Chapter IX


In the three days since the fight with Karasuba Zeilla had spent her time shadowing Yukari around the city on foot. The simplicity let her analyse the single number and her own Sekirei while still being productive.

Even if it did become known that the 'Demon Ashikabi' and the 'Ashikabi of War' were allies.

Yuuma was checked out the following morning due to a minor concussion from taking a solid uppercut before he could envelop himself. Ever since he had disappeared off to his gym to work on the manipulation of his 'Iron'. Ruso was held back longer than initial projections thanks to her uncooperative behavior and was currently scheduled to be discharged after four days.

Yashima came off lucky, considering.

Karasuba's sword punched right through her femur relatively cleanly, only the displacement of bone causing a host of small fractures. The muscle damage was healing well and steadily - fast by Human standards - but she would be limping for at least a week after her discharge on day six. If she pushed herself too hard like Ruso was doing every chance she got, then Yashima risked another week and poor mending potentially hindering her for life. However, due to her serious concussion the teen was being kept under careful observation and - so far - was cooperating well. The woman in charge of her care had practically ordered Zeilla to tie #84 down to a bed if she did more than sit up to eat or use the bathroom for the week after discharge.

Ikki recovered over night and was discharged by morning. The young woman was a bit tender and careful not to stretch too much but was otherwise fine. She accompanied Zeilla everywhere in the absence of Yashima.

MBI dropped off a change of clothes for number Nineteen but she asked Zeilla to get her the same outfit as her and Yashima: black cargo jacket and pants with combat boots. In the same trip the Spartan had found a gun shop and acquired the largest caliber handgun it had, using the trick of treating Ikki to snacks all over the city as a means of extracting cash from her MBI card.

Ikki was friendly enough and a bit too affectionate towards her Ashikabi than typically acceptable in public for women of their apparent age but didn't seem inclined to do much or say much. Shiina had never met her and the two Sekirei understood the only reason they were peaceful with regard to each other's presence was due to the relationship between their respective Ashikabi. Fortunately, they left it at that.

Yukari received her as well as could be expected from the only normal human among them. They were civil but again the objective of the game's players meant that both were rather guarded in their behavior around the other.

On the up side, Ikki was quite aware she was a new face in an established group of friends and made an effort not to step on toes.

"Are we really doing this?" Zeilla asked Yukari.

The girl rolled her eyes. "It's not like we're criminals. We're just asking the guy about Ku. He should know if he works at MBI."

The Spartan narrowed her eyes. "Assault and battery, grievous bodily harm, disturbing the peace... Now breaking and entering."

Yukari scowled. "Just kick in the damn door, will you?"

"Actually..." Ikki stepped forward and inserted one short sword into the fine gap between the door and frame, then hacked downwards a few times before something gave way. #19 stepped back and nudged the door open with her foot, smiling.

Yukari charged into the ground level apartment on a mission, Shiina following with mixed feelings evident on his face.

"She's like a force of nature." Ikki observed with a slight laugh. "The boy just wants to see a friend and she scours all of Tokyo to make it happen."

"You heard the stories I assume."

"Yep."

Zeilla detected the telltale impacts of Yukari's boots in action and sighed, walking a few meters away from the building. Moments later an overweight man barreled out the front door and slipped on wet feet as he tied a towel around himself. He scrambled into the alley next to his apartment block.

Then Yukari executed a flying kick through a window to land in the man's gut.

Shiina carefully picked his way through the broken aperture in her wake.

"I can barely believe we've been watching this for two days already, coming to the end of the third... But after weeks of hunting she is still going?"

"She has a weakness for Shiina, Ikki. People have done far more and far worse for the one they love so unconditionally."

"I suppose. Still kind of impressive."

The latest victim of the Demon Ashikabi cried something Zeilla couldn't quite hear and tried to scuttle back.

"Huh? You work for MBI, no?"

"I'm just a micro mechanic for their manufacturing branch! I don't know what that number means!"

"Hmm, so you really don't know where One Hundred and Eight is?"

"Yes, I told you! Damn perverted bitch..."

"He's done it now." Ikki chuckled.

"Oh? Then I have no further use for you."

#19 counted down on her fingers. "And wham-o! That has got to be great stress relief."

Zeilla looked at the Sekirei sideways. "I thought you were more mature than that. No sympathy for the innocent man who just felt pain like no other?"

