015 - How to take a break and get ambushed
Sahashi Takami is a highly successful woman. A renowned scientist who is also one of the foremost experts in her field in the whole world. A breadwinner who provides for her whole family with a salary that has too many zeroes. A mother of two beloved children that she's proud of having seen grow into the people they're today… even if her busy schedule means that last part has been more through pictures and phone calls than in person.
She's proven herself to be brilliant, capable and driven, the sort of person who tolerates nothing standing in her way and moves forwards without regrets.
As such, the possibility that she might be suffering through any sort of bizarre 'empty nest syndrome' is utterly ludicrous for a number of reasons and anyone who dares to even insinuate the possibility in her presence would be put in place through a swift and merciless tongue-lashing that might or might not be followed by further levels of retaliation, depending on the degree of offense taken.
Her inner monologue gets interrupted by a tugging sensation that makes her look down towards where a tiny hand is pulling on her pants to draw her attention. Wide green eyes framed by a honey blonde mane stare up from knee length as the tiny form of (Kusano) Number 108 tries to get her attention.
This one has never been very expressive, but there's no way to misunderstand the enthusiasm and wonder glinting in her eyes as she confirms she has Takami's attention and points towards some nearby flowers.
"Look, look."
"Yes, yes, I see them." Takami mutters indulgently while squinting her eyes to check out the sign beside the flowers. Botany is hardly her specialty, so she can't exactly identify exotic plants by their flower, but she'll be damned before she admits that out loud. "Tecoma Stans, the Yellow Elder."
"Pretty…"
"Indeed, they're the same color as your hair." Takami acknowledges distractedly, a hand finding her way towards (Kusano's) Number 108's hair without conscious input on her part. "I bet you would look great wearing a crown of those."
Then she freezes, her words and actions finally registering on her conscious mind. She looks down again, blinking dumbly at the way (Kusano) Number 108 has her eyes in obvious bliss as she leans into Takami's hand. For a moment, she considers pulling her hand back, but even she isn't that much of a bitch.
With an inward sigh, she continues petting the little one, wondering what made her say something like that. It can't be the sleep deprivation or she would've started talking nonsense years ago, Maybe it's some atypical reaction to nicotine withdrawal? Whoever decided to forbid smoking inside the botanical garden had to be a fool of the highest order. What were they expecting to happen? A stray cigarette butt starting a forest fire?
Indeed, the only reason she indulged (Kusano) Number 108's wish to visit the botanical garden is so the stubborn girl Sekirei would finally stop complaining about being cooped-up indoors and nothing else. Why else would she do this when she can neither drink, nor smoke, nor generously tip attractive young men to fawn around her as if she was still young and attractive?
Her momentarily distraction means she's far too slow to reach when (Kusano) Number 108 runs off all of a sudden, squishing her face against the fence and flailing her tiny arms in a doomed attempt to reach the yellow flowers. Takami's reaction might or might not have been further delayed to appreciate the objectively adorable sight.
That's why she's still halfway closing the distance towards her little charge when (Kusano) Number 108 makes a focused noise and a wave of something washes over Takami, making her pause mid-step to watch the way the Elder branch suddenly starts growing towards the little one, the flower cluster on the tip slowly morphing into a wreath.
Once it reaches (Kusano) Number 108's waiting hands, it gets gently plucked off and carefully placed on top of a mop of honey blonde hair. Despite having seen plenty of similar developments in the past, Takami can't help but watch in wonder. The powers of the Sekirei of Life truly are something else.
"You shouldn't have done that. But I guess there's no real harm this time." She half-heartedly chastises the little one. "Just be more careful with your powers in the future, alright? You're not supposed to use them outside the lab until your adjustment is done."
There's a mighty pout and a half-hearted nod of agreement Takami knows only means trouble, but the two of them continue with the visit without further comment. Her suspicion is confirmed when they visit the mountain habitats and Kusano repeats her previous stunt, this time with a crown of Edelweiss.
"I should be mad at you, you know?" Takami sighs again when she's offered the crown of admittedly beautiful but very much white flowers. No lady appreciates that sort of reminder, but there's no way she can look at Kusano's earnest face and muster up the effort of putting up an angry façade. "But thank you, they are very pretty."
