Under the pale light of the full moon, Seo pulled the car along the highway and peered across to the horizon of Teito. Not too far from them, he saw another car, much faster than his own, and he knew at once, even before spotting the figures, that it was someone in the Discipline Squad.
He could sense their power and could feel it boiling beneath the surface. He crept closer, studying the car for any anomalies that might clue him in to who it could be. It was covered in vinyls, had blue neon lights, and produced a loud whistle whenever it sped up. The blue hair of the Sekirei caught and held his attention. It seemed unkempt, yet neat. As he came forward a bit more, he grew even more intrigued, noting that there were two Sekirei in the car. The driver was guarded by one other.
"Oh man." Seo said.
Silent as a shadow, the man slipped the car through traffic, moving left to right, causing more than a few drivers to beep at his abrasive driving, working his way gradually toward his home. He felt his Sekirei right beside him. Hibiki was next to him in the passenger seat, and she put her hands against the soft cushion of the seat.
Seo sped up again, noticing a few lanes were lagging with traffic. He put his foot down, speeding up, then turned left, having more than enough space to pull off his maneuver. He sped up again, the car cutting through the lanes of traffic, easily gliding through, then, without even pausing, he sped up again.
"We just avoided them." He breathed again, and his legs wanted to weaken beneath him. The highway was lit by thousands of lights and by a shaft of pale moonlight, streaming through a hole in the clouds, illuminating the backdrop of Teito.
Hibiki smiled to herself and relaxed, adjusting her feet, and brushing her hair out of her face. She turned to the side, watching the traffic close by.
Seo quickly cut free of the lane and went all the way to the right, right against the wall, and then sped up.
"We should be clear of them." He whispered softly.
Seo knew that there was always a risk of being caught. He could feel those two of the Discipline Squad through their ki, though they were just a faint sensation now. Seo stayed in the right lane and kept moving around cars going slower, and finally, Hikari's eyelids fluttered open as Seo moved around a semi, putting his foot down on the gas.
"Ease down a bit, Seo!" She shouted from the back.
He could feel her energy elevating as she began to speak and knew that she would have more to say.
Hibiki's eyes began to focus upon Seo, and he could see a smile coming to her face.
"We're safe now. Hang on. I'm going to get us back home."
"Seo were you even listening to me?" Hikari asked, and she tilted her head, the way she often had whenever Seo would make his lecherous advances.
"Yeah, I heard you." He said, trying to calm her. "We've got to be sure that we got away from them."
"I think we covered enough ground." Hikari went on. "We can't stay on the highways forever."
Hibiki thought to tell her to stop and stay focused, but the words wouldn't come out of her mouth.
"That was some fine driving, Seo."
"Thanks, Hibiki."
"I mean it, Seo." Hibiki said, and she looked straight up, past Seo, to the shining moon.
Somewhere deep inside, Seo understood.
"I'm going to get us back home." He said. "We should be far away from them."
"Sounds good..." Hikari started to say, but she trailed off, and Seo saw the light leap in her eyes.
Seo could hardly draw his breath. He lifted his gaze to her own and held it there for a long time. Hikari was quite short tempered. Seo always had to remember to be cautious when it came to her. He pulled her gaze back again, staring into her eyes through the rear view mirror, smiling as she caught notice of him. There was light there.
He wanted to hug her close.
Then he let his gaze fall back onto the road and gently narrowed his eyes. Seo drove for a long time, weaving in and out of traffic, then he looked up, his brown eyes cool and calm.
"We're home."
Seo's home was quite spacious and large. He lived in a suburb, so the houses were spaced out from each other by a few miles. It wasn't as large as Ryu's mansion, but it was still a grand home. It's what he got with the hard work from his freelancing. Contrary to what Miya thought, he didn't have an MBI card, but then again she already knew how he was.
Hikari and Hibiki got out of the car, thankful they had a garage. They quickly walked into their home muttering to themselves about it being so cold. Seo closed the garage but kept the light on as he closed the door. He'd have to work on the brakes in a little while.
