Thank you to everyone who ever reviewed this story. I really appreciated any feedback I got. Every positive review really made me giddy with joy and every negative one always had something to help me. I really want to thank everyone who read this story. It's been really rewarding for me to write this story, and I want to thank everyone who made the journey with me as I tried to figure out where this story was going. I hope you enjoy the conclusion to Changing the Game.
Chapter 20
Homura grimaced as he surveyed the area around MBI Tower. He had spotted dozens of soldiers patrolling the entrance in the woods, so that entrance was out of the question. However, a large crowd of Ashikabis and their Sekirei was gathering outside of the front entrance.
"Either we fight dozens of soldiers, or we fight dozens of Sekirei." He reported back to Seo as he landed on the roof they were using as a vantage point.
"That doesn't sound good." Seo muttered.
"So are we giving up?" Homura asked.
Seo shook his head, "No, we've come too far. I promised Takehito that I would not let the Sekirei become fighting machines. I failed in that, but I'll make up for it by ending the Sekirei Plan."
"Wait, so we're risking our lives for some promise you made years ago?" Hibiki asked.
"You don't have to be here. You can leave any time you want." Miya said as she inspected her sword.
"No way, I'm not going to leave Seo out here. He'll get himself in trouble without me."
"All right guys, we'll wait until the sun sets before we attack. The darkness should give us the element of surprise. Right now, we could use any help we can get." Seo ordered.
Homura sat at the edge of the building and looked up at the sun, which was slowly setting and making the sky look a rich orange.
"This might be the last sunset I'll ever see." He muttered to himself, "At least it was beautiful."
Hikari sighed and sat down next to him. "You know, you never really appreciate the little things until you're about to die."
"We won't die." Hibiki stated.
"How do you know?" Homura asked.
"I just have a feeling." She replied as she walked up to the edge next to her twin.
"I hope you're right. The odds don't look good right now." Homura said.
At the same time, Minato was looking outside of the window of his apartment.
"Are you okay?" He heard from behind. He turned to see all of his Sekirei standing there. As he saw all of them, he ran through every moment he had spent with them, and smiled.
"Yeah, I'm great." He felt tears welling up in his eyes.
"Then why are you crying big brother?" Kusano asked, tugging on his pants. He reached down and engulfed her in a hug.
"Thank you so much. Thank all of you so much."
"For what?" Yomi was confused.
"You guys gave me the most important thing, the only thing I've ever wanted."
"What's that?"
"Friendship. All my life, I just wanted a friend. And here I have a few of the most devoted friends anyone could ever ask for. I never gave you guys anything in return, and yet you are all here, willing to lay down your lives for me. I don't deserve all of this."
Benitsubasa took his hand. "That's where you're wrong. You gave us love. That is more valuable to us than anything else."
The rest of the Sekirei nodded in agreement, even Mutsu.
"I think this calls for a group hug." Kazehana cried out. The group came together in one giant embrace.
"Since you guys have done so much for me, I guess you won't mind one more thing." Minato said.
"What's that?" Asked Akitsu.
"Promise me that we'll all come back from this alive."
"Of course we will, MBI doesn't stand a chance!" Benitsubasa said.
Minato felt tears sting his eyes again, "Thank you."
"Now that we got that out of the way, let's go destroy MBI!" Uzume said as she began leading the group out.
As Minato made a move to follow them, a hand grabbed his arm.
"Wait, before you go, let me do one more thing." Benitsubasa said.
"What are you?" Minato was interrupted by her lips on his.
"Hey! We deserve kisses too!" Yomi cried out.
"As your legal wife, I will not leave until you kiss me!" Tsukiumi yelled.
Benitsubasa looked at them angrily but allowed Minato to go to them.
"The things I do for love." She muttered.
The sun had finally set, and Homura was ready.
"All right guys, let's get going." Seo said.
Homura nodded and took off towards the crowd of Sekirei. As he got into range, he created fireballs in his hands and began hurling them into the crowd, causing a panic. As he did that, Hikari fired bolts of lightning while Hibiki carried Seo down with her.
Miya used the distraction to head through the woods, where dozens of solders were waiting. She unsheathed her sword and began running through the crowd, deflecting bullets and slashing at troops all the way.
Homura created a snake out of fire and had it engulf a nearby Sekirei with knives, watching her scream out in pain.
"How ironic. I'm the Guardian of Unwinged Sekirei, and yet I'm hurting all of these Sekirei." However, he had no time to dwell on it as a Sekirei ran at him and tried to kick him.
