Acts of Faith
Chapter 3 – Of Angels and Demons
(Maison Izumo – Room 205 aka Attic space – twelve hours after the run in with Karasuba)
Takara looked at Jason as Matsu closed her laptop and breathed out a sigh.
"Karasuba has no idea of how lucky she was," Matsu said under her breath.
"She nearly killed my husband. The woman deserves no amount of luck," Takara replied.
"That's not exactly what I meant. To be honest I had never seen anything like this before. I mean, the technology is obviously possible, but no one has ever even tried. Still, what I was talking about was the device he has in his chest. It's a compact self-sustaining power-cell. If she would have hit it directly everything within three hundred yards would have been vaporized," Matsu replied.
"He moved. At the last second he moved slightly," Takara said as she touched his forehead.
Matsu watched as the young woman tenderly checked on the man laying before them.
"That's most likely what saved her, you, and anyone else in that area," she replied.
"Why hasn't he awakened?" Takara asked, "You said that everything seems fine, so why? Why does he still sleep?"
"I… I don't know. He lost a lot of blood on the way over. His body is still technically alive, but I'm not sure how it is. He lost enough blood that a normal human would have already died."
"Jason, please, wake up," she whispered.
Matsu touched her shoulder as she stood.
"I'm going to let Miya know about how he's doing, and to be honest you haven't had anything to eat since you've arrived. I'm sure that Miya wouldn't mind for you to come down stairs and eat a little breakfast," she said.
"I want to be here when he awakens," Takara replied.
Matsu nodded and walked out of the room. She looked back at the young woman and knew that if it had been Minato lying there she would be the same way. All of them would be the same. She closed the door and headed down toward the dining room. She watched as Miya sat the table along with Ku. She waited until they were finished before she walked in.
"How are our guests?" Miya asked with her back toward Matsu.
"He's still not awake, and she's worried for him. The things he had done to himself… I've never seen that level of technology implanted into a person before," Matsu replied.
"He won't be the first," Miya said.
"You think there will be more?" Matsu asked.
"Ooooo Breakfast!" Musubi shouted as she bound down the stairs.
"Good morning Miya-sama," Minato said.
"Good morning Minato-chan," Miya replied.
"Landlady, what do thou knowest of the two strangers who had taken refuge here last night?" Tsukiumi asked as she walked into the dining room.
"I know very little of the gentleman, but I know the girl quite well. She is Sekirei number 90, Takara. It would appear that the gentleman with her is her Ashikabi," Miya replied.
"She was in trouble and Miya-sama welcomed her. It has been the same for all of us," Minato replied.
"It has not been the same for all of us husband. I was never in trouble when I came here. I came to live here because I am thy true wife," Tsukiumi stated.
"Hey, I'm his wife too!" Musubi exclaimed as she sat protectively on Minato's left side.
"Again, Musubi, thou would ranks as a Mistress and nothing more. Thou has proven thyself to be a warrior, but thou knowest nothing of being a wife," Tsukiumi replied.
"None of you should know by experience. You do know the rule of the house," Miya said evenly.
"Of course, I would never break thy rule Landlady," Tsukiumi said quickly.
Throughout the rest of the meal everyone seemed quiet until finally there was shriek from upstairs. Miya jumped up and ran up the stairs to the attic where she found Takara holding Jason. She could see tears of relief rolling down the younger woman's face.
"I thought you had left me forever," Takara whispered.
"I haven't gone anywhere, but Takara, my ribs are very sore," he said.
She gently laid him back down and he looked up at the group of people that had gathered in the room.
"Hello," he said slightly confused.
"Welcome to Maison Izumo," Miya said.
"Thank you. I suppose introductions are in order," he said as he groaned and slowly sat up. Takara tenderly helped him until he was leaning against the wall.
"I'm Father Jason Matthews," he said.
"Father? Thou art a holy man?" Tsukiumi asked.
He smiled and nodded.
"I am, although that is a term I haven't heard a good long while," he replied.
"You're with the Catholic Church then. Part of Saint Thomas' in the inner city?" Minato asked.
"Not exactly. I was sent here by the Vatican," he answered.
"Why?" Musubi asked.
