I like to thank SoTaWoB for fixing up this chapter !
Sekirei: The Lost Wolf.
Chapter 3: The First Feather.
Alternative tile for this chapter: The Wolf and The Staff Maiden.
Toyotama was not having a good day. For a while now she had been surviving on her own, after being released into the city in search of her Ashikabi. In those few months she had no luck since she found no Human male to cause a reaction in her. Days then weeks went by - nothing. Toyotama thought she would spend other day looking for her Ashikabi again and she hoped today would be the day she finds him.
However, unexpectedly today she ran into her old friend, Ichiya. After they were released from MBI the two split up, wanting to find their destined ones on their own. After some catching up she told Toyotama to follow her to her Ashikabi, Higa Izumi, so that Toyotama could be winged by him. Deciding to humor her best friend she went and saw Higa the Ashikabi of the East.
Toyotama thought he looked cute, and he was certainly well-off in Human terms, and happened to be an Ashikabi. She couldn't have had anyone better if that was all she needed, but before she could form the bond Toyotama felt something within her telling her not to. As she backed away she sensed that her true Ashikabi was somewhere close by, so Toyotama immediately left the roof and found herself traveling North. Higa did not like being rejected by her and sent Ichiya, Sai and Oriha after her. From the chatter of her new-found foes She guessed that he would not let a strong combat type Sekirei such as her get away. Toyotama spent at least two hours fighting for her life tooth and nail.
Despite being outnumbered, Toyotama was not going to go down without a fight. Actually she found this fight to be exciting, taking on several opponents at once.
Toyotama was proud of her skills. She had proven herself highly skilled in the handling of her staff during her time in MBI's combat training programs. She had no quarrel in sparring two-on-one. Ichiya was much the same way - the two grew up together and developed rebellious attitudes towards the rules of the game.
In someway she couldn't ask for a better opponent then her childhood friend. As the chase-and-skirmish continued she couldn't help but admit maybe she had bitten off more than she could handle, since her pursuers had the full extent of their abilities as Sekirei winged to an Ashikabi. They had their Norito awakened, while Toyotama did not. Of course, her pride wouldn't allow her to openly admit such a handicap to of any significance to her. She had no intention of simply giving up and being taken easily. Her best option wass to retreat and evade capture from Higa's Sekirei until she could find her destined one and awaken her true power.
She kept heading north like her instincts were telling her too, with her pursuers hot on her tail. She felt led to this rundown apartment complex that looked like it had been devoured by fire. Toyotama's senses were telling her truth destined one was inside. She couldn't help but frown at the sight and hoped her Ashikabi isn't some homeless man squatting in a ruined building, however she realized that same building could be a good place to hide from Ichiya and the two other pursuers.
At least that what she thought until she was caught by Ichiya and the others on the 4th floor. The idea of this wreck being a hiding place almost immediately went out the window. The place was bare and falling apart - it offered no shelter and no protection at all.
The conclusion had returned to her painfully when Ichiya collapsed the floor.
Toyotama got up from the amidst the debris - now on the third floor - but the room was filled with splinters, dust and ash due to that ploy of her old friend. As the dust settled all too slowly Toyotama scanned the room for Ichiya. After several seconds of searching Ichiya revealed herself by launching herself at the green-haired Sekirei with a flying kick aimed for her ribs. Toyotama blocked with her staff, but before she could counter Ichiya hopped back and squared-off. Toyotama got into a stance and aimed her staff at Ichiya's throat.
Ichiya looked at her friend with what she thought might be sadness. "Toyotama, this is your last chance to come quietly."
Toyotama stood ready to guard against her old friend, and with conviction. "I already told you. I'm not interested in being winged by your Ashikabi."
Ichiya sighed deeply. "Then for what it's worth, I'm sorry for what I'm about to do."
With that word Ichiya charged forth as fast as she could and aimed a circling kick at Toyotama's throat. Thankfully she was able to dodge it by simply stepping back, but before she could respond Ichiya attacked without missing a beat with a 360 spinning roundhouse kick at Toyotama's head. Toyotama blocked the attack but she could feel the strength Ichiya put into that kick it was enough to make her arms feel like jelly.