As they resume their walk through the wooden pathways and enjoy the plantlife, this time wearing a crown of flowers each, Takami is aware that she's probably indulging Kusano a bit more than strictly necessary, but she can't really bring herself to care anymore.
This experience is turning out to be… actually somewhat nice. As much as she's dreading the time to go back to her office, where no doubt she'll find out that a new stack of documents piled out while she was wasting time here, she's enjoying the chance to break the routine and do something different.
…
…
So of course it couldn't last.
It begins with the sounds of a panicked crowd in the distance. Chaotic cries and hurried steps in the streets that can be heard even from inside the Botanical Garden. Takami dismisses it at first. Just another Sekirei fight getting out of hand and the engagement rules of the Plan getting ignored by overenthusiastic fighters.
It's an unfortunately regular event and the MBI regular forces can deal with it well enough, so she puts it out of her mind, sure that she'll find a report waiting on her desk in the evening.
She frowns when the disturbance is followed by the alarm sirens of the Botanical Garden. Did the Sekirei move into the premises? That's… still not outside the realm of possibilities, but for it to have happened while she was visiting is a bit of a strangely convenient coincidence.
Just in case, she guides Kusano towards the closest exit while calling for reinforcements. The way the little one follows meekly and without protest only serves to make her more paranoid. When she finds her path barred by a scythe-carrying Sekirei right as she was about to reach the exit, she can't even claim to be surprised.
"Well, well… What do we have here?" The green-haired girl asks smugly as she unhurriedly starts walking towards the two of them. "A lost little chick fell out of the nest?"
So this wasn't a coincidence and they're here for Kusano after all. Takami will have to rake some fools over the coals to figure out how intel of her plans for the day fell into the hands of the Ashikabi of the South, but that comes later. First, she needs to solve the current situation.
The respect and awe Takami engendered into every Sekirei as a position of authority during their formative years isn't a very reliable tool against those that have already been Winged, but they're the only tools she has at the moment, so she'll use them to the best of her ability.
"Number 43." Takami greets the newcomer in a disapproving tone, taking a step forward to give the illusion of initiative as she puts a carefully-crafted frown on her face. "What do you think you are doing here?"
"My name is Yomi, Doctor." The brat answers with a frown of her own, seemingly unaware of the way she's stopped her own approach and subconsciously given up the initiative. Unfortunately, it's not quite enough to make her reconsider her plans and the superior smile swiftly reappears on her lips. "And I think I'll be taking the little chick with me."
"I literally couldn't care less about your name, Number 43." Takami pounces on the perceived weakness, hoping to hammer the sore point and cow the Sekirei into submission before she realizes which one of the two is actually in a position of power here. "You are breaching the rules of the Sekirei Plan. Kusano hasn't been officially released yet. Her Adjustment is still in progress."
"Oh? So she gets to be addressed by name?" The superior smirk turns into something ugly as her hands grip on the scythe hard enough for her knuckles to whiten. "Does the big bad stone-cold Doctor have a soft spot for the little brat?"
Nothing is reflected on Takami's face as she inwardly swears at her slip of the tongue. No scratch that, at the utterly disastrous mistake she's just made. Refusing to use the given names of the Sekirei creates a distance between them, a cold barrier that's impersonal and intimidating and works in her favor. But playing fucking favorites turns it into a personal attack.
And very few Sekirei will just… roll over and show their bellies when faced with a personal attack. She knows this, she should've never made that mistake. But she's short on sleep, nicotine-deprived and in no condition to engage in psychological games, so she made it anyway.
She probably shouldn't have lowered her guard around (Kusano) Number 108 like that, either.
"That's none of your business." Takami still gives it a last try at covering up her fumble by dialing up the aggression, but she's pretty much resigned at this point. "This is your last warning. Keep your peace or face the consequences."
"What consequences?" Number 43 asks mockingly, closing the distance between the two of them with a couple of confident strides. "You're alone with the brat here, Doctor."
Because this was supposed to be kept under wraps and an escort would've only drawn attention! That's the retort Takami doesn't give, silently doing her best to glare a hole into the scythe-wielding brat instead.
"What's this? Nothing else to say, Doctor? Are you hoping your scary face will make me turn tail and run in fear, or something?" Number 43 taunts with a mocking cuckle, making (Kusano) Number 108 step behind Takami fearfully. "Oh, well, I'm disappointed now, so I think I'll end things quickly. Nighty-night, Doctor!"
