003 - The Green Girl Incident (Part 1)

"There is a cute Sekirei in that place, first come, first served.
You could be the one to give her wings!"

The message was still displayed on the screen of Chad's phone when his flock gathered to discuss the situation. The whole situation had caught them unawares, but that didn't mean Chad was going to rush in without a plan. That's what Ichigo does and, as much as Chad respects his best friend, that approach only works as often as it does because he's unreasonably powerful.

And still fails more often than not.

"I'm fairly sure that's Number 108, Kusano. The Life Sekirei." Mutsu says carefully, examining the attached picture with a frown. "Look at the vegetation, there are very few ways to make it grow so much so quickly."

"The triple digits shouldn't have been released for months yet." Kaho points out. "My batch just got out and there are another three that go before hers."

"What? That's not fair!" Natsu cries in indignation. "What's that cheater doing out already?"

"We don't know what happened yet." Mutsu shakes his head. "Maybe her Adjustment ended early, maybe she escaped… or maybe someone took her away from the labs."

Chad frowns when he notices the way Kaho reacts to that offhand comment, going very quiet and shrinking into herself with a haunted look. Without saying anything, he wraps an arm around her shoulder and pulls her closer to his side. He doesn't know what it was that set her off and he's not going to make assumptions, but nothing eliciting such a reaction should be left alone.

Once the current situation is handled, they'll need to find a quiet moment to talk about it.

"Or maybe the Professor just thought it would be funny." Natsu huffs "He does that sometimes."

Thinking back on what he knows of Minaka Hiroto, Chad can't help but disagree with the lackadaisical explanation. He's met the eccentric genius a couple of times, due to how his scholarship is tied to his role as an Ashikabi, so he has had the chance to form an opinion on the man's character. While appearing chaotic and whimsy at a first glance, Chad knows people as smart as him have little trouble portraying themselves as insane buffoons while actually pushing elaborate agendas behind the scenes.

The MBI CEO reminds him too much of Urahara Kisuke to ever take him for a fool.

"I don't think it's that simple." He says slowly. "This must be a test of some sort."

"A test?" Kaho mumbles confusedly, sounding like she's speaking more to herself than actively participating in the conversation. "Why now? Why us?"

"It doesn't need to be about us." Chad concedes. "Anyone involved could be the tested one. Maybe we all are."

"I see… Or rather, I don't understand at all." Natsu declares with a bizarrely out-of-place sense of pride. "What do we do, Ashikabi-sama?"

"It doesn't matter, in the end. Whether this is a test to us or to others, or whether this is a test at all." He sighs, rubbing his legs in frustration. Not knowing what's going on is a frustrating feeling, but… It doesn't change what they have to do. "We can't let a Sekirei be forcefully winged."

It's one thing to know it happens behind the scenes, where they can do nothing about it. But being told about it and still turning their backs to it is simply unacceptable.

"Then?" Natsu asks excitedly.

She leans forward with an enthusiastic smile, both hands on Chad's lap for balance as anticipation shines on her eyes. In spite of the seriousness of his thoughts, Chad can't help a small chuckle while he nods.

"We are going."

The group is ready to depart in a matter of seconds. Other considerations aside, Sekirei barely need any preparation before heading for combat, so they are swift to deploy. Even Weapon-types like Natsu and Kaho are like that in spite of needing their equipment to fight a full performance, since they always keep their weapons close at hand.

Before leaving the apartment though, Chad has something to tell them. He's never been in a leading position before, not really. But he's been led by those more competent than him enough times to get basic feeling for it, at least.

"Stay close to each other and don't break formation. I don't want anyone trying to scout ahead or acting on their own." He instructs them seriously. "This is our first time working together and we aren't used to each other, so I don't want anyone splitting from the group."

Being carried like a sack of potatoes by someone much shorter than him while jumping through the rooftop will never not feel awkward and terribly undignified, but it can't be helped. Speed has never been his strong suit. Without his Fullbringer powers, he simply cannot keep up with his flock on his own.

The group made their way to the botanical garden without incident, but that's as far as their luck stretched. As soon as they arrived, they encountered a terrified-looking young man and a girl dressing like a shrine maiden fetishist's wet dream. The girl was facing two lightning wielding women in leather bondage that are probably twins. A scruffy-looking man watches from the sidelines with crossed arms and a confident smirk on his lips.