Seo followed his Sekirei, sighing as he walked into the heat of his home. He was thankful he was able to stay at Izumo Inn now, but he wasn't going to abandon this home completely. It'd be his second home. It was way too nice to just leave at this moment. He put a lot into it. His Sekirei put a lot into it. It was their home. He needed space from Miya and her stringent list of rules. He needed a place to call his own so he could take care of Hibiki and Hikari.
He walked over to the computer, inserting the drive. Seo went to click on it, but whenever he did, he couldn't do anything besides look at the screen. He knew this was going to happen. He didn't have the technology to open up this drive. He got to see the footage thanks to Matsu, and he was thankful and grateful he got to see that footage. What Haruka did was phenomenal, and Seo had to find a way to attain that power.
He would without fail.
Seo slumped back in the seat of his chair, shaking his head. It had taken him a long while to extract himself safely from Ryu's mansion, and when he had at last returned to his home, he had thought the adventure over. But it wasn't so.
The drive isn't working." He told Hibiki, who nodded her agreement.
"We just don't have the technology." Hikari said, spinning to face her Ashikabi. "Can you contact someone who does? Someone besides Matsu?"
Seo nodded, recalling his contact with Sanada. He had a Brain Sekirei or two, if he could remember right. If that didn't work out than there was the woman who got him this footage in the first place. He wasn't sure if she had the means to view it, she hadn't even considered during their meeting, sticking to their agreement and the payment he made for it. He was thankful she had been so amicable.
"Okay, so we have that." Hibiki said, organizing her thoughts.
Seo tried to think of an answer. He didn't want to lift off from his home and risk being spotted by the Discipline Squad so soon, but so far out and within the bright and towering Teito backdrop, he had no chance of reaching the distant Izumo Inn at this moment. He needed to rest. He needed time to make his moves. He needed time to organize his thoughts.
He had been hoping that Minato would spare him some of Matsu's technology she left behind, but the young man had made it clear he needed all of it. Seo wasn't going to argue with him. Minato could be quite firm when he wanted to be, and Seo knew better than to underestimate the young man, as he had been punched in the face by him before.
"The West is closer to us at the moment." He said suddenly, and Hikari arched her brow.
"Maybe we can contact Sanada and get the video relayed. Doesn't have have a couple brain Sekirei?" Hibiki replied with enthusiasm and Seo pulled out his phone, calling the man.
A few moments later, though, he got his voicemail.
"How can he not have his phone on?" He asked, and Hikari gave a shrug. Rather than ask her why she was so cold, Seo called again. Sure enough, Sanada's voicemail was picking up.
"Something could be happening." He said, lifting his phone from his ear and dialing again. After several minutes with no response, he finally put the phone back in his pocket and turned to Hikari.
"It goes right to voicemail. I'm going to try again in a few minutes. I hope nothing's happened to him." He sat back as the minutes slipped past. He knew that he was losing precious time, but his choices were limited. He couldn't head back to Izumo Inn and risk running into the Discipline Squad, not with so much vital news to relay to Sanada, nor did he want to leave right away, for the same reasons. He still had so much to learn from that footage.
There wasn't much he could do if Sanada wasn't answering the phone. Everyone just went about their usual business, obviously trying to avoid the tension that was growing. That they all knew would inevitably come as thing progressed. At work preparing a meal for Seo, Hibiki was surprised when Hikari came up to help her, and even more surprised when she asked about Miya.
"What do you think about her?" Hikari asked.
Hibiki looked at her curiously. "Who?"
"Miya. What do you think about her?"
Hibiki could barely register the question, for her thoughts remained with Seo. She could see her Ashikabi was deep in thought and mulling everything over. He wasn't his usual lecherous self. It took her a long time to respond, but finally she managed to speak her piece. "She's scary. She's really uptight. You know, kind of like a mom, always scolding. It's not like she's the sister type or anything like that."
She turned away as soon as she finished, and knew she was being a bit rude. But all she wanted was to be with Seo, and so she started loading the food tray.
"She's really scary." Hikari remarked.
"She's really kind as well." Hibiki said.
Hikari nodded. "She always gives us food."
Hibiki picked up the tray, smiling, and turned to go. "Thanks, Hikari."
She found Seo standing at the workbench in the garage, working on the brakes of their car.
"I brought you something to eat."