Takami can do little beyond clenching her jaw and fists in impotent frustration as the brat raises her scythe to strike, hopefully with the butt of the weapon. At least, she'll continue glaring at the Sekirei until the very last second, too much of a sore loser to refusing to give the stupid girl the pleasure of seeing her cowering away as a sadistic smile—
"I wouldn't do that."
The unexpected words cause everyone to freeze and turn towards the source of the voice to find a blonde woman standing some distance away, wearing a dress suit and using a hand to fix her glasses in a way that has to be practiced, causing them to glint ominously.
"Shimada?" She asks in shock. "What's the Disciplinary Squad doing here?"
"As if I care about that!" Number 43 interrupts with a shrill cry before Shimada can answer. "Disciplinary Squad or not, you're just a human! Try and stop me!"
Since she's made herself the center of attention again, nobody misses it when a dark figure descends from above, silently landing right behind her. Before the Scythe Sekirei can react to the newcomer's presence, metal wires wrap all over her body, pulling taut to perfectly capture her limbs in a… more than compromising way.
"Wha–!?" Number 43 yelps, finding herself suddenly helpless. "Release me, you— Gack!"
That's as far as she gets before the unknown figure proceeds to unceremoniously german suplex her into the floor. Now that Number 43 is out of the way, the identity of the mysterious newcomer gets finally revealed.
"Number 104?" Takami asks faintly. At least it's not Karasuba.
But why turtle shell rope binding? What the hell is Shimada teaching the Disciplinary Squad?
The Sekirei in question ignores Takami for a moment, apparently fascinated by the way Number 43's unconscious body twitches every time she kicks it. But she finally turns around, fists propped against her hips and the blades of her signature metal claws carefully aimed away.
"Fear not!" Number 104 declares boastfully. "For I am here!"
Spoiler: Haihane's new battlesuit
"...Did you just quote All Might at us?" Takami deadpans after a brief moment of stunned silence.
"... I didn't expect you to be aware of that series." Number 104 admits slowly, after a similar pause of her own.
"I have been Minaka's right-hand woman for twenty-one years. Twenty-one long years." Takami explains weakly, eyes glazing over as very unwelcome memories play out in her mind. "You have no idea the things I've seen in that time."
"Good job, Haihane." Shimada says as she walks closer, causing her Sekirei to puff up her chest smugly. "And, Sahashi-san… My condolences."
Shimada has an incredible poker face. In normal circumstances, there's simply no way to tell what she's thinking. But the expression she's making right now, as she approaches Takami… it's one full of sympathy and understanding. One that speaks of a known and shared pain.
The snarky retort dies on Takami's throat and she finds herself scrambling for something appropriate to say.
"Much appreciated." She replies drily in the end, fishing a lighter and a box of cigarettes from her pockets. Smoking may still be forbidden, but she's very much not in the mood to be a law-abiding citizen right now. "Now what are you doing here and what happened to Number 104's normal clothes?"
"We were on standby at Headquarters, just in case something else happened today." Shimada explains, falling back to her aloof professional demeanor. "The new Headquarters is just a couple blocks away, so we managed to arrive in time once you made the distress call."
A response time measured in seconds… Well, that's one upside of having someone competent like Shimada as the Ashikabi of the Disciplinary Squad, at least. But now Takami is worried about that 'something else' comment. Because, since Shimada herself is here with Number 104 and a Brain-type is unlikely to be sent on the field…
That means Karasuba is out there doing Heavens knows what.
"And my clothes… Ashikabi-sama wanted something easier to remove." Number 104 cheerfully picks up where her Ashikabi left. "And this bodysuit is a single piece! With a zipper on the back! And a release latch for the extra bits! I can strip in forty seconds flat!"
Ah… yes, that. Takami still isn't sure how she feels about the Disciplinary Squat Ashikabi having sex with her subordinates, peculiar circumstances of the Sekirei biology nonwithstanding, but she has a bad feeling about this whole… The sound of clapping coming from somewhere below her cuts through her thoughts like a chilling realization.
As she slowly turns her head towards the source, she finds out Kusano to be the source of the sound.
"Oooooooohh!" Her eyes are literally sparkling.
Just the last thing she needed to make this a perfect clusterfuck, Kusano finding a role model.
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