Shattered Blade

by DrakeValkyr

After several years of traveling the world's battlefields, Enforcer Shirou Emiya finds himself in Shin Tokyo. Leave it to him to go on vacation and end up trapped in yet another battle royal between magical beings. Inspired by Gabriel Blessing's In Flight.

12. Chapter 12: Phase Two, Part 2

*Shirou*

"No fair!" Haihane rasped trailing underfoot. "I was here all day, all alone and I still missed out on the action!"

She'd glued herself to my side like a puppy or… well, like Akitsu – given said woman's matching position on my other side.

"If it's any consolation, I didn't expect there to be any." As soon as the retrieval helicopters had hit the area, the Sekirei had fled like cockroaches. The only casualty for the day was Yukari's blonde would-be assailant, now resting in whatever grave or laboratory slab MBI used for dead aliens.

Haihane's pout didn't waver in the slightest.

"How about…" Ugh, for only one eye being visible past her bangs, her pleading eyes were surprisingly effective. "Next time I go on an errand with the promise of no combat, conflict or problem, you can accompany me so that you don't 'miss out on the action.'"

"Yay!" – Crack– the excitable girl leapt upon me, hugging me with (thankfully) flash-frozen claws. She (figuratively) froze a moment later, realizing what she had done.

"Ah…" Akitsu pressed two fingers to Haihane's forehead, pushing her off me with little (mostly little) resistance.

"Kitsu-chan, I forgot!" Haihane hid behind her frozen claws as my silent savior loomed over her. "Forgive me?"

She bawled as the taller Sekirei silently berated her. This was probably the best opportunity to slip away that I'd get. As it was, I still had one more task I set for myself before I left today…

"Junko, is Hiroto-san out of his last meeting?" I asked my brunette assistant.

"Yes sir." She answered, providing me with a small manila folder. Checking the contents, I saw the pictures of several Sekirei and a single human. Two of the photos I recognized: the one belonging to the scythe-wielding child I put down for attacking Takami and the other belonging to the blonde from earlier today. Both pictures were stamped with large, red block letters declaring them 'Deactivated.' "This is the initial report…" She trailed off, staring at my face.

"Is this correct?"

"Yes sir." She nodded. "I checked it twice. Sir…"

"I need to speak with him now." This was intolerable. "Watch after the girls for me?"

I didn't wait for her to respond as I left the Disciplinary Squad office and the lingering scent of honey behind.

Minaka's office was on the top floor, at the top of the clock tower where his office could overlook the whole of the city. The three elevators needed to ascend allowed me the time I wanted to focus my thoughts away from the notion of beating him to death.

Two attacks by the same perpetrator with timing too coincidental to be just luck. This was either extreme negligence, inside information, or both. Either way, this was Minaka's game, and the oversight being provided was lax at best.

"Mr. Emiya." His secretary spoke as soon as the elevator opened. "I'm sorry, but Hiroto-san–"

"Door's open, Shirou-kun," Minaka spoke over the speaker on the secretary's desk. "Come on in. Kaede-san, you're dismissed for the day. Thank you."

I ignored the dirty look his secretary sent me as I passed and pushed open the solid wood double doors to Minaka's opulently spaced office. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the three sides of the room, giving a beautiful view of the sunset over Shin Tokyo's skyline. Minaka's desk was centered roughly in the exact center of the room, the man himself lounged backward in his leather, high-winged roller chair with his feet kicked up.

The only sound other than my footsteps echoing upon the marble floor was an 8-bit digital track playing quietly.

"Thank you for meeting with me." It may have been the politest greeting I'd given the man since I first met him. No… I think I threatened to kill him back then. That would make this our most civil meeting to date.

"Shirou, my boy!" He greeted me with a smile. I could see colorful lights reflecting off his glasses. The digital track was coming from his phone, cradled in his lap, and now that I was closer, I could hear the repetitive music was occasionally interspersed with the occasional nonsense voice line. "I was wondering when you'd come to talk to me, man to man. What's up?"

I meant what I'd told Homura earlier in the car ride today. Minaka, for all that he might be the architect of this… Sekirei Plan… was hands-off. Whatever endgame it would lead to, his part seemed over and done with given how little regard he displayed about it so long as it continued. Removing him from power would do nothing to help the Sekirei, the Ashikabi, or any of the bystanders who would eventually get caught up in the death game.

"I've been looking into the attacks on–" I started, brandishing the file Junko put together. I had barely assumed the Tohsaka Rin explanatory pose #3 before being interrupted.

"Hold on, I'm almost done." Minaka Hiroto, CEO of Mid Bio Informatics, the largest company in the city and one of the largest biomedical firms in the world was leaning back at his desk, feet kicked up and playing some kind of phone game while people were dying. "I'm trying to get a super rare pull."

Never mind. I think I was going to kill him.

"You have Takami's focus," Minaka said as he glanced up and clicked his phone off, sitting up properly. "So, you were looking into the attacks on Takami-kun and Yukari-chan?"

He knew? Right. He did ruthlessly take over Shin Tokyo and beat back all corporate (and at times political) rivals from getting his medical patents. Personally, I attributed a lot of this success to Takami, given that my mother was a type A personality on rabies…

Still, Minaka couldn't be as much of an idiot as he appeared to be, right?

"Correct." I handed him the folder. "This is the second attack on either a high-profile member of MBI involved with raising and releasing Sekirei into the city or their family. That a Sahashi has been the victim each time makes me think it's targeted."

"There is a saying," Minaka flipped through the file as he spoke, "once is luck, twice is coincidence…"

"I might have terrible luck, but I can't speak to if it's hereditary." Despite his words, I could see he was reading and not just disregarding what I was saying. That was a good sign. "That said, I don't believe in coincidences."

"Enemy action then."

"This Ashikabi is on track to have the most Sekirei of any Ashikabi," I repeated Junko's report to me verbatim. "If the attacks on 107 and 108 were successful, he would be the strongest Ashikabi from a numeric standpoint by far."

"An Ashikabi forming an advantage over the others seems like a good strategy in a game like this." Minaka leaned back again, steeping his fingers together. The glare of the lights off his glasses prevented me from seeing his eyes. The move looked practiced. "I don't see how this is a disciplinary matter."

"It is because in both cases he is the only Ashikabi involved," I argued. "These aren't spillover events where MBI personnel are injured in collateral. This Ashikabi's Sekirei have wholly instigated these incidents on their own, either through foreknowledge or subversion, and conducted attacks on the company."

"Can you prove that Takami is a target?" He asked the important question.

"Not at this moment." That was my unfortunate answer.

"If he isn't breaking rules and we can't prove malicious intent outside of circumstantial evidence, no matter how leading it might seem," He raised a hand when I went interject, "what is it that you propose?"

"I want to kill him." Straight forward and to the point.

"Denied."

"I'm formally asking as a member of MBI's Disciplinary Squad. He's now twice attacked people unrelated to Sekirei and who aren't Ashikabi." I argued. "Twice it's been my family. Hell, I'm an Ashikabi myself, I can make it happen without a greater investment of resources."

"Denied, Shirou." Minaka sighed. "I cannot approve of a personal vendetta. He has not broken the rules."

"People are dead, Minaka! If he hasn't broken the rules, then the rules are bullshit!" I erupted. "If we do nothing when our own people, let alone innocent bystanders, are assaulted by Sekirei then it will continue to happen! If we're shown to be powerless, then these events will continue to happen with greater frequency until the tenuous secrecy of your 'game' is going to be broken."

I felt the desk creak under my fingertips.

"You're passionate." He remarked as I caught my breath. "You remind me of a younger me." I tried not to look like I swallowed a lemon… or battery acid. "Before I give you my formal decision, I take it you had a plan?"

"I did." And I told him…

Well, I told him the one that involved my Sekirei's participation.

"That goes too far." I balked, but he held up a hand. "However… I must admit the bones of it are solid. That said, I can't allow you to remove such a strong piece from the board, especially given that he hasn't broken any rules. Nor will I allow him to be punished for violating rules that don't exist yet."

"So, we do nothing?" That was… unacceptable. If Minaka wouldn't let me act officially, I'd just have to do it unilaterally.

Minaka stared at me with an uncharacteristically (for our interactions thus far) serious expression. "You don't have a lot of corporate experience, working for yourself. There's more freedom in that, but less support. Let me give you an opportunity to grow a bit. Make a pitch, and give me your take on how we should support the S Plan. If I like it, you'll have my – and MBI's – full support."

"And if you're not?" I growled, "What will you do? Imprison me?"

"Ha! No, then we compromise." He smiled. It was… weird. "Let me give you some advice: if your first pitch fails, and they usually do, you workshop it. Take feedback and criticism, and rework the idea until you get approval. You're part of the MBI family now, Shirou-kun."

I…

I didn't know how to deal with him. Something he was taking clear amusement with, given the lopsided (and slightly nostalgic) smile.

"Let's take your plan as it is, for example: it's too severe. So instead of throwing the idea away, just change the outcome. If you can't kill the Ashikabi – and I will be explicitly clear: do not kill this Ashikabi – what can you do?"

Most of the missions that I've gone on the attack or hunt for over the last few years have been against monsters. Or humans that were so mad that they were nothing better than monsters. If killing was off the table to back up the promise of a threat… then the threat had to be appropriately overkill.

"I take it that eliminating any of his Sekirei is equally forbidden?"

"I'll allow it in defense or if he or they break the rules," Minaka hedged, "but that is a firm line. Don't try to instigate an attack."

I'd have to think about that.

"What about…" He filled the silence as if he already knew I would need time to come up with more possibilities. "Say, are you an action movie fan? I was always more interested in heroes, myself. Sentai and magical stuff. I wanted to be a superhero when I was younger. Ha, I suppose you would think that's strange, wouldn't you?"

"That's…" I had no room to judge. I wanted… I had wanted to be a superhero myself. "I think that is a very common dream."

"You too, huh?" He commiserated. "You and I aren't so dissimilar after all." This time I must not have guarded my expression as well because he burst out laughing. "Hahaha! That look was pure Takami though! Alright! I have some ideas, but let's move on for now. Rules! If you were in my position, what rules would you have made? How would you go about enforcing them?"

I wasn't sure if I should be taking him seriously or not. This mood whiplash was getting to me.

"First: Secrecy. Keeping the Sekirei a secret is a little out of the water, given the subtlety of the Sekirei and their powers. Even before I was an Ashikabi, I encountered Sekirei fighting on the street in broad daylight. Creating and maintaining even a polite fiction is a must."

"It is a trope of urban fantasy for a reason." He mused.

I ignored him. Wasn't going to touch that one with a ten-foot pole.

"To that end, fighting needs to only be conducted in specially designed areas, or at night in places where there are no witnesses." This might seem to be a 'trope' to him, but it allowed me to not have to call in backup from the Association or the Church.

"Agreed." He nodded. "There are plans in the works for that I can bring you in on. Good. Next."

Just like that? That seemed too easy…

"Second: No harming anyone outside the game." I listed the most important rule.

"Doesn't that just lead back to the first rule?"

