The Reckoning

When the chopper arrived, Takami was the first on the scene. To say she was heartbroken and devastated would be an understatement. Musubi was pronounced terminated at the scene and Minato, well, he wasn't dead but he was close. If the ambulance had arrived five minutes later, he likely would have reached the hospital dead on arrival.

The next few days after the incident were rough on everybody. In spite of that, the sun shone brightly over the city as it did all days, and life went on in spite of the great hardship. It wasn't fair. They had been at his bedside constantly, only getting up to attend to their survival needs.

Kazehana picked up drinking again in spite of her previous attempts to limit her usage of the substance. She needed to cope somehow, and the bottle did nothing to numb the pain. It was cruel irony: now more than ever before, she needed her hubby, his warmth, but all she had was the shallow warmth of a buzz.

The rage Tsukiumi felt was overwhelming. Not just toward the Black Sekirei, but Seo Kaoru as well for selling them out. She never liked the pig to begin with, but if it weren't for him she may never have accepted Minato as her Ashikabi. So she swallowed her pride in spite of her feelings and simply accepted him as Minato's friend. She never had another encounter with him or imagined the bastard would go this far just for money, but if she did… No, when she did, there would be, by all things that were sacred, a fucking reckoning.

Matsu kept her laptop handy, using it to scour databases and hack into security cameras all throughout the city to try and track down those responsible for the nightmare they went through. Kochou may not have been on Matsu's level, but she was still good enough at her job to give the redhead a hard time. When she found her, she would make her pay. She may not have been a fighter, but she was more than willing to throw down with her for assisting her creep Ashikabi.

Kusano, on the other hand, was taking it harder than anyone else. She couldn't stop crying. It all just hurt too much.

Miya was absolutely livid once she found out. Devastated beyond reason. In her heart, she had felt that she could possibly move on from Takehito. Minato had done so much for everyone at the inn and grown so much as a person since she initially met him. She was hesitant about making Minato her Ashikabi because she didn't want to betray her deceased husband. She came to realize that it wouldn't have been a betrayal at all. Takehito would have wanted her to be happy, to not have her mourn him the rest of her life. If only she hadn't been so stubborn.

Uzume and Chiho visited Minato's bedside as much as they could when they didn't need to fulfill their Discipline Squad responsibilities. They had grown so close to the man. He was more than just a friend to them. If he died, the world would be forever darker. Chiho wasn't certain what her wish would be if she won the Sekirei Plan, but now she knew. If Minato were to die, she would use her wish to bring him back without hesitation. She didn't know if it could be done, but if the Sekirei Plan taught her anything, it was that love and a never-quit attitude could make anything possible.

Karasuba was nowhere to be found after the incident, and that was a good thing. In all likelihood, the Game Master kept her on a tight leash to avoid more drama. He needed her at his call, and if she were to taunt them and instigate another battle, the Sekirei Plan might end sooner than he wanted.

Matsu then remembered something. She had been so torn up over the events on the bridge that a tiny detail had slipped her mind. Now, with everyone moping around the dining table, proving that misery did indeed love company, Matsu had the first marginally good feeling since the bridge disaster.

"Guys?" she said.

"Yes, Matsu?" Uzume replied. "What is it?"

"I figured out where we can find Seo."

"Thou art certain?" Tsukiumi turned her head to her, and everyone else followed. "Where?!"

"When Kakizaki called Minato to taunt him, he mentioned Seo was given Higa's penthouse as a reward in addition to a lump sum of money. I don't know where the penthouse is, but it's a lead."

"I know exactly where it is," Uzume answered. "It's not all that far from the hospital he owned."

"Leadest the way." Tsukiumi nodded as her eyes flared.

"No, you stay here with Minato and everyone else," Uzume responded. "This is official Discipline Squad business. I'd rather you all not get involved. You're already in deep with Minaka. I'll handle it alongside Red and Blue."

