded. "I won't tell the others."
"Hmmm..." Miya smiled calmly with her eyes closed. "Due to that one man, I learned a very great deal about humans... I'm able to live a life like humans do; something I am grateful to and because of that, I have changed. I was no longer the 'feared leader' of the Discipline Squad. Now I saw the world in a whole new light."
(Flashback)
Her past began nearly 20 years ago back at Kamikura Island. Miya; currently addressed as Sekirei Number One, was in the labratory with her tuner and husband, Takehito Asuma.
"Ok, the examinations are done." Takehito said. "You can get dressed now."
Miya arose herself from the bed, naked after being examined. While she was getting her clothes on, Takehito was on the phone.
"Did you what I asked you to, Seo?" He asked. "You know, cleaning the house and all?"
"Sorry, I forgot." Seo said on the other line.
Miya slightly turned to see Takehito on the phone.
"What you forgot?!" He continued asking only this time he was slightly angrily.
"Sorry, I-I just had something else to do ." Seo said.
"Seo...! Just then out of the blue, his demonic visage in the form of a white Hannya mask with white eyes, yellow horns and purple hair appeared beside him (...and somewhere on the other end of the line, in front of Seo's phone). It surprised Miya when she saw his visage for the very first time.
"S-Sorry, Takehito! I'm on it right away!" Seo cried when he noticed Takehito's terrifyingly killer intent.
"Ok, as long as you understand." Takehito said while smiling calmly. "I'll call you later when i am ready to head back."
"Yes, sir..." Seo said bitterly.
"Don't get an attitude with me." Takehito said which made Miya giggle. That alone has gotten his attention. "I see that made you laugh,"
Miya continued laughing and Takehito smiled.
(Flashback ended)
"His kind heart changed you completely, huh Miya?" Seishin asked as he smiled from her story.
"I truely cared for him, Seishin..." Miya said. "So much that I lost sight of my original role."
"I'm happy that you have someone in your life to give you new inspirations."Seishin said.
"Yes, but the end result was not the same..." Miya said as tears ran down her face. "That result had led to Takehito's death..."
Seishin saw her crying for the first time; her head was lowered and her purple bangs covered her eyesight. Seishin sat up and hugged Miya which surprised her completely.
"Takehito's death was not your fault..." Seishin said. "It was MBI's and I am glad you left that side of you behind. What Takehito did for you was not in vain... He did it because he loved you, even in death. I don't care if you're the feared leader or our lanlady, I'm just happy to have you as my friend. One day, I'll return to the Soul Society... and look for your lover. I'm sure he misses you too."
"Seishin... Thank you..." Miya hugged him back while blushing as she closed her eyes and smiled from his words. "Those are the sweetest things you have ever said to me."
"I'm just glad to help." Seishin said while smiling calmly. "Anything to see you smile, Miya."
Miya smiled at him, patted his head.
"You are a good man, Seishin." Miya said. "Your heart's in the right place and you have a good head on your shoulders. I'm happy to have you here; just keep on doing what you love doing, ok?"
"Right, I will." Seishin smiled and nodded.
"If Takehito was around... He would have you to inherit his legacy: Bring peace between, humans and sekireis." Miya said.
"I don't know..." He replied while putting his hands in his pockets as he slightly turned to Miya. "Maybe he already did."
Miya smiled at his response as they left Matsu's room to eat with the others. Later on Musubi, Tsukiumi, Kazehana, Matsu, and Akitsu were playing a game of Naho; coming up with a game other than shopping races that Tsukiumi can win in. Kagari watched the others play while she stood by the door.
"Take that!" Tsukiumi declared as when she laid down a Naho card. "No more cards, I win!"
"You don't win, you have to draw a new hand." Matsu explained to her. "You only win when you say Naho after you run out of cards in your hand."
Tsukiumi immediately drew a card after Matsu told her.
"Naho!" She cried.
"It's too late now." Kazehana said to her.
"Thou could show some magnanimity." Tsukiumi spoke bluntly to Kazehana.
"Rules are rules... Sorry, Tsukiumi." Akitsu said while she looked at her cards despite showing her calm sleepy expression.
"Yep, that's right." Musubi said.
