A/N: Oh my muse, where thou gone.. come to me, and let me write anew. I've been fighting for the last couple weeks, nothing new, this was written at least 3 weeks ago, and we are slowly catching up to what was written ahead. So glad I choose to release them slowly.. ;)
Ok, seems I made a bad and just realized it. I got my schedule twisted about, and this should have been published Friday morning, but is later then expected. Instead I published a chapter under ashikabi of fate, intended for publishing on Tuesday morning. That'll teach me won't it!?
All reviewers. I appreciate the kind words, and the critical ones. one can never hope to improve if there are never a sing naysayer!
SpecH82: I know, I know, I work hard at it. Its all you can do. Glad to see I have you hooked.
Note: There.. might be more, much more... I have some ideas I'm working with and I'm not sure if they are better in this story, or in my Ashikabi of Fate story.
- o MBI o -
"Officially we are calling it the Sahashi event", Takami heard her assistant report, her voice soft at her bedside; Abiding by procedure for the Hospital Care department.
"Unless you wish to name it something else Sahashi-san" Yuki spoke softly, differentially to the woman, her direct superior as she began giving the report.
"N.. No, thats fine" Takami shook her head, she had been stuck in this bed for two whole days. It was maddening. At least she had the authority to summon anyone, and everyone to her bedside to give reports. She shifted to sit herself up, as a nurse slipped in with a tray of food. Specially prepared for her.
"The winging database is confirmed, and no data was lost. The supporting systems however, were not so lucky. " the assistant continued "Security found no less than 4 unauthorized users at the time of the crash. Lemme see here.." she flipped a page or two, looking for the information. "Ah yes, Ma_SE02, and Ko_SE22 where online. It seems Ko_SE22 had broken a deep layer protection. The crash seemed, shall I say fortuitous. It appears the data dump she started, was everything. They got less than half a percent".
Takami nodded, she wasn't overly pleased security had been broken, but at least no critical data was released "The others logged in?"
"Well, they seem to just be low level Ashikabi seeking simple information, Records show Minaka-sama has knowledge of one. Records show he is No 87's Ashikabi. He was in the system about a week before 87 was winged. Investigations showed he only left warnings for the companies he hacked, showing security holes".
Takami nodded again. "I'm familiar with that case. I was with the bastard when he was informed, Not much danger there. Just to be safe, analyse any data they got, and ensure none of it is sensitive".
"Yes Ma'am, is there anything else?"
Takami nodded "An ETA of when the systems will all be back up would be nice, and me back to work would be even better"
"I'll check with the doctor that's overseeing your care. As for the systems coming back up. The technicians and programmers are warning it could be as long as a week." she paused a moment "But from what I heard this morning, they are preparing a test that might see a third of our systems back up"
Takami smiled, "Good, at least there is that. I would hate to lose all that research, and have needed research setback because of this.", 'Even tho it would slow down that bastards game with fate' she couldn't help herself thinking. She dismissed her assistant "I want another report no later than 8 hours from now. I also want to know when they try the boot sequence".
"Yes Ma'am" the assistant turned on her heel, and darted away. The phone already buzzing in her ear before she made good her escape.
- o Maison Izumo o -
The last two days, Minato and Haihane, together with Ku had found shared enjoyment in both TV programs and a handful of video games, "Geez sometimes I think this is so fake, and yet its still fun" Minato muttered as he stretched out, Ku curled in his lap, wincing as each Blade struck another blade on the TV set.
"I know, I argue with Beni about it all the time, she says its fake, I say its real. I don't care either way tho. Blazing Blade Battle is cool regardless of which season" Haihane sighed, she leaned against Minato, "This is ok isn't it? I mean, If I'm here I might as well bond with you right?"
Minato nodded, "Of course. Just give Tsukiumi a wide berth. The others should be fine, I mean Musubi is a little jealous, Ku here is sometimes on Tsukiumi's level but more manageable" he chuckled.
Ku looked at him with a question in her eyes, and nuzzled in deeper as if she was trying to steal attention from Haihane, Minato's hand came down and teased through her hair setting the youngest sekirei at ease. Ku winced as a flash of metal striking metal came across the TV set again.
Musubi, Tsukiumi and Kazehana had left for shopping races, and were not due back any time soon. Kazehana had declared she would join them, but only to ensure they were safe. A body guard effectively at Matsu's suggestion. She was concerned apparently over reprisal from MBI.
Benitsubasa was in the back yard with Kagari and Miya. "Now, come" Miya motioned for Benitsubasa to attack.
"She's crazy, I'll hurt her" she muttered to Kagari eyeing Miya carefully.
"If you lay one finger on her, I'll sweet talk Minato into an extra 30 minutes of alone time with you" he grinned, "AND I'll personally distract Tsukiumi with one on one sparring".
Benitsubasa laughed "It's a deal, and what if I lose?"
"Laundry duty tomorrow. Its my turn" Kagari grinned. Benitsubasa nodded, and took up a position opposite Miya.
Yukari and Shiina were laid out on the grass at the side of the house. Looking at the open blue sky. "Two whole days. Two, can you believe it? where we don't need to worry about who's chasing us down?" Yukari muttered. Shiina just took her hand in his, and squeezed lightly, grinning, he shifted his body over to hers, and smiling, kissed her deeply. They had learned quickly the lines they could cross, and the lines they couldn't before they were left alone by Miya completely.
