The Bridge Cataclysm

"Karasuba, no offense, but I'm feeling very vulnerable right now. And these ropes are cutting off my circulation…" Yume squeaked, cheeks cherry-red with a pained cringe of uncertainty. She was on Karasuba's bed, stripped of all clothing with her ankles and wrists tied to the corresponding posts by really rough bull ropes.

Karasuba guffawed. She was dressed in some of the skimpiest dominatrix gear on the market. Even a g-string rode up her crack, emphasizing the curve of her athletic glutes.

"That's the idea, Yume." She swatted the grip of her cat-o-nine tails to her hand. "And so long as you're in my room under my care, it's Blood Countess Karasuba."

"Right, Blood Countess Karasuba." Yume pulled at her binds, but it was no use. The collar Karasuba fastened to her throat nullified her abilities. She was helpless and felt like a total fool. "How am I supposed to teach you about love when I'm tied up like this?"

"Silly Yume, you should know that before love must come trust, right?" She crawled on top of Yume's torso. "I need to show you I'm trustworthy, correct?"

"Um, yeah I guess." Yume swallowed.

Karasuba smiled. "Well, what better way to build trust in someone than to leave their own flesh and blood in your care?" She leaned in, walking two of her fingers up her exposed breast. "Wouldn't you just love to be my little fuck-pet?"

Yume sweat dropped. "If that's the case, shouldn't we come up with a safe word?"

"Very well, but I get to choose the words."

"And may I ask what they are, Miss Blood Countess?"

"'I submit.'"

"Beg your pardon?"

Karasuba ran a fingernail down the side of Yume's face, pressing only hard enough to leave a thin white line on her smooth skin. "You heard me. When you think things are going too far, all you have to do is say the words 'I submit' and I'll bring you out of the fantasy, safe and sound."

"If you say so…" Yume blinked. "But just what can I expect to be brought out of?"

"Shh," Karasuba hushed her. She crept even closer to Yume's pretty face. "Just close your eyes and try to relax."

With a submissive nod, Yume did as asked and let her eyes slowly shut…only for them to immediately flash open again when Karasuba slid her hand over her mouth and nose and started applying pressure.

Yume started shaking her head wildly and soon her entire body joined in the thrashing as she suffocated.

"Mph! What are yew jewing?! Shtop! Preez!"

Karasuba kept a firm grip. "Ah, ah, did you forget the safety word already, Yume? I'm going to make you trust me even if it takes all night. I'll bring you within the brink of death and pull you back just so I can feel the thrill of killing you over and over again! And you will like it!"

"I shubmit! I shubmit!" she shouted in the cup of Karasuba's palm.

And just like that, she let go and backed off just like she promised.

Yume hacked up some saliva as she gasped for air. "What the hell was that about?! Are you trying to kill me?!" she snarled.

"It's called breath play, Yume. Ever hear of auto-erotic asphyxiation?"

"I'm aware of what it is! I just didn't expect you to be this kinky!" she choked.

Yume's objection was cut off when Karasuba pounced on her face again, this time with her mouth. Her tongue was as aggressive as she was, forcing its way into Yume and taking her breath in a different way. Yume jolted and squirmed beneath her growling mistress... Wait, 'mistress'?! Yume's eyes widened. Something stopped her from even trying to pronounce the safe words. That scared her more than the thought of choking did. She felt Karasuba paw at her, her hands squeezing her breasts, then her shoulders. Then she pinned Yume with her elbows and, still keeping their lips locked, slid her hands up and around Yume's neck...

Just then the escapee siren went off, which made a tic of irritation pulsate on Karasuba's head. It wasn't often that she heard that siren, only during drills as that particular one indicated an organized escape attempt. As such, all Discipline Squad needed to be present to deal with the issue.

Karasuba sucked a little more out of Yume while she had her pinned, then reared up on her knees, her eyes like razors. Whoever was responsible for this, taking her away from Yume at such a crucial moment, they were going to pay. Oh, they would pay.

