Good day, my dear readers. We are now here for the last chapter of this fanfic. It's hard to believe that I have spent nearly four and a half years on this fic.

The start day is on the fourth of January 2019, and now, we start writing the end in September 2024.

Not that it's the end of these adventures. The requester and I have started to talk about a sequel long before this, and that next fic is going to be out when things cool down. I can tell you all a bit more.

It's going to be a more significant focus on Minato and his subsequent life—an epilogue fic with things that we have planned for a long time.

As the poll is now closed, we can clearly see what Ichika's love life is going to be like.

Kosaki has won the poll. Thirty-seven votes were given to her, so she became Ichika's girlfriend.

The harem has landed on 34 votes. As a reviewer pointed out, it wouldn't be a choice but the girls here.

Maya had 14 votes. It was too bad for her, but she never had a chance.

Staying single landed on four votes.

Ran ended on two votes.

We end this fic with 252 reviews, 364 favorites and 364 followers. Well enough for my end.

The total count is 91 votes. That's not even a third of favorites. But, well, I know what sort of fic I am writing in, and I also know that the site has gone haywire quite a few times.

I also have to thank VIRUS GO for his help and information on one particular spot in this chapter.

Your edits and information were invaluable for this chapter.


Now, for the guest reviews.

Guest 01 on chapter 37 on the 29th of April. The nightmares are now going to become a reality. With Izuru, he hasn't done a single thing for the series.

Guest 02 on chapter 37 on the 26th of May. I highly doubt that Izuru Yumizuru has read my fic. Then again, I started this fic in 2019, nearly a year after the last Volume of Infinite Stratos was written. We are more than six years later, and the guy still hasn't updated his fic. Well, that says more about him than it does about me.

Guest 03 on chapter 37 on the 23rd of July. See the above reply of OniTenshi500. He words it precisely as I would put it.

Guest 04 on chapter 37 on the 26th of July. They did confess, but what good would it do to them? He has decided that he is no longer interested in them, and he would look for love elsewhere.

Guest on chapter 37 on the 19th of August. What do you mean by finding out sooner or later?


Started on 12/08/2024

Ended on 09/09/2024

I also decided to make the song of this chapter after Nanowar of Steel's song of Iron Maiden—a worthy ending to this fic.


Afraid to shoot into the eyes of a stranger
A stranger in a strange world of a strange land
Afraid to look into the eyes of a stranger
The stranger of a strange world in a strange land


[Arion – I don't fear you.]

It was a rare sight to see Chifuyu Orimura, the unbreakable, utterly shattered. Yet, at this moment, her mental defenses had crumbled. Still, no one had the luxury of caring about her breakdown. Not now.

"I suggest you children take this outside. That goes for you as well, young lady." Miya Asama's voice cut through the thick tension, calm but carrying an undeniable authority.

Madoka glared back at Miya, defiance sparking in her eyes. But the power radiating from Miya was undeniable, an aura that commanded respect and instilled fear.

Madoka was confident in her ability to fight Ichika. She knew every move her dear brother would make before he even thought of it.

But Miya... Miya was an entirely different kind of threat. Her gaze was locked on Tabane, and the so-called perfect human was trembling, realizing just how profoundly she had miscalculated.

Miya's voice, usually a well of calm, now reverberated with the steely resolve that was sorely lacking among the others, all of whom were caught in the circus of chaos Tabane had unleashed.

"Chifuyu, call in the girls and tell them to stay put. I won't allow anyone else on the battlefield besides Ichika and his foe. Anyone else will be treated as hostile."

Ichika's resolve nearly cracked at the sound of Miya's command, a wave of gratitude washing over him. He wanted to look at her, to silently convey his thanks to the woman who had been his landlady and teacher, but he knew better. The enemy was too close, the danger too real.

"Thank you, Miya," was all he could muster before he activated his IS, the machine roaring to life, leaving Madoka with no time to counter.

Miya's face remained an impassive mask, her usual serene smile absent. In its place was something far more terrifying: a hollow, empty gaze that bore down on Tabane. The scientist, who once reveled in her superiority, was now confronted with a force she had never accounted for.

Chifuyu's fury, she could handle. She had even relished the idea of provoking her old friend into a confrontation. But Miya... Miya was beyond her calculations, a being who operated on a level Tabane had never encountered.

"Good thing you got the failure out. It would be dreadfully boring if he were still around," Tabane sneered, though the bravado in her voice was strained.

Both Takehito and Chifuyu could feel the tension escalating, their fear growing with each passing second. Takehito could only hope Miya hadn't forgotten him entirely, though he knew better than to hope for leniency.

"Chifuyu, what did I ask you to do?" Miya's voice, though shaken, held a thread of authority. In any other situation, the Brunhilde would never have tolerated being spoken to in such a manner. But Miya wasn't just anyone.

As the most robust teacher in the school, certain privileges were afforded to her, privileges that now had her issuing commands with absolute confidence.

[We've been compromised. For safety reasons, do not, I repeat, DO NOT prepare for combat. Some have scores to settle, and I can't be held responsible if you decide to fight. No one can win against these combatants] Chifuyu transmitted, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.

"That was lame, Chi-chan. What would it hurt to have a few extra fighters in the mix?" Tabane's voice was laced with its usual sharp edge, but everyone could hear the underlying panic.

"I can't afford distractions. And if you're wondering why I sent Ichika out... What comes next is not suited for children. Not even for a warrior like Ichika." Miya's words were ice cold, each one hitting Tabane like a physical blow.

The glare Miya fixed on her was enough to send Tabane stumbling back, true terror seeping into her heart for the first time in her life. She had always believed herself invincible, the ultimate human, the pinnacle of perfection. But Miya's words cut through that delusion like a knife.

"You might be the ultimate human—the pinnacle of perfection. But guess what, Tabane? You are still just human. There is no comparison between you and a Sekirei."

Tabane's eyes darted to the Renürion, her only hope for escape. The Pillar let out a small, almost dismissive chuckle. If Tabane thought she could flee from Miya, she was sorely mistaken. The fight was inevitable.

Takehito's voice cut through the rising bloodlust, grounding Miya in the moment.

"Remember, you can't kill her," he reminded gently.

Miya turned her head slightly, just enough to acknowledge him. Before she could leave, Takehito had closed the gap between them.

A warrior would never let her guard down, even around loved ones. But the Pillar found that there was no reason to distrust him.

When she felt his lips on hers, there was that incredible energy filling her body.

"By the sword of my pact, my Ashikabi's torments will be obliterated!" Wings opened behind her back, and she felt her body fill with energy.

Takehito had a sad gaze on his face as he could see through the warrior's mask. Beneath the bloodlust, beneath the hunger for battle, was a weary woman who had fought too many wars and shed too much blood.

But even so, she understood the ancient duty—the duty to fight for those who could not. It was a duty that transcended species, binding even a Sekirei like her.

And no matter how much Miya despised Tabane, she could not ask Ichika to fight this battle. This was her responsibility, one she would see through to the end.

Scene skip

Ichika found himself with no choice but to fight. The revelations of his true origins, the lies that had woven the fabric of his life, weighed heavily on him, but he refused to be defined by them. He was not the monster Tabane had claimed him to be, and he would not allow himself to become one.

His anger, his fury, his hatred—all of it had found a focus in Madoka, his sister, who now stood before him as the embodiment of everything he needed to confront.

The skies above the ISA were their battlefield, the sun setting in the distance, casting a crimson glow that seemed to mirror the bloodlust between them. The air was thick with tension as if the very world was holding its breath, waiting for the clash that was about to unfold.

Madoka, caught off guard by the sheer viciousness of Ichika's assault, struggled to regain control. Her Unit, the Kurokishi, was powerful—designed for precision and destruction—but it was being driven back by the relentless force of Ichika's attacks.

Each blow he delivered was more ruthless, more unrelenting than the last, a manifestation of the turmoil raging within him.

Madoka's eyes widened in shock as she fought to hold her ground. She had never expected this level of ferocity from her brother. The boy she had once considered weak and naive had become a force to be reckoned with.

Retreat was not an option. Not now, not when she was so close to achieving her goals. She fired shot after shot, desperate to create distance, to regain control. Enhancing her Unit's strength, she tried to stay ahead of him, but it was no use.

Ichika closed the gap effortlessly, dodging her blasts with a precision that made her heart race with frustration. Her shots became wilder, more reckless—dangerous for a sniper, even one as skilled as Madoka.

But desperation was setting in. Ichika was done running, done hiding. His focus was singular and unbreakable, and there was no sign that he would stop until one of them was defeated. He flew through the sky like a predator, cutting down the drones she released as if they were mere insects in his path.

"Damn you!" Madoka's shout echoed through the skies, tinged with desperation as Ichika drew closer, his sword poised to strike.

Knowing she couldn't keep him at bay, Madoka discarded her rifle and drew her Buster Sword, her last resort. Their blades clashed, and she felt the sheer force behind his strike—a power that made her struggle to remain upright.

The impact reverberated through her entire body, and for a moment, she wondered if she could genuinely withstand this.

"Damned we are," Ichika quipped, his voice cold, emotionless, as if the battle was already won. His words cut more profound than his sword, and Madoka's glare hardened in response.

Using her Unit's speed, she pulled back, trying to put some distance between them. But Ichika was relentless, closing the gap with a speed that made her lose her balance even further.

This was his game, his fight, and he was determined to fight it on his terms. Nothing would stop him. Not now, not ever.

As soon as he was within striking distance, Ichika slammed his sword down on Madoka, the blow sending her plummeting downward. The pain was intense, searing through her as she struggled to comprehend how he had managed to overpower her so completely.

How could she feel this? How could he be this strong?

Madoka craned her head just in time to see Ichika diving after her like a falcon on the hunt. He collided with her, the impact knocking the wind out of her lungs, and for a moment, the world blurred around her.

She had expected hate in his eyes, expected the anger she felt to be mirrored in his gaze. But what she saw instead made her heart falter—tears. Ichika's jaw was clenched, his focus undeniable, but tears streamed down his face, dripping onto her mask as he stared at her.

"Weakling," the word escaped her lips before she could stop it, but it didn't affect him. It was as if the insult hadn't even registered.

"I wonder. Why?" His voice was calm, almost contemplative, a stark contrast to the chaos around them. The question lingered, and it unnerved Madoka. She kicked him away, her Unit regaining altitude as she tried to shake off the unease his words had caused.

Ichika was relentless, following her every move, his spins and rolls, making it easier to avoid her increasingly erratic shots. He knew he had to keep her off balance, to distract her, to make her lose focus.

Whether he was consciously aiming for that or just pushing her to the brink, it didn't matter. It was working.

"Why? What?" Madoka's curiosity was piqued despite herself, and Ichika caught the hint of interest in her voice. He grinned—a predatory, knowing smile.

She had taken the bait, and now he would reel her in. This was his chance to widen the gap between them, to deepen the rift that had already begun to form.

"Why do you follow Tabane?" His question was direct, cutting through the chaos of their battle. Her scoff was immediately dismissive, but Ichika wasn't deterred. He raced toward her, closing the distance so he could see her face when she answered.

Madoka blocked his next strike, her relief palpable. For a brief moment, she felt in control again, as if the battle hadn't already been decided.

But Ichika was having too much fun for this to end prematurely. He wanted to drag it out, to understand where Madoka truly stood. In a twisted way, he was enjoying this.

"Why wouldn't I follow her?" she shot back, her tone sharp, as if the very question insulted her intelligence.

"I could give you a list, but we'd be here all day," Ichika replied, his voice steady, almost casual. He evaded her next strike with ease. "You could have killed me in Shinto Teito. But you didn't. You held back because the Sekirei were around, didn't you?"

Their blades crossed again, the sparks flying just as fiercely as before. Madoka's expression twisted in frustration. "That was the only reason. It would have been too difficult to—"

Ichika cut her off, pushing her further. "I think you didn't fight me because you knew it wouldn't get you any closer to Chifuyu. You were there to intercept me and take my core, but that's not what drives you. Little sister?"

Madoka's next shots were wild, lacking the control and precision she was known for. She hated that he was right, hated that he could see through her so clearly. "We are not siblings," she snarled, but Ichika was already closing in again.

She expected another strike, but instead, she felt his hand on her mask. How had he gotten so close? His fingers clawed at it, tearing it away before she could react. And there, reflected in his eyes, she saw herself—angry, desperate, and lost.

Ichika shook his head slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. "What part of this frustrates you more? That we can't change the truth? Or that you're like me? Worthless creations made out of sheer perversion. Failed experiments, only made to be thrown away."

His words were delivered with a calm that unnerved her, as if he was stating a simple fact, not insulting her. How could he talk like this? How could he be so relaxed, so unbothered by everything?

"It's not true. None of what you say is true." Madoka's voice wavered with frustration, and Ichika's smirk only deepened the wound.

"You can't change it. But I do know that your fight isn't with me, Madoka." His use of her name, spoken with such familiarity, made her blood boil. Her subsequent attacks were fierce, forcing Ichika onto the defensive, but it didn't change the dynamic of their fight. He was still in control, and she knew it.

"What do you know about it? What the hell do you know about me?" Madoka's voice was strained, her frustration boiling over as Ichika pushed her back with his relentless attacks.

"I don't know everything. I only tell you what I see. You want Chifuyu to acknowledge you, like a child chasing after its parent's approval." Ichika's words were sharp, cutting deep.

Madoka's face contorted with rage, her teeth grinding as she glared at him with pure hatred. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to kill him.

"Believe me, it's not something either of us got," Ichika continued, breaking off her attack with a counterstrike. Madoka tried to retreat, but he wouldn't let her. He was on her again, closing the distance she desperately tried to create.

"You have her," she spat, her voice dripping with venom.

"I don't know what life you led, but it couldn't have been easy. Neither was mine." Ichika's smile returned, baffling and enraging Madoka in equal measure. "You've been following me for a while now. You know what makes me tick, what I've done."

Their blades clashed again, sparks flying as they fought with everything they had left.

"I've heard of your exploits. I've heard who you fought before."

"And in the UK. You could have killed me there," Ichika answered, his tone almost nostalgic, as if remembering a distant memory.

Madoka's anger flared once more. "You are after Chifuyu. That's between you and her. Why do you involve me?" Her glare was deadly, but Ichika met it with one of his own, unwavering.

"Enough! I will kill you, Ichika Orimura!" Madoka's energy flared around her, the power building as she prepared for one final, desperate assault. Ichika could feel the intensity of her resolve, but he wasn't about to be outdone.

"You couldn't do that in Kyoto, even with help. What makes you think you can do that now?" Ichika's energy began to surge as well, matching her ferocity. The sky seemed to darken around them, the air crackling with the power they unleashed.

Their struggles, their pain, their determination—it was all they had to keep them going. And as their battle reached its peak, the outcome hung in the balance, waiting for the one who would make the decisive move.

Scene skip

The atmosphere in the ISA halls was charged with an electric tension, the air humming with the latent energy of the facility's advanced technology. Tabane Shinonono, the genius scientist whose mind had given birth to the Infinite Stratos, stood amidst this sea of machinery, her gaze fixed on the approaching figure of Miya Asama.

Miya's presence was an anomaly in this environment—a living paradox of ancient power and modern warfare. Where Tabane was surrounded by the hum of machines and the glow of screens, Miya moved with a calm, almost ethereal grace, her spiritual aura subtly suppressing the chaotic energies around her.

"Isn't this a bit much, Miya?" Tabane's voice echoed through the corridor, tinged with the same playful arrogance that had infuriated so many before. She gestured to the various automated systems that began to whir to life around her. "You know, I've always admired how well you handle a sword, but here? This is my world. A world of technology and precision."

Miya didn't reply immediately. Her gaze remained steady, locked onto Tabane with a quiet intensity. The faintest smile tugged at the corner of her lips, though it held no warmth. "Tabane, you've always been clever with machines. But this isn't about cleverness. It's about responsibility."

Tabane's smile faltered for a brief moment, replaced by a glint of annoyance. "Responsibility?" she scoffed, her voice laced with disdain. "Responsibility is just a leash the weak use to control the strong."

Miya took a step forward, her movements smooth and deliberate. The ISA's systems responded to Tabane's silent command, the lights flickering as energy was diverted to power up defensive drones and automated turrets. The hallway began to hum with the sound of servos and the whirring of targeting systems locking onto Miya.

"Even if that were true," Miya said softly, "then consider this my responsibility." With a flick of her wrist, Miya drew her katana, the blade gleaming under the cold artificial light.

Her spiritual energy flared, barely visible, but its presence was undeniable—a ripple that disturbed the otherwise sterile environment.

The drones opened fire, a barrage of high-speed projectiles converging on Miya. But she moved with blinding speed, her katana flashing as she deflected the incoming fire. Each strike of her blade was precise, cutting through the projectiles with a grace that seemed almost effortless.

Tabane watched with a mixture of fascination and frustration. Her initial plan had been to keep Miya at a distance, using the technology at her disposal to wear her down. But Miya was closing the gap, her calm and methodical approach unsettling.

Tabane activated more defenses—energy shields sprung to life, drones swarmed, and the floor beneath Miya's feet began to shift, trying to destabilize her.

Miya, however, was unyielding. She danced through the onslaught, her katana cutting down drones and slicing through barriers with practiced ease.

Her spiritual energy shielded her from environmental attacks, allowing her to maintain her relentless advance.

As Miya closed the distance, Tabane's expression shifted from confidence to a more serious focus. She realized that this fight wouldn't be as easy as she had anticipated.

With a sharp gesture, she summoned a high-tech wand from her side, the device crackling with energy as it extended into a more formidable weapon.

"Let's see how you handle this," Tabane muttered, her tone lacking the usual playful edge. She unleashed a wave of energy from the wand, a burst of force that crackled through the air toward Miya.

Miya's response was immediate. She swung her katana in a wide arc, her blade infused with spiritual energy that met Tabane's attack head-on. The two forces collided, creating a shockwave that rippled through the corridor, shaking the very walls of the ISA.

Tabane took a step back, surprised by the sheer power behind Miya's counter. She quickly adjusted, using the wand to project an energy barrier around herself as she launched another series of attacks.

The wand's capabilities were impressive, generating energy pulses that could slice through metal and creating force fields that could deflect most physical attacks.

But Miya was no ordinary opponent. Each time Tabane tried to create distance, Miya would close it, her katana moving with deadly precision. The battle had turned into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with Tabane using every trick at her disposal to keep Miya at bay.

Their movements were a blur of motion—Tabane's technological prowess versus Miya's spiritual and martial mastery. The corridor became a war zone, filled with the sounds of clashing metal, energy discharges, and the occasional grunt of effort as both fighters pushed themselves to their limits.

Despite her best efforts, Tabane couldn't shake the growing realization that Miya was more experienced in the art of combat. Where Tabane relied on her intellect and technology, Miya relied on instinct, skill, and an unshakable resolve.

Each clash of their weapons sent vibrations through Tabane's arms; each near-miss left her heart pounding in her chest.

"I wonder," Miya said, her voice steady even as their blades locked once more, "do you really think you can win this, Tabane?"

Tabane gritted her teeth, pushing back with all her might. "I don't need to win," she replied through clenched teeth. "I just need to survive long enough to outlast you."

But even as she spoke, a sliver of doubt crept into her mind. Miya was closing in, step by step, with the same unyielding determination that had brought her this far. And for the first time, Tabane wondered if maybe, just maybe, she had underestimated the woman who now stood before her.

Scene skip

Madoka's energy crackled around her, the aura of desperation and fury so intense it seemed to distort the very air around her. Her Buster Sword pulsed with accumulated power, glowing ominously as she charged at Ichika with a roar that echoed through the sky.

Each swing of her blade was a thunderclap, reverberating through the atmosphere as if the heavens themselves were splitting apart with every strike. But Ichika met each blow head-on, his sword flashing like a streak of silver lightning, precise and unwavering.

They were locked in a deadly dance; each move met with an equally fatal counter, their swords clashing in a symphony of violence. The sky around them pulsed with the raw energy they unleashed, the setting sun casting long, flickering shadows that danced with the rhythm of their combat.

Every time their blades collided, the shockwaves rippled through the air, creating turbulence that could be felt miles away. To any observer, it was a battle between titans, a clash that was as much about their inner demons as it was about their physical prowess.

Madoka's mind was a storm of emotions—anger, frustration, hatred, and a deep, gnawing sense of inadequacy. All her life, she had been overshadowed by her siblings, always reaching for something just out of her grasp, always striving to prove herself, to be acknowledged.

And yet, here she was, once again facing her brother, who seemed so calm, so unbothered by the chaos raging around them. It was infuriating, maddening, and it drove her to swing her sword with even more fury.

"Why do you always have to be like this?" she spat, her voice laced with venom as she brought her sword down in a savage arc. "Why can't you just die and make it easy for me!"

Ichika deflected her attack, his expression remaining unreadable, his movements fluid and controlled. "Because I'm not here to make things easy for you, Madoka," he replied, his voice steady, even as their swords locked in a clash that sent another shockwave rippling through the sky. "I'm here because I have to be. Because someone has to stop you."

Madoka's frustration boiled over, her grip tightening on her sword as she pushed back with a surge of power. The force of her attack forced Ichika to break their lock and dodge away, but she didn't let up. She pressed the attack with renewed vigor, her strikes becoming faster, more frantic.

She could feel herself slipping, her control waning as her emotions took over, but she didn't care. All that mattered was defeating Ichika and proving herself.

Ichika, sensing her desperation, switched tactics. He knew Madoka was more potent than she had been in their previous battle, where she had fought alongside Squall. The memories of that fight flashed through his mind—the intensity of their combined assault, the way they had pushed him to his limits.

But he had survived and had grown stronger because of it. Now, he wasn't just fighting to survive; he was fighting to end this madness once and for all.

Instead of matching Madoka's pace, Ichika began to slow down, his movements becoming deliberate and calculated. Each strike was precise, aimed not at overpowering her but at wearing her down, making her expend her energy.

It was a battle of attrition now, and Ichika was playing the long game. Every parry, every deflection was measured, designed to frustrate her further, to make her waste her strength.

"You think you can outlast me?" Madoka sneered, though there was a hint of fear in her voice. She had been pushed to her limits, and she knew it. "I'm stronger than you think! I've beaten you before, and I can do it again!"

Ichika didn't answer immediately, focusing instead on parrying her next flurry of attacks. He remembered their previous encounter vividly—the ferocity with which Madoka and Squall had fought, the way they had pushed him to the brink. But this was different.

This time, he wasn't just reacting. He was in control, and that made all the difference. When he finally spoke, his tone was softer, almost sad. "It's not about strength, Madoka. It's about knowing when to stop."

His words struck a chord deep within her, reverberating in her mind as if they were the very echoes of the thunderclaps their swords created. For a split second, her resolve wavered, her grip on her sword faltering. That was all Ichika needed.

With a swift, precise movement, he slipped past her defenses and delivered a decisive blow to her Unit's core. The impact sent her spiraling downward, her momentum broken, her concentration shattered.

Madoka's vision blurred as she tumbled through the air, her Unit sparking and failing around her. The blow had been perfectly timed, hitting her where she was most vulnerable. She managed to stabilize herself, but barely.

The impact of Ichika's strike had shaken her to the core, both physically and emotionally. She could feel the sting of tears welling up, but she refused to let them fall. This was not the time for weakness.

As she hovered in the air, catching her breath, she looked up to see Ichika descending slowly towards her, his sword lowered but still ready. The sight of him—so calm, so composed—made something snap inside her.

"Stop looking at me like that!" she screamed, her voice cracking with the intensity of her emotions. "I don't need your pity! I don't need anyone!"

Ichika paused a few meters away, his gaze softening as he regarded her. "Madoka… this isn't about pity. It's about stopping you from doing something you'll regret for the rest of your life."

Madoka's hands tightened around her sword, her knuckles white with the effort. "You think you know everything, don't you? You think you're so much better than me…"

"No," Ichika replied quietly. "I don't think that at all. But I do know what it's like to be lost, to feel like you have to prove something to the world. But this is not it!"

