IS and Sekirei Brave new world

by Kerlongsj Evert Orlejov

Request fic. Minato believed that when the Sekirei plan came to an end, his troubles would be over and his life could finally begin. Turns out, the world moves on, boy. Best you do too. His past, among others, is catching up to him and he has to look out for an old friend. Ichika Orimura didn't ask to be sent into an insane school and his single lifeline is an old friend.

16. For the Greater Good of God

Hey everyone. I hope that all of you are in good health. The coronavirus was still in the world when I started this chapter.

Got some guy telling me things about the chapter, and dealing with a short memory can be a hassle. Given that I am locked at my home, there is nowhere I can go.

I did, however, start playing Ghost Recon Breakpoint after they announced that Sam Fisher would be around. While I like the game and enjoy it, it is intense. Even more so compared to its predecessor. I also started replaying Far Cry Primal, and I appreciate that game.

This is going to switch things up a bit: some history and some fighting.

The plot is coming from the requester of this fic.

Oslight has also drawn a new picture. A fiery lady came to pass up for a picture. And I got one to ask for myself. You guys get to see it.

In two years from now. But Oslight has been quiet and I'll wait when he comes around before I can ask again. But we got time. There is not much more to do.

Started on 28/03/2020

Ended at 09/04/2020

Are you a man of peace

Or a man of holy war

Too many sides to you

Don't know which anymore

---

When Ichika said he was gone fishing, he meant that. When Chifuyu was gone to Germany that year, he picked the hobby from an older man.

The guy was a foreigner for sure, but that old Russian fool knew how to catch and prepare fishes like it was no one's business. Ichika missed the guy. He passed away when Chifuyu came back.

A disease would end his life. An ironic end for a guy who lived a lifetime at war, he wanted his summerset in peace.

But his skills and words weren't lost on Ichika, who liked it. With a rod down on the water, Ichika just looked at it and enjoyed the silence. Ichika remembered the wisdom of the guy.

Life could be made for destruction. The Infinite Stratos was a prime example. It could also be for defense. That was what the guy told him.

Ichika wasn't taken in by the songs he often sang when he was up there. But some bits came back. It fitted for him now as he could be asking Minato or Chifuyu. Maybe Minato as he knew what it all meant.

Please tell me now what life is

Please tell me now what love is

Well, tell me now what war is

Again, tell me what life is

Right questions and Ichika didn't care too much about them. He was now looking at the rod, and he smirked. This was just great to have some peace of mind.

He thought back on those days. That guy was beside Minato, the closest thing he had to a father figure. He remembered the hot days.

Flashback requested

Ichika walked along the riverside after his shopping. Dropping the bags off, he was just walking around and looking for some stuff. He wanted to clear his head for a good bit.

At that point, he noticed an older guy. The guy swung a rod in the water while he sat there. He was just watching the fish and the sea. Ichika could say that it felt way better to be around the water than in other places. The cold water helped calm down the area around him.

"And they wanna bite?" He asked the guy. Twinkling eyes found Ichika, who raised an eyebrow on the older man. Grey, half long hair, hung over it. Despite that, the guy didn't look disheveled. He had a slight beard. Also grey, but the rest of his face was sharp. He was wearing simple clothes—Cargo pants and above that, a white T-shirt.

"Well, you can ask them. I don't fish to catch any." Ichika raised an eyebrow.

"You don't fish to catch fish?" He asked, and the older man motioned to him. Despite that one word, he felt that the man meant him no harm.

"I fish to clear my head. The important thing in this day and age." Ichika joined him, and he felt tiny around the guy.

It was no surprise, though. The guy was quickly 190 cm (for the guys in the US. 6 feet and 2,5 inches) with arms that were half Ichika's body. His legs were wearing some sort of army boots. The legs also looked big compared to Ichika's. Ichika still felt no harm around him.

"You wanna learn, kid?" The man asked, and Ichika nodded.

"Yeah, sure." He was handed a rod, and the guy took some bait out of a tin can. Ichika cringed when he took the bait up on the hook. Throwing it in the water, he watched it bop up and down.

"What's your name, kiddo? My name is Jorik Shevchenko." The guy said, and he threw the rod in while he whistled a tone.

"I'm Ichika. Ichika Orimura." The man just raised an eyebrow but didn't ask further. "Well, Ichika, let this old man teach you how to fish."

End of the requested flashback.

Ichika had spent lots of time on the riverside. Every time he went there, he sat there with Jorik. During those times, he felt more connected to him than his sister. Jorik wisdom was something that Ichika took to heart.

It made him somewhat think about the concept of a father. One of the last times he spoke to Jorik, the older man told him this.

"Ichika, as a man, it's your duty to give advice that is worth a fuck to the men next to you and behind you. I earned that right. You might find others. Those who don't give good advice to them around them aren't worth the name of men."

Ichika couldn't help but agree with him. In that case, it would make Minato also a man.

The Ashikabi had given good advice to an Infinite Stratos Pilot.

Meanwhile, at the makeshift base, Tabane Shinonono was seething with rage. Not only did Ichika insult her, but he also prevented her from giving her little sister's grand debut that she earned. The rest of the class had seen how the Silver Gospel was embedded in the sand, courtesy of Matsu. The whole unit was deactivated and intact.

Chifuyu couldn't believe that her little idiot of a brother had so much sway. Or the fact that Minato had done that for him.

The other girls just looked at the shutdown unit, but so far, they couldn't help but gulp. The information was clear that the Silver Gospel was one dangerous unit. Ichika didn't care about a damn thing.

He knew some would call him weak by letting a woman fight his fights, but he'd tell that person to get out. Given that besides him, there were no male pilots out there, it wasn't so much shame.

While cowardice was a thing that Ichika loathed, he was more concerned about self-preservation. That went for him now as more important.

Tabane didn't think so, and she would do unspeakable things to him. Yes, the genius would if she didn't get a call. Taking it, Tabane wasn't sure who called her.

"Who is this?"

"Good evening, Tabane Shinonono." The voice had a hint of malice and anger. It was also clear that the person was well educated and intelligent. Tabane wasn't outdone. At least not yet.

"Who is this?" She looked around while she walked away.

"I think you just heard my name from Ichika-tan. My name is Matsu; I'm the Wisdom Sekirei, winged by Minato Sahashi. Second job. Guardian cyber angel of Ichika Orimura. Tabane, I am giving you one piece of advice. Crawl back in the hole you came from." Snorting, Tabane wouldn't let that hussy tell her what she could and couldn't do.

Those damned Sekirei. Why did they always ruin things?

"Why should I?" She hadn't heard the voice before, but Matsu sounded scary for her.

"Tabane Shinonono. You think that you can fool me. Well, you can't. You're the one who'd hacked the Silver Gospel and made it rogue. It was easy enough to find that out. Luckily for you, I had no timer next to me or any pressure. My Ashikabi was here to give me the energy I needed to hack it down. I didn't tell Ichika-tan cause it would give him too much to handle." The genius felt the color draining from her cheeks.

But Matsu wasn't done.

"I am not going to do anything to you. I only tell you to run, little rabbit. And I will let this slide. But if you go after Ichika, I'll relay the information to Chifuyu Orimura. Ichika-tan had only a ten percent chance he would come back alive and successful. You can imagine what Chifuyu would think of that, don't you? You cannot defeat her. She would rip you to shreds, and I wouldn't blame her. So run bitch. Run like the coward you are."

Tabane was appalled by the way that Matsu treated her. For the last ten years, no one had spoken to her. The cold words of Chifuyu and Houki had been taken with love and admiration. But this was a stranger who had no respect for her. Tabane glared at the cellphone. It was like she was trying to stare a hole in it.

But she knew that Matsu was right. The woman had hacked in the Silver Gospel and put it back. If she wanted, she could relay the information, and Chifuyu would obliterate her. So Tabane did what Matsu told her to do.

She hates being outclassed like this, and she would spend her time finding out to hurt Minato Sahashi. That damned womanizer and those fucking hussies of goddamned superpowered aliens.

Back in Shinto Teito.

Matsu sighed but felt a loving kiss on her lips from Minato and a deep hug from him. Not protesting, her mouth slipped open as she could feel his tongue moving in and dragging out the kiss. His hands wandered around while hers pressed at his head, playing with his hair.

She enjoyed and warmed up to his body. Playing tongue tennis, both felt ecstatic. Unfortunately, she couldn't feel any reaction from down below. She knew why that could be. Either he'd grown used to it, but that was most likely not the case. Or he was just too tired from the last weekend.

She hadn't imagined that Uzume and Chiho wore him out so much. Letting him go, she smiled at Minato. He was blushing, but he grinned back at her. They were rubbing off more on him.

"So Mina-tan. Any reason why you gave a little old me such a kiss?" Minato pecked her cheek while he laid closer to her.

"You're never sexier when you're worked up. It's nice to see my Sekirei like that." She smiled and wrapped an arm around him.

"You sure you don't want to tell Ichika-tan?" Matsu wanted to tell Ichika what Tabane did but found that Minato was against that. He didn't wish to Ichika to know as it would open a can of worms.