"None at all." she grinned. "Many of us have no real love for MBI."

"I see."

Yukari wandered past them, eyes glued to her phone. Somehow - or due to most civilians leaving the city - the girl didn't walk into anyone as she crossed over to a low wall next to a shopping square and sat down with Shiina.

Zeilla and Ikki shared a look, then made to join them.

"Yukari, what is it?" Shiina asked hesitantly.

"MBI." she said. "The message says there is one Sekirei left to be winged. She is in the northern area of the city."

Only one left? If they get winged, then the game will progress... Crap.

"The final unwinged... Shiina, could it be...?"

"It might be Ku." he nodded.

Yukari pocketed her phone and pulled #107 to stand with her. "Let's go, Shiina."

Ikki looked to Zeilla and the Spartan shrugged. "Let's just follow her and keep the competition off her back."

They hurried after the younger pair. Yukari was fast and knowing that every other Ashikabi had received the same message she was even more driven to find the last wingless Sekirei. Shiina was only keeping pace thanks to his hand trapped in her grip. Zeilla's strength and long strides were enough to start gaining on the girl but Ikki was forced to jog.

"Hey, if the final Sekirei is unwinged when we find them, who's going to wing her? You or Yukari?"

Zeilla shrugged. "I for one have no designs of that nature. I don't think its crossed Yukari's mind yet. I suspect we won't arrive in time for it to matter - we've had no luck in this hunt at all."

Ikki bit her lip.

"What?"

"I might be recovered enough to carry you over the rooftops." #19 ventured. "I think you should aim to wing the final Sekirei. I think I know who would abstain from being winged until the end."

Zeilla's eyes widened as it hit her. "A guardian who couldn't find a powerful enough Ashikabi to react to." she thought aloud. "Kagari."

Ikki made an inquisitive noise.

"If he is discovered then he'll have to fight. With so many likely heading for him he will use as much power as he can to win. He will overload. That's an unacceptable loss."

Ikki made that noise again.

"Alright, let's take to the sky." the Spartan agreed. "We are at a disadvantage being based in the south as it is."

Yuuma landed beside them.

"I was on my way back when I felt you two nearby. What's going on?"

"Great timing, Yuuma." the Spartan greeted him. "I need you to find two or three fire extinguishers - the more heavy-duty the better - and bring them to us."

The male balked but nodded. "I guess explanations will keep." he said, then leapt away as suddenly as he had arrived.

They then stopped so Ikki could scoop up her Ashikabi and leap to the rooftops too.

"Head for the Izumo Inn." she told the Sekirei. "That's his home base and residence."

"The safest place in the city, nice. Hope we don't bring a fight to the gates."

Hang on, Kagari.


"Holy hell... The building is on fire." Ikki gasped. "No, wait, is that Homura on the roof? He's so powerful!"

Zeilla gritted her teeth as they stopped on a high-rise two blocks away. "I met him at the MBI resort. He told me his power is unstable until he gets winged. I don't know about you but that looks out of control. He's burning up."

Suddenly an impossible stream of water descended from a point above the inferno. Steam clouds engulfed the rooftop, yet the water kept pouring until the fire was snuffed out.

"That was a Sekirei." Ikki confirmed. "Zero-Nine."

"Water won't put out embers that smolder beyond its reach. Even now he's slowly coming back to life." Zeilla countered. "We should dump him in the harbour until he can get his flames under control."

"There is a problem with that. There are two Ashikabi and a large number of Sekirei on that building."

The Spartan cycled a breath. "Let's move to a building adjacent theirs and examine the scene in more detail."

Ikki nodded and hopped across on three of the tallest buildings to land on another high-rise overlooking the foggy area.

Zeilla stood on her own as soon as they landed and rushed to the edge to scan that lower rooftop. Four Sekirei stood arrayed between a crispy-soggy Kagari and three others. An Ashikabi stood among the three, a man in a suit and tie. Three Sekirei of each faction paired up and began to battle. After a little searching the Spartan picked out an unassuming young man approaching Kagari, not threatening or keen and the unwinged was allowing his advance. They appeared to be talking.

Then the other Ashikabi was hoisted into the air by a number of thick vines.

What?

Sure enough, at the other end of the unexpected greenery was a child with a small pot in her hands, giggling as the man squirmed fruitlessly. She had long blond hair and a white dress.

