Alrighty, next installment!

I do have one or two things to say here; again, thanks to the regulars who review after every chapter, it's kind of you to say you're enjoying it etc. (some constructive criticism would be nice or perhaps ideas or characters you want in the story?)

Secondly, after how many of you favourite and review, it was a bit of a disappointment to see only two people voted on the poll up at my profile. I basically did an eeny-meeny decision between the two, so if you did vote and the one you voted for wasn't picked, don't feel too bad.

Also, Mangaman, you should definitely make a profile on here, so I can at least reply directly to your questions if you have any (rather than in this intro bit haha).

Anyhoo, onward to the next chapter!

Chapter 13: Tested Bonds

Satellizer and Sasori kept clashing weaponry within Carnival grounds at West Genetics. The dirty-blonde Sekirei wondered how many Pandora were still in the game, and also the whereabouts of Tsukiumi worried him. He had not seen or heard from her since the game began.

The two stood still, meters away from each other, continuing another stare down. #109 queried his next move, contemplating using his discus throw.

Could I use it?... nah she's too nimble. She's the opposite of a Nova, small and agile. - Sasori

While he was thinking on his next move, he failed to see Satellizer strategizing herself. An aura started to swell around her.

"Sextuple Accel!"

She sped toward him, without a moments notice she slammed her Nova Blood into Sasori's chest. Causing blood to erupt from the impact and newly found hole in his chest.

He gasped in pain and was sent tumbling to the ground. Sas felt his mind going blank, and finally after a moment or two trying to keep his eyes open, he blacked out.

Satellizer stopped over him, an expression of neutrality, and somewhat pride. She heard a delicate drop of footsteps behind her.

"Thou shalt pay dearly for his fall."...

X-X-X-X-X-X

Amelia rushed toward the Carnival entrance to see her first Sekirei being wheeled away on a stretcher, breathing mask over his mouth and towel after towel over his wound. She attempted to follow the medical staff with him but got promptly shoved aside, being stated that no one could see him just now.

She slumped against the wall, her eyes starting to tear at not being allowed to stay by his side in his hour of need. Uzume had been with her the entire time. She was primarily shocked that Sasori had been out-done by a Pandora but nevertheless accepted it. She embraced her Ashikabi the best she could in a supportive manner. It made her a bit hot to be in close contact with Amelia but shook it off, focusing on the situation at hand.

"Do... do you think he-he'll be okay?" Amelia asked, stuttering through the tears.

Uzume looked up to the doors that were still swinging from the stretcher going through it. She smiled gently; "It's Sas, he's a tough guy."

It cheered Amelia up a fragment, but not enough to sway the worry in her heart for him.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Three weeks later...

Sasori grunted when he came to. Feeling an extraordinary amount of pain in his chest. His right hand hovered up to the pain and felt bandages. "Oh yeah, I got stabbed pretty bad..."

"Yeah.. you did. How can you call yourself a Sekirei? Beaten by those weak things." a harsh, silky voice said in the corner of whatever room he was in. He guessed a medical room, it seemed familiar enough.

"That voice." He said, still laying down looking at the ceiling.

Footsteps were heard, and a female figure bore down over him while he lay in the bed. Her ashen gray pony tail wavered as she walked over him.

"You should know Karasuba's voice when you hear it, Sasori-san?" She replied, a coy smirk covering her expression.

Great, that's all I need. A hole in my chest and a psycho at my side... fantastic. - Sasori

"I see you're not in the fighting mood just now. Bearing that in mind, where am I exactly?"

"Observant aren't you? We're at MBI headquarters in Kyoto. It's nice and out of the way, don't you agree?"

"I can't really agree when I haven't seen it." he groaned as he tried to sit up, basically pushing himself against the headboard.

The silence encased the room for a good minute or so. Karasuba stood, still looking at her fellow Sekirei, wondering why her killing lust hadn't arisen yet. She noticed Sasori's expression being confused slightly.

"What's the matter? Can't figure out how you got beaten?"

"No, I can remember that. Thanks for that..."

"Anytime."

"I feel like I've lost something, like a memory, or string connected to my heart. But I can't place my finger on it."

Karasuba knew the reason why he felt that way but neglected to tell him. For some reason she was slightly enjoying his company. Finding out Sasori was one of the few she didn't feel like slicing and dicing was intiguing to her.

"I know you're injured n' all. But try and summon your power."

He looked at the Black Sekirei for a moment, a face of puzzlement soon followed by astonishment as he held out his hand.

"What the!?"

X-X-X-X-X-X

30 minutes later in the Director's room:

"So, let me get this straight. When I fought that Pandora, and she essentially stabbed me, she killed me?"

