A/N: I don't own Sekirei. Remember to support the mangaka where possible.
My apologies. You know how writers block is I'm sure. I got hit with a massive one, and I'm afraid I wasn't exactly far enough ahead to handle a full month of it. (It was actually more, but while I have been writing its not nearly been as much)
Im going to publish this, but over Christmas I hope to get my groove back. I am not sure if I'm gonna take 'Regrets' through to the end of the plan or not. I've seriously considered it. Just.. not sure.
There should be a couple more? Maybe 20 total chapters unless something happens to inspire me!..
enjoy! (Happy birthday to me!)
- o MBI o -
Minaka sat at his desk, looking out the large expanse of windows. It was early evening, the lights across the city gave an almost christmas-like feel to the scenery. "Has Takami-san returned?" he inquired of his assistant.
"No sir. No, she isn't back yet."
Minaka nodded, "Have her brought to me the moment she returns." and with a flair of his hand he dismissed her, a stupid grin on his face. One of glee.
The woman nodded, and slowly backed out of the office, returning to her desk to make the necessary arrangements.
Yuki stood at the entry, waiting as the Limo arrived. The door opened as its occupant righted herself, her eyes fell on her assistant immediately, and with but a look she knew. "The bastard wants to see me?" Takami verified, puffing on a cigarette.
The assistant nodded "He was very adamant about it. He is aware of the situation. Fully aware I believe Ma'am"
"Shit, what's he gonna expect.." half talking to herself as she marched into the building, her assistant falling in behind her "Give me a report on systems status". A short moment later, she was inserting a special keycard into a slot within the elevator.
"I.T. believes we will be successful. They have worked non-stop, and have run simulations, done virtual tests on cloned systems and reported all seems favourable, as requested, they are waiting on you."
Takami nodded as the doors opened "I will be there shortly, I need to deal with this.." she broke off as she thumbed upwards, as the door closed.
Moments later she had entered Minaka's office. His receptionist barely looked up from her magazine, KNOWING who had been summoned, and not one to get in the way of these two. She certainly knew better.
"AAAh, Takami-san, glad to see you back' Minaka grinned, that foolish smile on his face that could drive Takami to drink at the best of times. This time was no different.
"I'm VERY busy Minaka, what is it you need?"
"Very simple, I want to know how our little birds are settling in at their new home at Maison Izumo."
Takami just stared at him "I guess it was too much to hope that you wouldn't find out so soon" she tugged at another cigarette replacing the one she had just finished. A stream of smoke puffed and began filling the room.
"You know Takami, such a filthy habit, you should stop.." he grinned as he turned his back to her, and stepped to the large expanse of windows looking out over the city.
"You know a well as I do, I almost quit. Then you start with your shit again" she took a heavy drag of the cigarette in her mouth, the smoke expanded outward, rings in the atmosphere about her as she then continued "So, what do you plan on doing? Recalling the two of them forcefully? Disciplining my son for taking away members of the squad? Break a promise to Takehito and have Miya's home attacked?" the growl of anger could clearly be heard in her voice as if she was preparing to attack him. Her hand HAD enclosed around a rather heavy reference book sitting on Minaka's desk ready to strike him.
"Oh nothing so quaint. I actually plan to let things play out. No need to interfere."
"Wait.. what?" Takami stood there, stunned. She was sure Minaka would attempt to stir up something new for his damned game.
"Truth be told Takami. The next phase will start soon enough. Natsuo hasn't approached me about those TWO missing members, so I see no need to bring it to bare. Perhaps.."
"Don't fucking tell me.." Takami pinched the bridge of her nose.
"..Fate". The word echoed from both of them in unison. No more than a fraction of a second off.
"Minaka, so help me gods, I'm gonna kill you one day with your fate shit." Takami just shook her head, puffing on the cigarette.
"No, you know me too well dear. Besides, there is no telling what would happen if something happened to me. Who knows, maybe Karasuba has instructions to let loose and clean up the sekirei plan and the 'mess' surrounding it."