Kusano! At last!

"Found one in a nearby office." Yuuma said, landing beside her.

Orange caught her eye. Kagari burst into flame again.

Zeilla snatched the pressure-can off him and leapt over the edge.

Yuuma blinked, frozen with surprise as Ikki gaped at their Ashikabi's reckless move.

The Spartan landed heavily on three limbs next to the unassuming Ashikabi, hood flapping off her head in the wind swirling around from the intense heat. She crushed through the safety pins as she stood and launched a stream of white flame retardant at the Sekirei's feet.

"Hold your breath, Kagari!" she yelled over the roaring flames, then stood and edged closer while waving the cone up and down his form steadily.

"Who are... Zeilla! What are you-"

"Trying to save your life, idiot! You can't afford to break down now! Of all Sekirei I know you and Matsu are my greatest allies in the war on MBI!"

Kagari's face appeared as he staggered into the flow of retardant. He looked at her, then at the other Ashikabi whose head was snapping between them rapidly in confusion.

"Sahashi, you don't really want to kiss me, do you?" the fire Sekirei gritted out as he tried to bathe himself in the white cloud. "We're both male!"

The Ashikabi looked struck with fear. "I-it-it's not that!" he cried. "I just want to help! Mom said you would stabilize if I, er..."

"Good, I don't want to kiss you either!" Kagari declared triumphantly.

Then the fire extinguisher sputtered out mere dregs.

The fire swelled into a whole new strength, suddenly and completely over powering the fire retardant and engulfing both Ashikabi. Zeilla cursed internally and was about to call out to #9 for water when Kagari acted.

The silver haired alien staggered forward and gave the unassuming young man a strong push to expel him from the inferno, then grabbed Zeilla by her shoulders.

"I hope this damn well works!" he shouted over the roar, then pulled her down to his level.

Zeilla had just enough experience now to open her mouth for him before their lips met. Kagari hurriedly stuck his tongue past her teeth and scooped out as much saliva as he could with urgent desperation, fingers painfully digging into the Spartan's shoulders. Kagari's tongue ran all over every surface inside her mouth for several seconds, increasingly frantic as the flames intensified. Zeilla pulled the Sekirei's body against her own and tried to smother the flames, then it happened.

Kagari sucked her tongue into his mouth, then tensed up. Zeilla watched as his brows raised higher and the fire turned red. The red flames died down very quickly and left the charred pair alone on a blackened patch of roof.

The Sekirei broke from the kiss and gasped. Large wings of fire exploded from between his shoulders, rippling and waving in defiance of physics.

Kagari stepped out of their embrace to examine himself. Most of his clothing was crumbling ash but a few sections of a once thick coat remained intact enough to protect his modesty. He pulled what was left tighter about himself and sighed.

"Still there for now." he uttered quietly. He sighed again, then started to laugh.

Yuuma and Ikki landed next to them and stared at the silver haired man in confusion. He began to laugh louder and threw his fists into the air as he turned to face the MBI tower.

"Did you see that, Minaka?" he cried at the top of his voice. "Fuck you, Minaka! Fuck! You!"

The Sekirei guardian sent twin puffs of flame into the sky as if to project the insult across the city before collapsing backwards and laughing to himself.

"Homura... Is... Crying and laughing." Ikki said uncertainly.

The unassuming Ashikabi came over looking even more confused than he had before. "Umm... Kagari-san... Are you alright?"

Kagari rolled over on to his knees and paused to still his breathing before responding, eventually getting to his feet as a chuckle escaped him.

"I'm fine, Sahashi." he panted. "I'm fucking fantastic!"

One of the Sekirei stormed over and pointed at Kagari. "Homura! What are thy saying? Such language is-"

"She's a woman, Tsukiumi!" Kagari interrupted, pointing at Zeilla - who was too busy analysing her surroundings to think about what was happening. "I was finally winged, but by a woman! My Ashikabi is a woman!" he declared over and over, bubbling with tears and laughter of relief.

The Spartan had a revelation of her own to understand. She could actually feel his overflowing joy. Searching deeper Zeilla found Yashima's worried outrage, Ikki's happiness for the one who protected them earlier in the game and Yuuma's slight amusement at the whole spectacle... And a little bit of pride buried within Number Fifty. Then another revelation hit her.