"Yes, but more so it reinforces the idea. By forcing the contestants to be more cognizant of where and how they are fighting will help keep it secret and so that people like Takami and Yukari aren't injured in the process. Director Toumo Tsukihime-san will appreciate the lower cost of collateral damage if Sekirei aren't tearing up busy streets."

"Fair. I assume it will be enforced by the Disciplinary Squad?"

"For accidents and small incidents, a warning can be given." I didn't like it… but accidents did happen. "Egregious violations, or a pattern of violations, should not be tolerated and result in the elimination of either the offending Sekirei or Ashikabi depending."

"Violations your department will track in conjunction with our security teams," Minaka added. That was a reasonable ask, so I nodded. "There is an opportunity to have a closer working relationship between those departments in the near future."

That was… something I'd just have to deal with. While Lt. Campbell was nice and tolerable, being around the other members of the mercenary force was uncomfortable at best. I kept waiting to be shot in the back.

"Compromise," I said instead. "Right. Third: No attacking unwinged Sekirei."

"Interesting…" He rubbed his chin. "May I ask why? Shouldn't eliminating the competition before they become a threat be a part of any good strategy?"

"Before I answer, let me ask you a question."

"Answering a question with a question is usually frowned upon, but I'll allow it. Go ahead."

"Is it your intention that killing an Ashikabi is a viable strategy for victory?"

"But Sekirei are the ones fighting…" For a supposedly smart man, he looked surprised.

"Sekirei are only as strong as the Ashikabi they're bound to," I explained the lesson taken directly from the Holy Grail War. If a Servant was too powerful to take head-on, just kill its much more fragile Master. "If an Ashikabi is harmed, doesn't any Sekirei bound to them shut down, just as easily as if they lost a fight?"

I was referencing one of the 'safety' measures MBI implemented into the Sekirei Plan. According to Karasuba, there were three ways to subdue a Sekirei. The first and most difficult was for a Sekirei to touch the Activation Crest of another winged Sekirei. This would 'deactivate' the Sekirei, putting them into a deep coma-like state and triggering a retrieval beacon for MBI. If an Ashikabi were killed, the Activation Crest disappeared, immediately triggering a 'deactivation' state as well.

The last way was Karasuba's preferred way and the one I adopted from her: delivering a lethal amount of damage also forced a 'deactivation'.

"Natsuo and I have been using kid's gloves on the human contestants," I continued as he digested that, "but there haven't been many punches pulled by the girls when handling other Sekirei. So, I need to ask, explicitly, are the lives of humans more important than those of Sekirei?"

There was only one answer to that.

"Hmm…" Minaka leaned back again, thinking. "I see your point. Let's circle back to that in a second, as I assume the next rule would be a rule against targeting Ashikabi?"

"Yes," I confirmed, "but also potential ones. Minato, Yukari, and I have all been attacked by Sekirei. before we were ever bound to one of our own as Ashikabi." That we were potential and that two of the three of us were now realized Ashikabi non-withstanding. "How many people have been injured for being just too close to a released Sekirei? We both know that Takami and twenty others were from just one incident alone."

Minaka grimaced at my reference to the events leading up to the Green Girl Incident. Takami was critically injured, her entire security team had been killed almost to a man and Kusano had been released into the city before her adjustments (whatever those entailed) were finished. None of that was including the loss of life and damage to property incurred by Kusano's power taking over the Botanical Gardens.

"Targeting the unwinged is a strategy many Ashikabi, not just the strongest of them, have been using." Minato countered. "Arguably, if I follow your logic, then your own encounters with Haihane-chan and Akitsu-chan could be considered against the rule." That…huh, that was fair. Haihane reacted to me once we were close, but would that have been the case if I hadn't fought her? I couldn't say. Akitsu couldn't be winged, and that was a headache on its own. "A forced winging, while unpalatable, is a way that an Ashikabi can grow their forces and thus their strength as a contestant."

A forced…

"Wait, you mean Sekirei can be bound to an Ashikabi they weren't meant to be?" That was… with Haihane's revelation that winging was a mating ritual… and here I'd thought that the Sekirei Plan was a tamer, paler imitation of the Moonlit World. I… I wasn't a stranger to the depravities of my fellow Magi.

My vision flickered, shadows growing at the corners of the room, and I could feel my fingers dig into the wooden desk–

Sem–

No! I took a shuddering breath. "No. I will not, as we as moderators should not, be party to such." I spoke with vehemence. A magical contract, an inescapable binding of the very soul of a person inflicted by what was tantamount to rape. Not again!

I'd kill them all. Minaka and every Ashikabi who dared! After Sakura… I promised I wouldn't be oblivious… be complicit again–

"Okay." Manaka's immediate and easy agreement stopped me before I could build up any further.

Wha… "What?" It was that easy?

"Okay." He replied again, catching and holding my gaze. "Don't think of me as heartless, just because I own a company!" I mean… I did. I really did, even it if was for more than just that. "I've been a part of raising every single Sekirei, boy and girl, that has passed through the Nest. Why do you think I've made so many contingencies so that they live through defeat?"

I was speechless.

"Sekirei need to be winged. It's a biological imperative and they can be compatible with any Ashikabi, not just their most compatible Ashikabi, so I didn't think much of it." You... you didn't think? "Especially when it became an early and strong strategy Ashikabi were using to get ahead in the game… but you bring up a good point. Fine, Rule 3: no assaulting unwinged Sekirei, and Rule 4: no harming Ashikabi.

It was that easy?!

He laughed, "I told you, make your pitch and if it has merit, I either accept it or you fix it. Congratulations on your first successful pitch. So, what's the next rule? Then we can go over ideas for our Ashikabi friend. After all, MBI is a family and I have a very soft spot for our Takami. Even if it's not against the rules yet, you are correct: we cannot let certain actions go unpunished."

This wasn't going the way I thought it would…. How I had prepared for it to go… but it wasn't terrible. There was something I was missing though. My instincts were blaring about something, but I didn't know what. It wasn't a threat. For all that I thought I would end up killing the man (and I still might)… I don't think he was a threat to me.

"Ah… Okay, then." I continued. "My next point is–"

My phone rang, interrupting us. The screen was showing Yukari's number… and that we had been talking for longer than I thought.

"Sorry, would you mind if I take this? It's my sister." I asked.

"Please do." Minaka's glasses flashed with the glare of the overhead lights.

"Minato! Shirou!" My newest little sister spared no time with greetings. "You're so full of shit!"

I sighed, kneading the bridge of my nose and ignoring how Minaka fell into a fit of poorly concealed giggles.

"It's always nice to talk to you, sister." I glared at the white-haired man-child. "I take it Shina escorted you home safely?"

"Yeah, he's in my bedroom right now."

Minaka bolted upright, typing something at a holographic keyboard interface on his desk. A moment later, the window behind him flared to life, revealing it doubled as a giant screen. I could see it tracking down Shina's location via MBI's satellite data. It showed he was with Yukari, as I could see her room from the overhead picture.

And also confirms my earlier guess that each of the Sekirei was tagged with a GPS implant.

"What?" Minato yelped, "Who?"

"He's what?" I growled, a little faster on the uptake since I knew who and what Shina was given my order to him earlier in the day. Something I feel I would be having words with about after this. "Why is he there?"

"I'm going to be his Ashikabi, duh!" She sounded way too proud for someone doing something so profoundly stupid. That child! "I won't lose to either of you. I have an attractive and submissive magical guy of my own now!"

A what?! "What?" I couldn't hear Minato's response as I spoke over him. This wasn't happening. "Yukari?" This was a nightmare, Haihane's thoughts must have broken containment and spread horribly. "Yukari!"

"I'm going shopping for leather clothes now. I'll call you later! Love you both!"

"Yukari!" I roared into the dial tone. What dumbass joins a death game as an excuse to go clothes shopping? Were Takami's children just insane?

A moment later, Minaka's huge window screen updated with a picture of Yukari next to Shina declaring her the Ashikabi of Sekirei 108. Listed next to her still showing the GPS tag and building was her cell phone number.

"Ah. As much as I have enjoyed this, it seems like we both have business to conduct." Minaka said standing, already dialing Yukari's number. "I'm giving you full access to the Ashikabi database. Take some time and come up with a solid plan. We'll go over it again with the rest of the rule's changes. When it's finished, we'll announce Phase 2 of the Sekirei Plan."

He dismissed me, turning to his giant screen as his phone paired to it and dialed Yukari. I had two dangerously unsupervised Sekirei to go track down before they incapacitated poor Junko and tore through the building looking for me… and some well-deserved revenge to plan.

"Miss Sahashi!" I heard Minaka boom from behind me as the door closed, cutting off his stupid spiel and welcoming my sister to his death game.

*Tsukiumi*

Wakefulness came slowly for once. The wind wasn't blowing, and though a cloud surrounded me, it wasn't cold and wet like clouds usually were. It was warm and fluffy. The sun wasn't overbearing either, streaming in gently through the blinds over my… blinds? Roofs didn't have blinds.

I wasn't on my rooftop.

Wakefulness came full force with a hint of hysterical panic. Where was I? A room. The gentle sunlight streaming in through the window was suddenly scalding on my skin. Skin? I wasn't wearing my clothes! I reached a hand under the blankets and… thank god!

Memories of yesterday and last night started to trickle in and I was able to slow my panicked breathing. Right. The boy. Minato. He took me to an inn.

Strange, how a good night's sleep was somehow more disorienting than the nights of recurring nightmares. I stretched, looking about the homely furnished room. It was empty except for my bed and the dresser I had wedged in front of the door. My clothes were cleaned and folded, exactly where I now remembered putting them on the dresser last night.

I ignored them for now, tying the robe of the nightgown I'd borrowed, and moved towards the door. A single golden thread of hair still lay delicately trapped by the shoji.

Huh. I plucked the hair from its prison, curling it around my fingers. It seemed that the boy was telling the truth. Not only had I not been violated in my weakened state, but it looked like no attempt had even been made.

I shook my head. It was still his fault I was in this predicament in the first place! I snapped the hair and moved the dresser aside. A bath. After that, I would thank my true rescuer, the widow Miya-san for her hospitality and bid the annoying monkey a permanent farewell.

Yes. Oh, to see the look on his face as I proved I was the strongest – no. No, it would be best if I just gave my thanks to Miya-san and left. Now that I was thinking properly, I should avoid him. So, what if he was charmingly thoughtful… thoughtful? For what? For not…not…

"Oh!" I fumed, snapping the door open with just slightly more strength than was warranted. "Just because he didn't do anything doesn't mean anything! That's just proper behavior!" So what if the thought of him was strangely, traitorously enticing? That was just his evil magic tricking my body! "He isn't even that cute anyway!"

"Oh my." Miya-san blinked on the other end of the door. Both of her hands were on the shoulders of a cute blond-haired child. Based on the towels they were wearing; they shared my idea of a morning bath…

"Ah…" The words strangled in my throat, the mortification creeping from my shoulders to the roots of my own blond tresses. "M-Miya-san."

"I should hope not." The landlady giggled. "Minato is a polite boy and has thus far followed my rules about impropriety. You seem more energetic today, did you sleep well?"

