A/N: I've been having a difficult last few weeks. My friend went to rehab and left his rabbits in my care. One wound up passing away from an illness last week out of the blue. No vets around would take it because I had to book an appointment in advance. All I could do was make sure it was comfortable. I did all I could but it wasn't enough. She will be missed.

Twist of Fate: Part I

As Yume got up to leave, Miya spoke up.

"Yume?"

"Yes, Miya?"

"Since I'm doing you a favor by holding onto this sword for you, can you do me one in turn?"

Yume turned to face the landlady. "Sure, what is it?"

"Minato and the others are going to be helping a rather feeble Ashikabi and his Sekirei escape the city tomorrow. Would you be able to distract Karasuba so they can have an easier time?"

Yume stared off for a moment. "I can do that. Not sure how, but I'll think of something."

"Thank you, Yume."

XXXXXX

18 hours later…

"Here's to the happy couple!" Kazehana shouted, before downing the contents of the saucer she held.

"Pretty sure you're supposed to pour the drinks before the toast," Minato said. Awkward feeling or not, his mood definitely improved when Kazehana leaned herself, particularly her large bosom, on the table.

"Oh, fine," she sarcastically sighed. "I suppose I could share. Hold 'em out, everyone!"

The occupants all held out their cups as Kazehana poured a shot of the special sake she'd procured. With full bellies abound, as well as nervous looks, Kazehana had insisted on some liquid courage for everyone. Everyone except Tsukiumi, that is, who needed no such morale-booster.

"Bottom's up!" Musubi said, then moments later began coughing.

"Don't choke yourself, hun," Kazehana said. "I'll teach you the secrets of sake, once we get back."

With one last toast, it was finally time to put the escape plan into motion. Everyone who was to partake in helping out was garbed in all black much like a team of burglars. Tsukiumi, Kazehana, Musubi, even Yukari and Shiina had geared up. They'd decided to make up for not being there when Homura was kidnapped. The only two not going were Matsu and Kusano, for obvious reasons.

Minato looked over at Shigi, who was sharing a kiss with Kuno. "Last chance to call it off. Once we start, there's no going back."

"Nope, my mind is made up." Shigi squeezed Kuno's hand. "Kuno and I are leaving the city and that's the end of it."

Minato nodded. "Okay, then. Let's get you two on your way."

Shigi nodded back. "I know I've said this plenty of times before, but thank you, Minato. For all you're doing."

"Don't mention it."

And with that, they passed through the front gate and into fortune's care.

XXXXXX

Yume had been staring at the door to Karasuba's room for what seemed to be hours before she decided to knock. She could only imagine what was going on in her head, but Miya needed her to act. With a sigh of resignation, she did so.

"It's open," came the response from the other side.

Yume twisted the knob and passed the threshold. Karasuba sat on the sofa across the room, one leg crossed over the other with her arms spread upon the pillows.

"Hi, Karasuba. Do you have time to talk?"

"I've always got time for you, Yume." Karasuba responded, patting the open seat cushion next to her. "Come, sit."

"Umm, okay?" Yume cautiously made her way in. Karasuba's room was surprisingly clean for someone who loved to make a mess of things, particularly other people. She half expected there to be gory crime scene photos of her many victims, plastered about the walls along with actual body parts of said victims hung as trophies. Karasuba herself looked clean; blood was absent from her Discipline Squad uniform.

As Yume took her seat properly, Karasuba scooted away to give her room.

"Can't say I expected to see you in my room of all places."

"Believe me, I had a hard time envisioning it, too, especially considering all the destruction you've caused in my extended absence."

"But something brought you to me. Something stronger than both of us. I bet we both know what I'm talking about. Or rather, whom."

Yume got a nervous look in her eyes. "I'm here because I want to be, not because anyone asked me to."

"Mhm, well…" Karasuba's eyes narrowed like a cat's. "If that's the case, what brought you to me?"

"You previously had ambitions to kill me, so where is this sudden affection coming from?"

Karasuba's eyebrows rose. "Affection?"

