"For the love of everything. You're always chain smoking. Can't you chain smoke opium, peyote, salvia, or some good weed instead of cigarettes? Minaka made weed legal here. The aromas are much more appealing than that stale ass you're smoking now." Ryu snapped, stepping away from the smoke.

Takami cut her eyes at him, glancing at his sword with caution. "Minaka smokes peyote and drinks magic mushrooms, I am not trying to get in that zone. Get in, I have some of that medicinal weed. Just use the papers and zone out while we go for ride."

Ryu shrugged and opened the rear door. He tried to wrap his head around the fact Minaka drank magic mushrooms, which would explain a lot. Once Ryu was inside the driver took off, and Takami gave him a wooden box which had cigars in addition to different strains of weed and joint papers.

Ryu did the only thing he could since he hated cigarettes, he rolled a joint and began to smoke it. He wasn't surprised Takami had it on hand, she probably started when she met Minaka years ago. How else was she going to keep her sanity being around him?

"No limo this time?" Ryu asked.

"Standard business vehicle. I don't want to stand out. I want to update you on a few things and I have a few things to ask of you." Takami said, drawing her brows together.

Ryu blew smoke in her face, smiling when she turned away and waved her hand. "Like what?"

"We're picking two people up." Takami explained, looking ahead at the snow covered streets, passing cars, and the occasional truck.

Ryu could take the response for what it was. A delaying tactic. Perhaps it was to help him become more enthused about the whole thing, but Takami knew he hated MBI and thought it was rotten. He didn't need to be enthused, he just cared about honesty.

Takami had always been honest for the most part, but if she didn't push Minaka's agenda, he would naturally dispose of her.

"Kouten is going to be activated."

Ryu felt like everything evaporated.

The whole existence around him just vanished. He heard Miya mention it only three times total, early on in their conversations, and she had never been too specific. From what he grasped back then, it was something she wasn't fond of, and when it came around, whenever it did, that would be a time where she was severely stressed.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Ryu couldn't hear himself speak.

"Well...You know how the Sekirei are deactivated and terminated. MBI retrieves them and we put them in tanks, that heal their wounds over a duration of time."

Ryu came back to reality, just to feel his tumultuous grasp on it fade once more. He leaned forward, but Takami held him back pointing at the ash.

Ryu rolled down the window an inch to air out the car, get rid of the ash, and get some air.

"What are you trying to say, Takami?"

"From our observations and studies, when a Sekirei is terminated or deactivated, even if their body survives...It is the same as death. The only comparison we have been able to come up with is the Sekirei being like a computer and it's like wiping the memory drive-"

"Yashima wasn't a computer! Nanaha wasn't a computer! Yomi wasn't a computer!" Ryu roared, feeling white hot rage erupt from deep within at the mention of their names.

Takami flinched from the tone, even gripping the door itself to calm her nerves. "Ryu, the point is that the Sekirei who are terminated and deactivated will not be the same people you, the other Ashikabi, or any of us even remember. The body is the same as you've seen them before, but their personality will not be the same. They are completely different and new from before."

"I don't..." Ryu finally calmed down, sighing as he gripped his forehead.

"We really don't understand it either. We don't know what happens when they are deactivated or terminated. We know even less about reactivating them from one of those things, let alone both, and what happens afterwards. As far as we have gathered a termination cannot be reversed."

Ryu took a deep breath, feeling an eerie calm take him over. "Kouten..."

"We don't know if the person or personality if you will, inhabiting their bodies is the old Sekirei the Ashikabi first met, or if it is a new personality, if you will, implanted by Kouten. And, don't ask about Kouten. Only Minaka, Miya, and one other who I will not name know everything there is to know about Kouten."

Ryu massaged his eyes, focusing his mind on the present. Takami was speaking of the future and abstract things again, and the fact he was smoking a joint didn't help matters.

