Chapter 3: Smoke and Mirrors

Yuki an along the road, wondering when his agonising death would catch up with him, If only, if only I was more normal I might have been able to approach him. Damn it Minaka you bastard. As he ran, he felt a presence behind him. He turned swiftly, faster than any human could ever move, and his eyes focused on a pair of young people walking towards him. The taller of the pair, a boy with short black hair waring a leather jacket over a white t-shirt. The second, a rather good looking girl with hair as black as her eyes, which both reminded Yuki of the night sky above Teito, a starless void. The girl stepped toward him, "You're a Sekirei, where is your master?"
Yuki closed his eyes, feeling his body vibrate slightly, "I don't have one" he felt his hair brush the back of his neck, and noticed that he still had a bit of blood on the end of it, "Who are you?"

The girl's eyes became sinister, and a similar feeling to what he got from Miya emanated from every pore of this new Sekirei, "I'm number 76, Kirito. Pleased to meet you, now, please kindly die"

Yuki held up his hand, "Do I get to introduce myself?"

"Go on"

The boy grabbed his Sekirei's shoulder, "We've already won a fight, Kiri, please leave him alone"

Yuki lowered his hand, "Don't worry, I'm not strong enough to defeat her. I'm going to self destruct in a few days anyway. I'm number 19, Yuki. Pleased to meet you, Miss Kirito"

Kirito smiled evilly, "I'm known to other Sekirei as the Nightmare, want to know why?"

She kissed her ashikabi, who was obviously uncomfortable with the situation, and turned, "Visions of my contract, morph and meld, grow into my ashikabi's enemy's mind"

The area seemed to pulse slightly, and was still. Yuki looked around.

"Yuki?"

Oh shit. Minato.

Minato and all six of his Sekirei turned into the alley. Yuki's eyes widened, "No, get out of here!"

The girl pulled out a small knife and lunged at Yuki and The others, "Here I come"

Musubi jumped in front of the girl and punched the blade out of her hand, but it flew back and slammed through Musubi's chest. She fell to the ground, dead. Kirito then threw the knife at Tsukiumi, who slashed it with a wall of water, to no avail, the weapon slit her throat and curved, stabbing through Kazehana's spine in one fluid motion. The girl called back her weapon and threw herself at Kagari, who summoned a flame and threw it, liquefying her blade. She simply threw it as it melted, and burned through Kagari's head, killing him instantly. Matsu, Ku and Minato backed into a wall, and Yuki summoned his sword. The girl laughed and pulled at the air. The wall behind Matsu collapsed and she was crushed under a piece of rubble. Next was possibly the most brutal of all, a piece of steel reinforcing bar slammed through little Kusano's chest, tearing her flesh to pieces. Minato collapsed to the ground and Yuki was frozen to the spot.

"Don't let yourself be open!" The girl's hand slammed into the back of Minato's neck, breaking it instantly and Minato fell to the ground dead.

Yuki collapsed at Minato's side, "Minato-san. Minato-san." He kept repeating this.

Minato and Musubi landed on the roof of a building in the south of Shinto Teito and peered down. Minato saw Ku be impaled and nearly vomited, "What the… Ku…"

Musubi shook her head, "Look, I'm dead over there, and there you are. It's an illusion"

They both saw the girl snap Minato's neck and Yuki collapse, apparently broken.

The girl boasted unintelligibly, and Minato saw Yuki raise his head and stare at the sky, his hand clutching his sword tightly.

"Blade Fury"

Yuki swept his blade behind him, creating an arc-like trail, "Blade Fury".

The trail became solid and shot forward, shattering the girl's blade, but allowing her to dodge it.

"How the hell can you still fight after seeing all of your friends die and seeing your ashikabi get his own?!"

"I told you before" Yuki raised his head, and Kirito got a good look at his emotionless expression and blank eyes, "I don't have an ashikabi. I never have"

He flashed behind her and swung his sword, slicing her skin, but not cutting deep enough to do any real damage. He flashed in front of her and did the same. He continued this for a few seconds before he tired of it and landed lightly in front of her. He held his blade out beside him and exhaled. He felt his power going rampant within him and knew he had to end this quickly. He shook his head, "Blade Tempest" he flashed forward, leaving the bloody rings around Kirito's wrists and neck, but before he came out of his 'Tempest Step' he rammed the pommel of his katana against the back of her head.

When he came out, she was unconscious, and his body was shaking. Violently.

Minato and Musubi ran down as the illusion faded. Yuki collapsed, his body convulsing and his face frozen into an expression of pure agony. Minato knelt next to him and his eyes flew open. Yuki smiled, "Sorry, Minato, I'm a failure as a friend. Look at me, talking to a dead man like he was floating over me" his face screwed up in pain, "I'm going to meet you on the other side, my friend. Pity I was too scared to tell you. I wanted to emerge, but I didn't want to burden. Huh, funny" Yuki closed his eyes for the last time.

Minato knelt lower and pressed his lips against those of his friend. Yuki's lips were soft and cool, his shallow breaths chilled Minato to the core. A huge pair of gold Eagle-like wings sprouted from his back with what appeared to be blades along their topmost edge. Yuki opened his eyes slowly and saw his friend so close. He couldn't even catch himself before his fist slammed into Minato's gut.

"Sorry, Minato it's a…"

Minato smiled, "Reflex?"

Yuki cocked his head, "Yeah…"

Minato grinned, "I'm just glad I caught you before you lost the energy to do that. I even purposely touched your, uh chest for that reflex. Why is your chest so sensitive, by the way?"

"I'll show you at home, Minato-sama"

Uh… Is Yuki male, or female? Hell, which is he? You know what, I don't even know. See you next time

Kisuke Bomb