"Curse thee!" Tsukiumi growled.
"Naho!" Kusano said as she laid down her last card, winning the game.
"What, impossible!" Tsukiumi cried out.
"What do ya know; Ku again." Kazehana smiled as she petted Kusano; Kusano giggled cheerfully.
"Wow, Ku! You're getting very good at this!" Musubi cheered while she, and Matsu along with Akitsu chuckled.
"My goodness, it's getting quite loud in here." Miya said as she and Seishin walked in the living room.
"Cool, Naho!" Seishin said. "I haven't played that game in a long time. So what's happening here, girls?"
"A contest to replace Shopping races and Paper, Rock, Scissors." Tsukiumi said. "Kusano proposed we play cards, but..."
Seishin saw the prise money around the girls; they were quite short, but Kusano... she had the highest amount thus far.
"Oh, my..." Seishin gasped a little, resisting the urge to chuckle.
"WHY IS KUSANO THE BEST IN THIS GAME?!" Tsukiumi cried out in anger!
"There you have it." Kagari said as she chuckled.
"You're quite the popular guy, Seishin." Miya said to him. "They sure love you a lot."
"Yeah, i guess that's true." Seishin chuckled.
"That's good." Miya said to him. "I'll be heading to bed, now. I'll see you in the morning."
"Night, Miya." Seishin chuckled calmly while at the same time, Kusano won yet another match.
"Tell me, Ku. Who taught you how to play so well?" Matsu asked.
"Uzume taught me how to play." Kusano replied as she remembered the day, she taught her. Then she looked down a bit. "I wish Uzume was here to play the game with us..."
The girls felt her sympathy. Just then Kazehana then has an idea to cheer them up.
"Hey, girls I have a great idea!" She cried. "For this match, we'll have a special prize. like an all day date with Seishin tomorrow!"
"Oh, kami!" Seishin thought when Kazehana called his name. "I have a feeling where this is heading to..."
"...or we could make the loser strip instead." Seishin was wide eyed and blushing darkly when Akitsu suddenly suggested another idea to Kazehana.
"That's a great idea, Akitsu! How 'bout it, Seishin..." Kazehana asked when she and Akitsu slowly undid their dresses while showing their backs to him in a sexy way.
"N-N-No!" Seishin pleaded while holding his nose up. "Date's fine! Anything but that other idea. I don't want to risk either getting booted out by Miya or dying from severe loss of blood!"
"Come on, Seishin! Isn't this what you want!" Kazehana said while she amd Akitsu was ont her hands and knees, shaking her voluptuous hips at Seishin. "When I win, I'll make your last night on this earth your best one yet!"
"Come on, Master." Akitsu said in a sultry voice while she shook her rear alongside Kazehana. "You know you want it."
While that happened, Kusano growled at what the two girls did.
"That's it!" Tsukiumi cried as she prepares for her next match. "Give me liberty or give me nothing!"
"I'm gonna win this time for sure!" Musubi cried eagerly.
"It's time I take my game to a whole new level!" Matsu said as she fixed her glasses.
"Count me in!" Kagari smirked as she stood over the other girls.
"Mama-mia!" Seishin whined.
Kagari chuckled at the side of Seishin she sees. Rather than the brave and protective Shinikabi they love, they see the nervous, innocent side of Seishin who easily blushes. With that she took advantage of it, just to tease him.
"What's the matter, Seishin." Kagari wondered. "Afraid of a little bet the girls made?" Kagari slowly undid her shirt, rebealing a little cleavage while making a kissy-face look at Seishin.
"Dammit! I will not give into temptation!" Seishin cried while covered his face. Onle his right eye remained uncovered as he blushed a shade of red that matched a Stamans Apple. "A man like me, doesn't give into temptation!"
"Really then why are you peeking through your fingers, kid?" Seishin's hollow teased him.
"HOLLOW! Gahdangit!" Seishin mentally screamed back at him; he couldn't help that his hollow tease him yet act like a brother to him.
Unaware of what's happening, Rukia stood on top of the wooden fence of the inn, smiling on how he and his sekireis are doing.
"Originally, I want to check up on Seishin, but I'll check up on him tomorrow." Rukia thought. "Keep on smiling, Seishin..."
