Things have been a bit hectic on my end. Work has been kicking my ass but I'm pleased to say that I should be getting a better position before long. Goodbye macaroni pans, hello overnight stocking shifts! I get to drive a forklift too! (go ahead, laugh).

You know the drill; I'll see you at the bottom.

As always: read, review, and enjoy

Disclaimer: I do not own Sekirei; if I did, the situation with certain characters would've turned out very differently and we'd have more than two seasons of the anime. It belongs solely to Sakurako Gokurakuin.

"speech"

thought

"phone call"

"Norito"

SOUND EFFECT!

"flashback"

Yomi was on her the second she got back. Somehow, some way she knew... and from there all she could understand was pain. The pain in her arms as the witch gripped them, the pain in her back as Yomi bounced her off the walls like a pinball, and the pain from the cuts of the scythe that grazed her face more times than she could count which, fortunately, were shallow enough not to scar.

Physical pain was something she could handle. After all she'd had to contend with the likes of the Scythe Sekirei plenty times before, eking out a victory at times however slim they had been.

But the kind of pain that left its mark on her was the pain of failure. She didn't give two shits what Yomi or the other of her master's flock thought of her; they were mere afterthoughts at best. No what really left her in agony was seeing how disappointed her ashikabi had been when she'd told him she'd lost #49. He'd only said a few words to her before he let Yomi cart her off, but they still echoed like a gong inside her head.

"Is that so? Well, I guess I shouldn't have expected much from you, Mitsuki. You're not all that strong to begin with."

Any other time she might have laughed at how easy it was for one boy to destroy her in just a few sentences. Nothing would've left such an impact. She could've beaten her within an inch of her life, and she still would've had the strength to laugh in her tormentors' faces. But disappointing her ashikabi almost made her throw in the towel. Anything Yomi could do to her was a gift by comparison.

"ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME BITCH?!"

Speak of the devil.

Mitsuki gritted her teeth as Yomi's gloved hand gripped her skull like a claw, lifting her up so she could meet the deranged Sekirei's wild eyes. It never failed to unnerve her, but she had since managed to not quiver at the sight anymore.

"Bad enough you take off without letting anyone know, but here you are with nothing to show for it. Fucking worthless."

"…like you're any better," Mitsuki found herself saying, much to both Yomi's and her own shock.

"…what?" Yomi's voice came out like the hiss of a snake, ready to bite her at a moment's notice.

Perhaps it because of the trouble with #49 or more likely what happened between her and Mitsuha. But Mitsuki couldn't find it in herself to give two shits about holding her tongue for once.

"We're the only ones sent out to find other Sekirei while you get to stay here and cozy up to our ashikabi. You think any of us don't see it? We keep quiet because we know what'll happen but don't think we aren't wise to your bullshit. The only reason you can get away with it is because you're stronger than any of us."

"A fact you'd best not forget," Yomi snarled, teeth gnashing. "You are only alive because I will it."

"Wrong. We're alive because of Hayato-sama," Mitsuki shot back, letting out a cry as Yomi hurled her against another wall. "Heh. You're only proving my point."

SHLUCK!

This time, the blonde flinched as Yomi embedded the head of her scythe into the space next to her skull. If it had been just a few inches left, the blade would've split her skull.

"Don't kill her Yomi. You'll make me mad."

With the literal shadow of death now passed, Mitsuki turned her gaze to her savior and could've wept at the stern expression he now aimed at Yomi. Her beloved ashikabi, so sweet and understanding. His words still hurt her but his smile was something she'd gleefully kill for – something that she and Yomi could readily agree on.

"Only if you give me a kiss," Yomi cajoled, making Mitsuki roll her eyes despite the situation. It never failed to amaze her how quickly Yomi could go from homicidal bitch to lovesick brat. But the jealousy still sprouted as it always did whenever their ashikabi played favorites, glaring at her tormentor/boss.

And as much as she hated to admit it, that's what Yomi was.

Wincing briefly at the flare of gray wings that burst from Yomi's back, Mitsuki was surprised when Hayato lowered himself to her position and looked her over. She bit her lip, trying to find the words to express her remorse at failing him. But before she could, he captured her lips suddenly.