Takami was just being manipulative again. It wouldn't be the first time she tried it. His three Sekirei fell in battle, and he would not belittle or dishonor their memory. He would not allow anyone to speak their name. He knew they weren't coming back, and any Ashikabi who lost their Sekirei knew this to be an absolute truth.

"What point, if any, are you trying to make?" Ryu ventured, eyes narrowing.

Takami clenched her hand into a fist. "Miya is a problem, there was another far worse than her...But, she is dormant now. My point is, things won't be able to proceed without preamble with Miya as she is, that's where you come in."

Ryu shook his head, shrugging. "I can't beat Miya in a fight. Whatever you are suggesting will never work...Even Karasuba doesn't dare move against Miya."

The older woman nodded in agreement, but her eyes were narrowed severely.

"Not as she is right now. Just as you freed that one Sekirei, maybe you could..."

Ryu cut his eyes at Takami, an amused smirk crossing his face. "Miya acting cheeky, cocky, brainless, and witless like how all of my Sekirei act at times...I am not sure what you are suggesting I do or even risk attempting Takami, but where would all of that excess power go if Miya were to lose it?"

It was Takami's turn to smile.

Now she understood why Karasuba and Ryu got along so well, and now she knew how she'd be able to stay on good terms with the unpredictable young man. Perhaps at one point Ryu didn't care too much about power in the grand scheme, but now he did.

That's all he could possibly care about in the end, if he got too extreme.

"It would go to you, as logic dictates. You would ensure the excess goes to you."

"And, the whole process?"

Takami blew out a stream of smoke.

"Hard to say, it could be weeks or months for it to finish, or for it to even begin. Miya may be stubborn and try to resist, but she won't be able to at that point. You just have to get close enough to her where you can exert your will and intent over her..."

Ryu shook his head, struggling to comprehend what route Takami was trying to steer him towards. Miya was the only person keeping Minaka from going all out like a moronic jackass, and if his ears weren't deceiving him, Takami wanted him to help her, help Minaka.

He had little time to collect his thoughts other than acknowledge it was all asinine, as the door flew open beside him.

He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts he failed to notice the car actually stopped, and had been stopped for two minutes. He really didn't enjoy being with Takami, but at least something good would come out of it this time.

If not he was going to flip the car over and strangle her.

With a chancing glance, Ryu focused on the person entering. Her stoic expression, dark hair, and jade eyes caught his attention immediately and held his attention. Just behind her, a busty woman with short grey hair, red half moon glasses, and frills around her neck moved with purpose.

The second woman held Ryu's gaze and focus longer than a moment, and he couldn't help but feel like she was eyeing him in the same way. Maybe it was the glasses, or her short hair, or just how she carried herself. She was calm and analytical, but there was something admirable about her spirit.

"Ryu. I'd like you to meet Juma and Kochou, both Sekirei of Higa."

Ryu gripped the hilt of his sword. Takami's eyes snapped wide, and she started to shout something. Kochou could only clench her hands together and bite her lips. But Juma, reached over and set her palm on the pommel, keeping the man from drawing it even a tenth.

Ryu locked eyes with Juma, not loosening his grip on his hilt. Every nerve and muscle was firing, surging with the pent up rage that would blaze into his blade, and rip through the trio's throats. He would then take that smoldering hate and plunge it into the driver.

"Ryu, stop!" Takami exclaimed, struggling to gather her thoughts. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Killing these two bitches before I gut you and hang you from a street pole."

Takami flinched, but kept her composure. "Just calm down and listen."

Ryu's eyes widened as far as they could go, pitch black completely, they began to glint as his murderous rage boiled to the surface.

"You called my Sekirei computers, you janus faced little-"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Takami nearly yelled, feeling fear worm into her heart. "Just calm down, for a second."

"Listen to Takami." Juma reasoned, tone cold.

Ryu glowered at the woman, eyes hovering on Kochou for a singular second before he pinned them back on Juma.

"Why should I trust either of you two...You are in league with that rotten son of a bitch Higa. You call the shots and the one next to you is a brain..."

