"Alright, Shirou and Sakura-chan are all asleep now. Let's talk."
Minato shivered at his mother's tone. Oh he loved her wholeheartedly as a son but good Lord, she put the fear in God in him sometimes.
"What are you really here for, Takami-san?" Homura asked, a bit roughed up after Uzume and Musubi pinned him down before Miya made them all behave.
He would still get his answers later, one way or another. You don't fuck another bro's mom, that's the bro code.
"The incident this morning." Takami huffed, pulling out a cigarette to light it up. Homura moved to reach out to her with a light, a nifty use of his powers, but stopped at the glare Minato is giving him. The male Sekirei sheepishly backed down. Rolling her eyes, Takami fished out a lighter from pockets.
"No smoking. We have a baby in the house and I don't like my home smelling like cigarettes, Takami." Miya plucked the stick out of her mouth and unceremoniously crushed it in her hands. Her expression does not give any other options for the other woman.
"Damnit." Takami sighs before pocketing the lighter. "Let's talk about this morning's incident. You guys made a lot of mess for MBI to clean up." She began, glaring at them.
Minato flinched at the memory of the incident. Musubi simply tilted her head, confused as to why it was something bad. Homura meanwhile looked away, whistling innocently.
"Wait a minute, you're part of MBI?" Minato realized.
His mother never once talked about her work or company she is working in. All he knew was that she is a researcher in a pharmaceutical company. He felt like bashing his head to the nearest wall with how stupid he is to not notice the giant pharmaceutical conglomerate rising in Japan.
"I am." Takami huffed, "Since the beginning actually. You can say I'm Miya's boss at a time before she got hitched with her late husband." She pointed a thumb at the quiet landlady who pouted at her past being revealed.
"Holy shit! Miya's a Sekirei?" Uzume gasped, she already suspected it but this is undeniable proof.
"Landlady!" Musubi didn't exhibit such a reaction, rather she's more excited at the prospect of the reveal. The thrill of possible combat against the mature and experienced Sekirei stoked her desire for a fight.
Homura remained silent, having suspected the landlady of her inhuman status since he found Matsu's whereabouts.
"You're a Sekirei too, Asama-san?" Minato turned towards the landlady, eyes trailing up and down at her. The more he looks, the more plausible it is. All Sekirei he had met all this time were mostly attractive. Despite being a widow for some time, Miya is still a beautiful woman who looked like she hadn't aged. One could even mistake her for a young woman.
"Mou! It's rude to reveal one's secret, Takami." Miya pouted, glaring at the woman. Takami shrugged, not afraid of a possible retaliation. With Shirou and Minato in the house, Miya will behave to protect her image so she's safe at the moment.
"Going back to our topic, the incident. MBI would like to negotiate with No.83 to keep the balance in the Sekirei plan. You all saw what No.83.was able to do against MBI forces and multiple Sekirei in a single morning, right?" Takami said.
"She's strong. Stronger than what she is expected to be." Homura muttered.
Takami nods, "No.83's sudden growth in strength and power was unexpected and unforeseen by us. We would love to bring her back to MBI labs for readjustment and study what undid her initial adjustments."
"I doubt the little bird would agree to it." Miya interjected.
"Not to mention, that would make all our efforts this morning useless if we're just gonna hand her over to MBI back." Homura said." Minato said.
"MBI already knows they can't do anything now that No.83 is now under the roof of Miya's sanctuary. Miya's place is off limits as per agreement with MBI but No.83's presence in the game still upsets the entire balance, in Minaka's words." Takami huffs, remembering the man's rant about balanced characters and stats. As if he didn't suffer a good beating from her. Maybe she's getting out of touch lately due to work? Might have to work out again for that extra oomph.
"Of course that man-child would be upset about such a trivial thing." Homura grumbled, his hatred of the man bleeding out.
"You and me, Homura." Takami agreed with a huff. Minato gave them suspicious looks at the sudden chemistry.
"Is that why Minaka wants to meet up, set-up a date of negotiations in Miya's home?" Miya perked up at Homura's words. Why wasn't she aware of this?
"So that guy already moved ahead. Was it through Matsu?" Takami asked which Homura nodded, "That man is really ahead despite his childishness." She sighs.
"We haven't set-up a date yet. Maybe we will have to wait till Yashima wakes up." Homura said.
"That's fine. MBI is not in a rush and with No.83's bounty, she is essentially imprisoned in this house. Minaka can wait no matter how much he whines about it." Takami replied.
"If I agreed to it." Miya suddenly interjected, making the two flinch. Sensing an impending doom, Minato and Musubi huddled together as darkness began to converge behind Miya. Uzume yelped and immediately ducked under the table to avoid the incoming mental trauma. She also made sure to kick Homura out who tried to take refuge with her. Meanwhile, Takami simply closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable. Her experience with Takehito, Miya's late husband, had built a tolerance to this technique but it doesn't mean she's not affected.
"Inviting unsavory members of society into my home without my permission is forbidden!!!" Miya smiled, activating the dreaded technique.
And it was so much worse as the malice and hatred washed over them. Even the bystanders like Minato, Musubi and Uzume weren't spared as the bone chilling presence crawled deep into their core. Matsu herself was also affected as she watched and listened to the conversation, making the girl scream in horror and cover her ears and close her eyes.
Behind Miya, the visage of the bleeding Hanya stared at all them yet it was different than normal. For one, the Hanya is splashed with blood and accompanied with a symphony of unexplainable sounds. Then as fast as it appeared, it disappeared.
