Perception: Part V

The shadowy golem peered through the scope of its Barrett 50 Cal, zooming in on the door in preparation for the ronin or gothic mummy to peek their heads out for him to make short work of. Just like that one time he attended a rapist's wedding. And the time someone told him his Tool T-shirt was dumb. After slurping in some heavy whiffs of the stink wafting around him, he noticed the door unlatch. Soon after, a pig mask emerged from the crack. He pulled the trigger with no modicum of hesitation and the exposed appendage exploded like a watermelon beneath a comically-large mallet. The body ricocheted against the wall and collapsed in a bloody heap.

"Game over. Sad." Mathis said despondently blinking. Upon his eyes opening again, he saw the boy and his new friend bolt out of the room and race down the corridor like bats out of hell. Before he could reload and take aim again, they had already made it to the door safe and sound, slamming it behind them. Mathis was impressed. "Resourceful. I like that."

...

Minato and Haihane collapsed to their hands and knees, both a panting mess.

"I can't believe that actually worked!" Minato exclaimed in his thrilled panic. He never ran that fast in his fucking life.

"Yeah! We did it," Haihane replied breathlessly as well, her face flushed red from exertion. "you really are smart, you know that?"

"If we run into him again though I doubt that trick will work twice, especially now that the mask is gone." Minato pondered aloud. They were making good time but still far too slow compared to how quickly Mathis moved when he wanted something badly enough; even more so if there was another one lurking somewhere nearby waiting for an opportunity to pounce upon them once they are weakened by fatigue. Their only hope would be speedier movement than what they've managed thus far—and luck. With all this running about, perhaps fate might intervene just at exactly the right moment before things get any worse. Then again…

With their anxiety now somewhat under control, the two raised their heads from the floor to see another set of surveillance monitors on the wall.

One was live footage of the very room they were in. They waved at the camera and saw the same on the screen. Another featured who they could only assume was their would-be assassin, setting up shop at the next hallway they were to traverse. And the third was playing a Manscaped ad.

"Oh, come on. Are you fucking serious?" Minato groaned.

"Kinda fitting, given all the blades around us."

"Blades?" he questioned and decided to scan the room further. He hadn't noticed earlier, but inside was an entire arsenal of dark-age weaponry hanging in racks hung on the tiled walls. Minato hadn't seen anything quite like it since that university history class where Professor Pirojko showed off various historical artifacts used throughout human civilization until modern times including swords, sai, axes, maces, spears, halberds, staves, cudgels, flails, clubs …well, pretty much every kind of bladed weaponry known to man. All theirs for the taking.

The two rose to their feet and their eyes wandered about the munitions.

"Guess we need to pick our poison." Haihane mused aloud.

Minato grimaced, remembering Kazehana was out there still sick. He hoped Benitsu would keep her safe.

"Would you be able to wield any of them with your hands hurt?"

"No, but I'm thinking we can take some of the daggers and tie them to my heels or something. That way my kicks will be deadlier."

"It can't be that simple to simply just take one. Something tells me they're rigged to something. Help me look around for any surprises. Better safe than sorry."

Haihane nodded. "Right."

They began examining each weapon closely. Some were locked away safely within sheaths mounted above the weapons rack, others seemed to require special keys which lay hidden elsewhere among the clutter. After their paranoia had been satisfied and they came across no hazards, Haihane soon found herself staring directly across the table toward a particularly large knife whose handle looked oddly familiar: It resembled nothing other than the black dagger wielded by Zatrathi guards during battle scenes in Xenoblade Chronicles X, her favorite game. Stars sparkled in her eyes, though she was trying desperately not to let Minato notice lest he think she was crazy. Her hand reached forward towards the blade, fingers wrapping tightly onto the hilt. When finally satisfied, she yanked it free from its mountings and presented it to Minato who was approaching with another dagger and roll of duct tape.

He swiped it and crouched down, aligning it to her ankle and the ball of her foot. He began to apply the duct tape to her boot and wrapped it over the grip of the knife, tape crunching as he coiled it round and round over her boot laces until he was satisfied the blade wouldn't move. He ripped the tape with his teeth and went to apply the next blade when suddenly a scream was heard from directly above.

"GYAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Minato and Haihane aimed their chins skyward and moments later Benitsubasa and Kazehana were on top of them in a dazed and confused heap.