Madoka's breaths came in ragged gasps, her vision swimming as she tried to process his words. She wanted to reject them, to push them away, but they wormed their way into her mind, sowing seeds of doubt. For the first time, she hesitated, unsure of what to do next.

Seeing her hesitation, Ichika knew this was his chance to end the fight before it spiraled out of control again. He surged forward, his movements a blur as he closed the distance between them. Madoka barely had time to react before his sword was at her throat, the tip pressing lightly against her armor.

"Don't make me do this, Madoka," Ichika said, his voice strained with emotion. "It doesn't have to end like this."

Madoka looked into his eyes, and for a moment, she saw not the warrior who had bested her but the brother she had always yearned to know, the one she had envied and resented in equal measure.

The tears she had been holding back finally broke free, streaming down her face as she let out a choked sob.

"I just wanted her to see me," she whispered, her voice filled with the raw pain of years of rejection. "I just wanted to be noticed…"

Ichika's heart ached at her words, but he kept his sword steady, knowing that any slip could be fatal. "I see you, Madoka. I've always seen you. But this… this isn't you. Don't let Tabane use you like this."

Madoka's grip on her sword loosened, and her strength finally gave out as the weight of everything she had done came crashing down on her. With a shaky breath, she let her weapon slip from her grasp, watching as it fell to the ground far below.

Ichika immediately lowered his sword, reaching out to steady her as she began to collapse. "It's over," he said gently as she leaned against him, her body trembling with exhaustion and grief. "You don't have to fight anymore."

Scene skip

The battle between Miya and Tabane raged on, and the ISA halls transformed into a war zone of clashing forces. Sparks flew as metal met metal, and the air was thick with the sound of energy discharges, the hum of advanced machinery, and the rapid breathing of the two combatants.

Despite the high-tech defenses Tabane had summoned, Miya continued to close the gap between them, driven by an unyielding determination that seemed to defy the very laws of nature.

Requested flashback

It was a quiet evening at the Izumo Inn, the peaceful atmosphere of the home at odds with the tension that filled the air inside. Miya and Takehito sat at the low table, a sense of unease hanging over them. The news they had just received from Minato and Matsu weighed heavily on their minds.

Minato had been the first to relay the message, his voice tinged with concern. "Miya, Takehito… Matsu found out about Ichika. We do not doubt that Tabane will be at the ISA. I am sorry to ask this, but please, you need to get there. You need to help him."

Miya's expression had remained calm, but the intensity in her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. "Tabane's influence has grown too dangerous," she had said, her voice steady. "If she's involved, we need to act. We can't let her plans come to fruition."

Takehito nodded, already deep in thought. "We need to neutralize her influence and stop the Phantom Task from gaining any more power. But this isn't a battle we can win through brute force alone. We have to be strategic."

As they sat together, the reality of what they were about to face settled over them. The dangers were immense, and the stakes had never been higher. But Miya and Takehito were no strangers to difficult decisions, and they knew that they couldn't face this threat without careful planning.

"We'll need to be prepared for anything," Takehito said, his tone firm. "But there's something else we need to consider."

Miya looked at him, sensing the weight behind his words. "What is it?"

Takehito reached out, taking her hand in his. "If it comes to it, Miya, I can wing you. It will give you the strength and power you need to face whatever Tabane throws at us."

Miya's heart skipped a beat at his words. The winging ceremony was a profound commitment, a bond that would tie her to Takehito in a way that was both sacred and unbreakable. It was a step that could not be taken lightly.

"I trust you, Takehito," she had said softly, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling within her. "If this is the path we need to take, then I'm ready."

Takehito's eyes had softened with affection and respect. "We'll face this together, Miya. Whatever happens, we'll be strong enough to handle it."

It was then that Minato's voice had chimed in again, this time with a note of hesitation. "Miya, Takehito… there's something else. Ichika wants to fight. He's determined to take on whoever he can handle. What do we do?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Miya knew the kind of resolve Ichika had and the strength he carried within him, but she also knew the risks. Letting him fight would mean putting him in harm's way, but denying him would go against everything they had taught him about courage and responsibility.

Takehito had been the first to speak. "If Ichika believes he's ready, we should let him fight. But only if he faces an opponent within his capability. He's strong, but this isn't a battle for glory—it's a battle for survival."

Miya had nodded, agreeing with her husband's judgment. "We'll support him, but we'll make sure he's not overmatched. We'll guide him as best we can and trust that he'll make the right decisions."

With their plan set, Miya and Takehito had prepared for the journey to the ISA. The decision to fight, the decision to wing Miya, and the decision to allow Ichika to join the battle—all of it had weighed heavily on them. But they had made those choices together, with the understanding that they would face whatever came next as a united front.

End of the requested flashback

Tabane's wand, now extended into a staff, crackled with energy as she swung it toward Miya. The weapon hummed with a dangerous power, each swing releasing pulses of force that could rend steel and shatter bones.

But Miya was faster. Her katana, an extension of her very being, cut through the air with lethal precision. She deflected the energy pulses with calculated strikes, sending them careening into the walls around her, which sparked and groaned under the onslaught.

With each exchange, it became more apparent that Tabane's technological prowess was not enough to keep Miya at bay. The staff, though formidable, was being slowly outmatched by Miya's raw combat skill and spiritual energy.

Every time Tabane created distance, Miya would close it, her movements fluid and unrelenting, like water finding its way through the cracks in a dam.

Miya's eyes never left Tabane, reading her every move with the practiced ease of a seasoned warrior. She could see the cracks forming in Tabane's composure—the slight tremor in her hands, the almost imperceptible hesitation before each attack.

Tabane was brilliant, yes, but in this arena, where the stakes were life and death, brilliance alone wasn't enough.

Realizing that her ranged tactics were failing, Tabane doubled down on her melee approach. She spun the staff with increasing speed, creating a shield of energy around her that crackled and flared, a storm of raw power that she hoped would keep Miya at bay. With a determined shout, Tabane lunged forward, her staff aimed directly at Miya's heart.

But Miya was ready. She sidestepped the attack with a grace that seemed almost inhuman, her katana flashing as she brought it down on the staff.

The blade struck with precision, cutting through the energy shield and forcing Tabane to recoil. The impact sent a shockwave through the hallway, the floor beneath them buckling under the strain.

"You're persistent," Tabane muttered, her voice tinged with both frustration and grudging respect. She quickly adjusted her grip, swinging the staff in a wide arc to keep Miya at a distance.

But even as she did so, she knew that she was running out of options. Miya's relentless assault was pushing her to the brink, and there was only so much longer she could hold out.

Miya's response was a swift, calculated strike, her katana slicing through the air toward Tabane's midsection. Tabane barely managed to dodge the blow, the force of the impact reverberating up her arms.

She staggered back, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. For the first time, a sliver of fear crept into her mind—fear that she might not be able to win this fight.

"You rely too much on your machines, Tabane," Miya said calmly, her voice carrying a weight of experience that Tabane couldn't match. "But machines can't think. They can't adapt. And they can't understand the strength that comes from discipline and purpose."

Tabane's eyes narrowed, the frustration boiling over. "Machines are tools, Miya. Tools that I control. Tools that make me stronger than you could ever be."

Miya's gaze hardened, and she stepped forward, closing the gap between them once again. "Strength isn't about control. It's about understanding your limits and knowing when to push beyond them."

With that, Miya unleashed a flurry of strikes, her katana moving faster than Tabane could follow. Each strike was precise, aimed at dismantling Tabane's defenses one by one.

Tabane struggled to keep up, her staff meeting each blow, but the strain was starting to show. Her movements became more erratic, her attacks more desperate.

In a final, desperate attempt, Tabane channeled all the remaining energy into her staff, swinging it with everything she had. The force of the swing created a shockwave that blasted through the hallway, sending debris flying and shaking the very foundation of the ISA.

But Miya didn't falter. With a single, fluid motion, she brought her katana down on the staff, severing it cleanly in two. The energy dissipated instantly, leaving Tabane standing there, holding the useless remnants of her weapon, her chest heaving with exertion.

For a moment, the two women stood facing each other, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. Tabane's breath came in ragged gasps, her mind racing to find some way out of this, some last-ditch effort that could turn the tide.

But there was nothing. Her staff lay in pieces at her feet, her defenses shattered, and her mind—so used to being in control—was now a vortex of fear and disbelief.

Requested flashback

It was a cold, crisp morning at the Izumo Inn, the early rays of sunlight filtering through the windows, casting a soft glow over the traditional wooden floors. Miya was in the kitchen, quietly preparing breakfast, when she heard the sound of the front door sliding open. She recognized the footsteps instantly—Takehito had returned from his early morning errands.

"Takehito?" Miya called out, glancing toward the entrance. There was a slight edge of concern in her voice. Takehito had left earlier than usual, and she hadn't expected him back so soon.

He appeared in the doorway a moment later, his expression serious, his brow furrowed with a mixture of concern and resolve. In his hand, he held a plain, official-looking envelope.

"Miya, we need to talk," he said, his tone calm but carrying the weight of something significant. He stepped forward, extending the envelope toward her.

Miya wiped her hands on a nearby cloth and took the envelope from him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noted the seal on it—a seal she recognized as belonging to the higher authorities who governed the Sekirei and their activities. Breaking the seal carefully, she pulled out the document inside and began to read.

The words were direct, leaving no room for misinterpretation:

WARRANT FOR THE ARREST OF THE PHANTOM TASK

As she read through the details, Miya's heart sank. The warrant was official, bearing the signatures of those in power. It called for the immediate capture and arrest of all the members of Phantom Task, in particular Tabane and the agent known as M.

The warrant made it clear that the Phantom Tasks' activities had reached a level that could no longer be ignored—dangerous, destabilizing, and a direct threat to the balance they had fought so hard to maintain.

Miya's eyes flicked back to Takehito, who was watching her with a measured gaze. "When did you receive this?" she asked quietly, her voice controlled but tinged with an undercurrent of tension.

"This morning," Takehito replied, his tone steady. "It was delivered to me directly. They've been tracking the Phantom's movements for some time, and it's clear now that there's no other option. We've been authorized to take action."

Miya's mind raced as she considered the implications. The Phantom Task was not just a formidable adversary but a shadowy figure whose influence had spread far and wide. Capturing the Phantom Task would be no small feat—it would require careful planning, precise execution, and a willingness to confront one of the most dangerous members of the Phantom Task.

But even as her mind processed the information, another realization struck her. "This warrant… it's a challenge," she said softly, her eyes meeting Takehito's. "They're asking us to do what others have failed to do. They're counting on us."

Takehito nodded, his expression serious. "They know what we're capable of, Miya. And they know that if anyone can bring the Phantom Task to justice, it's us."

There was a long pause as they both absorbed the gravity of the situation. The Phantom's arrest would not only disrupt the Phantom Task but would also send a clear message to those who sought to destabilize the world they had worked so hard to protect. But it would also put them in direct conflict with some of the most dangerous individuals they had ever faced.

Miya set the warrant down on the table, her gaze turning inward as she considered their options. "We'll need to be careful," she said, her voice low but firm. "The Phantom Task is no ordinary target. We'll need to be strategic, to anticipate every move."

Takehito moved closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We've faced difficult battles before, Miya. We'll face this one the same way—together."

She nodded, drawing strength from his presence. Together, they had faced countless challenges, and together, they would face this one as well. But this time, the stakes were higher than ever, and the margin for error was slim.

"Minato and Matsu need to be informed," Miya said, her voice taking on a decisive tone. "They need to know what's at stake. And we'll need to coordinate with them to ensure that we're ready when the time comes."

Takehito agreed, already mentally mapping out the next steps. "I'll handle the logistics. We'll need to move quickly and decisively. The Phantom Task won't wait for us to act."

Miya's gaze hardened with resolve as she considered the path ahead. The arrest warrant had set the course of their actions, but it was up to them to ensure that the mission succeeded. "We'll bring the Phantom Task to justice," she said, her voice filled with quiet determination. "Whatever it takes."

Takehito squeezed her shoulder gently, a gesture of both reassurance and solidarity. "We will," he affirmed. "And we'll do it the right way. No matter how difficult it gets."

Miya met his gaze, finding comfort in the strength and certainty she saw there. They had been through so much together, and this would be yet another trial in the long journey they had shared. But she knew that with Takehito by her side, they could face anything.

As they stood there in the quiet of the Izumo Inn, the warrant for the Phantom Tasks' arrest lying between them, Miya felt the weight of their responsibility settles over her. It was a burden she had carried before, but never with stakes this high. Yet she knew that they had no choice but to move forward.

With that resolve, they began to plan their next steps—steps that would lead them to the battle that now raged within the halls of the ISA, where the past and present collided in a struggle for the future.

End of the requested flashback

Miya's gaze was steady, her katana still at the ready. She could see the defeat in Tabane's eyes, the realization that there was no escape. But there was no gloating, no sense of victory in Miya's stance. This was not a battle she had fought for glory but out of necessity.

"You're out of tricks, Tabane," Miya said quietly, her voice carrying a note of finality. "This ends now."

Tabane took a step back, her eyes darting around the room, searching for anything she could use to turn the tables. Her gaze landed on a control panel nearby, and without thinking, she lunged for it.

But Miya was faster. With a single, precise strike, she severed the panel from the wall, the katana slicing through wires and circuits with ease.

The room fell silent, and the only sound was the faint hum of the damaged ISA systems. Tabane stood there, her hand hovering over the now-useless panel, her mind struggling to accept what had just happened. Slowly, she turned to face Miya, her expression a mixture of fear, anger, and something that resembled respect.

"You really think you can just end this? Just like that?" Tabane's voice was shaky; the confidence she once exuded was now replaced by uncertainty.

Miya didn't lower her weapon, but her eyes softened slightly. "It's over, Tabane. You can't keep running."

Tabane's gaze flickered between Miya and the exit, her mind still racing. She could try to fight, try to escape, but deep down, she knew it was futile. Slowly, she lowered her hand, her shoulders slumping in defeat. The fight was over.

Miya, ever vigilant, stepped forward, her katana still held at the ready. "You made the right choice," she said, though there was no triumph in her voice, only the weight of the responsibility she bore. "This doesn't have to end in death. Surrender, and you'll face justice."

Tabane hesitated for a moment longer, the thought of surrender churning in her mind. But as she looked into Miya's eyes, she saw something that gave her pause—an understanding, a recognition of the path that had led them both here.

With a slow, reluctant movement, she raised her hands in a gesture of surrender.

Miya oversaw her, her grip on her katana tightening before she finally lowered the blade. There was no need for further bloodshed. The battle was won, but Miya felt no victory in it, only the heavy burden of what was to come.

"You made the right choice," Miya repeated, stepping closer to secure Tabane. The fight had ended, but the consequences of their battle were far from over. As Miya led Tabane away, the quiet hum of the damaged ISA systems was the only sound that remained, a stark contrast to the chaos that had raged moments before.

Tabane, her mind still processing the defeat, glanced back at the ruins of the corridor. Her brilliance, her technology, had failed her. But in that failure, she saw something she had never anticipated—a respect for Miya, who had stood against her not with hatred but with a quiet strength that she could never hope to replicate.

As they walked away, the remnants of the battle fading into the background, Tabane couldn't help but wonder if, in another life, they might have been allies. But that was a thought for another time. For now, she had to face the reality of her actions and the justice that awaited her.

Scene skip

The sky, once a canvas of clashing energy and fury, now hung heavy with a tense stillness. The battle between Ichika and Madoka had reached its final moments, the air around them thick with the aftermath of their intense confrontation. The distant hum of the ISA facility echoed faintly, a reminder of the world that continued to turn despite the life-altering events unfolding above it.

Madoka's breaths came in ragged gasps, her once-imposing Buster Sword now slipping from her weakened grasp. The weapon fell through the air, disappearing into the depths below, but Madoka didn't care. Her focus was entirely on Ichika, who stood before her, his sword lowered but his gaze unwavering.

Ichika watched her, his eyes reflecting not triumph but a deep sadness. The brother she had fought so fiercely against was not celebrating his victory; instead, he looked at her with a mixture of compassion and regret. It was a look that only deepened the ache in Madoka's chest, an ache that had nothing to do with the physical wounds she had sustained.

"Madoka," Ichika said softly, the name carrying a weight of emotion that she had never heard from him before. "It doesn't have to end like this."

Madoka's vision swam with tears, her heart pounding as she tried to process the words. She had wanted to kill him, had wanted to prove herself by defeating the brother who had always been in her shadow. But now, standing here, her strength spent and her emotions laid bare, she realized that her desire for victory had been driven by something far more profound than sibling rivalry.

"I just wanted her to see me," she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of years of bottled-up pain. "I just wanted to be noticed…"

The tears she had been holding back finally broke free, streaming down her face in hot, uncontrollable waves. Madoka had spent so long trying to prove herself, to earn the recognition she so desperately craved. But at this moment, with Ichika standing before her, she felt more lost than ever.

Ichika's heart ached at the sight of his sister's tears. He had fought her with everything he had, not just physically but emotionally as well, pushing her to confront the truths she had buried deep within herself. But now, seeing her like this, all he wanted was to offer her some semblance of comfort.

"I see you, Madoka," he said gently, stepping closer, his voice soft but firm. "I've always seen you. But this… this isn't who you are. Don't let Tabane use you like this. Don't let her take away what makes you, you."

Madoka's hands trembled as she reached up to wipe away her tears, her vision blurring as she looked at Ichika. His words cut through her anger, her frustration, and her pain, leaving behind only a raw vulnerability that she had never allowed herself to feel before.

For a moment, she considered lashing out again, letting her rage guide her actions as it had so many times before. But as she looked into Ichika's eyes, she saw something that stopped her cold—a reflection of herself, not as the monster she had feared she might become, but as the sister he still cared for despite everything.

The weight of her weapon, the weight of her anger, the weight of her need to prove herself—it all became too much to bear. With a shaky breath, Madoka let go. Her sword slipped from her grasp, falling away into the void just as the last of her resolve crumbled.

Ichika was beside her in an instant, catching her as she began to collapse. "It's over," he said gently, holding her steady as her body trembled with exhaustion and grief. "You don't have to fight anymore."

Madoka leaned into him, her tears soaking into his shoulder as she allowed herself to cry for the first time in years. All the pain, all the frustration, all the hurt she had buried inside came pouring out in a torrent of sobs that shook her entire frame.

And for the first time, she didn't fight it. She didn't try to push it down or hide it. She just let it out, letting go of the burden she had carried for so long.

"I just wanted to be strong," she whispered through her tears, her voice barely audible.

"You are strong, Madoka," Ichika replied, his voice filled with a quiet certainty that seemed to wrap around her like a comforting embrace. "But strength isn't about fighting or proving yourself to others. It's about knowing who you are and standing by it, no matter what."

Madoka clung to him, her sobs gradually quieting as his words sank in. She had spent so long trying to be something she wasn't, trying to live up to expectations that had never indeed been hers. But now, in this moment of vulnerability, she realized that it wasn't about living up to anyone else's expectations.

It was about finding her path, her strength, and learning to accept herself for who she was.

Ichika held her close, offering her the support she had been denied for so long. As they hovered there in the air, suspended between the sky and the earth below, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a moment of shared understanding and reconciliation.

Madoka's tears eventually subsided, leaving her feeling drained but somehow lighter, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She pulled back slightly, looking up at Ichika with eyes that were red and puffy from crying but also clearer than they had been in a long time.

"I don't know what to do now," she admitted, her voice small and uncertain.

"We'll figure it out," Ichika assured her, his tone gentle but firm.

Madoka nodded slowly, still unsure but willing to take that first step toward something new—something that wasn't defined by anger or a need to prove herself. It was a terrifying prospect, but with Ichika by her side, it didn't feel as impossible as it once had.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

Ichika smiled, a small, reassuring smile that was filled with the hope of what lay ahead. He knew that this wasn't the end, that there were still challenges to face and wounds to heal. But for the first time, he felt that they could face those challenges together, as siblings, as family.

As they began to descend back toward the ISA, the sky above them still tinged with the remnants of their battle, the bond between them felt more vital than it ever had.

And that, Ichika knew, was more than enough.

Scene skip

The remnants of the battle between Miya and Tabane lingered in the air, the once-pristine corridors of the ISA now scarred with the evidence of their clash. The silence that followed the fight was almost oppressive, broken only by the distant hum of the facility's systems struggling to recover from the damage.

Miya stood over Tabane, who was now bound and secured, her eyes downcast, reflecting the weight of her defeat. Gone was the arrogance and the playful edge that had defined her demeanor throughout the confrontation. In its place was a stark, almost resigned silence as she faced the reality of her situation.

As Miya finished ensuring that Tabane was restrained correctly, she glanced around the corridor, taking in the damage they had caused.

The walls were gouged, the floor scorched, and the once-bright lights flickered intermittently. It was a stark reminder of the cost of their conflict, not just in terms of physical destruction but in the toll it had taken on both of them.

Tabane shifted slightly, the restraints digging into her wrists as she finally looked up at Miya. Her expression was difficult to read—there was a hint of bitterness, perhaps a touch of regret, but mostly, there was a deep weariness that spoke of someone who had been fighting for far too long.

"You're taking me in, then," Tabane said, her voice subdued, lacking the bravado that had characterized their earlier exchanges.

Miya nodded, her gaze steady. "You'll answer for what you've done, Tabane. There's no escaping that."

Tabane let out a soft, humorless laugh, shaking her head slightly. "I suppose I should have seen this coming. You were always the one who believed in justice, weren't you?"

"It's not about belief," Miya replied, her tone firm but not unkind. "It's about responsibility. We all have to answer for our actions."

There was a long pause as Tabane absorbed those words, her gaze drifting to the damaged walls and the flickering lights. For all her brilliance, for all the power she had wielded, it had come to this—defeated not just by Miya's sword but by the weight of her actions.

"Do you ever regret it?" Tabane asked quietly, her eyes returning to Miya's. "The choices you've made? The battles you've fought?"

Miya considered the question for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "We all have regrets, Tabane. But they don't define us. What defines us is how we move forward, how we face the consequences of our actions."

Tabane nodded slowly, her gaze dropping once more. "Maybe you're right," she murmured, more to herself than to Miya. "Maybe it's time I faced mine."

Miya watched her for a moment longer, then stepped back, signaling to the security personnel who had arrived to take Tabane into custody. The scientist was led away, her steps slow and heavy, her mind clearly lost in thought.

As the echoes of their footsteps faded down the corridor, Miya remained standing in the damaged hallway, her katana still held loosely in her hand. The battle was over, but the repercussions were just the beginning.

With a quiet sigh, Miya sheathed her katana, her gaze lingering on the flickering lights above. She had done what needed to be done, and in doing so, she had upheld the principles that had guided her through countless conflicts.

As she turned to leave the corridor, her mind already shifting to the following steps, she couldn't help but think of Ichika and Madoka. Their battles had been different, but in the end, they had all fought for something greater than themselves.

And in that, she found a sense of solidarity—a reminder that they were all connected, not just by their struggles, but by the choices they made in the face of adversity.

Miya's steps were measured and steady as she made her way through the damaged halls of the ISA, each step a testament to the resolve that had carried her through so many battles. The path ahead was uncertain, but she would face it as she always had—with courage, with honor, and with an unshakable commitment to justice.

Scene skip

Seeing his sister loaded in a police truck wasn't something that Ichika was okay with seeing, but there was no changing that part. Madoka would have to make time for what she had committed in Phantom Task.

But Ichika would be damned if he would let it just stay on that. Miya's presence had caused Tabane to be subdued. The Knight was all too happy to see her go.

"With that now settled, it appears that." Ichika would have talked back to Chifuyu about the fact that his entire life had been a big, fat lie. But his phone cut everyone off.

No one bothered to comment on the fact that he took the call.

"Minato?"

"Hey, Ichika. I just saw the news. Looks like one major fight. But I don't call for that."

Waiting on what his brother had to say, Ichika halted any other comments. Why would his brother call him now?

"I think you'd like to be in Shinto Teito. So do my wives. It's begun." The Male Pilot immediately understood what Minato meant on that line.

