Super Shinobi X(Cross):

The Story #1

Disclaimer: Characters from Shinobi series and Sekirei series are the rightful property of their respective owners.

Note: Really sorry for such a long delay but my usual laptop finally kicked the bucket and I could find no way to transfer the remaining chapter to the current laptop I'm now using, even with my usb drive. So that meant I had to just rewrite the chapter again. As always I'm very grateful to those who support this story, and really big thanks to TheLastNanaya who checks in with me fairly regularly to see how the chapters are coming along. I know a lot of Sekirei crossovers tend to remain unfinished but I hope that's not the case with this story. This chapter still has more filler to it I guess you could say, but I feel they will definitely lead to some connecting points for the remaining chapters to follow. So, let's get to it!

Chapter 15

Maison Izumo, Within the Northern City of Shintou Teitou

"You're…Zeed?!" Matsu spoke up while pointing at the figure in disbelief. He ignored her, his masked face remaining fixed on Miya.

"You've caused me enough trouble. Skilled in methods and techniques vastly unknown to your Human counterparts, you've decimated such things as my fine creation…The Wing of Darkness took ample time to create, but thanks to you Sekirei, many resources were lost to me. Therefore…allow me to pay each of you back." He said, his tone even and calm. Musubi jumped in front of everyone else and got into a battle stance as she squarely faced Zeed.

"Musubi accepts!" She declared as she took his words for a challenge. The man chuckled softly, but took no battle stance of his own as his hands were hidden by the long sleeves of his robe. Minato came up and placed a hand on Musubi's shoulder.

"Musubi-chan, don't! Not only does he know of the Sekirei…he came here alone despite the odds…there's gotta be a reason for this. So, please…" He hoped she would understand. He didn't like this situation one bit. Sure, for someone to appear before his enemies so casually would be very foolhardy, but the very person they were now dealing with was none other than the Mastermind behind Zeed itself. Anything could be expected to happen. Musubi stared back at her Ashikabi calmly.

"No worries Minato-sama, Musubi will win!" Ever the confident one, Musubi was out of his reach in a flash, zooming towards Zeed. Zeed fluidly evaded her punch, but the quick jab was used merely to shadow a right hook that would leave a crushing blow to his ribs. If it had connected, but with a swish of his head, Zeed's wild hair moved about with precision to whip the Sekirei back. Musubi went skidding back to regain her footing. A few shallow cuts were on her shoulder, the fabric of her top having been struck off.

"Hah…you're a strong opponent, sir!" Musubi took up her stance again. Zeed remained still.

"Come one or come many, none shall topple me as easily as you seem to believe, young one. Go on though, try your best." He retorted. Musubi went on an all-out offensive to try and land a blow, but not one of her attacks could connect as he escaped from her flurry of strikes. Again he whipped her with his hair, leaving her with shallow cuts to the right side of her waist and making her skid back again.

"Musubi-chan, that's enough!" Minato called to her. Zeed hopped back as some lightning bolts rained down on where he was previously standing. Hikari and Hibiki's hands were outstretched and crackling with electricity.

"Well…we know he's got some serious skill to tangle with a Sekirei. I was sure we would hit him with that." Hikari responded aloud. Kaho stepped forward, her naginata at the ready. She also motioned to her fellow weapon user, Kuruse.

"Kuruse…let's see how good this man's technique really is!" The naginata was now aimed at Zeed himself.

"Right!" Kuruse brought her trident forth. Both charged him at the same time. Kuruse came up to his right side, thrusting the trident towards his ribs, but Zeed pulled back to evade and was ready even as Kaho came to his left side while swinging her naginata to his arms. With a twist of his head, his wild hair slammed into the two to send them blasting back with barely any tme to raise their weapons in defense. Both of them skidded to a halt just shy of bowling over their fellow Sekirei.

"Strong…!" Kaho muttered. Both of them flexed their fingers around their respective weapons to gain some feeling from the numbness of their grips. Now it was easy to see how Musubi, a strong Sekirei in her own rite, could be blasted back just as well.

"Well now…you're no joke or fluke, that's for sure." Karasuba chuckled.

"What does she mean?" Shigi asked curiously as he spoke to Kuno.

"Their weapons…" She pointed. There were nicks in the shafts of Kaho and Kuruse's weapons hinted to the force behind the whipping hair of Zeed. Said figure leaped back, evading sheer white cloth that came zipping towards his direction from three different directions of the Sekirei crowd.

"Darn, missed, but…" Uzume called back her fabric whiling sending out yet more zipping towards his still airborne form. With a graceful twist, his hair fended off the fabric with enough force to shred it and only losing a few strands of his own.

"I can make my cloth as strong as a blade, but still…this guy is something else." Uzume growled. Her attack was followed by blasts of wind as Kazehana also entered the fray. As soon as Zeed landed he should have been struck by the rapid projectiles, but fluidly went into a roll to a combat crouch to evade as the wind tore past him and ripped up bits of debris and some rocks.

"Stop!" The firm voice of Miya halted any further assault to Zeed, the man merely rising to his feet again and gazed at the Landlady much as the other Sekirei and Ashikabi were doing now.