"Ugh, my head." The pinkette groaned. She opened an eye and glanced at Kazehana. "You alright, boobs?"

"I'm fine, but whatever we landed on probably isn't." she looked down to see Minato beneath her rear, eyes glazed over with black corkscrewing spirals. "Oh no, Minato!"

"Well don't just sit there, get off him!" Benitsubasa shouted.

"You first." Haihane moaned, pinned underneath her abdomen.

"Oh, shit." Benitsubasa rolled off her. "My bad."

She climbed back atop and helped ease Minatos' shoulders upright then lifted his torso gently off the ground. His breathing sounded labored yet steady.

"What the hell just happened?" he grunted weakly.

Benitsubasa gave him a concerned glance. "We ran into trouble. A bunch of thugs we came across chased us until we fell down this trap door."

"Were there too many to handle?" Haihane questioned.

"If they were normal no. But these fucking pigs are exactly that." Benitsubasa explained. "If I'm not mistaken, these guys down here that have it out for us are all MBI soldiers."

"What?! How do you know that?!"

Kazehana then spoke. "When one of them touched Beni-"

"Benitsu!"

"-they drained her of all her strength. She couldn't use her powers at all. I had to stab the guy in the throat with the knife in her belt to get her off so we could run away."

"They have an ability that cancels out a Sekirei's power? That sounds familiar..."

"It should. It's the same ability Seo used when he stopped Tsukiumi dead in her tracks."

Kazehana surmised.

"How do you know that, Kazehana? You weren't there."

"Tsukiumi told it to me in confidence one day. It shook her to the core and still affects her now according to what she told me."

"I see. I didn't know she obsessed over it so much."

"Yeah. I would have been done for if not for wind-bag's heroics." Benitsubasa hissed. "After that we high-tailed it. We found a key, and the last bit of the map. Then somehow we got back to the library and another passage opened to us when they finally caught up. Otakubrain was probably looking out for us. We went in to try and lay low. Then I stepped on a pressure plate and now we're here."

"I'm just glad neither of you is hurt." Minato sighed in relief.

"That may not be the case for long." Kazehana sighed, shaking her head. "Now the library is crawling with them. How are we going to get Matsu out of the trap door without them seeing us?"

"It might not be the only way for her to get out." Minato guessed.

"It probably is. And we don't have much time left to find an alternate route. We need to brave it."

Minato nodded. "If you say so." he gestured over to the weapons rack. "Take your pick. It looks like you need an upgrade."

"Oh, sweet!" Benitsubasa squealed like a kid in a candy store. "I got dibs on the Kwan Dao!"

"What about you, Kazehana?" Minato asked as he went about fastening the second blade to Haihane's heel.

"I'll take the Chakram," she said, approaching the rack after stroking her jaw in careful consideration.

Benitsubasa stroked the shaft of the bladed staff in her hand like it was her Ashikabi's package for a moment when a thought occurred to her. "Hey pipsqueak, think we should take another weapon for the geek? She'll definitely need it once we free her."

"Good call." Minato complimented her.

"What would fit?"

"I don't know. I doubt she's familiar with wielding a blade or staff. You think we should contact her?"

"Nah, I don't think we need to right now," Benitsubasa said to his surprise. "I think we should just get her a blunt object like a mace. No brain power needed. Just swing and smash. Simple as that."

"That would be a safe option, yes."

In the midst of their conversation, Minato failed to notice Kazehana going to open the door to the next sniper alley before it was too late.

"Kazehana! Don't open that?!"

Too late. She pushed the door open.

Haihane sprung into action and pulled her back by her dress with all her might just as a gunshot blasted through the mirrored hallway and a large hole appeared in the wall directly in line with where Kazehana's head was moments ago.

"What the hell just happened?!" Kazehana gasped, wide-eyed.

"No time!" Haihane exclaimed. "We need to move! Now!"

"She's right, come on!" Minato grabbed her by the wrist and led her out into the corridor with Haihane following just behind.

"Hey, where are you going?!" Benitsubasa roared, still in the saferoom.

Haihane looked back and barked, "We'll explain later! Right now we need to move! Run like mad and don't ask questions!" Haihane urgently directed.

Benitsubasa merely grumbled and followed orders. Whatever they were running from must have been dead set on killing them.

They sprinted straight ahead along another row of mirrors until reaching another doorway, which they cleared with a flying leap. The door slammed behind them and bolted shut.

