Higa kept his eyes shut. His lips were pressed into a thin line as his mind worked in overdrive on his next scheme. He never had any intention of playing into the farce that was the Sekirei Plan, and it seemed he was one of the few who had no intention of going along with it. MBI-that stupid, arrogant bastard Minaka just shoved his way onto his turf, his pharmaceutical company was number one it had always been number one for decades, that is until Minaka planted himself in the center of then Tokyo and started throwing around his weight, and in the end his own company suffered.
He clenched his teeth, trying to reign in his anger and compose himself. Minaka, MBI, the Sekirei he hated them all, to him they were all in the same boat. Minaka ran the damned company, Takami went along with his plans, and the Sekirei were released into the city as part of the man's scheme while dragging everyone else into it even those who were not involved... It was only a matter of time before things started taking a turn, and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to be the one at the top before and after the turn began. He wouldn't let anyone come out ahead of him, not this far into this whole farce, by any and all means he would win.
It was clear going against the squad wasn't going to be a simple endeavor... It would have never been, Karasuba was more than powerful enough to slaughter everyone including him and leave his tower in nothing short of a bloodbath. However, he hadn't been expecting them to increase their numbers in such a short amount of time, they went from a mere four person team to well above six, and that one man with the brown hair... He had encountered him many times in the past when he was winging Sekirei by force if need be.
Higa reigned in his anger. There wouldn't be anything of sustenance if he were to give into his baser emotions, it was well warranted, but it wouldn't help him advance any further. Slowly, he opened his eyes wincing just slightly as they adjusted to the light shining through the windows of his white limo, his intent gaze swept over those around him currently which was Kakizaki who was looking something over on his tablet, Juma who sat a few inches away from him with her eyes shut in meditation, and Ichiya who kept her focus on the streets passing them by. His other Sekirei were tailing them closely through the alleys and by rooftop.
"We're close." Kakizaki said, momentarily taking his focus off of his tablet, and settled it onto his boss and long time friend. "The north's borders to our east aren't too far away from our current location, we should expect to see Yukari and her Sekirei number 107 at any moment now." He further explained, adjusting his glasses and allowing a smirk to cross his face. "If Kochou-san is correct, then they won't be suspecting us... But, we'll need to keep and eye out for Ryu and Minato since both of them reside here as well, and that's not to mention the hannya."
"Ryu?" Juma opened one of her eyes flicking it towards Ichiya. "He's the one that gave you and Oshino such a hard time before."
"Yeah..." Ichiya practically snarled, nostrils flaring as her eyes narrowed. Honestly, she had been lucky to walk away with her life after that encounter with Ryu, she wasn't expecting him to be so strong and skilled-how could a mere human make sport of her!? Well, maybe that was pushing it she did get her share of good hits in, but the end result was her lying damn near naked on the rooftop of a ruined building with Oshino. She had been furious, and would still get furious whenever she would dwell on it too long. It didn't help Toyotama was his Sekirei... "It won't happen again, next time I see him, I will finish him off."
"There will be no next time." Juma told her unflinchingly. "You're bad attitude is the reason you were at death's door before. If he decided to stay and finish you instead of running away to tend to his wounds you wouldn't be here right now." She opened her other eye so both were open, her irises boring into Ichiya's eyes despite the glare she was sending her superior's way Ichiya didn't look like she wanted to object. She knew better than to do that since Higa trusted Juma even more than Kakizaki, despite the former doing the majority of his dirty work and blackmailing, Juma was in charge of both of their Sekireis and was the one who overseen attacks and handed out 'missions'.
"Juma is right, but let's not talk about this at the moment." Higa said, sighing softly as he felt the claws of a headache starting to dig into his skull and rupture through. He had thought Ichiya and Oshino would suffice, but he had been wrong at many levels, maybe if he sent two or three more of his Sekirei with those two Ryu would be finished right now. He wouldn't need to deal with him in the near future. Well, these pests would all be eliminated in due time. "Juma, what do you suggest our plan of attack be?"
"We surround the brats." Juma stated coldly. "That Yukari has been getting a reputation for attacking people for no reasons and stomping on their balls, something about a little girl missing. As if anyone would know such thing."
