And now...
Teh conclusion.
========================================================
"Please tell me we're almost done here," Kurokawa asked almost hopefully. Jiro eyed him impassively as he re-entered the car.
"I think we basically are," he admitted. "Looks like this was just one big goodbye."
"Great, so I got a nice sob story to go with my dull ass report," Kurokawa groaned. "You get to hear when he and Number Ten were leavin'?"
He shook his head negative, "But it probably won't be long."
"Let's hope so," Kurosawa grinned as he put the car key into the ignition. "The sooner I'm outta this place, the better I'll feel." Jiro nodded. "That said, let me congratulate you fatty for not eatin' out the place and blowin' our cover! I know that took a lot outta ya."
Jiro groaned, "Is that all you got? Gay and fat slurs? Can't you come up with something better?"
"I'll try to when you don't give me such material to work with." Kurokawa responded as he pulled out into the street. "Y'know, my sister knows a guy who loves fatties like you."
"If you don't shut your trap I'm gonna sit on you," Jiro warned.
"Oh, that's perfect! He loves when a fat guy does that!"
"God, shut up!" Jiro groaned as they followed the Kurosaki clan back to their home.
=========
MBI HQ...
It has been said that Teito was a city of layers and no building in this area represented this fact more than it's crown jewel and reason for it's rapid development into a beacon of the future than MBI Headquarters. It was a beautiful building and state of the art on every floor. Still, even in a place as advanced as MBI, you couldn't take away the element of office work. And in this particular office, one woman knew that better than anyone at the moment, and it annoyed her tremendously.
"Those damned idiots..."
She was slight of build and stature, hair an unchecked tangle mess of brown cascading over her shoulders and hanging over the chair she was sitting in at the moment. Striking green eyes were narrowed in irritated slits at the manila folders she held in her hand. She pinched the bridge of her nose, and the aura of annoyance was now complete. She let out an irritated breath as she put the folders down on the desk in front of her, dossiers of Agent Kurosawa and his partner Agent Jiro.
A knock at her door took her eyes off the folders to see a smiling man in her window, two mugs of coffee in his hand. He is of foreign decent, a Japanese-German mix. Standing at an average height for an American but a tall man for a Japanese man. His black hair was cut nice and trim and sharp brown eyes tingled with amusement as he gestured to the door. With a sigh, the woman got up and opened the door for him, and he smiled gratefully at his co-worker.
"Thanks Keiko." he greeted as he handed the woman a coffee mug, "Little late to be making that face don't ya think?"
"Hardly," Keiko replied as she re-took her seat, "Considering how my day's been Kevin-kun, I'm surprised I didn't look like this sooner." She coolly glanced at Kevin, "And what have I told you about being so familiar with me at work?"
He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, "To make it worthwhile later?"
Keiko snorted and looked away, a faint blush on her cheeks, "You are not that cute."
Kevin clicked his tongue, "Damn, it was worth a shot." He took a quick sip of his coffee before he asked, "So what's getting to ya? You can tell me."
Keiko pushed the folders towards him, "Take a guess." she answered as she pulled out her keyboard.
Kevin groaned as he spotted the names, "Oh these class acts." He sighed, "What'd they break now?"
"Don't I wish it were that simple." She paused to take a sip of coffee, bringing her focus back onto her computer as she continued, "You know the Kurosaki kid right?"
He nodded, "Kid from that Karakura-cho right? He winged Number Ten a few months back if I remember right."
"Yea. But did you know he took Number Ten a couple of days ago and bolted?"
"He what?" Kevin's eyebrows raised in surprise.
Keiko snorted, "Exactly but from what I managed to gather on the security tapes from the train he's taking her to see his family. Good thing for him this isn't stage two yet or he'd be in deep shit."
"Oh I get it, so you sent Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb off for protocol. To make sure he wasn't planning on abandoning the game right?" Keiko nodded and Kevin continued, "So what, did they rough the kid up against orders?"
"Don't I wish." Keiko sighed irritably, "At least then I could fire their asses at long last. Get this, they claim to forgot their mission."
Kevin smirked, "Well that's a new one, at least."
"No kidding. They said they had no idea where they were, what the mission was, hell they even loss the car. "
"Get out."
Keiko shook her head, "I am not kidding you." she paused in her typing to lean back into her chair and sigh, "And you know the most messed up part of it all? I believe them. I believed them because... because hell I could hear it in their voice. They were telling the truth. And say what you will about those guys, they wouldn't forget a mission as simple as this. Besides..."