'So she's really not holding back' Toyotama thought as she tried to counter-attack, only for Ichiya to batt her strike aside once again with a heel-led front kick and in dooing so closed the distance fast. Toyotama was under assault from a flurry of kicks - front and sides, if there was a type of kick Ichiya used it. What really put Toyotama on the defensive was the speed that Ichiya attacked with. Every time a kick failed to hit Ichiya would immediately shift her weight so that once the attacking leg was on the ground she could instantly attack with the other leg. The way she fought made Ichiya's legs look like a helicopter only instead of flying it was to land as many hits as possible to keep Toyotama from fighting back as well as force her to block to tire her out. It was only a matter of time before she'd make a mistake.
Toyotama was screwed and she knew it. The speed she had to keep up with was like nothing Ichiya showed in the training simulations. Between running, fighting and now having to block this vicious assault, Toyotama was feeling end limits of her stamina. She knew she couldn't keep blocking forever, and between blocks she tried to think of a way out of this situation. Unfortunately Ichiya had control of the flow now.
The only thing she could come up with would be to get hit by one of her kicks and counter in the same moment. So when Ichiya went for a spinning hook kick, Toyotama dropped her guard and got hit in the face. Ichiya smiled until she saw that Toyotama used the force of impact to quickly turn in crouch and before completing a 360 turn Toyotama used her staff to sweep her foes legs out from under her. Ichiya's momentum was broken and she hit the ground. Toyotama stood back up and flurried her staff over-head deliver a downward stab, hoping to hit Ichiya in her gut to knock her out.
Just before Toyotama committed to the strike she felt something grab on to her staff and pull back. She looked up and found the flail-wielding Sekirei had caught her. Suddenly the flying discs swooped in towards her staff. Toyotama pulled against the flail but could only watch as the discs sliced through her staff. Before Toyotama could adjust her stance Ichiya returned with a hand standing side-kick to Toyotama's stomach with such force that it not only knocked the wind out of her, but she coughed up blood to as she was sent flying through a wall into the next room.
Toyotama tried to stand but that last attack really did a number on her and she was only able to get her legs under her. Ichiya stepped forward along with her two companions.
Ichiya looked down at her friend, a smug expression donned. "Well, this fight is now over. I think it's time we brought you to Higa."
"Not yet." the Sekirei with the flying discs disagreed. "We need to make her suffer for disrespecting Higa-sama like that."
Ichiya's smugness dispersed. "No, Oriha, we were only supposed to bring her back. Nothing more."
Oriha glared at Ichiya. "Higa-sama said 'by any means necessary' so I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we teach her how to respect her Ashikabi."
Ichiya seemed she was about to retort, but Sai butted in. "Hurry it up, Oriha! Just don't maim her to badly, or she will be useless to Higa-sama."
Oriha nodded and sent her disk-blades forward.
Toyotama's eyes widened in fear as they got closer and closer. Before the deadly discs could hit her, however, Toyotama heard multiple loud bangs and the discs were knocked out of the air one by one until all of them were on the ground. Some were in pieces, some had folded around some kind of impact.
"What?! Where the hell did that come from!?" Sai yelled out, looking in every direction.
"You're asking me!?" Ichiya snapped back. Like Sai she was also looking for the cause and potential interloper.
"Over here." spoke an unfamiliar male voice from behind Toyotama. Everyone looked in her direction.
Upon hearing the voice Toyotama looked behind her for threats. At first she thought a concussion to be the cause as she saw no Sekirei, but a tall figure materialized clad in armor with a rifle aimed.
"I'm only going to say this once. Get the Hell out of my building." the male voice commanded.
"What?" Ichiya queried at the unexpected expecting appearance, clearly surprised.
She popped out of cover and got back into a fighting stance with her allies. Ichiya , Sai, Orhia and even Toyotama took the opportunity to study this armor behemoth in front of them - in Toyotama's case, behind her.
