Before the Stars Call: Part II

Later that night…

The sun dipped low in the sky over Maison Izumo's garden, casting long shadows over the well-tended greenery. Kusano knelt on the grass, her hands gently cradling a delicate bloom, her favorite flowers swaying lightly in the evening breeze. The usual joy in her care for the plants had dimmed, a quiet sadness hanging over her like the fading light.

Minato watched from a few steps away, sitting on the porch with his elbows resting on his knees. He could feel the weight of her emotions, a mirror of his own. His departure for space loomed just a day away, and no matter how much he reassured her—or himself—it still felt impossible to shake the sense of finality that came with the knowledge. He would be gone for at least two years, and Kusano would be staying behind. It wasn't a decision he wanted to make, but the risks were too great for someone so young.

"Kuu," Minato called gently, drawing her attention. She turned her head slightly, her face hidden by her hair, but he could see the worry in her eyes. "Come sit with me?"

Kusano hesitated, her small fingers tracing the leaves of the flower she had been tending, before finally rising and walking over to him. She climbed onto the porch and sat beside him, leaning against his side. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The garden around them seemed to hold its breath.

"You're going to be really far away," Kusano whispered, her voice barely audible. "Farther than I can even reach with my plants…"

Minato felt his heart tighten. "Yeah. But I'll come back, Kuu. I promise."

Kusano didn't reply immediately, her head resting on his shoulder as she stared out into the garden. Her small body seemed even smaller in the quiet, her usual energetic personality subdued by the looming separation.

Before Minato could say more, the soft clink of glasses and the scent of fresh sake signaled Kazehana's arrival. She floated toward them, her usual playful demeanor tempered by the serious tone of the moment. "There's nothing like a drink to lift the spirits, is there, love?" she said with a wink, though her eyes were warm with sympathy as she set the bottle down nearby.

Tsukiumi followed closely behind, her arms crossed over her chest as she huffed. "A toast would be inappropriate at a time like this, Kazehana! Though… the gesture is appreciated."

Matsu appeared next, tablet in hand, flashing a bright smile. "Besides, we've all trained so hard! Minato's practically a space-faring expert by now! The centrifuge didn't break him—though it nearly did, huh, Minato?" she teased, giving him a playful nudge.

"Speak for yourself, Matsu. You had it just as bad." Minato managed a weak smile at the memory. "Yeah… I thought I wasn't going to make it through that training."

"See, Kuu?" Matsu grinned. "Your Ashikabi is tougher than he looks!"

Homura, standing off to the side, added, "We'll all be there with him, making sure he stays out of trouble. You won't have to worry."

But Kusano's concern wasn't so easily shaken. She pulled away slightly, looking up at Minato with wide, tearful eyes. "What if something bad happens to you?"

Before Minato could respond, Uzume popped into view, wearing her usual confident grin. "Come on, Kuu! Minato's survived plenty of crazy stuff before. This time's no different—just with more stars and spaceships!" She wiggled her fingers as if summoning magic, her playful energy trying to lift the mood.

Chiho, quieter than the others, stepped up beside Uzume and offered Kusano a kind smile. "We'll all take care of him, Kusano-chan. We'll bring him back safely, I promise."

Just then, Yukari emerged from the house, followed closely by her pretty boy, Shiina. The two of them approached with a sense of quiet solidarity, aware of the emotions swirling in the air.

"Kuu," Yukari said softly, her voice gentle but firm, "we'll be looking after you while Minato's gone. Shiina and I will make sure you're safe and happy, just like always."

Shiina nodded, standing next to Yukari, his expression calm. "We'll take care of you, Kusano. Minato will come back, but in the meantime, we'll be right here with you."

Kusano glanced between her brother and Yukari, tears welling up again. "But I want Minato to stay..."

Minato sighed, wishing he could give her the answer she wanted, but knowing he couldn't. "I know, Kuu. I want to stay too. But I have to go. It's important. And I need you to be strong for me, okay? You've got Yukari and Shiina with you. And the garden will still need you, right?"

Kusano sniffled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'll take care of the garden, but it won't be the same without you…"

Yume stepped forward with a determined spirit. "Minato is going to explore the stars, Kuu. It's an adventure! And when he comes back, it'll be like a reunion filled with love and joy! That's what you're waiting for, right?"

Kusano looked up at Yume, her lips trembling before she managed a small nod. "Yeah…"

Yashima, timid but knowledgeable, added quietly, "The universe is big and scary, but Minato-san has us with him. And space isn't as unpredictable as it seems. We'll keep him safe."

Akitsu, aloof as always, stood in the background, staring at the sky. "If something happens, we'll deal with it. No need to worry." Her monotone voice was oddly comforting in its simplicity.

The group fell into a comfortable silence, their presence surrounding Kusano like a protective shield, each of them contributing in their own way to soothe her worries.

Finally, Minato spoke again, pulling Kusano closer into his embrace. "I'll come back, Kuu. I'll come back and we'll plant that big tree together, just like we planned. A tree for all of us."

Kusano nodded against him, her arms tightening around his waist. "Okay… but don't take too long."

"I won't," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "I promise."

Yukari placed a hand on Kusano's shoulder, smiling gently. "We'll be here waiting. And we'll take good care of everything while you're away."

Kusano looked up at her and smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Yukari-nee."

As the last light of day faded into twilight, the garden filled with the quiet sounds of the evening. The plants swayed gently in the breeze, and the stars began to peek out from the darkening sky above, a reminder of the vast unknown that awaited them.

But here, in the warmth of the garden and the comfort of family, the future didn't seem quite so scary. And Minato knew, no matter where the stars took him, he would always find his way back to this place, to the people who mattered most.