"Besides?"
Keiko shrugged and took another sip of coffee, "I dunno I just... I just had a funny feeling all during his check-in." She smirked, "Then again, that could just be from K telling me that J lost his pants."
Kevin paled a bit, "Now there's an image I'd like some brain bleach for. Thanks for that."
Keiko smiled, "Consider it your nightly entertainment from me to you."
"Love you too," Kevin replied. "I'll let you get on with it then. See ya."
Keiko nodded half-heartidly as Kevin left her office. The man looked around for a moment before he made his way to the mens room. Looking around the area to find it deserted, a small hidden smile comes across his face. Checking to make sure there were no cameras in any complicated areas, he enters a restroom stall. Pulling out his cell phone and dialing a number.
-Hello?-
"Hey man, you're never gonna guess what I just heard..."
=========
Bedtime...
Ichigo had a far away look in his eyes as he laid in his bed. It was dark in his room, almost as dark as the time of midnight that softly illuminated on the clock beside his bed, except for the moonlight gleaming down through the window. Although the whirlwind of a day had now concluded, he still remained in that hazy daze in-between the land of sleep and alertness. It was almost fitting in a way that his final full day would conclude here, as the reality of what was to happen tomorrow was slowly setting in.
His eyes wandered downward to see Uzume curled up on his chest sleeping peacefully. The light of the moon shined softly on her still form, magnifying the sensuousness of her curves even under a blanket. Ichigo shook his head, idly tracing her cheek with the back of his hand. He had found out long ago that her immense energy level was supported by the fact that she could fall asleep almost instantly, and often did.
'That must be nice,' Ichigo thought as Uzume smiled softly in her sleep at his touch. 'To be able to sleep like that no problem.' Last night not withstanding, he had found it hard to sleep the past few days as he anticipated just what would happen in the lead up to introducing Uzume to his family and friends. Now that it was over and done with, he was filled with anxiety once more. Anxiety for the future, and all the mystery it held.
What secrets did the future hide from his sight? Would his powers return? Would he figure out the true nature of this sekirei game? Would he ever be able to understand the feelings this girl that slept so peacefully on his chest was managing to evoke from him? His eyes left Uzume's face for a moment, looking at the corner of the room where he first spotted a slip of a girl dressed all in black come into his room two years ago. That's where it all began.
The awakening of his power, and being granted the power to protect those he cared about. Strange now that it was all over. To give everything up to save everyone... In his heart he knew he should feel relieved.
Free.
But.
But not being able to really be part of it anymore.
He shook his head and sighed. That's part of the reason to be out on his own. 'Who knows?' he thought. 'Maybe being out on my own and seeing what normalcy is like will finally ease my mind. And tomorrow... tomorrow I'll take my first step and seeing just where my future may lie.' He looked back at Uzume's sleeping face, 'And just what part you'll play in it.'
He sighed, chuckling ruefully as he cradled his sekirei's head. 'No use in worying about what will be. War, peace, love, school, whatever life wants to throw at me. I'll deal with it.' Finally he looked up into the clear sky he looked at the bright moon and smiled.
"Later Karakura." he whispered as his eyelids finally closed, thoughts of how he was going to payback his father the last bits he remembered before succumbing to sleep.
=========
Uryu watched impassively as several Hollows dissolved into the night. Lowering his arm and allowing Ginrei Kojaku to dissolve, he closed his eyes as he spread his senses out, and felt two of the other Hollows that he had sensed in the distance fade away as well. Good. It was nice to have competent help, even if they may be Shinigami.
It was then that he sighed and opened his eyes, disappointed at the lack of catharsis in his current exercise. A new chapter was to begin in his life, but try as he might he couldn't quite quell the odd feeling of loss in the closing of his old one. How odd, in meeting one particular substitute Shinigami would open him up to a group of people he otherwise would have had nothing to do with, and as of this moment would no longer see on a regular basis.
And now, despite having had many a patrol on his own, he could not just shake the odd sensation of being alone. His lips thinned into a frown as he spread his senses out to feel nothing other than Kuchiki-san moving off to continue her own patrol. If anything, for at least a week before he and Inoue-san would get to tour their new campus in Chiyoda he'd have more than enough time to keep up with Kuchiki-san.