"You attempted to molest me the other day. Do you really want your blade back that badly?"

"You wouldn't need my sword to get my attention, Yume. The sword has nothing to do with how I'm acting. The truth is that I always cared about you."

"I don't believe that for a second."

"Believe what you will, but what I'm saying is true. I'm just new at the whole 'expressing love' thing you constantly preach about. Perhaps I was just too forward and sudden with my feelings."

Yume folded her arms, still not buying it. "Nearly losing Natsuo probably knocked a few screws loose."

"Natsuo isn't the one I want. He never was. Yume, I didn't want to risk losing you again. After you gave your core to Musubi, my life was nothing but empty. For years, all I wanted was to see you again."

"To kill me yourself."

"Oh, I still do, but I've waited this long."

"For what?"

"The Sekirei Plan, of course. Musubi and I still have that promise we made to each other. To be the last two standing. After winning, my plan was to bring you back."

"That's what your wish would have been?"

"That's right."

"Interesting…" Yume pondered. She was still suspicious, but Karasuba had never spoken on her intentions with the Prize before. "But what about destroying the world?"

Karasuba chuckled and brushed her ponytail off her shoulder. "Having Mu-Chan believe that will motivate her more. I didn't think I could count on 'love' being enough. Having her fight for everyone else, or at least thinking that she is, will give me more of a challenge. Besides, I'm more than capable of doing that myself. What's the point of using a wish on something you can accomplish already?"

"I see," said Yume, looking down at her knees. "I guess that does make sense…" she straightened posture. "But tell me this, now that I'm back, what would your wish be?"

"To bring about the end of the cycle."

"End of the cycle? What do you mean by that?"

"Another story for another time. Say, Yume, can I ask a favor of you?"

"A favor? What kind of favor? You know you're acting awful cryptic."

"Then allow me to be more forward. I want you to show me what it's like to love. Physically."

And there it was, the moment Yume was dreading had arrived.

"And why should I do that?"

"Because I want to learn what's so damn great about it." Karasuba leaned a little closer. Yume instinctively drew back as Black's nose suddenly breached into her personal space. "You're preoccupied with it all the time, so who better than you?"

Yume struggled to maintain eye contact. "Your Ashikabi."

"Have you not been listening? He's gay and we feel nothing for each other. He has no love to give anyways."

"That's on you then."

"Can't argue with that." Karasuba sighed, though her thin-lipped smile never wavered. "I only chose him because the emptiness in his heart called to my own. We're alike in that way and that's why I accepted him."

"That's so sad that it's depressing," Yume said sarcastically.

"Which is all the more reason I need you to show me what it is I'm missing."

Yume was beginning to resign herself to the inevitable, knowing what might happen to Minato and his precious Sekirei if Karasuba was allowed to put her focus elsewhere. However, as if struck from a match, the spark of an idea popped into her head.

"If I show you, you'll need to do something for me in return."

Karasuba's smile dimmed, but her eyes widened. "And what's that?"

"No more senseless killing."

"You know as well as I do that's an impossible request, especially with the Third Stage looming."

"I mean if it can be helped, of course. Discipline Squad duties are one thing, but if you want me to show you love, you need to sway your addiction to killing. To fight a weaker Sekirei is one thing, but to butcher them is another."

"So I can't go out on a random hunt, but escapees are fair game?"

"As much as I wish it weren't so, that's exactly what I'm saying."

"Hmm… You drive a hard bargain, but I accept."

"Really? Just like that?"

"I said you were the one I wanted, and I meant that." Karasuba stood. "But there is one thing I need from you in return, to seal the deal."

"And what might that be?"

Karasuba pulled open a drawer next to her bed and withdrew a box. Presenting it to Yume, she opened it.

"I want you to wear this."

"A chained collar? You want me to be your submissive?"

"Love is all about trust, isn't it? That's always what you've told me. I need to see whether or not you trust me, Yume."

"And that's all I need to do, wear this thing?"

"That's right!"

Yume bowed her head and took the collar in her hands. "Very well."