Shaking his head, he hugged her. "It'd cause too much disturbance. It was nice to see you chasing off that rabbit. Thank you, Matsu." She smiled at him and got closer to him.

"Neh, Mina-tan. Can I ask for a thank you?" That caused Minato to blanch. He had just gotten home from the weekend, and he was tired of it. Sure, he loved Matsu like the other girls, but he had his fill for now.

"No fair, Matsu. I also want it." Turning around, he saw Musubi, who pulled up the room. Tsukiumi followed with her eternal rival while Kazehana pouted. Kagari also stood back when she looked at it. While she and Musubi were the last ones who had a fun night with Minato, she could feel how much she wanted it.

It was clear that the girls were sexually frustrated despite his best attempts. Minato wanted to defuse and keep things off while Uzume and Chiho passed by.

"What is this? We're going again?" Uzume asked while Chiho shook her head. Down there, she needed some time to rest. Going again on Minato wasn't something she wanted right now. Luckily for Minato, a demonic visage filled the room, and for the first time, Minato was somewhat happy that Miya passed by.

"Enough. There will be no talking off inappropriate subjects in my house." It did stop the Sekirei from it, but they also wanted dinner before Miya would ban them from it. All of a sudden, a hand was wrapped around Miya's waist and blush set in while Takehito smiled at them.

"Girls, I think that Minato can use some rest. You forget we're still human beings. Besides, the weather forecast told us that the coming days are going to be an early heatwave. Temperatures will be estimated to be forty degrees." That gulp was heard from all of them.

"I don't think you want to come home, sleep-deprived from a long night of sex in that weather. So let's all take it easy for now and just sit back. So Minato can have time to heal." The guy thanked his elder and had some ideas.

"So to make up for it. Who all want to go?"

"Me!" The voice was heard, and Minato shook his head. Matsu, Kazehana, Uzume, Musubi, and Chiho. Yeah, that was kind of expected that they wanted to go. Kagari and Tsukiumi joined in, and the six faces went to them.

"Yeah, I want to join! It's been too long since I had fun!" Kagari admitted with a beef red face. Tsukiumi was also joining in the color.

"My husband has been neglecting his duties towards me. I will not let that stand." Minato began to feel a harder time down there. It was one thing to have fun but now, seven girls. That was too much.

"It is not fair. I also want to join big brother with his fun." They forgot about the last one. Kusano had nestled herself in Minato's lap. With a collective sigh, the Ashikabi and the rest of his flock defused her.

"No, Kuu-chan."

She pouted as usual. Being left out in the matter was one thing, but the Sekirei wasn't going to allow that.

"Why not?"

"Kusano." That got her attention. Minato rarely used her full name. "You are a child. How much you hate to admit it. I'd be committing a crime if we would do anything like that."

She glared how much she could while pouting at Minato. "So how long do I have to wait before the big brother carries me to his bed?"

The Ashikabi, at his turn, glared at the rest of his girls. "I would like to know who used those terms. Didn't we all agree that the words of derogatory weren't used in the presence of Kusano?"

The two eldest plus a double-digit both whistled an innocent tune. Looking back at them and to Kusano, he stood up and took the girl with him under his arm.

"We need to have a long talk, Kusano. So that means that none of you are sleeping in my room tonight." A jolt went between the girls as now four girls glared at the three. Minato took Kusano under his arm.

He never used physical violence as he loathed the punishment that his grandfather and mother laid out for him. It would also be unfitting as seven out of the eight women he loved were all mature and full-grown. Kusano stood out as she was just eight years old.

Sure, he was married to her in Sekirei custom, but for now, he kept her from bedding him. He also didn't like the fact that Kusano used those kinds of words. So he would have a long and stern talk with the pint-sized girl that it was not okay that a girl of her age would use those words.

Takehito just shook his head but signaled with his eyes that his wife had to come with him for a bit. Miya found that indeed needed to come along with her husband.

Walking outside, they found themselves in their room. "I hope you didn't call me here to have some fun." Takehito found that Miya had found better ways to warm up her husband. She was no longer a complete prude but still had some morals.

The look in the eyes made it clear for her that Takehito had a serious subject to talk about. "I suppose that it must be rather important that you called me asides. What is on your mind, Takehito?"

The male scientist worked over his jaw while he looked at his wife. "Miya, there is something you should know. It is about Chifuyu." The name of her rival caused Miya to have flaming eyes at her lover. The look also made Takehito shook his head.

"Nothing like that, Miya. Don't worry. It is about the past. I met Chifuyu Orimura after the fight on the island."

The pillar sat down while she was encouraging him to continue.

"By some coincidence or bad luck, I ended up as a teacher. Not just for her, but also for someone else. I suppose you can figure out who I am talking about."

Miya wasn't stupid, so she knew it. "Tabane Shinonono. What a surprise. I suppose that has something to do with what happened today." A wry smile set in over Takehito.

"Well, dear. Let me tell you something about Tabane. You think Matsu is bad as a genius. That woman is Armageddon. That woman has a hatred for me."

Laying his head back, Takehito went back years back. Eight years could be a long while for a life.

Those days weren't more comfortable for him but perhaps more straightforward.

Flashback.

High school was a time for somewhere their entire lives began. Takehito had started teaching part-time. The school was local, and he could use some distractions from the whole Sekirei. It had only been recently since he and Miya got married.

She was now called Miya Asama. That leech Seo was at least good for teaching her certain things. The woman was a great warrior, but she was horrible at anything else. She couldn't cook, clean, keep a house intact—a disaster at Home Economics.

For now, he could worry about different things. Namely a class full of girls of sixteen years old who looked at him. Shaking his head, he continued his lecture.

Biology and chemistry were things that he could teach easily. If the girls knew his real job, they wouldn't be surprised. Still, Takehito wasn't that big a fan of teaching.

Working with the boys on electricity and handcrafts was way more comfortable. Despite being idiots and full of energy to the point they got obnoxious, they at least had some respect for him. Throw the biggest loudmouth on the floor, tell him to take it easy, and there you go.

Now, those girls were different. Giggling, whispering, and notes along. It was no secret that the girls appreciated a young man teaching them. Takehito knew better than to act on those ideas. He had a gorgeous wife waiting for him at his home.

There was one thing he did notice. During the talking, his eyes had crossed with one particular girl. Black, long hair tied into a ponytail that ended at her back. Her uniform did little to hide the slender body.

Takehito knew from one glance this was something that had a life from violence. That was clear there. A face of white skin and nothing out of place, and even at sixteen, she was one pretty girl. Yet Takehito wasn't fooled.

Eyes are the windows of the soul, and when you live long enough, you can read someone through them. In the eyes of Chifuyu Orimura, Takehito Asama could read a whole lot. She was one tough girl, and was that a hint of admiration of her eyes?

He didn't know where he saw those before. It was somewhere important where he saw Chifuyu Orimura.

He just looked back at her and found it somewhat weird that the person next to her was paying attention to him. Tabane Shinonono. World-class genius and Takehito internally groaned. Talents might have great ideas but were a pain to be around.

Case and point, he knew how Minaka was, and from what Tabane was, he knew that she was the same. Her cheerful attitude didn't fool him once.

Like with Chifuyu, the eyes were the mirror of the soul. And he could read what Tabane was. A genius, perhaps but one that had little love for humanity. That girl was one problem. In either way, he continued on his lesson, but when he heard one more giggle. Turning around, he marched right up to a bunch of girls sitting around.

"My, Raoki-san. Is something more interesting than my class?" Dyed blond hair and earrings gave her the look of a woman that would accomplish just nothing in life.

Takehito would never judge their looks, but her attitude matched her outlook.

She giggled and nodded. "Yes, sensei. We were just looking around and found something more interesting. Your cute butt." Takehito's eyes twitched, but he got a good idea.

"Really now? Well, in that case, I have something for you. You and those three lackies of yours can write a thousand times in kanji. 'I should pay attention to my teacher, not to his butt.' And you let your parents sign that. And I'll quadruple it every time I have to come over to you." That got one gulp from the girls. It would shut them up, and Takehito walked back.

He got a grateful look from Chifuyu. With a nod to her, he continued onwards. When the bell rang, he shut up and packed in. Takehito had himself famous by getting all that he needed in class laid out, but when the bell rang, it was the end.

The class packed in an orderly fashion, and it was just Chifuyu who stayed behind. "Something wrong, Orimura-san?" The young lady shook her head, but she just looked at him.

"It was a good way you played Raoki. She was getting annoying." Walking over to her, he softly hit her on the head with his book.

"You're welcome. It'll teach them. Either way, Orimura? Any reason you're staying behind?" Beef red and fidgeting, it was refreshing to see Chifuyu like that, although Takehito wasn't sure about it.

She looked at him and shook her head. "No, sensei. Nothing wrong. I'll see you tomorrow." She ran out, and it left Takehito to collect his thoughts. He wasn't sure why, but he had seen those eyes somewhere before. He just couldn't place where it was.

Chifuyu, on the other hand, ran through the hallway. Still blushing, she wasn't sure about the whole thing. She wasn't sure what happened next, but she found herself being groped—only one person who was that brazen to do that.

