How Could It Have Come To This?

Atop a "short" skyscraper, sitting on the edge of the industrial graveyard that had played host to the First Match of Stage Three, a lone figure hit the "Pause" button on the CD player resting on the edge of the empty roof. His yellow eyes had caught sight of a Sekirei-Ashikabi pair entering the mid-floor of the building's glass-less windows. So, it was simply a matter of waiting for them to come up through the brick stairwell door that was the only feature of this flat squalor.

Much to his disappointment, they did just that.

Folding his arms, exhaling, he stepped away from the CD player. Looking his first victim up and down, he only said one thing before craning his neck and balling his fists.

"You shouldn't have come here."

Her Ashikabi, a brown-haired youth in a white polo shirt, put his hand on the handle of the door.

"Hari," he said nervously, "maybe he has a point."

"Are you sure, Kunimitsu?" said his Sekirei, a curvy redhead with a striped red-and-black shirt that fell loosely around her breasts, leaving her shoulders bare. "He doesn't look that scary."

"I'm sure," he said, taking her hand. "I've heard rumors about this one Sekirei who almost upended the Plan. Nearly got the Big Four to take each other out, tangled with the Veiled Sekirei and survived."

The figure's bored expression didn't change. "That's all they're saying about me? Hmph." He looked at Hari. "You should really make like a stock trader."

"Ooookaaay…?" Hari slurred. "Howzat?"

"And exercise your options."

Hari looked at Kunimitsu again as he tugged on her hand. "If we go, we won't get a Jinki."

"That's fine," said the youth, taking her other hand and looking into her eyes. "Whatever gets me more time with you."

"Awww!" Hari cooed and leaned in to-

"HEY."

The two jumped and looked at the figure. His eyes were boring into them like drill bits. "I suggest you pack your gear and take a hike, before I change my mind."

A quick nod from both, then he was alone again.

The figure returned to his CD player and hit "Play". That marked his third first victim so far. He'd been hoping for a warm-up before the actual players arrived, but he wasn't worried. Sooner or later, some idiot would want to fight him.

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"But I really wanna fight him!" Musubi whined.

"I said no, Musubi," Minato said, sitting on the couch. His feet would start to hurt if he kept pacing barefoot. "We need to wait."

"But can't we challenge him to an arm-wrestling contest?" she suggested. "Or a mud wrestling contest?"

"No," said Minato. "We're going to wait, bond, and let him tire himself out on desperate Sekirei."

"But how about-"

"NO!"

Whack!

"Mind your voice, Minato," said Miya, retracting her spoon.

"Right. Sorry." Minato rubbed his head. He also rubbed Musubi's hand. "Be patient, Musubi. You'll get your chance to fight him."

Groaning, Musubi laid her head on Minato's shoulder. "But he won't be as strong then..."

Miya returned to the kitchen as Shiina and Ku both emerged holding glasses of water.

"Big Brother?" Ku asked. "Are we really gonna fight him?"

"Afraid so, Ku," said Minato. "Kagedansu has the last Jinki. If we want to advance to the last Stage, then fighting him is the only way to get it."

"I'm not afraid, but…" Ku took a sip and sat down on the floor. "Aren't you going to find a different way?"

"A different way?" Minato asked. "Like what?"

Ku shrugged. "Some way so we don't have to fight each other."

Minato's flock all glanced at one another. Tsukiumi seemed indifferent to the idea, but the rest were more honest than her. Kazehana and Musubi looked sadly at their fellow Sekirei, while Homura sighed and bowed his head. Only Matsu seemed genuinely optimistic, even as she hugged her knees to her generous chest.

"It'll come, Ku," said The Wisdom Sekirei. "Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but some day, we'll find a way to win without losing." She smiled at Minato. "After all, we're the two smartest people in the room. And, unlike Minaka, we're not crazy or arrogant."

Minato shook his head at that. "I'd hate to think what might've happened, if you guys hadn't woken me up from that…"

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"Now what is this?" asked the figure on the ledge, his nose wrinkled slightly.