Without even bothering to free her slave, Karasuba turned away, put on her clothes, and went towards the door to leave.

Yume thrashed about, helplessly. "Hey, where are you going Karasuba? Untie me first!"

"Don't worry, I won't be long." She collected her nodachi. "I'll release you when I get back."

Yume blinked in horror, seeing the blade she used to slaughter so many once again in her possession. "Please, Karasuba, don't do anything reckless!"

"You should know me by now, Yume. Tragedy thrills me. Whatever flavor it happens to be like. 'Killed by the husband,' 'Drowned by the ocean,' 'Shot by his own son,' 'She used the poison in his tea and kissed him goodbye.' That's my kind of story. It's no fun till someone dies."

"Please, don't make me regret trusting you!"

Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Karasuba calmly exited the room and clicked the door shut, leaving the struggling Yume alone and yelling for help in the dark to anyone she hoped could hear her.

XXX Meanwhile, on the bridge XXX

Careful to maintain her footing on the uneven ground, Tsukiumi charged at Mutsu with a Water Blade swirling and spitting around her right hand. Mutsu drew steel and slashed at her, but Tsukiumi turned sideways and leaned, letting the strike pass harmlessly over her back. Mutsu was forced back when she attacked with Capoferro, lunging and thrusting and forcing Mutsu to step aside. He aimed a sideways chop at Tsukiumi's back, but Tsukiumi leaned again and pulled her blade up into a hanging guard.

"Thou should know, Five, that I expected Thibault."

Mutsu relaxed his blade and tried to slip a thrust past Tsukiumi's guard, but she batted it away and returned to her basic fencer's stance. "And so have studied my Agrippa."

Mutsu, unfazed, cocked his head. "What are you talking about, Nine?"

Tsukiumi seemed to deflate. "Matters I'd expect thee to know." She indicated his sword.

Said sword became a shimmering hornet's nest of slashes and chops as Mutsu attacked this time. Tsukiumi jumped back and dispersed her blade, the droplets hovering around her hand.

"Water Arrow!"

Mutsu fanned his sword as he shuffled sideways, his own terrain now a problem. Water arrows spattered against his blade and the ground, but one slipped by and tore a hole in his orange scarf. He pressed on, glancing at the ground beneath Tsukiumi's feet as he chased her around the bridge.

Tsukiumi squawked as she skipped back-first into Kazehana, the two spinning about and suddenly facing each other's opponents.

"Get thee hence!" Tsukiumi cried. "Water Celebration!"

"Flower Banquet!" Kazehana said, ignoring her.

Tsukiumi's blue orb smacked and dispersed against an outcropping of ice, while Mutsu simply crouched down and jammed his sword in the ground, weathering the sudden gale.

Kazehana glanced over her shoulder at Tsukiumi. "Wanna trade dance partners?"

"Nay," said Tsukiumi, glancing back. "Thou mayst-"

"Careful!" Kazehana pushed her out of the way as a boulder of ice rumbled through where they'd been standing. Mutsu was now in its path, but he simply sheathed his sword and touched the scabbard to the boulder, obliterating it into crushed ice.

Kazehana wagged her finger at Akitsu. "Sneaky sneaky," she tutted. "Now it's my turn."

As Tsukiumi surged forward, blade outstretched, Kazehana did the same with a ball of compressed air forming between her hands, stomach, and breasts. Akitsu silently conjured a series of floating shards that rocketed towards the Wind Sekirei, but Kazehana aileron-twirled aside and launched her attack. As expected, Akitsu blocked it with another outcropping... but not the jet stream that came at her from the side.

Akitsu was flung through the air, up towards the girders atop the support beams. She might've broken her back if she hadn't reached out with her powers and formed a chute made of ice, allowing her to slide up over the girder and avoid injury. However, that meant she was now high over the river. She had a long way to fall before she could use her powers to freeze herself a makeshift barge.