Glistening yellow wings burst from her back as the bond with her ashikabi was reestablished once more, relishing the euphoria that rushed through her body.

"I'm sorry, Hayato-sama," Mitsuki said once more after their lips parted.

"You can't help your own limits, Mitsuki," Hayato replied flatly.

"No you don't understand! I had forty-nine! I had her! But then some prick of an ashikabi got in my way, stalling just long enough for two other Sekirei to show up. And… one of them was my sister."

Hayato gave her a sharp look, slightly unnerving her with the intensity of it. "Your… sister?" Behind him, Yomi gave her a frigid look but looked somewhat interested as well. "Was she winged?"

At that, Mitsuki couldn't fight the urge to scowl bitterly as she remembered Mitsuha kissing that worthless ashikabi. "I don't know how she reacted to that speck of a human, but yes. I heard Forty-nine call him Tamotsu."

"Then she's already out of reach…" Hayato said dully, a vacant look in his eyes. It never failed to send a shiver up Mitsuki's spine whenever she was subject to its gaze. If she didn't know any better, she would've believed him lost in thought.

Despite her feelings – no, because of them, she knew full well her master was not all there. But there wasn't anything she could do at present… not while she had him ensnared.

"Then she's worthless to us, Hayato," Yomi reminded him, kneeling behind to whisper in his ear as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Yeah… you're right, Yomi. As always."

"As always, my dear master."

Mitsuki stared hard at Yomi, her eyes narrowing to slits. Once again Yomi demonstrated just how much pull she held over their ashikabi as he stood up, nodding at her words. Initially she had chalked it up to Yomi being the first Sekirei Hayato had winged, given how close they were.

But something was off. There was no doubt that Yomi loved the boy, however it went much deeper than that, almost obsessively so. And the fact that Hayato didn't so much as question anything she told him was more unnerving.

Yomi never made it a secret how she felt about her and the others; in fact, Mitsuki was convinced that the Scythe Sekirei was scheming something against them behind the scenes but couldn't prove it yet.

Not that the others were any help; they were content to be under Yomi's thumb if it meant access to their ashikabi. Mitsuki's defiance however meant she had the least amount of time with her young master.

"Wait a second!" Mikogami suddenly exclaimed, turning to Mitsuki once more. "You said there were two Sekirei – who was the other?"

Being reminded of that side-tail bitch with her sister brought a fierce scowl to the blonde's face. "Ten… Uzume."

"Isn't that-?" Yomi tried to sneer but was cut off by their ashikabi's giddy laughter.

The boy all but bounced on the balls of his feet as he gushed. "Number Ten?! Someone so close to the Single Digits! We haven't met anyone like them yet. Wait, hold on. Mitsuki, did she kiss that ashikabi too?"

"Well no, but-!"

But Mikogami wasn't listening anymore. "Yes, it's perfect! With someone like that with us, we'll win this game and save everyone! Everyone will become a part of our family! Everyone… everyone…"

Part of her wished to say she'd rather dice her own body up than work alongside the brunette, but she couldn't bring herself to dampen her ashikabi's mood. His happiness made her feel much the same, as part of their bond.

Even Yomi seemed pleased by this turn of events, albeit hers was a bit more reserved and calculating. "But Master, she is quite the powerful Sekirei I believe. And Mitsuki here has shown she can't hope to tangle with the likes of her."

Despite the truth of that statement, Mitsuki still shot the flaxen-haired woman a death glare.

"Then we'll all go!" Mikogami concluded with a wide beaming smile. "There's strength in numbers after all!"

"Yes," Yomi purred. "Strength indeed… Still, what of Forty-nine? Does she belong to that ashikabi now?"

"Please!" Mitsuki managed to scoff, regaining some of her courage. "That brat was too busy cowering like the rodent she is until those two showed up. All we need to do is wait until she-"

"No," Mikogami stated firmly, bewildering them both.

"Master?" Yomi questioned.

