2 days after the events of the previous chapter
Soul yawned at the table during breakfast. Benitsubasa and Tsukiumi fought for his attention but he was too tired from stupid shit he did the night before to actually intervene and instead just complied with their fighting.
"I am his legal wife, thou art a concubine!" Tsukiumi exclaimed, a vein of anger appearing on her head.
"No, I'm his wife you blond haired cow!" Benitsubasa screamed back in anger.
Musubi spoke up suddenly from behind Soul"I want to be Soul-sama's wife too!" They pulled and tugged at him, making him sigh internally, as long as they didn't start fighting, he would just allow them to continue. After a few minutes they stopped their arguing and snuggled up to Soul.
He relaxed, finally getting some semblance of silence, and finished eating. But, he froze up as he felt someone run their tongue up his neck to behind his ears "Show me some love too ashikabi-sama" Karasuba whispered into his ear in a sultry voice. He shivered and swallowed hard, he still would never get used to Karasuba's aggressive advances.
After his sekirei finally released him, he sat at his desk in his room. He had his laptop open and had been looking at some news article about the arboretum growing erratically in a matter of a few days. Though, he paid the article no mind as he thought about 'Ku' and if whether she was real or not. Not being able to suppress the curiosity any longer, he exited his room and knocked on the false wall of Matsu (and now Kochō's) room.
"Come in~" Matsu called out, knowing it was her ashikabi. Soul entered the room and Matsu asked with a perverted grin "What would you like to do my ashikabi?"
"I need help, Matsu... with something serious." He said, closing the false door behind him.
Matsu put on a serious face "What do you need Soul-tan?" Kochō stopped typing and looked towards her ashikabi.
"I think there is a sekirei in trouble"
"How do you know?" Matsu said, sitting down on her mattress seating.
"I dreamt of her, it was like the time I dreamt of Tsukiumi"
Matsu and Kochō turned back to the computers "Explain her appearance ashikabi-sama"
"She is a young girl with long golden colored hair. I think her eyes were an... emerald colour and she was wearing a plain white dress when I saw her. Oh, and her name was..." Shit, he forgot, he should have written it down or something "Ku… I think" The two computer experts began to type quickly and eventually a picture of No.108 Kusano appeared onto the main middle screen.
"Is this the girl Soul-kun?" Matsu asked, turning back to her ashikabi.
"Yes, do you know her location?" Soul replied.
"It said she was lost from certain undisclosed circumstances and we seem to not be able to find her via her tracker" Kochō responded
"Tracker?" Soul questioned.
"Yes, all sekirei are installed with tracker chips after their adjustments are completed." Kochō answered.
"I removed my own, but that was before I came to Maison Izumo when I was still on the run." Matsu chimed in.
"Why were you on the run?" Soul asked, her statement peaking his curiosity.
"For this" Matsu said with a satisfied grin as she picked up a large crystal with the numbers 08 inscribed at the top middle "It's called a Jinki"
"What does it even do?" He questioned as Matsu handed the Jinki to him.
"I don't know, Minaka left no information about it on the MBI database except for that it will be used in the end of the plan" Matsu explained, bringing up a picture of all of the Jinki "Maybe Miya-san would know something"
"Hm, I'll ask her then." Soul paused for a moment "Can you remove everyone's tracker?"
"Yes but..." She paused.
"But what?"
"It is completely against the rules, so much that I'm not sure what Minaka will do."
"I don't care. I'm tired of having to subject you all to danger. I'm tired of having to fight and kill senselessly. I am going to end this, for all of you." Soul gritted his teeth "What can he do anyway, the disciplinary squad doesn't even exist anymore"
Matsu hugged him tightly in response, causing him to calm down considerably "I'll do it as soon as I can" she broke away from him and Kochō moved to her side. Matsu grinned pervertedly "Now let's take out payment"
"Payment?" Her grin grew wider and they pushed him down to take off his shirt and pants.
But, before they could try anything Miya opened the false wall with her Hannya mask next to her face "Soul~"
"W-wait Miya I didn't do any-GACK" she beat him with the wooden paddle and hit Matsu and Kochō a couple times.
She dragged Soul out of the room. "You're so rough with our ashikabi Miya-chan" Kazehana said next to her.
"Just making sure he understands the rules." Miya responded, really she was jealous, it was obvious he didn't break any rules, but she would never admit that aloud.
Minaka was growing bored, Soul hadn't fought anyone for too long.
"E-excuse me sir, sekirei numbers two and twenty two have accessed the data file of 'The Green Girl'" A lab worker said nervously to Minaka, careful not to entice a rant from the man, as his co-workers warned him for being a newbie.