Minato, Shigi, and Yukari kept a low profile as their Sekirei defended themselves against the onslaught. Minato continuously spammed the call button on his phone to reach Matsu, but the other end was dead. Yukari and Shigi also tried frantically on her own phones but to no avail. Surprisingly, the opposition didn't turn their aggression on them while they did this, only focusing on the Sekirei. Even the enemy Ashikabi left them be. Perhaps Kakizaki had some sense of honor so as to not break the rules of the game, or maybe he simply ordered them to leave Minato alone so he could helplessly watch his harem fall one by one.

Whatever the case, Minato knew he couldn't just let fate take them from him. They had to do something, like activate their noritos, but that was out of the question at the moment because they were all in the heat of battle. All the trio could do was wait for an opening to rush in and work their magic.

Then Minato's phone rang. Finally! He looked at the name on the screen and saw it was Matsu. He immediately answered, putting the phone to one ear and a finger in the other so he could hear her clearly.

"Matsu! I've been trying to reach you! Are you alright?! We're in serious trouble here!"

"I know! I've been trying to reach you, too! Kochou must have interrupted my communications somehow. I wanted to warn you but couldn't until I got out of range of her influence."

"So that's why you weren't able to let me know we were walking right into an ambush!"

"Yeah, but don't worry. Help is on the way. Kuu and I are coming to help even the odds and I'm trying to get a hold of Seo and the twins but they aren't answering."

"Don't bother with them, Matsu. Seo stabbed us in the back."

"He did what?!"

"Seo tipped off Kakizaki about the escape plan in exchange for a bribe. I know this because Higa's pet slimeball called me to rub it in my face."

"That dirty… Ugh, nevermind! Just don't do anything heroic. If you die, we all do."

"I know that, but I can't just sit on my hands and do nothing while you all fight my battles for me. This is my fight too!"

"Well, you're going to have to for the time being, Minato. It's a Sekirei's sworn duty to protect their Ashikabi, so let them do it."

"But-!"

"But nothing! Look, I know it hurts but the fact is you don't have superpowers."

"I know that! I just don't want to see anyone get hurt."

"You're a good person, Minato, and a strong Ashikabi. I'm so happy I chose to wing myself on you and I know the others feel the same. That unbreakable bond we share with you is what makes us- HEY, SHARE THE ROAD, ASSHOLE! You're doing your part just by being alive. Let us do the rest of the work."

"If you say so."

"How's everyone holding up?"

Minato peeked out of cover to assess the situation. Kazehana and Akitsu stared each other down as they stood upon the columns of metal girders supporting the bridge. A bridge of ice floated below, leading back to the shore while it slowly broke apart. Minato wished Akitsu was on their side; she alone could've let them do this anywhere they wanted.

Below them, Musubi, Shiina, and Kuno did their best to fend off the other attackers. As luck would have it, more Sekirei and Ashikabi under Kakizaki's employ had come to make things harder for them, and more were likely coming. Tsukiumi and Mutsu seemed to be in the midst of a stalemate. Neither let their guard down and their blows were fierce.

"They're holding…for now."

"Have you tried contacting Uzume?"

"I haven't, no. Wouldn't involving the Discipline Squad in this make matters worse for all of us?"

"Call her! You're up against an army and we need all the help we can get! She'll be upset, sure, but she loves you just as much as all of us! Trust that she won't hold this against you forever!"

"I guess you're right. Okay, I'll do it. How long do you think it'll take for you to reach us?"

"I'm on my bike and there's no more traffic, so I'd say ten minutes at most."

Minato sighed in relief. "That's good. Wait, you have a bike?"

"Save the questions for later and call Uzume!"

"R-right! I'll see you soon, Matsu. Love you."

"See you. Love you, too, Minato."

XXXXXX

Sanada glanced over at Mikogami. "You think we should have let him keep his phone?"

The twerp shrugged. "Let them come. It's not like calling for backup will help him much. Most of his allies are against him now. We have dozens on our side."