Chad thinks the younger man looks somewhat familiar but, before he can put his finger on it, he's distracted by Kaho rushing ahead on her own.

"Musubi-chan!" She calls out with a battle cry, swinging her naginata as she charges at one of the twins. "I'm coming!"

Her words make the woman freeze in surprise and abort the attack she was preparing but, unfortunately, it also gives her enough time to react and jump out of the way.

"Ah, Kaho-chan!" The girl Kaho had just called Musubi perks up with a smile at their arrival. "Just in time!"

Kaho simply nods in silence, shifting the grip on her naginata in a threatening manner while studying the twin women. Nobody seems eager to make the next move though, creating a tense staredown as the four Sekirei study each other for an opening to restart hostilities. A staredown that's interrupted when Mutsu lands on the clearing and lets Chad down.

"Thank you, Mutsu." Chad pats himself to straighten his clothes after the ride, trying not to sound as awkward as he feels with everyone's gazes on him. "Someone you know, Kaho?"

"Y-Yes, Ashikabi-sama!" In spite of the stammer in her voice, Kaho's posture never wavers, nor do her eyes stray away from her opponent. Chad can help but approve, that's good combat discipline, at least. "This is my batchmate Musubi."

Chad holds back the urge to sigh. Kaho running ahead when he'd just warned them against that is somewhat understandable in the given circumstances, but still needs to be addressed. Something else to add to the list, that conversation with Kaho is starting to look somewhat urgent.

"Number 88, Musubi, the Bear Sekirei!" The other girl introduces herself in a cheerful voice, doing the absolute opposite of Kaho and turning around to give him a formal bow, showing her back to her enemies. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Kaho's Sekirei!"

This time, Chad doesn't hold his sigh at all.

"Oh come on, three against two?" One of the twins complains loudly. "How's that fair?"

As she says that, the woman gives a pointed look to the head of Kaho's naginata aimed directly at her face. Then she turns her eyes towards Mutsu, who so far remains content with standing besides Chad and out of the skirmish, but has a hand resting on the handle of his blade all the same.

"It was fine by you when numbers were in your favor." Chad replies with a shake of his head, feeling utterly unimpressed by the complaint. "Besides… it's not a three versus two."

"What, are you saying the scary guy with the sword will stay back?" The scruffy Ashikabi speaks up for the first time. "Let the two yuri-yuri friends here fight it out with my girls fair and square?"

"No, that's not what I meant." Chad shakes his head again, this time in bemusement and incredulity. 'Yuri-yuri friends'? This man has his mind in the gutter. "I mean that this will be a four on two if you don't leave right now."

"Look man, you are big and impressive and all that shit, but it doesn't matter how strong you are, a human has no place in a fight between Sekir–" That's as far as he gets before a metal blade is suddenly pressing against his throat. "Holy fucking shit! Where the hell did you come from!?"

While everyone was distracted by the confrontation, Natsu somehow managed to slip around the group. Nobody did so much as feel anything amiss until she stepped right behind her mark, kunai at the ready.

"From the shadows!" The ninja Sekirei answers smugly before turning her attention towards Chad. "Did I do good, Ashikabi-sama?"

"That you did, Natsu." Chad praises with a smile. "Good job."

No Sekirei is supposed to harm a human during the Sekirei Plan, but you don't give someone a title like 'The Ninja Sekirei' and expect her to follow the rules. That's an oxymoron, plain and simple. Besides, she's not really hurt anyone yet.

"Ehehe~ Ashikabi-sama praised me!" She chuckles goofily. Then she sticks her tongue out at Kaho. "Suck on that, Kaho!"

… On second thought, maybe Chad is allowing this girl to get away with too much if she feels comfortable acting that cheekily. The last thing he wants is another Yoruichi. A Yoruichi he'd be responsible for. The thought alone is enough to send shivers down his spine.

"Ahem, in any case…" Chad forcefully pushes through his uncomfortable premonition to get the conversation back on track. "I think you have overstayed your welcome."

There's still some grumbling and grandstanding, but the twin Sekirei and their Ashikabi know when they're outmatched and retreat gracefully in the end. For… a certain definition of grace, that is.

"And that's that." Natsu nods in satisfaction as the three of them finally take their leave. "See you never, losers!"