"Hm? Yes, yes I don't care. Go away, I'm busy" the lab worker nodded before taking his leave quickly, glad to not have caused any insane banter from the man. Minaka stared at his work files (game device) for a moment until a thought occured in his mind 'He wouldn't check information on a sekirei unless it was reacting to him, so...' he thought. Minaka was under the notion that he knew everything about 'The God Ashikabi' and how he acted. He squealed and sent out a message to all ashikabi except for Soul about Kusano and her current location.
It had been about ten minutes since the message was sent out and Soul was currently taking a power nap on the couch with the tv on. Akitsu was sleeping soundly on his chest acting as a blanket for the ashikabi. His phone began to ring loudly which roused him out of his slumber. He reached for the phone and answered it groggily "Mhm?"
"Soul…" Takami called out through the phone, sounding incredibly tired and strained.
"Oh hello Takami-san, how did you get my number?" He asked, his mind slowly waking up.
"No time... Too injured... Might not… make it" As he sobered up from his sleep, he could hear her labored breathing.
"Wait, what happened" he asked with a worried tone, accidentally causing Akitsu to be woken up.
"Save Kusano... Fucking… Minaka" she texted him what Minaka sent out.
Hello ashikabi! I have a special little prize game for you all! As you know, the arboretum has overgrown drastically over the past few days. Well, the reason was there is a certain little sekirei in there, with powers that are unadjusted and raw. This is a first come first serve battle everyone! Information down below.
No. 108 Kusano
Powers: Control of plant life
Current Status: UNWINGED…
Toodles!
He was silent for a moment as he read the notice with a clenched fist "I'll save her, I swear" he stood up with the still tired Akitsu and paused "and... if you don't make it, thank you for all you did for me Okaa-san" Takami smiled lightly, happy at the fact her son called her mother. She ended the call having no more energy to speak for the time being and fell asleep. Soul got everyone ready and they left for the botanical gardens, Soul bringing a freshly renewed hatred for Minaka.
Soul and his sekirei (barring, again, Miya and Matsu) made it to the arboretum in only a few seconds. Infront of the large arboretum, there was a massive amount of guards surrounding its entirety, so many that it was just a waste of resources at that point. The most secure point being the front entrance "Okay, let's make some noise people. Yomi, I need you to come in with me for extra support, I'm not really good in areas like this."
"Anything for you Soul-sama" she purred, snuggling close to his side.
"Everyone else I need you to hold back the military" they gave a collective sign of their understanding.
Soul walked to about ten meters in front of the armed guards "Scram fuckhead, there ain't nothing to see here" one of them told him.
"Hey, kid, go, before you get hurt." Another one said, in a more compassionate voice.
Soul cleared his throat "ALRIGHT, LISTEN UP YOU CANNON FODDER, THOSE WHO WANT TO LIVE GO, RIGHT NOW, OR I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU"
The first guard scoffed before shoving his pistol under Soul's chin "Shut the fuck up you little chicken shit, before I send you home to your mother"
Soul raised his fist upwards and slammed it into the man's head, shattering almost, if not all, the bones in his body on impact, reducing him to a pile of crimson sludge on the ground "Anyone else" Those who wanted to see their families again, booked it without another question, those who remained carried heavy fire power "Hibiki! Hikari!"
"Okay!" They clasped two of their hands together and held the other two out towards the military "Thunder of standing needles!" They yelled.
They shot a giant storm of lightning towards the guards but Soul caught it mid air and it fused to become a giant red lightning bolt "GOD'S BOLT" he threw the red pulsating bolt and completely obliterated all of them that were in front of the entrance way, leaving nothing but burnt flesh and ash.
"Since when can you use lightning Soul-sama?" Hikari asked, trying to ignore the fresh scent of scorched remains.
"I can use almost all destructive elements, and well, some other various elements, but any except fire-" there was a large healing gash on the arm he used to throw "inflicts bodily harm because I don't practice with them often. Plus, it just takes too much energy out of me to do them. Well, enough of that, we have little time to waste, let's go Yomi!" The others spread out and began to attack the military forces while Yomi followed Soul into the foliage of the dense forest.
"Let's makes some heads roll girls" Karasuba said with a grin as she cut four people's head off at once.
They were halted by a seriously pissed off Sai, well, ⅘ of her (he he).
"Out of the way!" Soul yelled.
"Fuck you! You burned off my arm asshat!" Sai responded, equally loud.
Soul growled angrily and Yomi spoke up. "Soul-sama, you go on, I'll take care of this"
"Are you sure?"
"I'll cut down armies for you my love" she replied, a happy smile forming on her lips.
"Okay, but first" he kissed her lovingly, making her wings sprout from her back. After a moment he broke away "Come back safe" he ran deeper into the forest, knowing that Yomi would win against such an opponent.
When Soul was gone she turned to face Sai and chanted "This is the scythe of my pledge, may it reap those who oppose my ashikabi" making her scythe glow a deep red and grow bigger gradually.
