So here's another chapter, folks! I hope you enjoy it.
and btw I'm nearing to this fanfics conclusion... what a wonderful journey...
As usual, Sekirei and its characters are owned by their respective owner. The OC is mine.
Memory 20.0
Finally, Sen managed to retreat into her own room where as expected. Her own things remained intact. Although still headstrong until now, she admitted that a good rest might begot a good mind. She really missed wearing opaque glasses but as of the moment, it is now worthless.
She quite pondered on what she must do now.
Karasuba remained downstairs, Matsu as usual, locked in her own room at the same floor. She did not need to interact with them now. Sen eventually placed herself on the bed and rest but not before, she picked up her tablet.
She has already missed an undefined hours and yet upon turning it on, messages sprung up like daisies. Ah, yes, she almost forgot the test she has given to her students abroad. She doubled check all of them in a span of an hour.
However, her mind was in a different place.
She has thought what Miya said to her and how the supposed Queen of Sekireis made her feel like one of the sisters. The prospect of it just made her loathe, she loathed herself. She readily accepted her accursed ordeal in the past and now this just made her unexpectedly rammed into another one and they have evidence.
Yes, the evidence is insufficient for now but no doubt, Sen was really convinced they are really related to her own family and she just beginning to doubt herself. She immediately tried to clear her thoughts but it only prevented her, as it just became clearer everytime she thought of it.
"Sen-sama." Sen turned her toward the Ice Type Sekirei who was poorly hiding by the door. Such shame was not even worth for Akitsu and Sen didn't understand why. With a simple nod, Akitsu gained access inside their room as if she needed the permission at all.
Akitsu, slowly stood within the center of the room and kneeled, as she felt content herself. Sen just observed with a newfound knowledge about their species, well the truth itself. Seeing her being submissive just only made her worried.
Emotions of the past began to swell up within her and she felt alienated by it so she decided one thing that made them both surprise.
Sen dropped her tablet and hugged tightly. Which made Akitsu yelp in surprise.
"Sen-sama?" Akitsu asked her with a hint of concern. It only made Sen hugged her tighter. Despite the cold touch, which made her nostalgic by the way, Sen felt warmed by the embrace. Akitsu was now beginning to flush; cheeks flaring with bright red.
Sen didn't even managed to utter one word. She had been ignorant for a century, often playing a personality that seemed to be pretentious while her real emotions all locked up. She let the facts of the life dictates her ways. She believed that she really moved on from her past; only to realize that she was just punishing herself.
For this one time, she tried not to dissuade herself from her own calculations, she instead relied on her guts that them was her relative from now on.
"Akitsu-san, I wanted to prolong this moment any longer but … thank you."
Even Akitsu was dumbfounded by this confusing revelation but she just thankful as what Sen felt right now. Finally, each of them release their clasp and Sen stared right at Akitsu straight into her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Akitsu, I ignored you – all of you for so long even though the truth has been revealed right in front of me. I've been in denial that you are, no matter what, will now be my family. I believe now that we are fated to meet each other."
"I – I understand, Sen-sama." Even though Akitsu doesn't follow what Sen was trying to point out. Immediately, Sen clasped Akitsu's cheek like soft pillow and brought her face close to each other.
"Listen, Akitsu, you are not broken… no one is broken and is impossible to do so, do you understand, Akitsu-san." Sen continue to rant.
Akitsu just nodded automatically.
"Don't ever listen to anybody— to anyone who said that you are a broken Sekirei— don't let them be a distraction to you. Sekireis do not need to bond each other physically—ni, I mean that it is also important but not so important as breathing. Bonding physically is just a part of what bond truly is."
Akitsu was somehow perplexed. "But Lord Minaka said—"
"Don't you ever believe that creep, ever! He's nothing more than just a man with illusions of grandeur for his crapsack imagination world. That man, don't believe anything he says. There's no happily ever after in this reality. I've said this right now because Akitsu, you are not broken at all. You do not need an Ashikabi to be bonded; Sekireis do not need to be bonded to their Ashikabi at all to be alive."
Akitsu just gasped at this supposed revelation.
"This game, this stupid game was just for his own fascination and it hurt me the fact that some of the 'Ashikabi' hurt most of your sisters, morethenso when I 'terminated' many!" Even though it was just one of the Sekireis, Sen was just as regretful as she now.
Sen eventually breathed down and tried to ease herself then see it for herself that she smiled at the end. It was followed by a pregnant silence.