Turning around, she glared at Tabane Shinonono, who pouted at her. "Mouh, Chi-chan. Are you ignoring me? How could you hurt your true love like that?" Chifuyu glared at her and hit her.

"Cut it out, Tabane." The pink-haired got back up and smiled at her.

"Oh, just a bit more. I am sure that I can make you fall for me." Chifuyu just sighed and walked out. Tabane had rarely seen Chifuyu react like that.

"Neh, Chi-chan. Is something wrong?" The woman shook her head.

"I don't think so." She was quiet. Even more than average. It was uncommon to see Chifuyu like that. Usually, she had a graze around her. Ichika once put it like his sister was a katana that could cut all those around her. She was sure that this was the case now.

But now, it was again the same thing as some time ago. Tabane would get to the bottom of this mystery if she could only see the look on the face of Chifuyu.

Or her head because Chifuyu herself wasn't sure of it. Ever since Takehito walked in the school, she couldn't help but feel her brain working things up. There was just something around him.

She had always seen men as weak, but it wasn't with Takehito the same. He wasn't strong, she was sure she could crush him, but his body wasn't his strength. It was his mind, his handling.

There were rumors about the school that the boys had accepted him as a teacher. They listened to him and had a great deal of respect for the guy. But even with that, Chifuyu found him incredible. He was friendly, secure in his head, the teaching was excellent, and he never let those girls get under his skin.

Even so, she felt something towards the guy. He was maybe ten or fifteen years older than her, and yet, it was a pull—a warmth to him.

Somewhat, she felt or thought that Takehito had some fondness for her.

Ichika would never guess what Chifuyu would have eaten during those days. She was no longer hungry, or she hadn't eaten that much. She was quiet, more rational than usual, and even so, she wasn't even talking back to the questions.

She didn't even acknowledge the fact that he went to his room to study. Chifuyu just stayed down thinking about Takehito.

Meanwhile, the teacher went home and sat by eating on the meal. Miya had been taking the lessons to heart and had become an excellent cook. Seo was a waste, but at least, the guy knew how to cook and clean.

Big things if he was honest. They sat in silence, enjoying their dinner.

The next day.

When Takehito got to school, it was still pretty early compared to usual times. It would take 45 minutes before the class would open. While some teachers often went to the backroom, Takehito went to his class.

He'd allow the kids to gather and heat up. He wouldn't start until the time was there. Before he could even gather his thoughts and waiting for the notes he'd get from Raoki, he bumped into someone.

Luckily, no one fell as Takehito remained on his feet while the person stood there.

"Whoops, sorry about that." Looking down, familiar amber eyes and raven hair came in his view. "Orimura-san?" Chifuyu just looked up at him and remained as still as a sandbar. It was like she was nuzzling herself into him.

Although she remained much too still for that. "Eh, Orimura-san?" Getting red in the face, Chifuyu looked up, and in some regard, she looked incredibly adorable like that. Takehito wasn't sure why she looked at him, but before he could say anything else, Chifuyu ran away.

That wasn't normal. Takehito had seen how Chifuyu was. Sharp as a knife and incredible strength. She also had the energy to stand next to Tabane and keep her down. If he was honest, he appreciated how easy Chifuyu was.

She didn't sexually harass him or called names like some other girls. She was smart but not vain or egocentrically compared to Tabane. Her body was well developed, purely from a biological point of view. But there was something that made it clear.

While Chifuyu was strong, Takehito could see through that façade. There was a part that was scared of something, and she carried. There was no telling what she was. Some bits of him thought back at Miya.

She carried the same air around her. Somewhere Takehito wished that she could have someone to look after her. He could help her to a degree, but another guy, a person her age, would be better.

Tabane wouldn't be fit for her. That woman had other things in mind than the best for Chifuyu.

In a parallel universe, not my Stories Told.

A blade met a katana. Struggling, Chifuyu Orimura, fifteen years old, found herself looking in the eyes of a young man. Hooded and dressed into a sweater, the blade was pivotal. Unlike most would have, the young man had no problem keeping the sword away. It was like they were matched for strength.

A grin found away on his face. Jumping back, Chifuyu broke the contact. By that, the hood went off his head. Chifuyu looked back at her adversary. Half long hair, a mix of blond and brown on the scalp. Grey eyes found her brown ones. The blade was released, and it was like the guy carried his knives underneath his hands.

The boy grinned and looked back at her. Raising her katana, the man stood back and pulled his hoodie back up to cover his head. The eyes were still shining at her.

"Looks like I'm in luck. I was hoping to find the Undefeated Rider or the Western Satan." The boy smirked at her.

"Grandpa and brother. Good luck, you didn't find them, sweetheart. Those two are too much for you to take on. Besides, it's more fun to hang out with those your own age, wouldn't you agree?"

Chifuyu raised her sword but soon found herself joined by others around her. The guy looked to the sides and saw how six women met with Chifuyu. Both Chifuyu and the man looked annoyed by the interruption. Sharing a look, they were clear of it.

"Didn't I tell you that this one is mine?"

"Fuck off."

"Like we listen to you."

"We want our fun."

"..."

"Time to rip that bastard to shreds. And you once we're done."

The guy stood back while he eyed the six newcomers. One girl was enough for him but the entire bunch of the Prodigies. That would be overkill for him.

The odds weren't in his favor while his blades were rereleased from beneath his wrists. Either way, he was sure to go down swinging. But a relaxation set in when he felt the presence of others around himself.

From the dark, four men joined their leader. One raised a sword. Another put a bardiche on his shoulder. A third raised a shotgun and pumped it.

Unlike the females, they greeted the guy with a hint of friendliness.

"Looks like you got yourself in a hassle, Kerlongsj."

"Did you really think we would run?"

"You can forget that."

"We were with you once we were knee-deep in shit, we won't leave you alone now you are."

The boy grinned and smiled at them. "Thanks, lads." Cracking his knuckles, the energy got out his body, and the boy smirked.

"Looks like we can continue our match." Chifuyu looked at him. "Oh, really? Why do you think you can defeat us?" The youngest looked at him while the boy smirked.

"It takes one of us to bring all of you crashing down. But most importantly." The energy escaped his body, and it looked like a scary form took place behind them.

"When you play with us, we kinda stick out for each other. You shouldn't have come to my home, Chifuyu. Not after all that happened at your place."

"What can you say, Kerlongsj. You got me hooked during our last fight. I never saw someone who wasn't afraid to die. And could back it up by keeping me alive."

Kerlongsj spat on the floor, but a cruel smile made a way to his face. "Brother, I hope we don't fight back at the bad breakup you had between the two of you." The four boys chuckled when Kerlongsj blushed. The realization that this could very well be their last hour on earth set in, but yet, they didn't care. A sort of peace settled in.

This could be their last stand.

The prodigies looked at Kerlongsj, who was a bit ready to have his fun. "Never heard of this line? No species lasts forever." The two groups raced to each other while Kerlongsj blades met Chifuyu's katana again.

"I missed this."

"Good thing I wasn't alone in that."

In another place.

A young man moved out the way of the sword. It was just easy enough. Devil's Brigade wouldn't leave Kerlongsj to die. It was also better for him.

Looking at the five women and one guy gathered there. Unlike Kerlongsj, Azalof wasn't amused. Ripping out the poisoned dagger, the man glared at them.

"You need a tougher thing to kill me." The Nanites healed up back him up. He glared at them. Their armies might have been crushed, but they needed to cut the head off the snake. Matthijs was out there, ending their father and mother.

He should have done that years before, but so far, the generations had to end each other. He looked up to Izanagi.

"I was surprised you survived." Azalof spat on the floor while he looked at them.

"You're all complexly and completely fucked up." Blocking the sword from the eldest, his knife found a place to cut.

"And why are we that?" The golden-haired asked.

"I don't know much about giving birth, but from what I got, it's no fun. Yet, all of you." He shook his head.

"I just don't get it. If you loath your offspring that much, why the fuck bring them in the world in the first place?"

Izanagi raised his sword. "It's just the way we work. Not like you understand. You got no way to run."

"Father and son. Fall one by one." Azalof shook his head while he looked at them. "Every species got one way or another to reproduce themselves. For humanity, it means taking care of your young. How your daughters survived, how you survived, I don't know. What I do know is that most likely, you won't live to see the truth."

"You're telling me that you love your failures." Azalof didn't hesitate to send a wave at the youngest woman. It was merely meant as a warning.

"I'm going to kill you all. Mark my words."

"How? I thought we broke you."

"Izanagi, you thought you killed Anaton. You're wrong. Matthijs brought him back. And right now, that older man is protecting Anaton. In the end. Don't we all chase a shadow?"

Their reign had come to an end.

There was a generation classing. Anaton stayed behind while he looked at the two older men. Both were over their sixties. They shouldn't be playing this sort of game.

He wasn't going to interfere right now. He was just going to watch. He had seen his grandfather, his father, and his brother reaching their end game.

One, he would be there. The youngest wished they all would be there to see it.

Matthijs had his arms crossed until he saw the eldest coming out.