Before him hopped a slim and toned young man with large grey eyes, so dark they were almost black. He was wearing what could generously be called a tank top. Though, it looked more like he'd stolen a black hexagonal yoga bra, one that was several sizes too small. That, unfortunately, was the only piece of clothing on his upper torso; his ribbed, bony sides were on full display. His bowl cut had splayed into a wild top of white to match the wild look in his eyes. Baggy black pants, similar to those worn by the other hostile male on the roof, covered his legs. Black gloves coated his hands and forearms.

"Thirteen," breathed the Sekirei. He took a few practice jabs in the air. "That's your unlucky number, peon, and I don't mean some superstitious nonsense." He licked his lips and squared off against the slab in front of him. "I mean me, Amebane, Sekirei No. 13."

An eyebrow was raised at that. "You serious right now?" That eyebrow was nodded at the timid-looking girl standing several meters behind him. "Don't you wanna kiss your girl goodbye first?"

"Please," Amebane scoffed, "as if I'd need that pig to beat you."

For the first time that day, a smile appeared beneath those two yellow eyes, now just as wild and hungry as Amebane's.

"Oh ho ho!" said their owner. "Kid, you just won the jackpot in the lowball lottery!"

Cranking his arm around the shoulder, Amebane's soon-to-be brutalizer began to approach him.

"And have I got a prize for you."

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"Be lighter on your feet, Musubi!" Kazehana called. "Let your body flow naturally, into whatever position you need it to be."

Musubi nodded… and got smacked in the face by a water sphere.

Kazehana shook her head. She sat against the wall, watching Tsukiumi warm up Musubi and Uzume warm up Tsukiumi. The Water Sekirei regularly scored hits on Musubi with her spheres, but had more trouble tagging Uzume. The Veil Sekirei was using her namesake to great effect, catching water spheres in midair and twisting away from those that got through.

"Don't overdo it, you guys," Chiho said, her feet kicking against the porch. "This is only supposed to be a warm-up."

"I know, but I'm so excited!" Musubi said. "I finally get to fight him!"

"Well, one of us has to be," Minato sighed.

Kazehana, whom he was seated against, slid her arms around his waist. "Something on your mind, Mina-kun? Besides the obvious, I mean."

"I just… It's still kind of surreal, you know? I spent so long pitying him, trusting him, and now a death match against him is the only way we can stay in Minaka's crazy game."

Minato shifted to look at her. "Do all Sekirei know about the super-weapon thing, or is that just us?"

Kazehana shrugged and kissed him. "I didn't even know about it." She kissed him again. "But that's not important to me. You're reason enough for me, Mina-kun."

Minato blushed a little.

"Time to go!" Matsu said as she emerged from the house. "Mikogami's on the move. He's heading towards the tower with his Sekirei. We can't let him get there first."

"All right!" Musubi said, cocking her fists at her sides. "I'm ready to go!"

"As am I," Tsukiumi said, walking up and offering a hand to Minato. "As thy wife, I'll see thee carried there."

"Are you sure, Tsukiumi?" Kazehana cooed coyly. "I would think you'd be saving your energy for Kagedansu."

"Ha! After our first encounter, he hath nothing left to challenge me!" A glint shone from Tsukiumi's fierce smile. "Minaka would have his plan be legendary? He shall soon see the first man to drown in midair."

"No, Tsukiumi," Minato said, taking her hand and looking into her eyes. "We underestimated Kagedansu before. That's how he fooled us for so long. You tried that trick on him once, and he tricked you back to escape. I guarantee he's thought about other ways to get out of it."

"Probably," Kazehana said, draping herself against him (to Tsukiumi's annoyance). "But what else is there? Not to try it?"

"I'm not saying don't try it," Minato clarified, looking at each of his Sekirei. "I'm saying don't let up. We've been walking into his territory, playing his game, this whole time. Even now, we're the ones going to him, like we did before. Like I said, don't underestimate him. Stay four moves ahead, like he did with us. Until we see that crest leave his back, he's not done and neither are we."

Matsu nodded and took off her glasses. She kissed Minato on the lips. Her golden wings lit the front of the inn as his power supercharged her own.

"There is nothing hotter to a brain-type," she murmured, "than people who use theirs. Come back soon, so I can finally go on my date with you."

Author's note:

I know you'll all come back soon, because Chapter 100's already written! Just waiting for my beta readers to go over it.