Acts of Faith
Chapter 2 – Living on the Edge
(Shinto Teito Tower – three days after the meeting with Father Yoshi)
Takara looked at the skyline as she leaned against the old railing. The tower was no longer the tallest communications structure in Shinto Teito. The M.B.I. building had beaten it by a mere six meters. Although the building wasn't merely a communications structure the tip of it was designed to bring in signals. Despite the old structure no longer being the tallest it was still a sight to behold. She turned to see her Ashikabi-sama speaking another couple.
"I will do what I can to help you get out of the city," he said.
"What about M.B.I.? Won't they know of our meeting?" the other Ashikabi asked.
"My husband took everything into consideration. If you followed his directions then they know only that you came to the tower. They have no idea what was said, or what was done here," Takara answered.
"But they know everything, don't they?" the other sekirei asked.
"It's something they want you to believe. Don't doubt for a second that they won't be following you. Every movement they can track is monitored. That's the reason for meeting here. Old Tokyo Tower was removed from the main power supply well over ten years ago when M.B.I. claimed dominance over the communication business. However, they couldn't do anything about the solar panels on the tower itself. Those panels charge the industrial capacitors which create an electromagnetic barrier around this place. They can't get anything in range to see or hear inside," Father Jason said.
The sekirei and Ashikabi shared a moment and then nodded. Once that happened the Ashikabi lowered his head.
"I'm sorry to do this. I honestly have no choice in the matter. I really did want to leave the city, but things changed," he said.
Takara took a moment to look around before she heard a wicked laugh. She turned toward the sound to see a red headed woman land on the railing.
"Haruto-chan, you have done well," she said.
"Don't. Please don't, but I have done what you asked… Please release my brother, release Akira," he replied.
"Akira-chan? No, we've become quite close. He's actually a very amusing pet," she said before she landed on the floor.
"So, you are the one who scared Blue… Not much to look at," she remarked as she studied Father Jason.
She took two steps toward him before Takara stepped between them.
"You will not touch him," she said.
"He's an Ashikabi. That explains why he has been able to help so much. He's relied on his sekirei to do his dirty work," she said with a laugh.
"Takara, please get out of the girl's way. She wishes to speak to me, then let her come," Jason said.
"Cocky for a human aren't you?" the red headed sekirei asked.
"No, I am simply unafraid," he answered.
She cocked her head to the side and studied him closer. Humans weren't supposed to be like that. Even the most powerful Ashikabi was afraid of her. A human alone stood no chance against a sekirei, so why was he unafraid?
"It doesn't matter. Afraid or not I have been ordered to come here, and well make sure that you get my master's response to your message," she said as she charged toward him.
She expected to hear the satisfying crunch of bone as she fist connected with his chest. The ribs would give way, letting her hand dive into his chest, wrap around his heart, and pull out it just in time for him to see its final few beats. Instead he moved. He moved faster than she had expected. His hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling it effortlessly behind her back and then straight up. She felt herself being shoved into an old steel wall, and her heart skipped.
"Impossible!" she thought.
"I have no desire to kill you," he said.
"Monkey, you won't kill me!" she shouted as she brought her leg up and landed a solid kick against his thigh.
She had hoped it would have been his testicles. She wanted it to be his testicles, but instead he had moved again. Still, the kick knocked him back enough to release her. She turned to see him still standing upright. Without wasting a moment she launched herself at him. She felt her feet connect with his ribs, and she shoved hard. The result was that he was kicked back, hard, and landed near the railing. She walked confidently over toward him when his hand shot up and grabbed her ankle. She tried to jump, but instead he pulled hard and caused her to fall on her ass. She scooted back as he stood up.
"You want to ride this train don't you? I wanted to give you a chance to walk out of this unharmed. I really don't like violence. Those who consider themselves my masters believe that I live for it, but in truth I'm a very peaceful man. I would rather enjoy a good book, the company of a dear friend, and a drink of scotch. Instead, I often find myself dealing with individuals like you," he said with distain.
She watched as he walked toward her. His hand shot out incredibly fast and whipped her up from where she was. She felt the bite of his fist in her stomach. It had happened before, with that bitch on the bridge, that she felt this kind of pain. His hand left her stomach and then struck her hard against her cheek. Her entire head turned toward the direction of the punch. She cried out in pain, but she hadn't noticed the loss of two of her molars. He hit her shoulder next and everyone heard the sickening snap of it breaking.
She tried to turn and run, but he caught her pony tail.
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men," he said as he pulled her back.
She felt a hard kick to the back of her knee. Her leg gave out and she fell to the floor.
"Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children," he said as he kicked her hard in the back.
