Rock, Paper, Scissors

Minato kicked a can down the sidewalk and into a gutter as he neared the train station on his commute home. His head hung low to the glow of his smartphone. He was texting Matsu, letting her know he was on his way. He was not sure how his girls were going to react to his extreme lateness. It had to be past 11. At least.

He shrugged and thought aloud, "Better late than never I suppose- Wuah?"

A familiar face dropped down from the building, sake bottle strangled in her hand. It was Kazehana. She brushed herself off and stood up straight, or at least as straight as she could with the buzz she was feeling.

"My you're out late this evening. I bet you had fun." she muttered.

"I could say the same about you, Kazehana. Why are you out now all of a sudden?"

"Just on my route for my usual sake drinking spot."

"Spot? Oh, you mean the construction site?"

"Mhm." she nods with a hiccup. "Wanna come sit with me for a bit?"

"Sure, why not?"

He took her hand and they were off to the skies on a carpet of wind. Before long they had arrived, tiptoeing down from the gust onto a beam high above the moon-glossed cityscape.

Minato pinched his nose as a bombardment of memory fragments burst in his mind. He couldn't make sense of it, other than a feeling of familiarity being associated with this very spot.

"What's wrong, Minato?" Kazehana asked worriedly, clinging to his right arm.

"Something about this place, it feels like I've been here before." he went to sit down.

"I see." Kazehana plopped herself beside him and and clung closer. She took a swig of alcohol and spoke. "You're starting to remember, that's good."

"Remember what?" he got a glimpse of her tit slipping out of her dress and gasped. "This isn't going where I think it's going, is it? I don't know if I can go 3 times in the course of just an hour!"

"When you and Uzume found yourselves upon this very construction site...and got close."

"You mean we...did it, before the night at the hospital?"

"Well...not exactly." she began rubbing the back of her head. "I kinda snuck up on you two at the last second and...spooked you out of my little nest as it were."

"You mean I fell from this building...and lived?"

"Well, I did catch you before that happened."

"Um, thanks I guess."

"...but not before you hit your head off of one of the beams on the way down. Hehe."

"Thanks a lot."

She clung to him tighter and looked to the sky, head softly nuzzled to her Ashikabi's side. "I like to come up here to reflect and look at the stars. It's a wonderful escape from the real world, don't you agree?"

"It is peaceful and quiet up here. The air is fresh too." He looked up at the sky with her. "Wow, I never realized how bad the light pollution in the city was. There are tons of stars out!"

"They all burn so brightly and strong, don't they?" she said, cupping Minato's chin with her hand. "But not nearly as much as my heart burns for you."

The space between their lips was now non-existent. Kazehana's wings of light emerged from her back like crystals in the cloudy winds. Her wings soon after folded over to envelop both Ashikabi and Sekirei like a blanket before fading away completely and leaving them to their nest.

"It really means a lot to hear you say that, Kazehana. I feel the same way about you and all of my Sekirei, and Uzume, and Chiho."

Kazehana giggled and flicked her Ashikabi's nose. "You're so funny, Minato."

Minato rubbed it. "Comes naturally."

A laugh was shared and they proceeded to stargaze in each other's arms, pointing at celestial bodies. A meteorite here, comet there.

"Hey Minato?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever, like, you know, wondered where we Sekirei come from?"

"Like what do you mean?"

"What I mean is, well, what our homeworld was like?"

"Homeworld?"

"Yeah."

"You know I never really thought about it much. Where did you come from? I know about the ship on that island, but nothing ever about where it was sent from."

"It's a fascinating thought, isn't it? One you can just lose yourself to with your eyes full of wonder."

Minato smiled. "Who knows, maybe we'll see it someday."

"I think it's better left to the imagination. What's life without a little mystery?"

"They do say curiosity killed the cat."

"Neko?" a set of fangs appeared on Kazehana's upper mandible. She scratched Minato's chest with her long painted nails. "Rawrawr nyaa~"

Minato chuckled and gave her head pats. "Good kitty."

Kazehana purred louder and louder the more he stroked her. "Nyaa~.3"

She nuzzled even closer to him and a crack and bang were heard off in the distance. Fireworks.

"My, how colorful.." Minato spoke.

Kazehana stretched out more. "I think I'll start laying off the booze."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"I'm happy I went to the hospital, for more reasons than to just help Uzume. It was like a veil was lifted."

"Off of what?"

"It showed me how hard life can really get and in comparison to a lot of people I'm very fortunate."

"Well don't beat yourself up over it Kazehana. You don't need to quit drinking if you don't want to. Just drink responsibly."