"Matthijs."

"Tatsuya." Looking around, it looked like the older adult had left Miyuki behind.

"Didn't bring her along." Tatsuya unsheathed the sword while two knives came out.

"You got new ones? I thought you'd choose one pair." Matthijs shrugged. "It's better like this. I wouldn't be able to use my old ones against you. Also, for what it's worth." The smile got a bit softer.

"Thank you for not bringing Miyuki in this. Or Shihana." Tatsuya glared at Matthijs, who was sure this was the end of it all.

"Don't fool yourself. I didn't bring them here because they were not needed." The Satan shrugged while he gave one damned grin.

"Really? I mean. Forty years ago, the single reason I let you live was due to Miyuki. I mean. Hard to resist a girl like that."

Tatsuya smiled back at him until he could feel the Reiki coming out. The Nanites met their counterpart and viciously attacked him.

"Still, how do the young say, salty about the fact my sister chose me over you?" Matthijs shrugged. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Kerlongsj told me that you couldn't live in the "What If" Scenario. Because if I did marry your sis, well, I think that, well," he laughed when he looked at Tatsuya, who began to fume.

"It would mean you would live on. Yet, we completely wrecked your place. And then you come to mine." Tatsuya attacked him, and Anaton could only look away when the Patriarch hit Matthijs. The shockwave had to be felt throughout the entire building. When Anaton peeked back, he could see how Matthijs yawned while holding off Tatsuya.

"You have gotten rusty? I had hoped better from you. Brother."

Tatsuya moved back in, and that was when Matthijs took Tatsuya seriously.

"Looks like you got tricks up your sleeve." Matthijs shrugged when he looked at the man he could brother a life ago.

"Sad, isn't it? Two men, who should be friends, fighting over what? The world?"

Tatsuya couldn't help but glare. "What will happen when you kill me? Miyuki will become yours?" Matthijs shook his head.

"No. This ends in two ways. Either my kids and I die, or you and yours die. And if we win, I will kill Miyuki. The End of an Era."

End of the shoutout. Went back to my roots for a bit.

Takehito shook the idea out and walked to his class. Where lo and behold, Chifuyu Orimura already was sitting down while she was trying her hardest not to look at him, but she secretly peeked. Takehito just sat down with his newspaper. He wasn't going to embarrass Chifuyu now. So with that, they sat down.

Chifuyu peeked at him while he just read his newspaper. It was just him, and she spied on him in such a way that it wasn't annoying or working on his nerves. They just sat there while she looked beef red in the face. Eventually, her blush died down while they continued.

In the next few hours, the class began to fill. Takehito got the works he asked for and began to teach his class. Tabane didn't pay attention, not that she really had to, but she found herself looking at Chifuyu all the time.

Her best friend was paying attention to the class, and even so, she wasn't all there. Chifuyu Orimura was not a normal girl. She wasn't drawing hearts on her book, but she was just not all there in her head. Yet, when Takehito called her to the board, she quickly solved the question. When she got a thumbs up, Chifuyu got beef red again.

That was when it clicked for Tabane. There was something wrong with her Chi-chan. She wasn't acting normal, and no longer was her heart set on the remarkable genius, Tabane Shinonono. She would find out what was wrong with her Chi-chan and get her to speak the truth.

If Tabane only knew what was going on. Because Chifuyu herself didn't know what played in her mind.

Chifuyu herself didn't know what she was feeling. She just took a breath while Takehito walked by at her, and an appreciative nod made her red.

"Orimura-san, are you okay?" Takehito asked, and Chifuyu just looked away. Red in the face and the snickering in the class went up.

"Maybe she needs to go to the nurse room." Takehito just glared at her, and the girl shut up. "Raoki-san, mind your own business. And for the record, I am also trained as medical personal." Chifuyu looked at him, thankfully, on the way he handled the class.

"Orimura-san, if you permit?" Chifuyu wasn't sure what he meant with that, but she nodded. She wished that the question would be asked as Takehito gently touched her forehead. She wasn't used to bodily contact. Taking out his watch, Takehito counted the seconds while Chifuyu began to feel a bit hot.

"You feel a bit warm?" The class watched their teacher transform to a doctor in the blink of an eye. "Orimura-san, have you been eating properly?"

A nod came because Chifuyu wasn't sure that her voice would work. "Sleeping, alright?" Another nod came.

"Any problems?" Chifuyu looked away on that. "Orimura-san, how many fingers do I hold up?"

She peeked at him and saw that he raised three fingers. "Three, sensei."

"Do you have a headache?" She shook her head. "Dizzy?" Chifuyu again shook her head.

"Nauseous?" Takehito asked, and Chifuyu again shook her head. "Sensei. Are you qualified as a doctor?" Tabane glared at the teacher, who was defiling her sweet Chi-Chan. Takehito just looked back and nodded.

"Shinonono-san, you might not realize it, but my main job is a researcher at MBI. So I know things about healing. Orimura-san, I don't see that you're ill or you got any problems. Either way, I would like to make sure that you're fine. After school, do you mind if I help you out?" Chifuyu got a blush of epic proportions, and she was glad that Takehito had enough to keep them quiet.

"Sure." And with that, Chifuyu went daydreaming. Something she had never done before.

Takehito remained blissfully unaware of the dynamics of the class, but Chifuyu herself was enough to shut the girls up. The day went by, painstakingly slow, and Chifuyu couldn't wait until school was done.

Takehito was polite enough to ask for the nurse room. He had done examinations on super-powered aliens and adjusted them. Acting like a general practitioner was easy enough for him. Chifuyu came into the room. He wasn't sure why she was red in the face, and Chifuyu herself worked enough courage.

The guy made her feel at ease with just his smile. Takehito asked her questions, and she was calm and responded. From what Takehito guessed, she was eating fine, slept well, took care of herself, and made herself look good.

"Now, Orimura-san. I have to ask you a personal question. Are you okay with those?" Chifuyu steeled herself on the ones. She could guess what it meant, but she was just waiting until Takehito spoke.

"Yes, you may ask, sensei."

"Orimura-san. Would you mind explaining to me what your home situation is?" Chifuyu had some sort of expecting the question.

"I live together with my brother, Ichika." The teacher raised an eyebrow while he waited to continue.

"Is your brother older or younger than you?" Takehito had one ugly feeling blooming in his gut.

Back to the present day.

"So you asked, Chifuyu, about her social life?" Takehito sighed when his wife looked at the talking. She was incredibly worked up and jealous, which made her look extremely adorable.

"I asked about her home life. I couldn't know at the time that she was in love with me." Miya glared at her husband, who looked guile.

"Idiot. Why are men so stupid?"

"Because we are. And dear, you forget that boys are honest. In terms of humans, I preferred teaching boys because the line is simple. They are easier." Miya just shook her head.

"Continue, my dear. How did it end?"

He chuckled and went on.

"End? This was just the beginning."

Flashback continues.

"Ichika is eight years younger than me, sensei. He is at the elementary school now." Chifuyu said, and the face she wore was a mask of stone. Takehito had seen it before. Miya wore it all too often.

They were really similar, his wife and his pupil.

"Orimura-san, is there anyone else?" He wished that the solemn shook of the head wasn't the answer he was excepting.

"May I ask where your parents are?"

"I am not answering."

"Noted. Orimura-san. You do realize Orimura-san that I am assuming that you have been taking care of a young boy, your bother, and yourself? That is not something a teenager should carry. Please tell me that there is someone out there for you."

"The Shinonono family looks after Ichika and me regularly. But they can only do so much." Takehito sighed and stood up.

"Orimura-san. Do you mind?" The girl was quiet but felt arms around her body. She could break away quickly. She was stronger than Takehito, and despite it all, she felt the hug around her.

"Sensei."

"It's okay." He cut her off, and Chifuyu gulped when she heard that line.

"We all need someone. Someone who looks after us and who takes care of us." Chifuyu softly gulped, and shaking shoulders brought her down.

She shouldn't stand for this. She shouldn't allow him to go under his skin, to break down her defenses. To tell her, it was okay. To be weak, to cry out, to be human.

She was just softly sighing and gulping. An ugly face she made, but she felt herself calming down when she felt Takehito talking to her. If someone saw her, they would undoubtedly think the wrong thing.

But for that, it didn't matter. Chifuyu felt herself calming down while Takehito handed her a handkerchief. Blowing her nose, Takehito smiled at her, and Chifuyu looked back at him. "Orimura-san, if you ever need help, just let me know."

Chifuyu smiled at him, and she leaped up to him. Takehito didn't know what happened, but he could feel a peck on his cheek. The blush set in both their faces and before he could say a word, Chifuyu ran off as she was too embarrassed. Takehito wasn't sure about it all, but he touched his cheek.

"Get a feeling ever so complicated."

Yeah, he didn't see that one coming. He wasn't expecting Chifuyu to leap up and kiss him. On the cheek, okay, but she was still his student.

Sighing, Takehito packed his stuff and walked home. He wasn't going to tell Miya just yet on what happened.