"Ku! Ku! Where are you Ku!" He yelled out, trying to locate her as best he could in the dense forest .
"Onii-chan!" Kusano called out from the tree. He ran over and collected her into his arms. She began crying into his shoulder as he attempted to calm her down. With his back turned Oriha nervously crept up on him along with No.19 Ikki and No. 42 Mirabelle, who was currently keeping much further back from the other two. Oriha threw a gear at Soul's back but it was blocked by another blade.
"Back off" Mutsu threatened.
Soul turned around holding Ku "Mutsu, why are you-?"
"Let me make myself clear" he announced ignoring his question "I do not, ahem,'play for the same side', but, I'm reacting to you so I shall fight alongside you"
He nodded "Oh don't worry, I'll think nothing about that" Mutsu, who didn't want to make it seem weird, pecked Soul on the lips quickly making his wings sprout. Mutsu held his sword out and Soul whispered to Kusano "Ku-chan, cover your ears and sing to you self while covering your eyes" she made a face filled with fear "Please, do it for your Onii-chan" her face lit up and she nodded. Soul patted her head and Kusano covered her eyes and ears. Ikki suddenly felt frightened by the pair. "Mutsu, you take care of Oriha, I'll get the one with swords, and also, don't kill her"
"As you wish, good luck" Mutsu dashed towards Oriha who used her gears to deflect attacks while Soul rushed Ikki, not noticing Mirabelle creating a 'nest' in a tree about 40 or so meters away. Ikki could barely hold Soul back (though he was only trying to make her run away) and Mutsu efficiently knocked Oriha the fuck out.
Soul's ears perked up as he heard the familiar sound of a bolt action rifle being readied and dropped down to avoid a bullet "What the fuck?" Mirabelle re-readied her rifle with a stoic face before aiming down her sights. Soul kicked back Ikki and avoided another bullet. Getting tired of being shot at, he set a bush ablaze, creating the perfect smoke screen. With his sniper assailant unable to get a shot, he kicked away Ikki's swords.
"Damn" Mirabelle whispered as she lowered her gun, there was no point in wasting ammo on a lost target, she'll just have to brave her ashikabi's punishment again...
Ikki fell to her knees, knowing she was beaten"I failed..." She began to cry "No! No! I failed again. He's going to beat me again, I don't want to be beaten!" She yelled out as she cried harder. Soul paused feeling a pang of mercy and sympathy for her. He press his fingers to the back of her neck and broke the bond with her and Higa. She looked up and Soul and began to react to him but was too afraid to do anything about it.
He helped her up "if you don't have a place to stay you could come with us, I'm sure we have space for you" she nodded, meekly. Soul picked up Kusano and began to exit the forest. They met up with a bloodied Yomi about halfway there and continued on with her at Soul's side. Kusano fell asleep in Soul's arms as they entered into the massive blood bath which was once the large military force that guarded the botanical gardens. "Jesus… Everyone, let's head back!"
Karasuba pulled her sword out of someone and made her way towards him with the others feeling satisfied with the amount of killing she was able to do, though, she felt a little guilty deep inside.
Minaka did not know what had just happened because he planning the new version of the end game. "This will be the ultimate test for you. If you can beat this you shall be a true god" he whispered with a crazed grin adorning his face.
Mirabelle collect the still unconscious Oriha, think about what Soul did to Ikki, maybe… No, that was some illusion, it couldn't have been what she thought it was. With Oriha on her back, the two made their way back to Higa, ready to be punished harshly again.
Jesus this took me way too long. I'm sorry for that, I didn't get much sleep last night so this was kind of hard to write but I did this to the best of my abilities. Have a flaming question? A cool suggestion? Some advice or a pointer? Send me a review or a PM and I'll be sure to get right back to you.
Update 04/17/16: added in much more detail in scenes. Fixed Yomi's norito. Added in another sekirei that will fuck with the story further. Oriha is still alive. Added extra scenes. Fixed certain dialogue. Cut repetitiveness. Sleep is for the weak. Oh, and be prepared for added sekirei OCs because I accidentally killed/winged them off.
No. 42 Mirabelle
Weapon: Bolt-action rifle with different scopes
Appearance: She had cropped blond hair with dead looking blue eyes. She wears a tight fitting white shit and an equally tight fitting pair black combat shorts. Around her waist is a belt that holds her magazines and certain scopes for certain distances.
Special powers: Her eyesight is much better than a regular human's, but that doesn't mean she can see in complete darkness nor through heavy smoke. Her hearing is also much more improved than a human's, providing her with the perfect situational awareness, but, loud sounds do not hinder her ability to fight.
Personality: She has a sort of dead fish like personality because of Higa's treatment towards her. It acts as a wall to deflect emotional damage given by her abusive ashikabi.