"I'll be right there." Battered, hungry, and tired were just states of mind. Finding out that Minato's Sekirei were about to give birth was enough reason for him to drop everything.

Closing the call, Ichika tucked his phone away. There was one glance at Miya.

"I think I know what you are going to do. He'll need someone else. Go ahead; I'll be taking care of you in your stead." Her husband joined in with that, and Ichika let out a relieved breath.

"Thank you. The two of you." With only those words, he took off without even acknowledging his big sister.

"What is he talking about?"

Chifuyu's voice was loaded with the screen incredulity of a woman who had utterly lost the line of thought. Behind her, the demons who made Ichika's life a living hell appeared. Miya looked back at her, but she couldn't grasp the fact that Chifuyu couldn't think of it.

"Minato's Sekirei have reached the end of their pregnancy. From the estimates they received, their children would be due between now and the end of this month. No guessing where he is going." That blew them all away as Ichika was nothing more than a falling star in the skies.

Scene skip

Minato had been reading up information about births and all that it could entail for his Sekirei. Seo and his twins were also good sources.

The good news, if he could call it that, was the fact that Sekirei delivered their children like human women.

With MBI being a medical facility as well, plus they had one of the best adjusters in the world, his mother, and an entire team of trained doctors and nurses, they couldn't be in better hands.

Even with that rational side, it appeared that his Sekirei and Chiho were now having another issue. For whatever reason, they all felt they had to go to the hospital at the same time as their bodies all started to react.

For whatever reason, all had started to get contractions around their abdomen at the same time.

That extended just to his Sekirei, but there was no denying that Chiho also felt her body preparing.

Checking his watch, the date was also written down. It was the fifteenth of March. Clearly, it was now time.

Sitting outside the room, he was chased out by his mother and the team of nurses that surrounded the beds of his wives.

They had rented one of the most oversized rooms at the hospital so his Flock could receive the best possible care.

Still, it didn't ease his worries. Nor was his jealousy of Kusano, who was allowed to stay in the room. The youngest Sekirei had been allowed in as she had been trying her hardest to grow plants so the Sekirei could smell something other than hospital smell.

"Minato!" His head swiveled around to see Ichika running to him. It was a great relief to see his best friend running to him. When the Knight had caught up with the Ashikabi, Minato placed a heavy hand on his shoulder, the tension momentarily broken.

"Am I glad to see you here!" Minato answered when the Knight was there.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world? How are they?" A scream echoed through the place, making both men wince.

They recognized the voice as being from Kazehana. It was evident that she was closest to giving birth.

The two men looked at the door and wondered what was going on there. Ichika was about to enter the room but found that Minato had grabbed his wrist and shook his head.

"Don't bother. Mom has chased me out. They think it has something to do with the Flock and them all being conceived at the same time. All we can do is wait."

Minato's words had a tinge of worry for his wives, but he had no doubt they'd be in safe hands.

Ichika pondered on that for a few minutes before he shook his head.

"Speak for yourself. Your job is to wait here. Mine is to watch over you. I think you can do with some food. I'll get you some." A hospital wasn't renowned for having excellent cuisine, but they would be there for a while.

The upcoming father would not argue with the Knight. He allowed Ichika to go while he sat by, with just his thoughts.

'Hard to believe that you are really coming here.' Then, his mind was shaken as Kusano joined Minato.

"It has begun."

Prophetic words from the Sekirei of Life. She had a knack for predicting this sort of thing, but it would be for the best that she didn't witness the births of her baby brothers and sisters.

Scene skip

Takami had yet to prepare to do this endeavor all by herself.

She had done this job herself twice in her life and had always prided herself that she would be up for the task.

Her pride would never allow her to say it, but the logical part of her brain couldn't hide the relief that she had an army of nurses and doctors helping her with the birth of her grandchildren.

Some had the most muscular contractions, which indicated closer to giving birth.

The prodromal signs were there for Matsu, Tsukiumi, and Chiho. Her experience as a doctor and mother had given Takami the heads-up that these would most likely be on the later dates of giving birth.

Takami would take a look later at those who were safe to move on this day. It would be something that she would worry about later.

The good news was that most of the girls' contractions were still irregular, and in the case of Musubi and Uzume, she didn't even notice them. Takami wasn't sure if the Bear Sekirei would pay for that later as she'd be giving birth to twins.

The bad news was that she had to focus on the active labor of Kazehana. They had forgone the timing of when Kazehana would give birth and all the other bits that came with it. Her labor was fast and harsh incoming, so it would be for the best if they focused on her now.

"Okay, Kazehana. When you feel the contraction, you need to." There was another howl, one that would have left most with an uneasy feeling. "Focus, woman. Push."

As soon as Takami realized that Kazehana was just a few minutes away from giving birth, she quickly shouted for her to be transported to the delivery room.

The Wind Flower was carried by the nursing team into the room and had to be moved onto the surgical table. It was a process that was somewhat difficult, even for a Sekirei, but with the help of the staff, she managed it.

The Wind Flower was lying on her back with her legs spread and raised. The position was referred to as the gynecological position. Before starting the whole procedure, Takami had dressed herself in a surgical gown and gloves. Once dressed, she had cleaned Kazehana's genitals and thighs with Isodine, in addition to setting up the sterile fields. Cleanliness was of utmost importance, especially when you were handling births of children.

Luckily, they had the help of Benitsubasa and Kaho. Dressed in medical pajamas, they accompanied Kazehana, serving as emotional support and holding her hands or keeping her pressed down.

Takami had been more than abundantly clear that they would have to keep the utmost professionalism. Anything less would cause severe consequences. Kazehana's cervix had opened up wide enough for her son to be pushed through.

At first, with each push Kazehana made, even excrement came out of her anus. This was entirely normal for women giving birth, wiping that away with gauze, as the entrance had to be kept clean. With any luck, this would be the only time Takami would have to do this.

For the other women, who were only a room away, hearing the mature and sensible Wind Flower scream like an animal made them all gulp. They had no choice but to wait and see how this would play out.

But if there was something that Takami could find relief in, it was the fact that the thing was going smoothly.

It was fast, shocking, and hard. It was better than the time when she had to deliver Yukari. That took nearly fifteen hours. It was the longest time of her life, and she had spent a week in Minaka's place one time. Go figure.

With Kazehana, it only took her six hours to reach the expulsion period.

Takami wondered how long it would take before this would be over. She knew this would only take a few minutes, but each one seemed like an eternity.

She was now helping the first of her grandchildren see the life of light.

Gently, Takami opened the vaginal opening, forming a triangle using her index and middle fingers of both hands. Timing the contractions made it all easier for her to help the children out. In and out, she followed it along.

Pushing was all that Kazehana could do. Contractions followed, and her body went along for it.

Takami laid witness on the son's hair. Kazerozu was his name. The grandmother would have hoped that her grandsons would have the same hair as her son. Well, she had three more boys to deliver, with two brunettes in the mix.

There was just the hope that Musubi's or Uzume's son would have brown hair.

Kazehana was busy pushing her son through.

"I can see his hair. Just a bit more, Kazehana." Encouraging words, which seemed to make all the difference.

The head of her son was coming out; the crowning had been upon them. There were more screams as she continued to push her child out.

When the head came out, it would be over. It would be acceptable to grab Kazerozu and pull him out.

Lady Luck had not forgotten to smile at Kazehana when Kazerozu's head emerged and, just a few seconds later, the rest of his body. Takami held his grandson's body and cradled him on her left forearm, making the baby look up.

Quickly pulling him out, Kaho and Benitsubasa could let Kazehana go. They were both soaked from the extortion. Out of breath, they almost collapsed on the floor, trying to collect themselves.

"And seven more to go," Kaho muttered as she knew what they were in for.

"I can't. How are we? Can't. We just can't." Benitsubasa began to hate her life for the next few days.

Using a rubber bulb, Takami sucked away the secretions in the mouth and nose. Those things had kept Kazerozu well in the womb, but now, he had to breathe.

"Towel!" The command was fast and harsh. Nurses had been ready and waiting, and gently, Takami was drying off the boy from a warm body onto the cold spring air. They couldn't risk losing body heat.

Remembering her own time, Takami's hand went over Kazerozu's body, stimulating the chest, abdomen, arms, and legs with quick but firm movements. Kazehana looked up to him. Sweat had been dripping down her body, her eyes had been dropping, and her body felt like it had done the most intense exercise ever in her life.

But then she saw her son, and everything washed away.

He was perfect—her son. The boy was born out of the love between her and Minato.

Short, purple hair, that was something he inherited from his mother. But his face was much like his father's.

Looking at him in motherly love, then came the cries from the boy.

"Good set of lungs. No doubt that he inherited that from you." Kazehana couldn't believe that she had the energy to laugh.

Hearing the cries of his son, Kazehana had found her heart hammering in her throat. It felt nearly the same as the time that she got winged by Minato. She wanted to hold that baby.

"You can have him when things have settled." The cries of Kazerozu filled the room, making Kazehana long to have her son wrapped in her arms.

Takami waited long enough before performing the procedure to cut the umbilical cord. One clamp was placed six centimeters from Kazerozu's abdomen and the second just two centimeters beyond. In between the clamps, the cut was made quickly and cleanly.

Handing over her grandson to the pediatrician, Kazehana was looked over by her mother-in-law. A shot of Oxytocin was administered to prevent excessive bleeding.

But her eyes switched over to her son. The pediatrician had just stopped measuring and weighing him. The addition of meds was also administered. MBI would be the place where she would deliver all her children.

"Healthy boy. It's a bit on the heavier and taller side. 3,8 kilos and 51 centimeters. Still, no surprises there." Given how tall his mother was, that went without saying.

Takami had been the levelheaded mother-in-law that they all needed as she began to look Kazehana over.

"Your placenta will come out after this. Just a bit more patience until you can hold your son." Massaging Kazehana's abdomen helped prevent blood loss.

Once the bleeding stopped, Takami proceeded to assist her with the expulsion of the placenta.

Takami took a deep breath and began to gently pull on the umbilical cord using the clamps that were still attached to it.

"I have to say, you got lucky, Kazehana." She was used to scathing glares from Sekirei and had learned long to ignore them.

"Lucky?" The Wind Flower asked as she felt her entire body going rigid and incredibly exhausted.

"Eight hours? For a woman who gives birth for the first time. You can't complain about it." Releasing the clamp for a few seconds to allow blood to flow out of the umbilical cord helped the placenta come out.

"You can hold him when this is over. For now," her eyes shifted to a new hire. She wondered where he came from, but there was no denying that he had learned his job well.

There was no more blood coming out of Kazehana's body or the umbilical cord, so Takami knew it was safe to extract the placenta. As it was leaving Kazehana's body, Takami twisted the placenta repeatedly until it fell away from the Sekirei's body. She didn't flinch when the organ was in her hands. An examination that lasted only ten seconds, as there were no abnormalities that Kazehana could discover.

The medical bin was kicked right in her direction, and with a quick toss, Takami had a new thing to focus on. A gauze pad was quickly handed to her.

"Don't complain." The head scientist entered the genitals very gently but also very quickly to make sure that all the blood and remains of the placenta. It had to be fast, so within three seconds, her hands were out of there as if it were clean enough.

That was on the inside of where Kazerozu came out from.

Takami thanked her staff mentally for being trained enough on it. She was handed another gauze pad, which was moistened with saline solution, and then she cleaned out the liquids on the outside.

With that done, Takami could lean her head back and sit back on the chair. She didn't know what was worse, delivering a child or being the doctor. Well, she had seven more to go through.

Nodding to the pediatrician, Kazehana could finally hold her son in her arms. She didn't need to do much as the boy had been fussy and crying. The moment that Kazerozu landed in her arms, he immediately calmed down. Suckling on her chest, Kazehana had rarely felt this happy.

Takami felt a hand on her shoulder.

"If it's any comfort, the test said that none of them would be close to delivery today." Takami took those words as godsent, as there was no way that she could handle one more birth on the same day.

The twins would be another story, but two different women are giving birth. That would be too much to handle, even for Takami.

"Take this new mother to rest and this child to meet his new aunts."

The nursing staff nodded and carefully moved the mother and son to a stretcher to take them to the bed in their room.

Takami took off her gloves and surgical gown. All of these items were entirely stained with the various liquids expelled by the now-new mother, and she had no interest in keeping them with her. She threw everything into a trash can and quickly left the room. Takami would go to her private stock, raid that casket, and smoke one of the best cigars. Something told her that she would be smoking a lot in the next few days.

But first, she would go to the room where the other girls were and where Kazehana was being moved. She was a doctor, but she was also a grandmother now, and she would never admit it out loud, but she wanted to be with her new grandson just a little longer.

"Someone can call my goofball of a son. He'll be dying to meet his own."

Scene skip

The door opened, and a nurse called him to enter the room.

They had witnessed how Kazehana was rolled back in with the precious bundle in her arms.

It was just a precaution, and with everything done, they could settle in. It was lucky they didn't have to go far.

The delivery room was right next to the staying room, which really helped everyone involved.

"Minato-san. You can ent…" The young man raced past the nurse and ran to the bed where Kazehana lay with their son. He had seen where his wives were placed, so there was no mistaking where the mother who gave birth first laid.

Ichika grabbed Kusano by the arm and shook his head with a gentle smile. The Green Girl could see him soon enough, but right now, it was just for the parents.

Not even the other wives would interfere with the two.

The grandmother didn't even notice as her son passed by and raced straight to the bed where the couple lay.

"Kazehana." The Sekirei looked up to her Ashikabi, whose face was etched with worry, but when his eyes found that little boy suckling on his mother, his face fell with tears as fatherly pride filled his eyes.

"Hello, hubby. What do you think of him? Our darling baby boy?" Walking over to the bed, he looked up to see the content, suckling face. Stroking his face, Minato was mesmerized by the child. The baby was not even an hour old, and he was already cementing a place in his heart.

"Hey there, Kazerozu." The Ashikabi kept the eyes on his son, unable to look away.

Then the boy looked up. Milk dripped from his jaw as he let go of the nipple, eyes shined at the boy. Extending a finger, Kazerozu wrapped his tiny hands around the index finger as Minato let the tears run.

"I'm your dad." The boy giggled a bit as Ichika lifted Kusano. The Green Girl could come in, but she had to be quiet. After she promised, they joined in, but Ichika kept his distance.

Takami's head turned to see the young Knight. The scientist wouldn't think of interfering. Looks said more than enough as Ichika felt his heart melting when he saw the couple with their child.

"Okay, if you can." The other women ignored their condition and climbed out of the bed. Ichika decided to give Kusano the advantage and set her down on the floor. The young girl got there first as her little head was covered by the two.

"Hey, Kazerozu!" Kusano was a little too loud as the child hiccupped. Before he could start crying, he found his mother's nipple and began sucking again.

"I think you were a little too loud," Minato remarked dryly as the other women gathered around the bed. It showed that hospital beds weren't really made with the idea of a pack of Sekirei in mind.

Uzume, Musubi, and Kagari were falling in love with their new addition to the family.

"Your son looks so cute." Musubi had to use all of her self-control not to take the baby into her arms.

"A little heartbreaker in the making, for sure." Uzume cooed as she watched the boy as she was falling in love with him.

"Let's hope our children are just as handsome," Kagari joked as she looked at Minato's first son.

Even if it weren't their son, no one would argue that they wouldn't take care of Kazerozu. Ichika sat behind with Takami.

It wasn't their place, so that they could talk about other things.

"You're here to stay?"

Ichika wouldn't wonder why Takami asked him that important question. It was fitting to answer that.

"I'm staying until they are all here. I believe that is the least that I can do."

The grandmother didn't think it'd be right to question him about that commitment. She knew that he was right to stay here.

Still, there was much in this city that he had left behind. And there was much that he could heal in the meantime.

"Right about that." Ichika knew there wasn't something on her mind.

"How long do you think it'll take?"

That was an innocent question, but it would be for the best if Minato had a capable partner that he could count on. Ichika was suitable for that job.

He could fetch clothes and refreshments. He would guard Minato if the Ashikabi fell asleep—a stalwart which they required.

Takami found that the rest of the staff could do the other check-ups. Now that she noticed it, it appeared that Benitsubasa and Kaho had slipped out between all the commotion. The woman would soon follow that example.

Ichika felt that it would be fitting to get out. He could later join in with them and admire the little boy.

"Let's go. I need some fresh air."

Scene skip

Looking over the city, Takami lit up a cigarette and felt the hot tobacco hit her lungs. It was well deserved. A nice drink in her room would be something for later.

A doctor should be leading by example, but life has been stressful enough. Ichika didn't join in the smoking. When he began to think about it, the fact that he didn't grab a bottle, a smoke, or a needle spoke volumes of his moral character.

"You asked how long it would take before it was done? Let me tell you this. Estimates guess that the others would deliver by the end of this month; they would all be delivered."

Ichika first checked his phone and then gulped again.

"You mean to tell me that it can take up to fifteen days?"

There was a gentle nod from Takami.

"We are not taking any risks, which is why Minato agreed that they would be kept here until they all are safely delivered. Estimates say that Musubi is due tomorrow. Uzume follows on the nineteenth. Matsu would deliver on the twenty-first, and Kagari should deliver on the twenty-fourth. Tsukiumi is penultimate on the twenty-seventh. Little Miss Hidaka would close in on the last day of the month."

Ichika leaned on the railing. The idea of asking for a cigarette would be much more tempting.

"Those are accurate?" His voice betrayed the incredulity, which Takami couldn't fault him for.

"We are known for being Number One in that, Ichika." After another drag from her smoke, Takami relaxed a bit more.

"I'm going to get a few drinks, so I'll tell you this now." The tone was enough to get him to pay attention to the woman. Grabbing him by the collar, Ichika was forced to look at her. He kept his gaze up, and there was the slight smirk that Takami had expected from the guy.

"I'm glad that you are here. Minato will look after his wives." Ichika could imagine that the girls would be cooing and bonding with the newest addition.

There would be plenty of time before Ichika would be around Kazerozu.

"And I'll be looking after him in the meantime. The least I can do." Letting go of his collar, Takami ruffled his hair as she took another drag.

"And you were told you were an idiot." Swatting her hand away, Ichika continued to look out over the city.

"I had good teachers." With that done, Ichika continued to look out over the city while Takami finished her smoke.

"Fifteen days is a long time, Ichika. I think that it'll give you enough time to get some things in order. Aside from waiting on the children, there'll be much time to kill.

Ichika wondered what she could even mean with that line as Takami walked back to the door.

Before entering, she halted but didn't turn around.

"There is a girl that'd love to see you again, Ichika. I'd say that if anyone deserves a shot of happiness, it'd be you."

The cryptic message stewed in his head long after Takami left the roof. Ichika found that he would make a trip to Minato's place soon enough.

The Knight felt that Minato wouldn't be the only one who would come in for a new batch of clothes.

Scene skip

Takami wasn't sure which was worse. She hadn't gotten wholly boozed up, just a few glasses.

She had developed an incredible alcohol resistance throughout her time with Minaka.

That kept her sharp for this next delivery.

She had to be for this. Her assessment of Musubi delivering her twins was just one day after Kazehana.

Unfortunately, it would be the roughest that she'd had to deal with. Musubi had twins, and while her strong body had kept the downsides low, it was now wreaking havoc as she was pushing out two children.

Takemi and the staff repeated the entire procedure of transporting the patient, dressing, cleaning, and preparing the area and instruments that would be used when the babies were born.

Musubi had gone through the dilation period well enough as the cervix had opened more than nicely for her to receive the twins.

There were good things and bad things about delivering. The good news was the fact that Musubi's kids hadn't turned, and both had their heads pointed downwards. That really helped with the fact that there was no reason for a cesarean section.

The bad news was that Musubi couldn't be doped up. There was no denying the fact that Kaho and Benitsubasa were both wholly drenched from trying to hold Musubi down.

They'd get April and May off. There would be no arguing.

Contractions happened, and Musubi pushed. The nurses and doctors around Takami were taking note of that, but it was a good thing that she was pushing out the children.

"Good, Musubi. Very good, deep breaths. Remember to." It was a good thing that patience had been something she had learned throughout her life and that Takami liked Musubi the most, aside from Kusano.

"Keep going; I can see the hair." There was more pushing as Benitsubasa and Kaho were also informed.

After a shower, they would change into clothing and crash in a bed nearby.

Pushing and pushing came as Musubi was doing her best to deliver, and so she continued. She was used to pain, but this was on a whole other level. It only took a few more minutes before the head of the first child.

It appeared that his second son had inherited the hair color of his father.

"I can see the head. Excellent, Musubi. You're nearly there." Takami was beyond grateful as she could grab the head of the Sekirei child and pull the baby out of it. Both her hands had felt the right spot to grab the child out.

Even she couldn't help but look down to check which of the twins it was. It really helped that the twins were fraternal; otherwise, it'd be a little bit silly.

"This is Musuto. Now, his sister, Musubi," Using a bulb syringe, Takemi extracted the secretions inside the baby's mouth and nose, dried him with a towel, and began to stimulate him.

The minute they had to wait was one of the longest, but it had to be done for safety. Then he placed the clamps on the umbilical cord. As before, he did it six centimeters from Musuto's abdomen and eight centimeters from him. All it took was a quick cut, and Takami was able to hand the girl to the pediatrician.

"Apply half an ampoule of Oxytocin"

A nurse rushed to inject the requested medication in the requested amount.

That would help Musubi avoid excessive bleeding while she waited for the birth of her second baby.

"Don't let her get up, you two. Yume has to come, too." Kaho remembered again how Musubi had named her daughter.

Admirable, to say the least.

Scene skip

Ichika had grabbed Minato and was nearly tearing the sweater to pieces as he stopped the Ashikabi from entering the room.

"Minato, you can't enter. Not yet." Ichika didn't have to strain against his best mate. From the two, he was physically a lot stronger, courtesy of his training as a Pilot.

"You heard the cries." There was no denying that they could hear the child crying its lungs out. Minato relaxed just a bit as Ichika let his shirt go. It had been a new batch that Ichika had carried in, fresh clothes for his best friend.

No reason for the women. They'd be wearing hospital garbs for the next fifteen days. Luckily, MBI had invested in taking care of their patients.

"Yeah, but it's just one. You know it's Musubi. There was one more." Ichika had a hard time believing that he actually remembered Takami's advice. But there was no denying it was solid.

He could let Minato in if the Ashikabi wasn't called in thirty minutes. Otherwise, Musubi would have delivered her children in the typical fashion.

Musubi would like her Ashikabi to be there when they would cut her open. But if luck were on their side, Musubi would deliver her children in the usual fashion.

"Right." Minato relaxed and got back in the seat. Ichika joined him right next to him.

A heavy hand landed on Minato's shoulder, and there was a grin on Ichika's face.

"She'll be fine. We both know that. If Kazehana was something to go by."

Reminded of the Wind Flower and her relatively good delivery, Minato relaxed a bit more. There was another nod.

"Yeah, she'll be fine. When she is done, I can take it a bit easier.

Scene skip

They didn't have to wait very long before Yume followed her older brother. Ten minutes, which was good as it avoided that they would have to give Musubi a C-section. Something that no one, not even Takami, was prepared for.

Yume came out as the cervix had still been open, so it didn't require the same amount of pushing as Musubi had done with Musuto. Takami had been sure that Musuto was safe and taken care of so she could focus on Yume.

'She'd be proud of you, Musubi.'

Kaho and Benitsubasa's robes had been soaked with sweat. How much longer would this continue before Musubi is done delivering?

The pushing just continued, and before long, the familiar brown hair became visible. Yume would be more than just a name.

It would be a homage and tribute to the Sekirei of Fate.

The pushing just continued as the first daughter of Minato had her head come out, and Takami didn't have one problem pulling her out.

At the end of this month, Takami will be excellent at helping women birth their offspring. The rubber bulb was used to get the secretions from her petite mouth.

"Towel!" She was just a moment too quick to bark that order as there was already one handed to her. When Yume was warm and well, she joined her little brother in crying her lungs out. The delightful ringing was a relief as it showed that the twins were happily and safely delivered.