"What if he calls the Discipline Squad?"

"What of it? He's just as guilty as all of us here. He was trying to escape the city, after all. He'll be put at an even bigger disadvantage once they get here and they likely won't choose a side even if some of our allies are weak. Besides, Teito Tower is what, like, twenty minutes from us as the crow flies? Our job will be done and we'll be gone by the time anyone gets here."

"Yeah, here's hoping." Sanada went back to watching. When this alliance inevitably fell apart, he told himself not to sell Mikogami short. The kid was a spoiled brat but he had a foresight for details.

XXXXXX

Minato tapped his foot as he waited for Uzume to pick up on the other end. "Come on, come one, come on, answer…"

"Hello, Minato?" came the answer. But it wasn't Uzume who picked up.

"Chiho? What are you doing with Uzume's phone?"

"She left it behind because she's in a hurry to handle some Discipline Squad business. There's been a mass escape attempt over on the other end of the city on a bridge. She and the others are on their way to deal with it."

"I see word travels fast. I'm on the bridge."

"What?! Why?!"

"I decided to help a friend and his Sekirei try to escape the city and Kakizaki ambushed us. We're surrounded on all sides and fighting for our lives at the moment."

"Minato, why would you do something like that?!"

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to help him out because I thought it would be the right thing to do. His Sekirei isn't a fighter and he doesn't want to participate anymore so I figured why should he have to."

"That's no excuse! Minato, you're going to be in deep with Minaka once he finds out! Is this why you called me with that challenge earlier? To distract us while you knowingly broke the rules of the game?!"

Minato sighed. "I'm sorry."

"You dummyhead! I am, like, beyond furious with you at the moment!"

"You have every right to be. But right now our lives are in danger and we can use all the help we can get. My Sekirei are putting up a fight but I don't know how long that will stay the case."

"How many are there?"

"More than twenty."

"That's crazy! He has that many working for him just to take you down?! How did Kakizaki catch wind of it?"

"Seo told him everything. He was the one who orchestrated the escape plan and he was paid by Kakizaki to tip him off to it."

"Minato, you should have told us. Uzume and I would have found some way to help you. We're friends, no, scratch that, we're way more than that. We would have done what we could no matter how difficult things got for us."

"That's the problem. If we told you, and Minaka somehow caught wind of you helping us, who knows what he may have done to you? He cured your illness and gave you powers, so who's to say he couldn't have taken it all away? I couldn't live with myself if that happened."

"Minaka is insane but I don't think he would be that evil and stupid. I'm too valuable an asset for him to ever want to just dispose of. Think about it, would he really want to get rid of the cursebreaker?"

"I wish I would have thought of that before. Again, I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter. What's done is done."

"How long ago did Uzume and the rest of the squad leave?"

"About ten minutes ago, so they should be halfway there."

"Okay, good."

"Uzume is going to be beyond pissed once she sees you, so 'good' isn't exactly how I would describe it."

"I'll take my verbal beating when the time comes. I won't hide from it."

"Alright. Just don't involve yourself in the fighting. I don't want to lose you."

"So far I've been left alone. It's my Sekirei they're after, not me."

"All the more reason you should stay out of it. You deserve to be a living legend, Minato, not a dead hero."

"Noted."

"Okay. Please stay safe. I have to go now. Minaka wants me in his office."

"I will. Thank you. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

The moment the call ended he went to dial Matsu again, but the sound of a revving engine coming from his six caught him off guard, as well as everyone else. In moments an airborne motorcycle was above them all rocketing through the air like a fighter jet in the glow of the full moon.

"We're here, big brother!" Kusano cheered, waving as she looked down at him from the back seat.

Minato and Yukari's expressions immediately cheered up with their arrival, and their Sekirei were more than pleased to see them as well.

Upon landing, Matsu took a hard left and skidded her bike to a stop. She pulled a bazooka off her back and took a glance back at Kuu.

"Are they ready, Kuu?"