Eyes suddenly flickering in the opposite direction he disappeared using Hirenkyaku, determined to beat Kuchiki-san to the next target.
=========
In his bed, Sado tossed as he couldn't get comfortable. Opening his eyes and sighing, he turned as he moved his blankets mostly off his body, once again feeling too warm to keep on, and knowing that in a few more minutes it'd be too cool to leave off. Looking at the ceiling, his thoughts were also on the future and the friends that would be moving away, including one he considered his best friend.
He turned once more, trying to bury the troubling feeling that trouble was going to happen sooner or later.
=========
"Yeah. Don't worry, I'm fine. Yes, she's already in bed. No, she'll be ok, just the day getting to her, graduation and all, you know".
"......"
"I will. Thank you mama, I'll see you and dad tomorrow. Good-night". Clicking the phone off Tatsuki put it back on its receiver and fumed silently, tired, exhausted and worried. She was already in her pajamas, spending the night with Orihime, not wanting to leave her alone after what had happened earlier with her failed confession to Ichigo.
She didn't understand it.
She thought she'd really do it this time, and just as quickly as it came Orihime did more than simply crash and burn. The poor girl had simply broken down in a way she couldn't remember seeing, and it bothered and scared her. Managing to finally get Chizuru to take the hint with a promise of calling her tomorrow to let her know the girl had left them alone as they turned the last few corners to Orihime's apartment.
Moving towards Orihime's room Tatsuki noted Orihime's sleeping position, on her side curled into a loose ball with her haired flared behind her, looking smaller and more forlorn than the girl could remember. Slipping under the blankets to spoon with her friend put an hand on Orihime's shoulder and rubbed it softly, doing her best to console her friend.
Her face fell slightly as she saw Orihime's damp and red face, knowing that she had cried herself to sleep. She shook her head slowly, sighed again, and stared up at the ceiling again cursing whatever gods that made this possible; the odd quirk of fate that brought that girl into Ichigo's life. She then moved her hand to rub Orihime's head before bringing it back as she curled on her end and fought the moisture that threatened to spill out of her own eyes, swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She was angry... angry at herself for pushing the girl so hard. Angry in her arrogance in thinking that it would never come to this.
She had fucked up, plain and simple. When she had heard from Rukia that Ichigo had met someone and then learning that she had been invited over her anger and competitive streak had won out. And in her anger and competitiveness, she had decided to make sure Orihime would finally confess her feelings.
And look where it got her best friend, whom she had sworn long ago to protect...
All she could do now was be here for now in the time that she had left, and hoped that Orihime would be somewhat back on her feet when the time came for both of them to part, and then it would be up to Ishida to pick up the slack less some deranged pervert try their hand while she was at college.
And with that her thoughts turned back to Ichigo, and then sighed as she found herself now too exhausted to be mad at him anymore. It wasn't his fault, she knew on some level, and even then she had been irked that he was responding to someone none of them knew while Orihime had been trying for years for his thick head to not notice.
She sighed, feeling again that this was her fault, that she should have done something sooner, pressed harder, hell, gone with Ichigo when he went into Teito.
GAH! It was just so frustrating...
-Sniff-
She looked up as Orihime's shoulders trembled a bit as she heard her sniffle, and once more brought a hand up to her head, hoping that the girl could feel in her sleep that she wasn't alone. Giving a soft kiss on Orihime's head, she pulled back to resume trying to comfort the girl, rubbing her shoulder softly as she continued to sniffle into her dreams.
=========
Back to Teito....
Minato finished sloshing the water in his mouth before spitting into the sink, cupping another handful of water before spitting again once more. Rinsing his toothbrush he tapped it on the sink to dry it and took a towel to dry his mouth. Taking one last look in the mirror he lowered his head and shook his head as his momentarily escape from reality ended.
What the hell did witness earlier?
Dinner had ended some time ago, with Musubi shaking from excitement in that she could spar with Miya. So excited the girl had been bouncing in her seat that the landlady had offered to have their first a half hour after their meal. To work off the food, she had said and laughed if away when he inquired why it had to be so soon.
He turned off the light to the bathroom and made his way to the stairs to go up to his room and bed. Reaching his room he opened the door and paused, quickly remembering that Musubi was inside. He gulped, momentarily taken aback as a quick thought of catching her in a possibly indecent pose drifted passed his mind.
"Mu-Musubi?" he called out.