"Yeah, okay, just wait a second. You'll get them soon enough."

Unlike Musuto's waiting, there wasn't a big problem with that. Takami's eyes flickered between Yume and Musuto. Her head was still spinning from the ordeal and the craziness.

If her son ever had more offspring, she prayed that the chance of twins would stay around the one percent that happened in their part of the world. And that it would just stay with twins.

Triplets or going above that would be too much for her.

A minute she had passed before the second cord had been safely cut, placed again like her brothers, six centimeters from the abdomen and two centimeters further. The snip was done, and Yume was handed to the second assistant, who continued to cry.

"You can have them in just a minute. Give her a shot of Oxytocin." This time, it had to be the total dose. Fortunately, there were no more babies to take out.

Musubi didn't even register for the second jab as Takami focused on Miko Sekirei. Her eyes were wide as she looked over at the twins.

Just like Kazehana, her heart went into maternal overdrive. She was longing to touch them and take care of them.

"Musubi, you are not done yet. The placentas of the twins are still inside you. Those have to be removed as well. Then you can hold them."

There was the brief wonder if Musubi was hurrying it up to get both placentas out. The contractions continued, and Musubi pushed out. It could have been a side effect of her having twins, as they came out pretty fast.

Takami wouldn't just drink tonight. She'd get shitfaced to forget all of it.

With the clamps, Takami had the first placenta in her hands and pulled them out. She could take it easy, but it appeared that someone else had different ideas.

"Musubi, don't rush this! If you do, complications will be severe!" Never one is too keen on eloquence, but Musubi obeyed the first words. She didn't want to risk anything.

Pulling the placenta downwards and outwards, she was resting when she was forced to. Every once in a while, the cord was unclamped to allow some blood to escape as the expulsion came easier.

Only a few more moments passed before both placentas came out at the same time. Takami scrutinized them and tossed them into the medical waste bin when he saw that everything was fine.

Takami realized what just happened.

'I really hope that this won't be foretelling.' The little sister was right behind her older brother. If only for twenty minutes. But in the end, they would always be together.

Quickly but carefully, she cleaned out the remains of the placenta and blood that remained in Musubi's birth canal. Then the outside cleaning could be done.

It took a few minutes as the outside was cleaned up, and Musubi was handed the twins. The children immediately calmed down when they found their mother's embrace. Before long, each had found a nipple which they suckled on.

"I hope they won't fight about that." Takami knew better than to mention the fact that she wasn't the only one who was giving birth. In fact, there were six others, which meant twelve breasts that could be suckled on.

"I think that it's time for the others to meet their newest additions to the family."

Scene skip

When Musubi rolled out of the delivery room, and back to the general waiting room, Minato and Ichika followed, but the Knight kept his post out of the door. Musubi took her place next to Kazehana, who was suckling Kazerozu.

A crib had been placed next to the Wind Flower where her son could lay down. Of course, every head, excluding the little boy, perked up when Musubi rolled back into the room.

Chiho had been in an exciting conversation with Kagari and Uzume. At the same time, Matsu had put her laptop aside as Tsukiumi had Kusano in her bed as the little girl had fallen asleep.

They could see the Miko Sekirei rolling in, smiling ear to ear as her twins were suckling contently. When the place was taken, Minato had been next to her bedside table.

"Minato-san." There was nothing else that Musubi needed to say as his eyes fell upon the two. Kazehana sat up as she watched the babes who, like her own son, were happily and contently suckling on their mother.

Even after months of preparation and the birth of Kazerozu, they couldn't prepare Minato for the actual truth of having twins.

The idea of kids alone was wild enough, but the fact that Musubi had twins was even adding to the insanity.

The other Sekirei held their breath as Minato looked at the two babes who were lying comfortably.

"Who." He swallowed deeply. "Who is who, Musubi?" His mother smirked, and when she joined the Ashikabi, she ruffled his hair. There was the softest of smiles on her face.

"Musuto got your hair color. Yume has inherited Musubi's." There was the chuckle on Minato that made everyone coo.

"Who wants to bet that he's the only one who has my hair?"

"I'll take you on that!" The Sekirei looked over to Ichika, leaning against the door. All of them chuckled and laughed as they got up from their bed and walked over to the newfound mother, of course, the exception being Kazehana.

Kind and considerate as the Sekirei were, they left open a spot so Kazehana could see the twins.

Her child was unique, but seeing its half-siblings was just as heartwarming. The first words spoken came from her as the elder Sekirei and mother.

"Their hair aside, they do look similar." Everyone's eyes went from the twins to their day older siblings. Minato grinned as Kazehana was right.

"Strong genes, Minato." Chiho teased her fellow Ashikabi.

"Long as he won't get my gray hair," Takami answered as she hoisted Kusano to her hips.

"They do look adorable." It would take Tsukiumi an incredible amount of willpower to say those words.

"See, even Tsukiumi can't resist them." Kusano wanted to touch them but found that she was held off.

"Cute! They are so cute!" The Green Girl was jumping from the lap, and Ichika joined in with the family.

"Can't deny that either." The Knight answered.

"What a sight," Homura added as she watched the babes drinking.

"If you need any help on that, I think we can lend a hand," Uzume said as she patted on the shoulder of her fellow brunette.

"That can be done without an issue." Takami sat back and let the youngest go. Ichika lifted Kusano to his hip.

"You will all begin producing milk once your babies are born. But if any of you feel too tired or unfit to breastfeed your child, someone else can nurse the child for you. Just keep in mind that in order for your breasts to continue producing milk, the baby must constantly stimulate your nipples."

Good advice from your resident physician.

Minato Sahashi's flock would take heed and listen to those wise words.

Scene skip

Ichika was damn sure that when the twins were born, life had really been turned upside down. Right now, they had to wait until the other babies were born before they could go home, and still, it would take a while.

If calculations were something to go by, it would take a few days before the next birth would come, which would be Uzume on the nineteenth of March. That meant they had some time off from worrying about children and birthing and all that stuff.

At this point, they were the seventeenth of March.

Ichika was sitting in front of a room, his sword between his legs and his eyes scanning the room. It was like he was the stalwart Knight from medieval times, where he would stand, watch, and take care of his King.

In this case, it could be a younger brother who has started to pay back the debt to an older brother.

"Ichika?" His focus wasn't broken, but he turned to see Uzume standing. It was surprising how much bigger they had become with those kids. Musubi had a more challenging time moving, and he wouldn't be the only one thinking that the Miko Sekirei was overjoyed by having delivered the children, who were suckling on her tits.

There was the involuntary thought about the Sekirei having three or four children and the fact that the other Sekirei wouldn't mind suckling the babies if they were the same. That was the advantage of having seven sister wives. They would take care of each other kids.

"Hello, Uzume. Apologies, I was just." The Veiled Sekirei waved his apologies away as she sat down right next to him.

There was that same smell of cloth. Ichika hadn't missed that. But there was more. He couldn't place it. It was like she had gathered a motherly twist to it. It only made Ichika relax even more as he sat back down.

"You don't have to apologize. We all get concerned." Her eyes flickered to the room, and she could see her male Ashikabi sleeping in that room. Ichika knew damn well what it meant, in any case.

"He has taken two nights on. If I hadn't carried him to the room, he would have slept on the floor." There was the mirthless chuckle that made Ichika warry as he kept Miya's katana closer to his chest.

"Preaching to the choir, Ichika?" There was something sisterly and motherly as Uzume lectured him. If Ichika could be honest, he liked getting those lectures. Those were born out of love and concern, not malice and spite.

"I am not the man who has to take care of eight children and eight wives. That is him sleeping there." Uzume sighed as she ruffled his hair and hugged him closer. No one would blame the two of the actions.

"You're a good man, Ichika. When will you rest?" Uzume watched the eyes of the Knight and found that a boy of his age, sixteen, shouldn't have those sorts of eyes. This would be contradictory to what she had just said, as she claimed Ichika to be a man.

"When I can. When I am allowed to. Let Minato sleep, Uzume. Which reminds me. Where are the others?"

Ichika couldn't stifle the yawning as Uzume believed that Ichika would sleep when her Ashikabi was back awake.

"The two mothers are still in their room. They had their morning walks done. The baby-sacks proved their worth." Uzume had found it hilarious how they had to work those ropes around their bodies. Usually, it wouldn't be an issue to have those devices, but their breasts proved to be more difficult to manage around.

The brunette could laugh now, but she knew that she would have the same trouble if she wore one.

She would have the same troubles as her sisters. With the exception of Kagari and Chiho, of course.

"As long they don't forget to touch those kids every once in a while. They'll thank me for it one day." Uzume felt another chuckle bubbling up. There was that infectious grin.

The Sekirei felt that Ichika should smile more. His face wasn't meant to frown.

"They won't forget it. As for Tsukiumi and Kagari, they are exercising. They should be working out. Matsu was back in the room. She is due after me. I can't fault her. She has been taking it lightly and just having fun behind the computer. She is glad that she had a laptop along." Uzume didn't ask what she was doing, and she knew that Ichika wouldn't be doing that either.

"Chiho? Kusano?" Their names were enough as questions as Ichika wondered about them.

"Both are sleeping. Kuu has taken another open bed in the same room. Chiho is feeling the worst of all of us. Frankly, I'm happy that we have the other girls to take care of her as well."

The Knight didn't like to think about how many hours they would be in the hospital. There wasn't much to do, but Ichika hadn't allowed his brain to bore him.

He had plenty of time to think about what he'd do next. What his moves would be.

Much as he wanted to, he couldn't spend his entire life at the hospital, guarding a sleeping friend.

Well, Ichika's biological clock would be well in a few weeks. For the next two years, the Sekirei were in for a rough ride. They'd have to take shifts to take care of their kids.

He knew better than to tell Uzume what she could look forward to.

Before they could continue the conversation, a familiar face came through the hallway. One that Uzume knew that Ichika would like to see.

"I think that I'm getting back to my room. There's someone who would like to see you." Ichika followed Uzume's line of sight, and he also spotted the familiar face.

"How would she even know that I am here?" Maybe not the kindest thing to say, but in the life that both had led, there were always reasons to be concerned, even about the most innocent coincidences.

"My best guess. Miya gave her a call."

There was no harm in asking for advice, especially if one is outwitted and has no real idea about that.

"Should I talk to her?" Ichika asked, as there was nothing more than he wanted to do. But yet, his head told him about the horrible things he had done to Kosaki.

"If she didn't want to see you, she would have stayed home and let you stew in that knowledge. The fact that she is here is enough confirmation if you ask me, Ichika." Uzume took over his sword, and her eyes signaled that he would have to talk to Kosaki.

"I'll watch over him. He can miss you for a few minutes. Not that he would even know."

The Knight wanted to hug her, but he decided that he didn't want to test his strength against a pregnant woman. So he got up and walked over to Kosaki.

She saw him before he could even call out to her. Ichika was prepared for anything. A slap in his face, being called out, a verbal lashing, anything.

The fact that he got a crushing hug from the school girl and soft sobs against his shirt proved that whatever was going to happen it wouldn't be painful.

Ichika didn't know if he could say something that would comfort Kosaki. He didn't even know if there were words that he could speak to her that would be comforting her. So he just kept a hug on her as she cried and sobbed.

Uzume looked from afar. There was a good judgment in her eyes as he looked at her.

That girl would be a good match for their little brother if the fact that she greeted him like that.

'You'll have a lot of catching up to do.'

Looking back at Minato, she smiled as she caressed her belly.

'Soon, Tsuyoru. Soon.'

Her eyes flickered over to the teenagers who were letting go of the hug.

Ichika finally found words that left his throat. Maybe it was not the best way to greet a girl for so long, but it was the start of breaking the ice.

"How did you know where I was?" Ichika asked his former classmate as she felt tears of happiness, gratitude, and relief rolled down her face. Kosaki smiled through those tears, and after a hiccup, she revealed the truth.

"Miya-san came to visit us. She was the one to tell me the truth, Ichika." The Knight gulped when she used his first name. Some tears were pricking in his eyes as well.

"And she came back to tell me you were here. I wrote you, but you never replied." Scratching the back of his head, Ichika took a deep breath. Minato was meant to be a messenger.

"You wouldn't believe half of what I have been through, Kosaki." There was another smile on her face. Grabbing a handkerchief, Ichika wiped away the tears on her face and smiled back at her.

"And you shouldn't cry for a guy like me. Don't forget, I have lied to you." Shaking her head, there was that exact gentle nature that he loved so much about her.

"You did that to protect yourself. And us." Then her jaw tightened, and her eyes got more serious. Ichika wouldn't lie. She looked so wonderful like that.

"But now, I want the truth, Ichika Orimura." The Knight knew that it was fruitless to talk back at her. She wanted to know more about him. If she had decided that there wasn't anything to talk about, she would have been out of there the moment she saw him.

But that was not why she was here. She was here to make something out of that.

Ichika found love in her eyes. Love that he hadn't felt before.

"The hallway isn't exactly a great place to talk, and I have." Uzume's glare was more than enough incentive, especially when Kagari joined the Veiled Sekirei.

Minato could do without him for a few hours.

"Nothing going on. Lunch hall? I can do with some food."

The human girl didn't reply, but she took his hand. Holding that made the Knight feel so light.

Ichika would be damned if he didn't try it at least.

Scene skip

It was generic. Some white rice, with soy sauce and some fried fish and vegetables, but as both teenagers were starving, they sat down to talk.

"I want to know the truth, Ichika. Or was everything you told me a lie?"

Ichika shook his head as he finished a big gulp of rice.

"No. The only thing that I lied about was my name. And the fact that I didn't have a family." His voice left an edge that made Kosaki notice that she shouldn't ask.

She wasn't blind, stupid, or ignorant. She knew who Ichika had as a family. There wasn't a single person alive and sentient who wouldn't know of Chifuyu Orimura.

"I see."

"I believe that you are here for something else, Kosaki. But first, I want to apologize for lying and for not replying. But believe me, it was for your safety. And your family."

She really was Nanako's daughter. Kosaki might have a gentle nature and a loving personality, but she wouldn't take any crap.

"We can take care of ourselves, Ichika."

"Against eight ticked-off Infinite Stratos Pilots? I highly doubt that." That did pipe Kosaki down when she heard that titbit. Her fire had been extinguished as reality came down crashing on her.

Like it or not, Ichika was still an Infinite Stratos Pilot, and it appeared that he had more knowledge about the Infinite Stratos and how Pilots worked.

"Point taken. What did you do, Ichika, after you left Shinto Teito?"

It only took a few seconds for Ichika to finish his plate, and then he could focus on Kosaki.

"Did you follow the news?" There was plenty of media coverage, especially about the Infinite Stratos, ever since the craziness had hit around the world.

"I didn't. But Ruri kept me informed. It got way busier in the shop when you left. There was the thing in Kyoto. And in the United Kingdom. It appears that you got right in the middle of danger, Ichika."

The boy scoffed when he heard that news. There was no denying that he didn't scoff at Kosaki as she waited until he spoke again.

"Not by choice. And believe me when I tell you, I owe a lot to Minato. Without him, I doubt I'd be alive."

The admiration and affection that he carried when he spoke of Minato made Kosaki dwell on any doubt about the winner of the Sekirei Plan.

"So you did know Minato Sahashi before you came here?"

Ichika felt his head bob up, and his body tensed a bit more.

"I told you. I haven't lied about him. He and I go way, way back. Although we hadn't seen each other for a while before I went to the ISA."

That did get Kosaki intrigued more than she should have been.

"You were friends?"

"Back when we were just kids. I moved around when I was younger. When I went to the ISA, Minato picked that up. We rekindled our friendship. For the past year, he has been the rock that kept my sanity intact and me moving. There is no doubt from me, Kosaki. Without his help and foresight, Miya's training, I would be dead or seriously injured."

There was an audible gulp from Kosaki as she realized that Ichika wasn't joking about that.

"I can understand that you were in contact at school. But when did you meet each other again in real life?"

"Summer before the second semester. I stayed at the Inn. It's where Miya taught me how to fight. Believe me, that woman is a miracle worker."

There were many reasons why Ichika was fond of Kosaki. One of them was that she wouldn't ask questions that weren't her concern.

"Noted. But you know that Minato is a..."

"I know what he is when he told me when we reconnected. And I know about the Sekirei and Ashikabi stuff. It's why he is here."

Besides being smart, resourceful, and kind, Kosaki was also a bit innocent, which made her even more adorable. She tilted her head, wondering about the question.

"Minato's Sekirei, save for the youngest, are expecting kids. Three have been delivered. We are waiting for the remaining five."

The poof of smoke signaled the intake of information, and her blushing and fidgeting made her look like some hamster, which made Ichika chuckle at the adorableness.

"So three of the women have already given birth? How many Sekirei are with him?" The choice of words was even better, and Ichika just began to count.

He wouldn't be giving names as there was a time and place for everything. He'd love to introduce Kosaki to the Sekirei.

If she wasn't scared off by the prospect of him being Minato Sahashi's best friend or the fact that Ichika managed to pilot a war machine that was unparalleled by anything else in the world,

"Minato has winged six Sekirei. One of them, Kusano, is out as she is not of age yet. But he has two other women. Something special with him and another Ashikabi. And before you ask, only two women have given birth. One of them had twins. We are still waiting on the five others."

It made her choke up as Ichika revealed that truth while she smiled back at him. One warm hand slid over his own, and he felt the reassuring squeeze. There was the warmth. Something that had been lacking for so long in his entire life.

"I know the names of those who Minato Sahashi winged. You wouldn't have to tell me. There was plenty of news coverage about it. But thank you, Ichika." There was that soft smile on Ichika's face. It revealed how calm he was.

He felt nice and at peace. He found something that he was looking for. Or rather, he found someone.

At one point, he turned a bit more serious. It was time for him to figure out where he stood with Kosaki Onodera.

"As I might think that you forgave me. Any more questions?" The young lady began to think about that.

Did she forgive him? There was no arguing about that point. If she didn't, she would have cursed him out, not that it was something she had ever done to anyone.

But there were questions, and she'd see how far Ichika would answer them.

"You won't tell me what happened when you went back. I am not going to pry on that. You answered me. There is just one question, Ichika."

The young man waited and looked at her in admiration, and he just waited. Taking a deep breath, Kosaki collected herself, and when she revealed to him what she felt, Ichika felt that it was nice to hear.

"I am figuring things out. I just wanted to see you again, Ichika. There is something that I can't name. I know that you had to go. I learned about your things—still, Ichika. I want to know if… If…" The redness covered her face, but she forced herself to look at him.

There were the brown eyes that held so many things for him.

The wise words of her mother rang in her mind.

'If you want to be sure, don't play around. Don't give hints. Talk honestly and plainly. It's how I won over your father. If you want to see that Orimura boy again, be honest. No matter how hard it is.'

There was a mental thank you note for her mother, but Ichika was a step ahead of her.

"If I am willing to try out a relationship with you, Kosaki Onodera."

Ichika asked as he began to think about his time in the ISA. The last year, he had been nothing but a nauseating, harsh, and rough ride through a personal hell.

He had been in danger more times than he cared to remember. He had fought, bled, and risked his life. And for what?

The Knight didn't make any illusions. When they were done, he would have to return to the ISA. In fact, he was missing exams, but who said that he had fucks left to give?

After all the shit that he had gone through, he would get to the second year, his academic performance be damned.

Kosaki didn't trust her voice, so she just looked at him. Her face was so pretty. There would be no good reason to stain it with tears.

"I'd say that we can give it a shot." There was a hug from her side; Kosaki had more strength than Ichika assumed her to have.

At that point, they'd swear to each other their eternal love, and they also made some sensible agreements. Despite their young age, there was much they would have to keep in mind.

From afar, Tsukiumi, Matsu, and Chiho were watching, and they couldn't help but get interested.

"She looks like a good match." Tsukiumi had a proud, motherly smile on her face as she felt that Kosaki had proven herself.

"I approve of her as well," Chiho commented. There would be much to talk about in the coming nights. Two more nights before Uzume had her son that meant plenty of time to gossip.

"Ichika-tan has been through enough in his life. He deserves something good." Matsu looked back at him as Ichika looked over Kosaki's shoulder at the three Sekirei.

They really had to keep in mind how sharp this boy had become. There was the cheekiest wink on his face, signaling to the Sekirei that they had their show for long enough.

"I think it's time that we move back to our room. I can do with some bonding with our newest additions."

Scene skip

Ichika walked back to his post, unable to keep that goofy grin from his face. Kosaki promised that she'd visit him when she could after school and bring him sweets.

It would be a nice change from his usual hospital food, and he would like to introduce her if it was safe for the babies and with the consent of the adults involved.

"Ichika." Uzume and Kagari smirked as the Knight returned to his post. There was the sigh that prepared him for the relentless teasing and ribbing.

Ichika grabbed the sheath of the katana and hoisted the sword back to his belt when he sat back down as the highly pregnant ladies got up from their seats. They'd move back to their spot either way.

Rolling his eyes, he made the split decision that he would reveal the truth about Kosaki.

"She was my colleague when I worked back. And we have decided to give dating a try. Ask Matsu and the others when you see them in your room." A quick look went back at Minato, who appeared to be peacefully asleep.

"She sounds like a nice girl." There was a simple nod of Ichika as Kagari began to think about it.

"Gentle as an angel and as strong-willed as a storm. I think that's a good combination." Ichika was not tired enough to think he wouldn't start dating. He would love to spend his life with her if he found the right person.

"Already singing her praises. You got it bad, Ichika." There was the teasing from Homura, who couldn't help herself.

"Say the two women who have been knocked up by the guy sleeping behind me."

That was enough to make them blush from that little revelation as Ichika chuckled. Minato would be a father at 23.

That would be way too young for Ichika. Besides, there was no telling how he and Kosaki would go from there.

'Maybe I should give her mother a call and ask if the offer is still on the table.'

Checking his clock, it was past noon so that Minato could sleep a little longer. They would have irregular hours either way, so what the hell did it matter if Minato was up all night and waited on the births or if he would sleep in the evening?

Ichika would wake him up around 15:00 as he could stay a few hours awake before night called in.

"You are one tough guy, Ichika. But well, I can see where you are coming from. She is super cute, though." Uzume had to find a new target. Minato grew way more resilient to that teasing, and it was okay to do that with Ichika.

"Glad that you approve of my choice of women, Uzume."

But then again, Ichika learned more from Minato than any woman liked.

Kagari rolled her eyes and dragged on the arm of her Flock Mate.

"Let's get back, Uzume. We had our exercise for the day."

With a grateful nod, Ichika watched them leave and thought of what else he would do that day. Most likely, take a shower when Minato is awake. Kosaki would have been kind enough not to say anything, but he felt just a bit too grody to his liking after he hadn't showered for close to three days.

It's a good thing that he hit a recent growth spurt. The trousers and shirts too small for Minato would fit him well enough.

Scene skip

There was something entirely wholesome about watching another woman breastfed when you were carrying its half-sibling.

The remaining five women of Minato watched in amusement and contentment as Kazehana and Musubi were feeding their young. Both had taken the role of mother like a fish did to water.

Of course, there was the amusing sight that Musubi was hyper-vigilant as she switched her attention between Musuto and Yume.

"Seeing her makes me happy that I only have one," Chiho commented, making Uzume, Matsu, and Kagari nod in agreement. Tsukiumi had tried her hardest not to let the births bother her, but she would be second to last, right before Chiho.

"I think your body would have a tougher time with twins. Or multiple kids." There was a chuckle as Kazehana nipped away the breasts from Kazerozu. Burping him made the entire room laugh as Uzume hopped from her bed and walked over to Musubi.

Nothing else had to be said as the Miko Sekirei nodded to the Veiled Sekirei, her son. There was no danger in roughhousing those kids.

They were born from strong mothers like Sekirei. To say nothing about their father. With another tap, Musuto burped, but when he began to cry, Uzume rocked him as there was trust between them all.

"We'll help you out. You carried the heaviest load, Musubi." Looking down, Uzume was hoping that she could hold Tsuyoru in her arms soon enough.