Sen finally break the ice. "Thank you for listening, Akitsu-san, even though more than half of what I said are somehow made to shake what you believed … They are undeniably true. I- I don't want more of the Sekireis to suffer."
"Sen-sama is a good individual and although it made me dubious of what you said earlier, I will still serve you till the end of the world."
"If that's your choice then." Sen stood and bowed before Akitsu, who panicked at once and stood up awkwardly but not before Sen finished it.
"Sen-sama, you don't need to—"
"No, Akitsu-san, from now on, starting from you, I wanted to undo the damage I've done." She said before she took the tablet again, reading the contents for real this time. After the truth has been given to her, Sen was eager to say all of her pent up frustration first to Akitsu, the first Sekirei to be as close to her.
Akitsu just gawked at her confusingly as Sen recompose herself but not regretful of what she have done. Before Akitsu could say something, Sen talked to her again.
"I-I need to go, Akitsu-san."
All Akitsu can do now was to watch her as she now go away again. She might be feeling sad but remained strong as she believed that Sen will return someday again.
No, Akitsu will not be saddened again, ever, after what Sen said to her personally.
Sen immediately paused for a moment, as if she forgot something.
"Please take care of yourself, Akitsu-san." Sen bid farewell before she went away. Akitsu believed that she should be the one who said that toward her but it just touch her heart that Sen was now really concerned about her well-being.
In return, Akitsu bowed down to where Sen has just left, even though she was now already gone.
No matter how destruction was made in Shin Tokyo, under the management of MBI, they flawlessly managed to make it under control. Evident from how the construction of two devastaded building last three days. Thankfully, there's no reported dead when that battle escalated, although, they will have the hard time wrapping it under.
In one of the restaurant inside Shin Tokyo, a peculiar woman was sitting while waiting for someone. The place was as expected, was somehow few and it was favorable for her since she's in disguise, hopefully. Takami was wearing a dark shades, a cap and different touch to her usual dull hair. Her eyes kept on shifting between her own tablet and the environment around her warily.
She's trying to contact someone and its urgent… maybe.
This is one of her few times she wore a different outfit other than her labcoat, and honestly she felt, a little bit naked when out of her professional clothing. It's her own opinion though. She's willing to wait for a few hours until she will be frustrated enough.
The MBI center was such a dull place though.
Now that she mentioned it, Minaka just did something awful.
The Director ditched the place along with a bunch of missing staff without her knowledge. The next time she will meet that piece of shit, she will deliver him crap full of blows with grit.
…
After her encounter with Karasuba, Takami felt she needed to rest for a little bit and chose to sleep in her quarters underground for now. The news of the Russian official managing to infiltrate the maximum security inside the building was now becoming a fullblown story inside the building and she's not surprised about it.
Minaka might be an intellectual nitwit at the first place but when Alicia Ptichika, the most powerful Sekirei she believed, become involved in the S-Plan itself, that's when the Director become reckless and restless. He is not being careful right now and no, Takami wasn't worried a li'l bit. She just wants to finished this job as fast as possible.
After resting for a little bit, Takami felt that she was needed by the lab again. Strange as it was, the Assistant Director expected some noise around her, the familiar feeling of someone around her seemed to be completely disappeared and it made her look around consciously.
Strange, no people around her.
Dread eventually came to her and various hypotheses erupt to her head. Surely, there should be a reason behind all of these or this is just a one big joke. The tapping of her shoes echoed throughout the empty halls that made her blood chill. Every peripheral room she passed were met with silence. Nobody was inside.
Agitation slowly rose inside her; surely, this must the handiwork of that stupid Minaka. She was sure about it. Her walking pace were beginning to be faster as she tried to locate minaka's main office. Without a care in this world, she abruptly kicked the door, unfastening in instant, and blew inside the room. As expected, Minaka was missing too. She entered the room with no hesitation and expected something out of ordinary inside his room.
Yes, she has knew Minaka for too long, even have children with him, bla bla; it is another story for that one. Something, somewhere, The Director should have left a hint on where he was right now and bingo.
A recording. What a shame. Takami studied it meticoulosly, searching for some kind nasty prank; even though Minaka never did it once to her in a lifetime. It seem that drastic situation right now made her paranoid of some sort.
Eventually, she pushed the play button.
'Left Tokyo due to some unseen circumstances…' The recorder spit with Minaka's voice. 'Grabbed almost all of the best staff together with me.'