Sahashi.

She looked around and spotted Kusano making her way over with the other Sekirei. Eyeing each in turn revealed the excited and busty brunette Zeilla remembered from the MBI resort baths standing over a body. The brunette who regarded Yukari as a close friend from what she had seen. The Sekirei had a strong frame too.

I don't believe it... Yukari's brother is an Ashikabi and has winged Kusano. After all that searching... Arg! If only we had met him as arranged that day!

"You!"

Zeilla realised somebody very hotheaded was barreling down on her and she immediately filed away her internal musings. The well-endowed blond woman who had arrived on the scene just after the Ashikabi thrust her finger out accusingly.

"What mettle art thee made of?" the blond demanded of her.

The Spartan blinked. "What?"

"Thou art Ashikabi to my rival. I would know what kind of person dares claim Homura from my own Ashikabi!"

Minato winced at the mention.

"It's alright, Tsukiumi." Kagari assured. "Zeilla is perfect for me."

Ikki and another busty woman in a purple dress began cooing.

"Minato was supposed to wing you." the blond responded angrily with a fist raised to her shoulder. "You were reacting to him! I gave permission for it to be!"

"Oh flasher-chan, could it be possible you wanted to see Minato-kun take Kagari-chan, eh?" pink dress asked mischievously a sing song kind of way.

"No!" The blond gasped, appalled. She quickly began to seethe inside and grit her teeth, scowling at Zeilla. "But to think that my rival could be eliminated without my knowing it... And that my Ashikabi was denied something I allowed - no matter how uninteresting..."

The Spartan clapped her hands to draw all their attention. "First off, some of us aren't introduced to everyone present. Secondly, some have just been in a fight and could have injuries to tend - such as Kagari and Minato, who have burns."

Everyone looked at the two she singled out to find Minato was doing his best to hide his pain while Kagari was too tired to bother. The latter kept his arms crossed peculiarly though.

"Therefore, I propose we all go home. I for one have no desire to fight you people."

"Is Kagari-chan alright now, bro-chan?" #108 asked.

"Yes, Ku-chan." Minato replied with a kind smile. "He found his Ashikabi now too."

Kusano smiled widely and ran over to give Kagari a hug. Too tired to fight her off the male Sekirei was doomed to endure it.

Minato laughed nervously, then looked around. "Wait, where is Musubi-chan?"

Everybody turned. Musubi still stood over the body Zeilla had spotted earlier. The brunette looked up into the sky and soon a helicopter could be heard.

"Let's go, Minato-san." Musubi agreed cheerfully.

Musubi took her Ashikabi in her arms - giving no thought to the embarrassment this caused him - then without waiting for anyone she leapt northward. The Sekirei in the short purple dress picked Kusano up and took off after her, quickly followed by Tsukiumi.

Kagari sighed and smiled at Zeilla. "If I had known it was possible I might have snogged your face off back at the resort." he snickered. "I have agonised over this dilemma for so long... And now it's over. I have my wings."

The Spartan blinked. "There is one thing I don't understand."

"What is it?" he asked, clearly curious.

"Why the hell do Sekirei feel the need to suffocate me?"

Kagari cocked his head to one side, but Ikki burst out laughing and Yuuma even cracked a grin.

"Homura-san, Z-san has now got five Sekirei: Eighty-Four, Fifty, One Hundred and Two, me and yourself. In all five cases the Sekirei initiated the contact." Ikki informed him. "It's like she never sees it coming, I swear."

Zeilla snorted. "I'm a Spartan, not a social butterfly. Of course, I don't expect to be kissed - let alone by aliens."

Kagari shook his head and chuckled. "Well, like it or not you are my Ashikabi. Now and for many years to come."

Zeilla nodded outwardly. Inwardly however, she was wondering what was the point of saying that line with a bond in place that almost ensured it to be so.

"They are getting ahead of us." she reminded her three present Sekirei. "Let's get going."

Kagari fainted and fell flat on his face.

Zeilla blinked and sighed. "Ikki, pick him up, would you?"

#19 complied, slinging #6 across her shoulders. It was deceptive to look at her next to Yuuma: though he had the innate strength of the male frame, the female weapon user was the stronger.

"Right, now we can go."

And hope for something at Izumo good at treating burns. She added to herself.