Here we go folks! Few Chapters into Finale, stay tune!
As usual, Sekirei and its characters are owned by their respective owner. The OC is mine. If you see any mistakes in grammar or regarding Sekirei, please don't be shy, just PM me or review. If you like it please give me a decent review so everyone will be happy.
Please enjoy!
Memory 22.0
Her visitation from Higa has left a bad taste in her mouth. No matter how she gets use to corrupted human beings, they always find a way to dig into her skin. Even after spilling their blood for good, their creepiness lingers for a while before she gets use to it again. Even without event trying to kill that damn human named Higa, it is still the same.
Although Sen promptly forgot all of it later on and just focused on clearing her mind and just let it free. She was currently on some kind of building, relaxing and feeling the wind touching her skin. She just wanted to resolve as quickly as possible.
Yes, with Minaka confirmed to be gone in the Shin Tokyo now, she can feel the breeze of the city untainted. Yes, there are still Sekireis here and fro but she can also sense their moment of confusion around the city.
Still, she can't relax any longer. If she wants to seriously resolve this event, she must stop the S-Plan from being operated and it won't stop as long as Minaka is freely around, even outside Shin Tokyo. Sorry but she thinks that this is just a temporary relief.
Eventually, she felt a familiar sense approaching her position and Sen just readied herself. It was Karasuba, smiling genuinely at the sight of her precious sister.
"Yo…" The Black Sekirei tried to initiate a conversation. She was just wearing a casual clothes that she just happened to found back at that Inn. Sen sniffed something in the air upon Karasuba's arrival.
Fresh blood. She concluded. Karasuba just swayed her head in disappointment.
Before Sen could say anything, Karasuba beat her to it. "It seemed that no one can escape from my dear sister."
Sen straightly asked who was it Karasuba encountered. "Who?"
Karasuba just sighed. "Some maggot named Higa as well as unfortunate Sekirei who happened to be in my way." She said as she observed her arm, which has been drenched in the blood earlier. "I do not kill him though but I couldn't avoid terminating some Sekireis." Sorry, not sorry, this is how Karasuba operate.
Sen just sighed. Even though she really wanted to berate Karasuba right now, and even if she managed to, which coincidentally Karasuba would just annoyingly nod her head in discipline, she can't just do it. It seemed that their connections wis deeper than she can imagined and Sen could see herself as a blood sister to Karasuba likewise as the black Sekirei toward Sen. Can she do something about Karasuba's cold-blood nature? Maybe. Right now? Could not. Karasuba was happy to be with Sen, even to the point becoming her dog or worse, a lab rat, to Sen's dismay.
Only one thing Sen could understand Karasuba; she was trying to show of her affection to her through various means, such as easing her thought by eliminating a bad individual like Higa and Sen couldn't stop her without resorting to violence once more, with the consequence of destroying a city. Sen could sense that their capability being above than she expected. Karasuba doesn't know how to be lovey-dovey with her without spilling blood, it is as if the only thing she knew was to eliminate everything that Sen hate or felt uneasy.
"Nevermind." Sen just resumed lying on and watch the sky once more. Karasuba was curious and just joined her near Sen laying on the floor.
"I can kill the Director right now." Karasuba thought of an idea which made Sen alarmed for a while. "If you wish, I can slice him into several meters away right here right now." She said as she imagined herself eliminating that damned psychopath literally.
Sen thought of reply for a while. "Why?"
"To resolve this situation." Karasuba said confidently. Sen doesn't know if Karasuba can read her mind or not.
"You know it isn't easy as if a walk in the park." Sen cautioned her.
"I'm willing to spill his blood and stain my name for you." Karasuba said casually. "Sister, you know I'm serious about it. I can't let my sister be worried over something trivial."
"Trust me, I also wanted to end this right here right now but it isn't easy as you think." Sen said which Karasuba acted confused.
Sen waited for Karasuba's reply. "Just a suggestion though." Karasuba said in the end.
…and they both watched the sky together.
Sen was already back in the Izumo Inn before any can notice her. For Karasuba? She just left her alone on her own. It was obvious that Karasuba was already a grown woman to be looked for. She just hoped that the Black Sekirei wasn't going to murder anyone out of cold blood. She was confident of it since Karasuba's bloodlust was near non-existent by now.
"Welcome back, Kara- I mean Sen-san!" She was warmly greeted by Musubi, who was still tied-tongue of the identity of Sen. She managed to correct herself seconds during her greeting though. The fighting-loving Sekirei was also jumpy all of the sudden and Sen deduced that Musubi was somewhat eager to fight her for some reason.