Hikari and Hibiki joined their hands and called down a giant lighting strike that took out two Sekirei and knocked back a dozen more.
For his part, Seo was no slouch as he grabbed a Sekirei with a spear and quickly cancelled her power. The weakened Sekirei was now no match for the fireball hurled at her.
"All right guys, let's end this battle!" Seo and his Sekirei all simultaneously turned to find the owner of the voice.
Nishi was speeding towards the crowd on his motorcycle with his Sekirei close behind. He quickly stopped the motorcycle and his three Sekirei jumped off to engage Homura, Hikari, and Hibiki.
"Why are you helping MBI?" Seo growled.
"Minaka called me and said that I could keep all of my Sekire if I defeated you." Nishi snapped back.
Seo snorted, "Your funeral, kid." However confident he looked, he knew that his Sekirei would be overwhelmed soon.
"Watch out!" He heard from Homura. He whirled around to see a Sekirei wielding a giant hammer rush at him. Seo quickly braced himself for the impact that never came. The Sekirei was tied up in veils, slowly choking.
"Thanks for saving my ass." Seo said as Uzume landed on the ground, squeezing the life out of the poor Sekirei.
"No problem!" She said happily as a sickening crack was heard.
"It's against to rules to hurt an Ashikabi!" Tsukiumi yelled out as she fired a jet of water into an unfortunate Sekirei, who was knocked into the ground.
Seo looked up in the sky, where Kazehana was keeping most of Minato's Sekirei, as well as Minato himself afloat.
She directed the wind to fire Benitsubasa and Yomi together into the heart of the battle, where they instantly caused a shockwave and slashed off the clothes of a few Sekirei in quick succession. Akitsu began to fire small shards of ice from her relatively safe spot in the air. Mutsu motioned at the woods, where Miya was still fighting soldiers, and was quickly launched in that direction.
Kazehana gently put Shiina and Yukari on the ground. Instantly, Shiina decayed the area around him and Yukari began viciously kicking the balls of nearby male Ashikabi.
"Thanks for showing up." Homura said as Tsukiumi landed next to him.
"Hm, there's no way I'll let anyone else beat my rival." She said as she created a dragon out of water that proceeded to smash into a crowd moving towards them.
Homura smiled, "I won't be outdone by you!" He also created a dragon and directed it into a large crowd, which cried out in agony as the Sekirei had their flesh burned.
Yomi was slashing off the tops of countless Sekirei, who were distracted long enough for Benitusbasa to punch out.
"I feel really bad for these Sekirei actually." Benitsubasa said.
"Huh? Did you say something?" Yomi asked, clearly distracted. She smiled as she slashed at a Sekirei wearing an already revealing outfit.
If she could, Benitsubasa would have facepalmed at this moment. Using the moment of distraction, a Sekirei attempted to land a punch on her, but was interrupted by an ice wall.
Mutsu and Miya were cutting through the wave of soldiers with relative ease, but they didn't notice three figures sneak up behind them.
"The Discipline Squad!" Kazehana cried out. She gently put Kusano and Minato down and flew over to Mutsu.
As Haihane prepared to strike, she felt herself be blown away by a gust of wind. Kazehana landed in front of the Sekirei and began using the wind to hurl various projectiles at her.
"Mutsu, watch out!" Kazehana yelled out. He turned just in time to block Karasuba's sword.
Musubi took advantage of her distraction and landed a quick kick to Mutsu's gut, forcing him to keel over in pain.
"I told that I would kill you." Karasuba said with a smile as she raised her sword above her head.
Miya and Kazehana both turned to save him, but realized that they wouldn't make it in time.
Mutsu let himself relax as he accepted the inevitable. There was a woosh and Mutsu calmly awaited the end. When it didn't come, he looked up and saw Karasuba flying into a tree, which then proceeded to explode.
"I made it just in time." Matsu said, clearly out of breath and holding a smoking rocket launcher.
Karasuba laughed as she picked herself out of the crater that she was lying in, "It looks like the gang's back together."
The ex-Discipline Squad members lined up, opposing the new Discipline Squad.
"It's time to show you why we were originally chosen." Miya said as her sword reflected a beam of moonlight into Haihane's eyes.
"I can't see!" Haihane put her hands over her eyes, forgetting that she had her claws on. She screamed out in pain as she accidentally stabbed the top of her face.
"Idiot." Karasuba muttered.
Musubi was eagerly hopping, being unable to contain her excitement at facing such strong enemies.
"Let's get started!" she cried out, rushing the group of experienced Sekirei.
Mutsu merely grinned and readied his sword.