Who or whatever this thing was, it stood almost 7 feet tall. The armor mostly covered its form, black/gray armor with a golden visor. On its shoulder they noticed a square-fit insignia comprised of the letters 'UNSC' below an eagle. Next they took notice of all the weaponry on him - in his hands he held some type of assault rifle that looked futuristic unlike what any other human soldier had carried to their knowledge. Attached to his armor on his back looked like a shotgun, by his side a handgun and a knife, and on his belt grenades and blue orbs that could be another type of grenade. The Sekirei had seen MBI's security forces and paramilitary arm, but this hardly compared. Questions rattled in their minds.
'This person…just what or who is he?' Toyotama wondered. 'He's definitely not a new Sekirei; at least, I'm pretty sure there aren't any Sekirei that wear armor like this. Maybe he's got some sort of new MBI prototype suit? A rule enforcer like the Discapline Squad? Sent out to examine and analyse which of us have found our Ashikabi?'
The aggressors weren't thinking along the same lines as Toyotama. They saw the interloper as more of an annoyance than a mystery.
"Who the hell are you?" Sai demanded. "You've interrupted out fun."
"I'm only going to say this once more - get the hell out of my building." the stranger insisted.
Noble-Six aimed at the three females and stood his ground.
"Be careful, Six." spoke up softly. "Even though you shot her discs out of the air she may have more stashed away on her person."
Six agreed with the AI. He was counting them all as armed until proven otherwise - the melee he witnessed was too lethal not to.
The one known as Ichiya stepped forward. "Our business isn't with you. We just want the girl."
Six turned to Toyotama who was still dumbstruck at the arrival of the Spartan. "Do you want to go with them?"
Toyotama experienced something difficult for her to describe as she heard this man's voice. She felt her body heat up and heart begin to race... and she knew right then and their that she found her Ashikabi. Toyotama could only shake her head when she belatedly realized his question. The man turned his attention back to the three other Sekirei.
"Looks like she made up her mind. Now leave. I'm not going to ask again."
Sai sneered angrily. "Listen pal, we chased this bitch all night just to capture her and we're not leaving unless she comes with us."
Six moved smoothly in front of Toyotama to protect her, aim maintained on Ichiya. "You'll have to go through me."
"Are you sure you want to do this, Six?" Athena asked, concern evident in her synthetic voice. "They're incredibly similar but most definitely not human, and it looks like they want to take her alive, so they'll have no problem killing you. Are you sure?"
Six nodded and said "I hate uneven fights, and besides..."
The image of Jorge flashed through his mind. The Spartan-II threw him from the Covenant ship to save him. How he comforted that girl at the Visigrad Relay. Six smiled at the memories that seemed all too long ago.
"I bet it's what Jorge would do."
"It's your funeral pal." Sai grinned as she charged at the Spartan, heedless of Ichiya telling her to wait.
Sai brought her whips to bear and aimed to slash at the armor of the insolent Human - or machine, or whatever it was - rather than tear him to ribbons. Even she was not dumb enough to risk killing a Human and suffer the wrath of the Discipline Squad. If it was Human it would hurt. If it wasn't Human she would have nothing to worry about.
Six put away his rifle and moved at a speed that had become second nature during his time on Reach. As the whips closed in he gathered the flails into a bundle with one hand and cut them clean-through on the draw with his energy sword. Sai bristled and immediately tried to hit him with her other set of whip-blades only for Six to close the distance between them and slice those as well, and ended up face to face with Sai. While Sai could only see her reflection of his golden visor Six grabbed the back of her head with his free hand and crashed his helmet into her skull. She was surprised but no where near out of the fight, so he headbutted her with maximum prejudice. She seemed dazed but otherwise unharmed. Six then brought her head down onto his rising knee, which finally knocked her out.
He stowed the Energy Sword, then targeted the remaining two opponents and rushed them. Ichiya moved out the way as Oriha was about to bring out the last of her flying discs, but before she could do that Six decided to grab his assault rifle and throw it at Oriha. The Sekirei easily caught the gun but so distracted she didn't see Six draw his shotgun until he bashed in the side of the head, knocking her down and allowing Six to retrieve his weapon.