"A-ah, yes." Get ahold of yourself girl! I straightened my posture, forcing myself to recover from the unexpected reunion. "Yes, I slept most peacefully. I must thank you again for your hospitality, Miya-san."

A night without nightmares. Hmph! That's right. Why would he sick his other Sekirei – Shirou, was it? – to weaken me in my dreams when he already had me in his web. He was devious… why have one or two Sekirei when he could have more? I can't believe I was falling for his tricks already.

Miya-san's giggles broke me out of my thoughts. "Seeing as you aren't dressed yet, would you like to join us in the bath?"

"I wouldn't want to interrupt your time with your daughter," I said, even though I did greatly like to join the woman.

"Daughter?" Miya-san blinked. Oh, I had assumed. She broke into a smile before I could apologize though. "I don't look that old, now, do I?" She was very youthful, though I could sense the strength of age… no, maybe it was more the surety of experience, from her. "Ku-chan here isn't my daughter, she's with one of my tenants."

"I'm a big girl!" The adorable little blond cheered, raising her arms.

"My, so you are!" I couldn't help but gush. So cute! "Then if you and your young charge would be so kind, I would be delighted to join you."

"That's a convenient ability." Miya-san mused as we took turns washing off. There were only so many faucets while she was helping rinse the girl seated in front of her, so I took the liberty of using my powers to conjure my own water to rinse the soap off. "If you want to stay here, I'd be willing to give you a steep discount on rent if you can save on the water bill."

Stay? No. I shouldn't stay. I went ahead, slipping into the surprisingly large tub to buy time to think before I responded. My skin tingled pleasantly as the warm water lapped against it. Oooh… I moaned in relief. It had been long enough since my last bath that I almost agreed immediately.

"It is very peaceful here…" I didn't exactly refuse though. Instead, my eyes closed as I let the heat soothe me.

"Oh, don't let it fool you," Miya-san replied, slipping into the bath herself. "Kusano, don't jump. It's a bath, not a pool." She gently chided as the girl dunked under the water – unhearing. "As you can see, it can get lively here some days. Especially with all the recent tenants."

Minato.

"Ugh, never mind." I groused. "I appreciate your offer, but–"

"Don't answer yet." Miya-san interrupted. "At least stay for dinner and meet the others."

Another homecooked meal was tempting…

"Are you going to marry Minato-kun too?" The girl, Ku-chan, Miya-san called her, spoke up as she kicked through the bath. She was pushing a little potted plant around like a rubber duck. Its base was tucked through a floatation ring so it didn't sink.

"M-marry?!" I shot out of the water. P-preposterous! To think that I – and he–

"There's no splashing in the bath either." Miya-san's smile was supremely unsettling as if an aura of doom surrounded her. I quickly sat back in the tub.

"T-that's not a subject for children." I sniffed. "Are you worried I would take your older brother away? Fear not, I want nothing to do with him."

"Minato-kun isn't my brother–" The girl pouted, speaking at the same time Miya-san said, "Kusano-chan isn't Minato's sister."

"–He's my Ashikabi!" The girl bubbled.

He was… he was…

"Hey!" Kusano yelped as I grabbed her and spun her around. There, nestled at the back of her neck, was an activation crest. She was… she was a Sekirei.

"I'll kill him!" I erupted. Monster! Fiend! She was so young! Too young! I'd kill him! That deviant! Enemy of all that was Good and Just!

"No Splashing!" I ignored Miya-san as I leaped out of the tub.

"No hurting Minato-kun!" The poor girl cried. The potted plant bobbing on the turbulent water grew, sprouting tendrils that latched onto my arms and legs before I made it back to the ground.

"Un…Hand…Me!" I struggled as the tendrils held me aloft. I couldn't see her, didn't want to hurt her, and my opportunity to free myself slipped away as the tendrils pulled me spread eagle.

That beast must have already gotten to her.

"Ku-chan." There was the sound of a smack and the sprouting growths suddenly went slack at Miya-san's all-to-calm words. Despite myself, a new shiver of fear trailed up my spine. "What are the rules?"

"But she wants to hurt Minato-kun!" The girl complained, but the plants dropped me on my ass over the tiles. Gah! That little… she wasn't cute at all!

"Miya-san, you can't…" Condone this… I wanted to scream at her.

"Tsukiumi-san, calm down." Miya-san was too calm. Didn't she know what that meant for a Sekirei? Or was she unaware? "Little Ku-chan might be Minato's Sekirei, but she's much too young for that. She was released too early, so I've taken it upon myself to look after her."

"And big brother Minato rescued me." Kusano was glowering at me. It was… not as intimidating as she might think, even though she was apparently quite powerful. "So when I grow up I'm going to marry him like Musubi-chan and Matsu-chan!"

He had three Sekirei? Insatiable…

"That won't be for a long time though, Ku-chan." Miya-san ruffled the girls' hair.

"Not too long! I'm getting bigger every day." The girl boasted. "I'm going to grow up fast."

"Hmm, you are growing aren't you." Miya-san tickled the girl, who shrieked with laughter and fell back into the tub. "I wouldn't let anything I didn't want happen to any of the birds under my roof, Tsuikumi. That includes you." She spoke over the kicking and splashing.

"S-still, I think I shall give Minato a piece of my mind." I turned to leave the bathroom.

"Make sure you put clothes on first." Miya-san's parting shot almost had me sprawling on the tiles. "I have rules about all clothing staying on at all times."

Indeed! Well, I had no intention of being less than fully dressed when engaging with – I mean speaking to Minato. Ugh, so annoying. How dare he play with a young maiden's heart like that? Yes, I was determined that I would give him a piece of my mind over his less-than-virtuous actions.

He wasn't in any of the open upstairs rooms by the time I got dressed and I dared not enter the closed ones. There was always the possibility he was out, I mused, descending the stairs. That was not the case, however, as I laid sight on the target of my ire: the blackguard was lazing on his ass, looking out into the backyard.

"You!" I greeted him with the utmost level of courtesy. Any reports of pointing fingers, raised voices, or gnashing of teeth were baseless rumors and not to be trusted.

"Tsukiumi?" He tensed. "Good morning. I have some tea if you'd like some. How did you sleep?" He gestured to the steaming mug of tea he was cradling in his hands.

"Keep your bribes, villain!" He sighed as I warmed up the verbal tirade I had been preparing.

"Tsukiumi!" A bubbly, if overly familiar voice interrupted before I got to full steam. "Are you here to exercise too? Oh! Ooh! Would you like to spar?" The pugilist Sekirei from before…

"Musubi, let her rest." Minato stopped her as she flounced over from the yard. She was wearing shorts so short they disappeared under the hemline of her baggy white shirt. Hmph. "Don't pressure her into fighting, remember what happened with Uzume-san?"

"Hehehe! Miya-san is scary." Musubi rubbed the side of her head with a fist. "But I still want to fight a single digit. When you feel better, can we spar please?"

"I see no reason to refuse…" I owed the girl for her yesterday. A proper fight would be a suitable excuse for such an endeavor. Though I wanted to prepare myself better; she was a lot stronger than I had anticipated.

"Yay!" Ugh, it was hard to stay angry at her sincere happiness as she hopped in place. "Want to join me in my exercises then?"

"Exercises?" I sent a baleful eye towards the rapidly paling boy. Is that how it is referred to nowadays?

"A-ah, it's not what you think." He stuttered. "I'm here to supervise. Miya-san will be upset if we break anything."

So, he was a liar as well as a lecher and a predator…

"Minato-kun!" Musubi puffed out her cheeks and stomped her foot. "I only broke the tree once!"

Or not?

"And the fence? And Miya's prized flower bed? And the window to the baths?" With each item Minato listed, the girl wilted a little more.

"Minato!" She whined.

"Minato!" Another voice chimed in. "Are you bullying my Musubi-chan?"

A face popped up from behind the fence enclosing the yard. Another girl? She had better not be a fifth Sekirei…

"Yukari?" Minato asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"What, can't I visit one of my favorite brothers?" The strange girl walked around the fence. She had short black hair, her bangs held off her face by a gold cross. A white, short-sleeved button-up blouse was tied with a red, cross-patterned tie, and her black skirt was fastened with a brown belt with a large circular buckle. Long black stockings covered her legs to her mid-thighs.

She wasn't alone.

With her was a boy. Short, even shorter than the girl, with messy silver hair. He was wearing a matching white shirt, fastened with a black bolo tie and a pair of khaki-colored shorts.

"I used to be your favorite brother." I heard Minato mumble under his breath.

"Besides, it has been a while and I wanted to say to Musubi-chan too!" The girl walked up and–!

"Yukari!" Minato, and the new boy both cried in simultaneous exasperation.

"Hello, Yukari-chan." Musubi giggled. H-how indecent!

"Musubi-chan! It's so good to see you again!" The girl cooed. "Oh? Woah." She said as her eyes roved from Musubi to me. I didn't like the odd gleam in her eye. "Between Musubi and her, you sure are spoiled Minato. I wonder what that's like?"

My skin crawled as she took a step towards me. I shouldn't be surprised they were related, so the perverted apple didn't fall far from the tree. The boy, Minato, was just better at hiding it.

"Yukari, stop." Before the molester got me, however, my view of the beast was cut off by the vision of a back standing in front of me. "Tsukiumi is a guest here," Minato said as he shielded me with his own body. "She isn't used to being around so many people and you're making her uncomfortable."

"Ah, sorry." The girl shrunk back, surprisingly chastised. "I thought you were my brother's Sekirei." The flare of indignation burned away the softer warmth of… something else. I belonged to no one! "You certainly look his type."

What was that supposed to mean?

"Yukari," Minato sighed, "play nice. And what's that supposed to mean anyway?"

Yukari gave him a searching look before shaking her head. "Wow, boys can be so stupid. Anyway, to answer your earlier question, we're looking for–"

"Shiina-chan!" The girl was interrupted by a shrill, excited cry. Kusano came running pell-mell, the little blond blur sped from another hallway and leaped through the air.

"Kusano-chan!" The mostly silent boy exclaimed, catching the laughing girl and spinning her around. Evil people couldn't smile like that.

"Well, that." Yukari's face softened as she motioned to the pair that dissolved into their own half-giggled and half-cried conversation. "Shiina was looking for Kusano and I needed to help him. Little sisters need their brothers."

I see… maybe the girl had hidden depths.

"Plus, it was an excuse to come bathe with Musubi-chan again!" The girl broke whatever spell that thought came from. "I need to compare her to Akitsu to know who's my favorite sister-in-law."

"How did you even know Kusano was here?" Minato asked.

"Minato…" She shook her head at him again. "Did you forget we have another sibling? Shirou literally works for MBI. All I did was ask him who Kusano was and he told me where to find you in like, two minutes. I thought that being an Ashibabi would be harder, but I'm totes amazing at it."

"I see…" Minato said in a tone that clearly meant the opposite. I may have to revise my opinion on his skills as a liar. "I must admit I'm surprised you're an Ashikabi as well. How did you and Shiina meet?"

"That's right! You won't believe it. Remember the bookstore we used to go to for cheap manga?" Yukari continued. "I was on my way there yesterday and–"

"The one in downtown?" Minato interrupted. "I didn't know you were there. We were a block over from there just yesterday." We were? The thought of encountering the girl yesterday when I was… less than refreshed was unpleasant.

