Rise of the Warrior
I do not own Sekirei or any of its characters. I own only Tetsuya.
Author's Note: Sorry about the delay guys, it was a combination of getting a new place, getting a cat (His name is Khan, he says hi), and just work in general getting in my way. But I have decided to finish this story as soon as I can. Enjoy!
Chapter 5- All The Pieces...
Somewhere on the southern edge of Shinto Teitou...
Tetsuya gave Kakizaki a shove as he watched him stumbling along the semi-deserted bridge. They'd arrived on the bridge out of the city a few minutes ago, as per their agreement, Tetsuya was letting Kakizaki leave the Sekirei Plan due to Kakizaki's help dealing with Higa. Kakizaki was trudging slowly along the deserted bridge, his progress more than a little hampered by the head bag he wore, a little extra bit of entertainment for Tetsuya, Minaka's idea of course; not that Tetsuya hated the idea overmuch.
Tetsuya stopped as he watched Kakizaki take the last few steps before he extended a hand and laid it on the secretary's shoulder, signaling him to stop. After he stopped, Tetsuya wasted no time in whipping the head bag off before removing a small knife from his suit jacket pocket and cutting off the impromptu cleave gag and the zip cuffs.
"Well congratulations, Kakizaki. You betrayed dozens of people to Higa, and you got away with it with little more than flesh wounds. To top it all off, you get to walk away from the Game. You're quite lucky, you know that." Tetsuya commented as he pocketed the knife. Kakizaki took a sec to get his bearing before replying,
"How do I get out of the city? I don't see any means of transportation." Kakizaki said, obviously overlooking the twin APC's at the MBI checkpoint. Tetsuya was silent for a bit as he fished out a stick of gum out of his pocket and began to painstakingly unwrap it before commenting,
"There's the road out of the city. You have feet. Use them." Tetsuya finished as he flicked the wrapper at Kakizaki's face with obvious contempt.
"Well fine, where's Kochou? You said she was-" the young man began when Tetsuya interrupted him in a monotone as he said,
"Sekirei number twenty-two is in custody back at Teitou Tower. As all Sekirei are officially property of Mid Bio Informatics, we cannot release the aforementioned individual into your care. However, I hope this doesn't interfere with your departure arrangements. Have a nice day." he finished as he popped the piece of gum into his mouth before he turned and began to leave.
"You can't do this. I'm not taking one step until I see Kochou delivered right here alongside me." Kakizaki roared at Tetsuya, stopping him dead in his tracks next to an MBI soldier.
"I underestimated you Kakizaki. I know I've called you a worthless little cowardly pissant and whatnot. I never thought you would have the stomach to take a stand for what you believe." Tetsuya said in an eery Mr. Rogers tone as he turned to look at Kakizaki.
"But unfortunately, you underestimate my apathy to any and all things inconveniencing you and Higa since that business at the hospital. So, I shall ask you only once: are you sure you wish to wait here for Kochou?" Tetsuya asked as he cocked an eyebrow at the former P.A. Kakizaki waited less than a second before firing back,
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Very well then." Tetsuya said before turning to one of the soldiers and saying,
"I'm gonna head back to the Tower. If he's not pounding pavement within thirty seconds of my departure, shoot him and feed him to the fish." Tetsuya finished in a whisper as the soldier nodded before Tetsuya made his way to the car that had brought him to the bridge.
Tetsuya boarded the car and pulled out the Blackberry Minaka had gotten him when he started his job and watched the digital second hand count off, Tetsuya counting quietly to thirty. As soon as he reached thirty he heard three shots ring out. Tetsuya sighed to himself as he signaled the driver to leave as he dialed Takami. She picked up on the second ring,
"Hey Tetsuya, what's up?" Takami asked as she picked up.
"Hey Takami, send someone to room 7324. Sekirei number 22 is there right now, and I'm sure she'll need your help soon enough." Tetsuya finished ominously as he hit the disconnect button...
Back at the Tower...
Tetsuya stepped off the elevator onto the roof, catching sight of the all-too-familiar silhouette of the company President overlooking the city.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Tetsuya asked politely as he drew next to Minaka, his suit ruffling in the breeze as he did.
"Where were you, Tetsuya? You take a company car and one of our detainees-"
"MY detainee." Tetsuya corrected him quietly.
"Fine, your detainee. You don't call, you don't write. I worry sometimes, you know." Minaka pouted when Tetsuya responded,
"I'm still waiting to hear why I should care, Hiroto. We both know exactly why I'm working for you. Don't pretend we're friends."