Takami's eyebrows knitted in frustration. What pushed Minaka to be this outrageous if not enough? One of the hypotheses that formed within her head was the involvement of the Russian government. If confirmed, then good for him. Dabbling on other countries important figures just brought him more problems.
'Destination? Kamikura Island. See you there…' the recorder ended in a silent fizzle and a burnt smell; she realized that the recorder was now broken on its ownl. It seems that Minaka hasn't let go his habit of self-destruct mundane objects. She sighed later on.
Now she was wondering what the hell Minaka was doing there. Even she herself, she can't tell what the madman was thinking but she was sure it involved Dr. Alicia Ptichika. Only that Russian doctor managed to exceed her expectation regarding the S-Plan and even made Minaka cautious about her. Early on, she tried to convince Minaka to terminate Dr. Alicia when she was now involved with S-Plan for the first time but Minaka, being hardheaded buffoon, instead believed that the Doctor was something beneficial to the S-Plan.
Now she realized where this all ends: Russian Government, was now actively against the secret event called the S-Plan and urging the Japanese Government to shut it down… if her assumptions were correct.
Speaking of Dr. Alicia Ptchika, that woman, now identified as a fully-fledged Sekirei belonging to a completely separate ship from God knows where… maybe Russia. Informations regarding her made her unnerved involving her.
It is as if she was an impossibility from the beginning according to her own opinion and now the Black Sekirei, herself, fully evolved under Dr. Alicia's banner, was trying to convince her to give Dr. Alicia a chance to meet her personally.
She was still in doubt but meeting Dr. Alicia might be a treasury of information. She might be quite hesitating when meeting with other Doctors of the same field but a Sekirei? Now that made her more curious. She couldn't deny that she wanted to meet Dr. Alicia again but this time with an utmost knowledge regarding her; a Sekirei, a doctor, a scientist, a trained assassin, a respected individual hailing from the land of Russia. Now who wouldn't refuse those titles?
Takami chose to meet her once again before involving with Minaka.
…
Takami repeatedly sighed as worriness quietly crept up on her own body. It was a long time she met a famous personality without ever being a haughty and vicious courtesy of Minaka bothersome behavior. She checked her tablet for any sign of new messages, particularly named Dr. Alicia. She found her contact information on some website she found and it seemed Dr. Alicia is coming here if she was not wrong. It might be hard giving her some newfound respect.
Again, Takami looked around and, speak of the devil, Alicia was present as she entered the entrance casually. Takami might have sharpened her senses or Alicia just wasn't stealthily enough for any threats around. The sublime message by Minaka is still in effect and she wondered how the Gray Sekirei managed to avoid the catastrophy outside.
Perhaps, its in the way she was disguised normally but she couldn't really explain how she can detected her in the first place. Finally, Sen directed herself toward the table where Takami was sitting slightly, her appearance expected as much. Also, another thing that made Takami made uncomfortable was how Ptichika looked exactly as the deadliest swordswoman Karasuba even though she have seen many Sekireis that are exactly the same look, but still. This might affect the way she talk to her later on much to her dismay. Another thing that made Takami worried for a little bit was how she treated her in their first encounter. The Gray Sekirei might bring it up later on.
Sen immediately took an empty seat in front of Takami, who was busy observing her every movements, subtle or not. Takami cleared her throat as Sen finally sat comfortably.
If they were identified as a scientist to each other, topics might be a breeze after all but the professionalism was obviously out of their hands and they both knew it was still awkward to start off something else. Meanwhile, Sen was busy calculating every scenario that might happen, even though she was aware that it was awfully unnecessary; she was here for just one reason: to confirm her bloodline.
Takami wasn't aware of it.
"It's a good day, isn't it? Dr. Takami." Sen tried to be a respectful as possible. She knew it was a goddamn stupid opener but as long as it manage Takami to talk, it definitely worked.
However, Takami's face turned to frown. "How sarcastic…." She scorned. Sen was alright, she wasn't affected a little bit.
"I apologized … I just wanted to make us comfortable as we can."
"Are you sure that you weren't been trailed? Your life might be forfeited because of the stupid Director."
"No worries, I can take care of myself."
Takami can confirm the truth behind those words. The Gray Sekirei was indeed powerful when she first reveal her strength when the Black Sekirei fought each other unpleasantly.
"Good. You're wondering why I was obliged to meet you?"