"You were? I should have called you! Shirou and I were right there! We could have met up!" The girl complained.

I gasped; my hand raised to trace my stomach but I forced it back down to my side as I noticed Minato glance at me in concern.

Shirou. The name of my dream assailant. I had thought he was a Sekirei, but… if I wasn't mistaken, he was yet another of this poisoned brood's relatives. Yukari more than Minato definitely displayed the signs of their black blood. A portion of me… well, a portion I swiftly strangled as I made my unseen exit from the group credited Minato with denying his baser nature and apparent poor breeding. For a human of such… origins, maybe he wasn't so bad.

"Shirou was there?" I faintly heard Minato ask. "Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Yukari didn't seem phased by the question. "He was so badass! Shiina and I were being accosted by this diminutive creep, but Shirou came and rescued us. Hey, did you know Akitsu was a magical girl? I would have gone with a totally different cosplay for her had I known!"

Their voices faded as I made my way towards the other end of the house…

"She's right." But not before being surprised by another voice. I wasn't familiar with the woman who spoke. She was wearing a similar white dress to my own, though she was barefoot, and her long red hair pulled into two braids. In her hands was an open tablet playing a video. "You might be familiar with him: Shirou Emiya."

The video showed the man from my dreams crossing rooftops with two women before dropping into an alley. A pop-up with a woman – more like a young girl's – picture appeared instantly with a 'deactivation' banner. The video then panned out and moved a block to the west where Minato was leading me by the hand in the opposite direction.

"You're lucky we got to you in time." The woman continued, taking the tablet back from my trembling hands. "I'm Matsu, by the way. It's nice to meet you in person."

"I am Tsukiumi." I replied.

"Minato-kun and Miya-san have probably already extended the invitation," she smiled, "but I hope you decide to stay here with us for as long as you want."

She left me alone with my thoughts as she walked off to join the group still talking on the patio. As she passed, I noticed the activation crest on display by the straps of her dress. Was every woman here a Sekirei? The voices, indecipherable but full of life, washed over me. My circumstances had changed so much since I first dreamed of Minato.

I would… yes, I would have to thank him for protecting me. Later. In private.

But not so he'd get any ideas!

*Shirou*

"Shirou Emiya," Minaka spoke gravely, fingers steepled in front of him as he leaned over his desk. "I have to ask you a serious question."

"Sure," I shrugged. This was our third meeting in as many days, and I was becoming accustomed to his random tonal shifts and general weirdness. That did not mean that he was any less annoying, however. "Is there something wrong?" So far he'd approved of my revised requisition requests and had even added his own special contribution to the plan. The only thing left to iron out was… "Karasuba might be a hard sell, but surely I can bribe her somehow?"

As long as it wasn't with my body.

Ugh, Haihane's… Haihane-ness was infecting even my own thoughts. Karasuba's interest in my body would be much less lascivious than the shorter grey-haired Sekirei's and much more likely to involve my murder, death, and/or killing. I probably needed all of my blood internal if I wanted to survive whatever end game this Sekirei Plan was winding to.

"Karasuba-chan? Oh! Oh, no, that will be easy. "Minaka waved away the question. "I'll send you the relevant files, but unless I'm mistaken our Karasuba would jump at the chance to cross swords with him." That… that was useful to know. I jotted down that note for later. Karasuba should be coming home at some point tonight. "No, I have something much more important to ask you."

Important? Huh, maybe I should take him more seriously. "Okay," I said, putting away the files I was working on to give him my full attention, "what is the question?"

"Am I old?"

"Ancient." I didn't hesitate for a second.

"Ah!" I snorted as the (supposedly) grown man whined like a child. "Yukari called me Professor Oak…"

"I don't know what that is," I turned back to my work, concluding that this conversation wasn't that important after all, "but Yukari is shockingly savvy about weird things. Have you tried being less old and slash or strange?"

"Don't you have work to go do?" He groused at my unsympathetic nature.

"Yeah, lots." I finished up the edits to the draft proposal, "But my boss is micromanaging my project to hell, and nothing can get done."

"Give me that!" He grabbed the (hopefully final) draft. "Takami-kun raised some cheeky brats…" He loudly whispered under his breath as he looked over the papers. "Good, good, I made that, good…. really Shirou?"

"If I'm agreeing to your theatrical bullshit, then I want my own concessions." I wasn't going to budge on that last item for a few reasons. "One: it's something I have a fair bit of experience with. Two: Haihane needed a confidence boost. She is taking going back through the weapon tests harder than I thought. Three: it's a contingency, read the next section."

"The next…hmm…" Minaka looked up to give me a stare over the rim of his glasses. "You're a bit scary, you know that right?"

"I'm putting myself in between super-powered aliens in enemy territory." I countered. "Think of it as… an equalizer. Besides, I suppose I should add point four: I already have the requisition approved. It's waiting downstairs for me to pick up as soon as we're done here."

"Brat." He groused. "Approved, though I see you've already been collecting materials."

"It pays to plan ahead." I took the signed and stamped forms from him, a weird kernel of – of what? accomplishment? I wasn't sure – burgeoning in my chest.

"Don't do it again. Also, here." He handed me his contribution to the operation. "Once it's activated, it will run automatically. Will you need help setting it up?"

"No, this isn't the first time I've done something like this." I probably shouldn't have said that. Ah. Yeah, at his look I definitely shouldn't have said that.

"Riiiiight…" He paused, then snorted and waved me away. "Fine. Mission approved. Collect your gear and get out of here. I can see the frost creeping under the door…" The last line was more mumbled to himself.

That was an exaggeration, I thought as I left his office. Akitsu was awaiting me on the other side of the door and, though the temperature was noticeably cooler (as evidenced by Kaede-san shivering and glaring death at the red-clad Sekirei), there wasn't a spec of frost or rime to be seen.

"Thank you for waiting for me, Akitsu." I greeted her. "I've got an errand to run downstairs before going to the DS office. Would you like to accompany me? Otherwise, you can go let Haihane know I'll be right up."

"Ah." The answer was fairly obvious to me, but Akitsu took her time considering it. I wasn't sure, but I think she appreciated being able to choose. Her expression never wavered, but she had other tells. "I will follow."

My faithful shadow followed me, a cool and constant breeze at my back. The trip down to the motor pool was uneventful and, after the exchanging of forms and signatures, I left with my prize. With the green light to conduct the operation already given all that was left was to put the final pieces together.

Well, pending the mad CEO's advice on buying Karasuba's assistance.

Now, on to collecting the last member of my team for my first solo-led op. For MBI, anyway. It wasn't long after that Akitsu and I entered the castle-like upper wing where the Disciplinary Squad kept its private rooms, relaxation, and training areas. There was also space set aside for Natsuo and myself, as the Ashikabi of the all-female Sekirei squad, but those often went unused. I knew for a fact that Natsuo preferred to sequester himself in a quieter offsite location when off shift and I wasn't yet so suicidal as to spend the night in the company headquarters.

The sounds of fighting gave me a clue that my destination was the training area. Inside I found the training dummies usually unused were instead carved up like they went up against a wood chipper or some sort of flying and particularly aggressive lawnmower.

Haihane the newest and least powerful of the Sekirei that had bound themselves to me, was working them over; sharp movements, acrobatic feints, and wide arm strikes that tore and ripped at the training tools. Were her opponents human, the greater risk to their health would be the massive hemorrhaging and blood loss rather than the deep and precise soft tissue attacks she displayed performing the same exercises with the oversized and often unwieldy claws that usually weighed down her hands.

Said claws were off currently, replaced with the first pair of shuko the research team gave her before when they first figured out her weapon group. How they went from climbing gloves to the claws that were her trademark I still had no idea.

No sooner did I pass the threshold did she home in on me, automatically turning in my direction. Did Sekirei have a 'sense' of where their Ashikabi was when they were nearby? It would make sense but – no. Theories later. Work now.

"Shirou." She rushed over. Well, jumped over. I'd noticed that Sekirei had a habit of making long or high jumps to get to places that they could normally have just walked to when the ceiling allowed it or wasn't present to stop them. Haihane, though, tended to slink instead of jump and her heavy claws kept her slouching forward. Between that slouch, her soft-spoken nature, tired eyes, and raspy voice, she gave the impression of having a lazy demeanor.

It was odd to see her jumping instead of her usual penchant for scuttling up walls or across ceilings like a cat or gremlin. She was graceful in the air.

"Is that another weapon?" She asked, landing on the balls of her feet in front of me. "I can't wait to get rid of these again."

"You look like you were doing well," I said, given the absolute destruction of the target dummies.

"Oh, were you watching me, hehehe..." She rasped a laugh, trying and failing not to preen as she leaned forward – giving me less of a view down her neckline than usual since without her claws her shirt tended to be more intact by the end of the day. That said, because she had been cutting through her clothes less, there was also more to see without as many bandages underneath. "Targets don't bleed though, and they don't fight back."

Ah.

"The range again?" The blades on a shuko were located on the palms of the hand since the weapon's primary use was as a climbing tool, and tiny compared to the blades that adorned her clawed gauntlets.

"Hehehe…so insight full." She nodded. "And I lack penetration… hehehe. Benitsubasa, Can I borrow you a minute? You're probably used to that after all."

"Keep that up and I'm going to pound you." Benitsubasa huffed, red-faced. "Ew! Not like that, you creep!" she shouted as Haihane bent over laughing.

"Ph…phrasing…" Haihane chuffed from the floor.

Even without the normal claws, it devolved into a pained yelp as she still managed to impale herself on the much smaller blades of the shuko.

"Right. Show me then." I realized my mistake a second before the 'I just did' put her back on the floor.

When she recovered, she and Benitsubasa faced one another. A half breath later they both exploded into motion. Haihane was faster without the claws, able to dodge and weave under the – ah. Haihane was faster. But not fast enough to make up for the lack of range. Benitsubasa, as a weaponless Power-type, was the better melee fighter in hand-to-hand. Without the longer range of the claws to fend her off, Haihane couldn't catch the smaller Sekirei as Benitsubasa's superior close combat technique allowed her to bob and weave around the grasping strikes Hiahane threw out.

Several more exchanges showed I wasn't imagining the difference, and then in a single strike it was over: Benitsubasa ducked low to the right over Haihane's extended left swipe, the pink-haired fighter throwing a tight cross right into Haihane's floating ribs. If not for her checking the blow and stopping a centimeter before contact as the two paused.

In a real fight, with Benitsubasa's explosive power behind the blow, Haihane would have had half her chest caved in at best and her torso blown open at worst. The normally equal match between the two was decided in one move.

"Alright. Onto the next one." I gave her the go-ahead and she shook the shuko off, flinging them onto the floor for me to pick up later. Oh, never mind. Akitsu drifted from my side to go pick them up. I'd thank her after. Instead, I was free to heft the case I held up into both arms and held it in front of me, facing Haihane. "For now, come over here. It's not the next weapon on the list, but it is the next weapon I have for you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Benitsubasa frowned, her low opinion of me coloring her tone.