"Well, I'd have to lay off the drinking if I ever want to become a registered nurse, wouldn't I?"

"You want to be a nurse?"

"After seeing the environment those patients were in and what subhuman treatment they were given, it made me want to somehow make a difference. But a lush like me being responsible? Not a chance. I'd just let you and everyone else down."

"You won't let me down. I know you can do it, I believe in you."

"Really?"

"Of course! Would I lie to you?"

She glomps him and rocks back and forth. "Oh Minato, I'm so happy you're my Ashikabi."

Minato freaked. "Hey hey, easy there, we're really high up here!"

"Sorry." She looks up at him with bedroom eyes and a fist to her breast. "So, will you have me?"

"You mean...right here, right now you want to-?"

She pulled at her dress a bit. "Mhm~."

"But what if I-or we-?"

"Don't worry, I won't let us fall and we're too high up for anyone to notice us." she began tracing his sensitive belly flesh with her nail. "Plus its late~."

The nerves in Minato's face twitched. "That's...reassuring."

"If it makes you feel safer…" She climbed on top of Minato and pushed him down by the shoulders. "I can ride you~."

Minato felt his pants get tighter as Kazehana squeezed her thighs together at his sides.

She felt this and moaned deeply. "Oh I can't wait anymore! I need you in me now!"

Kazehana unzipped her Ashikabi's jeans, pulled out his throbbing erection, and lowered her hips all the way down, her jaw unhinging more and more the deeper it went.

"Oh my god it's so big! Yes!"

"K-k-keep your voice down, Kazehana! What if someone hears?!"

She panted some before replying, "I can't help it. You just fill me with so much warmth I can't contain myself!"

She gripped her Ashikabi's shoulders like the handlebars of a Harley and swung her head back in pure bliss.

And for the rest of the night, their passions unleashed. Finally, Kazehana had her man all to herself.

Minato and Kazehana leaned against a support beam, the rising sun warming their snoozing faces.

It wasn't long before the chirping of pigeons stirred them awake.

The two looked at one another and said "Good morning." at the same time.

A laugh was shared and soon after, they found themselves stretching their limbs and on their way home to Maison Izumo.

[Fade out/Fade in]

Maison Izumo: Living Room

"One." Musubi began, reaching her hand out for the cup full of straws in front of her.

"Two." Matsu continued, doing the same.

"Three!" Tsukiumi and the other two declared at once, the three each grabbing a straw at once and lining them up with each other.

Matsu looked very pleased with her result. "Yes!"

Tsukiumi, not so much. "A pity."

The front door clicked open and everyone turned to see who it was. It was Minato and Kazehana.

"I'm home everyone." Minato said, slipping his shoes off and walking in.

"Minato!" His girls exclaimed at once. They immediately stopped the bickering they were doing and went to surround their Ashikabi. They looked upset.

"Hey, uh, what's wrong, guys?" Minato asked. "Where's Kuu?"

"She's sleeping." Matsu answered.

"You were out all night last night, Minato." Musubi began. "We were worried."

"I gave Matsu a text to let you know I was on my way home."

"A text I got more than eight hours ago, mind you." Matsu argued.

Tsukiumi kept her lips sealed and simply stood there with her arms crossed wearing an unamused expression.

"There's a perfectly good explanation for this, I swear."

"Worry not, Minato. For we are all aware of what caused thy tardiness." Tsukiumi accusingly pointed at Kazehana, who raised her arms as if a swat team had her in their crosshairs. "Explain thyself, Kazehana!"

"Hey we were all aware of the game's rules! I just took my prize a little early is all."

"Thou stated you were only going out to purchase sake!"

"I did, but then I ran into Minato."

Minato was confused. "Uh, wait a second, what game?"

"Basically last night we all drew straws to see who would get a night with you first and I wound up the winner."

Minato leered at his 5th Sekirei. "And here I thought we just bumped into each other by chance…"

Kazehana laughed nervously and rubbed the back of her neck as if caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Or in this case Minato's pants.

"Good morning, Minato. Welcome home." the landlady said walking into the living room.

"Oh hey, good morning, Miya. How've you been?"

"Busy. Not only did Uzume's exit leave a hole in our hearts, but an extra room that needed filling."

"You're trying to find a new tenant?"

"Already have, and they just signed the dotted line." Miya stepped to the side to allow whoever was in the dining room passage. Minato's jaw dropped as they walked in.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Yukari and Shiina. They will be staying in room #203."

Yukari took a step back and both her and Minato shouted.

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

[Fade out/Fade in]

Meanwhile, at MBI Tower...