No response.
He then continued to open the door and noticed that the lights were off and entered the room fully, confused as Musubi was still inside when he went to brush his teeth. With the dim light of the hallway lighting a bit of his room he noticed both futons out side by side with Musubi already in one, smiling away. He blew out a small breath of relief and disappointed as he closed the door behind him, the room now becoming completely dark.
Taking a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness he made his way to the futon and lifted the covers as he got in and stopped as looked at his sekirei, lightly snoring away, and was struck once more at the contradictions she seemed to extrude. Looking at her now she looked like a normal, but very cute girl. She was softly snoring through her mouth, but with each opening and closing her lips were turned slightly upwards, showing even in her sleep her boundless positive nature.
And that belied just how powerful she was, causing him to grimace at how the spar went, and gulped at how Miya had responded to it.
It was mind-blowing.
This girl who had easily run off with him away from those S&M twins without noticing him when they first met; this girl who had lept so far into the sky with him, bursting through the rain clouds to gaze at the moon before forgetting that she also had to land...; the same girl who had picked up his bag of stuff from his apartment and brought it here, as if she were simply holding a purse behind her, for all that it seemed to weigh when she held it...
And for all that strength, she couldn't even lay a hand on the landlady.
He had gulped in fright and held himself back in terror at picturing in his mind what he was going to tell the police and the hospital doctors as they would rushed Miya into intensive care, hoping to identify the remains should Musubi forget to hold back in her enthusiasm. He nearly had a heart attack when Miya suggested that she didn't have to hold back if she didn't want to.
And then it happened.
Miya was like the wind.
Invisible. Untouchable. Impossible to catch, to the point where even he had a hard time keeping up.
And through it all Musubi smiled like a child gazing at their first look at an amusement park. The spar hadn't gone on long, and soon enough Musubi had piled on a helping of lumps, one on top of each other, forming an almost comical look springing from her head. With the fifth lump appearing on top of the fourth, much to his shock as he was sure that was impossible, Miya had called it quits, saying that it was time for a bath and lessons could begin in earnest the next day.
Bowing to a despondent Musubi, who had hoped that it would go on longer, she had also smiled at him, and he bowed back, knowing that she had proved her point. That she, a normal human, could keep up and best a Sekirei so easily...
----
"Man... when Miya gets mad she's hella scary."
----
He blinked, the words Uzume had said the other day coming to him, causing him to pale a bit and pray that he stayed on her good side. With Uzume, the landlady, and Musubi living here it would seem like only he, Kagari and Ichigo were the only normal people there...
Looking at Musubi one more time, he shook his head and laid down, too tired and now thinking of what needed to be done tomorrow and his first day on the job.
=========
Elsewhere...
Homura sighed as he continued his vigil, perched atop a ten story building overlooking the area that had been a grassy park not just two days ago. He leaned a bit over, a foot on the border that surround the roof, which only coming up to just below his knees from the floor. He had been here since the wild growth had sprung out of nowhere. Well, not nowhere, for he was one of the few privy to the events that spawned this unnatural scenery to occur. Takami had called him with the details, and over his protests for her own safety and well-being all but ordered him to keep watch for the tiny girl who was still in and for whoever may try to go in.
His eyes narrowed at that as he looked up to several choppers flying overhead, passing over the area every several minutes before going back to where they were going originally. On the ground were three MBI heavy armor vehicles with a few dozen MBI soldiers milling about. All here under the veil of 'keeping-the-public-out-of-what-dangers-may-be-hidden-within', or so the news had said when he was last able to watch the news. At that he did sigh again; guard duty wouldn't pay the bills, not that he had too, mind you, but it was good knowing he was pulling his load. That, and he was missing several repeat customers who had spent big in the past.
He looked up again as the whine of another chopper grew loud as it approached and peaked as it flew over his head towards the former park, a hand brought up to his face to block as much of the brief violent winds it produced and to keep his hair from being to mussed up. He hoped that MBI figured out what they wanted to do and soon, as each passing hour was also a lost one in protecting the unwinged Sekirei who had yet to find their ashikabis.
"Damn it all," he quietly cursed as he continued to wait.
=========
In another place...
On a high rooftop somewhere deep within the Capital, amiss the busy and bustling Teito night life, the clear and serene night sky was obliterated by the sounds of sudden mortal combat. A shocked gasp was muffled by the sounds of a busy night life as one of the fighters looked up to see the malicious glint of a blade reflected by the pale moonlight.