Seo looked at her, but went back to his work. She noted that he was streamlining every movement, completely patient, but obviously distracted from the task at hand. He wanted that footage and wanted to watch that footage. Hibiki knew it in her heart, and to some extent, maybe because Seo desired it so bad, she wanted to watch it again. Just to see and witness it again.
She hadn't truly believed it at first, but Matsu had replayed the footage over and over.
"Have to clean them." Seo explained, showing her the brakes.
Finally he set down the tools he was using and just stood there, looking at everything.
"How did Haruka do it? How does Ryu do it?" He asked quietly.
Hibiki set the tray down on the workbench and moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head comfortingly on his back.
"Haruka saved her, you know?"
"Seo, you're the savviest Ashikabi out there." She squeezed him a bit tighter.
"I am but..." He sighed and then he looked at her, his face a mask of determination. "Soon I will be strong enough to protect you and Hikari."
"Seo..." Hibiki trailed off uncertainly, but he didn't even seem to hear her.
"I'll be the most powerful Ashikabi." He continued. "I promise you."
"Seo..."
"If Haruka can do it. If Ryu can do it. Then I can do it. I'll learn how." He walked across the room and took some food from the tray on the workbench. "I've always been one to avoid conflict for the most part."
"Seo, it's our duty to protect you. You're our Ashikabi." Hibiki said quietly.
"It's my duty to protect you as well."
"I should have been there with you, when you went to Ryu's. I'd have had Matsu lend us some technology so we would have this drive working even faster."
"You are quite convincing." Seo said with a sly smirk
"That I am." Hibiki said, keeping her eyes on Seo and his hands, knowing good and well what that sly smirk entailed.
She was glad to see him back to his usual self, though she wouldn't expect anything less. Seo could be reflective when the moment called for it, as he had just proven, but he'd always be the same pervert she had to zap.
"Maybe you and I could work some of that magic with Sanada." He finished by picking up some more of his food and scarfing it down.
"I love this new determination of yours, Seo." Hibiki said, her eyes lighting up.
Her volume and tone finally got his attention. "I deserve a reward, don't I?"
"Oh please." She said back at him. "Don't think that gives you a free pass!"
Seo just stared at her, and she knew that she was on to something.
"Hikari!"
Hikari just laughed while looking at her sister. "What?"
Hibiki's body seemed to tense then, and her back went straight just a bit. "Come over here and help me zap this fool."
Hikari admitted it was quite humorous listening to Hibiki and Seo banter, and if Seo hadn't walked over to Hibiki and grabbed her close, she would have fallen over.
"I have a burning desire to protect you both."
Hibiki smiled, putting her hand on Seo's chest to put some space between them. "We love you, Seo. It's our duty to protect you."
"I have a burning desire and need to protect you both. I am your Ashikabi. You are my Sekirei."
Seo smirked, pulling Hibiki closer. Hikari took that as her cue. She walked over to the duo, one arm extended with her palm open. Electricity began to crackle around her fingers, looping around her wrist. Seo was so engrossed with Hibiki he wasn't even paying her any attention. Hikari rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Some things would never change.
Hibiki put her hand on Seo's chest, letting her lightning fly. Hikari joined her, zapping Seo. The man could only jerk and flail as they increased the out pour, having more than enough of his lecherous ways for the time being.
"That doesn't give you a free pass!" Hikari shouted.
Seo smirked slightly. His Sekirei were as fiery as ever and he was thankful for that. Even with this recent turn of events they weren't losing their stride and were remaining their usual selves. He needed them to be fiery, he needed them to always be ready, because he'd always be ready. He had no choice now, and somehow, someway, he was going to find a way to do what Ryu and Haruka did.
He'd fight and protect his Sekirei.
But first he had to get this footage playing for himself.
Minato sighed softly, warily looking behind him. Seo had dropped him off back at the inn. He still couldn't quite agree with the man, but he wasn't going to argue with him. He watched his breath appear as smoke before his eyes. It had gotten so cold, but that didn't stop his Sekirei from training with Miya. Even in the snow Musubi, Juusa, Kuruse, Tsukiumi, and Najime were giving it their all against Miya. The short, purple haired miko was gliding in and out of their attacks, sliding and dashing across the yard, kicking up snow in her wake, striking them on their sides and backs, scolding them each and every time she landed a strike on them.