Rukia nodded as she turned away and used flashstep; vanishing into thin air. Seishin then turned to sense someone... or so he thought.
"Hmmm, I could had thought I had sensed Rukia's spiritual pressure around here." Seishin thought. "I guess it was just my imagination."
After all the fun and games, everyone else went to bed. While Seishin was fast asleep, he began having a nightmare; or in this case a premonition of an event that he feared that it wouldn't happen to any of his sekireis.
In his dream Seishin was lying on the ground; he was at his very limits of his spiritual pressure after having to activate his bankai. Musubi, his sekireis, and his other roomates(Miya and Uzume) badly hurt. Some sillouhettes of some sekireis that opposed them appeared to make the finishing blow.
"NO!" He cried. "LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE! GET AWAY FROM THEM!"
They all snickered at the powerless shinigami as they prepared to finish his friends off. One by one, they terminated each of them in front of a shocked Seishin. His eyes widdened with horror and dispair when the blood of his fallen sekireis was splashed on his face. Then some sillouettes of what appeared to be the opposing sekireis' ashikabis stood next to each of their respected mates and laughed at the Shinigami before them. His anger skyrocketed beyond his control, his blood began boiling and a searing red and black aura enveloped him. His eyes glowed a piercing red and a bellowing hollowfied roar was heard. Suddenly Seishin immediately woke up from his nightmare in a cold sweat, terrified. Then he
"No! I can't let that dream happen..." Seishin thought. "It musn't... and I won't let it! Seishin gritted his teeth and balled his fist and anger. If he was in his Soul Reaper form, everyone in the entire inn would had felt his reiatsu shaking the house like an earthquake.
The next day came; Seishin was outside with little ol' Ku beside him. Musubi and Kazehana were cheering them onward, but Tsukiumi... Still very unhappy that she wasn't the one to go out with the red haired captain. Tsukiumi was going to say something, until Seishin began talking.
"Don't worry, We'll be back in about four hours." Seishin kindly spoke to them. "We won't be far."
"Hmph, bold words Seishin..." Tsukiumi said while she crossed her arms. "See to it that thou will return."
"Will do, Tsukiumi." Seishin nodded as the two began leaving. "I'll see you all when I return."
As the two left the inn, Seishin sensed a familiar presence when the two stopped. A young petite girl with a cropped bob cut violet eyes and wore the traditional shikakusho that has the Division badge on her left shoulder sleeve appeared in front of him and Kusano.
"Hey, Rukia!" Seishin greeted.
"Hi, Rukia!" Kusano greeted also.
"Hey Seishin! Hi, Ku." Rukia greeted back. "How are things so far?"
"Same ol' same ol'." He replied. "What about you?"
"Nothing much; I wanted to check up on you last night, but you were having some fun with your sekireis." Rukia said. "I didn't want to interrupt."
"Nah, it's ok." He replied. "Anyway, Ku and I were gonna go for a walk. Would you like to accompany us?"
"Sure, I got time," She answered, "and I got a lot of things to tell you."
"Me too." Seishin said as the three of them began walking.
Bck at Maison Izumo, Kazehana was sitting in the backyard holding her head.
"Ow..." She groaned. "I shouldn't had drank too much last night."
"Then next time you should drink less and played a little more." Kagari said as she appeared behind her a second after she spoke. "Who knows, you might win next time."
"Yeah, yeah... What do you know about it?" Kazehana said while placing her left hand on her left cheek; being lax as usual.
"Actually, i thought she played well for somebody on the sause." Matsu appeared behind them while hanging upside down. "All kidding aside, I've been thinking about Uzume ever since Ku brought her up last night. I searched the data on the sekireis thought to be defeated by the veiled sekirei, the winner of those fights were unknown. As a result, she doesn't have any recorded victories so far, she's still at zero wins."
"...and with that new mandate in effect that would make her an enemy if she shows up." Kagari said.
"She might... She really might." Kazehana looked down and sighed.
"... and if Seishin realizes that... I don't know how he can take it..." Matsu said to them. They grew worried at what may happen is Seishin finds out.
Elsewhere at the hospital, Uzume was taking her hospitalized friend out for a walk; even though she was in a wheelchair.