Ichiya snickered. "This should be simple then, she sounds stupid." Just as she was about to laugh, her eyes snapped wide as she spotted a boy... A boy with silverish-white hair. A cruel and predatory smirk crossed Ichiya's face and she turned her focus onto Juma who was already focused on the duo just a few meters away from them.
"Do it." Higa ordered.
Ichiya threw open the door as the limo screeched to a halt, lunging from her seat in one smooth motion as Juma dashed at numbing speeds. "Don't move you little brat!" Ichiya snapped as she put herself in front of Shiina. The boy quickly raised his arm, brows scrunching as he called on his power once again, feeling it begging to be released.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Akane said with a vicious smirk as she landed behind him rupturing the cement beneath her feet, pointing her bladed weapon forward. "I'll have to cut off your arm, and I can't do that... This time."
Yukari glared wearily at her attackers, she was completely surrounded and one woman with green eyes stood at the helm of all these vixens with a cold expression on her face. Well, she didn't have much choices at this point... Running wasn't a possibility since she was surrounded and even if she took off at full speed she was bound to get hit within the first ten seconds, these weren't good odds at all. Fighting was pretty much out of the question since there were just too many Sekirei circling them like a small fish in a tank of sharks. Surrendering was the only plausible option at this point, however Yukari just never surrendered... "Get out of our way!" She barked.
"Ah, so the human likes to bark." Juma sneered.
"Don't resist." Katsuragi said in her melancholy tone. "You know you can't win."
"Doesn't mean I sure as hell won't try!" Yukari snapped, baring her teeth as she crouched slightly ready to attack. She wouldn't last longer than ten seconds but she was going hit one of them as hard as she could. "Shiina-san, attack!" She commanded angrily. Despite his own misgivings, Shiina did just that, launching the powerful decaying beam forward watching Aika dodged it completely letting it crash through the entirety of a car and blast through a part of small shop down the street causing passerbys to scream in terror. Shiina fired dozens of more deathly beams, but they were all dodged, crashing into everything but his targets sending debris flying for miles around them, the panicked cries of people ringing around
Shiina hissed, struggling to keep up with the pace of his attackers, he could keep them back if only slightly. He knew they couldn't afford to get hit by his attack. "Yukari-san!" He exclaimed snatching her by the hand and sprinting away as fast as he could. With a venomous growl, he skidded to a stop as Juma landed in front of him and all at once smashed her fist right against his nose sending both him and Yukari screaming back rolling harshly across the cement, finally coming to a stop a few feet away.
"You should have listened to Katsuragi..." Juma stated.
"Now we're going to have to hurt you and your little Sekirei over here..." Oshino growled.
"Go to hell!" Yukari screamed, throwing herself forward and swinging one leg forward aiming to kick Juma straight in the jaw. What!? She cried mentally as Juma grabbed her by the ankle and swung her down into the cement spine first, she could only gasp painfully for a short moment before losing consciousness completely her eyes fluttering shut.
"Yukari-san!" Shiina yelled, dashing towards her, raising one hand up as Akane jumped into his path with a cunning smirk.
"If you want her to live, then stand down." Higa said from several feet away, leaning against his door with his hands in his pockets a small smirk forming on his face.
Shiina growled venomously but complied lowering his hand and cancelling his attack. He couldn't let any harm come to Yukari, if he attacked she'd be killed, and if he didn't attack there was still a chance she'd be killed. Higa was never one to keep promises and if he was to there were always strings attached. The silver haired Sekirei directed his murderous gaze onto Higa, who looked amused at the gesture. "How can I trust you?"
"Hmph." Higa scoffed softly, walking forward. "Both of you will live as long as you do as I say from now on."
"If we refuse?" Shiina questioned.
"Use your imagination." Akane rested the tip of her spear right against his windpipe, giving it a small nudge, watching a thin red stream trickle down his neck trailing down over his collarbone. She applied only enough for to break his skin, she didn't hit any vitals or arteries, she would have liked to since this brat had the audacity to really question the offer, but she had orders not to. Shame. "I'm just looking for a reason to impale your haughty ass, I wish you would say no..."