"There's no use trying to attack him in such a fashion. It's clear to see that he's able enough to fend off large assaults all at once. It will result in him dwindling our numbers because we run more risk of injuring our own by getting caught in the crossfire. Am I mistaken?" Her gaze was level with the empty gaze of Zeed's eyes. His shoulders shook slowly at first before he started to laugh heartily.

"As expected from such a skilled opponent! You see through my guise as a combatant if not my person. Then what would you propose?" He sounded as if this were all a big joke. Most of the less able bodied Sekirei could still barely stand by the amount of sheer killing intent seething from Miya despite her innocent looking smile. Karasuba snickered. Zeed took pause, but did not look freighted by the massive Hannya mask looming over the battlefield being projected on him by Miya.

"Why, I'll destroy you myself of course." The Landlady spoke calmly as she aimed the wide Fushin blade in his direction.

"My…how dreadful." Zeed mocked.

MBI Tower, Tallest Structure in Shintou Teitou

"Not bad." Hibana twirled her tantou and took the defensive, evading as Zeed swung his wild head of hair to whip at her. The very figurehead of Zeed had entreated the two Oboro Ninja to impress him if they wanted any answers whatsoever regarding him and MBI's connection, as well as the still deeper connection with the Sekirei. Of course it meant a fight would ensue. Hotsuma used Akujiki with precision and power in order to sheer off a good chunk of Zeed's hair to greatly decrease his offense capabilities. It wasn't nearly so simple as Hotsuma could tell that Zeed was using the reinforcing energies of ki.

"It seems you also have knowledge of the ancient arts, Zeed." The Shadow Master admitted. Stealth Dash had proven very useful in strafing about while Zeed attacked with his wild hair, but it could still prove difficult to close in for very long. Clearly Zeed was no pushover.

"You've maintained and preserved your heritage well, Oboro…but even with such power, can it save you from me here and now?" Zeed was speaking in a tone of sureness. Even if it were plain to hear, both Oboro Ninja would destroy him regardless for their convictions were too strong to be oppressed.

"You think you can hold out against us, old man? I'd like to see you try!" Hibana came with a flurry of strikes in an attempt to unbalance Zeed. Hotsuma now worked more in tandem with her, helping to push Zeed back into the defensive. Zeed had to work much harder to keep them from overwhelming him with their blades. Zeed began to laugh, enjoying himself.

"Heh…the teamwork you both display is simply amazing…this is indeed quite a challenge for me. Continue to show me more! The Sekirei have been surviving merely due to their much tougher physical exteriors then you Humans." He suddenly evaporated in a cloud of smoke, appearing above Hotsuma swiftly. The Shadow Master almost was struck down, but running on instinct he performed a mighty quick two way Stealth Dash nearly in one second. The first was to evade Zeed's strike, the second closing in for the attack. Hotsuma came deathly close to cutting Zeed's throat. The red hands clapped over the blade before it could find its mark, Zeed growling as he narrowly averted Hotsuma's attack fully and only getting a small gash to the cheek. Hotsuma felt the yang aspect of Zeed's soul energy fly to his blade, but it was minimal yet nothing he had felt before.

"Experience fighting Sekirei as well? How…?" Hotsuma crouched low as Hibana was nearly in Zeed's face, almost plunging her twin tantou into his neck as she balanced on Hotsuma's broad shoulders. Zeed was out of their grasp, but clutched his neck where two small gashes were on either side of it. There were also small cuts along Zeed's palms, affirming Hotsuma of the small but extra amount of damage.

"I fight them right now, even as I fight you…" He began. Hibana had hopped from Hotsuma's shoulders back to the ground.

"The safe haven they call Maison Izumo, I ordered it destroyed, and it was nearly razed completely to the ground it stood on. The Sekirei fair better, but their large numbers prevent them from coming at me at their maximum power! How amusing…they show compassion because the Shinobi of the Past has inadvertently taught them it." Standing passively again, he regarded the two Oboro more.

"The Sekirei Plan was put in place to test the Sekirei and bring about a so called era of the Gods, regardless if they destroyed themselves in the process. Even if put in place by others like MBI, the virus that is the practitioners of Stealth have proven that such a plot can't continue unimpeded despite the many resources at MBI's beck and call!" His arms went again to the folds of his robes.

"Two places at once…a long term clone technique. How the heck did you manage that…?" Hibana questioned.

"And you know of the Shinobi of the Past. Information passed down through generations of Zeed have kept you well informed. Unless…the way you speak…" Hotsuma also became passive and sheathed Akujiki then crossed his arms to regard Zeed, who chuckled softly.

"Oh? The very manner of speech gives it away? Very astute. Then let me be frank…when the Oboro were destroyed on my orders so long ago, his situation was no more than a byproduct of that event. Yes, I deemed the Oboro useless to me since they refused to be my steel when I called upon them unlike the Fushin." Zeed explained. Hotsuma growled.

"You…that was your only reason? I doubt that…you must have feared the Oboro to an extent if you chose such a route, that our power might surpass your own one day. Well…that day is today." Hotsuma took a battle stance now. Zeed scoffed.

"You Oboro are indeed a fine example of survivability. It was only your clan that was able to escape the technology that was mine. Technology so far more advanced than anything of that time. Yes…you've gotten in my way, but I could care less. For what I seek is nothing you can take from me even if you destroyed me. Heh!" After saying that, Zeed took the offensive once more, content with what he told them so far.