Ryu felt fury burn him once more.

"You...Brain Sekirei...You've been pining me..."

"Higa hasn't winged me, but that is the besides the point. There is a narrow window, and we don't have time for these outbursts." Juma said, tone remaining cold.

Ryu looked at the three woman gathered and kept his anger flaring, rather than letting it abate. While it wouldn't do him any good to get angry and lash out now, he wasn't against it if these three were scheming something up.

Besides, this situation was turning to something close to severe given the fact two Sekirei from Higa's Legion were with Takami.

Takami blew out a breath, massaging her forehead.

"Care to explain how long this little merry three way has been going on? I doubt Higa approves of you, Juma, and even less of you, Kochou, speaking to Takami...Yet alone being around me on principles alone." Ryu focused on the trio, not looking the least bit surprised.

"Not long." Kochou answered a bit quickly.

Ryu turned his full attention onto her, narrowing his eyes.

Kochou folded her hands in her lap, not quite looking him in the eye. "I know Minaka shoves down the loyalty factor with Sekirei, but there are those of us...Who are wary and..."

"And?"

Takami sighed. "It's a long story."

Ryu scoffed. "Well, you better get to talking. I am not going to be manipulated. I'm going on the war path and I have half a mind to kill you three right now."

Juma pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed. She heard rumors that Ryu was unpredictable, a loose cannon with a horrible temper. He loved his Sekirei with pure ferocity as well. And, seeing his pitch black eyes and clenched teeth, Juma knew he couldn't turn it off.

He was always ferocious and fierce. And, that was his default. Listening and being reasonable didn't seem to register with him, and it was even more evident Ryu didn't want to. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to listen. He wanted to fight. He wanted war.

He wanted to kill.

Perhaps that's why Kochou had been running tests and variables of what the chances were of Ryu not killing her, and saving her instead. She swore Ryu saved a Sekirei before from an abusive relationship, even nullified the winging, but Juma didn't believe it.

She chalked it up to Kochou just desiring to get out of Higa's and Kakizaki's grip before they broke her in two, but that had been before...Maybe, with the fact he was outraged Takami called his Sekirei computers, Ryu may just accept Kochou.

Or, he could split Kochou like a turnip with his blade, and she, nor Takami would allow that. It couldn't be allowed. Kochou being deactivated or terminated would throw them all under the bus, which was the same thing Higa was trying to do.

"I'm waiting." Ryu said, impatience and anger clear in his tone.

Juma scowled a little at his demeanor. "This partnership has been in the works since Higa and Kakizaki have been disagreeing and...Power struggles have rotted through the ranks. Without getting too long winded, Higa and Kakizaki, or one of them will burn Teito to the ground."

Ryu looked from Kochou to Takami, but seeing both women look at him with nearly straight faces, no angst or fear, or amusement, he knew there must have been some validity to what Juma said. Takami would sooner scoff at such a notion, and Kochou...Ryu didn't know Kochou enough, but being a Brain Sekirei, she was logical and used her head.

She wasn't ruled by her emotions.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Takami cut her eyes at Ryu. "I don't want wars and invasions. Minaka is preparing for it. The whole Discipline Squad is preparing for it and killing anyone who gets in their way as we speak. For everyone's sake, Kakizaki nor Higa can bring that kind of grief to Japan."

"Why would they? Higa is a business man. He understands there is more value in Teito standing, than being burned down."

"Kakizaki doesn't think like Higa. Outside of Juma here and Hari, Kakizaki is the third highest ranking in that legion. He holds considerable sway over certain decisions."

Ryu felt the sting of betrayal being reminded of Hari's defection. "And, you three telling me this...What does it change?"

"Well..." Takami trailed off.

"Hold on. What am I supposed to do now? You don't expect me to march to his tower and obliterate it? As much as I would enjoy doing that, now is not the time." Ryu narrowed his eyes, staring down the older woman.

