A/N: Thanks to everyone for getting this story past 200,000 views! Also thanks to Ikrani for his editing/beta reading of my work.

This chapter is kinda short, but I think it's as long as it needs to be. Hope ya'll enjoy!

Domino Effect

MBI Tower: Minaka's Office Balcony

"So how does it feel to be outplayed by your own pawns, Minaka?" Yume said, a smirk stretching her lips into a confident crescent moon.

Almost a week had passed since the Sekirei Plan was put on indefinite hiatus by the alliance of the Southern and Western Ashikabi, and while he took it with a grain of salt initially, it was evident Minaka had been at his wit's end all day over it. That is, until he realized how unique of a strategy it was. Ingenious, really. He was finally outsmarted for once.

"Tis but a minor setback Yume, my dear. Give it time and things will fall back in order, I guarantee!"

Yume rolled her eyes and let out a giant 'uuuuugh' "Just admit you've been outsmarted."

"Oh, I admit it. Expediting the Sekirei Plan to the next stage was a mistake. I should have let things play out more naturally, and now I've gotten myself in quite the bind."

"Serves you right."

"It's no matter. If worse comes to worst, I'll send my Discipline Squad to bring order back to the game."

"The Discipline Squad won't matter once the alliance's numbers are large enough. They're getting stronger with each passing day and it's only a matter of time before a mutiny happens and they're banging down your door."

"It won't get to that point. Trust me, Yume, I always have a plan B."

"You're hopeless," Yume said, turning towards the door to leave. "And no, I won't trust you. No one should."

"Goodbye, Yume!" Minaka turned his head to the full moon above him. "I look forward to seeing where all this will lead! Hahahaha!"

XXXXXX

As Yume closed the door behind her, a voice caught her by surprise.

"Hey, Yume."

It was Karasuba.

"What do you want, Karasuba?" Yume asked sullenly.

"I just wanted to talk is all."

"There's nothing to discuss," Yume responded, presenting the nodachi and holding it out in front of her. "If you're wondering if you can have your sword back the answer is still- huh?!"

Yume was stunned as Karasuba suddenly closed the distance... and hugged her.

All Yume could do was twitch and blink, dumbfounded by Karasuba's sudden change in demeanor. This... certainly wasn't like her.

"K-Karasuba? Wh-what are you-"

"I missed you, a lot," she said, resting her chin on Yume's shoulder. "It's been so long. Too long."

"You missed... me?"

"Of course, Yume." Yume tensed as Karasuba's hold grew tighter, non-threatening though it was. "Not a day's gone by where I haven't thought about you."

"About killing me, more like. Why the sudden change?"

"I wanted to see if you were real," Karasuba murmured, her hot breath spilling across Yume's skin as her mouth drew closer.

"Um, what are you- OH!"

Karasuba's tongue withdrew from Yume's neck, savoring her taste. "Do you find it strange, Yume?"

"Yes, this is very strange of you!"

"No, not this. I mean the fact that we're both opposites in every way but our bodies react to the same person."

"You mean Chi-EE!"

Yume let out a high-pitched peep as Karasuba harshly pushed the scabbard of the nodachi into her nether region with her knee. She then grabbed Yume's right breast and began kneading it in circles like a big, firm glob of pizza dough.

"That I do." Karasuba's eyes drifted down Yume's back to the curve of her derriere, quite visible with Karasuba's arm tightening Yume's top. "It's been so long since you've been touched, hasn't it Yume?"

"S-Stop," Yume said, trying to hold back moans as her cheeks turned bright red.

"And here I thought you were the one all about love. Do you really want me to stop?" Karasuba whispered softly into her ear, then blew into the canal. "I bet you're wet already, aren't you?"

"Get... Get off of me!" Yume shouted, shoving the Black Sekirei away and darting down the hall.

Karasuba grinned, watching her speed off. Whether she was frightened or embarrassed, Yume's reaction was pleasing. "Sooner or later I will have what I want from you, Yume. It's only a matter of time..."

XXXXXX

MBI Tower: Chiho's Apartment

As Chiho mashed the buttons on her game controller, Uzume had her arms circling her waist. She smooshed her massive breasts over Chiho's head, giving her a shifting boob hat as she watched the action on screen, smiling cheerily. No couch, no chair, no seatback had anything on Uzume's pillowy softness, and she loved rubbing it in, literally.

Haihane and Yashima were there, too, flanking Chiho's left and right, gaming alongside her.

"So, what are our first steps?" Uzume said, eyes glued to the screen as she played with Chiho's hair.

"About what exactly?" Chiho inquired.

"About getting Homura back, of course."

"Well, we can't really plan ahead without Akitsu being on board," she said, pouring more focus into the game. "She's the only one who knows where he is and until she mentions something about their location, we're pretty much sitting ducks."