"Damn you, bastard! There is a motive! Don't want to tell us about you and MBI? Fine, then we'll slacken that tongue of yours once again!" Hibana rushed to him. Hotsuma grasped the hilt of Akujiki. Their battle continued.

The remains of Maison Izumo, within the Northern City of Shintou Teitou

"Heh…such strength and vicious attacks for one so demure…" Zeed skidded to a halt, his feet cracking into the pavement to leave deep, jagged scars among the ground. Miya aimed her weapon at him.

"There's more where that came from…or you can surrender and die quickly after telling us your purpose." Miya was at him again, each swing of her weapon driving him back despite his own mighty offensive. Unlike with the version of himself that fought the physically weaker Oboro at MBI Tower, there was no dispute trying to contest physically against Miya's strength. Her approach was to weaken him by tiring him out. It seemed to be working little by little.

"Other Sekirei fell prey to his strength…but the Landlady really is on a whole other level! But…is she really outclassing him this much?" Minato wondered aloud.

"We're seeing it firsthand! She can do it…she can win!" Shigi agreed, daring to hope that there would be an end to Zeed. He was the one who brought so much destruction on a densely populated city without rhyme or reason. The amount of casualty damage would have been even more severe had Jirou and the Sekirei not been present, in Shigi's mind. No matter the myriad of hateful glares aimed at Zeed, he remained tall and bold. He chuckled.

"What might you Sekirei want to know? Trying to glean why I attacked the city in the first place? Think nothing of it. I had it done simply because I could." Zeed said.

"That's just…! There's no way you did it simply to do it. There's more then that…you caused both MBI's military and the Sekirei to fight against you…I'll bet your organization wanted to usurp rule from MBI over Shintou Teitou, or something!" Minato called out in anger. Zeed shook his head.

"Go on and believe that, if it gives you comfort in reason. There are things you can't comprehend, such as a force like mine wanting nothing more than to find amusement in destruction." Zeed remarked indifferent.

"Wait…maybe he was after the Jinki…I mean, Jirou-tan mentioned that the likely reason his village was destroyed was for that Akujiki sword. Maybe under cover of a giant army he planned to worm into MBI somehow…" Matsu mentioned, more to Kochou than anyone else though loud enough to be heard by some of the others.

"My hearing is quite keen, little Sekirei there…so you think I wanted the Jinki? Yet I've no use for your primitive technology! Your fumbling for reason amuses me though so I will tell you this much…the one precious to many of you Sekirei, the one called Musashi, Jirou…the one who is an Ashikabi of such an iron clad will that he resisted ever winging any of you that reacted to him…he has fallen into a trap!" Zeed laughed. The palpable feeling of tenseness swept many of the former Maison Izumo residence. Karasuba stepped forward.

"As fun as it's been hearing about your bullshit, I think it's time I cut off your head. There's something between you and MBI that doesn't sit well with me, maybe even the city…how is it that after all this time, no police, fire department, or MBI's military have yet to make their grand appearance even with more than ample time? Now that, I'm sure it's your doing as well." She aimed the wide Fushin blade at him.

"As for Jirou…if I couldn't defeat him, what makes you think your trap could?" She smirked.

"Heh…so there are some things you've come to realize…but enough. Cutting off my head, will you? Talk is cheap, so show me instead!" His hair whipped about as Karasuba nearly flew at him, the Fushin blade slamming against his steel like hair. He leaped away before her blade actually landed a hit. Or so he had believed. He shrugged in small irritation as blood seeped from underneath his robe, a fine line cut into the fabric. Karasuba grinned subtly at the sight of red marring Zeed's hand when he placed it along the opening of his robe where the wound was.

"You're being too soft on him, Miya…let's just get this over with!" The Black Sekirei conceded with yet another swift strike, leaving Zeed with another cut, near his hip.

"We'll need him to tell us of this plan in every detail so we can warn Jirou-tan!" Matsu called out to Karasuba, hoping she would ease off trying to kill Zeed before the information was leaked.

"…fine." Karasuba sighed, once again at Zeed and piercing him cleanly through the right shoulder and suspending him in the air. Zeed only seem to grunt irritably, but was mostly ignoring the pain. Karasuba wasn't detoured from that though.

"So…start talking." Her intense gaze bored into the empty ones of Zeed's, but she could glean nothing from them. Then he did something she hadn't expected. Even as she twisted the blade deeper still, he used the weapon to sever his arm completely off and used momentum to drag his neck against the blade.

"Oh shit…" Minato and Shigi uttered almost in unison, fighting their gag reflexes and almost failing. Zeed's severed head tumbled along the ground, blood trailing behind it.

"Heh…you expected…me to talk…but…I expected to…die!" Zeed gave one last rattling breath. Karasuba snarled.

"This fuck….!" She went to the severed head and ripped the mask free. It came off surprisingly easy, flung through the air and landing in the grass. The black Sekirei gritted her teeth.

"He's…no, she's…a Sekirei?!" Karasuba recognized the Sekirei too. Because in life, this Sekirei was terminated by the black Sekirei herself.

"#86 Katsuragi…the hell does this mean?" Karasuba snarled.