"I have a mission for my half of the DS," I ignored her in favor of focusing on Haihane. "This is for your part of it."

She tentatively undid the latches to the case, lifting it slightly and she gasped. "Shirou-kun… I don't know how to–"

"That's what I'm here for." I closed the lid, relatching it. "Let's go downstairs. I'll teach you."

She hesitated. Indecision and fear warring on her features. I opened my mouth to assure her that she didn't need to force herself. If Karasuba agreed to help for once, then my plan had Haihane acting as backup, a contingency in case something went wrong in a way I hadn't anticipated. I could always work without that safety net. It wouldn't be ideal. I would also have less use for my most recent partner given the overlapping power and specialties of the other two.

"Hahiane," Akitsu whispered before I could vocalize any of those thoughts.

…

"Right." The doubts melted away from Haihane's expression. "You'll teach me, yeah. Even if it takes all day and night?" She laughed, raspy and lighthearted, the way I was starting to realize was her…well, her.

"What?" Benitsubasa squawked at the complete 180. "No, seriously, what?!"

For once I was in complete agreement with the pink-haired Sekirei. Seriously, what was that? Haihane slunk over to Akitsu and retrieved her discarded weapons before both turned back to look at me. No, waiting for me. When had those two gotten so close? Was it because Karasuba wasn't here to pick on Akitsu or enforce her hierarchy?

"Alright." I forced myself to say. It wasn't a bad thing that the two quieter members of my… team? I wouldn't exactly call Haihane and Karasuba partners and Akitsu was… dependent. There was no way in hell I was calling them my flock, the localized term for winged Sekirei. "Let's begin."

Besides… those two becoming friends couldn't be a bad thing, right?

It would help counter Karasuba's…everything! That was the word. Karasuba's everything.

Deciding not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I led them away towards our next destination.

…

"No, seriously, what the fuck!" Benitsubasa yelled behind us. "Stop ignoring me dammit!"

*Karasuba*

The door opened soundlessly as I let myself into the apartment.

My once white coat, now coated in leaves, mud, and ash, I dropped unceremoniously next to the door with my equally stained boots. The apartment was silent, though the faint light of a lamp glowed from the living room.

The warm air of the rooms' central heating prickled like failure against my cold and clammy skin. Failure. The leather binding the grip of my nodachi groaned in protest. It had taken three days of searching that hick city and sleeping in trees before I found out that there were no Makiri in Fuyuki city!

Had I known to ask, I would have forced that information out of Shirou when I followed him to his podunk miserable little outskirt of the city. Useless human! It was luck – sheer, unadulterated luck! – that I had found out that the Makiri had purchased a residence now called the Matou Manor…

Only there was no Matou Manor either! The whole fucking house was razed to the foundation years ago. Two more days digging through rubble, mud, and filth with no sign of books or valuables. Even the collapsed, reeking tunnels hidden underneath had nothing but collapsed rock and carbonized remains of small and disgusting-looking things.

Skulking around the church had revealed that the whole family up and died, probably when their stupid fucking shit burned down around them.

I wasn't used to failure. A shower. I needed a shower. And then maybe to burn these clothes, I thought as I stripped the haori off.

The sound of clicking distracted me. Turning the corner, I saw the kitchen table was piled with paper printouts and mechanical-looking parts. Sitting at the table, back to me, fiddling with something was Sahashi.

Warm. Comfortable. Uncaring Sahashi. Intolerable. No greeting, no recognition, no respect. How… how dare he. I bet he spent the whole time I was digging through the cold sticking muck enjoying sleeping with his nubile, worthless, prideless little dolls. I noiselessly stalked forward, loosening my sword for the killing blow–

"Welcome home, Karasuba." I tensed, freezing as he spoke. How? He didn't even look up from what he was working on. "I've got a present for you. Take a look at the table, I'll be right there once I wrap this up. I'm at a delicate step."

"Oh?" I tried to sound casual, my heart thrumming in my chest. The leftover adrenaline, that was it. I'd let him buy himself another day, assuming I liked his present, taking my sword and resting it on the table. Upon a closer look, the files and notes littering the table were…

What was this? My temper began to rise at the worthless – wait. Oh.

"Good Ashikabi." I purred, the corner of my mouth creeping up. "You sure know how to make a girl feel appreciated. You should welcome me home like this more often."

"I'm glad you like it." Shirou turned from the contraption – a mess of wires and a small screen inside a briefcase – he left at his workstation as she approached me. "I wasn't sure if you would. May I explain?"

"Oh, yes." I stalked towards him, brushing my shoulder against him. "Tell me everything."

*Shirou*

"Last call girls. Gear check." I called out from the kitchen. We'd only get one shot at this. "Akitsu?"

"Ah…" My shadow looked fully dressed in her white and blue loosely tucked kimono. As had become her habit since I gave it to her, she had taken to donning the Shroud of Martin over the ensemble. Did it clash? horrifically. Did it keep her safe? Arguably. Was it an incentive for her to be fully dressed every day? Most definitely. Still, she looked down at herself, mentally tallying everything she had on as was her custom.

I gave her a minute, busying myself with one last look over Haihane's case in the meantime.

"Yes." Akitsu finished.

"Everything?" I made sure to look her in the eye. Akitsu was a terrible liar. She fidgeted under my gaze. "You're not too warm?"

"No." She lifted the hem of her kimono, flashing me with a pair of my own boxers. "Warm. Mine."

"Ours!" Haihane echoed, sliding into the living room while toweling dry her hair. She was, thankfully, fully dressed this time.

I ignored her antics and Karasuba's answering scoff.

"Right. Don't forget this." I said, replacing the towel in her hand with the large case with her gear in it. It was a testament to her strength as a Sekirei that she didn't even flinch under the weight of the thing that was almost as tall as she was. "One last time, you know your roles for this?"

"Roger!" Haihane rasped.

"Not my first rodeo." Karasuba toyed with the string decorating the haft of her sword.

"Ah…" The last of the girls answered.

"Right… Karasuba." She rolled her eyes when I called on her.

"I kill anyone standing." I stared at her. She huffed, rolling her eyes again. "Except you, of course, Shirou-kun." I held the stare. "Ugh, fine. You and Akitsu."

"And you only do that…" I prompted.

"Only if they make a move first." She grouched. That was as good as I was likely to get. Given how excited she was the night before, I was half betting on her being her usual antagonistic self just so she'd have the excuse.

"Akitsu, you're next."

"Ah…" Akitsu's head and shoulders perked up as she was called on. "Area denial. Keep you safe. Ah…" Her eyes flicked to Karasuba, who smirked.

"I'm more than capable of taking care of the trash." Karasuba drawled.

"Ah." Akitsu nodded, then looked back at me. "No one shall get past me."

"Good, Haihane."

"Hehehe, I'm on securing the escape if things go tits up." She giggled, hoisting the case for emphasis. "Hey, Shirou-kun? Why is it called tits up when something bad happens? That sounds like a fun time to me, can we try after?"

That… no, Shirou, don't engage. Haihane will only bog you down with innuendo… or worse, visual aids. Instead, I secured the locks on my own briefcase, preparations now complete.

"Right then. Car is ready." I ushered the girls out. "Let's go."

If this mission went according to plan, there would be no combat. Victory would be achieved in a single instant. As such, we were being driven in a company car and not one of the armored personnel transports. A shame, as I'd never seen one from the inside before; it would be novel to see one without it firing upon me (or bringing people to fire upon me).

As the target's penthouse came into view, I took out my earpiece and turned it on. Karasuba and Haihane followed, and after a second, I helped Akitsu with hers. The car pulled up to the curb, letting Haihane out with her case before moving on with the rest of us.

"Grail Actual, this is Grail One," I spoke, staring up at the entrance to Mikogami's residence. The morning crash of pedestrians entering and leaving the building passed us by. "Requesting final confirmation."

"Roger that Grail One," Junko's voice came through the earbud clearly. "Grail Actual reading you loud and clear. These are some odd callsigns you picked out."

"Ah," Akitsu spoke up from my left flank. "Caster One. I am prepared."

"Saber One, bored," Karasuba answered from my right. Her hand kept bouncing on the hilt of her sword, belying her excitement. "Can we hurry this up?"

"L-lancer One, reporting." Haihane's voice came over the line. I could hear the wind blowing about her position. "Sorry, I mean Lancer one on overwatch. Are you sure about this Shi- I mean, Grail One?"

"You'll do great, Lancer One." I took a step forward, officially starting the mission. "Grail one is on the move, mission starts now."

The first objective would be both the easiest and paradoxically the hardest: gaining entrance to the building. The easy part was that we could just walk through the front door. The hard part was… well…

"Excuse me, miss," I asked for the attention of the woman manning the front desk information kiosk. "I have an appointment on the top floor. Should be under the name Mid Bio Informatics."

The hard part was that I did not have an appointment. This operation was, according to its clandestine nature, not something I wanted to advertise. The business world, I was coming to find, leaked like a sieve and its lifeblood ran on the rumor of comings and goings.

"I'm sorry." She wasn't. "But it doesn't look like I have that appointment on our books. Would you like me to schedule one at your earliest convenience?"

Polite speak for 'go fuck yourself.'

"That won't be necessary." I smiled. "If you could ring up the top floor, tell him that I have a delivery from Minaka Hiroto. I'm sure he'd be willing to see me."

"That's not possible sir." She denied me. "I'm afraid you'll need an appointment to meet with the young master. "

"I see." Thankfully, I had an asset prepared for this. "Grail Actual, this is Grail One. Please deliver the invitation."

"Sir?" The woman gave as polite a scowl as she was able to for her position.

"Please allow me a moment," I told her. "You should be receiving a call shortly."

"That's enough sir. Please step aside and–" The phone on her desk rang. She picked up the phone, clearly distrusting me. "Hello, sir. Yes sir. Yes, they say they have a delivery from Minaka Hiroto for you. Understood, I'll send them up right away." The desk clerk hung up the phone, scurrying around to our side of the desk. "Thank you for waiting. Master Hayoto will be awaiting you in the penthouse. Please allow us to escort you to his private elevator."

Objective one cleared. I hated that Minaka was right in that his name would open the gates to the enemy fortress. The call from the eccentric madman had been easy to arrange.

Private elevator? Fancy. Of course, it would also be the most dangerous moment of the operation. There were an untold number of ways that, if he was tipped off to my purpose, he could choose to kill us as we ascended. Cutting the cable, directional explosives attached to the outside, or a fake wall with a security team ready to gun us down.

"Grail One," Junko said over the radio. "Be careful in there. We don't have a Brain-type in our ranks anymore. I won't have eyes on you or the ability to assist past this point."

A quick Structural Grasping as we entered the elevator showed I was partially right in my assumptions. There were no explosives, but the wall to the rear of the elevator was a one-way mirror. Seeing as they didn't gun us down halfway up, the mission was going well.

To think that Kiritsugu made a life out of this?

The elevator dinged, releasing the three of us into the penthouse level – no, into the foyer of the penthouse. I'd planned the operation from satellite photos and blueprints, but it was one thing to see the structural drawings and another to see the room in person.