Once he put his guns away Six squared off with Ichiya and began to crack his knuckles. Ichiya smirked and moved into range at speed. She telegraphed a punch and launched an upward front kick that Six easily dodged. Ichiya thought it was a fluke, but when she followed throught with a roundhouse kick Six blocked flatly, grabbed the offending limb and pulled to deliver an uppercut to her chin. Ichiya backed up once he released her ankle, more shocked then ever before - that one punch was able to deal real damage she had to shake off.
Toyotama's eyes widened. 'What the hell? She aimed to break his arm... he was able to block it and even hit her. Who the hell is this guy?'
When Ichiya cleared her head Six was already on her with a piercing side kick to the gut, knocking the wind out of her. Ichiya tried to fend him off with another kick but Six grabbed her leg once again and brought his right elbow down hard on the knee joint. While he wasn't able to break it the howl of pain he forced from Ichiya told him the strike was somewhat effective. He let the female go and tried to gauge the extend of her resiliance as she put some distance between them. She could still put weight on her bad leg but seemed to need to test it while aware he was observing. She sized him up anew while he calculated required force.
Toyotama was having a hard time wrapping her head around this. A Human - at least that was what she thought him to be - was able to knock out two winged Sekirei and was doing well enough against Ichiya to put her off her game.
"Am I dreaming? This shouldn't be possible..."
Yet the proof was right in front of her.
When Ichiya tried to attack with another kick to the head, Six dodged under it and released several quick jabs to her torso with one arm before the arrival of a haymaker via his other which collected Ichiya's skull. She stumbled backwards somewhat disoriented but the combo so Six went to end the fight. As he moved close he grabbed her by the throat, swept her legs out from under her and used gravity to help slam her into the floor as hard as he could. Fortunately the floor held up, and she was successfully knocked out of the fight.
A stirring did not escape his awareness. Six drew his rifle again and aimed it at the one named Oriha, who looked fearful of the weapon and was sporting a swollen left eye.
"Whatever you're thinking of let me stop you right there" He spoke up. "I took out both your companion and your leader without breaking a sweat, and I can kill you before you even think about using those blades of yours. Leave now and I won't look for you or the one who gave you your orders. If you continue to resist I can promise you it will be the last mistake you'll ever make."
Oriha wouldn't admit it but she was afraid that he was telling the truth. Something in this Human's… this thing's voice spoke of experience, like the Single-Numbers . It was if the interloper had said 'I've done this before and you could suffer far worse' and the idea chilled her very mind. So Oriha raised her hands to placate it.
"Okay, you win, just let me take my comrades away from here."
Six motioned with his rifle to proceed, and kept it trained on her for the duration. When she had both Ichiya across her shoulders and Sai in her arms she began walk out of the room by the doorway with some difficulty, muttering that she wasn't a strength type Sekirei and shouldn't have to carry them. Oriha jumped out the nearest window to land on the street below. Six had followed her every step and watched her effort as she launched herself from rooftop to rooftop. It was clear she had difficulty carrying her allies - at one point almost dropped one - but she still displayed inhuman strength.
Six wondered how a small girl like that could contain such physical power without power-armor. There were a lot of questions in his mind. Luckily for him one of the strange girls remained. Noble-Six returned his attention to Toyotama who was still on her knees and gazed at him with amazement in her wide eyes.
Athena's thumbnail appeared on his HUD. "I think it's best you nurse the girl back to health before you interrogate her."
"See if you can get some data on what she is." he agreed after muting his external speakers.
Toyotama replayed events in her mind as her shock wore off. At first she had been defeated but the three who had chased her all this way, and was sure they were going to vent their frustrations on her before bringing her to Higa. Instead of being beaten bloody and forcibly winged she was saved by this armored male - she wasn't sure if he was Human or not. He took down her pursuers like it was easy. Not to say she wasn't happy to be saved at the last moment, but the incredulity of it all...
"Who are you?" Toyotama asked in but a whisper as she stared up at the golden visor of the armored stranger.