"I think…I'm gonna be sick…!" Shigi grumbled, trying to put on as brave a face as Minato, though the older man's face became a bit grimmer as he took in the sight of a severed head being held high with blood flowing everywhere. Their gag reflexes wanted to spike again, but they kept it at bay, though just barely. To see a real severed head was nothing like in the movies.

"Don't do anything rash, Kara-tan. Let me see her head." Matsu was used to the morbid sight from having worked with Karasuba in the past anyway. Karasuba shrugged and tossed the head without much regard for it, Matsu nearly dropping it to the floor when she caught it.

"Hmmm…any ideas Kochou-tan?" Matsu asked her fellow Information Sekirei while her fingers combed through Katsuragi's hair. Kochou started making her way towards the body.

"You're not feeling any kind of probe or other sign that might point out to some kind of mind control? Maybe it wasn't through her cranium at all." Kochou remained emotionless as she inspected the robed body carefully with her eyes and hands.

"No…nothing that would suggest any tampering with her body either…" Kochou said.

"Maybe this all happened because of the mask he…rather she, wore?" Mutsu had walked up to the mask and picked it up. It cracked and fell apart in his hand.

"Damn…it's surprisingly fragile despite the hair weapon it utilizes." She claimed.

"So…there is no lead. Then we are at square one once again." Akitsu muttered.

"Seems he showed Karasuba how to cut off his…her own head instead…or whatever." Uzume remarked, trying to lighten the heavy mood that had swept their group. It didn't help much, though. Everyone was deep in thought over what transpired and what needed to happen next. Maison Izumo was gone and would have to be rebuilt, and now nowhere was truly safe for the Sekirei here still free from being forcefully winged.

"Geez Karasuba, you should have been more mindful of what Zeed was attempting…if we could have unmasked her before she killed herself she might have been able to tell us something further…or maybe not. I don't know now." Kazehana spoke, running a hand through her hair.

"Don't blame this on me. Besides, I killed her quite a while back anyway…ask our resident brain over there how it's possible to revive a deactivated Sekirei…oh wait, she can't tell us shit!" Karasuba spoke sarcastically. Matsu looked forlornly at the remains of Maison Izumo.

"Well with the inn like this…x-rays might have yielded something but that's impossible at the moment." She muttered.

"Let's not dawdle on this…we need to figure out our next move." Miya said to them all. They all began to look towards her, save for Tsukiumi who caught sight of a limousine making its way towards the inn's remnants. A familiar one at that.

"Higa…" She scowled. Kakizaki pulled out from the driver's side and went to open the back door to allow said Ashikabi to step out. The roofs of the surrounding areas became filled with his Sekirei and their Ashikabi that had been carried along.

"So…just as Minaka said. All these freed Sekirei still unclaimed and safely tucked away from the game…fine with me if it leads to him sowing and reaping his own grave. Heh…very nice." He smirked dispassionately. A motor bike soon pulled up close by the limousine. Izumi grunted in annoyance.

"Well, well…Sanada of the West. Don't see you around much these days. Regardless though…you being here means that the message was sent to every Ashikabi after all." Izumi spoke to him with a casual drawl.

"Yeah…so many Sekirei to choose from it seems. What Ashikabi could resist?" Sanada said, but from the sound of his voice, he wasn't as comfortable with how the whole situation as many other Ashikabi might be. Another limo pulled up on the other side of Higa's own, making the Ashikabi smirk at this.

"Oh, Mikogami-san came just in time. Amusing." He said as the young man walked out from the car when his butler opened the rear door for him, soon followed by his Sekirei as they filed out of the vehicle. Both Mutsu and Kagari inwardly groaned.

"Coming down to this again….sheesh, and so soon after the city is recovering from one tragedy. Fuck…" Kagari muttered.

"Well, Higa of the East and Sanada of the West. If you two weren't located closer to the Northern City already I would have gotten here faster…but looks like I'm still good on time." Hayato mentioned, seeming eerily calm to how he was the last time Mutsu and Kagari faced him.

"You could have been transported by your Sekirei…well, I suppose those of our status don't do such things on a normal basis though." Izumi regarded the younger Ashikabi.

"Of course not. So now then…if you don't mind Higa, I'm going to get started…so which Sekirei wants to be winged first?" Hayato turned his sights to the residents of Maison Izumo. Minato stepped bravely in front of his friends to regard the opposing Ashikabi.

"Wait! What are you all talking about? It might have been because we were already here…but the Chairman didn't send his message to us. Is this really all part of his plan?" He called to Higa and the other top Ashikabi. Clearly he and Shigi were left out of the loop about Ashikabi converging to their location. Had they known in advance they might have been able to escape easier without conflict. This was likely why they hadn't received the message, but Minato tried to stall for time somehow to figure out how to get out of a situation like this. . More Ashikabi were starting to loom onto the scene, though most had only one or two Sekirei at most. One familiar voice sounded.

"BRO!" It was Yukari's voice that sounded from the sky.

"Huh…! Yukari-chan!" Minato cast his gaze upward, seeing as Shiina was descending with Yukari in his arms as the pair landed close by Minato.

"Kuu-chan, you okay?" Shiina asked as he saw Kusano among the other Sekirei. The small Sekirei nodded.