After everyone watched their breath, Benitsubasa coughed and asked, "Now can anyone explain to me what just happened?!"

"The hallways outside these safe rooms have two-way mirrors and someone is trying to snipe us." Minato explained. "After they take a shot, we only have moments to run to the next room before they reload and fire again."

"Crap, I'm so sorry!" Kazehana gasped. "I didn't-!"

"It's okay, Kazehana. You didn't know."

"Well, now that we're safe for now," Haihane spoke up. "how about showing us that last piece of map you found? With it maybe we can finally make sense of this place."

"Good idea, let's see it."

The group approached the table and laid out the three pieces of the map, the third having an overlay attached that fit perfectly all over three pieces. On the overlay was a red line outlining a path meant to be followed. As luck would have it, it lead straight through to the very end of the sniper alley, which was down the corridor straight ahead.

"That's where Matsu's being held," Minato said, dabbing his pointer finger down on the area circled on the map. "We just need to get the last key first, which from what Matsu told us, should be in here somewhere."

"Okay, where do you think it is?"

"I don't know."

"Well, that settles it then, ring her up, pipsqueak."

"But-"

"No buts. Do it. We're short on time."

"Alright..." He pulled out the radio with a heavy heart and pressed the button, anticipating yet another scream.

"Gyahah!"

"Sorry, Matsu."

"It's fine. I don't know the key's exact location, but I also don't think you need it."

"Why not?" Minato asked.

"You have that shotgun, remember? You saved all the bullets. You can shoot the chains off me once you get here."

"That won't safely remove them from your skin though. Besides, won't that draw attention?"

Matsui chuckled softly under her breath. "Don't worry; nobody will hear anything my prison is soundproof. And don't concern yourself with the chains still being in me. We'll find a way to get them off safely somehow. We're on the clock and you only have four more minutes. Please have faith in me."

With little choice left except to obey, Minato put down the receiver and turned towards his comrades who stood expectantly awaiting his response. Their faces wore expressions of concern mixed with excitement – curiosity perhaps even.

He took a deep breath and said, "Alright. We'll blow off the chains with the shotgun. But we still need to avoid the sniper."

"I already have that covered."

"What? How?"

"I was able to divert the attention of some of those crazed MBI goons stalking the place. He's occupied, for now, so hurry on over and don't look back!"

"You can count on us! We'll be there soon. Love you, Matsu."

"Love you too, Mina-tan."

Minato let go of the button despondently and turned to the door leading to the final saferoom. "Alright everyone, you heard her. Let's waste no time. Benitsu, do the honors!"

Benitsubasa cracked her knuckles with a sinister smirk, cracking her neck with the swing of her chin. "With pleasure."

Moments later the door was blown clean off its hinges and sent flying across the hallway courtesy of her boot and the quartette bolted out into the open, weapons free. They ran full tilt toward the exit doors where they were met with several deadbeats lying in wait for them. The Red Sekirei charged in head-on with her Kwan Dao, driving the tip through the bastard who was closest. Haihane leaped forward and spun in the air like a whirlwind, her bladed heel slashing through the head on another sorry excuse for humanity. Kazehana hacked and slashed through another meathead with her Chakram all the while Minato caved in the ribcage of some other douche with the mace he retrieved for Matsu. The struggle waged for less than a minute as they soon closed in on the door. More were coming through. The mirrors shattered and another horde came ambling through like zombies on meth. Benitsubasa stood point while Minato and the others hurried behind her, piling into the safe room. She twirled the bladed staff like a helicopter, slicing two of the clean in half at the waist. As they dropped to their knees, she roundhouse kicked their torsos into the oncoming horde and they all dropped like a cannonball through bowling pins. Jumping on the opportunity, she scurried into the final saferoom where the reunited group used their collective strength to shove the door closed. Grabby hands lunged through the narrowing opening, becoming stuck as the door clamped on them. Several more emerged and the door kept pushing in like a heartbeat as they did their all to hold them back.

"Damn, these guys just don't quit!" Benitsubasa grumbled, pressing harder in hopes the pain would be enough for them to try and back the fuck off. They wouldn't let up.

"I'll take care of it!" Haihane exclaimed. She raised her leg light into the air, bringing her bladed heel down on the protruding arms. She hacked through them with ease and the arms dropped with a lifeless thud. With a final push, the door was shut and following Benitsu barring the door with her Kwan Dao, they were at long last safe.