Sen just chuckled. "Yes, I thought you were hard to contact by… but I am surprised that you took the initiative first."
"The Black Sekirei happened. She visited my office just to tell me to meet you anytime."
"That's interesting…" No wonder Karasuba disappeared for a meantime before she made her presence inside the Inn.
"Karasuba or not? That thought will cross my mind wether I like it or not… I'll be honest that I have no keen interest in fellow scientist from the other country but when you revealed that you are bona fide Sekirei; I just couldn't help it."
"So you're curious about me."
"Specifically how you tick…" Takami honestly and brutally stated but nevertheless, Sen wasn't even affected by it.
"… How about you? Why bother to a boring scientist like me?" Takami made it sound that she was not interesting at all, not knowing that Sen has a hidden agenda.
Sen knew that she must choose her word carefully; she must have met the standard that doesn't lean toward stupidness and bizarreness, although she must have been nervous for the first time.
She kept on caressing her chin as she tried to think of the answer. Takami meanwhile was obliged to wait for what she was about to said.
"I believe that we were connected for some reasons, Dr. Takami."
"Pardon?" It seemed that Takami needed to clean her eyes again as she couldn't believe what she has heard.
Sen huffed. "Like the Sekireis searching for their Ashikabi, I believe that you and me can initiate that connection."
Takami just chuckled at this nonsense. "Excuse me but that's impossible; I am incompatible for all of the Sekireis. Not that I want to."
"I am willing to accept such anomaly between you and the Black Sekirei, only that anomaly." She added.
"Takami-san, this is completely unrelated between me and Karasuba-san. Even if I lacked the physical reaction alone, I wholeheartedly believed that we were destined to each other."
"Nonsense. Even with multiple awards, I am inclined that you are not a scientist in the way how you operate right now. Your hunch has no credibility."
It seemed that Takami was dubious of what Sen was saying much to her dismay. Takami has her sense of pride that she wasn't willing to topple off.
"If there's nothing else then I'll be on my way." Takami said before she stood but Sen was faster as she grabbed her arm gently, hoping that she would stay for a while. Takami was beginning to be annoyed by Sen's antics.
Sen was left with no choice. "I knew who's your father."
Takami was seemingly froze for a moment before she gathered her thoughts one more time. She knitted her eyebrows in frustration and disbelief.
"I don't believe you—"
"Mino Takahashi… he's also a scientist whom I inherited his profession."
Takami was filled with dread. Only her mother and her knew his Father's name. They were an incomplete family because her father disappeared before she can even recognize his face and now, this woman, a Sekirei, knew him as well. She felt her eye twitch as her breathing were uneven. Sen recognized those symptoms clearly.
"He's the reason why I am still here today. Without him, I might as well became an experimental weapon of war and die as a weapon. He gave me the reason to live earnestly and to learn to live as a human."
Sen was cautious of what she was saying.
Takami squinted at Sen's face. "So my worthless father ended up adopting you, huh?" Jealousy was written all over the Assistant Director's face.
Sen knew what Takami currently felt. "You don't seemed to understand. Even if Mino Takahashi did not reveal all of his past to me, it was obvious that he was abducted by the lab rogues from his own family; from you… his skills in genetics engineering was thoroughly beneficial that he was forcibly abducted by a secret agents coming from a certain laboratory."
Sen tried to peer through Takami's eyes. "… the same laboratory that worked on the ship where I came from."
Even though it seemed rather distasteful, Takami knew Alicia wasn't lying from the way she looked at her eyes sympathetically; it was just hard to swallow the truth now.
If what Dr. Alicia said was true, then she is perhaps a hundred years old already and it was strange because it was scary that she was mirroring her father from the past: her and his father, a scientist and working on the ship filled with the aliens.
Takami immediately heaved, as if she just gave up resisting. She wished that she has her stick of cigarette now.
"Does the same ship also filled with the Sekireis?"
Sen was hesitant to answer this time. "I firmly believed that, yes, it is the same species as what you've described as a Sekireis."
"Then if what I believed was right then… Father was an Ashikabi?"
"…"
Takami looked at Dr. Alicia, who seemed to be guilty all along. She don't care anymore because it was already in the past and all of her rage and regret were nothing but a fragments of her own history. She will never hate Dr. Alicia for this. She will take her silence as a yes.
"… I did it for survival, without him then I will surely have been died."
"So my father was a hero then?"
"Yes. He saved me from my dreaded fate."
"So this serves a proof that we have a connection?"