Couches – no, those were lounging seats – were draped in expensive-looking covers and sheets. Various patterned rugs and pillows dotted the floor and… yup. There was even a fountain with a… no… yes. As a Sekirei (or young woman, but I was assuming Sekirei) stepped out of the water next to it, a wading pool with a fountain in the middle was flanked by twin curving staircases to the living quarters above.

"This is Lancer One. I have eyes on Grail One." What was with the floor-to-ceiling windows these CEOs had? I wasn't against using the tools my enemies gave me against them, however.

"Welcome to my home." The target announced, descending the right staircase with his perpetual bodyguard next to him. The single-digit, Sekirei number 05, Mutsu. I could feel Karasuba's intense focus on the man, something that by the narrowing of his eyes and the tightening of his fingers around the hilt of his sword, didn't go unnoticed.

Only a brave or exceptionally stupid man would be unconcerned by Karasuba's attention.

"It's rare to have a representative of MBI reach out to us Ashikabi like this," the boy continued. He was young. Younger than I thought he'd be. Younger than Yukari. It should have struck a chord in me… but it didn't. I watched impassively as he made it to our landing. "I find myself wondering as to what purpose, especially given the company you keep."

Mikogami and his bodyguard stayed on the other end of the foyer, safely nestled within the loose but protective presence of his Sekirei. We were severely outnumbered. Huh, odd that I found being outnumbered and arguably outmatched comfortable enough to settle my nerves.

"On behalf of Mid Bio Informatics, I would like to thank you for meeting with us." I started as I stepped further into the room. "Though it may not appear as such, Minaka Hiroto-sama has been following the progress of the Sekirei Plan closely. He has deemed that as you have managed to collect the most Sekirei in the first stage of the game, you should be awarded a special prize in recognition of these efforts."

I raised the briefcase that was handcuffed to my wrist. Yet another bit of subterfuge to sell the bait.

"Please," I slowly began to make my way forward, loosely followed by Akitsu and Karasuba, "allow me to present this gift as your most deserved reward."

"A reward?" The sharpness of his features evaporated, replaced by childish glee. "I knew it! I knew there had to be a secret reward!" The boy rushed forward in excitement. "Is it the rare number? I was sad to see that the event was scrapped after all. I really wanted her for myself!"

I tensed but didn't break character to look at Akitsu. I could feel the cold waft from her for a moment before she locked it down. Good girl.

"That's far enough." Mutsu's hand clamped on Mikogami's shoulder before he made it halfway towards us, but his words were directed at us. "Master, don't get too close."

His eyes were boring into Karasuba. He stopped them just on the edge of her fastest lunge distance, which spoke of his familiarity with both her combat ability and her penchant for attacking with both surprise and overwhelming force.

"Oh? Afraid I'll bite?" Karasuba drawled, her eyes crinkling into pleased slits. Her thoughts must have mirrored my own. "Don't worry, there's much more satisfying prey for me to sink my teeth into." The only one oblivious to the menace in her words might have been Mikogami as the assembled Sekirei around the room paled and tensed.

"Forgive me if I don't believe the barkings of the Black Dog." Neither Mutsu's stare nor grip on his diminutive Ashikabi didn't waver in the slightest. Nor was it hidden how he loosened his sword in his scabbard with his thumb.

"Karasuba is here for my protection." I covered for her as her eyes snapped open at the nickname. "There have been several assaults on MBI personnel recently, and in light of these events the Disciplinary Squad has been kind enough to act as an escort when important meetings are conducted off of MBI holdings to ensure there will be no repeat of those events." It wasn't a lie. Though I might have been being too obvious with the example, one way or another, I would ensure those words became true before the morning ended. "As a gesture of goodwill, we will remain here as you receive your prize."

With slow, deliberate movements, I uncuffed the briefcase and placed it on the ground. A nudge of my foot sent it sliding across the floor, more than halfway across the remaining distance between us. Good, I was counting on the habit of the rich and stupid to have unreasonably polished floors.

"I wanna see!" Mikogami broke free of Mutsu's grip, deciding it was safe enough, and rushed over to collect the briefcase. The single digit allowed it, but rigidly maintained his exact distance to his master, mirroring Karasuba's position on my flank.

I wasn't sure about it when Minaka had explained it, but there really was no love lost between members of the first Disciplinary Squad. Shame that as vigilant as the man was, his efforts were for naught as the conditions for our victory had already been met.

Last night, Minaka had correctly accused me of thinking he was a heartless person. The briefcase snapped open, playing what Minaka claimed was a 'congratulatory tune' – something from some game that Mikogami would enjoy. The wide grin on the boy's face faltered as the case fully opened, revealing a small screen held into place by blocks of definitely not clay. With a heavy mechanized switch of circuits snapping online, the screen turned itself on surrounded by ominous red diode lights.

This morning, as the bit-art image of Minaka dancing on-screen played out, I knew that not only was he heartless, but he was something of a sadist. Worse, I had to admit I took my own measure of enjoyment as the young Ashikabi's face fell from wonder to horror as a message scrolled underneath the dancing Minaka:

I am a bomb. You have just armed me

"I wouldn't move." I interrupted as his Sekirei tensed and gasped, half of them looking like they wanted to rush to his protection and the other half looking to jump us. The boy himself collapsed to the ground, his face ghoulishly pale, still holding the case. "The case is rigged with a proximity sensor. Now that it's armed, anything entering or leaving its radius will trigger the C-4 to explode."

I could see Mutsu's eyes flicker from the boy to the case and then to us.

"If you're thinking that you can grab your master and escape the blast radius, I would recommend against it. While you may be able to pull him from the pressure wave to prevent his organs from being pulped, remember that he is a young boy still not grown. Humans are fragile, especially young ones. The acceleration involved might be just as lethal to him but on a longer, more painful timeline.

I let him flounder with that thought, seeing in his expression as information warred in the elder Sekirei's mind. Could he and the other Sekirei move both the bomb and their master far enough away, fast enough to survive the blast but slow enough not to snap his spine or jostle his brain? If he kicked the bomb at us and threw his master clear, I could see him think, would that work save him?

"Oh. That reminds me: Karasuba, anyone who moves is fair game." I hammered in the final nail, watching as Mutsu's eyes flicked to where Karasuba lay a casual hand on her sword. There was no mistaking her grin for anything other than a dare for him to try.

But he didn't… his eyes closed in resignation, knowing that they were dead. Their loss was total and complete. For a moment, the room was silent save for the boy's tears and the trickling of the fountain.

"You're… this is cheating," Mikogami spoke, more to himself than to me.

"No. This is the reward you get for putting a director in a coma." If I was a little vindictive, sue me. "For ordering the deaths of several of our security force personnel, and the damages inflicted upon the city and its inhabitants for your part in the Green Girl Incident."

"I didn't…" Mikogami started.

"Order your Sekirei to try and kill our director when you tried to steal number 107 before she was released?" I interrupted. "So, it's only a coincidence that you tracked down her daughter." There was a gasp from the blue-haired Sekirei – the one that I sent back as a warning. "I'm sure it's only a coincidence you attacked the girl in the middle of the street."

"Master." Taki, the Sekirei I let carry my warning the other day, spoke up. "That's him. They're the ones who killed Mitsuha."

"The Black Dog killed Yomi too." Another one, Himeko spoke out.

"Why are you picking on our master?" That one was… Momo. Droplets of tears leaked down her cheeks.

Picking on? This wasn't some schoolyard prank that the boy pulled. People were dead, more were injured and they still thought to treat it like a game? Minaka was right when he told me I'd hate the boy.

"Enough, what do you want?" Mikogami's voice was thick as he rose to his feet next to his partner, but after he wiped his eyes there were no more tears. Huh. Even though I still wanted to kill him, I had to respect that the spoiled little rich kid had more spine than I gave him credit for. Still…

"What makes you think there's something I want?" I asked. "As a member of the Disciplinary Squad, I could be here just to ensure you are properly disciplined."

"This is a scripted loss," He answered, not helpfully, "but the screen hasn't turned black yet. That means that unless you're some kind of sadist–" no, that was Minaka and Karasuba– "and a bully, then that makes this a negotiation." He sniffled but held firm. "Otherwise, the bomb would have detonated the moment I opened it and you wouldn't have bothered with the theatrics. So, I'll ask again, what do you want?"

"Hmm." I had to give it to the kid, he had good instincts, even if he reminded me of the spoiled young lords at the Clock Tower. Though, his survival instincts were sharper than theirs, apparently. It made me think that his corporate upbringing was just as bloody and cutthroat as in the Moonlit one. "Since it seems I can no longer bait you into a mistake, I'll let you know that you're correct."

From my pockets I pulled two items, one held in each hand: my phone and the remote detonator for the bomb. This time, it was the button on the phone I pressed, sending the message to Minaka to proceed.

"It is by your actions that we are sending out an update to the rules of the Sekirei Plan. That your actions weren't against the rules at the time is the only reason why our esteemed game master has decided to give you this warning." I could hear his cell phone ding as it received the same message currently being sent to every Ashikabi. It was a notice about the expanded and reformed rulings, as well as a notification that every port of exit to the city was now closed to both Ashikabi and Sekirei. As of this moment, the second phase of the death game had officially started. "This is your final warning. Hiroto-sama suggests that you read these amendments to the rules carefully. I, however, would much prefer you give me a reason to eliminate you sooner."

"If I didn't break the rules," Mikogami started, "then why…?"

"Why all of this?" I stepped forward, slowly and purposefully. "This is a message. Just as our director is lucky to be alive…" I raised the detonator and hit the button.

There were screams, but no explosion.

Instead, with a second, heavy, and resounding click, the screen turned off and the lights on the C4 went dark.

"So are you," I spoke over the subdued sound of several of the Sekirei's relieved and terrified tears. "You should thank Minaka Hiroto from the bottom of your heart since he agrees that you did not intend to violate his rules when committing your transgressions." I put the detonator back in my pocket, but didn't take my hand off it – it was still armed after all.

"However, I am not merely so lenient," I growled. "Until I decide your debt to the people you've killed is paid back, you answer to me. Do you understand?"

"Ha." Mikogami chuckled hollowly. "I see. After all those high-minded convictions you spouted, you're just like any other adult. What shall I make the check out to be?"

"I don't want your money. What I own from this point on is you."

I ignored Haihane's snort and Junko's 'oh my,' over the radio. I'd figure out what those two were thinking about later.

"You will not fight without telling me." I continued. "You don't leave this building without my permission. I tell you to go somewhere, you go. I tell you to fight someone, you deliver. Do you understand?"

Kotomone Kirei, get your heart stabbed and exploded.

"I understand." Mikogami glared out of red, swollen eyes.

Minaka was right that, for all that he was a child, Mikogami was a stickler for game rules. By setting myself aside from them, he would resent me and follow the rules more stringently to show he wasn't just a kid.

"Good." It also meant Minaka was right when he said Mikogami didn't need to be killed, but instead salvaged. "Akitsu will give you a phone and collect the briefcase. Make sure you have it near you at all times. I'll be checking in."