"Twins, right? Where is Minato?" Kazehana asked as she put her son in his crib, making Kusano watch vigilant over the children.

They would have much on her now, but when the Green Girl would be a babysitter, her teenage years would not be kind to her.

"He is sleeping. Even he has his limits." Uzume answered for the others in the room. A collective shrug went over the room as they knew that there wasn't anything else to explain.

"So let him sleep. It'll be two more days before I put my kid on this planet."

Scene skip

Uzume had said that, and she had wished that Tsuyoru would come out. But still, that didn't stop it from being so damn painful as she had thought it would be.

And the worst part was that Tsuyoru would be born in the middle of the night. She had woken her sister-wives up with the screams as she felt the child coming up.

It was past two in the night as the Veiled Sekirei had woken up. They had missed the contractions as she hadn't felt anything.

Takami had hoped that Tsuyoru would wait until six or seven, but when her son called her out of bed, she didn't complain about it.

The fact that Minato was now a night owl was the saving grace as he called the entire team together so they could look over Uzume.

The Ashikabi decided that he would wait outside the room and leave the Sekirei to deal with Kusano and the babies, who were all shaken by Uzume.

Ichika had fallen asleep on the chairs outside of the delivery room, to which the Ashikabi felt he was partially to blame.

With his schedule mixed up, he had kept Ichika up for most of the night. Too polite and indebted to say no, Ichika had stayed awake for most of the night while he had been up for close to eighteen hours.

It was not something that an average human body went through, especially not a growing boy like Ichika.

Then again, it was a right of passage for teenagers to be allowed to stay awake for so long.

His mother rushed in, plastic gloves going on and her mask attached to her face. At that stage, it was unwise to say anything, so Minato just let her run through as she swung the doors open.

Uzume had her legs up already, and she was cleaned with iodine. When her eyes finally found Takami, there was a thunderous glare.

"Fucking finally, you showed up." There was no snapback on her comment. Takami knew how Uzume felt, so she didn't protest.

"How does it look?"

There was no reply, just the examination. There was the thankful reminder that she wasn't dealing with amateurs.

There were no hints of excrement, which showed that they had wiped those away. And that was something reassuring.

"She had contractions. We told her to push, but." A scream cut off the intern, and Takami took up her position.

Maybe they had been too cautious, but it was for the best that the Sekirei were gathered in the hospital.

Transporting a woman in labor through Shinto Teito wasn't plausible.

Shaking those thoughts from her head, she began to focus.

"Okay, Uzume. When you feel the contractions, you need to." A scream cut her off, and Takami waited until she was sure that the woman could hear her.

"Push. Push for God's sake!" Uzume followed her orders as she continued to push as she could.

"When you feel the contractions. Easy, Uzume."

When Takami looked up, surprise and shock filled her face as she watched the two women pushing Uzume on the medical table. Kazehana and Musubi were both dressed in medical pajamas. Not that either could hide the nurse's uniform straining or the eyes that helped to push Uzume down.

Given the incredibly late hour, it was for the best they didn't get Benitsubasa or Kaho to help out.

"Listen to her voice, follow her instructions, Uzume." Kazehana's voice cut through the hospital room as they held her hand and forced her to lie on the bed.

"Don't waste energy, Uzume." Musubi held her down from the other side as she remembered her birth. Not a big surprise, given the fact it didn't happen that long ago.

Takami wanted to ask where their kids were, but they had to handle those kids with four other women in the room.

Beautiful traits. Worry about the one in need and trust your allies to take care of the children.

The lips had parted enough so the child could have been through. How did Uzume sleep through the dilation phase?

That long walk really hadn't done her any favors, as she was too exhausted. There were lists of things they had learned for the next time.

Takami had four more to go through.

Looking down, Uzume began to push more, and it was a good thing Tsuyoru was this further along as there was something already down there.

It took a few good more minutes before Tsuyoru's hair came through. In a twisted sense of humor, the hair on his head and the pubic hair of his mother were the same color.

Would Musuto really be the only one who inherited his father's hair color?

It made Takami despair as she used her fingers to open Uzume's lower lips. The triangle was formed, and Uzume could push out the child further. It was easy enough to find a rhythm as Takami helped the third one out.

The minutes were even more stressful, but before long, the crowning had happened, and the head came out. The pushing was even more excruciating, but finally, the head had come out, and Takami could grab the head and pull out the baby from the birth canal.

Turning the upper body upwards, Takami managed to pull the boy out, and before she even had to ask, a rubber bulb was already handed to her as it sucked away the rest of the secretions.

"Towel!" It appeared that some stuff could be forgotten, so the head scientist was quick to remind them of what was required.

A quick but gentle washing was all that Tsuyoru needed, and before long, the baby boy started to cry. Uzume wanted to veer up but felt herself pushed back in the bed.

"A few more minutes, Uzume." There was the singular relief that the two had as they continued to wash her off while Tsuyoru cried his lungs out.

Takami had gotten really good at finding where she had to place the umbilical cord and waited until she was sure that it was safe. The Veiled Sekirei could lift her head just enough to see that boy.

She thought Kazerozu, Musuto, and Yume were cute. Nothing could prepare her for the sight of her baby.

Her son.

Born between herself and Minato.

Handing the fourth child to the intern, Takami knew that her job wasn't finished yet.

A shot of Oxytocin was taken out, and Kazehana was the quickest to move away so it could be jabbed in her. With the focus on the child, Uzume didn't even register it.

"Your placenta has to follow, Uzume. If you feel." There was another groan from Uzume as she felt the contractions

"Push, you are nearly done with it."

Massaging her belly, the bleeding was getting lower, and with the clamp that was used on the cord, Takami began to pull it out. Her eyes weren't unfocused as she just continued on it.

There were some rest periods in between that tugging and waiting as Takami made sure the placenta came out just fine.

Unclamping the cord happened when Takami took a rest period. The good thing was there wasn't too much blood coming out of Uzume. It was twenty minutes as Uzume kept looking at her boy, and her body followed along.

For her, nothing else mattered but that baby.

When the placenta got out, Takami relaxed, saying it was excellent and reasonable. Throwing it in the medical trash bin, there was a small tray with a gauze pad; Takami took it to clean the remains in the vaginal canal. Quick cleaning was done, and then another gauze pad was wet with a solution to clean the outside.

Only when that was done did Takami pull away from the woman and nod.

The pediatrician walked back to the bed and handed Tsuyoru to his mother. The two other Sekirei let Uzume go and ran out.

"We are going back to our own. We'll let Minato know." The second that was said, they undid their medical clothing. It was a good thing it was the middle of the night, and both sighed with relief as their boobs came out.

"Finally, I can breathe." The door flung open, and Minato waited as he watched the two. There would be humor in it as the Ashikabi didn't even register that the Sekirei were without a top.

"He's fine. A few more minutes, and she'll be there for you, Minato. But we need to go back to our own." Minato couldn't fault Kazehana, but there was something else. His head turned to Ichika, who had been sleeping on the chair.

"Musubi, can you get him to a bed? He watched over me; I think it's nothing but fair that he gets to sleep in a bed as well."

The Miko Sekirei looked over the sleeping boy. Challenging as he was, there were limits to him, so she nodded. There would be an empty bed where Minato slept so that he could miss that. Only when they got out of the room Minato noticed they were naked from the upper part.

Shaking the thoughts, there were only a few more minutes before the door rolled open. The thrill of another child in the world was something no man could ever get used to. So when he saw Uzume roll out in that bed, he noticed how she was cradling a little bundle in her arms.

"Uzume." He could only say her name as the Veiled Sekirei nodded to him.

"We'll get to meet him in the room, hubby. The others would be dying to meet him." They didn't have to roll far as they went back into their room.

Kazehana and Musubi had slipped again into their hospital gowns and were foreseen to dress women with their generous assets. Still, they were undone as they were feeding their babies.

Kusano had fallen asleep on another bed, but the remaining Flock Members had their eyes on the door. The moment it opened, Uzume took her place beside Musubi, with Minato trailing behind her, all smiles and grinning.

Takami stood at the doorframe and yawned. It appeared that her fatigue was catching up to her.

"I don't want to hear anything from you tomorrow. I need some sleep. And keep the noise down. Your neighbors want to get some sleep."

Her son would have answered if he wasn't so focused on the newest addition to the family. Leaning on the bed, his eyes watered as he watched his third son, drinking contently from his mother. The four other women cooed, but given the late hour, none of them had moved over to the bed to greet Tsuyoru.

Minato just dumbly nodded as the door closed while he kept looking at the child.

"Hey, Tsuyoru." He stroked the cheek of his youngest son as the boy continued to suck. Like a bug, the boy swatted the finger away. Uzume chuckled as she watched on it.

"Feisty boy. That would be from me." The Ashikabi chuckled at the comment as the other women also felt a laugh in their throats.

"Most likely, he did." With another attempt, Tsuyoru continued to suckle as Minato watched the boy.

"He does have your hair, though." Maybe the bet was correct. The other children would inherit their mother's color.

The other kids were also suckling on the tits as Minato just felt the tension leaving.

"He did inherit one thing from you." Minato looked up at her with a raised eyebrow as Uzume met her husband's gaze.

"The way he is suckling. Clearly, he is just as good as you." There was the imminent blushing from Minato as Kazehana gave an extra laugh.

"I was wondering if you would bring it up as well. The same can be said about your firstborn. He does the same as you did."

It had been ages since he had been teased like this.

"They are right, Minato. Musuto and Yume are just the same with my breasts." That was something about Musubi. Her kind and naïve nature was a great way to embarrass Minato.

"I wonder how my daughter would be sucking on the tits." Matsu joined in with the teasing as the Ashikabi found the brain Sekirei enjoying the squirming.

"That is something I have missed as well. You are neglecting your duties, husband." Tsukiumi had her arms crossed as she looked up to the Ashikabi, who buried his head in the sheets of the bed.

"Girls, from the two of us, who sucks the best on breasts?" Chiho asked as Kagari kept her mouth shut and just looked at the sight in endearment. She would wonder how her son would feel as he sucked on her breasts.

Then Minato sat up and chuckled at that.

"Glad that you all think that I am so good at that. You are also great at sucking. So I guess they have that from you as well."

Musubi tilted her head as she pondered on the question. Aside from her, Tsukiumi appeared to be the only one who didn't get the message, but the other six figured that jab out.

"I know you ladies think I prefer tittyfucks, but your blowjobs are just as good." That did get the message across, as all seven ladies began to blush a storm, and Minato crossed his arms.

"You can dish it out, ladies. Then you have to be able to take it. Speaking of which, do you think you are the only one who is not backed up?"

They had always liked to make such jokes, and without Miya giving them any lectures about proper language, they had the freedom to talk openly. However, they would mind that they didn't say such words to their kids.

"When this is over, we are going to get that out of your system. All of our system." Chiho declared while Uzume, Musubi, and Kazehana felt an uncomfortable chill. Their legs were still sore.

"I think that I'll need a bit longer for that," Musubi answered as she felt the tinge.

"Same here. Pushing a kid out like that hadn't been easy." Uzume added.

"Sorry, Minato. But I share that sentiment with my Flock sisters." Kazehana's eyes fell on the other four girls in the room.

"And you'll feel the same when you are done when you pushed his kid out." They could hear what they had been through, so they shared that sentiment.

Minato wasn't going to call back from that either. Shifting in his seat, he looked over at Kazehana and Musubi as he grinned.

"What did I just say? Your sucking is just as good." For the Sekirei, that had been enough declaration. Minato would need to get off, and he'd be damned if he wouldn't be able to do that.

Plus, given the fact that he took such good care of them when they were pregnant, they owed him something.

"Can we discuss this later? I think that you'll need some sleep, hubby." Checking his watch, he began to ponder on that question. Was it even worth getting to sleep for? It was past five am. And unlike his mother and Ichika, he could stay awake for the day now.

So there would be nothing but just easy bonding with his kids. Holding, hugging, and kissing their forehead as he rocked their bodies. When he was allowed to do so by his mother,

It was important that they learned about their father and how he would be there to take care of them.

He could bite through the morning and spend the entire day awake. It would only be two more days before Eriwiene would be in this world.

"Not worth getting in bed for now. I'll manage." The Sekirei all chuckled as they watched on Minato.

"Want to bet that Ichika will watch over you again?" Uzume asked the father of her kids, who didn't have a rebuttal to that question.

There was the feeling that he owned Ichika for helping him out, but then again, the Knight would argue that he owned the Ashikabi for all that he had done for him in the past year.

"That reminds me." His attention turned to Musubi, who smiled back as she sat back on the pillows.

"I'll check on Ichika. Be right back." This time, he stood up and turned by the door as he went to check on the young Knight.

With the way how reckless and uncaring of her power, Musubi could be, she could have done a lot of damage. Still, with the babies that she had, she might have grown more mindful of said strength.

Ichika had taken to his bed. Sleeping in clothes was the most minor problem, and Musubi tucked him in. The shoes were by the side of his bed, and he was in a blissful sleep.

"It'll be my turn, Ichika, to wake." With that said, he left Ichika to sleep in the room and went back to the room to watch over his young ones.

'We're halfway there. I'll be glad when they are all here, and we can go home.'

Scene skip

"Damn. I really can't say how much better your cooking is." Sitting outside, on the benches, Ichika and Kosaki were enjoying the spring weather as the girl had brought him some extra candies and a home-cooked lunch.

"I had to beg Mother to allow me to use the kitchen. When she heard your name, she was all too happy for it."

Ichika felt that Nanako would be unhappy with him but that she wouldn't let him go. Especially with how much Kosaki had done for him.

"How do your parents take you back here with me?" Ichika asked through bites as he devoured the boxes and gazed at Kosaki's reaction.

Tatsuya and Nanako had been fans of him, and that feeling was entirely mutual. Still, he felt that he had wronged them by lying.

"They won't admit it, but I suppose they are hoping again with you here. No stopping the teasing, though. Especially when I told them about us." The young man shrugged as his hands rubbed hers while they smiled back.

"You're telling me. You had your folks and." He began to think back on the fourth addition to the family.

"How is Haru doing?" Ichika hadn't forgotten their first meeting with the younger sister, but compared to the wenches from the school, Haru didn't even come close.

"Just like my mother. She will never admit it, but she is rather happy you are here." Ichika's face turned somber as he heard that line. Closing the box, there was a slight nod to them.

"Thank you for the meal. Kosaki, you do know that I am not here to stay, right?" The girl nodded to him.

"You'll go back?" The Knight scratched his cheek as he began to think about what had transpired in the last few months.

"I am afraid so. The thing is that, unlike before, there won't be danger to be in contact. Besides." He raised his bracelet and looked at her.

"I got this damned machine on my wrist. Our cities aren't that far apart. I can easily spend a few weekends at your place."

Kosaki lit up like a Christmas Tree when she heard those words. The idea alone was enough to make her blush, but he would spend his days at her place.

"You can't be serious?"

"You don't want me to come over?" Ichika asked gently as he wondered about it.

Immediately, Kosaki shook her head as she began to think about it.

"Of course, I'd like you to come over to my place. You're always welcome. But I fear we'll be working and I won't have much time. And you think they'll allow you to use your unit."

Ichika let out a heavy breath as he began to think about it.

"Excuse my language, but with all the shit I have been through, they owe me that much. If I want to visit you." There was something else, but he found that he wouldn't like to ruin his mood as he talked to his girlfriend. Weirdly, he could think of her like that.

"There is something, but we'll cross that bridge later, which reminds me. I want to introduce you to the Flock if you are up for it."

The schoolgirl blushed a deep color as she turned into a hamster. But then again, she liked that idea of it.

"Would it be safe?" Ichika stopped for a moment, and he'd ask the experts. Calling Minato would be easier and the quickest answer.

"Hey, Minato. I have a question. Can I introduce Kosaki to the Flock?" He got an answer from the Ashikabi as he waited for what he had to say.

"Ah, I'll ask her. Thanks again. If not, I'll drop by later."

Pocketing his phone, he turned to Kosaki, where there was some information.

"If you want to see the kids and all that, you'll have to get a mask on and wash your hands with alcohol. Not in the mood for that now."

The girl heard the news and decided she wasn't up for that either.

"Not up for that either." So they just sat by, watching the sky and enjoying each other. What else did they need?

Scene skip

Minato closed the call as he rocked Kazerozu in his lap. His mother, Kagari, and Kusano were stretching their legs. The young one had been fussy, so he made sure the kid stayed quiet. Musubi, Uzume, and Matsu were napping, which wasn't surprising given the late hours.

The following two years would be the hardest if Minato took the information from others by heart. Even with seven mothers and one big sister, they'd be sleep-deprived, sex-deprived, and just burned out.

Still, the contentment and happiness were more than worth it.

Tsukiumi got up from her spot and looked outside at the two of them.

"Lovely girl he found." There was no denying that part, and Minato just got up and held the child as they watched the two.

"Can't argue you there." Minato then sat back down as he rocked his oldest son. There was still the disbelief that the kids were there, but with the boy on his lap, it was all the proof he needed.

"Husband, there is now something I think of. Why haven't we seen the girls from Ichika's school? Wouldn't they love to be here and drag him back?"

The Ashikabi shook his head and grinned.

"I believe that our former landlady will have given a stern message that they can't come. Aside from that, we are at the most secure location possible, Tsukiumi. MBI is a powerhouse that even an Infinite Stratos can't invade."

There was one thing, though. There would be a time they'd come around. The biggest question was for who. Not that Ichika would be a problem. Minato couldn't fault Ichika for being at the hospital.

If there was one person that Minato would trust with his life, it was Ichika.

"They'll come back though."

There was that uncomfortable and inescapable truth.

Despite her hotheaded and stubborn nature, few things escaped Tsukiumi's attention. She had grown sharp and knew how it'd go.

"If they come, they'll be here for Ichika. And well, let's say that we have someone who could work her way around it."

There was the dark smirk that he carried around. It showed all that the Ashikabi had in mind for when trouble would come around.

'One more day, Eriwiene.' His musing was shaken as the ones returned from their walk.

"Did he behave, Minato?" Kazehana whispered in his ear, not to rouse the sleeping ones. Getting back in the bed, Minato waited until she was settled in the bed before he relaxed and handed her son to the Wind Flower.

"A boy as sweet as him. Of course, he did." No one was bothered as she undid her clothing and let the boy suckle on her tits.

Kagari was all too happy that this place had one hell of a good library. It alleviated the boredom that tinged the entire time of staying here.

Kusano was checking over the three other babies. She found the twins to be the most interesting, but her attention also shifted to Tsuyoru, who lay soundly asleep. They all were so cute and so new to her.

Another significant factor was the knowledge that she was no longer the youngest of the Sekirei.

That distinction would go to the kids that had arrived in the world.

"Let's hope the same can be said about the other kids." There was an exhaustion as well. Despite the fact they were so much stronger than human beings, the birth still took an experience out of them. It also explained why Uzume had been sleeping after her breakfast.

Clocks would be reset later. It wasn't like they had to live by the usual day-to-day cycle.

Things never stopped with them, and they could work with that part. Sitting back, they just enjoyed their time and enjoyed the peace.

And for Minato, there was no place he would rather be than where he was right at that point.

Scene skip

Where Uzume's birth was chaotic and late, Matsu's was calm and early. Two hours after breakfast, she felt the contractions coming up.

Staying calm and relaxed under pressure, the Sekirei of Wisdom knew there was nothing that she had to be worried about.

But there was the constant need to call a doctor. Pressing the bell, it took a few seconds before Takami and a team of nurses came through. Minato had been playing with Kusano as she was amusing herself with the twins.

"It's time." It was the most straightforward line that needed to be spoken as the rest just waited. Minato got up from his spot and waited until the Sekirei of Wisdom was rolled out of the door.

Ichika had been the stalwart guard on the door, and when they passed by, there was a simple nod from the Knight as he would take point.

"I'll watch over them." Staying outside was his choice, and Minato didn't have to go far from waiting. Kazehana leaned outside the door frame while her son suckled on her left breast. Ichika kept his face right up at her.

"You know, that is shameless." He said, making Kazehana grin. There was nothing that she would or should be ashamed of, and it was the simplest thing to do.

"He's hungry, and he needs to eat." The Wind Flower avoided the words.

'You were like that once.' That would have hurt, even if she didn't mean it.

Ichika looked up to the little bundle in her arms, unable to keep the grin from his face.

"Can I? Can I say hi?" The Sekirei moved a bit so the child's cheek was visible to him.

"Hello there, Kazerozu. I'm your honorary uncle."

That would have been the best possible explanation.

Kazehana didn't mind or disrespect the other Ashikabi, who were Minato's best friends. Still, she and the other wives would make damn sure that their kids would be more exposed to Ichika instead of Shigi, Jin, Oosumi, or Takano.

And Seo would not even be mentioned. If his sons inherited anything from their father, the Sekirei would be damned if his sons would end up winged to Kousa.

"You need to say hi, Kazerozu." The boy just waved it away and continued to suckle. Ichika shrugged and pointed his thumb to the door.

"Just wondering. Kazehana. You and Uzume both got sons, right?" The purple-haired woman nodded as she looked around the room.

"Haven't we told you? It'd be four boys and four girls. Musubi has one boy and one girl. Matsu, Tsukiumi, and Chiho will have girls. The only one left with a boy is Kagari."

The Knight just sighed as he began to think about that.

"Rough. I wish you all the luck in taking care of that."

Despite the fact that Ichika was her son's honorary uncle, Kazehana couldn't resist the ruffle on his hair. Taking it in stride, the Knight allowed her to do that. It would be a while before her son would get that much hair.

"Never thinking about having a few kids of your own?" Gently, Ichika removed her hand away from his scalp as he leaned against the wall.

"If I'd be in a place like him, I would. With the right woman. But not at the fresh age of 23." That made Kazehana chuckle as well, knowing that there was no fault in his logic.

"And I wouldn't get eight kids. I'd keep it at two, mostly three." There was another chuckle from Kazehana, who began to calculate.

"What if you have twins?" There was the reflex from Ichika that made Kazehana cringe as she knew that she stepped on a landmine.

"If my biological code is anything to go by, then I'll most likely have twins." The Wind Flower knew what the Pilot meant with those words.

"About her. What are you going to do?" There was the thinking on Madoka. He had been away for so long as there were other worries. There were still ten days when he could figure out how he could do something about her.

Madoka would continue to come after her brother if she wanted to get to Chifuyu. Locking her up in jail would be the right call if logic was something to go by.

Plus, Madoka was a terrorist. Ichika had no right idea about the laws in Japan, only that they were hopelessly outdated if he compared them to the Western Countries.

It was close to impossible to get a restraining order, a gun, or other weapons for personal protection.

Yet, the death penalty was handed out more than in some other countries.

Ichika would be damned if he let Madoka dance the hempen jig as it was named in Pirates movies.

Then again, Ichika had the most advanced weapon on his wrist, the knowledge, and training from one of the strongest beings that he ever had the pleasure of meeting.

No one with two brain cells that they could rub together would ever think of messing with him.

And when he thought about that, there was another question.

"Kazehana. I hate to spoil the mood. But I had the unpleasant thought, so you get to share." Adjusting her son and making him burp, Number Three allowed him to talk.

"Take that some idiots want to mess with you. Idiots that I am more acquainted with than I like to. Last time, you had some friends to help you out. What will happen now when you have your kids?"

The Sekirei was sure about who he was talking to. Only fools would even entertain the idea of attacking them.

Then again, Minato's reputation for winning the Sekirei Plan should have been enough to deter any foe. The problems they had in the previous year were contradictory to that.

"We are no longer vulnerable. We can take care of ourselves." The underlying message wasn't missed by the Knight, who knew that he would never point his sword in their direction. If only some would understand about that.

"And of your kids." Ichika finished the line for her, making Kazehana wrap her arms around the young boy.

'You don't fuck with the young of lionesses. Or wolves.'

Nothing else needed to be said as they just looked at the door and waited on Matsu.

Scene skip

As this was the middle of the day, it didn't prove an issue to get Kaho and Benitsubasa in the room and push Matsu down. Her legs had been opened in the gynecological position. Takami could clean the area with iodine.