He didn't respond immediately. Instead he just approached and held out his hand. "Can you stand?"
Toyotama started at his hand and then looked back at his visor and discovered her own confused reflection staring right back at her. It was unsettling how inhuman this interloper seemed, but he had rescued her from a fate she had begun to resign herself to. Toyotama realised she didn't feel threatened or scared of the armored behemoth in front of her, so she willingly took his hand.
"I think I can stand." Toyotama replied as the armored man slowly helped her up to her feet. She let out a few painful grunts and leaned heavily on the Spartan's helping hand to reach her full height, sore from the wounds she received during the fight.
Toyotama stared back into the Spartans visor again. "Thank you for saving me... but who are you, really?"
"My name is not important." The armored man responded. "Right now priority number one should getting you medical attention."
Toyotama wanted to object but she let another painful grunt at the first twitch of a leg to attempt movement.
"Case and point." He added. "Let's find a place for you to rest and treat your wounds. Maybe then I'll answer your questions."
Toyotama ended up agreeing with him since she was exhausted and her wounds were quite painful. She would be stupid to deny offered help at this point.
Noble-Six guided and assisted Toyotama through the ruined the apartment complex hoping to find at least one room that was somewhat intact or at least livable. His first option would've been to take her to a hospital but he didn't want to draw any attention from locals and especially their authorities so that option was immediately scrapped. He would've taken her down to the basement since it is the only area that wasn't destroyed by the fire however he was hesitant to reveal his intended hide-out to anyone. Luckily he was able to find one room on the first floor that was somewhat intact with a few un-scorched patches. Since there was no power to the building the only light source he had to work with was the from moon shining through the window, which was plenty for him to see by with the aid of his helmet systems.
The room was a bedroom, and while it had survived the fire the bed itself looked like it had seen better days. A few springs were coming out of it but it would have to do.
Six assisted Toyotama to the bed, then retrieved a med pack from his belt he still had from scavenging on Reach. First he gave her painkiller by injector to the neck. While that began to work he took out some bandages and saline-alcohol solution to clean the open wounds, and recalled what little he knew about performing first-aid on civilians. To her credit she resisted most reflexive flinches while he flushed each of her cuts, and shifted carefully to help him apply the adhesive and wrapping bandages. Toyotama curiously watched him work, and had to admit that despite the strength he had demonstrated in combat he was quite gentle with her, which surprised her.
In such proximity without hostility, Six couldn't help but noticed just how attractive this woman was. Her long green hair that seemed to flow quite well with her body and her pale blue eyes, pink lips, smooth flawless skin save for her injuries... and the largest breasts he ever saw on a woman. Almost everything about this woman just seem to be perfectly attractive, like she had no abnormalities or flaws whatsoever. She seem to be the perfect woman. However, thanks to his training and the observations of both her and her foes he knew she was certainly abnormal. Her toned yet slender form belied great strength and speed, and while assisting her until now he was certain her muscle density was greater than un-augmented Humans.
"All patched up". He announced once the first-aid was completed, and began putting away what remained of the bandages. "Now I'll let you rest for a couple of hours, and then I will have some questions to ask you. No doubt you have some to ask me - both can wait for now."
He began to walk away and consider other objectives when the mysterious female called out to him.
"Where are you going?"
"To do a quick sweep of the perimeter, to make sure we don't have any more unwanted guests." He eventually answered. "After that I'll be back in here to check up on you."
"Wait!"
Six turned to look over his shoulder. "What is it?"
"Could you at least tell me who you are, please?"
"I told you who I am is not important, get some rest I'll be back soon."
Toyotama was disappointed, but she thought of something. "Please, I would like the know the name of my rescuer, and to see if you're really human under the armor and not a machine, right?" She asked politely, allowing some uncertainty on her face in the hope that would stir something within him.
Six signed at her comment it wasn't the first time he was called a machine, thought it was usually by his surperiors as back-handed praise or by Human civilians uncomprehending of what a Spartan was. Usually he never let things like this get to him and just ignored them. Against his better judgement he decided to simply show his face, on the grounds it might help with interrogations later if the prospect of him being a machine would unsettle her so.
