Benitsubasa was the first to recover herself.
"Geez, I must've hit you harder than I thought…"
"Quiet!" Musubi snapped, or Yume or whoever she was. "Since when has the Discipline Squad sunk to bullying Sekirei? You're supposed to be protecting the little birds, helping to keep them safe while they find their destined ones! As your senior, I will not tolerate this."
The Red Sekirei grimaced at this and darted back, positioning herself next to her teammate. Who did this loose screw think she was?
"Just try it, Benitsubasa snarled. "Beating you down will be even better the second time." Haihane was no less rearing to go, the two flying at the revitalized Sekirei.
This turned out to be a mistake. "Yume" curled the fingers of her free hand into an open-palm and light gathered itself into a sphere. She thrust her hand forward, unleashing her Photonic energies in a devastating pink beam. The column of light caught Numbers 104 and 105 head-on, the wind from the blast blowing away the steel girders pinning down Kazehana.
The Wind Sekirei, for a moment, lay in awe at the display before her. She'd heard of the amazing level of power that the late Number 8 had packed, but to see it in action was really something else.
Then, realizing that the two enemy Sekirei were now sailing overhead, Kazehana took the opportunity to soar to Minato, stumbling a bit on her landing. Her Ashikabi clumsily reached out to steady her, though he put his hand a little too low for her liking. Kazehana placed it on her breast, feeling some of her energy return to her from the bond they shared, flashing a weary smile at Minato as he tried to sputter an embarrassed retort. For her part, Kazehana was glad to be once again between her lover and her foes.
When the afterglow of the light faded, the two enemy Sekirei lay on the ground, spots floating in front of their eyes. Kusano, overcoming her own fear, ran over to her older siblings. She completely overlooked Kazehana's display and hugged Minato's leg, tearfully eying the enemy and waiting for them to come again. But looking at the fallen Discipline Squad, her eyes began to sparkle in admiration at the tough lady who'd taught them a lesson. Served them right for being so nasty.
"Urgh... What was that?" Haihane asked groggily, looking up at the nearly nude woman standing over her. "Who are you?"
"MBI Affiliate, Guardian of the S Plan, Chief of the Discipline Squad, Sekirei of Fate, Number 08, Yume," came the long-winded reply. She reached down and grasped each opponent by the ankle, hoisting them upside down into the air. "You two need more love in your hearts. Without it, you'll never be strong."
With that, Number 08 spun around and flung the screaming forms of 104 and 105 far up the river, out of sight and out of mind. The others could only gawk at her, having so casually dispatched the two that had given them so much trouble. Yume then turned to the assembled group, her hands back to covering her breasts.
She sighed dreamily, closing her eyes and lifting her head high. "The care-free affection for friends, the intimate bond between lovers, the ironclad devotion of partners, but most of all…"
She strode forward, placing a hand on Minato's face.
"Your feelings for Musubi, the love pouring out of your heart…"
She reached around and guided his head to her bosom, a gesture that made both Kazehana and Kusano just a little bit jealous. Kazehana managed to keep it under wraps, whereas Kusano's reddened nose had puffs of steam coming out.
"That's what I felt, even the way I was," Yume continued. "Musubi couldn't have chosen a more wonderful person to be with."
Minato felt at ease, being held like this. He knew it wasn't Musubi who clutched him to her chest, but despite the amazing power she'd just displayed, there was something calming about Yume's aura. It reached down and pulled at his very soul. It reassured him that everything was going to be okay, not just with the escape plan, but with the rest of his life. He could drift away on this feeling. It was like floating on a soft cloud, high in the sky, not a care in the world.
"Yume-san..." Minato asked, his question muffled somewhat by her boobs. "What was that vision I had?"
Yume looked down at her de facto Ashikabi, smiling warmly. "Of me?"
"No, the one right before you- before we woke up."
He was about to go further into detail, but just then, a chill settled on the bridge. From the darkness of the riverbank, where the bridge joined the city, came a black silhouette. It already had its sword drawn, hungry to taste blood.
"I was hoping you'd show up, Yume," Karasuba said. "You can't imagine how happy I am to see you."
"Karasuba," Yume replied cordially. "You're looking well."
"Oh, I'm better than well."
Her sword angled up and pointed at Yume's heart. Screaming Yume's name like the hunting dog baying at the fox, Karasuba flew at her old teammate, Minato being roughly passed to Kazehana as The Sekirei of Fate cleared the way for her opponent.