Unfortunately, Sen needed to decline Musubi's unspoken, stealth request. Musubi happily accepted her reply and left her alone at that moment. Mina eventually approached her unprecendented and welcome her too.
"Welcome back, Sen-chan." Mina said quietly, in her hand was a broom which she was supposed to sweep the backyard by now. Sen just nodded at her words and went on her way to her room. It seemed that Sen was tired at the moment to the point that she just happened to be a woman of few words. Fortunately, Musubi was just
Opening her tablet, she was not surprised of the message that was left unattended for a while. It came from Vyachslav, which means that Minaka bite the bait nonetheless. It was nice, sneaky plan that manage to destroy their laboratory inside out by infiltrating all available electronic devices. Upon Vyachslav's message were the detailed scenarios of what happened that time.
Sen was damned satisfied as heck.
At the lingering end of Vyachslav's message, was a simple note that Sen must have looked at it for the longest time.
If you have the time, during and/or after this distasteful scenario, please respond to me casually…
It is true that both Sen and Vyachslav have a relationship many years ago but that's another time to explain. Sen ended their relationship abruptly after that, seeing that they were not compatible and Vyachslav respected her decision wisely. Sen decided not to forward any message unless necessary and was satisfied reading the information.
"Hey…" Before the opened door, Uzumi lazily laid her shoulder upon the side and greeted Sen casually. Sen already sensed her presence before she came but chose to ignore her until this moment. She was dressed in jeans and a loose blouse that articulates her curves that well. It seems that Uzume wanted something.
"You can talk now." Sen permitted her to continue after recognizing her stature for real.
Uzume just rubbed the nape of her neck out of embarrassment. Whatever Uzume tries to ask about to Sen must have been very important. She was hesitating for a while before she gathered her courage and spoke.
"You're a doctor, right?" Uzume asked her.
"Geneticist, if that's what you are searching for." Sen corrected her.
"Eh whatever, you can look into patients, right?" Uzume ignored her recent answer as she has definitely no idea what it was.
True that Sen has the genetics as her profession but she couldn't deny that she also has some valuable knowledge regarding the human body. She admitted that she used that knowledge regarding her previous job as an cold-blooded assassin. She couldn't help it but get curious on what Uzume was trying to imply regarding her profession as a 'doctor'.
"Yes, I can." Sen answered her straightly.
"That's a relief then."
"What can I do for you?"
"Ah, it's nothing…" Uzume was trying to be carefree as usual but thn failed to do so in the end. Uzume just sighed. "C-can you help me?" She was blushing from intense embarrassment as she looked away. Dammit, she felt herself being belittled and now Sen was intrigued enough that she was looking at her seriously.
When there was an awkward silence emanating around them, Uzume eventually spoke again.
"I-I apologize I—'" No matter how she sounded carefree, Uzume was just so shy when she tried to talk straight. Fortunately, it seemed that Sen followed her up.
"Please explain first what you are trying to ask." Sen wanted to clear what Uzume was trying to say.
Uzume was quiet for a moment then give herself a big sigh, as if she momentarily gave up. Then she placed herself in front of Sen as if she was trying to find a comfortable mat place her feet on. She kneeled before her and formed a dogeza pose.
"Please save my Ashikabi!" Uzume cried.
Sen now understand the situation regarding Uzume.
"Yatta! Never thought you'll accept my request that easily!" Uzume was glad that Sen accepted her plea. Her arms were behind her head as they trudged freely along with Sen, who tagged along. Naturally, Sen doesn't want to indulge into curiosity unless she wanted to and since Uzume was the first one who pleaded before her genuinely, why not?
"No worries…" Sen was a woman of few words. At least, she has something in her mind to boggle with before the final acts were to be decided.
After a mile or so, they found themselves upon a hospital. Sen saw this hospital for the first time. She must have missed this hospital earlier. Walking near the hospital, Sen found Uzume's recent action queer.
"What are you doing?" Sen asked her.
Currently, Uzume was hiding behind some thick bush, crouching and squinting her eyes for someone, could be some Sekirei lying nearby. Sen did a double-take and also scanned for the Sekirei nearby but she sensed no Sekirei.
"Guards…" She looked again but found nothing. "That's weird, there's no one." When she was sure that there is indeed no Sekirei guarding the hospital, she immediately moves away from her hiding place.
"Alright. Let's go…" Uzume nudged Sen to follow as they walked briskly toward the hospital. They crossed the parking lot before they could proceed to entrance.
Upon entering, they found it to be occupied by people, particular patients and medical personnels but no Sekireis. The humans inside didn't mind them at all and ignored the two of them at the behest. They treated them as a mere visitor.