"Yeah…but Shiina-onii…this could be bad…" She said, looking fearfully and the odds against them. Unlike the Fushin who could be overpowered or even Zeed, these were Sekirei and their Ashikabi they were up against and who could wing the freed Sekirei against their wills.

MBI Tower, Tallest Structure in Shintou Teitou

Zeed grunted in pain and twitched, halting mid step of evading a strike from Hotsuma's Akujiki, but the blade found it's mark and sliced into Zeed's torso and would have done even more damage had Zeed not reacted again to prevent further harm to himself. He clutched at his robed abdomen where blood seeped through. Akujiki absorbed the Yin aspects of his blood.

"They've harmed me…then…" Zeed was left open as Hibana intercepted him from the rear with twin tantou stabbing him in the back. He grunted in annoyance, injuring himself further just to twist free from her weapons which were now awash with his blood. He staggered back. Hotsuma held a hand to stop Hibana's advance.

"From your words, Zeed…it would seem the clone you've sent to the inn has a connection to you still. The link caused you pain and stalled your movement to allow us to injure you quite severely. You're on your last leg and your life will soon come to an end. Tell us what you and MBI were planning." Hotsuma said firmly. Zeed twisted his head, his hair whipping about. Both of the Oboro Ninja went to the defensive in preparation for another attack, hoping to counter and then subdue Zeed. They had only been half right. Zeed's hair swung around, impaling its very owner.

"…never…" Zeed gave one last rattle as blood flowed freely as his hair struck the very wound Hotsuma made initially and cutting himself in two at the waist.

"Shit…well that sucks, but I guess it shows he wasn't any pushover in the slightest." Hibana mentioned as she went to the downed upper half of Zeed. Both Ninja sheathed their weapons.

"Let's take this mask off, shall we?" She said and crouched down to remove said mask from the face of their dead opponent.

"No way, another one? Yo, Hotsu-baby take a look." Hibana rose back up and stepped aside as Hotsuma took her place by Zeed.

"Another Sekirei…and one that has their crest on the forehead…I believe one of Jirou's acquaintances had something similar…and like our friend back on the airship…well we will need more information. Hibana, patch a line with Sahashi-san. Let's find out how the young girl in her care is doing, then give her the news of what transpired here." Hotsuma walked to the large window overlooking the city. Hibana covered the remains of the body with the very robe of Zeed.

"When she is able, have her come up here. Its Sahashi-san turn now…she must lead MBI now as she is the most able candidate following the Chairman, who has likely fled somewhere." Hotsuma ordered. Hibana nodded.

"Sounds good. If not for the Chairman having his Disciplinary Squad lapdogs, she'd have ousted control from him long ago if you ask me!" Hibana began to manipulate the controls of her visor to contact Takami since the fake Minaka had destroyed the phone line and intercom system that had been attached to his desk when he first threw it at the two Oboro. Hotsuma was doing the same, trying to get in contact with Jirou through the cellphone entrusted to the Shinobi by Matsu. However, no signal went through.

"Strange…why can't I reach him?" Hotsuma muttered aloud. Hibana had contacted Takami and was speaking with her now.

"She'll be up here in a few minutes, she finished securing the girl and her condition is stable. Looks like that girl will make a full recovery with a little time." Hibana told him, referring of young Chiho. Hotsuma nodded.

"Good. Let's see if we can get any of the equipment up here functioning while we wait." He said. The two began to work the electronics in the Chairman's office. Mainly to gather any other information on the Sekirei they could glean. Takami had come up shortly after by elevator. She noted as the two got some of the massive flat screen monitors Hiroto liked to use when viewing fights of the Sekirei Plan. She saw the remains of the cyborg Chairman and the covered body of the Sekirei that had masqueraded as Zeed. As a doctor, Takami was well use to seeing such gruesome sights but put the thoughts aside.

"So let me get something straight…you two must have been the contingency put in place by the White Ninja, right?" Takami asked. She had tried to get the information when Hibana had contacted her, not really pleased how she had been left in the dark about them by Jirou but at the same time really glad that he had two powerful allies aiding him.

"You've been deemed an ally by him, one who will not let secrets spill lightly. Go on, Sahashi-san. MBI is now your vehicle to steer." Hotsuma said. Takami nodded firmly.

"Alright then, fine. There's something that's bugging me that I've got to check on." She went to a hidden panel by the vast window of the Chairman's office, revealing a controller like contraption that allowed her to remotely control feeds from MBI's satellite networks to display on the screen of monitors. Now she just hoped Matsu wasn't hacking the feeds as she was often prone to do. Takami pulled up Maison Izumo, or what was left of it. The state of the Inn showed her the reason why Matsu was out of commission but it wasn't because of the best of circumstances.

"Shit…so it really is true…" She gasped. Sekirei and Ashikabi had converged to that spot in droves. And to make it worst, nearly all still free Sekirei were there ripe for the picking.

"How did you come to suspect something like that so fast?" Hibana had to ask.

"Special app on my phone, and Minaka has the same one. How the hell am I gonna stall something like this without getting too many killed or winged forcefully…? My children are there too…dammit." Takami answered. The familiar ding of the elevator sounded soon after and caused Takami to whirl towards the opening doors. Hotsuma and Hibana had disappeared without a trace though Takami was sure they must be close by, noting that the dead body for the Zeed imposter and cyborg Hiroto were also removed as if whisked out of thin air. Benitsubasa and Haihane were on either side of Natsuo, as if ready to guard their Ashikabi from anything. Natsuo looked to Takami after accessing the damage in Hiroto's office.