"Karasuba," Yume said, ducking and weaving around the deadly web of steel, "I'm not going to fight you."
Karasuba's overhead slash was guided away by the back of Yume's gloved hand, steering it clear of her body without leaving so much as a nick on the red leather.
"I leave that to-"
Karasuba stopped her blade a hair's breadth from Yume's neck. Just like that, the calming aura was gone.
"Karasuba-sama? When did you get here?" Musubi asked, confused. She put a finger to her lip, apparently forgetting about her lack of a shirt. "The last thing I remember was being downed by Number 105, and then… Huh…"
Karasuba stepped back. "You need to keep training," she said, sheathing her sword. "If someone like Benitsubasa was able to beat you, then you'll never make it to the final match."
"I will!" Musubi exclaimed, clenching her fist. "I'm not going to lose to anyone, never again!"
"That's the spirit," The Black Sekirei murmured, turning to leave and making no motion towards the two would-be escapees. Satisfied yet not, Karasuba leapt off. Woe be to any unfortunate enough to cross paths with her this night.
Minato and the others were just as surprised as when Yume first "awakened". But questions about numbers had to wait, because Matsu had some bad news for everyone.
"Minato!" The Wisdom Sekirei's voice barked over earpiece. "I just lost control of the satellites! They're aligning themselves to fire on the bridge!"
"Looks like it's now or never, you two!" Minato said, helping Shigi and Kuno to their feet.
"But the bridge is out! We can't make a jump like that!" Kuno whimpered.
"I could throw you across," Musubi suggested. Her offer was hastily but politely declined.
"I'll give you a lift, as best I can," Kazehana said, pushing herself away from Minato, both he and little Ku helping to steady her.
The elopers looked at each other, and then nodded. A fall into the river was worth the risk if it meant freedom.
"Ready?" Kazehana asked. Shigi and Kuno nodded. The two began running towards the fifteen-meter gap in the bridge, putting every last ounce of energy into their last mad dash for freedom. They made the jump, and felt the winds lift them up as they soared across the chasm.
But Kazehana was still weak. Shigi and Kuno's flight was cut short as they began to fall, Kazehana struggling to keep them afloat. It seemed gravity was once again intent on stopping a bird from taking flight.
But then, from under the bridge, a pair of white tendrils wrapped themselves around the pair, lifting them and flinging them across the gap. Kazehana's efforts shifted to slowing their descent, which she was able to do enough so that they merely stumbled forward upon landing.
No one was looking her way, but Kazehana was grinning, ever so slightly.
"Sahashi-san!" Shigi called. "Aren't you coming with us?"
"I can't!" Minato called back. "There's something I still have to do here! I don't know what it is, exactly, but I have a feeling that only I can do it!"
"Well, then, good luck!" Shigi called, taking off at full-tilt across the remainder of the bridge just as the satellite's laser reached the ground. It blinded everyone in its presence with it ray, but when their sight returned, they could see that Kuno and Shigi had made it safely to terra firma. At last, beyond MBI's reach, beyond the chaos of the Sekirei Plan, they were finally free.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As Minato and his Sekirei limped home, they spied a familiar gi-clad slab waiting for them on the sidewalk. He had the unconscious form of Number 9, Tsukiumi, slung over his shoulder. Kazehana recognized him immediately, for having one's hangover beaten to death by an angry fist of yelling made for a memorable first encounter.
"Well, Izanagi and me couldn't just up and leave, could we?" he said. "I was ready to jump in and help when..." He trailed off and frowned. "What happened out there, anyway?"
"It's a long story," Kazehana said. Ku nodded in agreement, though she had no idea what had transpired herself.
Minato, for one, was more focused on the blonde woman Kagedansu was carrying.
"What happened to Tsukiumi?" he asked.
"From what I could tell, she was jumped by The Black Sekirei," Kagedansu said. "I found her just after the fight ended. Passed out right as I got to her."
"You didn't want to fight her?" Musubi asked. Minato was tempted to nudge his Sekirei and remind her that they still wanted Tsukiumi to join them, they were in no condition to fight should Kagedansu want payback for his skirmish with her, and they really shouldn't give him any ideas. Fortunately, The Shadow Sekirei shook his head.
"And miss the look on her face when she finally caves and wings herself on this kid?" Kagedansu replied, nodding at Minato. "Not a chance."
"Minato's not a kid!" Musubi yelled. "He's a wonderful, kind person-"
"Easy, Musubi!" Minato interjected, stepping between the two.