Sen once again followed Uzume throught the halls. It seemed that the Sekirei was searching for a certain room that should be occupied by her own Sekirei. Their walking pace was modest at the best since they have nothing to worry about. Uzume even stated that her Ashikabi wasn't in grave danger after witnessing the present situation. She was sure that this is no trap since Uzume was genuinely worried.
Upon reaching the second floor, Uzume could feel her connection to her Ashikabi stronger than ever. It seemed nothing happened to her. So far, no Sekirei was guarding her room, so Uzume and Sen freely entered her room.
She was there, alone and sleeping like an angel and Uzume swears that she's taken aback by her peaceful state no matter how many times she visited her room. Uzume will never get used to her own Ashikabi. This time, the pressure that surrounds her own Ashikabi were gone. Uzume thought that her nightmares will never end within Higa's clutch but it turns out that this is the time that it will be severed for real. Her dear Chiho, Uzume's Ashikabi, will be saved.
There's a high chance that Uzume's Ashikabi will recover because Sen was here, Uzume swore to herself.
After Sen was satisfied with he observation, she asked Uzume. "What's her name?"
"Chiho."
"Chiho." Sen tried to get used to her name as she nodded in confirmation. "A fitting name."
Uzume just chuckled. "umu, that's right!"
Now, now. Uzume tried to control her voice since her dear angel was sleeping. Uzume has a clear distrust with the doctors within this accursed hospital her Ashikabi ended up. The medicine Chiho was taking only slowed her disease, not outright heal her. She knew that Higa was behind all of this.
Slowly, Uzume place herself beside Chiho's sleeping form and caressed her cheeks carefully. "Wake up, Chiho-san." Uzume whispered to her cute ears. Slowly, Chiho stirred and blinked her eyes rapidly. She noticed that someone was beside her, smiling and realized it was her own Sekirei.
"Uzume-san?" Chiho said weakly. Her cheeks became inflamed with rosiness.
"That's right." Uzume just smiled as she fixed Chiho's hair up just to see those innocent blue eyes. "I brought someone who could help you." Uzume's wish someday was that Chiho could walk together with Uzume. Uzume was confident that Sen could find a way to heal her since she already proven herself a powerful and capable individual that managed to conquer Karasuba, the most ruthless Sekirei ever known… and also she managed to hear that Sen was called doctor.
Chiho slowly looked up and saw Sen observing her form and just smiled at her. "Hello there." Chiho greeted her. Sen could feel her innocence from her eyes alone, she bet that she didn't even know about the S-Plan and might have just swing it for Uzume. It's a pity though.
Sen slowly circled Chiho's bed and took the board that was hanging by the foot of her bed. There she saw read the contents carefully and double-taking it. Her iris danced around as she understood what was written.
Could she trust this source of information? Who knows? Sen then immediately looked at Chiho carefully. Chiho shook underneath Sen's sight but eventually, she calmed down. Just as Uzume trusted Sen, Chiho too felt that she could trust Sen if Uzume is willing to.
Sen slowly approached Chiho's prone form and Uzume willingly remove herself from Chiho's bad after a minute of skinship. Geez, can't they hold off for a minute?
Sen's face was inch closer to Chiho, who bravely looked back toward Sen's unique eyes and realized that she was that beautiful.
"P-pretty…" Chiho blurted out softly and no, her heart belongs to Uzume and only to Uzume. It was just a slip of her thoughts. Of course Uzume heard it loud and clear but held herself of, jealousy isn't good at all, she knew in her heart that Chiho was her only Ashikabi.
Sen noticed them two react and remained as it is. It is better to remain ignorant than voicing their reaction, which might grow worse. She immediately pat Sen's forehead, eliciting the latter with mild surprise. She was just checking Chiho's temperature. So far it was normal.
The next thing Sen did after checking her temperature was to check for her pulse between her right arm and hand, then on her neck. Still normal.
Sen concluded that she cannot conclude Chiho's overall condition without any proper tools and she bet this hospital wouldn't provide them for her. She has only one thing she could decide.
"Might as well bring her over the MBI." Sen sighed and Uzume seemed to frazzle upon hearing it. Chiho immediately tried to comfort her. Uzume was already aware that the MBI undergoes drastic changes after Dr. Minaka's sudden disappearance. Yes, she's also knew that MBI has advanced technology, especially in their medical field.
Why didn't she think of it earlier? Well, present opportunities happened and also, she didn't expect for the other Sekireis to guard this hospital, in fact, she never sensed any other Sekirei until now.