A shit-eating grin lacerated across Karasuba's lips as Yume applied the collar to her neck and locked it in place. "I have you now…"

XXXXXX

Half an hour had passed and Minato's company were finally approaching the bridge. Thankfully, the route they took didn't draw much attention. It would have been odd, if not for that brief text Minato made to Chiho that morning…

XXXXXX

Earlier in the day…

"Hey Chiho, bet you can't have an orgy of your own by tonight. The Discipline Squad's too prudish, unlike MY girls."

"Challenge accepted! I'll have my girls, then YOUR girls, and maybe I'll let you join if there's time left in the day!"

XXXXXX

It was really that simple. And since Matsu hadn't noticed anybody tailing them, that meant more than half of their work was finished. All they had to do now was KEEP keeping a low profile, and it would be smooth sailing.

"Okay guys, we're here," Minato said, looking out from the hill they were on and seeing the fated bridge. He looked over at Haruka and Kuno, whom seemed to be having second thoughts. "On the other side of that bridge, your freedom awaits. All we have to do is run like hell and hope we don't get caught."

"Hold on, Minato." Shigi said. "Something about this just doesn't feel right."

Tsukiumi flicked the side of Haruka's head with her middle finger.

"Ow, hey! What the hell?!"

"Draw heat to thy cold feet by running!" she scolded.

Haruka rubbed the sore spot on his noggin. "I'm not getting cold feet. I'm just saying, isn't it odd we haven't faced any sort of opposition? I mean, we had to pass by several MBI checkpoints in this get-up. You'd think we would have at least been questioned."

"Seo has the twins distracting the MBI soldiers, so they're of no concern," Kazehana reminded him. "Come on, let's get you lovebirds off... on your permanent honeymoon!"

Minato rolled his eyes and laughed despite himself. With Matsu at home and Uzume a no-show (hopefully), Kazehana's mind was all by itself in the gutter.

"Hmm, fine, but I still think something is fishy, and not just because we're over a river."

"Relax. Matsu assured me that we're in the clear," Minato said. "If something was up, she would have let us know by now. So let's stop wasting time and get going already."

Everyone shared a nod at Minato's words. They made a break for it and moments later were on the bridge. At first, their goal seemed to be miles away, but as the ground flew beneath their feet, their destination came closer and closer, sooner than expected.

"We're halfway there!" Shigi called out.

"We're not out of the ballpark yet, kid." Yukari responded. "Just keep running!"

"Right!"

"Husband!" Tsukiumi screamed as she tackled him out of the way of an incoming ice projectile. Said icicle slammed so hard into the ground that it buried itself several inches deep in the pavement.

What followed was a volley of ice shards, this time directed at the rest of the group, splitting them up. As the storm subsided, Minato's party looked to where the barrage originated. Atop the bridge stood Akitsu, flanked by four others.

"Who– Who are you?" Minato asked the cryomancer.

"I am Akitsu. The discarded one. I assume you were expecting someone else?"

"Shit!" Yukari shouted, tugging at her brother's arm. "They have us surrounded!"

Minato took a look behind him and, sure enough, more Sekirei were there. All in all, there were a dozen of them and they were starting to form a circle around them on the bridge, leaving no opening for escape. The group immediately huddled together to watch each other's backs as the opposition closed the distance.

"I fucking knew my hunch was correct…" Shigi seethed, biting his thumbnail.

The Ashikabis of said Sekirei then stepped out from the crowd, namely Mikogami and Sanada.

"It's been a good while since I've last seen you, Minato!" Hayato chirped with excitement and sadistic glee. "What brings you out here at this hour?"

"That's none of thy concern, brat!" Tsukiumi shrieked.

"Don't tell me: you're planning to run away from your problems, aren't you?" Mikogami mocked as Mutsu joined his side. The stoic Sekirei poked his thumb against the hilt of his weapon, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

Taking note of this, Tsukiumi swiftly cut her arm through the air as her waterblade flowed from her elbow and up past the tips of her fingers.

"If treasured be thy bond, then keep away!"