"Fuck, no. Tell me you .." Takami fell silent.
"I won't. The plan just needs to play out to its end, whatever happens after, well, lets let the gods decide" Minaka turned to look at her, the high collared cloak floating behind him as his eyes came to bare on her.
"Are we done? Do you think I could possibly get back to work. If the system can't come up, we can't possibly hope to move on to the next phase." Takami really did not want to be in his presence any longer, she might kill him to spite him.
"Strictly speaking, we don't NEED the systems up. " his finger tapped a small tablet on his desk, various data displayed 'After all, I'm not so foolish to rely on just the MBI mainframe for my little game" he smiled again, corner of his lip curling almost evilly, 'But, yes, you can go. But tell me Takami, where Benitsubasa, and Haihane 'Happy'?". The question from the president very much uncharacteristic.
"Like you care asshole..." she paused a moment. She had turned and already reached the door. She turned, and replied "Yes. Minato seems to be quite the maturing young man able to keep his Sekirei 'happy'". A moment later, she had exited the office, and was well on her way.
Minaka smiled, "as expected of a son of MINE." He turned again to look out over the city, He couldn't help but wonder what the future would hold. "I have no doubt you will do well son, I have no doubt". Silence filled the office as he simply stared out over the bustling city.
o - o
"Report" snapped Takami as she entered the control room of MBI's server mainframe. It was apparent she was annoyed, and none of those working at that point wished to annoy her further. They had seen the consequences felt by others.
"We took the additional time and retested. We ran a forced event through a virtual clone of the mainframe, and it seemed to hold up. Data is stable, nothing corrupted as far as we could tell. We still can't GUARANTEE there won't be another instance of this. We do not however foresee a second instance."
Takami mumbled mostly to herself "Don't be to sure about that.." as she leaned over the workbench, looking at the result of the last and most recent test.
"I'm sorry Ma'am? I didn't.. " one technician responded to her words.
"Forget it, its not important" she snapped at him. "So, all systems are go?"
The technician looked to the others as they all nodded "Yes ma'am. Waiting for you to give the word"
Takami nodded, and within a half hour, and one minor hardware 'glitch' later, the MBI systems were back online.
- o o -
"ITS UP" Kocho's voice rang out in the office of Higa's corporation. Her fingers began rapidly working at the security system in front of her.
Kakizaki smiled "This will be good news for Higa. Better news when you tell me your 'in'".
Kocho sighed. The Sekirei took a deep breath after long minutes passed. As her fingers stopped typing for a moment "No, it seems the usual methods are now fully blocked. Whatever they did, they certainly threw up dozens, if not hundreds of system patches"
"So, you're telling me its impossible?"
"Far from it. It.. will just take time." With that, Kocho's fingers began hammering at the keyboard again, she cracked the security once. She would do so again.
o o - o o
It had been a couple hours since Takami had departed, Matsu had decided to finally tempt fate and try to regain access.
Matsu smiled, "aah, I see, good, good, yes... alright, lets try.." Matsu's fingers slipped carefully over her keyboard. A small window popped up, she ran a half dozen programs, quickly switching between them and then she smiled.
"Well, that was quite literally child's play". Her eyes surveyed what she had initially had access to, she grunted and began again "Not bad, not bad, but Minaka, you really should know, no one is a match for the Sekirei of Wisdom"
Matsu was up all night, regaining the control she once had. By morning, she planned to have the access she had back.
- - o - -
Miya looked up from the kitchen, the phone was ringing, she prepared to answer it, but found she was too late.
"Hello?"
"I see"
"Alright, not tonight though."
"Alright ka-san, call me later." Minato replaced the receiver on the old style telephone base.
"Minato?" Miya inquired..
"That was my mom. She said the MBI computers are fine, they think they recovered everything. Apparently some new drug might be delayed due to the downtime.." he scratched the back of his head slightly "Not that I understand most of it, it went right over my head"
Miya smiled "well, Im sure Matsu will be happy."