"Forget her. Focus on getting Ten instead. With her on our side, everything else will fall into place. Boy, I can't wait to see her! Oh, maybe the Chairman has postings for all the Sekirei on the MBI website…"

And there he went, lost in his own musings and oblivious to both his surroundings, as well as the other Sekirei that vied for his attention.

Mitsuki made to get up from her spot, only for Yomi to level her scythe down at her once more, a nasty smirk on her lips. The blonde just glared right back.

"Not so fast. We have a few other matters to discuss, particularly that which involves your sister."

Mitsuki lifted an eyebrow at that admission. "You didn't seem all that interested before."

"That was before her little ashikabi cost mine a new toy, and I do so hate to see him downtrodden. You're lucky you had something else to give, otherwise this conversation might take a turn for the unpleasant."

"Don't you mean our ashikabi?" Mitsuki pointed out snidely.

Yomi's answering glare spoke volumes, but aloud she said: "Yes, yes. Now spill it. Tell me everything about this Nee-sama of yours, and perhaps I can arrange a family reunion of sorts."

Mitsuki sighed.

First she'd been run off by her sister of all people, found out she'd been winged by someone who couldn't possibly be considered an ashikabi, and now she was to be Yomi's proverbial chew toy for next few hours - at least.

This just wasn't her night.

This just isn't my goddamn night, Takami groused as she strode down the sterile corridors of MBI Tower. The corporate research head was close to blowing a gasket with all the shit she'd had to deal with in the last 24 hours.

First and foremost her daughter had yet to shut up about the quote unquote "handsome jerk" she'd met after she'd gone with Minato to meet #1. At first it was amusing, seeing as how this was the first time her daughter had been this hung up over a guy (setting aside her Sekirei of course, and bless Shiina for that). But the novelty of it soon wore off as the tirades went on and on, to the point where the Sahashi matriarch had considered hitting the bottle for breakfast. Still, if that was all she had to deal with, it would've been negligible at best.

It wasn't.

After two solid weeks of digging, she'd finally hit a dead end as far as #6 went. Whatever happened to Akitsu had been buried under so much R&D red tape it was literally tangled by this point. Tracking down the ones in charge of her tuning didn't bore any fruitful results either. Short of orchestrating a city-wide Sekirei-hunt for the Scrapped Number, there was little else she could do at this point.

Then, the cherry on top of the pie, she had damn-near walked in on her son getting frisky with his Sekirei – or rather, it was the Sekirei that was the culprit in this case. Either way, seeing her son getting glomped by an over-eager but somehow still innocent Musubi hadn't been her idea of relaxing after work. So, grasping a bottle from her personal stash – this particular bottle being a trophy from an old poker game in her college days abroad – she took her leave and made her way to a quiet place to drink herself into a stupor.. or at least, until the janitors came and woke her up – again.

And the way things are going, it won't be the last time either, the woman mused dryly.

Everyone who had come across her had since cleared way, rightly guessing what kind of mood she was in. Even Kami would have a hard time halting her path right now as she made her way towards a secret nook in the tower. She'd kept its existence on the downlow in case a certain idiot ever caught wind of it and bugged her there.

"Ah, there you are Takami-kun!"

Takami froze in place, using literally all her remaining willpower not to hurl the bottle in her hands like a hatchet at the voice. Setting aside the fact it wouldn't even dent that moron's skull, it would be a waste of good whiskey.

"I've been looking all over for you! Come, come, we're going to miss it!"

The second he tried to lay a hand on her, she shot him a look that promised nothing but a swift and painful death. Wisely, he yanked his hand back with a nervous giggle. "Miss what?" she all but growled at him, gripping the neck of the bottle tightly. In a dark corner of her mind, she liked to think it was his neck instead.

The white-haired tycoon grinned widely, planted his hands on his hips and loudly – too loudly proclaimed: "Why, for a showdown worthy of the gods!"

Takami just blinked at him. "…I'm out of here."

"B-but Takami-kun-!"