Minato found himself watching Miya, she was moving so brilliantly and expertly, he tried to follow her every movement. Every step, every parry, and every strike. He took a deep breath, finding his calm as he watched them spar.
Don't focus on their movements solely.
He relaxed, letting himself grow calmer. He could feel their lunges and shouts of power, he could feel the swoosh and swipe of Miya's bokken, he could feel each pivot and turn. He could feel the air ripping from Musubi's quick strikes. Minato opened himself up, feeling a serene calm wash over him, his eyes remained unblinking, staring, and observing. That's when he started to see it. Slight blurs of movement. A flash from their bodies so bright, it made his body jolt.
The energy their bodies gives off. That's the key.
Minato let himself drift, letting his eyes lose focus. Kusano, who was bundled up with a hat and jacket, looked at her Ashikabi curiously. He hadn't said a single word and was just staring at the others training. She had expected him to cheer like he usually does. But, he wasn't. It was beyond her mind to grasp why he was doing what he was doing.
But Yume, who had been observing Minato the whole time knew exactly what he was doing. To say she was surprised would be an understatement. Minato was training himself in this moment to keep up with high-speed movements, movements that went beyond the eye. While it was only a sparring match, and not direct combat, Minato was still taking the time to learn.
She would've been more than happy to assist Minato in his training. She was his Sekirei after all. Part of her admired him for wanting to do it alone. Maybe he was hesitant to ask for assistance because he was too shy. Maybe he was training himself because it was something he had to do, something that meant the world and more to him.
Yume shuffled the thought away, putting her focus back on the spar.
Kazehana watched Minato with a small smirk, she too was aware that he was training himself to keep up with high-speed movements, movements that went beyond the human eye. She was more than impressed with her Ashikabi, although she wished he'd ask her for assistance in such a task. Keeping up with everything going on was easy enough for her. She would've been more than happy to assist him and give pointers.
Rather than fuss, Kazehana grabbed Minato's arm and pressed it against her body.
A blush immediately came over his face, but he didn't lose his serene calm.
Yume smiled, walking over towards Miya and the others.
"Yume-sama!" Musubi cheered, leaping back as she took a stance. "Are you going to spar with us?"
Yume shook her head, looking back at Minato. She'd make his training exercise more interesting for him. If he really wanted to put himself to the test his Sekirei would need to move a bit faster. "Minato is keenly watching you."
Tsukiumi chanced a glance at her husband and was surprised to see such a focus in his eyes. He wasn't looking at her dead on, but she could feel his focus was on her. He was truly watching her every move and taking the time to try and see her movements. Every parry, and every dodge. The thought made her blush, but she quickly fought it down.
Her Ashikabi was truly endearing.
She scowled at Kazehana. She didn't exactly approve of her hanging onto her husband, but Minato wasn't fumbling or stumbling from the simple action.
Miya turned her gaze onto Minato and was surprised when the young man didn't sputter under her gaze. She was even more surprised he wasn't fumbling or stumbling with Kazehana grabbing his arm. Instead, he just remained focused on them and completely calm. It was almost as if he was by a stream and meditating. His eyes weren't focused on her specifically, but all of them. Even right now they didn't budge or move from their calm observation.
"How about you go a little more?" Yume asked, not taking her eyes off of Minato.
Najime blushed, firming her stance.
"I can take it up a notch." Juusa said, looking to her Ashikabi.
She loved that look in his eyes.
Kuruse nodded, spinning her trident.
Miya smiled. Minato was always full of surprises, and he was never one to disappoint. He had winged so many Sekirei, and now he was training himself. At some point he'd be wanting to spar her. She'd happily oblige him. She wanted to see how strong he could get, how far he could climb. Ryu had been just like that. He was always training, always sparring, and always desiring to protect his Sekirei.
Thinking of Ryu made Miya firm her lips slightly, focusing back on the task at hand. She took a few steps to the side, leveling her bokken at Musubi, though she kept part of the left side of the tip focused on Najime and Tsukiumi, while the right side of the tip was focused on Juusa and Kuruse. They were getting better and better every single day. They had all been training extremely hard, and she could see the training was paying off.