Back to the present time

Miya would have been enraged on the story of how that little girl kissed HER husband on the cheek, were it not that the rational side told her what it all meant. Chifuyu was a sad, little girl that fell in love with a man that showed her a lot.

"So, she kissed you on the cheek?" Takehito nodded. Just like Miya, he had a good idea why Chifuyu gave him that kiss.

"That's all she did and all she would ever do. I was surprised as well." Miya sighed. She would admit that she and Chifuyu had shared many similarities. So it was to little surprise that Chifuyu had found an attraction to Takehito. She had done it herself.

Back to the past. (See what I've done)

The next day at school. Chifuyu had been early to school when she crossed paths with Takehito. While she smiled at him, he gave her a friendly grin back. He wasn't going to embarrass her. He hadn't forgotten the kiss he received on his cheek.

Chifuyu ran up to him, still red in the face, "Asama-sensei. Good morning." The teacher looked at her. With a grin, he walked up to her. "Good morning, Orimura-san."

The two just looked at each other with a smile on their faces. Takehito wasn't going to shout back at the girl on the whole thing. He did, however, have to defuse the bomb. He couldn't be with Chifuyu. Not only because of the age difference, the teacher, and so on. He was also married to a beautiful wife, and he wasn't going to betray Miya.

While she had been talking about the whole thing, Takehito wasn't an Ashikabi. So he wasn't going to. And most importantly, Chifuyu wasn't a Sekirei, although he would guess that Chifuyu could fight very well.

Even enough to keep up with his wife. He was sure of that. But another person was looking at the scene from afar. Everyone avoided the fuming and black energy coming from Tabane Shinonono. She had figured out why HER Chi-chan was acting differently. She was being seduced and taken away by that doctor. How dared he? How did he dare take away what was rightfully and earned hers?

Maybe she could spread rumors. Or falsely accuse of him of anything inappropriate? She shook her head. If she did that, Chifuyu would find out, and she would be sad. Or there might be something else. Chifuyu would murder her. She would try for sure.

Or maybe Takehito would fight back. She was sure of it.

But what caused her blood to boil was the embarrassed and friendly face she made to Takehito. They chatted while walking in the school.

She was biting on her handkerchief while glaring holes to the two were talking.

Yet, there was nothing much she could do. Tabane didn't tolerate anyone around Chifuyu, and it was lucky that her character made it nearly impossible to have anyone around her. And yet, that teacher, that man was around Chifuyu. And it was on her own volition. That was the most incredible thing.

And that was infuriating. The great genius Tabane began to think about the whole scheme of what she could do.

It didn't go well for Tabane as she was infuriated by the way that Chifuyu was around Takehito. She could hide it very well, all smiles when others were around her. The smile even became more real when Chifuyu talked to her, although she was sure that Ichika, like her, was extremely dense.

Chifuyu didn't even notice how dull Tabane's eyes became when she spoke of their teacher. For the first time in maybe forever, Chifuyu acted like a high school girl.

Tabane would never wish for that if she could foresee that the horrible teacher would seduce Chifuyu. It didn't help that despite her hatred for the teacher, Takehito was a genius. While he wasn't good with technology, he was high at biology. He knew human biology very well, and with science, he was right on those parts.

While she hatred his human being, she couldn't help but feel the tiniest, insignificant amount of respect for the teacher and his intellect.

She was boiling inside. Chifuyu never made the friendly and red face towards her. It was always cold and harsh. Chifuyu treated everyone like that around her. A real ice queen, she was. Chifuyu Orimura. It also fitted in with her name.

But yet, around Takehito, the winters melted away, and a summer bloomed in. It was incredible, were it not so infuriating to watch Chifuyu. She had hoped that no one would ever capture her heart.

She just looked at how Chifuyu acted around Takehito. Despite it all, Takehito kept a respectful distance between himself. While he got the message loud and clear that she was in love with him or at least, she was very fond of him.

The biggest problem was presenting an answer. He was now in his thirties, two decades older than her was married (to an alien but Miya could pass for a human), a teacher, and so on.

He couldn't return the feelings. That was easier said than done given the fact that he liked Chifuyu as a person. That was something he was allowed to have, right?

A sort of relationship, or it might be said friendship. He had seen one time on the television about a child of ten years that played chess with a man seven times his own age.

Nothing wrong with that, but you needed to have one big idiot who took that the wrong way. It was what Takehito had been trying to avoid with Chifuyu—getting too close to her.

He wasn't blind to how much Tabane loathed him. That was clear.

And it didn't go better in the run. Despite his own self, he had somewhat a relationship of friendliness. Nothing inappropriate that was fore sure but to say their relationship was just teacher and student would be wrong.

Which made it all the harder for him to turn her down. Which is what he did at the end of that school year.

The spring was setting out, and Chifuyu had been waiting for Takehito.

"Hello, Orimura-san." She turned to the teacher. "Asama-sensei. Hello." They looked at the blossoms that had begun to set out. Graduation was going on. Chifuyu had one more year, and in her uniform, she never looked more beautiful.

Which was why this wasn't easy.

"Orimura-san. There is something. I." He paused, licking his dry lips. Chifuyu looked at him, and with a heavy heart, he looked at her.

"I am aware of your feelings. Even you might not know them yourself. But. Chifuyu. I can't be what you want me to be." Chifuyu found herself looking at her teacher. She blinked a few times when Takehito sighed. Softly tapping her head with his book, he didn't offer a smile.

That would be hurting her more.

"Orimura-san. I offer you my sympathy. But I am twenty years older than you, a teacher." He sighed. "And I'm already married." Chifuyu's eyes blurred even more when she felt tears running down her face.

"Who?" The voice was so soft, and Takehito wasn't sure if he was talking to the same person. Chifuyu was one ice queen, and she was so strong in carrying herself.

Some parts hated himself for making her so sad and broken.

"Who what, Chifuyu?" Tears were now running down.

"Who did you marry?" Taking out his wallet, he showed a picture of Miya. After just one glance, Chifuyu ran off.

The doctor sighed. There was nothing more he could say.

This was also the last day he would be there as a teacher.

The rational part, something that Chifuyu prided on having, knew that Takehito couldn't return her feelings. Chifuyu didn't find it that hard, mostly because she had no idea what her feelings were to it, and she didn't know how she could respond to those feelings.

It was one of the hardest pills to swallow.

Sure, the rational part kept her telling that, but rationality and emotions didn't mix, and it came in her reply. She ran away, and Takehito sighed.

He wished that another person could look after her. He had even tried to contact Ichika, but that proved to be complicated. Also, he wasn't sure what he should tell the youngest of the Orimura.

"Hey, kid. I'm a teacher from your big sister's school. Your sis is in love, but I turned her down. Could you look after her for me? Thanks." Yeah, that would go well.

Takehito sighed. Somewhere, he felt some tugs on his heart when he saw Chifuyu running away.

Like his side told him, it was for the best, but he couldn't help but feel sad. But yet, there was nothing he could say.

Back to the present.

"You didn't feel too great when you had to dump her?" Takehito felt the hand of his wife on his own, who squeezed his.

"Dump is such an ugly word. Turning down was more about what happened." The scientist leaned his head back. "What else was I supposed to do, Miya? I was married to you by then, I was going to leave school, and she was two decades younger. So there wasn't much of another option."

Miya moved closer to her husband. Putting the head on her bust, she held him close to her. Despite it all, Takehito was a kind and gentle soul. It must be a reason why Minato reminded him of her husband. They were similar in that part, and Miya couldn't fathom how he'd deal with rejecting a woman.

Still, despite it all, Takehito had a hard hit. Despite the whole rational thing, Takehito had grown fond of Chifuyu, which was something you can do when you wee around others.

But right now, she didn't care much. It was a story, and Takehito told it.

"That wasn't the last time you saw Chifuyu Orimura, right?" Miya told her husband. Shaking his head in her tits, she stroked the hair of her husband.

"Nope. The second time was the first time you formally met."

Three years after the rejection of Chifuyu

Five years before the start of the series.

Takehito sat down in his home, enjoying the sun coming down in rays. He was done with building the Inn and now enjoyed his time off.

There was no smell of food being cooked because the person that would be doing that laid on his lap. Nothing was better than having one Miya Asama lying in his lap. He would never think he would actively get married and get a girl.

Frankly, there was a fault up there. Miya was not a human being but a Sekirei. From what he got, their entire culture existed around finding their special guy, an Ashikabi (half of the human population had that gene, who knew) and getting winged by the person.

Winged happened by an exchange of DNA through mucosal contact. For the one who wasn't pretentious or hated using fancy words. A kiss in that way, and it was pleasurable. Yet, that didn't happen with Miya.

An Ashikabi couldn't wing her for some reason. For most of the Sekirei, that would have a fate worse than death. For Miya herself, it wasn't a bad thing because nothing stood in the way of marrying Takehito. A human being. Her human.

She was asleep in his lap, and for a person of mass destruction, she looked so cute. How a woman like her laid claim to him was beyond him, yet Takehito enjoyed it.

The world could get insane, yet he didn't care. He just laid his head back while spring rang around. The smell was excellent, and the winter was getting out. He just enjoyed his time off. Sleeping was an important thing.