"The Third Round is going to start soon. All of the Sekirei have been winged, save for just two. Minaka is going to send the text out soon, I don't know when. When the Third Round begins it will be open warfare, he may try to put some order in it, or he'll leave all of you to kill each other until only one remains..."

Silence.

Ryu sighed softly, looking from Juma to Kochou. Takami not finishing a sentence, which wasn't in her nature, and the two Sekirei being silent could only mean one thing. He had experienced tense moments like this before with his girls when someone new came into their pack.

These three, or one of them, wanted him to wing a Sekirei...

"How do Higa and Kakizaki fit into this?" Ryu pressed.

"I don't want all of the Sekirei they have, or the Sekirei and Ashikabi they control to be utterly massacred by the Discipline Squad."

"And, in doing so...You want me to wing this Brain Sekirei?"

Kochou fiddled with her fingers in her lap when Ryu turned his focus back onto her. Truth be told she was terrified to be around him. At some point he had been somewhat of a goofball and didn't have a trace of hatred inside of him, but seeing him now...

"If you can do what you did before with Sanada's one Sekirei-" Juma started.

Ryu cut her off with a wave of his hand. "I am nowhere near the same person I was back then. I don't know how I did it, and I am not sure I am able nor want to do it right now."

"Why not?" Takami asked.

"I don't want to help people or be reasonable. I am going to war. I want to kill more than anything. I lost three Sekirei and I aim to get my revenge, and I'll take out anyone who even thinks about stepping into my fucking path."

"You have to help us, Ryu. This is the difference between all of us surviving or being obliterated by the mess that will come if Higa, Kakizaki, and Minaka have their way." Takami spoke calmly, but rigidly.

Ryu looked at Juma. "Is Yukari under your care?"

"Of course."

Ryu twisted his body so hard and fast, his elbow didn't just slam into the window, it smashed into it and nearly took it off through sheer force alone. Part of the door even budged from the ferocity of his strike, but he paid no mind to the damage.

He couldn't turn his focus away from Takami.

"You manipulative bitch. Now it makes sense. You sorry ass, chain smoking harpy."

Kochou flinched. All of those old videos and pictures of this man were useless. It was like looking at someone completely different. There was no goofball and there was hatred deep inside of him. She didn't see someone who wanted to save Sekirei or loved Sekirei.

She seen a warrior. Someone who witnessed three of his Sekirei pass before his very eyes. She was looking at someone who lost something important beyond any comprehension, three times in unison.

A man that was hardened.

Kochou gently clenched her fists, taking a deep breath.

There was heat in her eyes and she could feel tears pooling.

This was an Ashikabi that lost three Sekirei. This was an Ashikabi that had anguished at his losses and dived through despair until he came out on the other side. Rather than feel pity, Kochou felt fear. What this man lost was filled up with hatred.

This was an Ashikabi that would lash out with his fury and unleash his hatred upon everyone.

"Um..." Kochou found herself speaking barely above a whisper.

"If you have something to say, just say it." Ryu's tone broke no argument, nor did it have any levity.

Kochou pressed her thighs together, sighing softly.

Juma patted her thigh and Takami offered a supportive smile. One way or the other these two women were sticking with her, and had been her allies for a very long time. But, despite that support, Kochou couldn't help but feel she was intruding.

"I don't want to make you angry by intruding. But, I've watched you for a long time Ryu. I've studied you for an even longer time, and I know that...You've been through so much and you are changing, but you are not like Higa..." Kochou said, not quite looking anyone in the eyes.

"Why don't you tell Ryu what Higa did to you?" Takami suggested.

"Like that will change my mind. Her speech didn't change my mind, how will Higa?" Ryu scoffed, shaking his head in frustration while he glared out the window.

"He grabbed my fingers and bent them, so that my knuckles nearly dislocated themselves and my fingers broke. He didn't show me any mercy." Kochou said, massaging her fingers.