Kusano pulled out a clear orb the size of a duckpin bowling ball with a small plant growing inside and loaded up the launcher with it. "All set!" she squeaked, ready to wreak some havoc.

"Excellent…" Matsu took aim at a group of Ashikabi. "Fire in the hole!"

The bazooka plunked out the ball of vegetation. Musubi and her team leaped out of the way of the blast radius. The ball landed in the middle of the group of offense, but remained inactive for several moments. They shared puzzled looks at each other one moment, then found themselves screaming as the ball detonated. The plants inside came to life and grew orders of magnitude larger in an instant, grabbing them all and leaving them flailing about in thick vines.

Matsu clenched her fist and pulled it down triumphantly. "Yes! Took out six of 'em at once!"

Minato and the two other Ashikabi ran up to the two as they hopped off the motorcycle.

"Hey! You're here earlier than you said you'd be!" Minato called out, pleasantly surprised to see them.

"Remembered a shortcut," Matsu explained, removing her helmet and flinging her hair back. "Is Uzume on her way?"

"I wasn't able to reach her, but I got a hold of Chiho and she says she's coming."

"Good. How long?"

"They should be here very soon, within ten minutes."

"We should be able to hold out till then just fine." She looked down at Kuu. "Time to load up another, Kuu!"

"Aye-aye, captain!" she chirped, saluting and reloading.

Matsu lowered to one knee, took aim, and fired again. The orb popped open and the contents went about their hunt.

"Got three that time."

XXXXXX

"Hey, she can't do that! That's not fair!" Mikogami shouted, throwing a hissy fit.

Sanada raised a brow, eyeing Matsu's bike like a centerfold model. "That's one sexy ride she cruised in on. I wonder if she'd tell me what manufacturer it's from after this is all over?"

"Our Sekirei are being tied up like pinatas, and that's what you're focusing on?!"

XXXXXX

Blizzarding passed another flower banquet, Akitsu unleashed a flurry of icicles in Matsu's direction.

"Look out!"

Minato leaped into action, tackling her and Kuu out of the way of the oncoming barrage.

"Dammit, Minato, you shouldn't have done that!"

"I know, but you're safe, right?"

In the confusion, Matsu dropped the ammo pouch and it was subsequently shredded to pieces by the incoming shards.

"Well crap, there goes our advantage." Yukari snorted.

XXXXXX

Musubi bobbed and weaved herself through punch after kick as Sanada's group put on the pressure. Matsu may have lost her weapon, to say it helped would be an understatement. She was beaten up and her clothes were in tatters, but she could still put up a fight. For now.

Kuno and Shiina were also surprisingly holding their own. The song Sekirei didn't have time to learn much from the landlady in terms of fighting, but she put it to good use and was now able to at least keep up with her opponents, and Shiina was there to watch her back as she maintained focus. She would show Shigi that she wasn't useless after all. Whatever it took.

Shiina's necrosis crawled over the earth-shattered bridge like a demon's tentacles, seeking out the Sekirei bound by the wild overgrowth. The Sekirei squirmed and pleaded for mercy as they traversed the vines and squeezed the life out of each one of them. He didn't like using this power, but what choice did he have?

XXXXXX

As the Discipline Squad neared the bridge, Karasuba called out to her subordinates.

"Red, Blue, lead the charge. I wish to discuss something privately with White."

The two nodded, accepting their orders as they led the charge.

Uzume and Karasuba halted at the edge of a building overlooking the now dilapidated bridge.

"What is it, Black?"

Karasuba glared at the cloth wielder, "No matter what happens on that bridge, I want to make it clear: you touch me, try to stop me in any way, I reveal your little secret to Minaka."

Uzume's heart sank. "You mean…"

"Everyone will know that you murdered Higa. I'm sure the game master wouldn't take too kindly to you breaking one of his most important rules. He might even perform more experiments on your Ashikabi."

"So you're blackmailing me? Why now?"