Six turned to face her properly, then lifted his helmet off and let his arms fall to his waist with it.
Toyotama began to blush when she saw her rescuers face. It was the face of a young man - in his late teens or early 20s - with a strong sculpted jaw line and square chin. He was beginning to show some stubble which gave him slightly a rugged look. The Spartan had full lips and she noticed that his hair was shaven quite close to his scalp. Six also had an almost Hellenic nose, like one of the ancient greek sculptures she saw in a history book once. His eyebrows were thick and black, but what drew her most in were his eyes. The Spartan's eyes were a nice crystal blue with shades of green and something darker around the pupils
Toyotama thought he looked handsome and was glad her Ashikabi was a looker, but she couldn't mistake that he had a hard look about him. His expressionless face and seemingly inscruitible eyes spoke of hardship, conflict, unbearable loss and pain. Yet despite this she could still see a spark of kindness and compassion deep within. She noticed that he had a couple of scars - one on his cheek, one across his nose, and one above his right eye starting from the brow and going up to the middle of his forehead. As Toyotama wondered what kind of hell her Ashikabi went through he began to speak to her.
"My name isn't important as I abandoned it long ago. If you must call me something I am designated Spartan B312, callsign Noble Six, UNSC Office of Naval Intelligence."
As she continued to stare into his eyes, Six put his helmet under his arm and examined her in kind. He saw that her cheeks were red and moved towards her to check to see if she had a fever. Toyotama shivered as his lips touched her forehead, while she was hoping for him to kiss her this was also nice as his lips felt warm against her cool skin.
Six drew away much to Toyotama's displeasure. "You don't seem to have a fever. No wound infections, good."
As he moved to put his helmet back on Toyotama saw her chance to be winged slipping away so she acted quickly and feigned having a headache "Oh my head...it hurts so much."
Six frowned. He had observed her take a couple of hits to the head so it was possible she might have a concussion. Leaning back in Six said "Stay with me. Keep awake. Look at my eyes. Focus." he commanded in rapid fashion, attempting to gauge damage.
Toyotama smiled to herself as she moved quickly, catching the super soldier off guard. Six immediately made to draw his sidearm, but was too late. Six was expecting an attack like a headbutt or maybe even a bite, what he got instead was his first kiss. Toyotama began to explore his mouth with her tongue. Six had no idea why she was doing this, then he saw something that made even less sense as he saw wings of light burst from her back. She moaned into the kiss and violet glowed at the back of her neck. The wings themselves were forest green in color seemingly comprised of feathers or perhaps flower petals.
Toyotama then broke the kiss and sucked in a breath. "By my staff of my contract, let my Ashikabi's burdens be swept aside." she declared as the light from her wings dissipated. Toyotama looked at Six and smiled lovingly. "You asked me to stay with you, and I shall do just that, my Ashikabi. I will stand by your side and support you forever." She finished as she cupped Six's cheek with her left hand.
Six only had one thought going through his head.
"What the fuck was that?!"
The end.
Old notes from the original post:
There you go everybody, here is chapter 3 and sixs first sekirei! Another big thanks to The Son of Sparda 343, Who helped me with the fight scenes here again like in the first chapter. He gets full credit for that.
Before anyone else asks, I have another free spoiler here. Six will not be living at Miya's Inn, since I don't want to keep repeating what I see in other sekirei stories with the main character replacing Minato getting all of his girls and staying at Izumo Inn.
Six will be staying at this rundown apartment complex, however he will be turning it into his own personal fortress fixing it up and stashing his weapons and equipment, that's the only free spoilers I will give you about that.
Before I forget I do not own either sekirei or halo they belong to their respective owners , halo belonging to bungi and sekirei belonging to Sakurato Gokurakuin. The only thing that belongs to me is Athena my OC AI.
New notes: I will be honest I did take inspiration from SpartanPrime101 story sekirei legends since in the second chapter of that story he had his OC spartan save Toyotama from the lightning twins in the Second chapter. Those of you who are not familiar with that story go read it when you get the chance.