"Make your choice." Juma said calmly hauling Yukari up by the back of the shirt and holding her forward. "It will only take me three seconds to snap all of her top vertebrae. I know that'd wake her up..."
Damn it! Was the only thing that could come to Shiina's mind. How could he have been so careless as to walk right into their hands!? How could he let Yukari convince him to go through with her plan, he knew it was ridiculous to consider, but Yukari was spunky and was actually pretty tenacious. None of that could help her now though, as just demonstrated Juma could snap her in half like a twig and wouldn't feel a bit of remorse. For all of her tenacity Yukari was outmatched... If he was stubborn she'd be dead, if she surrendered both him and Yukari would be under Higa's thumb forced to do whatever he asked of them... But, Yukari would be safe... She wouldn't be dead. He took a small breath, this was the deciding factor. "Okay, I surrender... Just don't hurt her anymore."
"Smart brat." Akane sneered, pulling her weapon back and with all of her strength smacked him across the face flooring him in an instant. "I'll just settle on smacking the taste out of your mouth since I can't cut off your arms. Consider yourself lucky!" She hissed ominously in his ear as his eyes slowly hazed over and he lost consciousness. "Katsuragi. Catch." Akane said tossing Shiina like the limp ragdoll he was currently, watching Katsuragi set him over her shoulder before turning her gaze onto Higa.
"Looks like the victory is ours." Kakizaki laughed arrogantly.
"Yes, it is..." Higa said, narrowing his eyes. "I've got a feeling this girl is going to be a lot of trouble."
"Well, I'm still here." Akane said with a hand on her hip. "Should she make any trouble..."
"It'd be unfortunate." Higa replied with no hesitation... He seen just how brutal and merciless Akane could really be.
Pain. Pain in her back. Pain in her head. Pain in her bones. It woke her up and stunned her even further as she opened her eyes instinctively rolling onto one side. She cried out softly, hand massaging the middle of her back. Yukari took ten minutes to completely compose herself and get her pain under control, it wasn't so excruciating, but more sore. She hadn't been expecting Juma to slam her into the cement like that, she hadn't been expecting any of those things to happen. "Shiina!" Yukari exclaimed, shock and fear pulsing through her.
The room she was in was nothing short of a blur to her at the moment. She knew there was a bed, which she was laying on, a dresser in the far left-one of the first things she spotted, another door several feet away from her-probably the bathroom. The room itself was pretty large and decorated a great deal, nothing expensive or too lavish, but the room held some pristine.
"Your boy toy is fine."
The voice startled Yukari from her glossy haze. Slowly he turned her eyes onto her visitor... Akane. "Listen here you-"
"If you even insult me once I will sew your mouth shut." Akane threatened.
"Where's Shiina?" Yukari demanded, sitting herself up and immediately she regretted it as her body cried in protest. Shit!
"He's fine like I told you."
"I didn't ask that."
Akane scowled slightly, grabbing her spear from the corner of the room and sauntered towards Yukari. "You've got a really smart mouth, little brat. It's going to be funny watching you get put in your place here..."
Yukari smirked. "Are you going to be the one to do it?"
"Akane! Get out of here." Juma said as she threw the door open nearly tearing it off of its hinges, the sudden action and loud 'boom' that echoed through the room startled Yukari making her jump and yelp in fright. Juma locked eyes with Akane, it had been roughly two or three hours since they got back to the Higa's tower and deposited their two newest guests into the rooms they'd now be living in from this point forward. They were on different floors, neither she nor Higa wanted them within the same room. "You're riling this girl up, grow up."
"I was just starting to have fun. You always have to ruin it, Juma." Akane said with an indignant expression. "Why are you here anyway?"
Juma not so gently set down a tray of food a few feet away from Yukari ignoring the girl's slight shaking. It didn't take a genius to feel the killing intent she was giving off. "Stop asking me stupid questions and get the hell out of here before I lose my patience!" Juma snarled, green eyes glinting with bloodlust and malice as she glowered at Akane who returned her ghastly glare with a defiant glare of her own, even if it was less scary than Juma's. Akane was always a wild case, Higa couldn't wing three Sekirei because she went off the walls and ended up nearly killing them respectively, Juma had been there when Akane was first winged-the girl was more than willing just to get power.