Ryu roughly reached out and grabbed her hands, examining them. He pressed his thumb to her palm and moved it in a circle before moving his thumb up towards her fingers. Slowly, he pressed his thumb so that each of her fingers curled into a fist.

Halfway through Kochou flinched, tearing her hand out of Ryu's grip.

Takami exhaled a cloud of smoke, peering into Ryu's eyes to try and gauge him. She was hoping his sense of fairness would win through. If anything, Ryu had always been fair and believed in equality. He never abused his Sekirei either, and anyone who did such a thing often caught his scorn.

But, Takami wasn't sure if it'd be enough. This wasn't a Sekirei in need without an Ashikabi. This was a Sekirei already winged to a greedy and cruel Ashikabi. To make matters worse she was a Sekirei that belonged to Higa or Kakizaki, and Ryu had no love for them or anyone who worked with them.

Come on...Don't be a heartless bastard...

Takami clenched her jaw a little, looking between Ryu and Kochou as the two silently communicated with their hands.

"You're not lying. From the way you flinched that wasn't the first time Higa has done that to you. You are also very, very hesitant and afraid to let me bend your fingers back even a little..." Ryu moved his fingers around her palm and knuckles.

Kochou met his gaze, keeping her mouth from dropping in shock. "You believe me?"

"I do now. I didn't at first. I wanted to see how you reacted to me, and how you reacted to me touching your palm and fingers, rather than what any of you three were saying."

Kochou felt a little bit of hope inside, so much so that her heart pounded faster in her bosom, or that could have been the affect Ryu's strong grip had on her.

"So, will you help?"

Ryu looked at Juma and then Takami.

He turned his focus onto his hands and Kochou's dainty, long fingered hands. He gave them a gentle squeeze. Takami was worried for all the wrong reasons before, now she would have to worry about him breaking Higa in half.

"I won't make any promises. Tell me what is going on and at the end, if I believe Takami is being sincere and not a manipulative little twat...I will help you."

"Now we must persuade the hot head of Teito to agree..." Juma sighed, shaking her head.

She kept herself tall and regal, with perfect posture and graceful poise.

"What about Minato?" Kochou asked quietly.

Her eyes and worried features seemed smaller still beneath the glasses she always wore.

"It's too dangerous. I'm not going to have Higa anywhere around my son. Ryu can handle Higa just like Minato can handle Hayato."

Ryu nodded to himself, huge pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place. It made sense to him that Takami would want Minaka dead, even if his voice of lunacy and asinine was working in her favor several ways when it came to muscling around Teito.

Minato had also embarrassed Hayato badly in saving Kusano, after all.

They would come to blows eventually.

"I am not too sure. Higa wants certain things done. With the way things are going you may be dealing with an entire legion and army force."

Ryu noted that Kochou didn't look much like the Sekirei he had winged or seen. Her skin was lighter, more fair, and her hair was silver, her ample cleavage didn't show even a bit, giving her a modest appearance.

"You have met Higa before, correct?" Takami asked, seated at the head of the conversation.

"Once. Of course he was representing himself and his family's company. He can't separate the two."

Next to him, Juma nodded in agreement. "He wanted to use you. I'd say his estimations and calculations were almost spot on as well."

The women gathered murmured their thoughts to themselves, nodded to each other, for many moments, and then they went silent, all eyes settling on the snow outside, that seemed to be the only thing in complete control here within Teito, even above the towering riches.

"As I explained to you earlier, I'm quite convinced that Minaka intends to plunge Japan into a war with foreign nations and Higa and Hayato are both adding fuel to the fire." Takami said.

"Takami..." Ryu looked at her, struggling to control his anger.

"Let me remind you of my absolute commitment to the Sekirei...To help them, the healing they need, and the eventual end of this madness. You have to do this Ryu, all of us need peace after this mess Minaka forced upon us. What I am proposing is complete transferring of information."

Takami looked to Juma, who nodded.