"It's alright, Uzume-san." Chiho said softly.
Uzume has no reason to just refuse her offer, especially it will promise Chiho's health to the fullest. She has nothing against the MBI really and the only thing she did was to escape from them and things change now.
In the end, Uzume hesitatingly agreed. She was about to pick up Chiho from her bed when Sen immediately stopped her.
"You don't need to do that, at least for now." Sen explained as she went outside the room of Chiho on her own and called for the doctor. Better process everything legally than giving everyone else a headache. Uzume realized this.
Sooner or later, Sen returned with a doctor in tow.
Said doctor explained that he already cleared any fees and process regarding Chiho or more like he has no other choice since he was dealing with a powerful Sekirei nevermind that Higa's grip on him. Higa hasn't been contacting him for days so its his fault for letting patient Chiho go. Of course, the doctor was well aware of Higa's dirty business here in the hospital.
No thanks, the doctor valued his life over some money.
He even has the guts to offer them a ride in an ambulance for free, which Uzume and Sen happily obliged for Chiho.
It was easy to enter the MBI building this time due to fewer securities. Minaka must have took majority of them to join him. The fewer security who was tasked to guarding the MBI are now already aware of Sen's reputation and are now gladly offering her a way. It took them several minutes before reaching the floor where Takami's office was located.
"So, you're here again?" Dr. Takami said wearily, stacks of papers upon the table while she maintained a disgust stare at Sen. She was't happy seeing Sen again since shit happened everytime. Although she admitted that things were getting easier and more productive since the disappearance of Director—no, just Minaka.
She still don't know what to do in case that damn bastard return once again. Luckily, she managed to scrunch some leftover scientists, staffs and operators to clean up the former Director's mess. Even some of the loyal Sekireis returned to the building after communicating with Dr. Takami for some helping hands. Also, Takami wisely hired some help from the local police in order to maintain the peace around the city.
"Can I have a favor?" Sen asked her straight.
"*tsk*, go on." Dr. Takami permitted Sen to say something as she waved her hand lazily. While listening, Takami also opted to finish her paperworks by multitasking.
"I want you to diagnose the condition of Ashikabi of Uzume and if possible, find a cure for it." Sen said as she placed the document right in front of Takami. Takami meanwhile paused writing when he saw the documents. She immediately took it and briefly skimmed all of the content.
Then she looked up at Sen. "Who?" A figure behind Sen immediately revealed itself. Takami must have hyper focused when she was talking to Sen, that's why she haven't noticed the individual behind Sen.
That sorry grin, a peace sign and a worrying brow, Takami recognized who it was on the whim. It was Sekirei no. 10.
Takami furrowed her eyebrows. Of course, she has no reason to refuse their needed help. Even while the S-Plan stood, it is also their priority to ensure the safety of Ashikabi's as well as their Sekireis. Sekirei no. 10's notorious escape in the past is not to be ignored but Takami has no other choice because S-Plan already happened.
Takami just clamped the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Where's your Ashikabi, No. 10?" When Uzume heard that, she just chuckled and then she pushed a wheelchair; on it was her little, pale Ashikabi, who was smiling and waving at Takami.
Takami just gave her a glance before she blinked away.
"Fine." Takami agreed.
Upon saying that, Homura was immediately summoned. The Flame Sekirei recognized Sen and Uzume as well as the little girl. This is the first time Homura saw the little girl. According to Dr. Takami, that little girl was Uzume's Ashikabi.
Well, good for her.
Homura was one of the few Sekireis who answered Dr. Takami's call. The Flame Sekirei always felt obliged to obey Dr. Takami whenever she wanted to. Her loyalty toward Dr. Takami was great as well as her urge to kill
"I see that you are well, Homura-san." Sen said with enthusiasm as she looked up and down upon Homura's stature. Homura fidgeted from her gaze.
Homura became a little embarrassed. "I-It's nothing…"
"I bet you have already found your Ashikabi, am I right?"
"…"
Homura fidgeted once more and now the Flame Sekirei has no more excuse to deny Sen's accusation. Even her awkward silence screamed yes for Sen.
"Called it." Sen said as she went along the way. She doesn't need to hear Homura's excuse as long as her life wasn't in danger. Although, she did hear Homura ranting about something but she was too far to hear it clarly.
It seemed that her job here is already done. Homura already picked Chiho to be sent to their own version of hospital while Uzume will just follow her Ashikabi.
She was already outside of Takami's office. Coincidentally, Sen felt that she needed to confront Dr. Takami once more so she beelined back to her office once more. Why hesitate for the other day? She wanted to hear Takami's thought on Minaka's matter.