"That is corrent #109" Minaka sat in his desk chair, ignorantly smiling at one of his Sekirei's.

"Alright, so why can't I remember anything from before the fight?"

"To be honest with you, even I don't know the answer to that one. Figure it might be something to do with being dead for a few seconds or minutes. It's actually a wonder you're alive at all my dear boy."

Argh... being called "dear boy" irritates the shit out of me. - Sasori

"Fine. But what's the deal with this? I thought I had some sort of energy related power?" He held out his hand, as a vapour-like substance filled a sphere above his palm. "Smoke?"

"As regards to that I believe your tama changed personalities so to speak."

"So, I have schizophrenia for Sekirei?"

"Not quite. We believe the death of your old personality led to a new one being born. But this is just a theory. But we trust that you know how to use your power, without having used it before. Figure it like an, innate ability."

"New tama, new powers, huh?"

"Correct Sasori-kun." After a brief pause, he asked a question; "What will you do now?"

Sasori's face suddenly turned grim, his eyes had the life sucked out of them by memories. "I intend to go back to that damned school."

Karasuba chimed in, "and do what exactly #109?"

He turned with a manic smile, "To give that bitch her just deserves. No one stabs me in the chest and gets away with it."

Interesting... He's a completely different person, there's no feelings or consequence to his thought. Oh damn, am I reacting a little to him!? No... I can't be... Could I? - Karasuba.

He made for the door and had it at an acute angle as he felt a hand on his right shoulder. Sasori turned to see who it belonged to, none other than #4.

"How about I come with? I'm in the mood for some bloodshed." She smiled, rather cutely. It made Sasori wonder what she was up to, but at the same time agreed with it. If Karasuba wanted him dead, she would've done it a long time ago.

"Fine by me. Let's roll."

"Wait one minute please, Sasori-kun." Minaka spoke up oncemore. "I have a proposition for you."

I'm really not in the mood for his games right now. - Sasori

X-X-X-X-X-X

A day later. West Genetics Pandora Training School. Japan:

During the three weeks of his unknown whereabouts, Amelia had different mood swings, some Uzume could cope with, some that she couldn't. It didn't sink in for Uzume till just after a day or two that just how much Sasori meant to her Ashikabi.

They sat in the cafeteria, drinking coffee. Uzume tried to cheer her up to no avail. Minato's group was with them also, but the feeling around the table didn't allow for talking so much as before.

There was a loud bang and the double doors leading into the canteen were blown open by a body flying through them. Everyone in the room turned around to see what was happening. They saw Ganessa Roland picking herself up from the middle of the hall, spitting out a mouthful of blood, presumably from whomever was about to walk through the double doors.

Who is she fighting now? - Amelia

The double doors opened slowly, leading to a figure walking through them with a type of hooded haori. It wasn't grey like Karasuba's, it was black with a grey Sekirei symbol on the right hand side of the chest area. The haori's hood was still up, not revealing the masked intruder.

"You bastard!" Ganessa screamed as she lunged at him with her chains not far behind.

A grunt was heard from the attacker, "weak..." A palm was held out as vapour started to swirl. Suddenly a wave of energy hit her, sending her flying back into a central pillar of the hall.

There was a visible, outward breath as Ganessa's body finally gave up on her for now. The hooded figure walked into the room further, with people staying back wisely. There was another person with said figure, and Musubi noticed it before anyone.

"Karasuba!" #88 voiced joyfully.

There were whispers that could be heard, some calling the Sekirei who spoke up a dunce, others saying she was a traitor, a naive one.

"Hello, Mu-chan." #4 replied, her trademark smile appearing.

The figure kept walking up to Ganessa, and picked her up by the collar. Her limiter, Arthur was closeby and started to shout at the hooded man. By now it was blatantly a male underneath the hood, the physique and walking movements were those that definitely did not belong to a woman.

The intruder stopped, and slowly looked round, still covering his face well. Arthur suddenly regretting his choice, as a 'stare-down' ensued between the two. The limiter backed off a little, showing his cowardice.

Amelia turned to Uzume, "Do you know who he is? I mean, he's definitely a Sekirei." Uzume shook her head. There was no one who sprung to mind who acted like that.

"Where is Satellizer El. Bridgette?" the hooded man asked the room. The voice was somewhat familiar to a certain group, but thought nothing of it when Sasori would still be obtaining medical treatment. His whereabouts were the unknown part, the part which had worried Amelia and Uzume most.

"Right here." The blonde pandora stood up, and walked to the center of the cafeteria, a crowd parted allowing her entry to the spectacle.

"Excellent."

"Who are you and what do you want?!" She demanded.

The figure dropped Ganessa as she slumped into a heap by the pillar. Her limiter rushing toward her.

"Uh oh." #4 chimed in sarcastically.