A moment later the residents heard a "WHOOP" from Matsu's hidden room as she screamed in pleasure. The two of them smiled looking at each other knowingly.
o - o
It had been a few uneventful days. Minato was relaxing on the side porch watching Benitsubasa and Musubi spar off under the watchful gaze of not only himself, but Miya.
"Benitsubasa, your side is open", "follow through", "Musubi, pay attention, you have an opening"
At the last, Musubi went flying as Benitsubasa landed a strike from first a fist, then a follow up roundhouse type kick. Musubi was caught off guard. She stood, smiling and gleeful "I'm SOOO excited. A strong opponent" she called. Seconds later she was throwing herself back into the spar with her fellow sekirei.
Benitsubasa just shook her head, her tongue half sticking out the side. She half rolled her eyes as she made a motion to her sparring partner to 'come'.
Minato's phone rang just then, a quick glance at the phone told him exactly who was calling.
"Uhm, Hi mom."
"Hello Mina-tan. We need you to come down to the research lab tomorrow morning. I've setup an appointment for you, bring Benitsubasa and Haihane with you." the voice paused a moment, "you know what, bring Ku and another too. I don't care who else." came his mother's voice over the device.
"Alright mom. We will be there".
- o -
Takami paused and glanced at the image of her family before she flipped cell phone closed. She set it down on her desk, before her was a computer screen with various data displayed. She had been going through the data involving the last instance of her son making a visit to MBI's Clinic. "Well Minato, lets see what we can find." her visage almost seemed to frown. "I knew I didn't want you involved in this stupid game.."
- o - o -
Minaka chuckled to himself as he adjusted the high collar on his cloak. The familiar sound of Takami's and Minato's voices came to an end from the miniature earpiece stuck in his ear. He turned to look out over the city from his favourite viewing point atop his tower. "Now, what my son, what surprises might you provide for my little game from this point out.."
o - o - o
Tsukiumi stood at the front door, a huge scowl on her face. "Mine Husband, I ought to be the one.." She was complaining.
"I explained this Tsukiumi. My mother specifically stated how many should accompany me. Benitsubasa and Haihane for obvious reasons. She specified Ku, and I want to make sure Musubi... After the bridge escape.." Minato frowned. He had absentmindedly not thought about Tsukiumi's unending need to be at his side, and to be included in anything involving him.
"But.." Tsukiumi began again.
Kazehana swooped in behind her, extending her arms about Tsukiumi's body. "Come on. you're not jealous are you? He's leaving me - Be-hin-ed too" she smiled from behind her. Tsukiumi barely managed to squirm away from the Wind Sekirei before she locked her grasp on.
"I promise, I'll take you along next time ok?" Minato shifted towards her, red faced as he took her in his arm very briefly.
Kazehana smiled as Tsukiumi soaked in her Ashikabi's attentions for the split second she had them. Far too soon however, he and the four others were out the door.
- o -
MBI of course had elected to send a limo for the four. Not only was it Minato, but it was two members of the Disciplinary Squad. Minaka wished for them to arrive in style.
The ride was uneventful, Benitsubasa and Haihane couldn't help but chuckle at how 'Fish out of water' Minato seemed.
"Never been in a limo before Mina-tan?" the pink haired Sekirei inquired.
"Well, no. I'm JUST a ronin after all. Nothing special." His gaze continued about the rear compartment. Champaign sat in a bucket of ice, a fridge beside it to one side. Of course Minato decided to just leave it be.
"Nothing special?" Musubi chimed. Suddenly both she and Benitsubasa where fighting on either side him. Ku, across from him glaring at them both. Haihane just laughed.
"Nothing is more special than our Ashikabi" the two beside him seemed to chime at once. Each trying to gain the 'upper hand' in holding him.
o - o
Takami was standing at the outside doors when the Limo with her son arrived. She watched as the smoke ascended from her cigarette. The chauffeur opened the rear door and first her son Stepped out, followed by four of his Sekirei.
A/N: Another chapter will likely be in the new year. I do have another story plotting in my head to continue this a bit. Whether I do so here or in a new story I'll decide later.