"I'm afraid that the reasons for that is something that is classified enough that I'm not privy to everything," he answered.
"Surely thou knowest why thou art here," Tsukiumi replied.
"I know what I'm supposed to do, an part of why, but I don't know the entire reason. I took my assignment on faith," he answered.
He breathed in sharply as he tried to move.
"Husband, please be careful," Takara said.
He touched her hand and nodded.
"You're a Ashikabi aren't you?" Minato asked.
He nodded.
"And I bet that you're the one who has been helping some of the other Ashikabi to escape right?" he asked.
Jason nodded again.
"I've heard stories about you," Minato said.
"Some of them may be true," Jason replied, "I'm sorry to ask, but whatever it is down stairs smells wonderful. Would it be too much of an inconvenience to ask for a bite?"
Miya shook her head and smiled.
"If Takara-chan doesn't mind I'll have her come down and bring you up a plate," Miya replied.
They slowly left the room and once outside of it Tsukiumi touched Minato's shoulder.
"He knowest more than he says," she said.
"I know, but he was careful not to lie the entire time, and besides, he's been helping people," Minato replied.
"I know, and it is true that I felt no threat from him, but surely thou wants to know more as well," she said.
"I do, but it's not our place," Minato said as he walked down stairs.
She turned toward the door once more and looked at it.
"Perhaps not, but it is the not knowing which hast caused worry to set up in my heart," she said.
(M.B.I. Building – Fortieth Floor – Pent house)
Benitsubasa screamed in pain as she tried to get up.
"You might as well forget it. He managed to break your right knee, crack three Vertebrae, and dislocate your hips. The doctors stated that you'll recover, eventually, but not for a good long while," Haihane replied.
Benitsubasa shook her head violently.
"Natuso said that when I'm well enough to get up he'll take me," she said as she strained to get up again.
"Take you out Benitsubasa. He said nothing about taking you," Haihane replied.
"He said he would take me!" she cried as she tried to lift herself up.
"Even if you manage to stand there is no way you could handle sex. You'd pass out before you could do anything," Haihane replied.
"No I wouldn't because it's Natuso!" she cried as she finally managed to lift herself by holding onto the railing on the wall.
Two seconds later she fell straight to the ground.
"I made it up!" Benitsubasa exclaimed.
"Congratulations. I'm sure that your experience will be everything you ever dreamed of," Haihane said as she walked out.
"Hey wait! Help me back up on the bed!" Benitsubasa cried.
"You made it down there yourself, and I'm certain that you can make it back up yourself," Haihane replied.
She walked out as Benitsubasa screamed for her to help her. She noticed Karasuba standing on the balcony.
"I understand that you ran from him," Karasuba said.
"I can't explain it, but he was far more powerful than I could take on my own," she said.
"Oh, I know that, but it doesn't excuse your actions. You ran out on your duties," Karasuba said as she turned toward Haihane.
"I would be in the same shape Benitsubasa is right now!" she exclaimed.
"And how would that be any different? Benitsubasa may be hurt, but she didn't faultier from her duties. She faced them. You ran, and then you purposely followed a false lead in order not to face him again. I'm strongly considering removing you from the Discipline squad, and more over removing your head from your shoulders," Karasuba replied.
"Please, I swear that I will not fail again," she said as she backed away.
"I know, and tonight you're going to accept a milder form of punishment. Natuso requires one of us to attend him. Normally, as the head of us, I would attend, but I feel that you should go in my stead," Karasuba said.
"Thank you," Haihane said silently.
"Don't thank me Haihane. This is a punishment. There is no kindness in this," Karasuba replied.
"What… what will he?" she began before Karasuba smirked.
"My suggest is to relax. It goes far easier for something to fit, where it shouldn't, when you relax," Karasuba answered.
Haihane's eyes widened as the vivid image occurred to her. Knowing that arguing would be death she simply turned and walked away.
"Now, Father Matthews, our hunt can resume. There are so few places for you to be, and in time I will know all of them," she thought.
(Wow, Karasuba can be a little evil to her own people. Of course that is to be expected from someone like her. Father Jason and Takara seem safe for the moment, but how long can it last? Tune in next time true believers as we see what will happen. Same time, same channel. And again, please read and review. – LF)