Izanagi remained silent on the matter, as per usual.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As they neared the inn, Matsu was waiting at the front door, too anxious to worry about being seen.
"Who's that?" Kagedansu asked.
"Minato! Guys! You're all back!" Matsu shouted. "When I saw all the troop movements, I was-"
Matsu was interrupted as Minato, having found a hidden reserve of energy, let go of Kusano's tiny hand, raced up to the front door, and planted a kiss on her lips, hugging her tightly to him. Matsu was completely caught off-guard by this, as was everyone else.
"Well, that's one way to explain it," Izanagi mumbled, drawing a chortle from his Sekirei.
Matsu was too caught up in Minato's wanton display of affection to hear, her golden wings lighting up the hallway as she leaned into her Ashikabi. The only way this could get better was if their clothes spontaneously exploded into confetti.
"We couldn't have done it without you, Matsu," Minato said, releasing her and looking into her eyes. "Thank you."
"Sure," Matsu said woozily, readjusting her glasses. "No problem."
Upon seeing the green-eyed reception Minato's other Sekirei were giving him, the two brothers tried to repress their rising snickers. Only Izanagi was successful.
"Minato, I'm hurt!" Kazehana groaned, swooning against his back. "Won't you take care of me?"
"I need attention, too!" Musubi said, claiming one of his arms.
"Big brother?" Kusano asked, clutching his leg and looking up at him.
Minato tried in vain to disentangle himself but his Sekirei were having none of it, further delaying their treatment.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tsukiumi awoke in a strange place. A window in a simple room showed her the sunlight, so it was at the very least the next morning. She was in loose-fitting blue pajamas, her dress hung up beside the bedroll she lay upon. She sat up, and right away felt wrappings constrict themselves around her wounded flesh. Someone had bandaged her up, apparently. And stripped her nude to do so. She had a feeling, from the heat rising within her, who it was.
A woman with purple hair opened the door, right when Tsukiumi was in the middle of grinding her teeth.
"Where am I?" she demanded. "That Ashikabi! Did he violate me whilst I slept?!"
"Quite the opposite," the purple-haired woman said. "My tenant was kind enough to carry you up here and tend to your wounds."
Tenant, Tsukumi thought. If she is Sahashi-san's landlady, then I am at a place of rest.
"He said," the woman continued, "'If anyone's going to make Tsukiumi mad at them, it might as well be me'."
Tsukiumi was a little taken aback by this, and the purple-haired woman chuckled.
"Why, Tsukiumi-san, I do believe you're blushing."
Composing herself, The Water Sekirei got up, feeling the tug of her bandages on her flesh.
"If thou wouldst not mind, I wish to return to the outside," she said, turning her back to the woman.
"That's fine, Tsukiumi-san," the landlady said as she slid the door closed. "Just know that I have a room here if you change your mind about Minato."
The woman slid the door shut behind her as Tsukiumi began to undress, her mind occupied by other things.
Again he attempts to woo me. Thou art truly tenacious, Sahashi Minato.
Finally clothed, her attire mysteriously free of sword-cuts, Tsukiumi made her way down the hall, down the steps, and out the front door. As it happened, she ran into Minato on her way out.
"Tsukiumi-san," he said pleasantly. "Glad to see you're back on your feet."
"I am fine," Tsukiumi said, not once breaking her stride. "Thou shouldst concern thyself with thine own Sekirei."
Minato then watched the literal woman of his dreams leave him once again.
As she soared through the air, The Water Sekirei placed a hand to her bosom. His strategy for wooing her appeared to be working, because the heat had started up again. Nevertheless, a chance of fate was not about to decide her course. Tsukiumi refused to accept Minato as anything but an ape with good manners, not until he proved he was more than that.
Author's note:
I got finals to do, which are a lot more time-consuming for me since I'm an animation student. Writing this has been eating into my valuable time and I'm afraid I'll have to swear off of it until the middle of May (that's May of 2016, people of the future).
In the meantime, how about showing your love and adoration (or lack thereof) by posting a review? I'll be sailing into dark waters, without the anime for a road map. And I know that someday I'll be leaving the manga behind, too. So the more feedback I get, the better I can make the story, and the less angry you'll all get when I inevitably change course. Please, look for mistakes, errors, even nitpicks, anything that I could improve upon.
Don't worry, I'm not about to go all self-insert and write some guy who's totally good at everything that solves the plot for everyone. I hate that stuff.