-CLING-
-CRACK-
-CHINK-
Another shocked gasp was uttered as metal met metal.
-THUD-
The attacker gave a cold smirk as the intended victim brought up her tonfa in a defensive gesture, making an 'X' shaped shield as the screeching sound of a blade was blocked. Finally, the attacking figure hopped several steps back, letting her opponent catch her breath. Her eyes narrowed as she gasped for air, her tonfa held up in a defensive position. Cautiously, she got the first real look at her attacker.
She stood a bit shorter than her and was covered in dark clothing, the only part not covered was her stomach and hands, dark-skinned it seemed, but it was still difficult to tell in the darkness with little illumination since she had hid in an area shaded by the moonlight. Baggy gray pants covered her legs with an oversized belt accessory circled her waist. A black long sleeved shirt covered her chest and arms. A curved dagger gleamed in what little light there was was held in her right hand. Her head and face were covered, the turban-like garment the same color of her pants leaving only her eyes uncovered, and they sparkled with amusement at the situation.
"What the hell is your problem?" the near victim gasped, her breath ragged.
"Nothing wrong with getting an upper hand on the competition my dear. Wouldn't you agree Number Forty-Four?," was the reply, the voice slightly muffled by her coverings but her amusement was clear in spite of it.
"You really should see about fighting those who've already been winged," the aforementioned Number Forty-Four called out, her breath now steadying.
"It's not my fault you walked away from your chance," the unnamed Sekirei called. She smirked at Number Forty-Four's shocked face, and noted with amusement how dirty and mussed the sekirei's red hair had become, her high ponytail looking a bit frazzled. Her red and gold trimmed kunoichi outfit looked dull in the night light, and her arms fell to her sides in surprise.
Catching herself Number Forty-Four snapped back into a defensive decision. "So is that what you are? Vengeance?"
"Maaaaybe," her aggressor said lightly, "Maybe not."
"He was NOT my Ashikabi, and his damn Sekirei had no business to come after me," she said. "So just go back and tell your Ashikabi to go screw himself!"
"Oh you... you think he's my Ashikabi?" she replied amused before finally giving in to laughter.
"What?" she growled.
After a few seconds the laughter subsided. "He's not my ashikabi. Like I said, I'm just cutting down the competition." And with that, she brought her dagger in front of her and brought another hand out to steady the other.
Number Forty-Four's eyes narrowed. "Well then, if its a fight you want...," she trailed off. "Number Forty-Four, Maki, shall oblige you!"
"Your funeral," Maki's opponent warned as both charged each other, the sounds of battle again filling the air.
A quick slash, a step back. A flick of the wrist and upswing, tonfa spinning high. A sudden lean back and spin return back swing. An echoing clang as tonfa blocked steel, again causing screeching sounds as they slid off each other. Each move and counter move faster than the last, the two sekirei now a near blur with each attack.
"What's the matter?" Maki sneered after a moment of nonstop to and fro, seeing some of the masked sekirei's clothing was torn in a few places; the speed of her tonfa making the wake of her spin razor sharp. "Bit off more than you can chew?" Her sneer became a grimace, as she realized abruptly that blood was running down her cheek from a missed cut above her right eye. Furious at herself, she reached up to wipe the trickle of blood away.
The covered sekirei came out of her defensive posture to stand upright and calmly smirked back at her. "I don't know. Did I?"
And with that, she disappeared.
"Shit!" Maki's eyes widened in shock, before flickering back and forth in an attempt to see her opponent had gone to. "How?" It was at that point, some extra sense flared in her head and she whirled around only to gape in astonishment.
An arm, literally appearing as if someone had unzipped the night sky was outstretched, dagger in hand making a whipping noise as it was brought down.
Maki was caught completely off guard by her new move and howled in pain as blood flew from her arms where the attack scored. She gritted her teeth at the faint sound of her opponent's laughter floated through the breeze, "Oh I'm sorry," she said in a taunting tone. "Did that hurt? Don't you worry hon... it will all be over soon."
"You goddamn bitch," Maki growled as she struggled to keep her arms held upright. "Come out here and face me dammit!!"
"Awwww... and ruin the surprise?" her opponent replied in a voice dripping evil pleasure. "But if you insist, look up."
Maki's eyes went skyward against her better judgment, only to gasp in shock at what she saw.