"Sahashi-san…what is this? Where is the Chairman?" Natsuo questioned.

"Gone. Kidnapped or killed by the White Ninja maybe…I've got no leads as to where he could be or his status, Ichinomi-san. Regardless, in his absence, MBI is mine to control now." The way she spoke didn't sit well with Natsuo, though he was never one for blatant outbursts of heated emotions.

"Sahashi-san, how can this company, the biggest in all Shintou Teitou, have no lead on the Chairman's whereabouts? I find that hard to believe. Did you also not know that several of our military forces are lying in pools of blood in their very barracks?" There was a hint of sarcasm in Natsuo's tone. This news of their military Takami hadn't been aware of, but she kept her composure.

"Whatever remaining military we have isn't going to mean much. Have a look." She pointed to the monitors.

"In a short time a massive battle of Sekirei is going to occur. I don't care if you're for it or against it, but you're going to head over there right now with your two Sekirei and tell everyone to stand down because the Game…it's over. That's an order as new acting Chairman. I'll take care of all the back end details here." She remained firm. Besides, it wasn't like she could send a massive text blast or phone call as only Hiroto had access to the Ashikabi and their cell phones. Without his desk available, she couldn't check anything there either. She would need to buy some time and this was the only way she saw that could work.

"I doubt this is what Chairman Minaka would want…" Natsuo sighed. Benitsubasa took a threatening step towards Takami.

"I know a few ways we could get answers out of her." The Sekirei said smugly, cracking her knuckles in her fists. Takami scowled.

"Don't forget who writes your checks. You're all paid handsomely by MBI in the first place, and attacking your Superior who is in the right to make decisions like this isn't the best way to advance your ranks." Takami said in dead seriousness. Natsuo sighed and shook his head.

"Leave her, Benitsubasa-san. Sahashi-san is indeed the only one qualified to keep MBI running…I could not run it even if I wanted to. We will follow her orders and look into the situation. It doesn't align with what was said by the Chairman in that particular video, but if he's not here to refute her, then this is the only thing we can do at this point." Natsuo said calmly, though his eyes darted about the Chairman's office, almost hoping that the Chairman would pop out and say "Just Kidding" followed with some outrageous explanation as he was often prone to do. But nothing happened for that long moment so Natsuo had nothing to retort or discredit Takami as she was superior to him in position and was doing what was expected of her as the right hand person behind Minaka. Takami was eying Natsuo with a questioning gaze.

"Wait…what particular video are you talking about, Ichinomi-san? I don't recall anything like this." She questioned after the moment of silence between them. Natsuo was questioning now.

"You didn't receive anything?" He asked, almost dubiously.

"Show me." Takami held out her hand. Natsuo shrugged and pulled up the video on his phone for her to view. What she saw made her blood run cold. It started out with static for a couple of seconds before showing Hiroto sitting upon his throne like chair in a relaxed manner, one arm along his armrest kept his fist up to prop his head on, while his other hand swirled a glass of red wine.

"Well now…I hope everyone receiving this can hear me just swimmingly…you Ashikabi that play in the Sekirei Plan so diligently are probably wondering just what the heck is going on, right? It has been a long time since any of you winged a free Sekirei running around the Capital." He took a sip of his wine.

"I will be up front with you all. A grave interference has taken part in our Game. One that has made it spiral vastly out of our control and for that I do apologize. Now, as you know, you all had to fight a strange force from the sky that attacked our peaceful city." After he took yet another sip, before shaking his head, seeming sympathetic with the plight of the war with the Wing of Darkness.

"I've come to find out that the White Ninja many of you have heard rumors about, is in fact the very person responsible for it all. Wingless Sekirei looking for their Ashikabi now disappearing, the coming of that airship, even injuring innocents because of that…it was all his doing. When you receive this message though, please rejoice as I will be able to grant your ultimate wishes: to finally wing those remaining Sekirei! That's right! The White Ninja was only able to stall the inevitable!" At this Hiroto chuckled softly, almost darkly perhaps.

"Go to the Northern City and look for the boarding house, Maison Izumo. That is where the White Ninja has stowed all those lonely Sekirei. Let that place be exposed for what it really is! I look forward to seeing the results and naming the outcomes! Let us see who can claim the most! The Game continues on!" Hiroto's grin was so wide his face looked as if it might split apart at his jaw.

"Good luck and God speed!" After that there was static again. Takami wanted to howl in frustration, but kept herself composed upon turning the video off.

"Well?" Natsuo questioned, awaiting what Takami would do next. She gave a dismissive wave.

"You've got your orders. Now go, since this video is moot since no one higher up than myself is here to dispute me." She told him firmly.

"Right…then by your leave, Chairman…" He nodded, though the new title he bestowed on her that was normally for Hiroto seemed odd even to himself. He left with his Sekirei from the roof so they could transport him towards Maison Izumo the fastest way possible.

"Good display of leadership there." Hibana's voice nearly gave Takami a heart attack.