"...Right." Chad crosses his arms to resist the urge of pinching the bridge of his nose, turning towards the terrified-looking man Musubi calls her Ashikabi. "I'm Yasutora Sado and this is my flock. "

"Number 72, Natsu." The kunai user introduces herself with a cheeky two-finger salute. "The Ninja Sekirei!"

"Number 05, Mutsu." The elemental-type quietly with a small nod. "The Earth Sekirei."

"Ah, you already know my name, but I'll introduce myself properly this time." The naginata user says with a formal bow. "Number 87, Kaho. The Dancing Sekirei."

"A– Ah… S- Sahashi Minato!" The boy seems to finally find his voice, nervously introducing himself with a comically low bow. "Thank you very much for your help!"

"Sahashi… Minato-san…" Chad enunciates slowly, the vague feeling of familiarity from before coming back with a vengeance. It's that guy from the admission boards back at Uni, the one determined to get in even if it meant spending multiple years preparing for the test. "The repeating ronin?"

"How come that's the first thing everyone… Ah! You're the boxing giant!" Sahashi-san's whiny complaining becomes a cry of realization when he seemingly recognizes Chad in turn. "I thought your name was Chad?"

"Everyone calls me Chad." He nods. "But that's not an actual name."

"Ah , I see. That makes sense. Anyway, thank you for your help. Musubi was in a tight spot back there."

"It was nothing, Kaho wanted to help so we did." Chad comments, earning a bright smile from the girl in question. She looks really pretty when she smiles, she should do it more often. "And your intentions being here?"

"Ah, that's right! The green girl! She's calling for me!"

"The green girl?"

"A small girl alone and scared, calling for help." Sahashi-san explains with a renewed sense of urgency. "I thought it was a dream at first, but…"

"We Sekirei are a psychic species." Mutsu joins the conversation when Sahashi-san trails off. "In theory, a potent enough reaction might cause something like that."

"So this green girl is…" Natsu tilts her head thoughtfully. "Reacting to Sahashi-san?"

"Most likely." Mutsu nods in confirmation. "And there's only one possible identity for this green girl, given the circumstances."

"The girl in the botanical park." Chad concludes. "Looks like we have new winning conditions".

"Huh?"

"If Sahashi-san is Kusano's Destined One, we don't need to protect her indefinitely." He explains. "Just help them meet each other so she can get her wings. Maybe help them leave this hot spot afterward."

"Yeah! Minato-sama is the best!" Musubi pumps both fists enthusiastically. "We'll rescue Kusano-chan and go back to Landlady!"

As the two Ashikabi and their respective Sekirei finally move deeper into the botanical garden, Chad can't help but feel a bit miffed about how the situation is developing. Even with another Ashikabi around, he's still the one taking the lead. Sahashi-san looking perfectly fine with following after him without protest. Which is all fine and well, but still puts a pressure and responsibility on Chad's shoulders he's simply not comfortable with.

It's at times like this that he dearly misses the good old times, when he only had to stand behind Ichigo in silence, while his friend did all the talking for the both of them.

For the Guardian of the Unwinged Sekirei, mad dashes through the city in an attempt to reach hotspots in time has become something of an unfortunate habit. Thanks to his contacts within MBI, it's not too hard for him to keep an eye on the newly released batches, but that's just half of his self-imposed task.

Sekirei don't always find an Ashikabi immediately after release. Case in point, he has been around since the very start of the Plan, predated only by the original five, and still hasn't managed to get even a hint of a reaction from anyone.

And all these new Sekirei in his same position wander around the city, aimless and clueless, often without a plan beyond 'letting fate take them to their Destined One'. They often fall prey to unscrupulous Ashikabi, with things getting even worse sometimes.

Keeping these naive feathers safe is the real challenge. He never knows when or where a conflict that requires his intervention will arise and there's no ready means to swiftly travel the sprawling megacity. Oftentimes, the hardest challenge he has to overcome is simply getting there in time to do something.

And things are especially messed up this time.

"Damnit Minaka." He grumbles under his breath as the botanical garden finally, finally appears in front of his eyes. "It wasn't enough that your negligence left a child scared and alone, you had to add fuel to the fire!"

He got news about Kusano's situation sooner than everyone else. While a text message had been sent to every Ashikabi around, his own informant had been directly involved in the incident. Sahashi Takami had been in charge of Kusano when the two of them were ambushed by hostile Sekirei, after all. The only reason he didn't know about it immediately was because Takami got knocked out during the attack.