"Hiroto." All she had to say was one word, one single name and that would always freeze the bastard in place. She didn't use it much even when he drove her to the brink of insanity, mostly because if she did then he'd become immune to it – that was the fear anyway. But right now, after all the bullshit she'd dealt with today, she was willing to use her trump card if only to get him to fuck off. "I'm going. And let me assure you that if I hear even a step in my direction after this, the custodians are going to be due for a pay raise. Because they'll be scraping what's left of you off the damn walls. Capiche?"

All she received was silence, which was uncharacteristic for him, but she didn't care. However, as she tried to walk away, she heard him speak again. She decided to ignore it, mostly because the lunatic couldn't say anything at this point to sway her.

"Tell me Takami-kun, do you know where the newest nestling is?"

Anything… except that.

Coming to a halt, she peered at him through narrowed eyes and scoffed. "Why does that matter?"

"Do you?" Minaka repeated, oddly firm.

Challenging her never worked out for those who did, least of all for this man. And yet, where the others had taken their failure with grace, though not always in some cases, this man hadn't taken the hint.

Much as she was loathe to admit, that part of him was what eventually drew her in to begin with. Still, she'd be damned if she gave him even a sign of that lingering sentiment.

"She's set to undergo tuning in a few weeks, after the Discipline Squad's new recruits."

"Incorrect."

She glared daggers at the man who only smirked back at her in that infuriating way of his. "Pardon?"

"She's already been released I'm afraid but rest assured that the tuning was performed."

"WHAT?!" Takami screeched, the bottle completely forgotten for a moment. "What do you mean she's been released? Who authorized it?!"

"Why, I did of course."

In the time it took for him to utter that, she had closed the distance between them and gripped him by his collar, shaking him roughly. "You WHAT?! Minaka are you on drugs? She's not ready! You…!"

Releasing him with a panicked gasp, her mind raced, having nothing to do with the frustration she been dealing with. This was bad, very bad. #108 was set to be the last Sekirei tuned for the Plan for very specific reasons. Her powers were unstable in her current state, and it would take extensive tuning for her to be even remotely ready for release into the city proper. If this was true-!

"We have to get her back. She can't-!"

"I'm afraid retrieval is no longer an option, Takami-kun," Minaka told her calmly but with that damned grin still in place.

"The hell it isn't! You may be the Chairman, but those kids are in MY care, especially her! She's just a child, you maniac! How can you expect her to survive out there?!"

"Oh, I can assure you she's quite well protected. Birds of a feather do flock together, after all."

This damned man and his riddles! "Goddamn it Minaka-!"

"If you wish to see the truth, then come. After all, as the mother of the Plan, wouldn't you of all people care to see it flourish in practice?"

Common sense told her to follow through with her threat and throttle him, but that nagging feeling she knew too well as curiosity crept back up like a snake. And whenever it got hold of her, it coiled itself around her mind, feeding on her doubts… her insecurities.

Damn this man - he knew her too well.

"Fine… but I'm bringing the bottle. Something tells me I'm going to need it before this is over."

Minaka merely smiled at her in that irritating way of his before pivoting on his feet, marching back down the hall with her in tow. "I already have the feed hooked up in my office. Come, come!"

Begrudgingly, she followed. It didn't take long before they ended up in his way-too-big-for-her tastes office, just as a massive screen was lit up with a feed from one of their many satellites. Takami nearly lost her grip on the liquor as she got a good look at what was displayed.

A massive bundle of what appeared to be vines formed a dome of growth over what was supposed to be Teito Park, reminding her eerily of a turtle's shell. No, that wasn't right... it was more like a cocoon. "What is-?"

"You should now see why retrieval isn't an option for us," Minaka stated as he plopped into his over-sized chair, spinning once with a gleeful grin on his face. "Even if we were to make the effort, it would take nothing short of a cruise missile to bust through that canopy."

Setting that disturbing notion aside for the now, Takami had to admit she was amazed by what she was seeing. In preliminary trials, #108's abilities had proven to be rather expansive when it came to those of her kin and were completely dependent upon her current emotional state. That meant that what she was seeing now was not just a show of power but also a defensive reaction to the young nestling's view on the world.

In layman's terms, she was frightened and had made this dome to protect herself from the outside world she didn't understand.