"Minato, as well as we're doing right now, we can't fight them forever!" Benitusbasa yelled out as she punched the jaw of a Sekirei who tried to fire a blast of light at her.
Minato nodded, "I'm going to end this."
"I'll punch a hole for you." Benitsubasa quickly looked at the wave approaching her from MBI Tower.
"Extreme Quake!" She pounded the ground, creating a powerful shockwave that knocked back the wave, leaving the entrance wide open.
"You can get through!" She yelled.
"Got it!" Minato pushed his way through the crowd and caught up to Benitsubasa who punched the entrance, knocking the door off of its hinges.
As they rushed inside, they were greeted by an empty room.
"This seems too easy." Benitsubasa said to Minato, who nodded in agreement.
"Welcome!" Minaka appeared on a large screen in the lobby of the MBI Tower. "I congratulate you for making this far! You've actually beaten most of the traps I've set up for you to fall into. Tell you what, if you make it to the top floor, I'll even give you a prize!" He cackled and the screen shut down.
Minato rushed over to the elevator. "The elevator's not working."
"I found some stairs. Let's hurry."
The two took off and began the trek to the top.
"You don't know how long I've been waiting for this." Karasuba said as her sword clanged off of Miya's.
"Same here." Miya's face reflected her concentration. She parried Karasuba's swing and in one motion, slashed Karasuba's stomach. Karasuba backed up and quickly inspected her stomach, which suffered a cut, although it was not very deep.
"You'll have to do better than that to stop me." Karasuba said as she began an offensive.
"Don't worry, I'm going to end this soon." Miya easily held her off and created a shockwave with her sword, knocking Karasuba off balance. She then drove her sword forward and through Karasuba.
"I told you I would finish it." Miya said.
Meanwhile, Matsu was firing rockets, which Kazehana directed with the wind, at Haihane, who was deftly dodging them.
"This is taking too long." Matsu said as she whipped out a laptop. After a few keystrokes she grinned.
"Orbital laser is firing."
"Wait what?" Haihane asked moments before an orbital laser unleashed its wrath on her.
Mutsu was busy creating shockwave after shockwave to keep Mususbi, who was trying her best to land a kick on him, back.
"Mutsu, quit playing around!" Kazehana said.
In response, Mutsu quickly began to stab at Musubi, who found herself quickly being overwhelmed.
"End this!" He yelled out. Kazehana summoned her strength and focused it into one blast that launched Musubi into the tower.
Benitsubasa and Minato were halfway up when they felt something hit the tower.
"What was that?" Minato asked.
"I don't know." The two continued up the stairs.
"Only one more floor." Benitsubasa said as they arrived on the 99th floor.
"What happened here?" Minato asked. The floor looked completely trashed, and a wall was missing from the floor. Minato spotted movement out of the corner of his eye.
"There!" He cried out as Musubi picked herself up out of the rubble.
"Not her again." Benitsubasa growled. She rushed Musubi, who easily knocked her aside into a pile of rubble.
"What is this energy?" Benitsubasa asked.
"Back away. I need to talk to your Ashikabi." She said in a different voice.
"Who are you?" Minato asked.
"I am Yume, Number 8. And you must be this Sekirei's Ashikabi."
"How can you tell?"
"I can tell when there is a gentle spirit nearby. It's actually really refreshing."
"A gentle spirit?"
Yume smiled, "It is clear that you honestly love all of your Sekirei. It's very admirable. I can only wish that Musubi had met an Ashikabi like you."
"Are you going to stop us?"
"No, I will not interfere. I just wanted to view an Ashikabi that genuinely cares about his Sekirei. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a battle to end. " Yume smiled and she leaped out of the missing wall.
Minato ran over to Benitsubasa.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine, just go on without me. I just need some time to recover."
"No, I started this journey with you and I'll finish it with you." He picked her up in his arms bridal style.
"I can't help but feel déjà vu from this." Benitsubasa said.
Minato chuckled, "I do too."
They made their way up the stairs once again.
"I think I can stand again." Minato put down Benitsubasa, who stood up without any difficulty.
They made their way into Minaka's office, where the madman stood in anticipation.
"Congratulations! You've made it to the top!"
"All right, I've come to end this game."
"Sorry, I promised you a prize, but I can't let you end the Sekirei Plan."
"I'll make you." Minato growled.
"Sorry, but you don't scare me."
"But I do." Takami came out from behind her son with a pistol drawn.
"Mom!" Minato said.
"Minaka, would you really hurt your son?"
"Wait, son?" Minato asked with disbelief over his face.