"Oh, I wouldn't call it blackmail. I just want you to fall in line with your superior and know your place. Do not interfere with my business, are we clear?"

Uzume snarled. "...Crystal."

Karasuba grinned. "Good. Now, the hunt begins."

XXXXXX

The Red and Blue Sekirei leaped down to a lower building to get a better view and access the situation more thoroughly.

"Damn," Benitsubasa spoke, unsure of what the hell was going on. "Looks like all the major players are here, including that guy from the North Chiho likes to hang out with."

"Good thing Black and White are with us. This would prove difficult without them."

"Well, let's go kick some ass."

"Let's." Haihane nodded.

In unison, the two enforcers sprung into action, their clothes and hair fluttering in the cool night air as they barreled through the night and landed on the bridge.

The fighting immediately paused. Everyone stared at them, fearing what was to come next.

"Shit, it's the Discipline Squad…" Mikogami shuddered in fear.

"Things just got a whole lot more complicated now. I think we should retreat while we can." Sanada suggested.

"No! Not until at least one of the North's Sekirei is terminated. We've come this far, we have to keep fighting!"

"You can continue fighting if you want, but I'm making like a playboy and pulling out before Black comes. Kakizaki can bite it if he doesn't agree." Fastening a helmet to his head and getting on his bike, he called out to his six Sekirei before revving up the engine. "Girls, we're leaving." He said, waving them over.

"Yes, master!" the younger ones said in unison, abandoning the battle. The other three, the ones who looked like Karasuba's extended BDSM family, took a moment of weighing their options before obeying.

Mikogami hissed as they all drove away. "You gutless cowards!"

"Smart man." Beni muttered, cracking her neck like Vegeta. She then raised her voice so everyone could hear her. "Alright. If any of you losers want to leave with your lives, this is your only chance! Turn back now, or kiss your crests goodbye! We will not show mercy!"

"We'll go back!" Minato yelled out. "Just please, don't harm my Sekirei! I know we broke the rules, but I don't want to see anyone get hurt anymore!"

"You're lucky Chiho likes you as much as she does, twerp. If she didn't, your girls would be our first target!"

"Don't insult Minato like that!" Musubi roared.

"Oh can it, boobsy! You're in no position to be making demands!"

"Minato? What the hell are you doing here?!" Uzume called out as she approached them, shrouded in her veil.

"Uzume, man am I happy to see you!"

"What's going on? Why are you here?"

"It's a long story. I wanted to help someone escape the Sekirei Plan and Kakizaki ambushed us. If you guys didn't get here I doubt things would have ended well."

"They're still not going to. You promised me you wouldn't try to escape! You assured me I wouldn't need to come after you for breaking the rules!"

"I didn't try to escape with them, I was only assisting them in their escape! But you're right, my conscience got the better of me. I didn't think-"

"That's right, you didn't! After this, I may need to bring you to Minaka, if for no other reason than to ensure Chiho's safety!"

"That's fine," Minato said, "as long as everyone else is safe, too."

Suddenly, Mutsu ran to his Ashikabi's side like a ninja and lifted him by the waist. Akitsu quickly joined them, leaving Kazehana and Tsukiumi perplexed.

"What are you doing, Mutsu?! Put me down and keep fighting!" Mikogami squawked.

"No. She's almost here. We have to leave, now."

"Who is 'she'? Don't be a coward!"

"You don't want to know." Akitsu and Mutsu sped off with their Ashikabi in tow. "You'll thank us later. This is for your own good."

Benitsubasa smirked as Mikogami's group high-tailed it. "Good move, #5. Anyone else?"

Kakizaki's underlings were about to make good on the opportunity to escape their deaths. But no one could have expected what would happen next.

One moment there was a calm, then a black feather landed on the ground before them. They knew now they were fucked. Karasuba dropped down behind them and drew steel. She showed no mercy. Her attacks were swift and her accuracy was precise. The expression on her face as she cut each of them down was that of both ecstasy and madness. One by one the Sekirei fell before her until everything was bathed in blood, including herself.