"Uzume, heed my words. This is more than Discipline Squad business. This is personal." Tsukiumi explained. "Not only did that rat scoundrel betray my husband and nearly cost him his life, but he also molested me when I first met him." She clenched her fist, her blue eyes burning with cold, steely wrath. "I may have deferred my vengeance then, but no longer. Bringest me with you."

"Tsukiumi, I don't blame you or anyone for being as upset as you are, but I can't risk you potentially killing the guy," Uzume said. "Let the Squad handle this mess."

"I give my word not to kill him," she responded. "I only wish to strike fear in his heart, the same way he had done to me. It hath been a long time coming, and he deserveth nothing less."

Uzume sighed and shook her head. "I don't know..."

"Trust me, Uzume," Tsukiumi reassured her. "I am, and always shall be, thy friend. I givest my word his life will be spared."

"I'm still concerned."

Chiho then spoke up. "Actually, I think bringing her may be the best course of action."

"Why do you say that?" Uzume asked, glancing over at her.

"Seo's twins are strong." she began to elaborate. "Red and Blue will have their hands full dealing with them. That would leave only you to confront him, and considering his ability to nullify Sekirei powers simply by touching them, you'll need backup."

"Couldn't we just deal with the Twins first?" she inquired.

"He might escape."

"Good point… Hmm..." Uzume's eyes wandered the tiled floor in contemplation.

Kazehana's head lifted off the table for a moment, her fingers loosely clasped around the neck of her bottle as she groggily stared at the two. "Either take no chances or… Hurp… Take no prisoners… Can't afford to be stupid…"

"...Fine," Uzume said in reluctant agreement. "But only if Kazehana agrees to accompany us. If Tsukiumi gets out of line, I'll likely need more than just Red and Blue to hold her back considering her temper." she blinked and glanced at Tsukiumi again. "Just don't go and get your wings in too much of a twist."

"Twisted wings?" Chiho gulped. "Yeesh, I don't like the sound of that…"

"I'll go, no problem." Kazehana answered, the drunken flush draining from her cheeks. She stood up, her eyes free of fog and gleaming like daggers.

Tsukiumi nodded her head sternly. "Consider thy condition met."

Tsukiumi and the others leaped from rooftop to rooftop as they made their way to the penthouse.

"Okay, we're here." Uzume said, landing on her feet. The group began to scope out the area. Lucky for them, it seemed that no guards were present. "I guess they weren't expecting us."

"Seo probably doesn't know Kakizaki sold him out," Kazehana pondered.

"How ironic." Tsukiumi sniffed. "The thieves turn even on one another."

"So," Haihane spoke, leaning over the edge of the building. "How should we go about doing this?"

"Well, we have two options," Kazehana said, crossing her arms. "We can either play things smart and sneak inside, or take the loud approach."

"I can do loud," Benitsubasa snarled, cracking her knuckles. "Up to you, White."

Less than a minute later…

Seo lazed about on his sofa with his twin lovelies as he flipped through the channels on the wall-mounted television. "Shit, nothing good is ever on. Thousands of channels and no one knows what people want to see."

"I'm still shocked you were able to bag us this place, Seo." Hikari commented.

"Yeah," her sister added. "I can't believe your gambling finally paid off for once."

Seo chuckled. "Me, neither."

The door leading to the balcony was then unceremoniously kicked open and sent flying off its hinges to the opposite wall, courtesy of Benitsubasa's big pink boot. Seo and the twins both gasped and their heads spun toward the noise.

"What the fuck?!" Seo shouted, then fell silent in wide-eyed horror when he recognized the group of Sekirei that just barged into his apartment uninvited. "Oh…shit." the jig was up.

The twins immediately sprang from their seats, electricity swirling around their palms.

"What's the big idea storming into our home like this?!" Hibiki demanded.

"Yeah!" her sister backed her.

"Your sellout Ashikabi nearly cost Minato his life, and we're here on karma's behalf to collect on that decision!" Uzume roared, aiming her finger at the accused.

"Seo, what the fuck does she mean by that?!" Hikari asked him, horrified.

"Yeah, what do we mean by that, hmm?" Kazehana snorted.

"Seo, you told us you got this place from gambling… What did you do?" Hibiki demanded.