"What was that?!" Uzume yelled under the table, shivering like a new born calf as she stared in horror where the Hanya mask dissolved.
"What? Did you say something, Uzume-chan?" Miya of course played dumb.
"...Why did I hear a freaking swarm of insects? What was that?" Uzume muttered.
"... Are you practicing, Miya-san?" Homura asked, pale and very much shaken from the horror he just saw. Why did he just hear the sound of bleating lambs? It was very haunting!!!
"I don't know what you're talking about, Homura-san but enough of that." Miya continued before leveling the male Sekirei, a look that promises bodily harm.
"I don't care if you and the rest negotiate with MBI or work with them, I trust all of you. What I don't condone is inviting that man into my late husband's home!" Miya shouted, pissed at the thought of inviting the man who cost Takehito's life.
Takami looked away, knowing that she is also responsible for the man's demise despite her efforts to save him.
"Apologies Miya but we and I mean this lot don't have a choice." Takami pointed at the Sekirei in the room.
"Homura is now designated as a disruptive element in Minaka's name and has a capture or termination bounty after this morning's incident." Homura winced. Looks like he would have to quit his day job now.
"Uzume's crime against MBI is kept private and an accomplice at best through the actions of Matsu. MBI is lenient with her but if given the chance, we would capture and interrogate her for the whereabouts of the missing single digit if we don't already suspect where she is." Uzume paled. She probably dodged a bullet there but damn, now she really regrets helping Matsu.
"Then there's No.83, enough said about the destruction and damage the girl causes. MBI just received a heavily injured Mutsu, who is now an amputee." Miya gasped lightly at the fate of her old colleague. Just because they separated doesn't mean she didn't care once.
"As such, Minaka had decided to stage a meeting of sorts in your territory as neutral grounds for these rogue elements in his game. It's mostly No.83 mostly by my estimate so you're all fine, for now." Takami ended her explanation.
"Oh dear, to think my home would become a den of ill repute and criminals." Miya sighs, a palm massaging her forehead.
"I think that's a bit much, Asama-san." Minato offered, seeing the dark clouds over Uzume and Homura's heads.
"Then there's you, young man!" Takami huffed, jabbing a finger at her son.
"I don't know how you got Musubi but you're now part of the Sekirei plan which is not in my plans at all! Don't you know how dangerous the game is? As a matter of fact, I'm prohibiting you from joining the game at all!" Takami growled. She might not be the best mother but she will not put her children in danger. She may be neglectful at best and absent to them but she loved all of them equally. She already experienced one loss and that's enough for her. With Shirou's return, she won't let that happen again.
"But professor!!!" Expectedly, it was Musubi who reacted strongly to her warning.
"Musubi wants to fight! It's the only way Musubi could stay with Minato-sama!" She said with conviction.
Takami huffed. It's naive thinking Musubi could survive until the end of the plan. With today's incident, it's revealed that most Ashikabi and Sekirei are now teaming up. Alone and outclassed by other digits, it won't be long till Musubi's eliminated.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you and Minato are exempted from the plan entirely. You can be together all you want." She offered to the two, making Homura and Uzume blink at the very obvious display of nepotism. The latter scowled hard at the woman.
"No! It would be unfair!" Musubi slammed her hands on the table, "It will be unfair to all other Sekirei. Musubi will fight to the end. Musubi will surely win because Musubi loves Minato-sama. Musubi promises, she will not lose!"
"Musubi." Minato mutters, watching the girl who announced her dedication to him uphold her own values. She wouldn't take the freebie at all, not even for the chance of being together. To her, it's injustice to everyone else.
Minato understood her.
On the sidelines, Homura and Uzume smiled at the naive girl. Tonight, the girl earned a bit of respect from the two Sekirei. It's not everyday one would see such a deal with such conviction. To Miya, the girl passed. She truly loved her Ashikabi but she's not shackled by it.
"...Then suit yourselves." Takami huffed.
"...So Minaka's gonna have the meeting here later on for negotiations?" Uzume asked.
"Unfortunately, it looks like it would be a yes. I blame all of you except Sakura-chan and Shirou-kun." Miya said with a pout.
"Might be a bit later, Yashima's still out and her wounds are pretty bad. It wouldn't be a day or two till she wakes up." Homura offered.
"Then MBI will wait for Matsu's message but don't make us wait for long." Takami said before standing up.
"Mom?" Minato said, watching her.
"It's getting late and I already said my piece. Minato, take care of your brother and his baby. Most importantly, do not throw yourselves at Sekirei fights willy nilly." Minato winced at the last part. Better hope she doesn't find out.
"Miya, it was a nice dinner and apologies for the future mess Minaka will make later."
"Apology accepted. I just hope that man wouldn't bring as much headache to me as your's daily. It's a miracle you could stomach working for that man." Miya responded with a hint of pity.
"Probably because we're friends despite everything. Goodnight, everyone." Minato stood up and followed his mother with Musubi, escorting the woman out of the house after some quiet words.
This left Uzume, Miya and Homura at the dining room table.
"Today's a mess right?" Uzume said, breaking the silence.
"Yes, definitely." Homura sighs.
"...You're fixing this mess, Homura." Miya said, leaving the room for bed.
"Dang."
~~~~~~~~
A few minutes later, Homura's about to sleep in his bed before his phone rang.
"Homura! You better have an explanation as to why you made my son your getaway driver in a violent chase in the city." On the other line, he could hear Takami seeth in anger.
Oh, looks like she found out late.