"So you two… ew!" Benitsubasa said as she thought about what Minaka and Takami did together.
Takami sighed, "I'll admit, I don't have to best taste in men."
"As scary as you are, I won't let you end my plan. I've put too much work into it." Minaka said as he pushed a button on his desk.
"What was that?" Minato asked.
"I activated the self destruct." Minaka said with a cackle.
Takami's eyes widened.
"Minato! Get out of here!"
"He won't be able to, he doesn't have enough time."
"You would kill your own son?" Takami began strangling Minaka, "You maniac!
"What are you doing?" She asked her son.
"If I'm going to die, It'll be on my terms!" He yelled out as he threw the three of them out of the window in Minaka's office.
The wind whipped by his head and Minato saw his life flash before his eyes. He then thought about everything he had gone through with his Sekirei, and smiled.
"Sorry, but I guess I can't keep my promise. We won't all come back alive." He sighed and watched the world pass by in slow motion. He saw explosions rock MBI Tower and he wondered if Minaka was going to escape or not. Knowing him, he probably already had an escape pod and left.
"How am I still falling?" Minato thought aloud, "It's already been like a minute since we passed the 20th floor." He looked down to see himself hovering in the air, just above the ground. He suddenly dropped to the floor and heard footsteps.
An exhausted Kazehana ran up to Minato.
"We promised that we would all come back alive." She panted. Suddenly she engulfed by three hugs.
Minato was then met with two palms slapping his face.
"How could you do that?" Benitsubasa screamed at him, "We were 100 floors up!"
Minato rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Look guys, it all worked out in the end, so let's forget about this."
"We'll talk about this later." Benitsubasa snapped. Truthfully, she wasn't angry at him for it, but she didn't want to admit it.
Minato nodded, "Right, let's go help everyone else."
They looked at the battle before them. Minato's Sekirei were doing fine, but were beginning to look exhausted. He knew they couldn't last much longer.
"Can I have everyone's attention?" Minato yelled out. No one paid him any heed.
Irritated, Benitsubasa caused a giant earthquake that stopped the battle and caused everyone to turn to Minato. "Listen up!"
"We don't have to fight anymore! We've destroyed MBI Tower and ended the Sekirei Plan, which means none of us have to fight anymore. Let's just end the fighting and go home." He yelled out.
He was met with appreciative sighs and applause. His Sekirei came out of the crowd to stand by his side. He looked over them and spotted Seo in the crowd giving him a thumbs up while Miya simply smiled politely. He looked at the pile of rubble that used to be MBI Tower, and all that it used to stand for. He couldn't help but grin.
"We really changed the game." He said as he was attacked by hands attempting to rip his clothes off.
"Really guys? In public? Can't we wait until we get home?" He asked.
"Come on Shiina, let's go join in." He heard his sister say.
The crowd just dispersed in disgust. Takami buried her face in her hands.
"My son is a pervert."
"Kusano, let's just go home." Mutsu said, picking up the girl and putting her on his shoulders.
"Should we go help big brother?" She asked innocently.
Mutsu chuckled, "Something tells me he doesn't want help."
As they walked away, Minato cried out for help in vain. Although he was stuck in one of the same situations he was always in, he was right. He had changed the game and ended the Sekirei Plan. He had changed more lives than he would ever know. Not bad for a nineteen year old who hadn't even started college yet.
Hiroto Minaka groaned as pulled himself out of the wreckage of his escape pod. He tried to nurse a wound he had received on his head when the escape pod crashed.
"Where am I?" He looked at the sign that was conveniently by the side of the road.
"Tokyo, huh?" He looked down at his badge, "MBI? What's that? Do I work there?" He shrugged and decided to head inside the city.
"What happened to me? Last thing I can remember, I was heading out to Kamikura with Takami to check out the place. I hope nothing big happened and I forgot all about it."
Again, I really want to thank everyone who helped make this story what it was. I loved writing this story, and any feedback made it worth all of the effort I put into this story. Honestly, I have a hard time finishing stories, but the feedback from you guys made just want to keep writing and writing. I really hope you enjoyed this story. Now for a shameless plug. I've started a blog. If you are an NBA fan and a television fan, I hand out weekly awards based on the television and NBA action of that week. It would really mean a lot if you guys checked it out. It'll get more interesting as the season starts and Glee starts again as I obsess over the NBA and Glee. If you are interested, check out my profile. I'll put up a link soon. If you're still reading at this point, please let me know if you guys want an epilogue or not. I'm leaning towards one, but if no one wants it, I don't think I'll add one.
Thanks for reading!