"So what's all this about?" Uzume said as she stood before Haihane and Benitsubasa in the training room. Located in the bowels of the tower, the room was immense in girth, erect its walls were tall, more than enough to accommodate the Discipline Squad's training needs or any Sekirei's for that matter. "You dragged me and my Ashikabi down here for this, so speak."

Uzume took a glance behind her at the room's only exit. To her surprise, Karasuba now stood guard in front of it, the hilt of her nodachi visible enough to see it poke through from beneath her grey cape. Uzume knew she had to mean business and didn't like it one bit.

A large monitor several stories high then came to life. On-screen was the game master. "No cause for alarm, number 10. This is a simple disciplinary squad protocol."

"Minaka?…"

"To help integrate you into the Discipline Squad you will of course need to learn how to fight alongside and at the same time further enhance the abilities of one another. It's also imperative that you know all about each other in case anyone tries to go rogue. As such we have random days selected where you are to spar with one another. And today's spar is something extra special and tailored just for you, Uzume! Get it? Tailored? Because you manipulate-"

Uzume rolled her eyes, as did everyone else. Man, was that bad. "Yes yes, we know. Can you please get on with it?"

"Oh yes, of course." Minaka cleared his throat. "Today you get to play on the defensive against the very front line of the Discipline Squad. Haihane, Benitsubasa, be sure to not take it easy on her."

Uzume's brows became acute as her knees bent in preparation for a slugfest. "You want me to face these jokers two on one? Bring it on!"

Scowling, Benitsubasa clenched her fist. "Hey, what did you just call me you veiled bitch?!"

"That's the spirit everyone!" Minaka called out in glee. "Karasuba, be sure to keep things from getting too out of hand. We wouldn't want a repeat of you-know-what."

Karasuba bowed her head. "Understood."

"Play nice now everyone! Ta-ta!"

The monitor went dark and not a moment later the red and blue Sekirei were airborne, synchronized like pouncing leopards in slow-mo.

"Uzume, look out!" Chiho gasped.

Uzume tucked and dived to the side as Benitsubasa's fist and Haihane's claw slammed into the ground where she earlier stood. She rubbed some saliva from the side of her mouth as dust settled from the crater. Her opponent's shadowy silhouettes slowly emerged and stepped out not long after.

Uzume stood straight and looked onward at them. "No hesitation I see. Did our little encounter at the hospital teach you something?"

"Shut up!" Benitsubasa grumbled. She kept on the pressure with Haihane in tow, charging in to land some strikes.

"Go Uzume!" Chiho cheered from the sidelines as she saw her Sekirei dodging what can only be described as an onslaught of close-quarters combat. Benitsubasa and Haihane swapping in and out at the speed of sound and Uzume blocking their volleys of attacks by using her veil as a shield.

Chiho was amazed by what she was seeing, although she never been exposed to a clash between Sekirei until now, she knew the Sekirei were engineered for battle. She didn't know just how inhuman things could get. It was a spectacle. For a long while, Chiho just stood there in sparkly-eyed awe. She couldn't believe how strong and brave her Sekirei was.

Speaking of Uzume, she was sent back directly into the wall not far from where she was standing.

"You good?" Chiho asked bubbly.

She gave her Ashikabi a thumbs up. "I'm good."

As Uzume peeled herself out from the web of cracks in the dented wall and leaped back into battle, Chiho noticed Karasuba, unmoving. "That must be the Black Sekirei…" Chiho thought. "I know Uzume told me she's dangerous, but I work with her now. Besides, it would be rude not to at least introduce myself."

Chiho hesitated for a moment and took a glance back at the spar and giggled. Uzume had Benitsubasa comically tangled up in a cocoon of cloth and hanging from the ceiling. Haihane desperately had to balance cutting her partner out with fending off Uzume.

She tittered more. "I guess she'll too busy to even notice me talking to her for a little while at least…"

Chiho swallowed her nerves and approached the nihilistic Sekirei. "Um, hi there."

No response. Not even a pupil aimed in her direction.

Chiho tried again, this time presenting her hand in greeting. "I'm Chiho, Uzume's Ashikabi. We'll be working together as a part of the Discipline Squad."

"No, we won't." Karasuba spoke up. "I may be part of a team, but I work on my own."

"That...doesn't make much sense."

Again, silence.

The awkwardness made Chiho whistle and start tapping her foot. Then she spoke. "You're not much for small talk, are you?"

"Nope, and certainly not from small weaklings like yourself."

"Hey I'm not weak."

"Well if I am mistaken then why not take yourself over to that scuffle and we'll see how strong you are."