Minato and the others felt queasy at the gruesome display. They had to get out of there now. "Guys, we have to get moving!" He screamed.

The Black Sekirei aimed the point of her blade at Musubi, who was struggling to keep her stance firm, even after the breather caused by the Squad's arrival. "My, how convenient running into you here, Mu-chan."

Musubi looked up at her, a fire still in her eyes. "What do you want from me, Karasuba?"

"Just to do my job. I'm obligated to slaughter all of you, but since we're friends, I'm willing to make a compromise just for you."

"What's that?"

"We can have our battle right here, right now. If you agree, whether you win or lose, I'll spare your friends. If you don't agree, well, you know what happens then."

"What about our promise to be the last two remaining?" Musubi asked, cowlick forming a dopey question mark above her noggin. "Did you forget?"

"Yume is no longer a part of you, and she's stronger than you, so win or lose, I can still get my answer." Karasuba smirked. "Now, make your decision. Quickly."

Minato's girls grouped together and Tsukiumi chimed in.

"If battle is joined with all of us together, we may yet prevail," she surmised.

"No, Karasuba and I made a promise to each other. I need to do this alone." Courageously, Musubi stepped forward. "I, #88 Musubi, accept your challenge."

"Very well." Karasuba said, then looked at everyone else. "Leave the bridge. We need space."

"Musubi, we're all here for you," Kazehana said.

"Do as she says, Kazehana. Let me handle this. Have faith in me."

"But you're hurt!" Minato protested.

"I've been through worse. Just go, before Karasuba changes her mind."

"No." Minato ran forward, took her face in his hands, and kissed her. Karasuba rolled her eyes as Musubi's pink wings emerged from her back. When the two parted, Minato clasped Musubi's hands. "We'll all leave together, Musubi. Now go win."

His eyes grew wide and he spun her around. Musubi soon saw why and darted aside as Karasuba's sword slammed down into the concrete. Musubi rushed her for a body shot but a sideways slash forced her to block Karasuba at the arms. Before she could grab her, Karasuba stepped back and slashed again, cutting Musubi's right shoulder.

"Musubi! Norito!" Kazehana shouted.

"Not yet!" Musubi shouted back, skipping back to gain some distance. Karasuba didn't let her breathe, a wicked grin on her face as she charged, slashing wildly with every step. Musubi channeled the spirit of Apollo Creed and circled around, relying on her footwork to avoid tripping over the debris or leftover icicles, no matter how much her leg muscles burned. Knowing Karasuba had the reach advantage, she dipped down and snatched up a chunk of concrete. Karasuba didn't stop, even as Musubi jumped high in the air above the bridge. Karasuba followed, her gaze fixed squarely on Musubi, rather than where she expected her foe to land.

Musubi had hoped for this. Karasuba was obsessed, oblivious to anything except herself and her prey. Musubi, meanwhile, had spent many hours training in her landlady's garden, so had learned (the hard way) to be mindful of her surroundings.

So, when Musubi touched back down, she wound up and hucked the concrete as hard as she could at Karasuba. The Black Sekirei sliced it in half, which meant Musubi could power her legs and collide with her in midair. Here, Musubi pressed her edge, holding Karasuba's sword with one hand while dealing body shot after body shot to Karasuba's ribs. The Black Sekirei coughed but her hunger never let up, letting go of her sword and clawing at Musubi's face. With no footing, Musubi couldn't punch at full strength.

The two crashed to the ground, rolling away from where Karasuba dropped her sword. Now it was Musubi's turn for aggression, as her jump had carried them back towards Minato. She stung Karasuba with jabs and slugs while circling around to stay between her and her sword. Karasuba rolled with a cross at her face and pushed Musubi away, sprinting at her weapons. Musubi caught her cloak in both hands and swung her away, running in with her fist raised and glowing.