That power has and was still getting to her head.
"Fine, I'll leave. You don't have that give me that look." Akane said snappishly, turning on her heel and exiting the room. She slammed the door shut for good measure and just to spite Juma.
Yukari took a steady breath, gasping softly to herself as she forced oxygen into her lungs. I could barely breathe just now... This girl is terrifying. Yukari inwardly thought as she turned her blue-gray eyes onto Juma who stared at the door as if it were the bane of her existence, she barely had anytime to react when Juma snapped her focus straight onto her. She had been stupid to try and attack her before, and she would be stupid now to make any hasty movements that would cause further alarm. Shiina was safe, she wasn't sure how safe, and she was safe... That's all that mattered at this moment in time. "What are you going to do with me and Shiina?" She asked softly, hesitantly meeting Juma's piercing eyes.
"I'm not sure..." Juma said, glancing out of the window. "You are of importance to Higa, if you weren't, believe me by now you would be dead and I would see to that personally."
There was nothing terrifying about being told I'd kill you if the circumstances were different.
"In any case, you'll be living here now. This is by all means and purposes your home, you'll have food and everything else that you need." Juma explained further, noting the fearful expression on Yukari's face. Fear of her killer being just a hair away from her. She didn't have anything to worry about yet for now she was in Higa's good graces. She would be evaluated in due time along with Shiina. "You will do as Higa orders with no question. If you even think about objecting I'll crush your Sekirei's head like a grape and then crush your throat." Juma glared darkly. "Don't try to escape, this building has a constant security feed of every room and hallway. In other words Higa sees everything and everyone. Do not underestimate Kochou, if she feels suspicious, or if you rouse any our suspicions you will be dealt with." Juma softened her expression. "Are we clear?"
Yukari bit her tongue to keep herself from saying something smart, and nodded her head stiffly. "You're not as dumb as you look, a lot of the new ones we bring in here have a hard time listening sometimes you just have to beat it into people granted their skull doesn't crack halfway through it." Juma chuckled softly, enjoying the fear rising in Yukari's eyes, if she was afraid she would listen, which means she wouldn't be trying to cause trouble within these walls. "We are well aware that you are a freshmen at Teito University, for all intents you will still be a student there."
"How?" Yukari asked. "I can't be when you've got me cooped up in here."
Juma chuckled again, this time she seemed to be genuinely amused. "You really are a naive girl. Higa's pharmaceutical company is second only to MBI, he may not have the connections they do, but he has more than enough connections in and outside of Japan. And, anyone will do something if the price is right, that's what I've learned after a short time with these humans..." She paused. "...We know that Minato-one of the north Ashikabis is your older brother... It'd be unfortunate if he had to get hurt trying to bust in here to rescue you. So, here is what you're going to do. You will call him and tell him you will be living in your dorm with Shiina, you're going to be busy studying for tests and won't have much time to talk. If you refuse..."
"I'll die." Yukari stated blandly.
"Good girl. I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already did." Juma fished through her pockets, pulling out a cell phone a moment later-Yukari's cell phone to be exact and tossed it to her. "Once you're done with this, you'll be in the clear for now... Remember we are watching your every single move." And with that Juma turned on her heel and strode towards the door with precise steps-it was a miracle the thing wasn't hanging off of its hinges.
"Wait!" Yukari shouted quickly. "How did you know where to find us?"
Juma turned enough just enough to glance at the girl from the corner of her eye. "I told you... Don't underestimate Kochou. I'll be back in a half hour." Juma swung open the door shutting it with near silence.
"Just fucking great." Yukari said with an angry groan, pressing one hand to her forehead. "We're stuck here..."
As day turned to night and everyone settled down... There was a mutual unspoken feeling among all of them as the sky tore open with torrential rainfall and lighting and thunder crackled and boomed across the sky... There was something coming, the storm was present and reflected their grim thoughts. And, as the rain continued to patter against the cement, the times, ideals, and thoughts of everyone changed and reeled with the wild broken rhythm of the thunderous raindrops.
It seemed that this was only the beginning and things were going to get much, much worse from here on in as the days dwindled and time progressed.
The second round was coming to a fast and steady close.
The race has begun.