"Geez…you Ninja are annoying like that…but pretty useful at the same time. It was only because I had the feeling you two were close by that I could stand up to him like that and remain calm. For a normal Human without your kind of training, Sekirei are no joke to tangle with." Takami gave a sigh of relief. Hibana laughed softly at the older woman's expense.

"No worries! Besides, you showed him the extent of your own power by bending him like that so easily. You're the Chairman now." Hibana acknowledged. Takami nodded.

"But in all honesty…where has Minaka gone off to? It seems that machine was just a replica to fool anyone who attacked him after all…" Takami racked her brain for any possible means to locate Hiroto. The problem was that he was seldom gone from his office for very long.

"We've got no signs of life detected anywhere nearby…me and my partner can scour the Tower at an incredible rate, so leave it to us. If Minaka really is here, then he won't be hiding long! He has many things to answer for, and he seemed to know that the inn would be at its most vulnerable…" Hotsuma began walking away.

"We'll be back! Keep us updated." Hibana said before following Hotsuma.

The City of Shintou Teitou

Saki had almost been surprised by Yahan appearing from her shadow, but she was a capable fighter in her own right despite being mainly a spy for MBI, having almost clipping off the other Sekirei's head with her Ninhontou. Yahan's brief skirmish ended when telling Saki of Jirou, allowing her to teleport themselves to the Shinobi. Saki met Jirou for the first time.

"Yep, the White Ninja alright. Good evening, the name's Saki!" She introduced herself, genuinely curious to meet the man who was saving Sekirei. A warrior of his caliber was rare in this age, especially considering he was able to topple one of their strongest in the infamous Karasuba. It showed that his skill was beyond extraordinary. Jirou responded to her greeting with a curt bow of his head from his kneeling position.

"Good evening, Saki-san. Please be curt in your report. I understand that Sekirei defeated in their matches with other Sekirei are whisked from the tower under the cover of darkness and that no known measures of tracking have routed out those responsible." Jirou informed her, earning a low whistle from her.

"Yeah, it definitely seems like Takami has a lot of faith in you. It's not hard to see why…anyway, it's true. We know that Sekirei are being smuggled out of the tower via black trucks that seem like your typical security vehicle from MBI's military itself. No matter what device I use, they always get the slip on me right at about these parts of the city. Real annoying to say the least, considering that at least one of my methods should have worked." Saki explained with a sigh. The vehicles She told him how MBI wouldn't give her access to satellite feeds alone, and any vehicle would not have access to a No Entry zone without bring up suspicions. Even placing little tracking devices hadn't proved useful. Then she decided to investigate the dead end part of the construction zone that the vehicles usually went into, a tunnel. But no amount of searching yielded anything.

"I see…hopefully we may turn the tables this time with myself here. As you said, at least one of your methods mentioned by Sahashi-san should have worked…yet those who are very adept in the ways of Stealth would be very hard to track for long. I suspect that our enemy, Zeed, is aligned with MBI in some capacity since they have decent Ninja under them." Jirou mentioned as he rose to his feet.

"Okay…if that's the case, what do you think would be the best course of action?" Saki asked.

"Were it I…" Jirou paused, turning away and raising his arm towards his sheathed ninjatou upon his back.

"Come out! There is no use hiding!" He called out calmly, sensing out foul auras in the air. The familiar negative energies of Zeed's forces, and one much more potent than the others. Saki and Yahan had also turned outwards to face any opposition, even if they couldn't see anything. The silence was stopped by the sounds of clapping. Several Ninja appeared from the darkness, forming a ring around the three. The ring of Ninja parted to reveal a red masked person in golden robes.

"Well met...I won't lie, I've wanted to meet you for some time, Musashi, Jirou!" The robed figure claimed. It was he that emanated with such a negative spark that Jirou's eyes narrowed further at witnessing him.

"You…could you really be him? Zeed's leader…?" Jirou said after a moment. Darkness of incredible denseness seemed to be coiling around said figure, though Jirou knew it was his mind's eye portraying the sight. The other Ninja were but flickers by comparison.

"Good, it would seem you've come to the realization…you've been wanting to meet me for a long time too then, I'm sure…764 years to be exact." Zeed spoke, stepping closer to the group.

"To know that…have you really survived throughout all the time that has passed? Then tell me…why was it our home that you destroyed? Was it really for the Akujiki?" Jirou glared at Zeed. Jirou would have liked nothing more than to succumb to rage and destroy Zeed here and now, but there was too little to know about his opponent.

"A valid question for myself. Indeed, why would I, the great Zeed, do such a thing as to try and obliterate you and your fellows? Let me witness your strength and I will answer…perhaps." Zeed responded, his voice amused. It almost goaded Jirou into a vicious attack, but the Shinobi held his ground and maintained his calm. He looked towards the two Sekirei by his side.

"You will also tell me about your involvement with the Sekirei." Jirou declared. Zeed shook his head.

"That would be a steeper price. Let us take one thing at a time, Musashi." Zeed said, raising his arm.