It was safer for everyone if my silent shadow performed the tasks than if Karasuba did it. Knowing her, she'd 'accidentally' trip and fall while drawing her sword trying to kill Mutsu. When Akitsu's task was completed, I actually disarmed the bomb.

"One last thing," I said as we turned to leave. "If you break the rules again, or any of my stipulations, I won't be coming by for a friendly chat like this one. I'll just kill you."

We left through the same elevator we rode up on. "Grail One to Grail Actual. What are they saying?"

"Roger Grail One. There's a lot of mixed chatter. Seems you were right though," Junko was listening through the listening device we'd implanted in the burner. "They're advocating for dropping the elevator right now."

"Shame." I sighed. "Lancer One. You're clear."

"Right, Shi– I mean, Lancer One copies." The report of Haihane's borrowed .50 anti-material rifle through the radio was deafening… but the sound of the bullet-resistant glass shattering in the penthouse above me was satisfying enough to make up for it.

"I hit it…" I would need to congratulate her later.

"You do know you're terrifying, right?" Junko deadpanned. "Target's voice… confirmed. No deactivation signals. All clear."

The shot going through them without hurting them sent the final message and we reached the ground floor without any incident.

"Good work Lancer One. Grail one has exfiltrated the target site." The doors to the armored car closed around us and we left to pick up Haihane at the rendezvous. "Operation successful."

*Koucho*

I didn't believe it.

I couldn't. Even when I dredged up the memory, the feelings, from my library. I knew, instantly, that it was something I wasn't supposed to have seen…

…but that maybe, just maybe, was meant for me.

Higa-sama and Kakizaki had both gotten a message from the same sender at the same time. I knew this because Mid Bio Informatics had sent a message to every Ashikabi. Both my lord and my Ashikabi were wise enough not to let me use my powers on their phones or computers. My access to the network was strictly controlled and monitored.

… but my access to MBI's network was still accessible, and it was through those files that something interesting had found its way into my Records.

'…attacking, capturing or interfering with unwinged Sekirei is now in violation…'

It was the fifth time I'd Recalled the memory of reading the message. The segment of the lengthy update to the rules guiding the Sekirei Plan was signed by Minaka Hiroto himself in conjunction with the Disciplinary Squad tasked with enforcing the changes. There weren't many unwinged Sekirei left, however. Only 10. Why did they wait until it was all but pointless to implement such a rule when it could have – would have – effectively saved so many birds trapped like I was?

Unless… did heknow? Higa-sama certainly thought so. It was only after successfully arranging a meeting with the magi that I was given a reprieve. As I tended to my bruises, I Recalled our meeting, living through and experiencing my encounter with the Disciplinary Squad Ashikabi as if for the first time again. I hadn't given anything away from what I could tell… was he somehow able to tell that I was forced by Kakizaki just from looking at me?

… and if so…

Was this rule for me?

Most days, the perfect recall granted me by my powers was a curse. Useful, extremely so. But every thought, every feeling, every experience became logged by my power. My past became its own private diary, inescapably logging every torture and violation. Even the slow, constant erosion of my mental state as the nature of being Winged warred with my awareness of it. It was a battle that I intimately knew I would lose eventually.

Today, however, it was a blessing. It was too late for me, but it was proof that I mattered. That I had done something. Thank you, Shirou Emiya, I thought. Next time we meet, I may not be the person I am still clinging to today. Still, I thank you for saving those you could from ending up like I have… like I will.

…

I suppose I really shouldn't call him a brute anymore.

*Tsukiumi*

Shiina and Kusano were laughing in the backyard, taking advantage of the longer days of spring.

"Shiina, Kusano. Go get washed up for dinner." Matsu called out. I watched as the children ran off into the house, and then a while longer as the last rays of the sun started to dip below the city. That beast, Yukari, was visiting again. I had holed up in my room while she was here, which unfortunately seemed more often than not these past few days.

Miya-san had been proven correct when she said the Izumo Inn was both peaceful and not.

"Knock, knock." The voice was, however, not accompanied by a knocking at the open door to my borrowed room. "Penny for your thoughts, princess?"

The brown-haired girl at my doorway was one of the other tenants of the Inn, though I'd barely seen her since I'd been recuperating with Miya-san's blessings. She was almost my height, though most of that was her legs, covered by a pair of skin-tight capri shorts. Her long brown hair, possibly even as long as my own, was tied into a side tail on her left instead of letting it hang free. She was… well, to put it bluntly, well endowed, her tank top barely containing her – a graphic of some kind was stretched beyond recognition.

"Princess?" I balked.

"Blonde flowing locks, staring out the window into the sunset. You looked like a painting of a European princess." She leaned against the door frame. "Eh, I guess not every line is a winner. Dinner is almost ready, so I figured I'd come and get you as we haven't been introduced properly. I'm Uzume."

"Tsukiumi." I introduced myself, warily. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Yup, there you go with that formal speech. Just like a princess." She shrugged her way off the door. "I have to go take care of some stuff before dinner, but why don't you sit with me? I'd like to catch up with you more."

"I would enjoy having someone between me and Yukari." I nodded my assent. The girl seemed nice enough and if she wasn't an Ashikabi I saw no reason to deny her conversation. Miya-san had rules against violence, harassment, lascivious activities, and talking about the Sekirei Plan while under her roof. It made the Izumo feel safe, even in the presence of humans and an Ashikabi – even one as nice as Minato.

"Yeah, she's not nearly cute enough to pull off her level of energy in my opinion." Wait, what? "I'll see you at dinner." Without any explanation or fanfare, she disappeared around the corner.

What an odd girl. Friendly though. I took my time closing the window and making my way downstairs towards the kitchen. Passing by the bathroom, a flicker of red caught my eye.

Matsu? No, I could hear her voice coming from the other side of the house. Was it… yes, it was warmer suddenly. Another flicker of orange-red light brought a wave of heat – no, fire! There was only one person I knew who could conjure flames.

"Homura!" I cried, turning the corner as I conjured a torrent to douse my rival. "Have at thee!" If I announced myself and my intentions, it was an honorable battle and not a sneak attack. My strike was true, sending my erstwhile opponent sliding and sputtering across the hall in front of the bathroom.

"Oh…" The victim of my strike, now thoroughly drenched and lying in a pool of water in the hallway, was not Homura, though they shared the same gray hair and androgynously lanky builds. The (infuriatingly) handsome man was dressed in fine, if almost indecently, tight and now soggy clothes. "My most profound apologies!"

I rushed over to help the man sit up, trying to banish what evidence of my unfortunate indiscretion I could. I had broken Miya-san's rules against violence.

"Thank you, Tsukiumi…" Homura's human doppelganger muttered, whisking the water off his face. "I believed you saved me…"

"You… you know me?" Oh, that was hardly ideal for my prospects of a continued stay.

"That's right, we haven't met yet. I'm Kagari." Kagari was the name of the other male tenant. Miya-sans friend. "Miya may have mentioned me?" She did. Musubi often wondered if he and Miya-san were romantically entangled.

"Please, sir." I paled. "At least let me help you up! I thought I saw a fire…"

"No need, I'm fine." He said though he did let me help him to his feet. I must have hurt him, as despite his denials he was weak standing. "And you did." He gestured to the heavily singed cell phone on the ground next to where he had been sprawled. Laying on the floor next to it was an open lighter and a now ruined pack of still-smoldering cigarettes. "If not for you I might have lit the house on fire. Besides, I needed a bath anyway…"

"If I may, sir…" I aided as he struggled to pick up his parcels. "Can I help in any way? I can get Miya-san…"

"Seriously, I'm fine." He said, moving towards the baths. "I just got some news that left me distracted. I'll take a bath and go to bed."

I watched as he disappeared into the bathroom, worried. I would mention it to Miya-san. Oddly, I thought I heard a plume of steam issue from the bath, but… it would have been too soon if he started the heat just now.

"What are you standing around for?" An arm linked itself through mine. "We're going to be late for dinner."

"Ah, Uzume!" The girl gently guided me to the dining room. "I must have been lost in thought. Kagari just came through but he looked unwell."

"He could just be tired. He works nights and if he's only now getting home, he must be exhausted." That would explain why I hadn't seen him around. "But we'll let Miya know to keep an eye on him, just in case."

"Indeed." The table was full with the addition of Yukari and Shiina, even with Kusano sitting on her brother's lap.

"You and Shirou are so lucky." Yukari was in the middle of animatedly telling a story as we took our places. "Mom has been on the absolute warpath lately! Ever since I became Shiina's Ashikabi, I've had my allowance docked three times! It's almost like I'm you…" She groused.

"Yukari…" Minato sighed, leveling the kind-hearted boy's equivalent of a glare at her. "Mom isn't like that." The boy defended his mother, as was proper. "You must have done something."

"That's the thing! It's been like this since you and Shirou moved out." The girl denied it.

"Have you thought that the cause may be your behavior?" It may have been catty of me to add, but I felt no pity for the girl.

"Mean." The girl pouted. "But I haven't had the chance to do anything. Shiina is sleeping in your and Shirou's old room and she put a curfew on me. How am I supposed to sneak out and fight bad guys if I'm not allowed to leave the house? I tried sneaking out like I used to, but she's got like five extra senses for that! How am I supposed to compete in the tournament arc if Mom grounds me?"

"Tournament arc?" Minato blinked. "Yukari, you do realize this isn't one of your manga, right?"

"Minato, we are literally in a city-wide secret battle royale using super cute magical aliens like they're Pokemon." The girl explained slowly as if talking to a child. I knew not what a 'Pokemon' was, but I should be offended. "If there isn't a tournament arc I will be severely disappointed."

"I hate everything about what you just said." Minato deadpanned. "Worse, just being trapped in the city makes it feel like a tournament. Though… if we call Shirou, I bet he'd agree with me."

"If you feel as if you need your own space, I don't suppose having another Ashikabi around would hurt." Miya-san chimed in. "As long as you follow the rules, that is."

"Oh?" "Miya-san!" The girl and I spoke over one another. She beamed, even as I dropped my chopsticks in horror.

"There aren't many rooms left though…" Miya-san continued. "Unless you would be willing to move in with Tsukiumi or someone was willing to double up. Tsukiumi, would you be willing to spare some room until I can open some free space?"

"That's fine, Miya-san." This was a long time coming. Though I was enjoying my time at the Izumo, I wasn't a paying customer. If I stayed, it would be an abuse of Miya-san's generosity. "If you'll excuse me, I'll go pack my things now."

"Tsukiumi-san–" I left before Minato could convince me to stay.

"Hey, Tsukiumi, wait up." It was Uzume, not Minato, who caught me in the hallway. Not that I wanted him to chase me or anything. "Let me help you pack at least."

"I appreciate your offer." I did not have much more than the clothes I was wearing, so packing was done. Still, I found myself wanting to linger. "Sadly, I don't have much more than this."

"No other clothes?" Uzume looked stricken. "That's a travesty! Girl, your wardrobe is your first and most effective weapon and armor." Armor? I was not sure I believed such a thing from someone who had such scant coverage. "Let's grab you some things to take with you, I'm sure Miya would approve if she were here. Basics at least. Come to my room and we can pick out some essentials."