Seo shrunk before the towering glowering of his twin Sekirei. "Well, that wasn't a… total lie. I did make a gamble." He whimpered like a kicked puppy. Little did he know the Discipline Squad would be the least of his worries.

"TALK!" The twins both shouted. "NOW! OUR WITH IT!"

Seo swallowed nervously. "Well, I… kinda sorta filled Kakizaki in on the bridge escape plan and–"

"YOU DID WHAT?!" the twins hollered as he tried to sneak toward the exit, stopping him in his tracks.

"SEO KAORU!" the blonde yelled as she charged at him from outside. The twins backed off as she ran past and landed a powerful uppercut into his jaw sending him flying across the room and crashing back into his couch. Physicality wasn't her strong suit but she was more than willing to make the exception for this good-for-nothing monkey. Tainting her waters with his filth was too abhorrent for her to even consider. Not after what he did.

"Augh!" he wailed, stroking his jaw and collapsing in a heap on the floor. "Fucking bitch!" he looks up at his twin Sekirei, who hadn't moved at all. "What the hell are you two doing?! Don't just stand there! Help me!"

"I don't think so, Seo," Hikari growled as her eyes pierced him like daggers.

"Yeah," Hibiki said despondently. "Not this time. I was wondering why the service of my cell phone stopped working that night. Now it all makes sense."

"What? You can't be ser-"

"We are!" they both said in unison. "This time you've gone too far. We're done."

"But I need help!" Seo wailed as Tsukiumi stomped over one brown heel after the other. She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to her face. He wet himself as he looked into her eyes which burned furiously with murderous intent. "She's going to kill me!"

"At this point, I don't care," Hikari scoffed.

"And neither do I," she swung her chin to the discipline squad and company. "We will offer no resistance. Do as you please."

"Wait! Where are you going?!" Seo whined. "Hikari! Hibiki! Talk to me!"

They glanced back at him one more time. "Consider this our breakup." they said in unison.

Hikari added further to the statement, "Tell Chiho to keep the cursebreaker warm for us. We're heading to the tower now." she turned to her sister. "Let's get going."

Hibiki nodded and followed.

The Squad blinked as the twins walked past them and out onto the balcony where they eventually shared a mutual nod and leaped off into the sunset city.

"Did that..." Kazehana paused. "Just happen?"

"Please! I'm sorry! I needed the money!" he shrieked like a little girl as Tsukiumi tightened her grip on his shirt.

"And thou thinkest that justifies a shred of what thou hast done?!" she screamed, headbutting him in his big fat shnoz. Blood burst from his flattened nose as the cartilage caved in. "My husband is in the hospital and Musubi is dead because of thy greed! I will havest my retribution!"

"Let me explain!" he cried. He smirked devilishly as he grabbed her by the arm hoisting him off the ground. "Tell me, does this feel familiar?"

Tsukiumi felt her heart stop, suddenly overwhelmed by the trauma she sustained all that time ago from his initial violation of her. She remembered how vulnerable she was back then, and how Minato saved her from this filthy man…

...and that's all she needed to snap out of her trance. For that, she wanted him to feel what she was going to do next.

She released his shirt, only to grasp his arm and twist it like a pretzel. The humerus snapped and he howled in agony as she sent him flying across the room like a ragdoll into the couch with a judo toss, knocking it over as he tumbled to the floor behind it with a heavy thud and now dislocated shoulder.

"Augh!" he cried, clutching his now useless limb. Tsukiumi swung her arm to the side and her waterblade spiraled out from her elbow. She marched over one brown heel after the other, leaped on him, and mercilessly shoved its point through his clenched, scummy teeth and bending it down his throat, pinning the monkey to the floor as her dominant figure loomed over him. Levi Ackerman would be proud.

"How did my ability not work!" he choked, eyes flared in horror. "You should have been helpless like last time!"