The pushing caused the same thing as before. Trying as she might, the excrement came out but was wiped away quickly enough to prevent anything from contaminating the equipment and instrument.

Cleanliness was of the utmost importance in the birthing room, and none of it was neglected as they just waited.

"Matsu, push when I say you to."

"You don't think I don't know. Oh, fuck." There was a feeling of tightness in her body. This kid better be worth the trouble of getting it out of her.

Hair was already shining through, and Takami helped open the exit further, allowing the baby to come through. The fingers made sure that they pulled downwards, but only when contractions were present.

She kept her eyes focused on Matsu, who felt herself pushed back by Kaho and Benitsubasa. Neither said a word, but both agreed that from all the women they had so far, Matsu was the easiest to work with.

The contractions followed up as Matsu pushed through, hoping that her daughter would be out soon enough.

Those just kept following up as the Sekirei of Wisdom kept on pushing. She was lucky that the strength of her body was focused on that as the crowing was upon them as the child came out through her birth canal.

Takami was the first to see the daughter's orange hair, and she felt a pang of foresight already.

The head was just a bit bigger than usual, but not to a worrying degree. It'd figure as if she was the child from two of the most brilliant things that Takami knew of.

Taking the head of Eriwiene, she was pushed upwards by her grandmother, and she could be taken out as Matsu fell back on the table.

This was one of the times that she was this thoroughly exhausted; strength had been completely gone from her body, but it was just enough to watch the child.

"Give her a shot of Oxytocin." The nurse quickly carried out Takami's order.

There had been many talks, but when Musubi, Kazehana, and Uzume laid eyes on their baby, there was no stopping the maternal instincts from getting into overdrive. It must have been a Sekirei thing.

Takami didn't even have to ask the same intern as before to give her a rubber bulb. The mouth was first freed, and then the nose. Takami was handed a towel to dry off the shivering body of Eriwiene, who was drying, making sure to dry as much liquid from the girl as possible.

It was just a touch too rough as the girl started to cry already, signaling the healthy lungs, making some tension leave the room.

"I hope you are learning something." There was that dangerous edge that had been sharpened in the last twenty years by a lunatic.

"We have been doing five already. You expect us to learn something." No one had dared to talk to Takami like the intern just did. There was an accent that no one was able to place. The place became as silent as a morgue as the intern looked up at her.

"Yeah, that is something I have to expect." Once the minute had passed, Takami took the first clamps and placed them in their proper place on the umbilical cord, and she did the same with the second one. Then, the cord had been cut, and she handed the baby to the cheeky intern to perform the measurement and medication administration procedures.

Meanwhile, she would handle the placenta, however.

Matsu had puppy eyes on her daughter. Just a few minutes in the world, and already looking incredibly like her mother.

"Your placenta must be out, Matsu. Then you can hold your daughter."

Compared to the previous contractions, Matsu was hurrying to get that bit out. The massages proved to be little more than some distractions.

But that wouldn't sit well with Takami, who took her sweet time to prevent any injury to the woman. There were rest periods in between as she took care of the last part.

Soon, the placenta began to come out. Takami turned it several times until it finally detached itself from Matsu. A quick check confirmed that there was nothing wrong with it, and proceeded to throw it into the medical waste bin.

Takemi finished the procedure by taking a gauze to clean the birth canal and then another wet one to clean Matsu's genitals of all the debris that had remained.

The intern had already walked over to Matsu, handing her the little girl. Gracefully taking the child, there was the fond and stupid smile that her sisters carried when they held their baby in their arms for the first time.

"Glad to have you here with me, Eriwiene," Matsu spoke to the girl, who was comforted by the touch of her mother.

With a nod, Benitsubasa and Kaho let go of Matsu and walked out. Their shift was over, and with the calculations, Kagari wouldn't be in for three days.

For the two Sekirei, it meant enough time to get some naughty stuff done with their lovers when they finally had the chance.

Meanwhile, Matsu was rocking the little girl in her arms as she felt pure energy raging through her body, but the purest form of calmness and love filled their bodies.

The Sekirei of Wisdom was no exception to that as she smiled and rocked the body of Eriwiene. The dark orange hair that she inherited from her mother was already coming through.

"Let's get you out of here so that Minato can greet his child. And the Flock can meet the next one." As soon as Matsu had rolled out, her Ashikabi ran right up to the bed.

He didn't even have to ask how she was doing. The fact that Matsu was beaming, with that baby girl sleeping on her body, was enough to melt his heart.

"It went well?" Minato asked as he touched Eriwiene's cheek. The girl grabbed his hand as he smiled back at her.

"You can say that. And you have to say. What a cute little girl." Minato couldn't keep that goofy smile from his face as they were rolling back into the room.

There was that same brisk nod to Ichika as he resumed holding his post for the door, and he looked over at the girl.

Ichika wasn't sure if he should applaud, pity, or revere Minato. Shrugging about it, he would sit back and enjoy his time, watching over the place.

"You know, one would think you'd grow in a salt pillar." The dry voice was from Takami; he wondered what she could mean with that.

"I am not even going to ask. Sides, I think that I owe him that much." Ichika got his sword on his hilt, and the squeals and joy that emitted from the room showed how much the other Sekirei were already adoring Eriwiene, as there was another girl aside from Yume.

The head scientist had her signature grin on but found that it needed to be wiser to mess with the boy who had met every challenge head-on and came out on top.

Thanks to her son, Ichika still managed to pull it off.

"You do know that he'll rope you in for babysitting duties when he has a chance. He won't have to ask me. Thank you. I had enough time to take care of them."

The Knight wasn't interested in pissing off Takami as he had some choice words for her.

The Sahashi Matriarch would never win the Mother of the Year award, but she was heaps above his caretaker.

"I still have school to finish. If I spend a weekend here, it won't be for watching his kids. And might I remind you, he has eight women, so he can let them take care of the kids when he goes out? Which is important."

That news worried Takami as she heard about the mess that Ichika had cleaned up.

"You'll go back?" There was palpable worry in her voice, which would be touching, but the young man just nodded to her.

"I left to keep him safe. I am here for the same reason. I'll do the same when they go home."

Despite her complex nature and her unkind fate, which had left her words harsh and tone insolent, Takami Sahashi wasn't a woman who didn't know empathy.

"You don't deserve that." Ichika pointed his thumb at the room behind him as he glared at Takami.

"Do they deserve to have a target on their backs?" That question was rhetorical, making the grandmother grimace as she knew that he wasn't wrong. Still, it didn't sit right with her.

"They are Sekirei. Few things come close to them. And they are no longer vulnerable. They must have told you that news themselves. So what do you fear?"

Ichika kept his glare up at her as he gave her something else to handle.

"You say that, yes. Their friends defeated the Cadettes from the ISA, but an inexperienced rookie Pilot defeated the strongest Sekirei. Your point, Takami?"

Shaking her head, they would fight, and the scientist liked Ichika just a bit too much for that. So she decided to take it easy and drink in.

"You aren't exactly either of these things. You have more thrown at you in a year than most Representatives deal with in their life. You fought Phantom Tasks, Golems, and all the dangers. You'll be fine, Ichika."

With those words said, she left the young man to ponder about it.

'You might be speaking the truth, Takami. But what I want is something simpler and easier.'

Scene skip

Matsu had never felt nice to be put in the spotlight, but in this sort of thing, she found herself basking in the attention from her sister-wives.

Sitting down on the bed, with Eriwiene suckling on her tits, there was no spot that she instead would be as the girls looked up at her.

For a few moments, Yume, Tsuyoru, Musuto, and Kazerozu were not the center of attention, which was fine as they were sleeping as the others looked at the kids.

"She's so cute." Musubi cooed, causing Uzume, Chiho, and Kagari to nod in agreement.

"She does take after you," Kazehana admitted, making Tsukiumi, Minato, and Musubi think about how their daughters would look when they grew up.

"I think that the girls will inherit most from us," Matsu said as she enjoyed feeding and bonding with that little babe in her lap.

"We have to wait six days before the truth comes from that statement. I am due on the 27th." Tsukiumi felt her legs demanding a rest as she walked back to her bed. Kagari joined in with her as she knew that it'd be three more days before Okibi would see the light of life.

"If Yume is anything to go by, then I think they're right, Matsu." Minato had been unable to keep that stupid grin from his face.

"We'll see. When they grow up."

The fussing of Eriwiene caused the other babies to join in with the crying, causing their mothers to tend to them.

"It's a good thing we have separate rooms. We can put them in for the coming nights." It had been something that they did keep in mind when they bought the house.

"Let's think of sleeping arrangements after we are back home." Minato declared. There would be tinkering to do when they went back home and figured out how they could make that all work.

There was a good guess they'd all be sleeping in their room as they'd watch their kids. A part of Minato thought it'd be fun to rest on his own, but then again, what was the point of having so many sexy anime babes if you couldn't do anything fun with them?

"Good point, Ashikabi." Matsu craned her head.

It was nine long months, but the Sekirei of Wisdom was beyond ecstatic that her baby was finally with her.

Checking the clock, it was already two in the afternoon. That'd be plenty of time for them to bond with their kids.

Scene skip

The two days between Matsu's and Kagari's births were spent as a holiday; it's weird how that would be for a stay in a hospital.

With five out of eight born, there was much bonding between the mothers and the babies. They'd all be taking care of each other kids, so it was better that they got along with them.

The ones who still had to deliver, Kagari, Tsukiumi, and Chiho, were feeling the last few days weighing in on them as they wanted nothing more than to have those kids out of their bodies—walking, healthy eating, and the exercises.

There wasn't much else to do as there was always fussing going on in the rooms.

Ichika wouldn't go into the room and wait outside or talk to Minato, as the two tended to wake over the others. That was if Kosaki didn't drop by.

The sweets were something that Ichika shared in the room, which the girls adored. There was the beginning that he never broke up with her as they were getting addicted to the stuff.

His not-yet-girlfriend but getting-closer-to-be-official did confess that it was either Nanako or Haru who made the sweets. There was the confession that she wasn't too great at cooking, which is why her mother forbade her from ever going into the kitchen. Luckily, her father did teach her to make other foods.

Her homemade lunches were something that Ichika enjoyed, and he always showed appreciation for them.

The young man was still figuring out his feelings for her, but there was the fact that he would come around to love her.

But there was one event as Ichika sat outside with her.

"You have good taste, Ichika." The teens found a voice that wasn't so used to teasing but it had a genuine interest in caring for the young man. Of course, the voice wasn't unfamiliar either for them.

"Coming from you, that means something, Minato." The Ashikabi gave him a high five and sat down next to the two while Kosaki bowed her head to him.

"Hello, Sahashi-san." Kosaki greeted the older man with the drilled politeness as he examined her. Yeah, this would be a suitable bride for his younger brother.

The brunette knew she was being judged and sized up. She did keep her eyes on Minato as he grinned at the two. There was the sharp nose that told him that she had made an excellent lunch.

"Ichika, can you give me ten minutes with the young lady? I have some questions for her." The Knight looked back to Kosaki, who found that it was fair. Her father and mother would do the same with Ichika if he came back around.

"I need to take a leak anyway. Be nice to her." Neither Kosaki nor Minato missed the dangerous edge in his voice.

The young wolf was growling at what was his, making the older one nod—all in fairness, which was understandable.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Minato began to look her over.

"You can guess why I am here?" Ashikabi's question hung in the air, but the young woman didn't budge.

"You want to know where myself and Ichika stand?" Crossing his arms, he waited and let her speak. She would give him answers and would start asking when he found them inadequate.

"Currently, we are figuring things out. He is not saying much about his school or what he has seen."

Minato didn't have much of an idea, but he dreaded the thought that Ichika would have to go through the ISA without him, watching over him and making sure he'd be fine.

The Ashikabi doubted he would be so strong on his own or that he would get more injuries as there would be a lot of fighting where he could get hurt.

"Believe me, that is for the best. If he doesn't tell you, that's not because he doesn't trust you. It's because he doesn't want you to deal with that."

She couldn't know what he meant by that, but she did see the scars that Ichika had, mentally at least. It wasn't easy for her to agree with it, but she knew that Minato wanted nothing else but to see his baby brother happy.

So, she would trust Minato.

Because Ichika did trust him.

"So besides that, you forgave him of lying to you?" Kosaki nodded as she felt that was the best thing to do.

"He lied to protect me. And himself. I might have known him as Nagisa Korida, but if he is Ichika Orimura. That doesn't matter. The fact is that I like him."

Minato didn't need any more information. He heard plenty from his wives who approved of Kosaki, Matsu found there were only green flags for her, and Ichika was acting like a teenager in love. What he should be.

"You should prepare yourself when my wives come around. But for now, I'll let you teenagers hang out."

With that done, he got up from his spot and let Ichika get back at her.

"I wonder how my wives will deal with her. We'll call her over when we can. But I approve of her." There was that incorrigible grin that he learned from Uzume, making Minato shake his head.

"Your approval is the only one I need. Thanks, Minato."

Scene skip

Kagari had been eagerly anticipating when Okibi would be arriving on the planet. The contractions were followed up. Not severe, but something that she noticed.

There were no words spoken between any of the Sekirei as they all could guess what she was feeling. It was just a matter of waiting until it began to feel those contractions following up.

It was in the late afternoon when her body finally began to push, and the button was pressed. Minato had his mother and the other staff on high alert throughout the day.

The others also felt the same tension in their bodies. Even the babies were uncharacteristically quiet during this. They didn't cry or fuss much, even when their mothers put them down for a nap.

Pushing the button, it was like the tension flew out of the room. Everyone had been waiting for this to happen, and it was now time to have the delivery.

Kagari was rolled out of the room, with Minato trailing right behind her. There was not much travel in, and the door closed behind him.

Even if the previous ones had gone well, there was always the nagging feeling that something could go wrong.

Minato was so caught up in his worry that he missed the fact that Benitsubasa and Kaho were wearing fire protective gear.

Or the fact that his mother was wearing a welding helmet.

Scene skip

"You really think this is the best time for a joke?" Kagari asked after she had been moved, courtesy of Benitsubasa.

The bed in which she lay was made out of fire-protective material, and the Flame Sekirei felt her body burning up.

The two Sekirei pushed her back down while Takami began to wear gloves.

There was the glare to the Sekirei.

"You have never been too stable, Homura. We can't take risks." Craning her head, the ashen-haired woman was still able to muster her replies.

"And you are not worried about my kid?" That is an excellent question, with legitimate reason on Kagari's part.

"Given the fact that your powers can't hurt you, there is a high chance that your child has the same resistance. Hopefully."

It was not reassuring, and Kagari wondered why this wasn't discussed before she was at the table. Her legs were pushed up, and a scream echoed through.

Despite the pain she was in, Kagari refused to let her powers control this. She would be damned if she would prove Takami to be correct. So she focused on that, which she was grateful for as it distracted her from the pain.

Which followed up harshly as she felt her body crashing and burning.

Takami made damn sure that the entire area was as clean as it possibly could be. There was the same energy as the scientist made damn sure that Homura knew precisely what she had to do.

Pushing when she felt that pain, Takami thought she wouldn't need to help her as the scientist could foresee the white hair already peeking through.

"Push." There was the scent of burning material, making Takami really apprehensive about putting her fingers anywhere near that hot pot. Luckily, there was the excellent news that Okibi had already been pushed through further as the same ashen hair signed on that.

The tiny bits of fire that came through weren't hurting the child. Whether that came from the mother, as their powers didn't hurt them, or from the father, Takami wouldn't find that out, and she had no desire for that.

Just the relief that the last grandson was coming out quickly. With the slender build of her hips, it was just a bit more complicated, but it didn't take too long before Okibi's head appeared. Even with the heat that filled the room, Takami couldn't risk the danger of Kagari or Okibi getting a side effect from her power.

The body of the baby was hotter than before, but not to the point where Takami feared that she would get a nasty burn. Biting through the discomfort, she pulled the child out. The intern stood ready and was promptly handed the child.

Sucking away the secretions, Okibi was already happy and warm. With a towel, he dried the young boy off, and he made the child jump and down. Cries filled the room again, making Kagari look at the child.

Dang, he really looked like a mix of her previous persona and Minato. That child really showed off.

"Healthy lungs. Hot boy." There was the necessary chuckle from everyone in the room as they relaxed.

There had been enough time passed as Takami was able to place the clamps on the umbilical cord and cut them. The experience grew as Takami cut through it, and a shot of Oxytocin was given to Kagari, who felt the injection and relaxed.

"You can hold him when the placenta is out. Which should follow up now." A gentle massage followed up, and the bleeding subsided, mainly due to the fact that Homura's flames had burned those wounds off.

She might not feel her flames, but she did feel the side effects.

Takami took the clamp, and with slow, gentle movements, she was able to pull it out from Kagari with the clamp. It was actually easier.

And it made everyone who knew Tsukiumi dread her delivery. Hopefully, the water wouldn't be flooding the room.

A quick check was all that Takami needed to find it healthy. With gauze, the rest of the mess was cleaned, and Homura's delivery was done.

Okibi was given to his mother. He had been crying, but the moment she landed in his arms, he immediately relaxed.

"You gave me the nine longest months of my life, little brat. I hope you know that."

Then again, if she could last this long without a cigarette, she knew that the others would prefer that she quit that nasty habit.

"Well, I had to do that twice. I didn't touch one smoke when I carried Yukari and Minato."

There was a sharp gasp from Kagari as her son started to drink. Relaxing down on the pillows, she was carried back to her bed and rolled out. Minato was standing ready, waiting to see his son.

"How did it go?" He asked as there were some remains of fire in his nose.

"I am never doing this again." They'd have to see if that was true. Then again, he only managed to knock her up with the medicine.

Minato felt his face light up when he watched Okibi sucking comfortably on his mother while the two watched him.

"He does look a lot like you."

"Plenty of traits from you as well."

Kagari had long grown used to the fact that the teasing about her previous gender was something she had to get used to. The fact that she had been able to conceive the child was proof of who she really was.

"Can't say I am not jealous about him. And I'm happy with a son." They rolled back into the room, making Ichika take a quick peek.

He was really getting close to winning that bet, and the Knight hoped that Minato was prepared to get many weird stares when he took his kid out.

The door flung open, and Kagari took her spot opposite Kazehana, who was just done with her son. Musubi had the twins sucking a bit more while Uzume had decided to take a nap as Tsuyoru was quiet.

Matsu had started up her computer and multitasked on Eriwiene. Even if she did have that baby, there would be no stopping her quest to spend time on the internet.

Tsukiumi closed her book while Chiho just watched the child.

"Everyone, we can say hi to Okibi. Ain't he a cutie." Everyone perked up to see the boy.

The elephant in the room did not want to be shot, and everyone smiled and giggled around the boy.

At least the ones who were able to move as they looked up to the child, who was happily gurgling and squealing.

"He's so cute!" Kusano couldn't believe how fast she zipped over to watch her baby brother.

Kazehana turned her attention to her child, then over to Tsuyoru and Musuto. Aside from the hair color, they already looked very similar. There was only wondering how they'd look when they were five or ten years old.

"Cutie indeed. He'll make a fine companion to the other boys."

Tsuyoru's stirring brought Uzume awake. It was easy enough to grab the child as she hugged her boy.

"You can say that again." The Veiled Sekirei relaxed while Tsukiumi just nodded to Homura and fell back asleep. Chiho wanted to get up but found that energy was lacking. Her body was already even more exhausted.

Minato relaxed against the door as they all just talked to Kagari, who smiled back at her son. Just like the others, there was so much joy as the child was there.

At the door, Ichika found himself thinking of an issue. There was a dreading in it, but it would be necessary to prevent the worst from happening.

Dialing a number in, Ichika did not jump with joy, but something had to be done.

[Oh, so you finally decided to give me a call.] Chifuyu's dry voice came through, making Ichika bristle.

"There are more things that I would like to say, but you were lucky that I had other priorities. Instead of lying the entire time."

[I didn't lie]

"Were you ever going to tell me the truth? Wait, that is rhetorical. If what Tabane said was true, I would have the words of Takehito to fall back on. I call for another reason."

Chifuyu knew that he would tear off this ugly wound when he was back home. There was no stopping that.

She had let him off the handle, and there was no way that he would ever stop, which was the most dangerous thing in this world.

An unhinged Pilot.

[You missed the exams because of your actions. Do you think that you can make up for those?]

"I'm going to shove Miya's katana through everyone who would say I can't go for the second year. Who gives a hoot about my grades? The things I have done are proof enough. I don't call for that either. There are messes I can clean up at home. I call for a question. Why haven't I seen any of the Pilots? You'd think that after ten days, they'd figure out where I was."

Chifuyu felt that if he didn't pass for the second year, he would carry out that threat. Dangerous boy that he could be.

[What do you think? Miya threatened them, and I forbade them from coming after you. That is enough to deter them. But that threat is only valid when you are in the hospital. The moment you walk out, it's open season.]

Ichika was about to ask what that meant but felt a hand around his phone. The reassuring hand on his shoulder was enough to relinquish the grip on his phone and let Minato take the call.

"Good thing that I will still have some friends left open for this. That is a promise, Chifuyu."

[They'll be there for Orimura, Sahashi. What do you think is going to happen?]

Sharing a look, Minato removed the phone and mouthed/whispered to Ichika, 'You are going back to the ISA after this, right?'

The Knight didn't like to nod but found that it was the best course of action to avoid any trouble.

"He'll just go home when I am out of the hospital. The rest of it, you can arrange at home. So why don't you do all of us a favor and call those girls back." Minato asked.

[I would have loved that, but it appears that my brother can't help but make trouble. He got himself a girlfriend, apparently. And only the threat from Miya is what keeps those girls out of there.]

The two wondered how they figured that out but forgot that they were somewhere with nothing to do and a burning passion. That would only serve to fuel ambition.

"Well, in that case, you'll let Ichika handle it. Understood. I don't want them near my kids."

[Fine by me. I expect Orimura to be back in April.] With that, the call was closed, and Minato handed Ichika his phone back.

"You know. You really begin to wonder how they get away with it." The Ashikabi began to ponder on the ramifications of the entire mess as Ichika felt an idea.

"Yeah, they should be elite. Maybe we should let someone know." Thinking in sync, the two fell quiet on the mess they were in.

"Why have we never thought of that?" It was incredibly creepy, disturbing, and confusing as Ichika and Minaka finished the sentence.

"You feel as stupid as I do, Ichika." Minato found himself with an answer to a problem that he had had for ages, and only now he thought of something.

"About the fact of leaking. Well, Minato, there is a clause that protects the girls when they attend the ISA. So I am doubtful that it'd do anything when they are in school." There was a sinister grin on Minato's face. A grin that Ichika already began to like.

"Yeah, in the school. But."

Catching on the idea, Ichika just found one more reason to love his older brother.

"If their governments find out and they graduate," The Male Pilot just thought of new things that he could implement.

"Plus, by that time, they'll be adults. That is just going to add to their problems. We should."

Shaking his head, there was another thing that Ichika thought.

"You can ask her later, Minato. Have some time with your wives. There is another matter to discuss."

The Ashikabi found it endearing how those women were dealing with their babies. Just one more week, and they'd all be there.

Scene skip

As Tsukiumi's birth was fast approaching, there was near hypervigilance to avoid the hospital turning into an Olympic swimming pool.

There was general thought about Kazehana, but as an older elemental Sekirei, she was believed to have better control of her powers.

Minato was relieved that he only knocked up the Water, Wind, and Fire Sekirei. The good thing was that the Earth Sekirei was male, and the Ice Sekirei was winged by someone else.

There was a brief wonder of how Akitsu and Hayato's kids would be when they would give birth. It would be a given in a few years from that point.

The 27th of March had come around, and it was the same thing as with Kagari. The waiting until her birth came around. Tsukiumi had felt the contractions in irregular intervals while there had been the pain that coursed through her system.

It was late in the evening when the obvious signs were emerging. The one thing that no one expected was the fact that she began to cram up at her stomach.