"For starters, revenge sounds good." A right hand came up to reveal his face as his hood slowly descended behind his head.

"Sasori!?" Amelia exclaimed, her eyes starting to water. Was it really him? But why was he being so vengeful? He was never like that when she first met him, not even when Ganessa had first challenged him.

The stare-down between Satellizer and #109 stopped as he looked round to his right to a certain Ashen, red fringed haired ashikabi. A look of puzzlement overcame his face. "Do I know you?"

A dagger pierced her heart. Metaphorically of course. How did he not recognise her? But he answered to his name. Is it possible the government or MBI did something to him?

Satellizer chose this moment to gain an advantage and accelled at him, only to be met with a forceful wave of vapour. It was too strong for her to withstand as she piledrived into the wall, leaving a cracked and cratered wall.

Ara ara, that Pandora is no match for him now. And his coldness to his... ex-Ashikabi. If that's what you could call it. I wonder... if I could wing him? - Karasuba

"I... I'm your Ashikabi. Please, stop this!"

"My Ashikabi?" he replied with a raised eyebrow showing his disbelief.

This time it felt like a dozen swords stabbing her. She tried to think of a way to convince him, intentionally or not.

"I won't lose!" A blonde haired Pandora yelled as she left her crater and lunged for Sasori oncemore, using a Tempest strike, splitting into 4.

"Yes, you WILL!" A greyness filled #109's eyes, as vapour overtook his body. He split into thin air and warped behind Satellizer, punching her ribs in the side and warping oncemore for an uppercut to the chin.

He knew which Satellizer was the real one, there was only one with a deathly stare. One with a murdering intent to end the situation that had started. Sasori let out a scream of rage, as at his side warped a naginata.

Spinning it around and placing himself in an offensive stance, arching his body backward, his left leg stretched out in front with his weapon angled to the floor in his right hand.

"Your move... Pandora."

And he's now a blademaster, huh? Oh shit, I may actually fall for him. I know I'm bound to Natsuo... but... he's gay. It's so blatantly obvious he has no real feeling for me or anyone. Not that I care... - Karasuba.

While Karasuba was kidding herself, Sasori actually made the first move, and used his smoke-like essence to fuel his feet, giving him a lift to his acceleration. An already injured Satellizer didn't move in time and was swiped by his naginata in three places, her left shoulder, left leg and her abdomen.

She slowly collapsed to the floor, the pain of her wounds hitting her. Sasori walked toward Karasuba with a satisfied, bloodied smile.

"I... won't... lose."

#109 rolled his eyes in disbelief. "You serious?"

"Ara ara Sasori-kun. You're still not strong enough for her?"

He looked her in the eye for a moment. One second, serious as nails, so serious she thought he might attempt to fight her. She would partially look forward to it but now he hadn't been limitered in power due to his tama being reset, she was also a little restrained in seeing his full potential.

Suddenly a playful smile overtook his face. His naginata at his side readied. "Mind if I borrow it?"

#4 looked at him confused until he took her nodachi from its saya. "You better not break it, #109."

"She won't get a chance to."

Satellizer acceled toward him, using her impulses rather than brain in her fight. Much like the first time against Arnett McMillan at the start of her second year.

Sasori threw his hand toward her, "Smoke storm!" A gust of vapour trailed through the room at high power, effectively blocking vision and providing a very hard difficulty of moving through it. Before she knew it she felt sharp pains going through her body.

The smoke cleared revealing two swords piercing her. One in her upper body, one in her lower. "Wha... Wha...?" She collapsed as the two swords left her. Kazuya had been watching at the sidelines, keeping out of harms way. Judging by the viewing of the Carnival, he thought she could handle him. But when it was so clear she couldn't, his eyes drowned in waterfalls of emotions. Running up to her screaming for help.

A couple of students left to get help and a few got a stretcher to take her to the medical wing from the cafeteria kitchen.

"Well, that was extremely entertaining."

Karasuba decided to comment on her fellow Sekirei as he walked back to her. "I'm glad. It was fun for me too." He swiped her nodachi through the air as the blood splattered onto the ground. He rotated it and slipped it back into her saya in one smooth movement.

"So professional."

"It's not professional if you don't have a clean blade." he smirked.

Oh screw it. I'm so fucking turned on right now it's unreal! - Karasuba

She leant in to mark Sasori for her own, but ended up being pushed away by her shoulders. "What do you think you're doing?" #109 asked calmly.

Shit. - Karasuba

A moment of silence passed, the majority of the crowd looking after Satellizer and her limiter was not aware of the transpiring that was going on between the two Sekirei. Besides the few who deemed them as too dangerous to not be watched and a certain group of Sekirei with their respective Ashikabi's.