But he had been on the opposite corner of the accursed city at the time, locked down in yet another pointless skirmish with Tsukiumi. It isn't the first time that woman's obsessive competitiveness makes life difficult for him, but this one takes the cake.

If Kusano ends up forcefully winged because of the Water Sekirei…

His attention is drawn away from his dark thoughts when he catches sight of a familiar group walking away from the botanical garden. Does this mean he's too late and the incident is already over? Or maybe someone else forced these three to leave?

After a brief moment of indecision, he takes a small detour to silently land on a street lamp ahead of the group. He needs to know what he's walking into. Some up-to-date intel on the situation ahead could prove vital.

"Kaoru Seo." He calls out, startling the three of them into a wary stance. "What has you and your merry band of opportunists scurrying away like rats in the night?"

"Oh, Homura!" The man in question greets him with a smile and a cheerful wave, though the twins behind him remain alert and ready for combat. "We're not chasing after any unwinged Sekirei this time, promise."

"And yet, you're walking away from that place."

"Yeah, we're walking away." Seo rolls his eyes. "That's the exact opposite of… you know, walking towards."

"I still find your timing mighty suspicious."

"We're always suspicious." The suspicious man shrugs unashamedly. "But you might want to stop wasting time with us and hurry up to the garden. The Ashikabi of the East put a bounty on the green girl and that attracted some big names. We just crossed paths with Number 05, so I suspect things are going to get heated up. No pun intended."

"So that's why you're leaving." He can't help but snipe at the trio that's given him more than one headache before. "Things getting too hot for you?"

"I'm a handyman, not a soldier." The man shrugs shamelessly. "I'll run away when things don't go my way."

"Tsk, of course you– Wait. Number 05 is here!?" Homura blurts out in surprise, finally processing the actually important fact. "Number 05 has an Ashikabi?"

"Has had it for a while now, for the looks of it." Seo adds, before waggling his eyebrows suggestively, with a lecherous smile on his face. "They look mighty comfortable with each other, if you get what I mean."

"Who was it?"

"No idea. Tall, dark and handsome, looking like he came out of one of these Beverly Hills American flicks." The frustrating man shrugs uncaringly again. "The Hispanic pool cleaner fantasy that all rich and married middle-aged women seem to have there."

"The Fifty Shades of Gray fantasy, maybe." Hikari pipes in with a snort. "That guy didn't talk much, but damn if he didn't have a presence. No pool cleaning fuckboi there, it was all pure Dom energy."

"You would know." Hibiki ribs her sister. "Right, Hikari?"

"Shut up." Hikari growls out, cheeks gaining a hint of crimson.

"Fifty Shades of Grey, really?" But her twin keeps up her teasing unfazed. "I knew you liked trashy novels, but this takes the cake."

"Shut up!"

It's at that point Homura decides he's not going to learn anything useful anymore and leaves them to their bickering, He has more pressing matters to worry about. Like the Earth Sekirei having been winged somehow. When did that happen? How did that happen? The original five are supposed to have very stringent requirements to react to anyone and are way too strong to be forcefully winged. Takami was convinced they would never get an Ashikabi until the later stages of the game, when the strongest Ashikabi had already gathered a strong flock to make them even stronger.

Speaking of Takami, this has supposedly been going on for a while, why didn't she tell him anything about it?

Once he gets closer to the botanical garden though, the sounds of combat pull him out of his musings. There'll be time to reflect on that later, now he needs to focus on the problems ahead. As the overgrowth jungle created with Kusano's powers comes into sight, Homura finds himself in front of a bizarre event.

There are two clearly defined groups of Ashikabi and Sekirei, one trying to gain access to the proper and the other trying to keep them out. For a moment, the idea of various Ashikabi deciding to pool forces to protect the unwinged Number 108 crosses his mind, before discarding it as wishful thinking.

"Hold the line!" The leader of the defending group, a tall Weapon-type with long brown hair wielding a huge scythe, calls out as a rallying cry. "Higa-sama will handsomely reward all collaborators once the Green Sekirei is brought to him!"

… Of course it's like that.

This world isn't the sort of nice and fair place where good things happen to good people, after all.

The whistling sound of a kunai cutting the air is the first warning about something being wrong, it flies right in front of Chad's face, glinting briefly under the moonlight before it sinks on a tree trunk with a sharp thud. Turning around to examine the point of impact, Chad notices the ninja tool is pinning a red ribbon in place in spite of the way it squirms and wiggles, trying to free itself.