"It's been a long time since i got out." Chiho said.
"The doctor said you're doing so well, that he gave you a special exception." Uzume said while she pushed her wheelchair.
"Looking at it from a tiny window, you'll forget how big the sky really is." Chiho smiled as she looked up at the clear blue sky before them.
"...and not just the sky, there are oceans so vast and mounts that are so tall." Uzume said. "One day we'll go and see them."
"We can?" Chiho was smiling, feeling excited for something like that to happen.
"Trust me, Chiho. We will." Uzume said motivating her. Suddenly uzume spotted Kakizaki from the shadow covered shade next to the hospital. Uzume immediately made up a quick excuse to go talk to him "It's getting a little chilly, I'll get you a blanket. i'll be right back."
"Uzume, wait..." Chiho called out to her. "Promise me you'll never leave me."
"Don't be silly! I would never leave you, ya silly goose!" Uzume smiled as she gave her a small peck on her cheek. "I'm here, forever and always."
"Thank you, Uzume." Chiho smiled; Uzume nodded back and then ran towards where the shade is at.
Elsewhere, Seishin, Kusano and Rukia were still walking about.
"Did you have fun, Ku?" Seishin asked her.
"Yeah!" She cried while she held her new bear tightly.
Rukia happily petted her and then turned her sights to Seishin.
"So that's what's going on." Rukia said. "A manifestation of yourself made by the excess hollow energy that's been eating your powers up was responsible for you getting weaker, huh?"
"Yeah," Seishin replied and then sighed, "I fear that if this continues, I would turn full hollow. It's something I don't want to happen."
"I already spoke with Kisuke and he's working as fast as he can with his latest invention." Rukia said. "Seishin you'll get your powers back before it happens. Just trust me."
"I hope so." Seishin replied grudgefully as the three of them stopped.
"I'm gonna return to Kisuke's, hopefully it's ready." Rukia suggested. "If it's done, I'll contact you as soon as possible."
"Ok, thanks." Seishin said and Rukia nodded.
"Bye, Rukia." Kusano said to her.
"See you later, Ku." Rukia smiled and hugged her before she left using flashstep.
"Alright Ku, time to head..." Seishin then turned and saw that Kusano had vanished. He looked around for her. "Kusano! Mama-mia... Where are you?"
Back at the hospital, Kakizaki showed Uzume a text message related to Minaka's new rule. It surprised Uzume right off the bat.
"What cease functioning?!" Uzume cried.
"Your ashikabi doesn't have a cell phone, so I as asked to bring it to you in person." Kakizaki said.
"Oh, gee... Thanks." Uzume said sarcastically.
"I'm sure it doesn't need to be said, but-" Kakizaki tried to explain until Uzume interrupted him.
"I get the fricken point!" Uzume rebuked. "What do you expect with such a dirty trick like that. I already know I don't have any official wins yet."
"Well that may be true," Kakizaki said while he fixed his glasses, "but I trust that you won't lie down and cease functioning, right?"
"What?!" Uzume cried out.
"You wouldn't want to abandon your beloved ashikabi, right?" Kakizaki asked. Uzume looked away with her arms crossed, feeling bitter.
"No..." She said.
"Good; now while we're on the subject, if you're up for the challenge..." Kakizaki fixed his glasses again as the sun gleamed against the lenses. "Higa's offering a chance for you to score a victory. This time it's gonna be against a sekirei in the Northern district of the capital."
"The North...?" Uzume thought until she realized who he's talking about. "No... Not Seishin and the others! Anything but them!"
"Just to make it clear, this is not an order." Kakizaki continued as he turned away. "You can take this challenge or you could just..."
Uzume struggled to say no, but alas she had no choice. Anything to keep her ashikabi safe.
"Fine... I'll do it..." She said which made Kakizaki smirked.
Meanwhile Kusano continues to chase after a random cat that passed by them, a while after Seishin watched Rukia head off. It lead her to a hospital where she met up with the same girl in a wheelchair.
"Hello, friend." Chiho greeted.
"Hello." Kusano said while smiling.
At the same time, Uzume stepped out of the hospital holding a blanket for Chiho, while she remained depressed.