"I'm sorry about all of this, Minato," Sanada said with remorse. "But you know the rules of the game. The fact of the matter is you're too powerful and if we don't deal with you now, our hopes of winning are slim to none."

"Hey I know you!" Yukari shouted pointing her finger. "You're that biker creep who rubbed spit on my knee, AFTER almost running me over!"

"He did what?!" Minato croaked.

"Oh hey, I remember you, babe. How goes it?"

"How goes it?! Does it look like we're having a good time?! Turn around and head home now or I swear the next nut-punt will leave you sterile!"

Sanada laughed. "Oh-ho, feisty as ever!"

"Look, just what do you want with my brother?"

"Haven't you been listening? What we want is for him to be eliminated from this game." Mikogami responded.

"I was not talking to you, twerp!" Yukari spat.

Sanada cocked his head. "Wait, Minato is your brother? Wow, small world, eh?"

"In any case," Mutsu began, directing his jaw outward. "Number 9, Tsukiumi, I wish to challenge you. One on one."

Tsukiumi bolstered her chest and took a step forward. "If thou seekest a fair battle, I shall happily oblige!"

"Hold on, Tsukiumi," Minato demanded, gripping her shoulder.

She looked over at him. "What be the matter, husband?"

"Mutsu may give you a fair fight, but I wouldn't bet on the rest to stay put."

"That much is obvious, but I am not one to back down when explicitly called to war."

"Don't worry, Minato." Musubi said, pounding a fist into her open palm. "We can handle them."

"I'll take on the ice queen." Kazehana offered. "That leaves Musubi, Shiina, and Kuno to take on the small fry."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" The remaining Sekirei called out all at once. One of Mikogami's girls, Mitsuki, charged forward in a rage and threw a wire-wrapped right hook at Musubi's face. Musubi effortlessly dodged the razor-sharp strands and punished Mitsuki with an elbow to the back of her neck. It was hard enough that if the person on the receiving end were human they would have had a cracked vertebra. Just like that, one of the twelve was out of commission.

"Dammit, Mitsuki!" Mikogami shouted. "What did I tell you about charging in like that?!"

As her Sekirei crest began to disintegrate, Mitsuki managed to say one last thing before expiring. "I'm sorry…master."

"I told her that new move was a bad idea," Mutsu sighed.

Mikogami bit his thumb. "Well, what are all of you waiting for?! Don't let her get away with that! Mutsu! Do the thing!"

"As you wish, master."

Mutsu undid the scabbard from his waist and tapped the hilt to the ground, causing the ground beneath everyone's feet to quake. In moments a spider web of fissures began to barrel through the bridge, knocking everyone off balance and splitting them up once more.

Minato nearly fell on his ass as the battle began, as did his sister, Shigi, and Kuno.

As Minato regained his balance, his phone began to ring.

Minato pulled it from his pocket and noticed it was an unfamiliar number.

He was going to ignore it, but Mikogami said, "What's the matter? Answer it."

He swiped the answer button with one finger and put the device to his ear. "Hello?"

"Sahashi Minato, I see you're in quite the predicament."

"What? Just who is this?"

"Oh I'm sure you know who I am. To give you a refresher, I was Higa-san's secretary. Remember now, the guy you and #10 tied up and left to die after going at it like rabbits in the warehouse?!"

Minato's expression soured. "Serves you right! You held a sick woman hostage and forced Uzume to do your bidding to keep her alive! You get no sympathy from me!"

"I don't want your sympathy! All I want is to see you fall and flail around helplessly as I take everything you love away from you!"

"How the hell did you get my number anyway, you creep?!"

"Oh, why the same way I found out about this little escape plan of yours."

"What?! No, you can't mean–!"

"Ding-ding-ding! That's right! Kaoru Seo filled me in on everything."

"I don't believe you! Seo would never turn his back on me!"

"Guess again, rabbit-man. At first, he was hesitant, sure, but once I went and paid off all his debt and set him up in Higa's old penthouse, he came to see things my way. Face it, Sahashi: Seo sold you out and now you're done! You hear me?! DONE!"

"Augh–!"

*click*

*beep…beep…beep…*