"Fortune hath abandoned thee as well, monkey." Tsukiumi huffed, trapping his neck to the floor between the sole of her heeled boot and jamming the tip in even deeper through his shattered incisors. She began to press down, causing him to gag and flail. She had no regard for this human's life over the blood he helped spill. "It appears that ability only works on the unwinged or those who lack a strong connection to their Ashikabi. Thou art outmatched. Face thy punishment like a man."

"Please don't kill me!" he begged. "I know I did you wrong, but I can help you! I know where Kakizaki is, just let me up and I'll explain everything to you!"

"Thou shalt die here and now, worm," she declared as she crammed her blade down further. "I've tolerated thy filth for my husband's sake, but his trust in thee cost both he and Musubi dearly. Time to receive thy just desserts." Now she was on the verge of crushing his windpipe under her heel. His eyeballs bulge like grapes. She could literally feel him struggling to breathe as he squirmed, but it became increasingly impossible for him to do so. The pressure became unbearable. His face turned purple.

"Tsukiumi!" Uzume hollared. "Don't go too far! You'll kill him at this rate! We need to know where Kakizaki is! Let him speak!" She would have jumped in to stop her, but couldn't bring herself to do it yet. Tsukiumi needed this. Hell, they all needed this. Minato deserved better friends than this two-faced piece of shit.

"Shut up! I need not thine advice right now! This bastard is why Minato is comatose! My destined one dangles between life and death and he is responsible for it all!"

"That isn't the only thing I'm responsible for, Tsukiumi." He choked, trying desperately to reason with the unhinged Sekirei. "You would still be unwinged if not for me."

Bad call. Really bad call.

Tsukiumi's face looked ready to blow a blood vessel. "The nerve of thee…" She sucked in a breath through her grimacing teeth. "...to bring that up!"

Her foot pressed harder, nearly crushing his spine under her heel. She felt him tense up as his body went rigid beneath her boot like a piece of glass.

"BEG, mongrel," she demanded. "BEG for thy life, that which thou hast but Musubi doth not!"

"No, no, no!" he wailed. "Please! I'm begging! Look, Minato wasn't supposed to get hurt! He has one of the largest flocks in the capital! Hell, most of you are single numbers! I thought you could handle it!"

Tsukiumi raised her boot off of Seo's chicken neck and mercifully retracted her waterblade, only to grab him by the throat with the curl of her fingers and drag him across the floor and up against a wall. She hoists his limp body into the air as high as her arm would allow. She began to choke. An orb of water then formed over his head like a space helmet. His eyes rolled back as he gasped for breath, bubbles rising from his flailing tongue.

"It matters not what he could handle," Tsukiumi spat, the venom in her words practically dripping from her mouth. "If thou hadst truly cared, 'twould have mattered more to aid us!"

"Tsukiumi!" Uzume shouted, stomping her boot. "This has gone too far! Let him go!"

"I knowest what I am doing, Uzume! He will break, but will draw breath after I finish tanning his hide!"

"Listen to him!" Kazehana backed her. "You know how Minaka looks down on Sekirei harming Ashikabi! The Black Sekirei would enforce that!"

Tsukiumi glanced back at her. "Then she will fall as he has." A cornucopia of water blasted up from her upraised hand. "I WELCOME THE CHALLENGE!"

Seo gasped again, more bubbles rising from his bruised throat and frothing in the water orb around his head. She could feel him grow weaker. Before he lost consciousness, the orb of water dissipated and fell to the floor with a loud splat. He snorted in deeply, vomiting the bits of water he had swallowed.

"Now, talk. Where is Kakizaki? OUT WITH IT! Or I swear next time thy FUCKING arm comes off!"

If he doubted the sincerity of her threats before, now there was no question about it. To her, this disgusting ape wasn't worthy of her usual proper dialect. In a rare moment of weakness, her emotions took over and she swore. It took her by surprise initially, but she didn't give a shit. He was beneath proper language. This was personal.

Uzume and Kazehana's jaws dropped at Tsukiumi's utterance of the F-bomb. A lack of verbal elegance was not something from her they had been expecting. A savage beating? Sure. But for her to say that word… For her to break character like that and use such an unbecoming expletive really drove home how far gone the whole situation made her. How much it broke her inside. Now they knew Tsukiumi was beyond reason.