"Kill them." He demanded, and the ninja under his command brandished their blades and sped towards the three. Saki brought her two blades forth, cutting down the ninja that converged on her. The task was made easy with her strength, her weapons breaking through the defending Ninja's won weapons and cutting into their flesh. Yahan, on the other hand, relied on her manipulation of her opponent's shadows, appearing at their backs to assault them with her knife with a flash of speed. Jirou parried the strikes from his opponents as he cut through them and made a beeline for Zeed who simply watched. The Shinobi leaped through the air and dove down upon Zeed with a swift kick, only he was evaded as Zeed swerved out of the way before leaping back as Jirou swung his ninjatou at the robed figure. Ninja came to intercept Jirou.

"Your Ninja are no match. Why not fight me yourself, or is this really all you wanted to witness of my prowess?" Jirou said as he cut down the ninja swiftly. Saki and Yahan were also more than a match for the Zeed Ninja that attacked them. Zeed chuckled as he witnessed the destruction, no care for the safety of his subordinates.

"Your calmness of mind…it seems that you rarely let anything shake you…your foundation is solid. But what emotions would you display then if I told you that I've destroyed the precious inn you're in now? All the birds there would want to flee to the sky, but what if a bigger cage awaited them instead?" Zeed responded. Jirou's grip on his ninjatou tightened.

"What have you done?" He questioned firmly.

"You could go and witness for yourself, Musashi…but it would be at the price of letting me escape with my -precious cargo-. You would be left with nothing for this is the last time my operation would be carried out in this manner. Would you give up such a chance?" The robed figure's gaze remained locked with Jirou's. The Shinobi pulled out Matsu's cellphone that she lent him. He tried to call the inn, but despite the phone being on, he could not make a phone call. The phone didn't ring or anything, only static sounded when he would try to make the call.

"No cellphone will work, for no signal will reach here. You've a decision to make, Musashi…what is more important to you? Revenge, or your Sekirei allies, I wonder?" Zeed seemed to be having a jovial time.

"Asshole…it's three on one, so don't get cocky!" Saki aimed her Nihontou at Zeed, her gaze hard.

"Wait, Saki-san. Yahan-san, take Saki-san with you and go back to the inn." Jirou declared, though his gaze never left Zeed.

"What?!" Saki questioned as she glared at Jirou.

"But Assistant Manager…" Yahan also wanted to stay and help.

"They can take care of themselves…but any extra aid might be essential, I wager. I have a premonition that must be proven wrong. Please Yahan-san, Saki-san…go. I will get all the information I need and report it back somehow. Check on the others." Jirou responded while still locking gazes with Zeed.

"Okay. I trust in you, Assistant Manager." Yahan spoke after a moment, grabbing hold of Saki as they melded with the shadows. Jirou and Zeed were alone now.

"Now then, let us continue." Jirou stated calmly, aiming his blade at his enemy. Zeed chuckled.

"Yet again your calmness of mind and body are superb! But now, there is a game I wish to play with you. Do not worry, it is not quite as convoluted as the Sekirei Plan that MBI's Chairman wanted to play. To seek me out, follow this trail that was given to you by that spy from the Sekirei. If you follow long enough, you will find me. And please, you may do things your own natural way, Musashi." The robed figure spoke as he turned away, disappearing in a cloud of black smoke. Jirou's fists clenched together harder.

"He's gone…" The Shinobi muttered in a low tone, not feeling Zeed's aura of darkness in the slightest anymore. He had the distinct feeling that Zeed wanted to find a way to get him split off from his Sekirei allies and the Shinobi had done it just like that. Jirou may have fallen into a trap, but there was little to be done about it now. As a Human even he could be prone to mistakes in judgment. He tried Matsu's cellphone again, but it still did not work. He hoped that maybe Zeed's presence had jammed the signal perhaps, but it was not the case. He sheathed his weapon and kept an eye out for the black MBI vehicles that Saki mentioned. He would have to do his best to see where they led and finally start getting some answers to the mysteries behind MBI and Zeed, and their Sekirei involvements.

As Zeed had said, it wasn't long before he caught sight of his targets. Six vans driving along the freeway and marked with MBI's logo, half with gunners on the roofs. Jirou noted mentally as they off the exit towards the No Entry zone of construction Saki told him about earlier. With impressive leaps and acrobatics Jirou went from buildings and street lamps to get close to the freeway, ending up landing on the very last van of the bunch. The Shinobi hoped that he could remain undetected, but it was not likely with how the soldiers were performing their perimeter checks.

But Jirou already formulated a plan for just in case, quite textbook for those trained in the arts of Stealth. The vans went in an exact line formation on the road, a manned turret on the first, third and last van. Jirou hopped on the last van while the soldier turned his mounted rail gun and would see Jirou on the roof easily. As the soldier was about to pull the trigger with one hand and use the other to radio to the others, Jirou used a kunai up close to cut the cord of the vest mounted communications radio, and another attack to slice off the man's trigger finger to prevent him from firing. The third slash got him through the throat and he slumped over dead. Jirou kept the body up and kept his own body close to be covered. He'd mimic the actions of the other soldiers as they would turn their turrets to look about the deserted street, to not give himself away. He had already sensed out that these soldiers of MBI were actually Zeed enhanced like the ones from the Wing of Darkness, so no form of interrogation would work. Therefore the Shinobi's hope was that things would remain as inconspicuous as possible the remainder of the way so he could track Zeed and the location of the Sekirei bodies.

'I must succeed where Saki-san could not...and I now have a face to the name of my true enemy.'

To Be Continued…