Takehito heard the bell ringing. "Miya. Hey, Miya." His wife was like a cat at this point. Luckily, he knew one thing. He moved his head and blew in her ear. But still, that didn't work. So he did the most logical job.

"Sweetie, I want to bang you so hard that you won't be able to walk straight." Miya veered up, red in the face, blush like a mad girl, looking flustered when he said that. He softly laughed when he looked at her.

"That got you up." He simply said, and he walked the door. Miya just sighed. That trick worked on her. Never would she ever admit, but she did enjoy it when Takehito banged her until she couldn't walk straight. He did enjoy that.

Opening the door, Takehito's mouth softly dropped open when he looked at her.

It had been three years since he last saw the woman. Raven hair had grown longer, tied up in the same ponytail. Her face still had those amber-colored eyes, softly looking at him. Her body had softly begun to set out. While she wasn't as voluptuous as Kazehana, there was no denying that the woman was beautiful. She had also gotten some length.

Her attire was a business one—a white shirt hidden under a black business suit and a matching skirt. Yet, there was no denying that Chifuyu could wear anything and still look good.

"Hello, Asama-sensei." Chifuyu greeted her old teacher, and Takehito had to wipe his eyes for a bit. When he was sure, he looked at the winner of the first Mondo Grosso Championship.

And his former pupil who had a crush on him.

"Well, look who the cat dragged in. It's been a while, Chifuyu." Softly, he raised his hand, and like he had a book, he patted her on the head as he did years ago.

A specific ache sat in both their chests. Takehito shook his head.

"Well, Chifuyu. Might I ask how you found my house? You're a long way from home, aren't you?"

The woman shrugged on that. "I had been to this place for my job. I found a newspaper with an advertisement for the Maison Izumo. When it had your name under it, I wanted to see if it was you. Glad it was you, sensei. You haven't changed a bit."

Takehito smiled at her, yet he was a bit uneasy.

"You have changed a great deal." He looked at the young lady. "Takehito, dear. Who is at the front door?" Miya found herself looking at the young woman in front of her.

"Takehito, who is this?" The second their eyes crossed, Takehito was glad he had been around Takami so much. The Sahashi woman could be one major pain, but she gave him serious practice.

"Oh, hello. Who might you be?" His wife used a sickly sweet voice. One he had heard plenty of times before.

"A saleswoman. I am sorry, but I am not buying anything from you." Chifuyu walked in after she took out her shoes.

"Good day. My name is Chifuyu Orimura. I was an old student of your husband. I had hoped he was home so I could say hello and catch up." Miya blinked a few times when she heard the name. Takehito had mentioned her a few times, but not too much.

How long was it ago? Two or three years?

"My, an old student of my husband. I hope that you have a valid reason for your visit." There were so many places Takehito wished to be but not in his own house right now because Miya and Chifuyu were looking at each other.

Clapping his hands, the women turned to him. It'd either save his home and hide, or it would destroy it. There was only one way to find out.

"Okay, can we all calm down? Chifuyu, why did you come here?" The woman slyly smiled at her old teacher and back to Miya.

"Sensei. I wanted to see what kind of woman laid claim to you. For that reason, I came here to challenge your wife for a match." That was a surprise for Miya. While the whole plan was a secret of her being a legal alien, it'd be hard to fight against Chifuyu.

"Eh, Chifuyu." Her man, bless him for his peacekeeping role, tried to stop her. "I don't think it's such a good idea." The smile on her face reminded Miya of Karasuba, which wasn't a good thing. That woman was one rabid dog on a leash, looking for blood. Yet, with Chifuyu, it was less bloodthirsty.

"Don't worry, Asama-sensei. I am confident I can take her on." Miya gave her one kind smile, and behind her, a visage came to life. She was getting better at those. Yet, Chifuyu didn't back down.

"Ara? Really now. And how strong do you think you are to challenge me for a fight?" Chifuyu gave her one crooked smile back.

"I am the first Brunhilde. I think I should be able to fight you." That threw the couple for a loop. They should have known that.

The Mondo Grosso Championship. In layman's terms, it was a sort of Olympic Games for Infinite Stratos.

Pretty much just a tournament for them to represent their countries. Chifuyu had won the first time. Takehito should have known. Chifuyu had an air of violence and fighting around her. With the Infinite Stratos, that was shown here.

"Well, that seems like a good reason. Perhaps, you can teach me." With a soft tap, he stopped Chifuyu and Miya.

"We're not fighting with an Infinite Stratos, and we are no teaching anyone anything. If you want to have this match, because you will have it, you will fight in normal terms. With wooden swords. The chance that one of you kills the other goes down."

His words left little room for argument. Despite it all, Takehito had the most sway and said of everyone in the room. The women listened to him, and despite it all, they couldn't fight on an empty stomach. So it was to little surprise that they spent their meal eating. During that time, it was confirmed by Takehito that despite it all, his wife and Chifuyu Orimura were very similar.

Unique in their fighting, well trained, strict, and harsh with a rigorous standard.

Yet, both women were capable of the most selfless love that he had witnessed. Miya stepped down her role as Goddess to become his wife. Chifuyu Orimura would go to hell and back to save her brother.

Two Reasons to come home

Chifuyu laid her head back on the soft pillow. They had only been recently back in their house with the summer going on. Just like before they left, her little siblings slept on her shoulder.

Well, one slept. Ichika was soundly asleep while Madoka laid awake.

"Something wrong, my little sister?" The cuddle bug just smiled at her and moved in for a hug.

"Just that I love. A lot, my big sister."

I wanted to refer to it, and here we go.

With some compliments to her cooking, Takehito caught up with his old pupil. Some were talking about Ichika and what he had been doing in his life. He was slowly getting somewhere as Ichika had lost a lot when Tabane made the Infinite Stratos.

She had also been training in other ways. The reason why she won the Mondo Grosso Championship was due to her excellent sword fighting. She had learned a lot and could use different forms of kendo, kenjutsu, and even other forms of martial arts.

From how she spoke, she was good as fighting and enjoyed it as a past time, yet she wasn't a battle junkie.

It was something she grew on. After that, Miya and Chifuyu walked to a dojo. Takehito had some words with the owner. He knew the older adult well, and Miya often used the place to train. Even now, she wasn't going to let herself become rusty.

When both sides were ready, they showed up. Chifuyu had a kimono packed while Miya was wearing her usual outfit. Takehito was the referee of it, and he was sure that both sides would kill one another when they had their chance.

"Are both sides ready?" The two gave him a nod. "Begin!" He moved back as it might have been for the first time that Miya found a person that A. Could hold her own. And B. was human.

Both swords found each other, and he was sure a small tremor set out. Both women looked at each other in the eye.

Chifuyu would show her teacher how much she had grown. Maybe even grow good for him. During her fights in the last few years, it became clear that the saying was true. No matter how high you climb, there is still a more upper mountain to go over.

Chifuyu had to spend the better part of her life, fighting, and training. And during that, she had never found herself in a battle that could result in a loss.

A challenge, she often ran in those. Yet, she never had to worry about coming out on top. It was like you couldn't bet against her. Despite that, she could feel the power that was hidden between the arms of Miya.

'You can't fool me, sensei. This is not just a normal woman.' Now, it might come as a shock, but Chifuyu knew that she wasn't normal.

When she and Miya broke contact, they went again. Chifuyu was on the offensive. Several strikes and swipes, light yet fast, made their way to Miya. It was easy enough for her to fend them off.

And despite not being normal, Chifuyu knew about that. It was a secret she kept around her. Miya, on the other hand, looked a bit surprised.

Despite being the Pillar, a literal Goddess, and a person of mass destruction that could crush anything presented to her, she found that Chifuyu could match her. In the beginning, she went easy on Chifuyu, sure, but when she felt the power, the experience, the skills, the warrior behind the sword, she began to take Chifuyu seriously.

She increased her display of skill, and yet, Chifuyu kept pushing her back. Takehito wasn't stepping in as he knew both women would respect his wish not to kill each other. However, in the way they moved and fought, it looked like they were going to kill each other.

The speed, the ferocity, the show. It was incredible to see. If Takehito had brought his camera along, he would be able to make a fortune of the show here.

His wife was an incredibly strong woman, and it was why he married Miya, he fell in love with her strength. Yet for all intent and purposes, she had either found her even knee or her counterpart. It showed how good Chifuyu was.

He hadn't seen Miya this serious in years about a fight. Smiling, giggling, and moving around gracefully.

Yet, here for all its intents and purposes, his wife moved again like a warrior. It might be the first time that his wife smiled. Not a bloodthirsty, crazy grin of Karasuba. A smile of pure joy that was inserted in her body. It was shown in how much Miya loved fighting.

Chifuyu wasn't complaining either. Despite fighting an absolute equal, or even her better, she was enjoying herself.

Chifuyu wasn't a complete self-absorbed idiot. She enjoyed fighting, and while she had come out on top, nearly every single time, she had never forgotten that someone better could be out there. In this case, it was Miya Asama. The wife of the object of her affection. Yet, despite it all, she now understood how that Miya could fight and protect Takehito in ways that she would never be able to.