"No argument there, but you can say that same thing about any Ashikabi or human for that matter. Do you not like humans."

"They're filth."

"Not all of them are. I'm friends with one of the kindest humans you can imagine."

"Won't be long until he stabs you and your Sekirei in the back I bet."

Chiho shook her chibified head violently. "Nonononono! Minato would never do something like that! Never ever!"

"Minato? That name sounds familiar… Tell me is he an Ashikabi? If so are one of his Sekirei named Musubi?"

Chiho tapped her chin. "Well he is an Ashikabi, but I never personally met any of his Sekirei."

"I see." Karasuba turned back to watch the fight but Chiho wouldn't let the conversation end. Not just yet.

"You can't hate all humanity. I mean you do have an ashikabi-"

"Who I feel nothing for."

Chiho deflated and hung her head. What could have possibly happened to Karasuba to give her such nihilistic views? She decided the question be best labored on.

"You don't love your Ashikabi?"

"I don't."

"Now that doesn't make sense. Sekirei can't react to people they don't feel strongly towards."

"Enough questions." Karasuba's voice deepened, startling Chiho. Karasuba giggled as she quivered. "Oh my, did I startle you?" she grinned.

"A little bit." Chiho nodded.

"How cute."

Chiho blushed and looked down and to her left, then up at Karasuba with a cheeky grin. "Your legs are sexy."

Karasuba paid no mind to the flirt attempt and pulled out her phone. She had just gotten a text from Natsuo. She took a step forward to address her subordinates. "Red, Blue. Enough. We have runners."

It took a while for the tornado of expletives to slow down and release the three but they soon eased up.

"Alright!" Benitsubasa joyously exclaimed cracking her knuckles. "Finally something for real!"

"Do I have to now? My show's in a bit." Haihane lazily replied, absently mindedly picking at her ear forgetting her claws were still attached. Scream. Squirt. Drop.

Benitsubasa facepalmed at Haihane. "You idiot."

"Actually I'd like to assign #10 to deal with this one on her own.."

Benitsubasa huffed and puffed and crossed her arms all pouty and made a nyeh! nyeh! nyeh! face with the tongue out. "This sucks. I'm going to shower off." she turned to leave, dragging Haihane's comatose body behind her by the ankle and out through the exit."

"So what, I'm just supposed to answer to you like your my superior or something?" Uzume boasted.

"That's right and I am like it or not."

"Chiho, go upstairs. It's not safe right now."

"But-"

"Go!" she demanded, startling Chiho. "This is the Black Sekirei. She is no pushover and I want to make sure you're safe. Do you understand?!"

"Uzume…" Chiho was shook with Uzume suddenly jumping down her throat like that but soon turned on her heel and sped off.

A moment passes, then a few more.

"So, who's my target?"

"#95 Kuno. She and her Ashikabi were spotted by the border patrol trying to sneak away in storage containers down by the dock and they're now on the run. I'm sending you exclusively to deal with them because I want you to show me everyone your loyalties lay. I see a lot of potential in your ability."

"Am I supposed to feel honored by you saying that?"

"You're supposed to follow orders."

Karasuba took some steps forward into Uzume's personal space and grabbed her by the shoulder.

Uzume tried to shrug it off. "Hey what do you think you're-"

The grip just got tighter. "I want you to know I saw everything."

Uzume's eyes buggered wide. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

"The penthouse."

Uzume's heart skipped a beat. "How did she?!"

"I followed you. Your handiwork is sloppy and excessive but paints a good story all the same. Shame you had to clean it up. It would have made for a very nice crime scene portfolio."

Uzume gulped. "Does anyone else know about this?"

"Nope, though Minaka has his suspicions. But without a body, he can't just point fingers and accuse. He wants to speak to you after you get back from your maiden voyage for the Discipline Squad."

"R-Right." she shivered. "Oh crap this is bad…"

"Don't worry, I promise not to tell. Just do your job and we won't have a problem." she gave Uzume a cold glare. "Are we clear."

"Uh, yeah sure."

"Good." She let her hand fall from Uzume's shoulder and walked towards the exit. "Also, from this point onward we'll be referring to you as 'The White Sekirei'. Got to keep with the tradition, you know?"

[Fade out/Fade in]

Meanwhile, Upstairs in the apartment…

Chiho lay dreaming beneath her covers. After Uzume jumped down her throat in the training room she decided it was best to get some rest to forget the whole ordeal.

In her mind, she is in a maze and hears a person crying, faintly.

"Hello?" Chiho calls out. "Hello? Who's there?"