"In order to protect Chiho, I must do what must be done." Uzume thought as she looked up at the sky. "Even if the enemy is a close friend of mine, I'll take them out."
Meanwhile at Karakura Town, Kisuke; at his lab, along with Rukia and Ichigo were searching up Seishin's files on his computer. The three of them were searching for what could be another possible reason for Seishin's hollow powers to be eating his reiatsu up.
"Have you picked up on what's going on with Seishin?" Rukia asked.
"Not yet." Kisuke replied. "I'm searching high and low for any hint of data that could lead to Seishin's powers diminishing."
"How about matching Seishin's power he currently has with some previous data?" Ichigo suggested. Kisuke stopped what he was doing as that led him to an idea.
"Ichigo you are a genius!" Kisuke cried, which made Ichigo surprised. "...and I think I know just who to talk with!"
"Hmm, who are you gonna talk to?" Rukia wondered.
"Matsu." He replied when he finished typing his message in about half a minute. "She has data of Seishin previously. She can send me a copy of his data and I'll match it up."
"Ok, let's get to it." Ichigo said. Kisuke had sent an email to Matsu. In a few minutes, she sent the data back to Kisuke. Then the three of them matched Matsu's previous data with the sample Rukia gave him and then it shows Seishin's powers dropping and a countdown.
"Oh, no..." Kisuke said. "Guys... Seishin's in danger!"
"WHAT!?" Ichigo and Rukia cried.
"What Seishin said about a manifestation of himself made by the excess hollow energy that's been eating his powers up might be right." Kisuke continued. It's a a very potent hollow parasite that's feeding on his powers all this time. Not only his powers are being eaten, but it's weakening his inner hollow as well until..."
"Oh no, Seishin!" Rukia gasped and Ichigo tightened his fists up. "Is there any cures?
"There is," Kisuke said, "We have to head to the Soul Society and head to the Dept. of Research and Development. I made something a long time ago in case if that moment happens again. It's called The Antidote."
"What does it do?" Rukia asked.
"If we get it to Seishin, that and his willpower will destroy it for good." Kisuke replied.
"Well, what are we waiting for! Let's get moving!" Ichigo yelled.
"But there's one problem, it's not fully completed yet." Kisuke paused. "We have about 24 hours 15 minutes to get it done and delivered to Seishin."
"Damn it!" Ichigo pounded his fist into the empty table and then sighed.
"What happens when we won't make it in time?" Rukia asked.
"Something that happened four years ago..." Kisuke said. "Is bound to repeat itself again.
"Oh, no..." Rukia remembered THAT moment. "It took almost Ichigo and almost all of the Captains to stop him."
(Now playing Ichigo's Theme: Number One(30 Second Instrumental))
"Then we better get moving." Ichigo said as he opened a Senkaimon on the spot. "It's no walk in the park. This is a race against time."
"Right, I immediately sent Matsu that's bound to happen." He said as he closed down his computer. "Alright. You heard Ichigo, let's get moving!" Kisuke, Ichigo and Rukia entered the Senkaimon leading through the Precipse World.
The three continued running; Kisuke holding his invention, Rukia, trying her hardest to hold back the tears and Ichigo, focused to save his friend who was like a brother to him.
"Dammit!" Ichigo thought as he gritted his teeth. "Seishin, hang on! I won't let that moment happen! I will save you... Mark. My, Words!"
As the three spotted the bright light at the end of the road, they immediately jumped into the light that is the Soul Society. The race to save Seishin... Has Begun.
(Song ends)
Seishin: Gahdangit! I can't find Ku anywaere!
Taka2012: Sorry to hear that, but I know Ku's safe.
Seishin: I hope so! I don't want to be either lashed on from Tsukiumi or get booted off or WORSE from Miya.
Taka2012: You'll be fine.
Seishin: Ok, thanks Taka. *Leaves to search for Ku more.*
Taka2012: I am gonna be sorry for him when he finds out who the Veiled Sekirei was... and the face his premonition will come true for one of his roommates. Once it happens it will change his life completely... I'm sorry, guys, I have to go. Chapter 12: A Trip to The Hospital" will be worked on immediately. Until then, this is Taka2012 signing off.