Gradually, Chifuyu felt her body being forced back. She was a small girl, fighting a terrifying monster. Yet, this girl wouldn't stop fighting. She didn't lose her cool, she kept her head out her cute ass and fought back with ferocity.

Yet, she could feel her body ache and scream. Takehito had taken a seat as the clashing of wooden swords lasted for 30 minutes. Thirty minutes of intense combat fighting. If anyone had ever done that, they could tell you that thirty minutes was long.

The sword of the Pillar and Brunhilde clashed again, and the wind gusted around their bodies. Ground into a standstill, Chifuyu couldn't help but feel her body telling her it hits its limit. The sword slipped out her sweaty hands and fell on the floor. After that, her body followed suit, and with her hands, she kept herself stable.

"I…," she kept quiet and looked at the floor. "I lost." Miya knelt to the younger woman and showed her a kind smile.

"I have to congratulate you, Chifuyu Orimura. It's been a while since I fought like this." Chifuyu looked back down.

"I lost." Miya sighed and pulled the woman around. "Yes, but let me tell you that while you did lose, it would be one harsh match. Despite it all, I didn't expect you to keep up with me. I can safely say you pushed me to my limits."

Takehito hoped no one had noticed his eyes widening when his wife told Chifuyu that. She meant that.

Every. Single. Word. Of. That.

"Chifuyu-chan. I am giving you a big piece of advice." When the woman stood up, Miya placed her hand on her heart. "That down, there is a big source. It can give you the strength to do anything. It doesn't have to be something cliché, but love can give you a lot of strength. Use it."

Chifuyu bowed to Miya. "Thank you, Miya-san. I'll be sure to keep your words as a lesson."

And for the last time, back to the present.

"Clearly, she didn't take those words as a lesson." Takehito sighed as he heard his wife talk. He couldn't help but agree.

In the eyes of Chifuyu, she would forever look at him from far away. Like an unreachable star. Thus, filling her with so much joy and so much pain.

Love can take in many forms. Both Miya and Takehito loved each other in one way. They also loved Minato and his flock in a different way.

One similar to the love that Minato would experience soon enough. Love for your offspring.

"I don't think you are wrong on that, Miya." She laid in her husband's lap. "I am not sure what, but something must have greatly soured her. It shows in what Ichika-shonen has been sending Minato. That is clear."

Miya looked at the teasing smirk. All of the tenants would agree that Miya had gotten horrible during the time he was away. An incredible prude, Miya was with no regard for fun or sexy stuff.

"Maybe something like Tabane. I remember that girl being nuts. There were some bits in which she proclaimed she loved Chifuyu. Or it was something that Chifuyu mentioned." Takehito said, and Miya could agree.

They wouldn't say a word to Ichika about the previous relationship they had with his sister. It only came later to them about the fight on the island, and it was Chifuyu who had fought them there.

From what she understood and read, maybe Chifuyu could be saved from her own folly. Yet, with the other girls, she doubted they would realize their destructive behavior.

For a silent moment, they sat down, enjoying each other's company until a knock was heard on the door.

The groan was heard audibly when the male Asama moved to it, and it slid open. Standing was Minato with Kusano on his hips with an apologetic face.

"Minato? What'd you need, boy?" The Ashikabi of the North wasn't comfortable with it all, but yet, he asked.

"Eh, Takehito-san. Not that I want to sound rude, but when do you think Miya-san will start cooking? It's been two hours over dinner." Blinking, the Asama's looked their clock, and indeed, it was eight pm. They couldn't believe they had talked the entire day away.

"Sorry about that, Minato." Miya rushed out to the kitchen, which got a loud applaud from the flock gathered around the table.

She had wanted to retaliate but kept quiet due to embarrassment, and she didn't want to tell the table of what had happened.

Matsu and Kazehana would keep their mouth shuts. As long their Ashikabi didn't ask about Chifuyu, they wouldn't tell him a thing.

And if they had to, they would go to Miya, and she could do the talking about their history with Chifuyu Orimura.

Takehito scratched his head while Minato looked relieved. "Sorry about that, Minato. Just had a long talk." Minato shrugged on it. After he lectured Kusano and three others, he had spent most of the day studying. For him, that was important. Yet, he couldn't foresee that the upcoming days would be even more heated than the weather cast foretold.

Meanwhile, on a beach, far away from Shinto Teito.

Ichika yawned as the heat was still on the rock. He had a decent catch yet released the fish back into the sea. It was already dark outside, and he had only gotten one visit from his big sis.

"So here is where you were the entire day?" Ichika looked back at Chifuyu, who joined him. "So you catching any?"

"More like clearing my head. So Orimura-sensei. What all happened?" The male pilot asked while being focused on the rod.

"The Silver Gospel goes back to Uncle Sam. It's completely shut down." Ichika smirked inwardly. "Good thing that I am a friend with Minato. Matsu delivers good work."

"You brat. Do you have any idea how I have to write this report down? My younger brother called his best friend, the Ashikabi of the North, who has a Sekirei who shut it down. Really?"

"So you're more worried about the fact that I am giving you a headache on a report instead of the fact you don't have to take care of my funeral? Good to know, big sis." Chifuyu's mouth dropped open.

"Excuse you?" Ichika took out his phone from his pocket of the trouser. "Minato sent me a text a couple of hours ago. From what Matsu guessed, odds of me coming out alive weren't high." Ichika glared back at her.

"Still, you took this chance of avoiding your chance." Ichika rolled his eyes.

"I live. Thanks to Minato. Been too close to death one too many times. Not again."

Chifuyu crossed his arms. "You call yourself a man? Making a woman fight your fights?" Leaning his head back, Ichika smiled at her.

"Didn't you all wanted to be treated equally? Women are superior to men. I hear so many times. So I don't think I should be ashamed of keeping myself alive. Besides, who are you to say what is a man?" Ichika spat in the ocean.

"You're seen as a man by the men around you. Now, hate to be Captain Obvious, but there are no males around me who can say I am a man. So you can take your old ideas and shove them in a place that I am not going to say aloud because I don't want you to kill me." Chifuyu crossed her arms when she glared at Ichika.

"You're one little brat. Either way, good luck with catching the fish. Enjoy the stay, Orimura. We're leaving over fifteen hours."

And with that, Ichika went back to fishing. The summer sun had done wonders for his tan. It got a beautiful color on his body. He wasn't thinking of too much. Peace of mind was something worth a lot these days.

In the end, he got a visit from another pain. Houki walked up to him. Ichika raised an eyebrow. "So here is where you were." The male shrugged on it.

"Well, Houki. I didn't move." Stretching out, he looked at the girl. She looked good in that suit. It showed enough skin without being too slutty. He found her looking pretty attractive, and despite it all, he was still a young teenage male with hormones.

"I can't believe you said that to my sister." He had just her down, but with Matsu did, Ichika proved them right. Tabane said she couldn't hack into the Silver Gospel, and yet, Matsu did, which was terrific.

"Well, Houki. Contrary to popular belief, I also get annoyed by her. Similar to you and my sister. Her blatant refusal to hack the Silver Gospel, that kind of irked me. So when Matsu-san was so kind to do that, I was happy she did. And she did it before I could ask."

Ichika said as he laid back and looked at her. She went to sit next to him. "Either way, she most likely saved both our lives. I don't think we'd be able to stop that machine." Houki wanted to fight back, but she nodded.

"It was a coward move."

"Houki, you can be a living coward or a dead fool. If you take away the insults, you're either alive or dead. We're both breathing. Matsu-san took out the Gospel, I took it easy, my sister can write the message to her board, we have summer, and we are alive. What more would you require?"

Houki sat next to him, and she moved closer.

"You do realize that she isn't yours? She is married to Minato." Ichika mulled over the thoughts. "Houki. I don't know the Sekirei. They're all married, and well, I'm just a fifteen-year-old boy. It's just that Minato threw me a lifeline when I was drowning."

She sighed and looked at him. "You changed. During all the time, you changed."

"You didn't. And that clashed. Houki, you think I wanted to be in this school? The only person with a Y chromosome for three clicks around in a circle. Over a thousand girls who see me as an exotic animal. And don't lie, but from all those girls, they all are something."

Houki sighed as she looked at him. At that point, a lightbulb went off over his head. Reaching inside his pocket, he offered her a ribbon. White and red, a bit like Akatsubaki. Houki looked at him and back. With a slight smile, he sighed.

"Happy birthday, Houki. I am sorry I forgot about it." She was happy enough on the gift that she got from Ichika, and with that, she put it in her hair.

It stood her well, and she grinned when she found him looking at her. "Thank you, Ichika. For this." He shrugged.

"Either way, they didn't have to drag us out of there. Or get the others to fight. We got out of this mess. In the long end, things worked out."

"Ichika, you really are something. But in the end, what now?" The male shrugged.

"We have summer, I suppose." Houki was inching closer to him, and he could feel a press on him. "Ichika, I am just wondering. Do you even see me as a woman?" The guy looked back at her.

She was a fighting junkie, pretty violent, and a short temper. Yet, there would be no denying that Houki had one killer body.