A seemingly endless stream of blades rocketing towards her.
'How did she-' was her last pain-free thought as the blades clashed with her skin, and Maki could do naught but close her eyes and grit her teeth in pain as metal met flesh. And moments after it began, it was over. Maki stood there as blood dripped from her numerous cuts before she collapsed in a heap.
A cold laughter further chilled the night sky as slow footsteps could be heard along the gravel rooftop. Blood painted the rooftop a dark crimson and splotches splattered the floor close to a trail that followed Maki as she desperately tried to crawl away in an attempt to flee and ignore the excruciating pain as various slash marks covered her battered body.
"Da... damn it n-no," she weakly gasped, her arms feeling heavier with every inch gained. "M-my ashikabi...," she bemoaned as she felt her life ebb out of her. Her tears streaming hot on her face and mingling in with the blood as an agonizing realization came forth. She now knew she would never have her chance to find the one meant for her. Another screech tore from her lips as another stinging sensation of a new cut was felt across the back of her leg.
"Oh dear," her opponent began in a disappointed tone. "And here I was thinking that you might be more fun than this..."
'You bitch,' Maki thought as her opponent gave another slash as her leg. She bit back the scream this time, determined to not let her opponent have to much satisfaction. If only she could get some room... create some space... maybe she could have one good shot at taking this bitch down with her.
She tried very hard not to think of a sekirei with eyes as silver as the moon shining down on her as she crawled away, hoping to at least die fighting. She let off a strangled cry as her opponent stepped on the small of her back.
"Any last words my dear?" she asked.
"Bite... my perfectly toned ass.... bitch..." she replied.
Her opponent gave an amused chuckle at that, "How cute... you want to look so strong for the reaper." She raised her blade high over her head and bent down, near Maki's neck. "And so with that," the masked sekirei calmly said as she surveyed her fallen foe. "The end."
Maki's eyes stretched wide open as her mouth opened in a wordless scream, a few choking sounds barely being able to come forth as the intense sensation of a blade being driven into her neck. Tearing through tissue, nerves, cartilage, and bone, effectively pinning her to the floor of the building before it was suddenly pulled back. Causing the body to lift a bit before flopping back down in a lifeless heap.
And with that, Number Forty-Four was eliminated from the competition.
After a moment the sekirei looked upwards, closing her eyes and breathing in the night air. Enjoying the sensation of the kill, she opened her eyes and scanned her surroundings, noting how her opponent's blood had decorated the rooftop and grinned in satisfaction. "Hmm, this is getting to be rather fun," she softly told herself before bringing her head up to race across the roof and jump off, her job here finished. Silence once again reigned as Maki's body continued to drip, the pool of blood surrounding her growing ever so slowly.
Unnoticed by both, and by all but a select few in the world, a figure slowly stepped forward, eyes lowered in sympathy for the girl and face twisted in disgust at the violence he witnessed not a few moments earlier. Had anyone been able to see him, they would've noted the strange garments he was wearing, but in a time of super powered girls and a few boys running around the Capital in various costumes it would've likely also been quickly forgotten.
Silently, Sagara Keisuke of the 6th Division waited patiently for the soul to appear so he could bestow Konso on the girl so she could be sent to Soul Society.
The first several moments went by quietly. And soon enough, that became a half hour as Keisuke continued to be patient. After another fifteen minutes confusion finally began to set in, as a soul should have appeared by now. His head turned to took a quick look around, open to the possibility that maybe he somehow missed the soul's appearance.
Nothing.
And with that, he took a step toward to take a better look at the body when another figure suddenly came over the rooftop to stand on the ledge. He took a step back as he looked the figure over, a woman with a high ponytail wearing an open haori. The woman hopped down to the rooftop and leisurely made her way to the body, glancing around and grinning at the new decorations.
Finally reaching the body, the woman took her time looking at the fallen sekirei before crouching to touch and getting a better look.
"Heh," he heard the woman chortle to herself and raised an eyebrow.
With that, she stood and reached into her haori and pulled out a phone. Dialing, she waited a second or two before the other end picked up.
"Karasuba here. Yeah, there was a battle here."
Silence as the other end talked.
"Whatever. Just know that you have another fly to pick up."
Again, the other end spoke.
"Dunno, she was alone. But whoever did this, I like the cut of their jib," she said amused.