Alone, she wanders further in, gravity in her heartstrings pulling her to do the opposite. She feared what lurked in the winding corridors, but she couldn't let that keep her from doing what she felt was right. The person crying needed someone, and something told Chiho it had to be her.

The crying grew louder, as did the feeling of overwhelming dread in Chiho's chest the more she pressed on. But she knew she had to push forward.

The floor now flew beneath her teensy feet, a sudden burst of energy from within helping her see her way through the dark.

"Don't worry, I'm coming!" she exclaimed as the sobbing intensified. She knew she was getting closer. She had to be.

After minutes of running into dead ends, the determined Chiho spotted a trail of water on the floor. Or at least she thought at first it was water. She decided to follow it and soon enough its source was clear. Huddled in the dirt in a ball with her back against the wall and tears flowing from her eyes was the Red Sekirei, Benitsubasa. Her hair was no longer tied up, and was very dirty and matted. It looked like she hadn't bathed in weeks.

She hadn't taken notice of Chiho's presence yet in spite of her being no more than ten feet away from her. Whatever she was upset over must have burdened her heart greatly.

After a moment, Chiho decided to speak up. "Um, excuse me?"

Benitsubasa gasped. Her head snapped in her direction in an instant and Chiho doubled back onto her bottom. That bloodshot glare she gave behind those dirt-splotted pink bangs, it was raging with enmity, but also radiant with sorrow and pain.

"Wh-what are you doing here? What do you want?"

Chiho took a moment to respond. "I, um, well, you see, I heard you crying and-"

"You mean you heard that? All of it?!"

Chiho rose to her feet and brushed off her dress at the skirt. "Um, yes, and I-I wanted to come and see if you were okay."

"I'm fine. Go away."

Chiho took a step forward. "But you were just crying!"

Benitsubasa scooted backward, vulnerability on full display. "D-Don't come any closer!"

"I'm not going to hurt you." she took a few more steps forward until she was within an arms reach of Benitsubasa. She presented her hand and Benitsubasa looked up, tears still gleaming in her eyes. "Let's get you out of here and clean you up, okay?"

"No, stay back! He'll come back for me, I know he will!"

"Who will come back for you?"

Benitsubasa sniffed. "Natsuo."

"Natsuo left you here all by yourself in the dirt? How could he?"

"Don't you dare bad mouth him! Natsuo is my one and only! He-!"

Benitsubasa's chattering suddenly halted as Chiho dipped down and pulled her into a big hug.

"It's alright, I'm here for you now. Don't you worry about anything anymore."

"But I… Natsuo, I...I." The tension in Benitsubasa's arms lightened to that of a feather. She put her gloved hands on Chiho's shoulders and the tears began flowing again."

"There there, you poor thing. I'm here now."

Moments pass.

The sobbing stops.

Time stands still for a moment.

A roar erupts from Benitsubasa's throat and Chiho is sent flying back.

As Chiho recovers and opens her eyes she sees Benitsubasa's aura erupting from the ground around her like electric stalagmites. She balls her fist, the energy surrounding her being siphoned into it like a black hole.

"Benitsubasa, stop! Please, let me help you!"

"EXTREME QUAKE!"

Her fist slams through the dirt, sending a shockwave throughout the maze surrounding them. The walls crumble to dust and the ground shatters beneath them like glass.

The two fall into the black abyss below, screaming.

XXXXXX

"Gah!" Chiho screams, propelling from her dream a sweaty mess like the alarm went off.

She hurried into the shower and put it on full blast not even waiting for it to warm up. She stood over the drain deep in thought for many minutes. Dreams like this could only mean one thing. Benitsubasa was reacting to her, looking for a way out. But how was that possible? She was already bonded to Natsuo and a link can't just transfer from one person to another, could it?

She knew one thing was for sure certain though. If she was having these dreams then that meant Benitsubasa was too.

It was decided then.

Chiho stepped out of the shower, dried off, and got herself dressed. She made a beeline for the door and twisted the knob, Uzume's warnings be damned.

Pulling it open she let out a startled gasp. On the other side just about to knock was the Red Sekirei herself, preparing to knock.

They stared at each other for a silent moment before Benitsubasa uttered, "We need to talk."

A/N: This was designed to be a transitional chapter to build intrigue for what's to come. After batting some ideas around in my head and off of others I can finally picture an ending for this fic. It's still quite a way off but now I have a much better sense of direction for things.

Anyway, let's see if we can get at least 20 reviews for this chapter! (or any other for that matter!) Sorry if I sound like I'm begging, but getting feedback always keeps me motivated.

I also still have that Sekirei fanfiction discord server if anyone is interested in joining. PM me and I'll send an invite. :)