XXXXXX

Meanwhile…

Minaka Hiroto walked down the sterile, metallic corridor of the hidden MBI facility, his footsteps echoing against the polished floor. Around him, a sea of stasis pods lined the walls, their cold, blue light bathing the room in an eerie glow. Each pod contained a Sekirei clone, frozen in time, their purpose unknown. But one pod, at the very end of the room, held someone different—someone he had been waiting five long years to awaken.

He stopped in front of the pod marked #00.

Through the frost-covered glass, Miya's body lay motionless, suspended in a dreamless slumber. Her form was naked, devoid of any clothing or the black and grey cloak that once defined her as the leader of the Discipline Squad. Yet her presence remained imposing, even in this vulnerable state. There was no room for weakness in the legendary #00.

Minaka keyed in the sequence on the control panel, and the pod hissed as it began to unlock, releasing a puff of cold vapor. The glass slid open, and the mist spilled out, swirling around Miya as her eyes fluttered open. She blinked, slowly coming to consciousness, her body shivering as the temperature of the room rushed in to meet her exposed skin.

Her violet eyes opened fully, sharp and alert despite the grogginess of being awoken from a long stasis. She sat up, movements graceful but deliberate, taking in her surroundings. The sight of Minaka made her brow crease in displeasure.

"Minaka," she said, her voice cool and steady, but there was an edge to it. "Where am I? Why… am I like this?"

She made no effort to cover herself, though there was no shame in her eyes. Her nakedness was irrelevant, a minor detail in the face of her current confusion and irritation.

Minaka's usual manic energy was restrained, though his eyes twinkled with intrigue as he observed her. "You've been in stasis for five years, Miya. It was necessary after the conclusion of the Sekirei Plan."

Miya's gaze hardened, her memory struggling to align with his words. She stood, her posture tense, her fists clenching at her sides. "Five years?" Her voice was sharp now, a mixture of disbelief and anger. "I don't remember… anything. What conclusion? What Sekirei Plan?"

Minaka let out a long, exaggerated sigh, the kind he used when he was about to explain something that excited him far more than it should. "Your defeat. You were dethroned by Uzume at the climax of the Sekirei Plan. After that… well, let's just say, things didn't end in your favor."

Miya's expression darkened. "Uzume…?" She repeated the name, but it held no meaning. She tried to grasp at the fragments of memory that flickered through her mind, but they were like shadows, always slipping through her fingers. "I don't know that name. I remember… Kamikura Island. I remember leading the Discipline Squad, but beyond that… nothing."

"That was 25 years ago. A full generation has passed…" Minaka smiled, his fascination growing. "Ah, your memory has been scrambled. Fascinating. You don't recall Minato, or the Sekirei Plan, or even…" He paused, his smile widening. "Takehito. Do you?"

Miya's eyes flashed with something—confusion, anger, and the faintest glimmer of pain. "Takehito?" She tried to latch onto the name, but it was as distant as the rest of her memories. A phantom of familiarity in her thoughts. She shook her head, frustration boiling beneath her calm exterior. "My heart throbs painfully hearing that name, but I can't–. Why am I here, Minaka? Why now?"

Minaka took a step closer, but there was caution in his movement, like approaching a dangerous animal. "You were frozen after your defeat, Miya. But now, I need you. Things are changing. We're going to space."

Miya blinked, her eyes narrowing. "Space?"

Minaka's smile grew, his excitement almost tangible. "Yes. Beyond Earth, beyond everything you knew. And I need you to accompany Takami and my son, Minato, on this mission. They're going to lead a team of Sekirei, but I have a bad feeling." He adjusted his glasses, and for once his eyes shown clearly through his frames in a rare moment, his tone shifting to something more serious. "I believe they'll be in danger before they even leave the solar system. I want you to oversee things, make sure everything goes smoothly, and protect them if needed."

Miya stood in silence for a moment, absorbing his words. Her memories were fractured, her mind a maze of forgotten battles and faces she could no longer recall. But beneath it all, there was still something inside her—an instinct to protect, to lead, to keep things in order. That part of her had not been erased.

"And if I refuse?" she asked, her tone defiant. She wasn't someone easily swayed by orders, least of all from Minaka.

Minaka's grin didn't falter. "You won't. I know you, Miya. Even without your memories, you're still the protector. It's in your nature. Besides…" He paused, leaning in slightly. "There's a part of you that knows this mission is important. You may not remember why, but you'll feel it soon enough."

Miya's jaw tightened, her anger restrained beneath her calm exterior. But she was no fool. Minaka wouldn't have awoken her if he wasn't certain of her cooperation. She may not remember her past, but she knew Minaka well enough to understand his manipulative nature.

After a moment, she sighed, her posture relaxing slightly. "Fine. I'll do it. But not for you. I'll do it to find out what's really going on."

Minaka clapped his hands together, his grin spreading wide. "Excellent! I knew I could count on you, #00. Prepare yourself, Miya. The Stellar Wing awaits."

As Minaka turned to leave, Miya, with an arm draped over her bare chest, stepped out of the pod, her eyes narrowed as she stared after him. She couldn't remember the details of her past, but something inside her felt off—like a piece of a puzzle had been stolen, and she had no idea where to start looking for it.

But if protecting Takami's mission and their son was part of that puzzle, then perhaps this journey into the unknown would bring her the answers she sought.

XXXXXX

A/N: I plan to have the first arc of this story centered around Miya and her regaining her memories amidst the Stellar Wing's casing of the solar system. As such, expect to see a lot of stuff related to her to come up. And speaking of space travel, that's exactly where this story is going now that everyone has shared their goodbyes.

I hope you all enjoyed. See you next time.