Chapter 7: whiteout

Seo scrabbled across the ground as the shadow approached him. He turned and stared up at it. He stood and readied himself to bolt. The person turned the corner. Seo's fist stopped just millimetres from her face. Her foot had stopped the same distance from his crotch. Yukari Sahashi leapt forward and embraced the man, who reluctantly returned the gesture. She looked up into his eyes, "Do you know where Minato is?"

Seo turned, "I heard something over there, so probably that way" She nodded and released him.

"Let's go"

Atsubaki hovered above the ground, her toes brushing the soil. She whipped the blood off her blade and smiled softly, "Well, introduce yourselves"

Minato didn't even look at her, his gaze focused solely on the prone form before him. Miya, however, glanced up at the woman Sekirei and her demonic visage became visible. It glared at Atsubaki, who flinched, shuttling back a foot and hugging herself while balancing on one leg, "No need for that"

Miya's glare pierced her, "Really, no need?" She drew her weapon and levelled it at the Sekirei, who returned the gesture, "I don't want to fight"

Atsubaki grinned, "Really? I do" she jumped and rammed her weapon into the rock behind Miya, who ducked out of the way. Miya stood and swung her sword, shifting the air and shattering the rock that held the woman's axe. Minato watched this and something clicked in his head. Not in a good way, either. He collapsed beside Musubi.

Miya and Atsubaki's blades clashed, sparks lighting up their eyes. Miya breathed deeply as she fought, deftly blocking every swing that the wild woman gave. Atsubaki attacked relentlessly, giving no reprieve for Miya to regain ground. In just a few seconds, Miya was cornered against a rock surface, her Sekirei ability completely useless. She watched as Atsubaki went to take off her head. She raised her blade and, in the split second chance she had, attacked. Atsubaki backpedalled from the woman in front of her. Miya's sword dripped blood from the shallow wound she had inflicted. She turned her head in time to see Minato collapse beside his Sekirei and ran to him, instead of focusing on her opponent. She looked down at him and, after smacking him a few times, he woke up. She smiled and, just as the blade was flying for her throat, turned and slashed at Atsubaki. The weapons clashed and once again, sparks flew. Miya's sword flashed in the sun as she moved. She smiled, and Atsubaki moved. Miya's side opened up and she felt it begin to burn. She grabbed her side and looked up at the Sekirei woman who attacked her. Atsubaki grinned, "I, as I said, am a member of the new discipline squad. I have the ability to control poisons from my blade. What you feel right now is an acid concoction that I created. It basically shuts down your muscles and nervous system. Eventually you will lose consciousness and basically die. I'll take my leave now" She went to turn and felt the air shift as Miya fell to the ground.

Minato hovered, not literally, over the two Sekirei. Miya was still conscious, barely. She looked at him, "I'm sorry. I wasn't…strong enough…" She was about to collapse when she spoke again, "Never abandon anyone, Minato…Never. Takehito said that. I never emerged because of my love…" Minato hugged his friend as she slowly died. Her arm floated around his shoulders and she closed her eyes, "I'm sorry, Takehito. I'm so, so sorry…"

Minato's eyes flickered, "Takehi…"

Miya kissed him, her cool, soft lips pressing against is. She pressed her eyes closed as hard as she pressed her lips against his. She felt herself rise, her power flow from her and back. She felt her back warm and her wings bloom. She felt what it felt like to emerge and gasped. She opened her eyes, but saw nothing, blinded by the remaining light from her emergence. She stood and turned, her power surge counteracting the toxin, and looked at Atsubaki. Miya lifted her sword and swung. Once. The woman fell in two pieces. Then Miya herself fell, exhausted, to the ground.

Minato coughed blood, his body strangely weak even for the state he was in. he could barely hold himself vertical. He looked over to his newest Sekirei, who was breathing deeply, panting after her battle. He knelt beside her and she waved him off, "Worry about Musubi, not me. Please, Minato, I'll be fine"

He smiled slightly, "May I ask a question, Miya?" He fell to a sitting position, "Why did you do that?"

"So I could win, of course. To protect you"

"No, I mean not emerging to your husband, why didn't you?"

"He couldn't." She looked at her ashikabi, his short hair blowing over a bloody and bruised face like something out of a heroic story. He closed his deep eyes and shook his head, his light purple hair spraying a little bit of blood onto Miya.

He flinched, "Sorry, Miya…"

She only then noticed it. Minato didn't have purple hair, did he?

She felt it more than anything. Even though she had no contact with anyone, even though she was floating naked in a pool of thick liquid, she could still feel her husband worrying. She could feel his sorrow, she could feel the small pang of joy that she couldn't explain. She could feel his exhaustion and his utter lack of means to carry on till his end. She could feel how strong the man she loved just was. Tsukiumi rolled her eyes slowly towards what she sensed was the ceiling, and wondered. Where art thou, what is wrong, Minato…?

About a mile from the action, the girl stared at the ocean and wondered what she was doing once again. She could feel the weight of her weapons and the burn of her remaining injuries. She watched as a single big fish flashed just below the surface, the utter serenity of the scene completely contrasting to the battles occurring behind her. She knew she should be out there fighting as well, protecting the island was her duty after all. But she just didn't feel the drive to do it, she couldn't bring herself to draw those weapons against him. She couldn't do it. She threw her head back and her neck cracked. I hope that they're alright. I don't know why, but I don't want them to die…

An outpost building nearby cracked and Takami's gaze shot up. She could feel number one's power even from here, but it was gone as soon as it had appeared. Takami jumped to her feet and bolted out the door to her small room. On the surface, she had taken to using this small bunker as her personal quarters. That was by her own request, being unable to stay below ground with all of those poor people. She could almost taste their sorrow, their pain. She could see how they suffered and could do nothing about it. This time, though, she could. She just hoped she could get there in time to save them.

Chapter End

Who is the mysterious person that was watching Musubi fight? Who was it who was fighting inside herself about duty and soul? What is Takami planning to do to save Miya?

Probably won't find out next time

Kisuke Bomb