With that, Keisuke walked forward to get a better look himself and see why no soul came forth. Perhaps, though unlikely, the girl was still alive? He grimaced, not liking that thought at the girl suffering anymore.
"No," the woman, Karasuba said into her phone. As he came closer he noted that she stood just a little bit taller than him. "Tell them to hurry up, I could care less if this is here all night but I'm not going to wait-"
-SWISH-
Keisuke gasped, his breathing deep and quick as he looked up from his position on the floor, and arm propping himself up. No warning, but his reflexes kicked in, warning him of danger as he all but threw himself back onto the floor. Looking up, glimmering in the moonlight was Karasuba's outstretched blade, high enough that it was where his neck would've been had he kept standing. He then berated himself, as even had he still been standing nothing would have happened.
"Hello? Hello?," a muffled voice could be heard from the phone.
Without moving her position she brought the phone to her ear. "I'll call you back." Without waiting for a reply she hung up, re-pocketing her phone as she brought her outstretched hand back to look around, her eyes open and scanning the rooftop. On the floor Keisuke watched, his eyes widening a bit in realization before calming.
Silently, Karasuba's eyes came down to look at him, or where he was at on the floor. For a moment only his own heartbeat could be heard as she stared at his location. Finally after a chilling moment her eyes narrowed before flickering in another direction and turning her head. "Something's here."
With that, she took a few steps away and looked around the rooftop, again turning back to look in his direction, eyes narrow and looking back and forth, unable to see what it was she sensed. "Hmm," she said before sheathing her katana and turning back to Maki's body.
Standing shakily Keisuke kept his distance this time, again looking at the body to find no soul coming forth. After a tepid several minutes another sound could be heard in the distance coming closer and louder until finally the wind was blowing overhead as an MBI helicopter shone its light on the body as it slowly maneuvered over the rooftop.
Keisuke looked up to see several lines being thrown from the helicopter and several figures slid down, one unfolding a stretcher the moment he hit the rooftop. A few others walked towards Karasuba, who briefly looked at them in contempt before masking her features as they neared her. Before long the body was placed on the stretcher and lifted to the helicopter along with the men who came down. Karasuba herself stayed as after another moment the helicopter turned and left.
As the noise of the propellers disappeared into the distance Karasuba once again surveyed the surroundings. "I know you're here," she called out conversationally and Keisuke paused once more.
A few steps forward as Karasuba continued to look around to once again stop and stare in his direction. After a moment her features twisted in frustration before calming once more, giving the rooftop another glance. With a soft curse she turned a hopped over the ledge and into the night, leaving the stunned shinigami behind her.
A bloodbath. A death. No soul. Another human who seems to be somewhat spiritually aware, albeit weakly. A strange pickup. And once more, no soul whatsoever.
"What the hell is going on?"
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Elsewhere....
"Yes. Excellent. Good work." And with that, a cellphone flipped shut.
"Higa-sama," the speaker, Kakizaki called out.
Higa Izumi turned from his point at the window, watching the glow of Edogawa City from his office. It was on the tenth floor, and the building was his. His viewings were a pastime he took pleasure in, something Oriha, one of his sekirei, could not understand. Beside him, two other figures, women, both well endowed and a bit shorter than him with one having short cropped hair, the other one having longer hair, also turned in tandem with him to face Kakizaki, his aide.
"Yes?" Higa replied, arms still clasped behind him.
"Number Forty-Four has been terminated as you requested."
Higa nodded before turning once more to face the city.
"Che, I don't know why you just didn't have us do it," the short haired one muttered, ignoring Kakizaki's cellphone ring.
"I know, it wouldn't have been a problem."
"Sometimes," Higa said without facing them, "It's best to have a few pawns to keep our hands clean, and I don't want anything leading back to me yet, Ichiya, Toyotama."
"Yes, Higa-sama," they both chorused.
"This is their third job, and at least they didn't manage to botch this one up like their first. I'm surprised you decided to give them another chance, Higa-sama," Toyotama then replied.
"It was easy enough to cover that man's death, if anything its unfortunate they allowed that sekirei to get away. But, I was feeling magnanimous in giving them another chance, and so far they've delivered."
"Higa-sama," Kakizaki called out once more, again flipping his phone shut.
"Yes?"
"I have some interesting news. It seems an Ashikabi managed to take his Sekirei out of the capital..."
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End ch. 3
h43r: dun da dunnn