As a scientist she was intrigued by what the little Sekirei was capable of; as a mother, however, she was outraged at whatever had forced her to this state.

Minaka was to blame of course, but she also took some of that since she hadn't supervised #108 well enough. If she had been more vigilant she might've been able to protect the girl from this, at least until she had a better plan.

"I fail to see how one child's reaction to things she doesn't understand interests you, sir," she pointed out sourly.

"Oh, but that's the best part, Takami-kun. For the age of the gods to come about, it must be wrought with fire and steel, combatants railing against one another like gladiators in the Roman coliseums of old!"

Takami couldn't help but roll her eyes at the familiar diatribe. "And how does she fit into all this? She's certainly no gladiator."

"No. She's a treasure," Minaka admitted, causing her to shoot a look at him. He smirked. "A prize to be attained, and hoarded by one determined to safeguard it."

The more she listened to this madman, the more she felt like committing him to an insane asylum. Hell if it wasn't for the fact he'd actually escaped one once she might do it. "In Japanese, Minaka."

"Why don't you let the thieves tell you instead?"

Thieves?

A flicker of movement on the screen drew her attention back, finding a line of black cars filing into the streets around #108's organic shell. Then the image shifted to a close-up of one of the vehicles, watching as one of the vehicle's car door opened to admit a slightly obese man followed by someone who couldn't be anyone other than a Sekirei. The camera panned back to show a similar trend with the other cars albeit with greater numbers of Sekirei.

But what really had her mind reeling was how none of them tried to tear each other apart.

"They're not fighting. Why?"

"They're all in the employ of one Higa Izumi."

All at once, Takami felt a chill run down her back. That name had crossed her desk more than a few times since this mess all started. He had since been a prominent ashikabi, one of the first to wing a Sekirei in fact. He'd quickly become a high profile individual and the first of what they'd taken to calling the Great Ashikabi. For a time until the likes of Sanada Nishi and Mikogami Hayato got involved, Higa had been the most renowned ashikabi in the city, so much so that "lesser" Ashikabi and consequently their Sekirei threw in their lot with him.

Takami wasn't ignorant of the influence Higa held what with him being the heir to a prominent zaibatsu, notably one that contended with MBI itself. But to see his influence in action, the manpower he truly held… it was startling to say the least.

"He has a small army there," she remarked neutrally.

"As I said, birds of a feather flock together, Takami-kun," Minaka said with an ever-present smirk. "The likes of that brat are certainly no different. However, I do commend him on rallying a number of capable ashikabi and birds to his cause. Alas, numbers alone do not win a battle."

"They help," Takami felt compelled to point out for sanity's sake. "But I don't see how they plan to break open that cocoon."

"Oh rest assured, they won't get the chance," Minaka declared confidently, nearly causing her whiplash by how fast she turned to him.

For a single moment, she held out hope that he might respond and deploy MBI to contain the situation. They weren't short of manpower after all, boasting what amounted to a private army staffed by some of the most elite soldiers in the world with cutting-edge tech.

But her hopes were soon dashed as Minaka's smirk turned devious with a touch of his usual insanity.

"Unfortunately for them, they have just stepped into a labyrinth… with a very angry minotaur."

So, short chapter right? Trust me, the original one was much, much longer. But I decided to cut it down to help stretch out this next arc. You'll see what I mean next chapter.

Mitsuki's got it rough, huh? I'm taking a few liberties since her character isn't fleshed as much compared to the other Sekirei, but I do want there to be some counter-balance to the blind subservience of Mikogami's Sekirei. Her and Yomi naturally don't get along as a result, but they can still set aside their differences for the happiness of their ashikabi.

Over on Takami's side, nothing's going right and then Minaka comes along to make it worse. Though perhaps Minato has it worse with a sexually curious Musubi? It's still innocent, trust me. Just a bit of petting.

What does Higa want with #108? Why expend all this manpower for one little girl? For that matter are her powers alone enough to keep her assailants at bay?

Next chapter will be out next weekend. Count the days people. Big names are fixing to get involved.

Till then,

Write on!