"She's coming." With the focus on her pain, she was unable to make a call to Takami. It was a good thing that her sister-wives were still awake as Kazehana pressed the bell. It took a few moments before the team came in and got Tsukiumi to the delivery room.

Before Minato could wait again, he nodded to Ichika that he could take a nap. He would handle it from that point.

The Knight turned around and walked back to his room. Kosaki had dropped by after school. Given the fact that she would be seeing his classmates, Ichika did reveal to her what his troubles were and how horrible they had been.

The girl had questioned the stories, but when Minato dropped the comment that Ichika watered it down for her to comprehend, she found herself wondering how Ichika had kept his kind and warm disposition, even when he had gone through all that.

In the delivery room, everything had been made waterproof. Frankly, that might have helped Tsukiumi in delivering the child.

As she was put into position, there had been one request. There would be no males left in the room as she didn't want another man aside from Minato to look at her private parts. The intern who had helped with the previous births had no complaints about that.

It was slowly getting more and more repetitive when delivering kids. Even if he would take care of Miziyo when she was offered, Tsukiumi would find out. Highly running on hormones and without much control of her powers, that would be just asking for trouble.

Therefore, Takami had foreseen another assistant to take care of Tsukiumi's baby.

Takami would get the girl out, cut the umbilical cord, and take care of the placenta.

"Push when you feel the contraction. I suppose that the others told you." Tsukiumi hadn't wasted any energy on that while Kaho and Benitsubasa pushed her back into the pillows.

"She's even worse than Musubi!" Kaho struggled against her arms, which was a nasty surprise as she had been used to the Miko Sekirei but found that the Waterdere had even more power.

"Thank God that the Bear had twins instead of her." Benitsubasa was sweating like a pig, courtesy of the water Sekirei, making the room downright humid.

Looking down at her lower lips, it was utterly soaked down there as the water kept on flowing out. They would have no idea how much they had to clean up as feces were washed away. This would be a bitch to clean and decontaminate the entire room.

The water helped Miziyo flow out as blond hair was already breaching through. Takami decided to give her a hand by spreading below and pushing through as she could see the hair, making sure to help Tsukiumi out.

Before long, the crowing was upon them, and Miziyo definitely inherited her mother's affinity to water. Briefly, there was the question of why Tsukiumi didn't have blue hair, as that would be better for her element.

Flooding out of her mother, Takami felt that there was much secretion gone, but she still took care of what remained with the rubber bulb.

"Towel!" The bark came harsh, and the new employee handed her one as she dried off the baby girl, who started to cry.

"My child. My baby!" Tsukiumi looked at the little girl, crying. There was the minute of waiting before the clamps came in, and they could cut the umbilical cord. As soon as that had passed, Miziyo was handed to the intern, who would take care of measurements.

"Give her a shot of Oxytocin." There wasn't much blood that came out, thanks to the water, but it still was vital that they would take care of the fluids that had been rushing out.

They couldn't have Tsukiumi watering or bleeding out.

Her affinity had been a massive help on delivery, something that Takami would keep to herself as it would lead to tensions between the Flock.

A little bit sooner than expected, the placenta was flowing out, and Takami didn't have to pull too much on that as Tsukiumi could rest for a bit.

Kaho and Benitsubasa were happy that their trouble was over. The last to deliver was Chiho, and humans could do that.

They'd crash and burn in their rooms. On April 1st, they'd have their holiday.

As before, the placenta appeared to be in good shape, and Takami had thrown it out as she helped herself to a few gauze pads as she cleaned off. There wasn't much blood or placenta left, but it soaked up quickly from all the water.

It made things easier to clean up, especially on the outside. Nodding to the intern, Tsukiumi got handed her daughter. As soon as the child was in her arms, the girl fainted on the spot.

"Oh, for Pete's sake. Can someone get her out of there?" Kaho hoisted the girl up and carried her out. Takami hoped that the regular one could come back for the last delivery.

Benitsubasa also decided that she didn't want to see the whole mushy, baby-bonding stuff. There had been plenty of that already.

There was one upside. They had to get more of the medicine to make Natsuo able to knock her up. Haihane had refused to participate in that matter, which suited Benitsubasa just fine.

Cradling the child in her arms, Tsukiumi could see many things from her in Miziyo. For once, she was unable to speak as her mind was catching up on the delight in her arms.

So she just cried tears of joy as happiness coursed through her body. The child reached out, touching the cheek of her mother as the water Sekirei smiled upon the baby.

"We better get you back in the room. I think you'll need to be quiet, in any case. The others will be asleep."

The door opened, and Minato was by her side in an instant. The Ashikabi couldn't keep the smile from his face either as he watched that little girl sleeping on her mother.

As he was about to touch the girl's cheek, she swatted his hands away and nuzzled in her mother's touch.

"Clearly, a momma's girl." There was a chuckle from the bed as he looked up.

"You forgot how we met for the first time. I have the feeling she'll come around." With that said, they rolled back to the room to greet the others. The babies were sound asleep, so they didn't try to make too much noise.

The other mothers were all waiting in eager anticipation to see the daughter of their resident tsundere.

All of their eyes were glued to the suckling baby on her mother as she took her place next to Kagari.

"Miziyo. It seems that she takes much after her mother." Minato answered as he sat by the blonde girl. When he tried to touch her again, there was a swat from the girl. Knowing better than to prod and get her worked up.

If she started to cry, they'd have seven crying infants. It is not something that anyone looked forward to.

"That's obvious." Kagari loved the fiery look she received from her rival as Chiho and Uzume stifled laughter in their throat.

"Looking right like her mother." Matsu went under the blankets as she felt fatigue catching up to her.

"Let's hope she got a few traits from you, hubby. If we have two Tsukiumis, it's really going to be fun at home." Kazehana added, making Kusano and Musubi share a look as they weren't sure what that was supposed to mean.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tsukiumi would have blown a gasket if she didn't have her baby suckling down on her tits, making Minato rub on his face.

"Can we not have this conversation at this time of the night? None of us need crying kids." The babies had slept next to their mothers. There was something weird as the mothers could pick up when their kids grew fussy.

It was enough to bring them back from sleeping. It must have been a Sekirei and Ashikabi thing. Minato felt the same way, but not as much as they did.

When he was awake, he would be able to pinpoint, but asleep, he didn't feel the same pull as their mothers did.

Maybe that was for the best. Having eight kids calling you awake throughout the entire day wouldn't be excellent for productivity.

Besides, there'd be two working in the house. He and Kagari, and her job was only when she felt like it.

Luckily, though, he'd be an active father and beat the stereotype from others.

There was one look at Chiho, who was still in her bed, stroking her belly as she knew what she had to look forward to. This was going to be one hell of a ride.

Scene skip

"Just two more days before you are leaving." Ichika devoured another lunch box from Kosaki as she had outdone herself this time.

Her stew was incredible, with the added veggies and rice. She knew how to make a guy happy, and there was an enjoyment in seeing Ichika devour her food.

"Believe me, I'll come by whenever I can. But Kosaki, are you sure you want to be here in two days? It ain't going to be fun or pleasant." The look she gave him made Ichika gauge her reaction. It was a stern, rugged look that made Ichika rethink his words.

She was gentle and kind, but there was no denying that she had inherited her mother's strength.

"I am going to stake my claim. Plus, it would be a show for them. They'd be seeing you and me declaring what we have."

Ichika finished his meal and thanked her for it.

"Plus, you have seen what Matsu has done in her free time. The amount of dirt we're laying on their doorstep is going to make it even more unpleasant."

Kosaki still hadn't met the Sekirei, as no one was going to risk anything with the babies. Plus, Ichika wanted a real, proper introduction to his girlfriend.

"I have seen that footage. It's atrocious. And worse than that, it's embarrassing." Ichika looked back at her.

"The good news is that Minato and his wives can protect themselves. Still, it's safer for me not to reside here on a permanent basis."

There was another hug from Kosaki as she knew well enough about the actions.

"What are you going to do after the ISA? University? College? Working? What will you do with your life?"

The Knight shrugged on that as he began to ponder.

There was never the idea that he would ever pursue higher education, especially in terms of how it might have gone.

"We'll cross that bridge when I get there. I want my life to mean something. Easy, simple, kind. If your mother is still open to that offer." There was another laugh from Kosaki.

"She wasn't joking. And I'd love that idea. Don't you?"

The teenager just nodded as he enjoyed the company.

There wasn't much else that needed to be said.

Scene skip

A certain relief set in for Chiho and the others as she went into labor on the 30th of March.

It was late in the evening, and she could feel the contractions already happening. Unlike Tsukiumi, she was able to push the button herself. Musubi and Kagari had the door pushed open, and the nurses came to retrieve them.

Minato would not be in the room as before, pacing outside and biting on his nails. Unlike the Sekirei, whose bodies were more robust, there was the fear of what could happen to Chiho. She might have recovered, but there was no doubting the fact this pregnancy had taken a heavier toll on her body than the others.

Inside the room, Chiho was pushed back by a couple of older nurses who were gently handling her as Takami and her usual assistant were back in their spots. With the help of the previous births, she decided to employ him fully.

Minato was a test subject in medicine, and right now, there are many other Ashikabi who want to follow in his footsteps.

Takami was surprised that she had actually to beg the guy to accept this offer. He helped through the births and was dreading having the same fifteen days of waiting for aliens. The good news was that the majority of Ashikabi had one Sekirei instead of having a larger Flock than her son.

So, if he had to help, it would be weird to have eight births in the span of two weeks.

"Happy you're back." The scientist was cleaning Chiho from the remains. She really hoped that there would be no bigger excrement coming out.

"Thank you. But Doctor Sahashi. Let me get this straight. Your son winged six Sekirei, impregnated five of them, and winged another Sekirei who had an Ashikabi, despite the fact that it was nearly impossible, knocked that Sekirei up and then knocked up the other Ashikabi. Did I miss anything?"

The answer from Takami was so dry that it could undo all her work of making the surface moist so that it'd be easier for Chiho.

"Didn't miss anything. Impressed by my son's prowess."

Both the Ashikabi and her intern shuddered from that revelation. She was proud of the weirdest thing.

"Can we not talk about my husband's prowess with his mother?! And can that same mother help me deliver her grandchild?! This is killing me!"

Rolling her eyes, Takami knew better than to argue with Chiho.

"Why did I even agree to this? This is not." The screams echoed through the entire room as Takami looked her over.

"When you feel the contractions, push! Don't waste your energy!" Using her fingers as before, Takami spread her lower lips to make sure that Chiho was ready to push Kousa out. Luckily, her cervix had dilated enough that the baby could come out. Pushing on the child, Chiho felt her body tearing itself apart, yet she held on.

Kousa moved inch by inch as she felt the encouraging words from the nurses who held her hand. Why wasn't Minato here? She knew he was outside but wasn't allowed. This was not how it was supposed to go.

"Excellent, Chiho. Just keep on pushing. You are getting." There was another push as the hair from Kousa came through. It took a few more minutes before the child finally appeared.

The head was all that was required for Takami to grab the head with both hands. Turning the child so she looked up, the chest and forearm were turned up so that the baby could be safely delivered.

Takami didn't have to ask as she got handed the rubber bulb, sucking away the secretions.

Trading in the bulb for a towel, Takami began to dry off Kousa from the liquid that clung to her skin. Jumping the baby up and down, it took a few tense seconds before the child finally cried.

Chiho looked at the little girl in front of her, causing her to laugh through the pain.

"Can't believe that he lost that bet." The umbilical cord was still on as the intern placed the clamps on the cord. Before long, they were cut off, and Takami handed Kousa over to the intern.

"Four–four, right?" Takami just nodded as Chiho watched the young man handling her child.

"You know what has to come out, right?" The nurses that Takami worked with were veterans, so Takami only needed to nod and give the Oxytocin to Chiho. There was the focus on that child as she couldn't keep the smile from her face as she fell in love with that child.

Her child. Her baby.

Chiho then looked over to Takami and felt her head bob. "Placenta, I know."

Luck was on their side as there was not a long waiting period for her, and with her body spent, it took just a bit more pushing before that also appeared.

The clamp on her umbilical cord was used to gently pull it out as Chiho felt a peace wash over her.

This whole adventure was now finally over, with her being the last one.

The placenta was out, and with a relieved smile, Chiho fell back on the pillows as Takami cleaned the last of the liquids up.

Then she was finally handed Kousa, who had been crying her lungs out.

"Evening, Kousa. Those last two weeks really were the longest of my life." Kousa's cries subsided as Chiho rocked her daughter.

Takami sat back in her seat, thoroughly exhausted from the ordeal. Two weeks really weighed on her.

"Do me a favor. If you start again on having kids, don't get them all at once." With that said, she stood up and pushed the door open.

"Your human kid is here. I don't want to hear from you in a while, son." With that said, Takami walked out of the room.

The assistant also went out and looked over at Minato. Shaking his head, he wondered how this guy was able to have that many kids.

Chiho came out of the room, cradling that little girl in her arms.

"Hey, Kousa. Welcome to the family." Minato felt a relief to see that his human wife was okay. The mother's instinct kicked in fully at Chiho as she rocked the girl's body.

"This was one trip, Minato. But I am so happy it's over."

The Ashikabi nodded to each other as they rolled back into the room.

Ichika waited on the door as he waited on the two. Chiho gave him a thumbs-up and a sneak peek at Kousa. The Knight stood by the door as the family of Minato Sahashi had the last girl done.

Of course, everyone was quiet. The Sekirei were a touch more worried about Chiho, but when they saw her, all smiles and giggles, they knew it went well, especially with the fact that Kousa lay on her lap.

"She'll stand out," Kazehana remarked as all could see the Ashikabi child.

"Like that's a bad thing," Uzume added, knowing that Kousa would be a child to whom she'd have strong attachments.

"You all do the same as I do." Chiho took her place in the room. Next to her bed, a crib lay where Kousa could sleep.

"You did lose the bet, Minato." Kagari chuckled as she nursed Okibi, who was eagerly gulping down.

"Inherited the hair from you, Chiho. That figures." Tsukiumi lay closest to the female Ashikabi. She had just put on a new diaper on Miziyo.

"There is much we can discover from that little girl," Matsu had been trying to work on the computer but found herself unable to focus. If it wasn't Eriwiene that distracted her, it was Chiho and her delivery.

"She's like a mini-you!" Musubi smiled back at the girl, making the others also nod their heads. Just like Yume would be a mini-Musubi, Miziyo would be a mini-Tsukiumi, and Eriwiene would be a mini-Matsu.

"That would be the most apt description," Minato added as they were all happy and relieved that it was over.

The start of his life, with his kids, could finally begin.

It would be past two am before they finally all went to sleep, the exhaustion completely taking the most of them.

Minato found Ichika in the room, and the Knight was fast asleep. Quiet as he could, Minato got under his sheets. Before he could turn and sleep, Ichika's voice was there.

"She'll be here?" The Ashikabi knew what the Knight meant with that question.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I am happy you were here."

"Anytime, brother, anytime."

Scene skip

Ichika had already said goodbye to Minato as the Ashikabi would leave through another exit. It was the safest way to get those babies home, safe and sound.

The Sekirei were not interested in encountering the Infinite Stratos Girls. Again. Especially not with their kids around.

Waiting at the main entrance, he couldn't keep the smile off his face as there were a couple of people coming through.

Kosaki was the first to come through. The two teens greeted each other with a big hug.

"Thank you for coming."

"Of course. I made a promise, didn't I?" There was that warm and strong feeling again.

"Did you forget about us?" Ichika was happy to see Yukari and Shiina at the gates. Yukari was wearing a warm coat, while Shiina had a navy blue jacket covering most of his body.

"No. I won't forget. Thank you, Yukari. Shiina. Again."

The Sekirei of Death and his Ashikabi were all too eager, but they hoped that they could keep it to talking.

"Do you believe it'll go well? Or do you think it's going to go horribly wrong?"

In a true conspirator mood, Ichika hushed the three together and began to explain his plans. The hush plan seemed to work, and it would also give Minato a way of escaping with his wives, as Ichika would act like a decoy.

"Simple plan." Yukari complimented the male Pilot while Kosaki found her face turning completely red.

Much of his plan of distraction hinged on her, but it would also cement their relationship. That was something she could come to agree on.

"I approve of it as well. We won't have to worry about getting into a fight. If they come after us, we'll go to Miya." Shiina added as Ichika looked over at Kosaki.

The brunette looked up at him and regained her determination.

"I agree, Ichika. But just come along with me." Taking his hand, she guided him to a quiet corner, making the older girl and her Sekirei already guess what was going to happen.

"Ah, young love." Yukari gently shook her head as she watched Ichika and Kosaki turn a corner.

"She's good for him. I like her." Shiina had a fond smile on his face.

Kosaki found a quiet spot, twirling Ichika against the wall before she pressed her lips on his own. The Knight was in for a surprise and shock but relaxed as he pushed her body closer to his own as their bodies melted.

When she let him go, there was that gentle smile again.

"I would not want to give my first kiss on something like that. So I hope you don't mind that we do it like this."

There was another blush on his face as Ichika couldn't keep the smile from his face.

"I didn't think of that. That was my first kiss as well."

It was a stupid, teenage cutesy thing, but they were silly, adolescent kids, so they were allowed to be worried about that.

They could ignore the matching grins on the faces of Yukari and Shiina. None of them were trained on the matter, so there was a specific stiffness in their movement when they walked out of the hospital.

The moment Ichika's feet touched the outside of the MBI hospital, the air was pierced by the familiar, high-pitched shrieking of his name.

"ICHIKA!" Seven voices screamed in unison, their fury echoing in the sky.

Ichika, Kosaki, Shiina, and Yukari turned their heads upward, catching sight of the IS girls floating in the sky, their units deployed and ready for battle. The representatives of various countries were armed to the teeth, hovering above him like predators ready to strike.

Ichika sighed inwardly. There was no surprise, no panic. Just a dull weariness.

These girls—Houki, Rin, Charlotte, Laura, Cecilia, and the Sarashiki sisters—had become nothing more than persistent annoyances. Even Djbril and Airis, the newest additions, were there, and their IS units were activated. Their possessiveness was smothering, their presence a constant reminder of the life he no longer wanted to be a part of.

He had just helped his best friend through one of the most important days of his life, standing by Minato as his wives brought their children into the world. And now, here they were—ready to destroy whatever semblance of peace he had left.

Houki's voice sliced through the air first, her Unit, Uchigane, glimmering. "What are you doing here?" There was a cold, hard edge to her tone, masking her jealousy.

Ichika met her gaze without flinching. "I was helping out my best friend. You know, that's what friends do. Not that you'd know anything about that."

Houki flinched at the remark, but it was Rin who exploded first. Her teeth ground together so hard that it was audible even from the ground. "Helping out your friend?! You've been gone for two weeks!" she shouted. Her Chinese IS, Shenlong, powered up beside her, ready for a fight.

Ichika's expression remained impassive. "It took that long for all the kids to be born. What's it to you? I was going back to ISA when I was done, anyway."

That statement hit harder than any attack. Houki's eyes flickered with pain while Rin's fists trembled with rage. Charlotte, Laura, and the others—Cecilia, Kanzashi, and Tatenashi—stood in silent, seething fury. Djibril's Imperial Knight hovered ominously next to its mistress while Airis's Seventh Princess hummed with barely restrained power.

Cecilia's smirk twisted into something darker, vicious even. "You think you can just waltz back after kissing her?" she spat, pointing to Kosaki.

Before the confrontation could escalate further, Shiina stepped forward, his hand raised, summoning a shield just in time to block the IS girls' energy weapons as they powered up. Sparks flew, the energy clashing violently, but Shiina held firm, his protective barrier surrounding Ichika and the others.

Houki's expression shifted from anger to uncertainty, her eyes flickering between Ichika and Kosaki. Even Laura and Charlotte, usually so fierce, hesitated.

But the pause was brief.

Houki gritted her teeth, her knuckles tightening around her sword's hilt. "You think a shield is going to stop us?"

Ichika stepped forward, breaking free from Kosaki's grip. His gaze met each of the IS girls in turn. There was no anger in his voice, only a finality that chilled the air.

"No more," he said, his tone resolute. "This stops now."

Kosaki, Shiina, and Yukari stood beside him, a united front, refusing to let him face this battle alone. They had seen firsthand the toll this unhealthy obsession had taken on Ichika, and they would protect him, no matter the cost.

The IS girls, driven by heartbreak and jealousy, powered up their units, ready to strike—but they knew, deep down, that something had changed. The boy they once fought over was no longer the passive, unsure Ichika Orimura they could control.

Ichika's heart thudded steadily in his chest, but his expression remained calm as the air between him and the IS girls buzzed with barely contained energy. Their anger and heartbreak were palpable, but there was no room for hesitation now.

He released Kosaki's hand, and in one smooth motion, his IS unit, Byakushiki, deployed with a brilliant flash of white. The sleek armor wrapped around him, the thrusters humming to life. His decision was made.

"Ichika!" Houki's voice trembled as her anger flared. Her Uchigane unit powered up, ready for battle. "You can't just leave like this! You owe us an explanation!"

"I owe you nothing," Ichika responded, his voice steady but firm. "I've been trapped long enough. I'm not staying in this toxic cycle anymore."

The words struck the IS girls with the force of a physical blow, but their anger pushed them forward. Rin snarled in rage, her Shenlong unit's energy blades flickering with barely contained fury. "You think you're just going to run?!"

Shiina stepped in without a second thought. His hands shot up as the IS girls prepared to strike, summoning a shimmering barrier of light between Ichika and the barrage of attacks that were about to rain down on him. Energy blasts collided with the shield, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

"Go, Ichika!" Shiina shouted, his voice strained as the sheer force of the IS firepower bore down on him. The shield flickered but held strong for now.

Ichika nodded, turning to Kosaki one last time. "I'll be back for you," he promised quietly before his thrusters roared to life.

With a sharp burst of speed, Byakushiki shot into the sky. Ichika was soon little more than a blur against the clouds as he ascended higher and higher, disappearing from view as he headed toward the distant location of the ISA—far beyond the horizon, unreachable by anyone without their own IS.

On the ground, Kosaki, Shiina, and Yukari stood firm, even as the IS girls' fury redirected itself toward them. The girls couldn't see Ichika anymore, but their wrath still burned.

Yukari's voice rang out in defiance, cutting through the chaos. "You're not gonna hurt Ichika anymore, you hear me!?" Her gaze was sharp, unwavering, as she glared up at the hovering figures.

The I.S. Girls, their weapons still trained on the group, hesitated. Houki's face twisted in anguish while Rin's teeth ground together in frustration. Charlotte and Laura exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to do now that Ichika was gone.

Kosaki stepped forward, her voice trembling with emotion, but her resolve was unmistakable. "It's because of your selfishness that poor Orimura had to flee to Teito! You've done nothing but suffocate him!"

Shiina, holding the shield as cracks began to appear on its surface, glared at the girls. "Because of you," he said through gritted teeth, "his chances of sensing the daffodils of life came to ruins in an instant! You robbed my Ashikabi's childhood friend of his joy!"

The weight of their words began to sink in. Laura's jaw tightened, Charlotte's ordinarily calm demeanor cracked, and even Cecilia's haughty exterior began to falter. But none of them backed down completely.

Houki's grip tightened around her sword, her eyes flashing with rage. "You think some words are going to change anything?!" she shouted, her Unit flaring to life. "We won't let him get away!"

But it was too late. Ichika was already out of sight, soaring far beyond their reach, heading to the city of the ISA.

Shiina's shield flickered dangerously, the cracks deepening as the IS girls powered up their weapons for another round of attacks. Yet despite the growing strain, Shiina, Kosaki, and Yukari stood firm, determined to buy Ichika the time he needed.

The tension in the air reached a breaking point. The shield protecting Kosaki, Shiina, and Yukari was starting to give way. Cracks ran through the shimmering barrier, and Shiina's brow furrowed with the strain of keeping it intact. The IS girls, enraged and relentless, continued to pound away at the defense with their combined might.

Shiina gritted his teeth, pushing his power to the limit. "Just a little longer," he muttered under his breath. The shield flickered, barely holding as the next barrage hit it with deafening force.