"We have eyes and ears within Higa's sector, and I will personally give some information concerning inner workings when the time comes. When the foreign nations ally themselves together and assemble an army greater than anything we've seen in the last twenty seven years, we shall have an army greater than them."

"If I may..." Kochou ventured.

"Yes, Kochou. We are always interested in hearing from the head of Higa's security and technology department."

The huddled and nervous woman offered a slight bow. "I am authorized by Higa to infiltrate Ryu's group, the sooner the better."

"I am most grateful for your cooperation." Takami said.

Ryu recognized the exchange for what it was, a play for the benefit of the other, less enthusiastic person in the car, which would only be him. Takami was trying to build some momentum. That momentum hit a bit of a bump a moment later, though, when he decided to chime in.

"I don't think at this exact moment my Sekirei wish to become openly involved with this."

However, he smoothed it over.

"I will speak with them. We will support you in secret, and will look forward to seeing how far this reciprocation between us will go."

Takami only smiled in relief. "That is all we are asking for."

Juma stared at Ryu with a hard gaze, and Kochou had to settle her gaze onto the man as well.

"I am sure some of my Sekirei will support this wholeheartedly, but I know a few that will be more than wary of this proposition. We keep this quiet and under the table, like a nonexclusive agreement."

Kochou settled back into her seat, trying to sort out the implications of it all. Takami had it all falling together here, a threat beyond anything Japan, or themselves had expected.

With the money of the bankers and the commercial and trade guilds behind Higa, his legion of Sekirei and Ashikabi, and those in his legion outside of them, and his factory, and likely many others like it, churning out armies or weapons, the potential danger was beyond staggering.

Was that why Takami had reached out to Ryu?

Had she sensed this growing danger, perhaps?

But if that was true, then what was the tie between Minaka and this group that Higa had under his control, and the foreign nations as well? Was it mere coincidence that the man was chosen as a source to defend Takami's initiative and grand plan for the Sekirei?

It seemed too much a coincidence to Kochou, but she had little else to go on at the moment. She wanted to shrink back into the background and listen in some more, she knew then that she had to get out of the car, had to return to her own car, and get a warning out to Higa to make sure things were all in order.

That she would be in Ryu's graces.

Over the last few months, Kochou had heard nothing but armies, they could be clone, humanoid, droid, or something whipped up in one of Higa's labs.

And, she knew that it would all be coming together very quickly in an explosion beyond anything Japan, and the world itself had seen in many, many centuries.

Minaka was the cause of it all.

Neither Seo nor Minato could miss the stark contrast when they took his sports car out of the interstate and saw the looming buildings ahead of them. How different it was from Izumo, a place of green grasses and small traditional houses, with cloud patterns always swirling over it.

This part of the North was just towering, wide, and expensive, as dramatic as the area he lived in was calm and quiet where one could find peace.

"I hope you know what you are doing Seo." Hibiki broke the silence.

"We should back him up regardless." Hikari retorted.

Hibiki looked over at her with a scowl, not the least bit happy. "We have never fought for no reason."

"Seo is more than reason enough."

"It shouldn't come to that since I am here, but it may not be a good idea for you two to come into the house when we do arrive." Minato said.

"He may have a point, ladies... I don't think any of his Sekirei will do us harm, except for Karasuba, who isn't around, and possibly Toyotama." Seo added.

"I still don't feel right leaving you." Hikari said.

"You're not. We just have to play it real cool and quiet like." Hibiki commented.

Hikari shook her head doubtfully, but she wasn't completely bothered by the possibility. In a strange way, she was glad that Hibiki said that, glad that Hibiki was there to keep her from being too aggressive at times, and glad, especially, that she could always cool her down.

"Matsu hasn't answered any of my calls or returned my text messages." Minato noted.

"She probably won't...Things are very strict here, as in Minaka can hear and see everything if he wants to bad enough. For now we'll just have to find a place to park the car, real quiet like, and then hope no one steals it while we go about our business."

"As I remember this part of the city." Minato looked at Seo and nodded.