"BEAR…"

Karasuba stumbled and shucked her cloak, whipping it at Musubi's eyes. Musubi blocked it with her off-hand, but now Karasuba could swing her around and toss her away. She reached her weapon this time, though stumbled with Musubi winged another concrete rock that clipped the side of her head as she turned. Blood flowed down Karasuba's face, which she caught with her tongue.

"Delicious, Musubi." The Black Sekirei leveled her sword at her foe. "I'm satisfied now. Time to die."

Musubi, still bleeding from her shoulder, didn't run when Karasuba charged again. She met her head-on, punching directly into Karasuba's slash with her glowing hand.

"-FIST!"

The collision of power sent a shockwave through the air and the two combatants reeling. However, only one had used her strongest attack, so only one was reeling from that, too.

Karasuba didn't go for the killing blow. Instead, she swiped low, catching Musubi's thigh and biting deep. Musubi cried out as she toppled over, unable to stand with her exhaustion and cut muscle. Licking the blood from her sword, Karasuba beckoned.

"Come on, Mu-chan, stand up," she cajoled. "You can't prove love is stronger from down on your knees." She chuckled. "Or, maybe you can."

She grabbed Musubi's hair and tossed her aside, about ten feet from where Minato and the rest of his Sekirei stood. Uzume stood near them, too, though a gap between her and the rest of the women he loved was noticeable.

Musubi at last stood up, bracing herself on her good leg and leaving the other to drag on the ground. Her face was contorted in pain; it was the kind of look to make a woman like Karasuba moist.

Karasuba charged forward, point of her nodachi readied to be forced through whatever dared to be in its path.

Musubi could hardly move. She knew this was it for her. She closed her eyes and put up her fists, awaiting the end, quietly apologizing to Minato.

Wait…

She shouted, almost on instinct, "Minato!"

She heard steel meet flesh, then a sharp pain exploded in her chest. Upon opening her eyes again, she saw Minato in front of her, having taken the brunt of the blow himself. Karasuba's blade sank straight through him like butter but that didn't keep it from skewering Musubi, as well.

Minato froze from the immense pain, mid-spin as he'd tried to pull Musubi out of the way, breath hitching as blood flowed from his mouth.

"Minato! No!" Everyone cried.

"Musubi," he whispered, barely able to speak. "I'm… so sorry."

Karasuba withdrew her blade from the pair and Minato slumped over on top of the mortally wounded Musubi, lifeless. Coldly, she began to strut away, whisking the blood from her blade with a callous swipe through the air without a care in the world. Musubi's crest faded not long after. Karasuba's job was done.

The others raced onto the bridge with Uzume leading the charge. They dropped to their knees, crying over the young man as he lay dying. MBI choppers soon arrived on the scene to collect the bodies left in the wake of Karasuba's massacre.

Uzume glanced back at Karasuba with fury burning in her bawling eyes. "You'll pay for this, Black. You will fucking pay!"

A/N: Told you guys to expect the bridge escape to play out much differently than it did in canon. I wanted to put in more dialogue and character moments for Yukari and Shigi since they were there as well, but I couldn't really come up with all that much. That, coupled with me not wanting to wait much longer to release this chapter in a timely manner meant some sacrifices needed to be made. I'll go back and touch this and the other chapters up once the fic is complete, which shouldn't take all that much longer since it is entering the final stretch. I imagine by the time it's over it'll have more than 50 chapters, but less than 60.

I've taken the liberty of writing a brand new Sekirei fic as well called "Circumventing the Rules". It should be a fun little project as it deals with Matsu trying to get around Miya's rules by trying to rope Minato into having cybersex with her. Give it a look if you haven't.

I'm also updating my Saw/Sekirei crossover now with an entirely new direction for it in mind, one I think will appeal to everyone, not just fans of horror. Check that out as well if you haven't.

Finally gotta plug the Sekirei Discord I'm part of again. Ya'll know the drill by now: if you want to join, hit me up with a DM and I'll invite you personally.