"We have company." Natsu says with a frown, stepping in front of Chad protectively.

"Good catch." Chad grunts in acknowledgement, eyes locked on the still squirming ribbon. "You saved me."

"Hehe~ Of course I did! I'm pretty good, aren't I?" Natsu spares a grin towards her Ashikabi, before turning towards an apparently random spot amongst the trees with a glare. "I am Number 72, Natsu! The Ninja Sekirei! Come out and face me properly!"

For a heartbeat, nothing happens. But then, with a rustle of underbrush shifting around, a new figure shows herself. A girl with long and wavy pink hair and a considerable… curvy constitution. She wears various red ribbons on her hair and clothes. Coming from behind her, plenty more red ribbons shift and twist in the air, as if they were some sort of tails or tentacles.

"Oh, no. The ambush failed…" The girl mutters in a meek voice. "I– I mean! I'm Number 93, Kujou, The Ribbon Sekirei!"

"Alright then, let's–" Natsu starts out with a tone of firm determination, one that turns into incredulous indignation after she cuts herself off. "Wait a minute! Number 93? What are you doing out of the lab?"

"Er…" The other girl looks away, the tips of her index fingers pressing nervously together, "I asked Sensei pretty please and he made an exception?"

"What's with everyone getting released whenever they feel like it!?" Natsu bemoans in dismay. "Am I the only one who follows the rules here?"

"Um…" Kujou seems to want to say something, but she trails off meekly before actually doing so.

"What!?" Natsu demands bluntly, making the meeker Sekirei flinch at her tone of voice. "If you have something to say, say it to my face!"

"Aren't you the… Ninja Sekirei?"

"That's what I just said. What's it to you?"

"Shouldn't you… hmm…." Kujou trails off nervously again but, before Natsu can say anything, she rallies herself to finally ask her question. "Shouldn't you be cheating and breaking the rules? Isn't that what a ninja is supposed to do?"

"..."

"Um…" Kujou hums worriedly at the lack of answer. "Natsu-san?"

"Shut up!" Natsu finally snaps.

Kujou jumps back at the sudden outburst, shrinking into herself with a shrill cry. "Hiii!"

"This is this and that is that!" Natsu declares resolutely, sweeping a hand in front of her for emphasis and looking more like a sentai hero than any sort of shinobi Chad has ever met. "I win my fights fair and square! That's my ninja path!"

Except maybe Yoruichi. The more Chad gets to know Natsu, the more he sees a shadow of Yoruichi on her. Which is still a bad thing, as far as Chad is concerned. Yoruichi is a great friend and mentor, but Chad doesn't envy Urahara for being her responsible adult. He's fairly sure the cat-like woman is the sole reason behind the mad scientist's hair going white.

"Now, enough talking!" Natsu presses on, pulling out more kunai from… somewhere and adopting a fighting stance. "Let's fight already!"

"Ah, yes!" The many red ribbons, which seemed to have wilted during their conversation, rise back to life behind Kujou to loom threateningly over them all. "Number 93, Kujou! He– Here I come!"

"Number 72, Natsu!" The blue-haired Sekirei grins fiercely, already rushing at her opponent. "Watch me, Ashikabi-sama!"

As the duel between the two Sekirei starts in earnest, Chad can only shake his head in bemusement. These two… they sure have a strange dynamic going on for them. There's a wistful feeling at the sight of two quirky supernatural warriors clashing in combat but… No, now's not the time to get lost in nostalgia. They need to focus on the goal here.

The forest proved to be full of enemies and, with the pressing need of finding the Green Girl before anyone else could, that forced them to split forces to keep their opponents busy while they kept making their way deeper towards the heart of this plant labyrinth.

Mutsu was the first to stay behind, fighting off a group of five on his own. The terrain here made him unusually vulnerable, the many strong roots growing through the ground keeping a firm grip on the earth and making it hard to manipulate, but he was still the most formidable of them all. Chad isn't too worried about him.

Kaho, on the other hand, ended up facing a fierce-looking woman wielding strange scissor-like blades by herself. That's an encounter Chad is more worried about. Kaho and Natsu are the newcomers and he still doesn't have a good grip on their abilities, so leaving one of them to fight alone while he runs ahead doesn't sit well with him. Especially when the dense vegetation isn't doing any favors to the polearm-wielder's fighting style.