"Yes, I do."
Takami was beginning to feel a bit suspicious.
"You wanted me to be your Ashikabi?" She figured it out.
Sen nodded enthusiastically. Even though the notion is the same, her being a different kind of Sekirei meant that their bond will have a different set of benefits and obviously no disadvantage. Sen believed that being bonded to others hold a different purpose, at least while remaining an untouched being. Hell, she didn't even know if Sekireis looked like a human to begin with or they were entirely different face. Experimentation might have led to its 'tainted' meaning just like what she have witness in the S-Plan. Even that, Sen was completely different from the Sekireis in Japan and therefore, the bonding is different too.
Nevertheless, it didn't hinder her from establishing between her and Takami. She have already did it before with her, now confirmed, father, Mino Takahashi.
The only thing that was an obstruction was Takami's permission. Err, no, she's not acting on a villaineous tone.
Takami was also aware that being an Ashikabi with Sen will be entirely different. It is true that the capabilities of being bonded with another individual was already present in Sekirei biology and through experimentation, then managed to twerked its functionality until the present day.
In other words, she will be wading through unknown waters. Nevertheless, her scientific sides demands answers toward the Sen's physique and, yes, she has the common sense of fearing failure.
Well, why not?
Takami cleared her throat as she cleared her thoughts, shifting Sen's attention for a while.
Takami released a big sigh as she scanned her surrounding once more. "Come with me in the bathroom." Sen just blinked in confirmation.
With no other words to convey, they went into the women's restroom unnoticed.
Luckily, the room was empty when they entered it and it was surprisingly spacious and large. Sen immediately locked the room for safety concerns. Takami meanwhile just breathed evenly. Sen eventually face Takami.
"Do it faster… we have no time, don't we?" Takami warned her which Sen just brushed off her concerns. Despite the double entendre Takami just blurted out (and made her blushed unexpectedly) she swore that she will never regret this.
Sen kneeled before her and it made Takami wondered. Sen gently pull Takami's hand and made with a light slash on her index finger, she made it bleed a little. Sen leaned closer to her fingers and licked the trickling blood.
Now Takami just blushed further as she totally expected Sen will kiss her and blamed herself for being expectant of dirty methods. She has children for God's sake! Anyways, she was relieved it was a totally different kind of method to the bonding.
Meanwhile, she felt a little dazed and it did not come from her small wound but she felt her hair on the nape stood when a completely strange phenomenon occurred in front of her.
Sen's wings made of greyish light appeared on her back while tuffs of ethereal feathers filled the room. Takami was completely baffled on what is happening that she did not noticed that Sen already covered her wound on the finger with a fine cloth.
Takami completely expected to be a total blander and this phenomenon will completely change her mindset right now. Sen proved that she can bond with Takami using the DNA of her now deceased Father whom Takami never met.
Sen meanwhile, was overjoyed inside because she felt she has fulfilled one of the unspoken purpose and that is to meet Father's biological daughter, his direct bloodline. Sen swore to be bonded once more only with her Father's direct bloodline whose name is Takami and now being fulfilled to that purpose her core was now stabilized once more and felt her strength returned once more. It was completely nostalgic despite the one in front of her is not Father but her daughter.
"I-Impossible…" Takami blurted out.
"Alicia Ptichika, also known as Senmetsu Tsubaemeko, a Sekirei hailing from the cold lands of Russia, formerly bonded from Mino Takahashi and now with Takami Sahashi. May our bond last together till forever… "
Takami was so shocked that she just dropped herself on the floor.
To no one's knowledge, the crest on Sen's nape was now complete.
Karasuba was admiring the clouds on the roof despite not her hobby. If she can define what her hobby is then it would be slashing someone to death and sadly her katana's non-existent now and she was slightly annoyed because she can't enter the Inn without ever being threatened to be killed by Mina. To be honest, Karasuba just wanted her to use her blade against her just to test this awesome power which she just got from Sen.
Too bad, she can't find some dumb reasons here to do it freely.
Suddenly she felt an overwhelming sensation that hijacked her senses temporarily, Karasuba immediately caressed her warmed nape and felt it complete… and felt a newfound strength for a mysterious reason. She couldn't tell what and how it was possible but she was glad she received.
Whatever it was, her powerful Sister Sen was definitely involved in this and felt thanking her was not enough. She smirked at this as she continued to watched the skies eagerly.
Done! keep updated for my future chapters!