Even if she was striking them over and over, her skill and speed far outmatched their own. However, in a fight against someone of equal level or a little higher they were going to do amazing. Miya was doing her best to keep the training practical. There was nothing fancy or glamorous about her way of training or fighting. It was based on sheer speed and dexterity.
Minato's Sekirei quickly adjusted to her pace and did their best to try and push her. Miya could easily keep up with all of them, but she appreciated their hard efforts. Musubi and Tsukiumi were always competing with each other and it was no different when they were sparring against her. They had yet to work in complete unison, rather, they fed off each other's attacks. Kuruse and Juusa were able to work in tandem, but they still couldn't sync up their movements completely. Najime was so independent, and her massive halbred had such a reach, she couldn't even consider teamwork.
Miya weaved around and under their attacks, dodging each of Musubi's strikes before she swiped her bokken to her side, cutting through Tsukiumi's water barrage. Najime sprinted towards Miya while Juusa and Kuruse came on her flanks. Miya waited for Najime to swing her halbred, cutting to the left, she kicked up some snow at Juusa, but the Sekirei was quick to swipe it aside. But, that's all the time Miya needed, she glided to the right, swiping at Tsukiumi's hand, getting a loud crack as her bokken made contact.
Kuruse ran forward, going into a barrage of stabs with her trident, spinning, striding, whirling. Miya expertly evaded the attacks, noting they were coming from different angles and trajectories, subtly, but certainly making her change her footing every few seconds. She sped around Kuruse, swiping her bokken at Tsukiumi once more, nearly striking her on the head.
Musubi was in mid leap, fist shoving aside the bokken.
Kazehana tightened her hold on her Ashikabi, smiling as she watched her sisters intensify. They were really putting their all into it, and Miya, she was moving with twice the speed she had been before. She looked at her Ashikabi, noting he still had the same look in his eyes. They were unblinking, focused on every movement being made. She wondered if her Ashikabi could keep pace with Miya now. Kazehana could, of course Miya wasn't going full force, but her speed was incredible.
She was gliding in and out of their attacks, striking them on their sides with the tip of her bokken. Musubi went back into another barrage of combinations, shouting with every swing. Kazehana smiled, Musubi was quite spirited and constantly trying to push Miya. Even if she wasn't as fast as the miko, she was making up for it with sheer determination.
Minato hadn't lost his serene calm, and Kusano was so engrossed in her sisters' sparring she wasn't paying her Ashikabi any mind. Even Kazehana grabbing his arm couldn't steer the young Sekirei's focus away from the fight.
"Go!" She shouted. "Go!"
Minato found himself smiling, able to keep up with every movement being made. He was surprised, but then again there had been that time he needed to evade from Hayato and the Discipline Squad. Back then it felt like he had been running at super speeds, his clarity and perception were so clear, his body exploding with power in that moment.
"Minato-kun." Kazehana pressed his arm into her breasts. "What do you say we start dinner?"
"That is a good idea." Yume said.
Minato, despite being so focused, still blushed at Kazehana's forwardness. Kazehana's sultry smile didn't do him any favors either.
"Can I help?" Kusano asked with a bright smile.
"Of course, Kuu-chan." Minato said with a smile. He blushed a little more as he turned his focus onto Kazehana. "Could you, um..."
"Yes, Ashikabi-kun." Kazehana cooed, letting go of his arm.
Minato was turning into quite the man. Even if he wanted to keep his training a secret from her at this moment, at some point she'd reveal that she had been aware. She would definitely train with him and spar with him. She wanted to see just how far Minato could go. Just how far could he take it. It excited her to no end.
When the time came she was going to be more than happy. For now, she was content to cook dinner with him, and get everything ready for the others. There was no need to push further. At some point Minato would say something to her. It delighted her to no end.
You're going to be something else, Ashikabi-kun.
Minato took one last look at the spar, enjoying the energy being produced by his Sekirei. They were truly something else.
He had been helping Miya cook now for a little while, and he wanted to help in his own way. Cooking for Sekirei was no easy feat. They had incredible appetites. Minato found himself hard pressed to keep up with his Sekirei eating, and Musubi, well forget it.
"We're making dinner everyone! Keep training hard!" Kazehana called out with a lazy wave.