"Eh, well. That is to say. I." Ichika didn't know how or why, but he felt a need to get closer to her. When he was inching to her, he felt something on his face. Looking at him directly up was a drone. Turning his head asides, he saw the four other girls.

Four of them are in their fully activated the IS Units.

"Oh," Laura said while she looked at them.

"Let's kill them all." Rin had a crazy look in her eyes.

A sinister giggle escaped Cecilia.

What he gave him a very unexpected surprise was Charlotte, who glared at him. "Ichika, what are you doing?"

Ichika sighed and stood up. He looked at the girls who were looking at him with malicious intent. Cracking his knuckles, Ichika raised his bracelet.

"I don't apologize." He said when he did what the girls didn't expect he would do—activating Byakushiki.

Shaking his head, he looked back at the girls and to Houki. "You just couldn't leave well enough alone. Could you?"

This had to be swift and brutal. Not too long at them.

Before Laura had even a chance of saying something, Ichika had activated Reiraku Byakuya. He was in front of her face, and also before he used his special attack, a fist was slammed in her guts. The shock that Ichika would think of fighting back and being so vicious in that regard made the girls gulp. His sword cut through her like hot butter while she was slammed onto the rocks.

Rin was next, and in a display of sword fighting, he lifted her spear. Slamming Yukihira down on her face, Rin could feel a strength she didn't guess that Ichika would have. The pain was registered in her system.

Using his left hand, he grabbed Rin by her body, and a headbutt was the next thing she registered. Blood went down her nose as she could feel pain in her body. Ichika just threw her body to Laura.

The next thing Ichika knows is that he was crashing into her, he looked at Cecilia. She was next and using the speed from his unit. He raced to her. Ichika learned a lot throughout the year, and so, the gap between the two had closed even further. She didn't know what happened next, but she could feel how Ichika used his sword just to give her a cut from the sides.

A battle cry echoed over the rocks as he threw Cecilia. Houki had her mouth fallen open. Sure, Ichika had changed, but to the point that instead of standing his punishment, he just decided to throw the girls into one heap and fight back.

Charlotte was the last girl, and Ichika decided that his mercy and patience had run dry. He wasn't going to stop at it.

A small, tiny part hoped that she would be different. That she would be a friend and that she, kind and caring as she was, could understand his choice. It looks like he was wrong. Disappointed in her, Ichika had practiced with a sword.

The small mercy was that Charlotte didn't even see him moving. Her shield points went dry, and Ichika carried her down.

Well, to the rocks. Where he dropped her like a bag of potatoes, after that, he was done. Walking back to the hotel, he didn't spare them one glance, Houki included. That was also the only girl that could follow him by walking. He just left the girls at the place where he dropped them.

At that point, Ichika couldn't find one bone in his body that could care about it.

When he reached the place, his sister was waiting for him. "Ichika." The boy had a stare in his eyes that was closer to a thousand-yard style.

"Yes." That voice belonged to a guy who had seen the horrors of a lifetime.

"Where are the other four?"

"At the rocks where I sat and dropped them. Don't ask me to pick them up. I'm going to hit the sack." And that was all he said.

There was a song that Shevchenko had sung before. There was one bit that was playing in his mind.

You had to have it all.

Well, haven't you had enough?

You can't have it all, a pearl of wisdom that Ichika got. You have to make a sacrifice somewhere. That older adult told him that men accepted that from a very young age. Five or six years old.

But women thought they could have it all.

The next morning. Ichika had found himself a bottle of water and drank it. Four girls looked sleep-deprived. They took some distance from him while he sat down. Somewhere he wanted to thank his big sister, but there was a part of him that needed a fresh batch of air.

Sharing a look with his sister, it might be for the best that he went out for the summer.

"So, girls had a good night?" The stares were worth it, but for now, he could only hope to sleep on the bus. Popping his back, Ichika couldn't wait to be home.

He had one long email to write to Minato when he got home. Or on the road.

"Morning, Ichika." Houki looked embarrassed at him, but at least she had gotten a good night. The talk about other stuff that went down the drain. She, at least, got his attention.

"Morning, Houki." He said to the girl, and he was almost ready to write the message to Minato. But someone had other ideas.

"Excuse me, is there an Ichika Orimura around?" His mouth fell open when he looked at one bombshell—blond hair that was long and a blue suit that fitted her body perfectly.

"Yes. That's me. And you are miss?" Despite the drinks, his mouth was dry when he looked at the beauty.

"I am Natasha Fairs. The pilot of the Silver Gospel. Heard from upstairs, you were the one who took down kid." Scratching his cheek, Ichika gave one nervous smile.

"Not really. I had some help from an old friend. Minato Sahashi." She sighed and moved in closer, pecking him on the cheek.

"Well, do him my regards when you see him." A blush settled in over his face while Natasha smiled at him. "I owe you one now. Thank you, Mr. White Knight." Ichika sighed when he turned around. The girls were boiling with fury, but Ichika just raised his arm.

"Don't." Was there some sort of dominance settling in? Ichika decided to sit in front of the bus. He wasn't going to do more.

But he could hear his sister discussing with the pilot. It looks like she was close to the machine and that whoever caused it was going to pay. At least, it was done. And maybe they could help her out. Shaking his head, he didn't owe Natasha a single thing. She could take care of her matters.

Checking his phone, he raised an eyebrow.

He had already gotten a message from Minato.

Summer.

Hey, Ichika. I hope to hear from you about what happened at your place. It sounds like you had a big party.

I am sending you the message that I would like it if you could come in two weeks from now. I'm throwing a party for several reasons, on the 22nd of July. Mainly because the coming week will be scorching, brother.

And I promised the girls a fun night. So please come over then.

Ichika began sending the message.

Hey, Minato.

Good to hear from you. No worries, I can come over than to have fun. Thanks for the heads-up. Also, you got the regards from Natasha Fairs. She is the pilot of the Silver Gospel.

Ichika didn't even notice the bus moving while Chifuyu spoke at them about the summer and so on. He just wanted to get home.

I hope you have fun there with your girls, but I don't have to know the details, brother. Keep those for yourself.

What is there to say?

The beach was fun, all thing considered. I had some peace. Thanks to Matsu, I didn't have to fight. Although I am just willing to let all things sail about that Silver Gospel, it's down, I'm alive, and I am fine. Thanks, brother.

Tabane left, and I don't know if you are responsible for that. I just no longer care. I'm too worn even to do that.

But things didn't go down that smoothly, brother. I don't want to say too much, but last night, I gave the girls a beating about some stuff. Let's just say that I don't apologize and fought back. Gave them one trashing.

It had something to do with me not being allowed to make my own choice—that kind of sucks, also burned a bridge with Charlotte. I wished that it didn't have to happen, but right now, I just no longer care.

Either way, I am taking up your offer to come over. But right now, sleeping more.

Ichika pressed the "Send" button and fell asleep on the bus ride home. Just a few more days and he would see Minato again.

In Shinto Teito.

After an excellent dinner, Miya had outdone herself as a way of apologizing towards her tenants, Minato kept his promise and slept alone in his room. The girls were a bit angry about it, but he could be stubborn.

The next morning, Minato got the text from Ichika. He had slept a long while. Just to tank up because he was too tired from the last few days of the continuous sex.

When he got the message, it was clear that Ichika was worn out. He just no longer cared about anything. Not good. Looking down, he saw eight bodies around.

It looks like nothing worked out. Those girls would go in his bed despite all things. It would explain why he would sleep so well.

The summer could begin now, and Minato cringed internally when he thought that he could start the summer off with a bang.

---

Beta read and corrected by requester SetsunaRay. Glad you liked it.

There's two Easter Eggs, and both are homages to two fanfic authors. Those two were significant influences on my work when I started in 2015 and 2016 when I started working on those fics. Significant impacts back then, and they are still to this day.

They still have it although it's been quiet for years. One of them is no longer in the land of the living.

I also heard from a few old friends who I worked within 2017. Weird how life goes.

Been thinking about making something else, but that is for when this chapter is over. I also went back to the grave of an old friend and saw what he cooked out for some references on that. But no telling if I'll go back to that time. Times were different back then.

But I am not sure I'll go back to those days. While the whole dynasty and story and legacy thing was fun and all but I think the smaller stuff is better for me.

Also, I got a few requests more. One is lined up as Two Reasons to come home, one is from an old friend, and one is new to me. If you want me to write out a request, just let me know, but I handle this principle. First come, first served.

It might get busy around but if you ask, it's first chatting about the ideas that you have in mind. But if you like to leave a request, you can pm me, I don't bite or leave a review.

But be specific. Writing, I want a lemon isn't enough. I'm kinda need more when you ask me to write that out.

The next chapter is called the Empire of the Clouds. I'm not going to keep it a secret. That chapter will be a pivotal plot point in my fic. There is going to be a ton of other plot if you catch my drift. It'll be a challenge and a lot of fun.

With this update, this fic has grown to be my third biggest fic. I got a hunch that this fic will reach 200K or even more. We'll see.

Please let me know in the reviews what you think of this chapter.

Saluut.