She was a whirlwind. Almost faster than I could blink, she had a bag packed for me with towels, toiletries, and some spare pillows and sheets.

"This is too much." I protested as she piled the bags into my arms. "These items I can get wherever I stay. Won't Miya-san need them?" This seemed more like looting than packing, and I did not want to betray Miya-san's already almost boundless generosity.

"With how many new tenants the Izumo is getting? Maybe." Uzume shrugged as she walked together to her room. "Miya refuses to use MBI's money, so I have a lot of my black card left. I'll sneak out later and replace it all." She winked at me as she said it. "So just don't tell Miya, okay? It'll be our secret."

"You're an unwinged Sekirei?" I was shocked. With two Ashikabi in the house, wasn't that dangerous? Wasn't she worried that one of them might… "You should come with me then!"

We unwinged Sekirei had to defend each other! Not… not that I would admit that much to Homura. He was arrogant enough as is.

"Nope! I'm winged, see?" She turned slightly and pulled her top askew, revealing the activation crest between the straps of her top. I blushed at the abrupt and casual show of skin. "Wait, you're not upset, are you?"

Why would I be upset if she was a Sekirei?

"Of course not." I scoffed. "I am no barbarian. Unless you have committed a trespass against me I am yet unaware of that would elicit such a reaction?"

"Nah, we're cool." Cool? "Had to check since Musubi went pretty aggro when she found out. Chased me through the yard naked." That sounded appropriate for the girl. "Anyway, my Ashikabi can't come to live with me right now, or me with her." She looked… Sad? Angry? A complicated expression flittered across her face before she banished it with another smile. "I go and visit her a lot, so I'm not around most days unless I'm feeling lazy. Oh! There's an idea!"

"W-what?" I stuttered as she clasped my hands in hers. Was she proposing that I join her Ashikabi? How forward! Not to mention scandalous! I would n-never!

"Since my Ashikabi isn't able to come to the inn, my room has a lot more space than I need. If you'd like, instead of leaving, you could stay with me? That way you don't have to leave if you don't want to."

Unsaid, was that if we were roommates, I wouldn't have to choose between leaving or sharing a room with Minato's sister. I would have the ability to stay and have a safe space.

"Thank you, Uzume-chan." I gave her a heartfelt smile. "I'd like that."

"Awesome!" She winked at me, pulling me along into her room. "Let's be roommates!"

And maybe… friends.

*Shirou*

Kochou's message included the street address of a café located in the lobby of a building downtown. Multiple entrances, and as part of an office block, there were conjoined overhangs protecting the walkways. A perfect spot to hide from MBI's orbital surveillance.

Less so, for my plan to use the anti-material rifle as overwatch, but that ended up being a moot point. Karasuba's request for performing the after-action report with Akitsu and Haihane was… suspect at best, but it was a convenient excuse to slip away myself. After sending a warning to Junko to watch the girls, that is.

There was no way they weren't up to trouble of some kind. That Akitsu was being roped into their mischief was both surprising (given Karasuba's very apparent antagonism towards her) and disappointing (as Akitsu had been a positive influence on Haihane with Karasuba away).

I'd circled the café twice now, with no sign of a tail, nor any evidence of magecraft or Sekirei. Even as I watched Higa approach, there was no telltale 'scent' of honey. A public place, no supernatural bodyguards, no mystic codes that I could see… how surprising. This might be the first magus – a Second Owner especially – that acted so mundanely and kept their word.

Oh, uh, Rin Tohsaka notwithstanding (I added as a familiar shiver of premonition went up my spine).

Taking his arrival as my cue, I revealed myself, walking calmly towards the same table.

"Mr. Emiya," He greeted me as soon as I stepped within polite hailing distance. "Please sit. There is a gap in MBI's satellite coverage for the next 30 minutes."

"You're surprisingly well informed, Mr. Izumi," I answered as I sat opposite from him, placing the non-descript black briefcase between our feet. If he knew of its contents, he didn't think twice about it.

"Information is money, Mr. Emiya. I make it a point to know everything I can." By which he probably meant Kochou. Mid Bio Informatics took its corporate espionage threats deadly seriously, but the realms of what these Brain-type Sekirei were capable of were hard to protect against. Not to mention other, esoteric ways of gathering information. "I must confess, though I knew of your presence in the city, I still find it strange to see another member of the Association out this far east. Especially one with your reputation."

"I didn't know I had a reputation." I lied. Most likely, it was that I was a jumped-up dog; a toy that the apprentice of Zelrech brought with her before she tired of me and sent me to the Enforcers. That was the most common rumor, and one I was more than willing to let slide. Less duels to the death or attempts to curry my favor (and/or kidnap me to influence Rin's). "Good things, I hope."

The other rumors floating around were… less kindly. I didn't recognize the Izumi name, so I probably didn't kill anyone in his family.

"Just the normal things one hears when keeping up with other Owners." If he was lying, he was very good at it. "We're a small club in Japan. I wouldn't be in the position I am in today if I didn't know the value of networking."

Rin had never mentioned anything to me, so he must not have made much of an impression. Still… Rin was but one person in a very large ocean of nobles, and an isolated one at that. I shouldn't underestimate a magus who was capable of running a multi-billion-dollar business in the mundane world.

"Then should I assume the Clocktower has been adequately briefed on the Sekirei?" I hadn't, outside of a brief conversation with Rin. I had wanted to avoid the explosion in conflicts that would no doubt occur if mages entered the city en masse to grab up the Sekirei. If the Association was already aware, however… then I would need to make my own report before I was the subject of some unfortunate questions about why. "MBI has held me under strict surveillance. There haven't been many opportunities to slip away unnoticed."

"Unfortunately, my closest partner in the association was killed in Roan–" The rest of Higa's words were drowned out by the screaming. I fished out one of Rebecca's cigarettes, lighting it and taking a deep drag. The acrid taste of nicotine flushed out the taste of ash and blood. Ash and blood and shitty cigarettes… the only remains of the city of the dead. "–MBi's integration with the air and seaports since becoming an Ashikabi myself has delayed me from delivering a concise report of the company's actions and what I've gathered on the Sekirei."

"What information have you collected?" I asked, the world coming back into focus.

"Such an uncouth question. Normally, I would chide you for thinking like an Enforcer." Higa quipped, clearly knowing that I was an Enforcer. "After all, what magus would willingly expose their own research for free? Especially when dealing with a material as rare and valuable as a Sekirei."

"I would say a magus that didn't want their research seized," I played along, "or the threat of a sealing designation hanging over them."

A sealing designation was an edict bestowed upon magi by the association: whether as an honor, acknowledging a unique or rare breakthrough in research, or as a punishment for breaking a taboo, either way, the result was usually the same. The designee would be invited to live the rest of their days in the association and their research taken for study until it could be replicated… or Enforcers like myself would hunt them down for elimination or retrieval.

So far, his words provided clever and plausible enough pretext to excuse his actions. I expected nothing less from a magus that saw an opportunity to create a monopoly on the new magical species.

"That is quite the threat." Higa nodded, and our conversation paused long enough for our tea to be served. "Thankfully, I am not nearly so foolish as to risk that level of retribution over a mere possibility." He continued, once we were alone again. "Here is a dossier of the easier-to-obtain information."

He slid a file across the table.

"Have you…" I left the question hanging, hesitating to open the file. I wasn't a stranger to the depths that a true magus would go to in the pursuit of their craft. The last thing I wanted was to see the results of a vivisection, let alone at a public café.

"Nothing invasive," Higa answered the unspoken question. "Learning how the Sekirei can have such varied abilities would be interesting, and confirming my suspicions that they possess magic cores would prove invaluable. However, as I can assume you would understand, until my continued participation and personal safety in this… 'Sekirei Plan' is no longer contingent on my Sekirei, it isn't worth the risk."

I opened the files. There was a lot of biometric data.

"Mid Bio Informatics keeps a very strict eye on the activities Sekirei engage in. Any loss in signal is immediately addressed and their biometrics are tracked in real time. So long as the Sekirei aren't harmed within bounds, MBI is surprisingly lenient with what they can be subjected to. Fortunately for me, I own most of the hospitals in the city, so I've been able to collect a lot of data through such means. You can keep that file. Consider it a token of my loyalty to the Association."

"Right." I closed the files. "So, what do you want?"

"I thought it was obvious." He replied. "I would like for us to collaborate. Keeping my agents, mundane or otherwise, from being found by that snake Hiroto has been hell." For a moment, his mask fell, and he let his frustration show. "Honestly, I'm surprised you've been able to get as close as you have to him, his company, or the Sekirei. Thank god for nepotism, I suppose."

"More like Karasuba." I snorted. "Being Takami's son may have gotten me out of certain death when I first arrived, but it was Karasuba reacting to me that tied me to the company."

"I take it you haven't learned much about the inner workings of the plan then?"

"Probably as much as you have. I may be close, but I'm clearly not trusted. Like you said: Minaka is playing this very close to his chest. Half the time I'm not sure if he's an idiot who hasn't planned anything, or if he's a genius mastermind. So far, I've been assuming it's a Grail War-style ritual. His talk about 'Ascension' concerns me and I haven't been able to figure out what he means by it. Takami hasn't been able to tell me and none of the Sekirei seem to know or care."

"I've had similar failures. It isn't a buried memory or subconscious trigger." Higa added. "I've had my Mind-types digging into what I can without alerting MBI, but I've been equally stymied. Comparing it to the Holy Grail War ritual… I suppose that makes sense given your experience, and without answers of my own, that's as good a guess as any. I'm sure you've noticed as well that the Sekirei Plan makes no sense."

"What? You don't see the inherent logic of Including a fight to the death into a mating ritual?" I quipped. "If the purpose was killing the Sekirei, the level of care they've taken in raising them and preventing them from being stolen is contradictory. If it was for conservation, then why release them? The only thing that makes sense then is these contradictory aspects are part of a larger, hidden ritual to bring about this 'Ascension' business."

"This leads me to my proposition: as we are both nominally cut off from the Association, barring either a headache or the expenditure of resources better spent elsewhere," I nodded along with his statement, "Let's pool our information and resources. This way we can coordinate and figure out Hiroto's endgame before he does something foolish."

"More foolish, you mean…" I muttered. It was almost time to wrap up and leave before the satellites made another pass. "Agreed. Figuring out the mysteries behind this before the secret of magic is spread to more people is paramount."

We shook hands and went our separate ways. It was… refreshing, to have someone agreeable and reasonable on my side. With two of the most powerful Ashikabi in the plan feeding me information and my own infiltration of the Disciplinary Squad… I was in a good spot to undermine the Plan and foil whatever it was leading to.

And to think, Rin and Arturia thought I was rubbish at subterfuge.

No sooner than I thought that, did a message from Junko popped up on my phone.

Karasuba, Haihane, and Akitsu just broke a guy's nose.

…

God dammit.

*End*

Wow, that Higa sure seems like a gentleman.

Now that I'm writing her finally, Rizz-queen Uzume is a lot of fun.

Hope you all enjoyed this installment. A shout out to ParadoxicalThought, HibernaLupus, and OctZ for ushering in a thousand years of darkness… or in this case, another chapter.

Drake Valkyr