"Brainstorm what to discuss with her next time," Haihane said, off-handedly yet with conviction, her vision welded to the screen. "Like, how would she sneak the guy out by herself?"

"Good question," Chiho agreed. "I guess we need to find out a way to lure them out of hiding, then have Akitsu fill us in when the coast is clear so we can intercept her and get them both to safety."

"That's as good a plan as any other, I guess," Haihane replied. "But I doubt we can outsmart Kakizaki without serious thought on the matter. The man is determined to bring us down, and he's out for blood."

"I know, and to think this is all over me just tying him up… and leaving him for dead... while Minato and me..." Uzume blushed and giggled.

"This is no laughing matter, Uzume," Chiho said, playfully elbowing Uzume in the gut. "The man's about to start an uprising, and it's all my fault, you know."

"Now where would you get a crazy idea like that, Chiho?"

"Because I was the one who encouraged you to smex up Minato all the time. If not for that, Kakizaki wouldn't have been left for dead or be holding a grudge."

"You couldn't have predicted that!" Yashima insisted. "If not for Minato, you might not still be here. Not only that, but you wouldn't have the cursebreaker ability! That saved my life, remember?"

"That is true," Chiho agreed. "It seems a lot of good came from this mess, didn't it?"

"It did," Yashima said, putting the controller down on the floor and circling her arms around her. "So cheer up. I know we'll save Homura. Just give it time. Akitsu will pull through for us!"

"Thanks, Yashima. You're really awesome, you know?"

"You think so?!"

"I know so, sweetheart."

"A-hem," the jealous Uzume uttered, clearing her throat. "I just had an idea regarding the Homura situation."

"Oh?" Chiho said, looking up and masking her vision with Uzume's giant boobs. "Let's hear it!"

"Why not ask for Akitsu's phone number next time you speak to her? That way, we won't need to rely on the psionic link anymore."

"Nah, that won't work," Haihane sighed. "Kakizaki has the thing bugged, I bet."

"Well, then we ask Akitsu to buy a secret phone only she'll know about and keep it hidden from Kakizaki." Uzume grinned. "Problem solved."

"Hmm, it still seems risky," Chiho pondered, still boob-blinded. "Kakizaki is thorough, and since he knows we speak via telepathy, he'd likely see that move coming."

"Well, we can speak in code. Like, if all else fails and she gets caught, make it look like we blackmailed her and she didn't have a choice."

"That might work actually. Yeah… lemme think on it for a bit."

Meanwhile, in the building's ICU...

Benitsubasa's head hung low as she held her former Ashikabi's hand at his bedside.

She sighed as someone approached her. "What is it, Takami?"

"I have some good news, actually. Natsuo's recovery shouldn't last much longer. He'll be out of bed and on his feet within a week's time, if my calculations are correct."

"Really?! That's wonderful news!" She glomped Natsuo's body in a big hug. "Oh, I knew you'd pull through, Natsuo!"

Benitsubasa could hardly contain her excitement and joy over the situation. She was happy and she just had to let everyone know. She bolted out of the infirm, up several dozen floors in the stairwell, and straight into Chiho's apartment, startling everybody.

"Guess what, everyone?! Natsuo's going to be okay!"

"That's great news, Beni!" Chiho cheered.

"How long until he's recovered?" Uzume asked, concern straining her voice.

"Takami says he'll be good as new within a week's time!" Benitsubasa replied.

The look of 'oh shit' came over Uzume's expression. If what Benitsubasa said was true, that meant Karasuba would be back to her old self again soon. She had to let Minato know, to warn him. She pulled out her phone and left for her bedroom on the double.

Plopping her bottom on the mattress, she made the call.

Ring…

Ring…

"Hey, Uzume. What's up?"

"Thank God you answered. I've got some bad news, Minato. Turns out Natsuo's going to be making a full recovery sooner than expected."

"That's good, isn't it?"

"No, you stupid, sexy dum-dum! If Natsuo's running on full, that means Karasuba's going to be running on full, too! I'm calling you to warn you. Knowing her, she might still be holding a grudge over that dogpile at Chiho's party and try to settle the score."

"The Black Sekirei coming back with revenge on the mind, eh? Damn, that is a problem."

"It is not just a problem! Miya's no-fun-allowed rule is a problem. We are going to be way past the 'problem' stage after Natsuo wakes up!"

"Does Yume still have her sword?"

"She does, but Karasuba will find some way to get it back. I know it. Fuck, Karasuba probably knows it, too."

"So what should I do, Uzume?"

"Prepare for anything and for the love of fuck don't draw any attention to yourselves!"

"You mean any more than necessary?"