Suddenly, the shield shattered.

The girls wasted no time. In an instant, Houki, Rin, Charlotte, Laura, and the others shot forward, streaks of glowing energy racing through the air as their IS units carried them toward the direction Ichika had gone. A single desperate thought consumed their hearts: they couldn't let him escape.

"No! This can't be happening!" Houki screamed, her voice breaking as she surged ahead. "This is not how it ends!"

Laura's voice was raw with emotion. "Ichika? No! It can't end this way!"

Cecilia's frustration bubbled over, and her usual composure shattered. "This is not supposed to end like this! I haven't won yet!"

"Nothing ends until I've won the whole thing!" Rin shrieked, pushing her IS unit to its limit as she desperately tried to catch up to Ichika, her face twisted in agony and disbelief.

Charlotte cried out, "Ichika, wait! Please don't leave me with these women! We can work things out together! Just the two of us!"

"It cannot be. This is not how the story is supposed to end!" Kanzashi shouted in tears.

"Ichika! Don't go far away! Nooooooo!" Tatenashi cried out in agony and disbelief. Like the rest, she proceeds to go after him.

"I will not allow our relationship to end this way! No way!" Airis demanded with her attendant, Djibril, by her side and nodded in agreement.

They flew faster, their emotions driving them to the edge of desperation. They had lost sight of him, but they refused to accept it. The thought of Ichika truly leaving them was unbearable—unthinkable.

Kosaki, watching them disappear into the distance, clenched her fists. "Ichika...," she whispered, her heart heavy with worry.

Shiina placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. His breathing steadied now that the shield was gone. "Don't worry about him," he said confidently. "With his Third Shift activated, they won't catch him. He's far ahead now, and Byakushiki's speed is unmatched."

Yukari nodded in agreement, her voice calm. "Ichika can reach the ISA safely. And besides, his sister will be there. If anyone tries anything, she'll stop them."

Kosaki glanced at the two, still uncertain. "But I heard that Ichika and his sister… they're not on the best terms."

"They aren't," Shiina admitted, his gaze firm. "But Chifuyu is smart. She knows better than to risk going against Miya. After what happened with the Pillar and Tabane, she's learned her lesson."

Yukari crossed her arms, her expression confident. "Chifuyu might have a bone to pick with Ichika, but she won't let things spiral out of control. Especially not after Miya's warning. She knows what's at stake."

The three stood in silence for a moment, watching the sky, knowing that the IS girls were now chasing a ghost. Ichika, with Byakushiki's Third Shift fully deployed, was already far beyond their reach. The ISA was miles away, but at the speed he was traveling, he would be there soon.

Kosaki let out a slow breath, trusting in Ichika's ability to escape. "I hope you're right," she whispered, her gaze lingering on the sky where Ichika had vanished.

Shiina smiled softly. "He'll make it. And when he does, they'll realize it's over."

Scene skip

Far beyond the city, within the towering walls of the ISA, Chifuyu Orimura stood in her office, her sharp eyes scanning the skies beyond the horizon. She knew Ichika was on his way—his return was inevitable. What she didn't know was how things would unfold once he arrived.

Two weeks after he was gone, this entire mess spiraled out of control. It was up to her to clean it up and take care of it.

The thought of her brother brought a familiar bitterness to her chest. Their relationship had been nearly shattered, and there was little hope of rebuilding it.

But Chifuyu was not a fool. She had learned her lessons—especially after Miya's warning and witnessing the battle between the Pillar and Tabane. That power was something even she dared not challenge lightly.

She exhaled slowly, hands clasped behind her back. When Ichika arrived, there would be no chaos. She would make sure of it.

Scene skip

Kosaki, Shiina, and Yukari finally allowed themselves to relax. The tension in the air had dissipated, and though the IS girls were still somewhere far off, chasing Ichika, there was no longer any danger for the trio left behind.

"We did it," Kosaki said quietly, her shoulders relaxing. "He's really gone."

Shiina smirked. "Yeah. They'll never catch him."

Yukari glanced back at the distant skyline, a small smile playing on her lips. "And by the time they realize it, he'll be safe. They'll have to face the truth eventually—whether they want to or not."

The three of them began walking, leaving the now-empty battlefield behind. It wasn't over yet, but for now, Ichika was free.

Six months later

The prison loomed ahead, a cold, monolithic structure surrounded by high walls, electric fences, and watchtowers manned by sharp-eyed guards. It was a fortress, designed to be impenetrable. But Ichika had no intention of walking in through the front door.

Crouched low in the brush, Ichika studied the perimeter. The east wall was his entry point. The guards patrolled in pairs, their boots crunching on the gravel paths, and high above, the floodlights swept across the courtyard, illuminating every corner. Matsu's voice crackled in his ear.

"I hope that you know what you are doing, Ichika."

There was the dry chuckle that he had often come out of his mouth.

"So do I, Matsu. So do I."'

Then the business became more serious. It was time to get to work.

"The perimeter's got a rotating patrol schedule—guards swap out every fifteen minutes. You've got a small window to slip through when they change shifts. There's also motion sensors along the fence, but I can disable those when you're in range."

Ichika's eyes flicked to the motion detectors embedded along the top of the wall. He'd have to time his approach perfectly. He took a deep breath, his muscles tense with anticipation. "Let me know when it's clear," he whispered.

Seconds felt like hours as he waited in the dark, crouched behind a stack of shipping crates. The guards passed by, chatting casually, unaware that they were being watched. The floodlights swept past them, leaving a brief pocket of shadow.

"Now. Go."

Ichika moved. His footsteps were silent on the cold ground as he darted forward, keeping low, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached the wall just as the floodlight passed over his former position, missing him by inches.

The perimeter wall was slick with moisture from the cool night air, but Ichika found purchase on the uneven stone. With a powerful leap, he propelled himself upward, grabbing the ledge. His fingers dug into the rough surface, and he hauled himself up, careful to stay out of view of the surveillance camera that swiveled back and forth.

He waited, counting the seconds between each camera rotation. The lens passed over the courtyard, sweeping in a wide arc. The moment it turned away, Ichika swung his legs over and dropped silently to the other side, landing in a crouch.

"Nice one," Matsu said, her tone filled with relief. "You're inside the perimeter. But the tough part's coming up. Get ready."

The floodlights above hummed as they powered down for a brief moment—Matsu had disabled them, giving him a small window to move undetected. Ichika wasted no time, hugging the walls of the prison building as he approached a maintenance door that led into the lower levels.

He pulled out a small device Matsu had given him—a portable hacking tool designed to override basic security locks. The red light on the door flickered for a moment, then turned green with a soft click. He was inside.

The door closed behind him with a quiet hiss, sealing Ichika inside the belly of the beast. The interior of the prison was eerily quiet, the only sounds the distant hum of the ventilation system and the soft click of security cameras as they rotated. The hallways were sterile, the walls lined with pale gray tiles, creating a stark and cold environment.

"You're in," Matsu confirmed in his ear. "Now, here's the tricky part. I've looped the camera feeds in this sector, but there are roaming guards on the upper levels, and some areas are under constant surveillance. You'll need to move fast."

Ichika crept forward, his footsteps muffled by the rubber soles of his shoes. His senses were heightened, every creak of the building and every distant footstep alerting him to possible danger. The air was stale, thick with the smell of disinfectant and concrete.

He reached an intersection of two hallways. According to the blueprint Matsu had provided, one led deeper into the prison toward the cellblocks, while the other would take him past the guard stations. He paused, pressing his back to the wall as a pair of guards rounded the corner.

Their conversation was casual, oblivious to the threat lurking just beyond the corner. Ichika held his breath, his hand hovering over the hilt of his katana. He could take them out, but that would risk raising an alarm.

"Wait for them to pass," Matsu whispered, sensing his hesitation. "You're not here to fight."

Ichika nodded to himself, staying as still as a statue as the guards walked past, their boots clacking on the tiled floor. The moment they turned the corner, Ichika slipped forward, his movements fluid and silent.

The hallways stretched ahead, empty but for the occasional camera perched high on the walls. Ichika's eyes flicked to each one as he approached. Matsu had looped the feeds, but there was always the risk of human error.

The route took him deeper into the facility, the air growing colder the further he descended. The lights above buzzed faintly, casting flickering shadows that danced on the walls. Every step was calculated, his body tense, ready to spring into action at the slightest hint of danger.

"You're coming up on the main security checkpoint," Matsu's voice cut through the tension. "It's heavily guarded, and there are metal detectors and full-body scanners in place. You can't go through it."

Ichika's eyes narrowed. "What's the alternative?"

"There's an old service hatch near the floor—hidden behind a vent. It's been out of commission for years, but I can override the lock. You'll have to crawl through the air ducts to bypass the checkpoint."

Ichika dropped to one knee as he reached the checkpoint. Just as Matsu had said, the security station was ahead, a heavy-duty scanner blocking the only visible path forward. Several guards stood at their posts, rifles slung casually over their shoulders.

His eyes darted to the side, scanning the walls. There, half-hidden beneath a grate, was the service hatch Matsu had mentioned. It was rusted, the metal worn from years of neglect, but it was his only option.

He knelt in front of the vent, using the small screwdriver Matsu had provided to loosen the bolts. Each turn of the screw echoed in his ears, but the guards didn't notice. After what felt like an eternity, the vent cover popped off, and Ichika slid inside the narrow crawlspace.

The air inside the ducts was stifling, the metal walls closing in on him as he crawled forward on his elbows. It reminded him of the training exercises Chifuyu had put him through, but this was far from a simulation. He could hear the faint buzz of the prison's alarms in the distance and the muted conversation of guards below.

"You're doing great," Matsu's voice sounded in his ear, a welcome reprieve from the oppressive silence of the ducts. "Just a bit further, and you'll reach the lower cellblock."

The ductwork creaked as he moved, the sound making his heart race. He couldn't afford to make a single mistake. If the guards heard even the slightest noise, it would be over.

His body ached from the confined space, but he pushed on, his eyes focused on the faint light filtering through the end of the tunnel. Just a few more meters, and he'd be in position.

The air ducts deposited Ichika into a maintenance hallway, dimly lit and reeking of damp concrete. He landed silently, crouching low as he scanned his surroundings. The deeper he ventured, the colder and more oppressive the air became. This part of the prison was rarely used, the walls grimy with neglect, but the tension was palpable. Ichika knew he was getting closer to the heavily secured inner cellblocks where high-profile prisoners like Madoka were held.

"You're in the clear for now," Matsu's voice came through the headset. "But security gets a lot tighter from here on out. Motion sensors, heat detectors, guards patrolling in tighter intervals. You'll need to be extra careful."

Ichika moved quickly, staying low to the ground as he approached the next junction. The narrow hallway was lined with old pipes and flickering fluorescent lights that buzzed with a low hum. It was quiet, almost too quiet.

As he turned the corner, he spotted a motion sensor embedded in the ceiling. It slowly rotated, scanning the corridor for any sign of movement. He pressed his back against the wall, eyes narrowing as he watched the sensor's slow sweep. The range was wide, covering nearly the entire hallway except for a narrow strip of shadow near the floor.

"Matsu, can you disable it?" Ichika whispered.

"Not this one. It's on a separate system—local controls. You'll have to bypass it manually," Matsu replied. "But there's a way. Crawl beneath the detection field, stay low to the ground. It's a tight squeeze, but you can make it."

Ichika exhaled slowly, sinking to the floor. He lay flat on his stomach, carefully crawling forward, inch by inch, keeping his movements controlled. His heartbeat thudded in his ears as the sensor's green light swept above him. He paused, holding his breath as the beam passed over the area where his head had been moments earlier.

He continued his slow crawl, muscles tense and coiled. The sensor made another pass. Ichika froze, every fiber of his being focused on staying still, invisible. Sweat trickled down his forehead, but he didn't dare wipe it away.

After what felt like an eternity, he reached the end of the hallway, rolling silently to his feet behind a rusted maintenance cart. His breath came in shallow gasps as he glanced back at the sensor, which continued its mindless sweep, unaware it had been outwitted.

"You're past the first layer of motion detection. There's more ahead, so stay sharp," Matsu advised, her voice a steady presence in his ear.

Ichika pressed forward, his footsteps barely audible against the worn floor. The corridors were darker here, the prison's main power grid barely keeping these forgotten sections lit. He passed by old supply closets, long abandoned, their contents gathering dust. But just beyond this quiet was the heavily monitored cellblock where Madoka was held, and Ichika could feel the tension rising.

Ahead, he saw the faint flicker of flashlights. The heavy footfalls of guards echoed through the narrow passage, their boots striking the ground in unison. There were three of them, walking in tight formation, rifles slung across their backs.

"Three-man patrol coming up. You'll need to time it just right," Matsu whispered. "There's a side corridor about ten meters ahead—if you can slip in there before they see you, you should be fine. Wait for my mark."

Ichika's eyes flicked to the narrow hallway branching off to his right. It was barely wide enough for a person to slip into, but it would provide just enough cover if he moved at the right time.

The guards drew closer, their voices low and murmured. One of them laughed softly at a joke, and the other two chuckled in response. They were relaxed, not expecting any trouble in this remote part of the prison.

"Now," Matsu instructed.

Ichika darted forward, his movements quick and precise. He pressed himself into the narrow side corridor, flattening his back against the wall just as the guards rounded the corner. His heart raced as he waited, his breath shallow and quiet.

The guards passed by, unaware of the shadow lurking just meters away. Ichika watched as their flashlights bobbed in the distance, their conversation fading as they moved deeper into the complex.

"You're clear," Matsu said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Good timing. One slip-up, and they would've had you."

Ichika exhaled softly, pushing off the wall and continuing down the hallway. The next checkpoint was just ahead, and his mind sharpened, fully focused on the task at hand. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not now, when he was so close.

As Ichika reached the next section of the prison, the walls became sleeker, cleaner, with reinforced metal panels and advanced security systems. This was the high-security wing, where prisoners of utmost importance were kept. Madoka was somewhere in this labyrinth, and the prison's defenses grew more sophisticated the closer he got.

He crouched behind a stack of storage crates, eyes scanning the hallway ahead. Unlike the previous motion sensors, this section was guarded by heat detectors, designed to pick up body heat signatures and trigger alarms if any unauthorized person entered.

"Heat sensors," Matsu explained, her tone more serious now. "They'll detect you if you move too fast or stay in one spot for too long. You'll have to slow your heart rate and keep your body temperature as low as possible to pass by unnoticed."

Ichika nodded, mentally preparing himself. He removed his jacket, letting the cool air of the prison seep into his skin. His breaths became slower, deeper, as he consciously worked to lower his heart rate. He focused on controlling his movements, knowing that any rush of adrenaline could cause a spike in his body heat.

The hallway ahead was long, with sensors placed at intervals along the ceiling. He would have to time his movements perfectly, making short bursts of controlled motion before his body heat could register.

Taking a deep breath, Ichika moved forward, his steps measured. His eyes flicked to the nearest sensor, watching as its red light blinked in steady intervals. He could feel his muscles tensing as he moved past it, his body heat just below the detection threshold.

Step by step, he made his way down the corridor, stopping every few meters to let his body cool. The cold air helped, but the tension in his body made it harder to maintain control. His heart wanted to race, to push through the danger, but Ichika forced himself to stay calm.

"You're halfway there. Keep going," Matsu encouraged, her voice steady despite the growing intensity.

Ichika pushed forward, each step deliberate and careful. The sensors blinked above him, but they didn't trigger. Sweat slicked his skin, but he kept his movements slow, precise, refusing to let the pressure break his focus.

Finally, he reached the end of the hallway, slipping behind a thick column just as the last sensor made a sweep. His body ached with the tension of holding himself back, but he had made it.

"Nice work. You've just cleared the last major obstacle," Matsu's voice had a note of pride in it. "The cellblock is just ahead. I'll be unlocking the doors soon. Get ready."

The heavy, reinforced door leading to Madoka's cellblock loomed ahead, sealed with high-level security measures. Ichika approached cautiously, his mind racing through the final stages of the plan. The alarms hadn't sounded yet, but he knew they were running on borrowed time.

"I've looped the camera feed here," Matsu said. "I can unlock the door, but once it opens, the guards will notice within minutes. You'll need to act fast once you're inside."

Ichika nodded, his hands steady as he waited for Matsu to disable the locks. The small green light above the door flickered for a moment before turning off completely. The heavy door groaned as it slid open, revealing the stark interior of the cellblock.

Madoka's cell was at the far end, sealed behind a wall of steel and glass. Ichika's heart clenched as he saw her inside, sitting against the wall, her face pale and gaunt from months of confinement.

"You're in. Get her out, and be ready to move," Matsu whispered, urgency creeping into her voice.

The heavy steel door slid open, the sound echoing faintly in the dimly lit cellblock. Ichika stepped inside, eyes locking onto the solitary figure seated against the far wall. Madoka sat slumped on the cold, hard floor, her wrists bound in metal cuffs, her body weak from months of isolation. Her once fiery demeanor was dimmed, and the sight of her like this sent a wave of anger through Ichika.

Madoka's eyes flickered open, adjusting to the sudden movement at the entrance. When she saw Ichika standing there, her expression shifted from dull resignation to confusion—and then to disbelief.

"Ichika?" Her voice was hoarse, cracked from disuse. She looked at him as if she couldn't trust her own eyes.

Ichika moved forward swiftly, his katana still sheathed but ready at his side. "I'm getting you out of here, Madoka," he said, his voice low but resolute.

Madoka stared at him for a moment, her body tensing. "You… why are you here?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief and suspicion. "Why would you risk this?"

Ichika knelt beside her, quickly disabling the shackles around her wrists with a small, precise tool Matsu had provided. The cuffs fell to the floor with a metallic clink. "It didn't sit right with me that you got killed. And if you broke out, you'd come after me anyway. Hence why breaking you out is the better option."

Madoka's eyes darkened. "After everything I've done… all the times I tried to kill you?" She rubbed her wrists, still staring at him as if she didn't recognize the person standing in front of her.

Ichika paused, his jaw tightening. "None of that matters right now. What matters is getting you out of here, alive."

For a moment, Madoka said nothing, her gaze searching Ichika's face. Finally, she gave a small, bitter laugh. "You really are a fool, Ichika. Always have been."

"I've been called worse," he muttered, glancing toward the hallway. Time was running out.

With Madoka freed, the clock was ticking. Matsu's voice came through the headset, more urgent now. "Ichika, I've bought you some time, but they're starting to notice the system malfunctions. You need to move fast. I've disabled the alarms in your immediate area, but once you blow that wall, the entire prison will know."

"Understood," Ichika replied, pulling a small explosive device from his belt. He quickly attached it to the far wall of the cell, calculating the best exit point.

Madoka watched him, her expression a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. "You really came all this way to rescue me," she said, her voice softer now. "You're insane."

Ichika glanced at her. "I didn't come here for your approval."

He stepped back, activating the detonator. A muffled beep signaled the countdown—five seconds to impact. Ichika grabbed Madoka's arm, pulling her close as he activated his IS unit to shield them both.

The explosion rocked the cell, a deafening blast that tore through the reinforced steel and concrete. Dust and debris filled the air, and the sound of alarms blaring immediately followed. The prison shook from the force of the blast, and in an instant, chaos erupted.

The wall crumbled, revealing the night sky beyond—a jagged hole where the prison's reinforced structure had once stood.

"That's your cue, Ichika! Get out of there, now!" Matsu's voice was sharp, barely audible over the cacophony of alarms.

Without hesitation, Ichika pulled Madoka through the smoking hole in the wall. His IS unit flared to life, wings of light extending from his back. With a powerful leap, they soared into the air, leaving the shattered remains of the prison behind them.

The cold night air whipped around them as Ichika flew, carrying Madoka in his arms. Below, the prison's alarms continued to wail, and spotlights swept across the grounds in search of the escapees. But Ichika kept low, hugging the terrain as he pushed the limits of his IS unit's speed.

"They've scrambled pursuit drones," Matsu warned. "You'll need to lose them before you reach the extraction point."

Ichika glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, the dark shapes of MBI pursuit drones were closing in, their engines emitting a high-pitched whine as they scanned the air for heat signatures.

"I'm on it," he muttered, adjusting his flight pattern. He weaved through the trees, using the dense forest below as cover. The drones were fast, but they lacked the maneuverability of his IS unit.

Madoka clung to him, her body tense. She didn't speak, but her eyes were wide as she watched the drones close in.

"I'm guiding you toward a ravine up ahead," Matsu said, her voice steady despite the tension. "It's narrow enough that the drones won't be able to follow. You'll need to time your entry perfectly—too high, and they'll spot you; too low, and you'll crash."

Ichika narrowed his eyes, pushing the IS unit to its limits. The ravine was coming into view, a dark slash in the landscape that offered a slim chance at escape.

"Hold on," he told Madoka, adjusting his grip on her as he dove toward the ravine.

The drones closed in, their searchlights sweeping the area just above their heads. But Ichika's reflexes were sharp, his control over the IS unit flawless. He slipped into the ravine just as the drones passed overhead, losing sight of them in the dense shadows.

For several tense moments, they flew in silence, the walls of the ravine towering around them. The sound of the drones faded into the distance, leaving only the rush of wind in their ears.

"You did it," Matsu's voice came through, finally relaxing. "You're clear."

Ichika let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, slowing their flight as they emerged from the ravine into a secluded clearing. He deactivated the IS unit, setting Madoka down gently on the ground.

Madoka stood there, arms crossed as she surveyed their surroundings. The prison was far behind them now, nothing but a distant memory. For the first time in years, she was free.

Ichika turned to her, pulling a small black card from his belt—an MBI card, preloaded with unlimited funds. He held it out to her, his expression serious.

"You need to leave," he said, his voice firm but calm. "You've been hiding in the shadows for years, Madoka. You know how to disappear. Take this card and get out of Japan. Start over somewhere else."

Madoka stared at the card, her brow furrowed. "Why are you doing this? After everything… why not just leave me to my fate?"

Ichika's gaze softened, but his resolve remained. "Because you're my sister. And no matter what's happened, I don't want you to waste your life chasing something that's already lost. You have a chance to start fresh. Don't throw it away."

Madoka hesitated, her fingers brushing against the card before she took it. "And you think this will make things right? You think giving me a way out will change what I've done?"

"No," Ichika replied simply. "I'm not asking for forgiveness. I just want you to be free."

There was a long silence between them. Madoka's eyes searched Ichika's face, looking for something—perhaps the brother she had once known, or the person she had tried so hard to destroy. But whatever she was looking for, it didn't seem to matter anymore.

She pocketed the card, her expression unreadable. "Fine," she said, her voice cold. "This will be the last time we'll ever see each other, right?"

"I just hope that you send me a postcard every once in a while. See something of this world, Madoka. It's still beautiful."

Madoka gave him one last glance, then turned and walked into the shadows, her form disappearing into the night. For a moment, Ichika stood there, watching her go, his heart heavy but resolute.

This was for the best. She could lead her life and he could live his own.


I took days off to get the last bits of this damned chapter done. There is a reason why this chapter clocked out on 42K in words.

A bit too long then I would have liked but for all the ideas that we had, we had to make this end on this.

As for the other parts, I'm glad this is over and done.

I thank you all for the support in the last few years and how much I have been able to grow as author, writing this fic and the ideas that I got from many others.

I'd like to thank a few people.

Valon, the requester of this fic. We don't always agree but without you, I'd never been able to do this.

VIRUS GO for an extra set of eyes to read it over and to chat about ideas.

Demon Hunter who has been following me throughout the years as a fanfic author.

Phen0m20 whose fics have been a great inspiration to me.

Oslight who was so kind to draw out the fanart of this fic.

And of course, all the reviewers, favorites and followers of this fic. Without you all, I doubt that I would have kept going.

But as the song "To the Skies and Beyond" played, this isn't the end of it though.

"We have just Begun." There is a sequel planned for this fic.

"The Daily Life of the Ashikabi's Children" will be published in February next year.

In the meantime, there will be plenty of other updates in the next few months.

I hope to see you all there. See you on the next one.

Saluut.