"Well, you should care because you remember how I got you to take this job. But anyways, I asked you here because... With last week's PMC fiasco, it seems I need to upgrade your equipment yet again." Minaka said as a hatch popped open on the roof next to him and what looked like dry ice fumes began to leak out as a small elevator whirred to life as a large crate began to rise up from the roof. Tetsuya recognized the same type of container his armor had come in. On the top of the box was written TOKUGAWA HEAVY INDUSTRIES in the large block letters MBI loved so much. There was a loud click as the top of the box opened to reveal its contents. Tetsuya moved closer to examine its contents before letting out a long, sharp whistle,
"Is that what I think it is?" Tetsuya asked as he surveyed the contents,
"Indeed it is, I've also made arrangements to have your sword modified for better functionality in the field."
"Sir, this is ridiculous. I mean, giving me these is just downright unfair to the other players."
"I've always said working for us had its perks." Minaka replied with a grin...
Several minutes later, a dozen floors below...
Izumi Higa watched with disinterest from his cell as Tetsuya stepped off the elevator as he made his way over to the cell door before unlocking the cell door with his thumbprint and stepping inside.
"I don't suppose you're here to gimme my phone call." Higa half -joked as Tetsuya wordlessly closed the door behind him. Tetsuya turned so he could see Izumi out of the corner of his eye, staring for almost a full ten seconds before quietly muttering,
"Something like that."
Tetsuya had barely finished speaking before he whirled around, seizing Higa by the front of his shirt before hoisting him by the front of his shirt and slamming him against the wall, suspending him about 6 inches above the ground. Higa struggled to escape, trying in futility to loosen Tetsuya's iron grip on him. After it became apparent he was going nowhere,
"What now? Do you expect me to beg for my life? I'm not afraid of you." Higa growled before Tetsuya interrupted,
"That's a lie. We both know your terrified of a face-to-face confrontation with an enemy. It's why you send pawns to do your work for you. Well, no more." Tetsuya countered as he pressed a palm to Higa's forehead.
"I've been practicing this for days with Takami." Tetsuya hissed as he focused his budding psionic senses into Higa's mind. His progress was slowed as he felt Higa struggling to push his mind out. He was right to try, this was gonna hurt...
Normally, when he broke an Ashikabi's connection to his Sekirei it was like cutting a rope bridge. This time however, he would not cut it, he would burn it. Tetsuya poured all of his anger, hatred, grief, and sorrow into Higa's connection with his Sekireis as he proclaimed,
"On behalf of the gods, I strip of your ability to chain the little birds to your will! I hand down this divine punishment as retribution for your crimes. May the gods have mercy on your soul!" Tetsuya finished opened his eyes to see an intense blue-white light pouring from Higa's eye sockets as well as his nasal and oral cavities.
The light persisted for several seconds before Higa slumped unconscious in Tetsuya's grip. Tetsuya dropped him to the ground with a flump before he dropped to one knee before slapping Higa awake as he leaned in until he was less than an inch from Higa's ear as he whispered,
"Guess what Higa? You're not an Ashikabi anymore. You can't wing Sekirei anymore. Have fun being normal for the rest of your days..." Tetsuya finished as he turned and strode from the room. He had tasted victory today, and it tasted so, so good...
Later that afternoon, up in Tetsuya's penthouse...
"Oh God! Right there, Tetsuya! Oh wow Tetsuya, harder! Harder! Oh fuck yes, Tetsuya!" Hikari screamed as she grabbed two fistfuls of the pillow her head was laying on, her expression one of pure bliss, before being distracted from her rapture by Tetsuya,
"Goddammit Hikari it's a foot rub not a multiple orgasm! Sheesh, woman!" he exclaimed as he pushed his powerful thumbs up into the arch of Hikari's left foot. He had began the foot rub after Hikari had accidentally dropped one of the sixty-five pound weights in the gym on her foot, thankfully their was no permanent damage. Hikari blushed profusely before apologizing,
"I'm sorry Tetsuya, but your fingers are like magic." she said sheepishly as she looked down at her shirtless Ashikabi, trying her best not to look at the two new markings on his chest. One was of two birds, resembling the one from a Sekirei crest pointed at each other with a ying-yang between them the other was on his left bicep of a black feather which turned transitioned into a murder of small crows flying towards his heart.
"So, I've been told. I think that's enough for now" Tetsuya said as he released Hikari's foot, Hikari offered a whine in protest as he turned to examine the time.
"Crap, it's almost time for the first match to start." Tetsuya sighed as he noted the time. He tried his best to hide his disgust to no avail as Hikari took notice.