To top it off, they ended up becoming separated from Sahashi-san too. Since the young man is the only one capable of finding the way towards the Green Girl, that has left Chad with no better resource than to simply wander blindly, hoping that blind luck and vague gut feelings will be enough to guide him while working on thinning the opposition at the same time.

So far, he's not having much luck with the guidance part, but at least Natsu is keeping an opponent busy. That has to count for something. Speaking of which…

"Tch, the pink bimbo ran away." Natsu informs in a sulky voice, landing beside him with a graceful drop. "Should I give chase?"

"... No." Chad has to admit it, but he's the weak link here. Sending his last Sekirei away and leaving himself exposed is foolishness when there's more enemies about. "Good work out there, Natsu."

"Hehe~ Praise me more, Ashikabi-sama!"

"I suppose congratulations are in order." A new voice comes from somewhere up above, making Chad fall into a practiced combat stance. "But I'm afraid this is as far as you go."

There's a silver-haired man standing on a tree branch, wearing a face mask and all black clothes.

"Who are you!?"

"Number 06, Homura. The Guardian of the Unwinged Sekirei." The newcomer introduces himself. "And I won't allow unscrupulous Ashikabi to take advantage of Kusano's plight."

There's someone looking out for the interests of the unwinged Sekirei? That's good to know. The fact that Homura seems to consider them a danger for the green girl, on the other hand… that isn't anywhere near as good.

Five minutes later, Homura is rushing towards the center of the botanical park, cursing himself under his breath all through the way. There was no conflict at all with the absurdly tall Ashikabi and his Sekirei, just a slightly awkward conversation as they both realized they were there for the same reason.

There's also the little jewel that's Kusano already reacting to someone. Supposedly. In spite of having barely been a day since she left the labs and spending it in near-complete isolation. The whole story sounds like a tall tale to him, especially considering Kusano's incomplete adjustment meaning she's stronger and less susceptible to reacting than your average Sekirei.

He wants to believe he's being tricked in some way, that this is all some scheme by the Ashikabi to get an advantage or, at the very least, to save their skin. And yet… Every fiber of his being wants to believe the words of the dark and quiet man. As an active combatant, Homura knows the worth of gut feelings during high-intensity situations, that's why he's willing to give the stranger's words some credit.

… But he still doesn't like it.

His mind keeps going in circles, thoughts bouncing between his knee jerk distrust towards Ashikabi in general and his current goal of reaching Kusano before anyone else does. Assuming he's not been fed bald-faced lies, Kusano's Destined One is somewhere near and trying to reach the girl, but he'd like to be there to ensure nothing untowards happens and–

The sound of combat pulls him out of his recursive mood, directing him towards a small clearing that's been made by the clash between a small girl in shrine maiden clothes against two taller Sekirei in rather suggestive outfits.

The first one fits the description of the Sekirei under Kusano's supposed Destined One and clearly struggling under the harassment of the other two. She's constantly giving ground under the pressure of a well-coordinated offensive. If things continue as they are, it's only a matter of time before she's defeated.

The other two, Homura recognizes as Higa's from previous clashes: Ichiya and Toyotama.

There's no need for hesitation then. Even if he hasn't yet decided to trust the story he's been told, Higa Izumi is the one at fault for this whole mess alongside the thrice-cursed Minaka. Of course he's going to strike at his attack dogs when given the chance.

"[Jaen (Flame Snake)!]"

A plume of fire leaves his hands, swirling unnaturally as it locks on into the short-haired Ichiya and pounces on her like the snake that gives it name. The strike is too sudden, too unexpected for the target to react properly. Ichiya barely has time to turn her head in the right direction, eyes widening in shock, before the conflagration reaches her.

"Ichiya!" Toyotama cries in panicked shock as her partner is blown away like a rag doll. "You bastard!"

The staff-wielder recovers quickly, adopting an aggressive stance and letting out a dangerous growl as she stares daggers at Homura. He has to give it to him, she knows how to act intimidating. Had it not been for the worried side-glance towards where Ichiya landed or the way she stepped between Homura and her downed partner, he would've truly thought she's ready to pounce at him.

Instead, he lets himself drop in front of the solitary Sekirei, somewhat mimicking Toyotama's action as a ball of fire comes into existence to hover threateningly over his hand.