- o MBI HQ o -
Karasuba looked out the large expanse reinforced glass overlooking the city. Her eye tracked the horizon, a bird flittered about here or there, swooping about each other. 'Far to peaceful, its most definitely disturbing' she found herself thinking, she turned, retook her favored seat, took up her nodachi and began sharpening it once again. The soft sound of a whetstone gliding across the steel seemed to echo the all but empty condominium.
Natsuo, down the hallway, sat in a huge sofa chair in his office, flipping the occasional page of a book. With the MBI systems down, he had little to do, and was taking the time to finish the latest novel which interested him -Apocolypse 2022-. On the table beside him laid his next book. 'Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Borg Rule'
- o Minaka's office o -
"Ho Ho Ho, so is that what they are calling it now?" Minaka seemed to grin as he listened to his assistant give a report. Takami was still restricted to her hospital room, but that did not mean he wouldn't get updates.
"Yes Sir" his young blonde assistant nodded to him "I'm told Takami was already aware of it before she collapsed. They were looking into confirming details surrounding the corruption errors", she looked at him flipping through a couple pages on her notepad.
"Any instructions?"
"No, leave it for now. Lets see what the Gods, and Fate have in store for our little game." With that, he spun his chair about to look out his windows, over the city. He smiled dismissing her before his palms came together, index fingers pressed together as he thought to himself 'my boy, my boy, you continue to surprise me'.
- o Maison Izumo o -
Minato pressed the power button on the TV remote "Thats enough TV for today Ku. They say this stuff will rot your brain" he smiled, he shifted her from his lap to the couch as he rose. "So, how about we go check on what Benitsubasa is doing?" he glanced to Haihane and grinned "Sounds like someone is sparing".
Haihane and Ku both nodded and rose, to follow Minato.
Unfortunately for Benitsubasa, she was sporting 4 levels of goose eggs on the side of her skull, one on each side no less when Minato slipped down to sit on the ledge of the small entry. Haihane knelt, leaning against his back, elbows resting on his shoulders, hands folded at his neck, and Ku once again curled up in his lap as best she could. Unknown to any of them, Matsu watched from a removed ceiling tile.
"So, how's she fairing?" he inquired of Kagari.
"Not to bad. Still hasn't laid a hand on Miya tho.". Kagari's tone seemed pleased and overly jovial at the thought.
"So why so pleased about it?"
"Oh no reason, we had a wage on if she could lay a finger on Miya or not" Kagari had a huge grin on his face, Benitsubasa looked sideways at him at the comment, finding herself distracted for a split second as Miya landed another strike on her.
"Pay attention, distractions will cost you dearly" Miya chimed in
"AAh, I see, and has she?"
"Not.. Even... Close.." Kagari laughed, Minato chuckled; Ku winced as Miya and her opponent went at it again.
"Oh, by the way, I might need a favour later" Kagari spoke, again distracting Benitsubasa.
"Should I ask what" Minato inquired as his fingers moved through Ku's long blonde tresses as she winced each time Miya landed a blow on the Pink haired newcomer to the household.
"No, just a promise I made. Its not a sure thing yet tho"
Minato simply nodded
Above from within the ceiling, Matsu simply watched Haihane as she seemed to keep as close to her Ashikabi as any of the others would. The former Disciplinary squad member found herself chuckling evilly to herself 'KuKuKu, interesting, interesting indeed'.
- o MBI HQ - Hospital o -
Takami grumbled as she slowly slipped from the bed, it had taken some hours before her assistant had managed to get a doctor to approve her for return to her duty. 'Two whole fucking days lost. Two days.. from a bloody fainting spell' she ranted in her mind. She grabbed her cigarettes, swiftly lite one up and changed from the hospital where someone had managed to get her into.
She reached for her cell phone, which had been charging and stormed out from the room. Patience was at its end, and she would get back to work.
"Yuki, have they tried that bootstrap yet of those systems?" she snapped as she entered her office, heading straight into her desk, hitting the power to bring it up.
"N.. No ma'am. They expect it within the hour"
Takami nodded as she sucked on the death-stick, watching as the display gave minimal access, indicating all but a handful of systems where down. "Hospital records, nothing I can use" she cursed
The personal assistant simply stood there, watching, knowing there was nothing she could do. She slipped away back to her desk just outside the door, and waited.
Takami flipped her phone open, glanced at the image of her happy little family before it had grown up. "Imma gonna kill him, I swear" she muttered mostly to herself. With that, she scrolled down the list of contacts, and rested the indicator on her sons entry.
"Fuck it, YUKI" she hollered loudly, "I want a car brought around for me. I need to make a small visit!". A moment later her assistant could be heard making the request, as Takami slammed her cell phone closed, and stormed out of the office, already on her way "Call me when they are ready to bring the damn system up. DON'T let them until I get back!"
A/N: Yes, there is a chapter 13 has been written, and 14 has one page.. It does NOT stop here. From the looks of it, as I said above, it might not stop there. I need to decide what if anything I'm going to do with Haihane.. wing her to Minato? don't? Send Natsu and Karasuba off to collect her.. I don't know.. Haihane isnt a character I'm overly fond of, OR understand to much (she is way underused tho in my opinion)
On top of that, I had an idea for another story, that I might well be able to integrate into this story, two additional ideas in fact. Its possible I could double the length of this if I really wanted to and NOT put them into just another fic. It would be nice, I like the longer stories, there's more meat to sink into.