"What do you mean, 'more than necessary'?! I mean any, period! The last thing we need is for you to make yourself a bigger target than you already are with the South and West breathing down your neck."

"I'll be sure to let everyone know. Thank you, Uzume."

Uzume let out a ragged sigh. "Yeah, it's no problem." She flopped back on the bed. "And Minato…"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"And I love you, too, Uzume. Have a good night."

"You as well."

Click.

Another ragged sigh escaped Uzume's chest. She didn't know if she was going crazy or just in a mood, but she wanted Minato. She wanted him so bad. She wanted to throw him down on her bed and ride him like a wild stallion until he was too exhausted to do anything but lie there, safe and sound. Seriously, what kind of attention did he think was "necessary"? Besides the members of his harem, what else could possibly be getting himself into?

XXXXXX

Maison Izumo: Minato's Bedroom

As Minato pocketed his smartphone, he found himself approached by Shigi.

"I couldn't help but notice you were on the phone with your Disciplinary Squad friend. So the Black Sekirei is coming back, huh?"

"She sure is, and hey, just so you know, I don't appreciate it when others eavesdrop on my private conversations, Shigi."

"I wasn't trying to but once I overheard you mention the Black Sekirei, I couldn't help but prick up my ears."

Minato's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, emphasis on 'prick'."

Shigi rolled his eyes and sighed. "Look, I hate to bother you about this again, but I feel if there's any time to go through with an escape plan, it's now."

"You want to escape the city still? What about Kuno's training?"

"Come on! Don't give me that bullcrap, Minato! It doesn't matter how much training Kuno gets. The fact of the matter is she's not a fighter and will never get strong enough to win a fight, least of all against the real contenders. As a combatant, she's completely useless!"

"I disagree. I think she's made great progress in the few days she has been here."

"Are you not remembering that she's my only Sekirei? Even if she is getting better, it's us against 107 others, including you! Our odds of winning the game are absolute zero!"

"You're seriously not giving Kuno enough credit."

"Credit? If we stay here, Minaka is going to force us to fight and I'm going to lose Kuno!"

"You're not going to lose her!"

"That's easy for you to say! You have five Sekirei under your belt, and three of them are Single Numbers! You never had to be on the run from anything in this damn Sekirei Plan! You're basically a shoo-in to win it!"

"Not with the entire city turning against us!"

"And many of those Ashikabi only have one Sekirei, like I do. I'm not like them, Minato! I don't care what MBI's offering to the winner! We just want to leave, man!" Shigi drops to his knees and puts his hands together as if praying. "Please Minato, get us the fuck out of this city! We don't want to be here anymore! I'm on my knees here! Get us out! GET US OUT!"

By now, Minato's fist was trembling at his side and before Shigi could demean himself further, that fist flew smack dab into his jaw, knocking him on his ass.

Shigi spat out some blood. "What the hell did you do that for?!"

Minato's eyes were blazing. It was a look more at home on Tsukiumi than the normally even-tempered Ashikabi. "You want help that badly, fine, I'll help you out of the city. But not before you apologize."

"Apologize? For what?!"

"For your inappropriate behavior, for one, and for constantly putting Kuno down every chance you get. You might not be like the other Ashikabi, but you're still a real jerk. You'd better wise up and show Kuno that you actually love her, or she might start reacting to Chiho."

Dread filled Shigi's expression. It was clear he'd forgotten the guillotine looming above his bond. "I... I'm sorry."

Minato snapped his fingers and pointed over Shigi's head. "Now get up and apologize to your girl."

Shigi tilted his head back and saw Kuno in the bedroom's archway.

"I'm guessing... I'm guessing you heard all of that?"

Kuno held her dainty hands to her chest and simply nodded.

He came to his feet and approached her. He took her hands in his own and looked deep into her teary eyes. "I'm sorry, Kuno. For everything."

"I want to believe you so badly," she sniffs. "But I can't!"

Kuno pulled away from her Ashikabi and ran off down the hall, wiping tears away as she rushed to her room, slamming the door behind her and locking it.

"Wait, Kuno, come back!" Shigi went to chase after her, but Minato's then firm grip on his shoulder halted him from doing so. "Let go, Minato! I need to go talk to her!"

"No, she needs time to herself. What you said about her abilities as a Sekirei was rotten and uncalled for. She worked her ass off training because she wanted to be with you forever, and you just all but said it meant nothing to you. The last person she wants to see is you right now, and I don't blame her."

Shigi stopped pulling and sighed. "I guess you're right. Man, I'm a piece of shit."

"Be better to her next time."

"Y-yeah, of course." Shigi hung his head. "If there is a next time, of course…"

A/N: So, who's up for a future lemon featuring Yume and Karasuba? I see a lot of people shipping them and found it odd that there really isn't fanfiction out there pairing them together. So, howzit sound?