"He can do this right now, if you insist." He drawls out, doing his best to project danger and nonchalance as he makes the fireball grow bigger. "I'll burn the two of you down to the bone."

He's not even bluffing, these two are strong, but they're both melee combatants and that puts them at a big disadvantage against Homura's fire. Even if Ichiya turns out to be playing dead and tries to surprise him by rejoining the fight halfway through it, he's confident he could take them on. But he doesn't want to push them needlessly when there are more pressing matters at hand.

He doesn't know how many agents Higa has around, after all. Every second is precious.

"Or you can leave and I'll turn a blind eye." He continues, making the fireball disappear as he puts his hand inside his pocket. "I'll even let you take your partner away."

He doesn't relax just yet, not really. To consider the fight over already would be the height of foolishness, but he opens up his stance just enough to convey his intentions. He's not cornering them here, there's no need to fight to the bitter end. As the Guardian of the Unwinged Sekirei, he's far more concerned about preventing a potential forced winging than punishing two underlings.

There's clearly some inner struggle going on behind Toyotama's eyes, but in the end she seems to acknowledge the point. Without ever taking her eyes away from Homura, she slowly puts her staff away and makes her way to her partner to help her off the ground. Ichiya seems conscious enough to try to protest when Toyotama lifts her in a princess carry, but lacks the strength to physically resist.

She's still letting out smoke and looking rather singed, but she seems more dizzy than actually hurt, looks like the Sekirei managed to jump along the attack at the last moment to minimize the effect of the conflagration.

"Wash your neck and wait, Number 06." Toyotama calls out over her shoulder, already leaving. "Because we'll meet again and I'll be returning the favor."

Her retreat as she disappears amongst the treetops is admittedly stylish, which makes Homura wonder how many chances they've had to practice it so far.

"And I believe that's that." He sighs, finally relaxing for real as he turns towards the only remaining girl. He should probably stay on his guard, but this girl carries the least killing intent Homura has ever felt from an intelligent being. It's like she hasn't had a dark thought in her life. "Are you well? I'm afraid I have some questions for—"

"Ah, thanks for the save, stranger!" The girl cuts him off with a deep bow. "Musubi is fine!"

… Like an eager puppy. Nevermind the fact that half the destruction around is probably this girl's fault, Homura feels bad just by trying to consider her a threat.

"It's… It's fine." He sighs in resignation. "I've been told Number 108 is reacting to your Ashikabi."

The girl tilts her head confusedly, making Homura feel suddenly worried. "Musubi doesn't know anything about that? "

"You don't, huh…" Homura speaks slowly, feeling his eyebrow twitch. Looks like he has been deceived, after all. "That man… he better have a good explanation for this or he'll be the next one to go down in flames!

"Ah! But we're here because Minato-sama dreamed about a green girl calling for him!" The girl adds, as if suddenly remembering. "Does that help?"

"... That'd do it, yes." What is this empty feeling deep within Homura's heart? Is this what despair feels like? "Speaking of which, where's your Ashikabi? I'd like to speak with him before he gets to Kusano. Make sure everything is as it should."

After what he's seen today, Homura is starting to accept that the mysterious Ashikabi might be Kusano's Destined One for real… or maybe he's just getting swept into this bizarre situation. But he still wants to see it with his own eyes before making a potentially bad decision.

Verify, always verify. One never knows when someone will secretly be a silver-tongued bastard like Minaka.

"Oh, Minato-sama went ahead while I was fighting these two!" The girl answers cheerfully, making Homura freeze in place.

"He… Went ahead." Homura repeats very slowly.

"Yes!" The girl answers cheerfully, clearly missing the implications.

"… Alone?" He asks leadingly, waiting for the spark of realization to light up in the girl's eyes.

"Yes?" The girl answers again, finally catching on something being wrong but not really seeing the problem.

"… Deep inside enemy territory?" What short of empty-headed fool— Maybe this girl and her mysterious Ashikabi are actually a perfect match? "Where anyone he meets could be a dangerous enemy willing to take him down?"

"Ye– Ah! Minato-sama!" Only once the situation is laid down to her, does the girl have a proper reaction, a panicked expression crossing her face before she turns around to start running deeper into the forest. "Wait, don't get taken down without me!"

Slowly, very slowly, Homura brings his palm to his face and lets out a long-drawn, weary sigh. The worst part is that he still can't bring himself to conjure any real irritation towards the girl.

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