She fell forward and tried to move. Her left arm was able to, but other than the intense feeling of pain from her hips down she couldn't tell if her legs could move. She felt him step on her back between her shoulder blades.
"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee," he said as he began to push down.
"Please stop! Please!" she begged.
He pulled his foot back.
"Is anyone else coming?" he asked.
She nodded and closed her eyes.
"The Black Sekirei… She's watching from a roof top," she said.
She felt something different this time. It wasn't the angry firsts and feet she had felt before. Instead it was a soothing hand. It felt as if someone who cared for her was gently setting her bones, tending to her wounds. She turned her head to see the same man who had viciously beaten her caring for her.
"What… What are you doing?" she asked.
"I told you that I detest violence, and I had no intention of hurting you," he answered.
She felt him turn her gently onto something and then she was lifted between him and his sekirei.
"It makes no sense to help me. This makes no sense," she said.
"Do unto others, isn't that you say husband?" Takara asked.
He nodded and then turned toward the Ashikabi and his sekirei.
"I will still help you escape," he said.
"Stand down and put Red on the ground," a voice commanded.
He turned and looked at the silver haired woman speaking to him.
"The Black Sekirei I presume," he said.
She walked toward him and then looked at the fallen member of the Despline Squad.
"Benitsubasa, you've failed in your mission," she said.
"He's not human," she replied in a quivering voice.
"No, he's not," Karasuba said as she circled him.
"You have an informant in M.B.I., and we have one in your organization. Father Jason Matthews, the Death Angel. It's not a bad title in all truth. You were trained in anti-terrorist tactics, trained to be an assassin, and trained to be at the very peak of human potential. Of course after the discovery of us Sekirei that potential seemed limited. So, the need to update and enhance was far too tempting. Illegal genetic splicing and cybernetic enhancements was used to create a being capable of standing against one of us. In truth I'm rather impressed with the results," she said.
"I've said before that I am man. Nothing more, nothing less," he replied.
"Wrong," she answered.
She struck out and he blocked. Where he had been able to defeat Benitsubasa, and drive off Haihane, this was different. Karasuba's strike was holding perfectly with his own. He then felt a strong kick as it landed in his stomach. He flew back and slammed against the wall. He pulled himself out and looked at her as she watched him.
"That was far more than enough to kill a simple human. I would say that your strength level is somewhere between a second and third generation Sekirei, possibly an emerged third generation. There's just a small problem. I'm an emerged second generation," she said.
He closed his eyes and silently cursed the oversight of that specific information.
"What about my brother?" Haruto asked.
"He's been dead for a week. There was never any plan on returning him, but don't worry both you and your Sekirei will be joining him," she said.
"Your fight is with me, not them," Father Jason said.
"They lead us here, sold you out for a false promise, and yet you want to save their lives? I don't understand you humans at all," she said, "Fine, I won't come after you now. In fact I will give you three days. If you can find a way out then go, if not prepare for your impending death."
She didn't even turn around when she heard them running. That was the human nature she was used to. Self-serving, weak, cowardly, and willing to sacrifice anyone to stay alive. That was humans. She watched as he ran toward her. It was a direct attack, and one she knew was a downfall. She raised her sword and heard the sound of metal scraping and breaking, but a sound she didn't expect came from her feet. She looked down from where the sound of something clanging had happened and saw a round object. It took precious little time to realize what it was. She jumped back, with her sword, before it exploded. When the smoke cleared the Death Angel and his Sekirei was gone.
"You will be an interesting hunt Father Jason. I do hope that you survive long enough to be interesting," she thought as she turned and left.
(Maison Izumo – thirty minutes later)
Takara could feel her Ashikabi-sama beginning to get heavier.
"Stay awake!" she shouted.
"I'm trying to… I'm just so very tired," he said.
"I know, I know, but we're almost there. A friend of mine told me to come here if I ever had any trouble. She said it was a safe place," she said.
"The Cathedral," he groaned.
"No, they will be looking for us there. This is safer," Takara said.
She came to the door and knocked. A moment later it opened and a purple headed woman stood looking at them.
"Please, help us," Takara said.
Miya looked at the two of them and helped them into the house before she shut the door behind them. She led them toward the main floor before Jason finally collapsed.
(PN: Holy Hell! Of course he wasn't going to best Karasuba, and I'm sure everyone kind of picked up on that. So, what to say about this chapter. I wanted to help establish why he was able to hold off both Benitsubasa and Haihane, one on one of couse, his power level wasn't the same as Karasuba's. There's a reason for that, and I will get into it later. Gasp… There's an informant in the church? Oh noes! What else does the Discipline squad know about Father Jason's mission? Well, for that answer tune in next time!)