"You dare reject me?" she whispered to him, so the others couldn't overhear.

"Reject you? You're already winged."

"Not the damn point. I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't turned on by your actions."

Sasori was flabbergasted by her words. Turned on? Reject her? Did she really want to wing herself on him? Or... wing him to her? Was it even possible?

It can only be done by one way. If she does feel that way. - Sasori

"Alright, I'll go along with it. On one condition."

"You're giving me a condition? This'll be good."

I know he's playing, he can't be fucking serious. No one gives me conditions... besides that asshole in his white coat (Minaka for those who didn't get it). Suppose I could hear him out. - Karasuba

While words were being said, Karasuba was getting increasingly hot, she didn't quite understand but presumed it was because she had finally met who Yume had referred to as a rightful partner. Someone who shared the same things, who she... well.. enjoyed spending time with.

"You wing yourself on me, after I've winged myself." came the reply. She didn't fully comprehend what he meant. But nodded her head, with what appeared to be a slight tint of red under her deathly eyes. "Or that person, whichever you desire." he added.

"... and which person would that be."

"You'll see."

He turned to walk over to the group of Sekirei, including Tsukiumi, Musubi and Uzume. The general group of people who mingled with each other after finding common ground. He stood before Amelia and seemed... unsure of himself.

"Sasori...?" she said softly, not wanting to anger her ... Sekirei.

"I..." A deep breath was heard before the continuation. "I... remember. Everything." He held her face in both hands, stroking her right cheek with his thumb. "I'm so sorry!"

He kissed her on the lips, once again marking him as hers forever. Grey, vapoury wings spread from his back, catching the attention of everyone in the room.

Oh well fucking played. Now what do I do... go along with it and see if we can get some bloodthirsty times together... or leave it. - Karasuba

#4 was in a predicament. She was attracted to Sasori, quite blatantly after somewhat admitting it, but not quite ready to take a step towards lesbianism.

She walked toward Sasori, pulling him away forcefully by gripping his wrist so they could talk a little more privately. "If I do this, you promise me something, otherwise I swear to god I'll gut you and your ashikabi right here."

"And what would that be?" A sense of intrigue coming across his face.

"You definitely make fucking time for me. While I can understand you'll have to be bound to her, but you treat that Pandora and I equally. As both your ashikabi."

Truth be told, Sasori didn't believe it'd even work, no Sekirei had tried being bound to different ones, but he assumed the strength of the bond Karasuba had with her Ashikabi wasn't a strong one.

"You've got yourself a promise then." He was willing to accept her proposal. Karasuba's strength meant that if Minaka did get his plan back into action, their chances of succeeding just rose through the roof.

They stood awkwardly for a moment. "Well don't just stand there." she said.

Wait a second, she tried to wing me before but now she's shy? The hell am I doing... - Sasori

"Fine." He leant in and kissed her. A moment of silence went with what seemed like a normal exchange of saliva, but after a while Karasuba experienced a burning sensation in her neck. Her crest was being replaced by another. Her black wings shot out, as did Sasori's.

Uzume and Amelia stood in shock, not knowing what to think of the situation. "Uhm... Sas... what's going on?"

"Uhm..."

"We're bound now too. I hope you're used to sharing, because I'll certainly be keeping my portion."

Great, so now I'm divided into a staple dinner. Fantastic. - Sasori

Joking aside, he had some attraction to the Black Sekirei, not the blood lust aspect, but he seemed to see a different side to her. Sarcasm and a self she didn't reveal to anyone.

"So, you're an ashikabi now too Sas?" Uzume questioned, a little smirk coming across her face.

"Erm, not quite. What I can presume is that while I'm bound to Amelia, Karasuba is now bound to me..." It sounded more confusing the more he tried to explain it.

"Either way, you have two members of the discipline squad at your disposal, Amelia-san." Karasuba said, "although I won't follow your orders should Sasori-kun not wish it... or I don't feel like it."

"Who said I'd order you around? I don't do that."

"Well... that's good to know." she smirked.

Sasori looked to his right, to remark; "You two better get along."

Uzume stalled the conversation, "Wait... did you say two members of the discipline squad?"

This question led to Minato's group to leave their jaws open wide. This was big news, but Karasuba wondered how Minaka would take it. Theoretically Amelia would be the most powerful Ashikabi in terms of Sekirei ability, or close to first. Not that there'd be any chance she'd be second to anyone.

END CHAPTER 13

Okay guys, hope you enjoyed it and the wonderful plot twist that just took place. I know it's a little weird to take in but I thought well... it's always known in Sekirei that "the bond is only as important as you make it" or so it would seem. Maybe I've been reading too many fic's :)

Anyhow, take care, read, review, comment!