"You okay? You look like you're gonna puke." Hikari asked worriedly.
"Nothing new there." Tetsuya grumbled before he was startled by his ringing phone.
"Hello." Tetsuya said as he hit the answer button.
"Yeah, okay Matsu. I'll be right there." he finished as he hung up.
"What's that about?" Hikari asked as she sat up to look at him, her attractive features displaying bewildered concern.
"Listen Hikari, I can't tell you that now. It makes you culpable if it goes wrong. Let's just say Minaka has his plan, I have mine." Tetsuya finished as he fished out his work phone and handed it to her.
"Look, I promise you will all get all the answers you need when its time. But until then, I need you, Akitsu, and Hibiki to take this and go on patrol with Yume. You guys have to keep an eye on the match while I handle this. I'll be back tonight though." he said as he pressed the Blackberry into her palm and wrapped her fingers around the phone.
Hikari was silent for a while, Tetsuya knew her well enough to know she was two seconds from frying hm with lightning to get her answers but eventually,
"Fine." she said with a sigh, as she took the phone from him. "But it's my turn with you tonight. And you will make it up to me." she pouted as she pocketed the phone.
"Indeed I shall, my raven-haired more-busty-than-her-twin lightning wielder." he said with a grin as he ran to his room to dress.
Tetsuya ran to his room before dressing in a hoody and baggy jeans before heading for the elevator when he caught a sight most curious...
"Karasuba, are you watching The Notebook?" he asked incredulously as he turned to see Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams making out passionately in the rain on the enormous flat screen in their common area.
"What? No!" Karasuba said as she scrambled to change the channel. "I was just resting after our workout, and I was too cramped up and sleepy to care." she sputtered nervously before turning off the TV. Normally, Tetsuya would be skeptical that Karasuba was that worn out after only twenty-five minutes of sparring but he put it aside. There would be time for that later...
"Well, I hope you feel better. I'll be back later. Love you." he said as he ducked into the staircase on the far wall...
Two hours later at Maison Izumo...
"Alrighty, now all we have to do is make it to the Fourth Stage. It's all on you after that." Matsu said as her and Tetsuya went about reassembling her computer tower which had been dismantled before they had begun their planning session, they had to be as careful as possible; unfortunately, MBI had enough resources to make that extremely hard.
"You make it sound far simpler than it is, Matsu. The Third Stage will be an enormous challenge on its own." Miya chimed in as she handed Tetsuya back Matsu's video card. Tetsuya took it and gingerly slid it back into its home port, careful not to damage the sensitive component. Tetsuya was about to reach for the SSD when his phone chimed, he pulled it out to see he had a text.
Tetsuya, report to my office in an hour. I wish to hear your thoughts on the first match of the Third Stage.
The GM,
Hiroto Minaka
"Dammit! It's Minaka. I have to go now. It'll take at least twenty minutes to debrief Yume. I'll be in touch." Tetsuya said as he bolted out the door and down the stairs, leaving his mother and Matsu to finish the rebuilding.
They continued the rebuilding until Miya was sure Tetsuya was out of earshot before turning to examine Matsu carefully.
"What's up with that look you've got Miya? You alright?" Matsu asked quizzically as her former commander replied,
"So Matsu... How long have you been in love with Tetsuya?" she asked in her typical polite manner. Matsu's stomach dropped so fast she could swear she heard it break the sound barrier...
Back at Higa's office at the eastern side of the city...
"Thank you Ms. Sahashi. Our Master was right to propose to you. You can trust us to get vengeance for you." Ichiya said as Kaie and Kaiha bowed respectfully to their new Ashikabi.
"Don't mention it Ichiya. That punk who runs the Disciplinary Squad thinks he can get away with abducting my fiancee and trying to steal his company, he's got another thing coming. He's gonna learn the hard way why you don't cross the Reaper Ashikabi." Yukari proclaimed grandly as she rested an arm against the glass as she stared out the window, as if she could pick out his location among the thousands of civilians milling about the streets below. It didn't matter, she'd find him one day...
Author's Note: Alrighty, here it is. Enjoy and once again, so sorry about the wait. Some info from here on may not be kosher with the manga but I've waited long enough. Also, please forgive any discrepancies in the story I'll try my best but it's been awhile. If you want a little hint about what Minaka gave to Tetsuya google Tokugawa Heavy Industries and that may shed some light on it. I have 6 more chapters before this is finally said and done. Well technically five and an epilogue. But anyways, enjoy. Reviews are always appreciated. This is the 19th Angel, signing off...