"We made it." Minato panted.

"Right on time, too," Matsu said.

Minato turned in the direction of her voice, the heads of the others soon following. In front of them, Matsu stood imprisoned beyond rows and columns of iron bars in a lone cell, tears in her eyes, and blood streaming from many tears in her flesh. Of the two dozen that were once in her, seven remained. Two in her hands, two in her Achilles tendons, Two in her ribs, and one in her jaw. Benitsubasa approached the locked cell door and inserted the key she found. It fit the hole like a glove and the door swung open. The group piled in, and Minato wasted little time doing what any Ashikabi would for their flock. He readied the shotgun and got behind Matsu, aiming the barrel point blank at the chain in her jaw and just low enough to ensure no shrapnel would hurt her when he pulled the trigger. And pull the trigger he did. If it wasn't for Benitsu and the others bracing him, he would have been sent flying back. Up next were the two in her ankles. Those would be tricky, but with the main danger averted he could take his time. As he tried lining up his next shot, Benitsubasa's palm came to rest on his shoulder.

"Don't waste any more ammunition, pipsqueak. I can yank the chains out from the wall no problem. Give me a sec."

Benitsubasa grabbed hold of one chain and planted her boot on the wall for leverage. She began to tug with all her might until it finally uprooted and came flying out like a fang. She repeated the process until all were removed.

"Ok, she's free. Now what?"

"Now we take a breather before going through the trap door above us. I think we earned that much." Minato said, winded. "How are you feeling, Matsu."

"I'm fine now that you're here, Mina-tan. I knew you'd make it."

"We need to get that ring out of your jaw as soon as possible," Minato said as he inspected the chain and padlock hanging from her mouth.

"Any ideas, pipsqueak?"

"Give me a moment..." he then remembered something. A tool for survival he plucked from one of the previous tests. The two acid needles he kept on hand. He reached into his pocket, pulling one out. "How much do you want to bet that this stuff can eat right through it?"

"Minato, you're a genius."

"I'm going to try and carefully corrode the lock holding the ring in your mouth by letting some drip on it. Hopefully, we can get it out in a couple of minutes. Hold very still, please."

"Okay, I trust you."

He pulled at the ring gently, doing his best to not hurt her while trying to create as much of a gap between the lock and her skin as possible. This was delicate work considering how sensitive the nerve endings are within the oral cavity. Once he was comfortable with the distance, he placed the syringe inside the keyhole and began to press on the flange. The acid flowed and hissed as it ate through the metal slowly. After half the needle was emptied, the corrosive liquid managed to split the lock right down the middle. Now all he had to do was find a way to wipe it clean so he wouldn't risk giving Matsu any chemical burns. He removed his jacket, alternating his hands on them as he pulled out of his long sleeves. He dabbed the fabric on the dripping iron thoroughly, making sure not to miss any wet spots.

Once finished he looked Matsu in the eye and said, "Ready?"

Matsu braced herself for the worst. "Do it."

He began to spin the ring until the gap was close to the flesh underneath her chin. He took a moment to judge things before working up the courage to safely remove it. He did his best to remove as much acid as he could, but he knew some residue was still present. It was going to hurt no matter what, but still. She'd been through enough already.

…

Looking down at the aftermath of the carnage, Mathis took in the details of just how his coworkers had been sliced and diced.

He would have said something, or even felt sorry... were it not for the memories of him being barely conscious and strapped to a table with the sterile smell of lab equipment.

"Help... me..." came a weak voice, barely a whisper. The tallest of the bunch rotated himself and gazed down at one of the unlikely group's victims. He was literally holding himself together, his intestines in his hand.

Mathis tilted his head to the side, then the other side. "... You're lucky I'm not a sadist."

He raised his boot, postioned it over the dead man's skull, and stomped.

…

"Time to end this." With a quick twist, the hole in the ring passed into her mouth. Matsu shrieked as the corroded iron brushed her sensitive flesh and began to hiss. Minato began to pull as Matsu remained strong. After the longest five seconds of his life, his efforts paid off as the ring came loose and was subsequently removed through her teeth and thrown aside like yesterday's garbage. Her screams subsided after an agonizingly short amount of time, replaced instead by muffled sobbing. Blood seeped freely onto the floor from multiple lacerations which stung against her bare feet. Finally, she calmed down.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Matsu. Now, let's get the others out of you."