"Holy shit…" Uzume shivered.

"That solidifies it," Kazehana swallowed. "She's gone absolutely insane!"

"He's in an old abandoned rail yard office not far from the arboretum," he explained, coughing beneath her grip. "I followed him not long after our deal went down out of curiosity. Kakizaki has criminal connections and he's been pulling strings there ever since Higa went missing. They left behind a lot of equipment for him to use as payment for his shady dealings."

"DON'T LIE!" Tsukiumi barked.

"I'm not lying, I swear!" He groaned as Tsukiumi squeezed harder on his brittle trachea, her grimace upturned into a rictus grin. She was enjoying this. With his useful arm, he weakly aimed a finger at a desk over by the television. "In there. Top drawer. All the proof you need is in there..." Seo weakly wheezed. "I took pictures of him walking into it. He also hired a lot of security. You won't just be able to barge in."

Benitsubasa approached the desk and retrieved the files. She sifted through them. "Looks legit."

"See," Seo said. "Told you."

Tsukiumi sighed, her features relaxing. "A most wise decision, Seo..." She lowered the petrified man back to his feet with the lowering of her arm. She intended to release him and leave it at that, but the shitheel kept speaking.

"So, you mind letting me go? I gave you everything you wanted." He really should have just shut up there, but for some reason, the idiot kept flapping his gums. "After all, if it wasn't for me, you very well could have killed your Ashikabi. You love him, don't you? You have me to thank for that…"

"Balderdash!" Tsukiumi's expression grew colder. Once again his feet hovered off the ground. "As if saving me from being violated by you were the only way to accomplish that?!"

"I swear it was nothing personal!" he cringed. "I was never going to wing you forcibly! I just wanted to scare you!"

"If thou wished simply to scare me…" Tsukiumi began to tremble with rage as she hyperventilated. She hung her head, snarling as she tried to fight the urge to snap his fucking twig neck. When her chin rose to meet his eyes once more, her expression warped into something even yanderes would quake in terror at.

She hissed like a viper and screamed, "THOU SUCCEEDED!"

"Tsukiumi!" Uzume shouted in terror. "DON'T!"

Too little too late. With the strong swipe of her arm, she effortlessly hurled the traitorous Ashikabi over his capsized couch and through the window behind it like a filthy ragdoll. Shards of glass rained from above as Seo helplessly flailed about and somersaulted like a pinwheel in his 18-story freefall, screaming the entire way down before his body violently thundered into the (mercifully full) Olympic-sized swimming pool below with a loud *SPLASH!*.

Tsukiumi's eyes bulged as she calmed herself with heavy breaths. "That… felt... good."

"No, NO, NO-!" Uzume rushed over to the broken window and looked down. She sighed in horrified relief as Seo's embarrassed and thrashed carcass floated to the surface and spat out the water he swallowed like a fountain. "Oh thank god, he's not dead. He landed in the swimming pool."

Tsukiumi tilted her head as she came to her side. "Just as planned." she stated. "I toldest thee I wouldn't murder the man."

Haihane swallowed a lump. She leaned close to her partner. "Fucking brutal, Red…"

Benitsubasa smirked and whispered, "Think there's room for a 'Gold' Sekirei on the Squad?"

XXXXXX

A/N: This instance of Seo bashing is brought to you by Raid: Shadow Legends.

Man, that was cathartic to write. Seo had that coming for years. I always found it utterly perplexing that after Seo and Tsukiumi's initial and ONLY encounter that she didn't harbor a grudge against the man for violating her the way he did in that episode. Sure, it was a catalyst that made her fall for Minato after he saved her which could explain it, but given her character up to that point I found it incredibly OoC of her to simply accept him given how much she hated Ashikabis up to that point. The fact it's never addressed or explained was just bad writing in my opinion. I know some people like Seo, but I hate his guts for it. Fuck him. It took everything I had not to drain that swimming pool. I will not budge on that position and no one will ever change my mind about it. I regret nothing.