After a few minutes of work, the other rings in her skin were removed. As soon as Matsu felt the last of them pulled from her wounds, she collapsed into Minato's arms. Exhausted was putting it mildly. Every inch of her body ached in ways even she hadn't thought possible. But despite all odds, somehow, miraculously she survived. Their spirits soared high as they hugged each other tightly.

The party nodded silently together. "Yeah, we should probably leave quickly though or else somebody may notice our presence sooner rather than later."

They gathered themselves up and prepared to depart through the trap hole above.

"I'll take the lead." Benitsubasa said, calling dibs. Everyone agreed without argument; none wanted anything bad to happen to anyone again today. Together, they ascended the ladder.

Once she was at the top, Benitsubasa undid the bolt latching it, and pushed it upward flipping it open. Kazehana handed her the lantern, which she placed on the floor before hoisting herself out of the prison, the others following behind her. Once out she looked around to see if the coast was clear. There were at least a dozen people wandering about aimlessly. Thankfully they didn't seem to notice them. The group stayed low, crawling upon flammable gunk on their hands and knees. The glow of the lantern was dimmer than ever now, making it harder to notice them from a distance. A blessing in disguise. Now all they had to do was sneak past them and exit to wherever the next test chamber was. All went quiet except for the sound of shuffles overhead as everyone crawled along, huddling against the bookcases and underneath tables waiting for the goons to pass them by to proceed to the next. After some searching, they found that another passage had opened for them. Not only that, but the other passages they previously visited were closed up. It was the only way forward it seemed.

With renewed vigor and remaining low, they moved swiftly across the path toward freedom. Soon the sounds grew louder and there appeared a large set of double doors ahead, flanked by guards standing watch over its entrance. As Benitsubasa further assessed the situation, she absentmindedly bumped against one of the bookcases, and some of the tomes fall from the shelves. One guard spoke aloud: 'Who goes?' His partner responded immediately with, "It must be them! Hurry!"

Only one thing mattered anymore—survival.

"Well, that's just great. Our cover's blown. Time to kick some ass!"

Benitsubasa handed Minato the lantern and charged into the fray with the knife, the blade slicing deeply below where his crotch met his abdomen, spilling his guts. The other girls follow her lead. They attacked ferociously, leaving no room for mercy among those who sought theirs. Haihane somersaulted towards two of them, the blades at her heels stabbing through their eye sockets and skulls cracking as she landed on their faces. Even with such limited space to maneuver, Matsu threw caution away entirely swinging wildly in every direction with her mace, sending bodies tumbling left and right. By contrast, Kazehana used precision and speed to slice apart three men attacking simultaneously near the far side of the library. Without hesitation, she slid beneath their swings and slashed both sides of their necks before finishing the job with swift kicks to vital organs. Within moments four fell dead beside the hallway. Before long, six lay scattered throughout the area.

Six more goons emerged from the dark in the new passage. Neither spared a glance at the carnage surrounding them as they stepped closer, drawing nearer. Each step brought them steadily faster approaching the small army fighting for their lives. For good measure, Benitsubasa spun around kicking a man square between his legs causing him to double over and she followed up with a knee to his jaw, knocking teeth from his head and smashing bones.

Soon the group found themselves surrounded at the exit by the insane horde of pigheads.

"Shit!" Haihane gasped. "There's too many!"

"Quick," Minato shouted. "down the corridor! Hurry!"

The floor flew beneath their feet as they hurried down the dark winding path. After a minute of running, they arrived at an elevator. The five survivors gathered inside as the horde neared them with murderous intent burning in their expressions.

"Shut the door! Now!" Minato yelled.

Benitsubasa nabbed the lantern from Minato's hand. "Give me that!"

Horror filled Minato's eyes as she raised the lantern above her head. "Benitsu, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Burn, motherfuckers!" she roared.

The pinkette threw the lantern onto the fuel-covered floor, its glass shattering. In moments a tidal wave of flames erupted before them engulfing their pursuers within seconds. Benitsubasa slammed the door shut as they screamed in pain, writhing uncontrollably and flailing about as the scorching heat melted the flesh from their bones. Matsu pulled the lever and the elevator began its ascent into the unknown.

XXXXXX

A/N: I've been itching to write the scene where Benitsubasa burns everyone for years. It's probably one of my favorite moments in this story.