James finished dressing. He thought of Miya's punishment which meant he'd missed breakfast again. He thought it could be worse. He walked down the stairs and into the main dining hall. There he was met with a wall of gazes.
Lois, Jasmine, Saya, Saeko, Rei, Musubi, Akitsu, Kusano, Matsu, and Tsukiumi were in the room.
Tsukiumi crossed her arms. She glared at James. "You are the worst," she remarked.
Musubi leaned forward. She had a smile on her face. "You got caught by Miya… with Akitsu. In the shower," she said in a cheerful smile.
Kusano ran up and hugged James's leg tightly. She looked jealous.
Saya scoffed. She had her arms folded. "He's a pervert," she remarked.
Rei took a bite of her biscuit. She looked unfazed. "What do we expect from James?" she said. "Also you were caught as well," she teased.
"You will always bring that up," Saya said.
Saeko sipped her tea with elegance. "Danna-sama is only taking care of us," she said.
James sighed. Akitsu drank her tea quietly. There was a small smile on her lips.
"Good morning," James said as he tried to reset the mood. "I'm glad you're all here. I know you've heard about tonight's plan, but I want to make sure everyone's truly okay with it. If anyone isn't, you don't have to come," he added.
Tsukiumi stood up. "I am against this plan. A Sekirei's duty is to fight for her Ashikabi. Running away is disgraceful," she said.
Jasmine leaned forward. "Haruka, Kuno's Ashikabi said she's too weak to fight. They just want to escape," she said.
Matsu looked at James. "That sounds suicidal. Teitou's lockdown is tightening as you all are aware," she said.
Saya took a deep breath. "She'd probably die if she faced anyone serious," she said.
Musubi clenched her fists. "That's why we want to help. So they can live together safely," she added.
Tsukiumi turned to her. "Musubi, you of all people should understand. A Sekirei not fighting for her Ashikabi is shameful," she remarked.
"The system itself is cruel. Making people fight like this, it's barbaric," Rei said in a firm tone.
Saeko placed her cup down. "But choice matters. And they're choosing to leave," she said. Saeko thought fighting was right however she looked at Danna-sama and knew he made a choice. She would do anything for him.
Jasmine nodded. "We should help them. It's the right thing to do," she said.
"I know this goes against your beliefs. But imagine if Musubi were weak and something happened to her. If there was a chance to save her, wouldn't you take it?" James asked.
Tsukiumi's breath caught. Her heart clenched. "I, I will protect everyone," she said.
"And me! I'm strong!" Musubi shouted as she smiled brightly.
"So how exactly are we pulling this off?" Matsu asked as she leaned back.
Musubi grinned. "We came up with a plan," she said.
James nodded. "Matsu, you'll hack into the surveillance satellites watching the city. Once they're down, we'll head to the northern bridge. We'll create a distraction, and while the guards are focused on us, Haruka and Kuno will slip through," she said.
Rei raised an eyebrow. "This plan is simple," she said.
"Sometimes simple is the best," Saya said.
"Okay, I can hack into the satellites no problem but it will be down only for a while," Matsu remarked.
"That will be fine," James replied.
"How are you all okay with this?" Tsukiumi asked. "Some of you don't even have powers," she added.
"Without powers we are still useful," Rei fired back.
"We did take a big robot down," Saya added.
"I did not mean like that," Tsukiumi said.
"Tsukiumi you may think this is a suicidal attack but I will never want anyone of you to get hurt," James said. "I will never throw you into danger without knowing the full consequences," he said. "We will win this," James stated.
"As ever confident," Rei said. "Jasmine, you think they are good people?" she asked.
"Kuno and Haruka are," Jasmine responded with a smile on her face.
Tsukiumi kissed her teeth. "I am not happy," she said as she walked out of the room.
"Do you think she will come around?" Matsu asked.
"She will," Lois responded. "We also need to prepare," Lois added.
Tsukiumi walked to the garden. She thought why is James doing this. She thought why is he helping someone out. She sat down on the ledge.
At that moment, Miya appeared. "Something on your mind?" Miya asked.
Tsukiumi looked at her. "You might have overheard James' plan to help them escape," she said.
"Yes, he is interesting," Miya chuckled. "I did not think he would go out of his way to help someone like this," she added. "As people this maybe it just natural," Miya said.
"But we are Sekirei," Tsukiumi said as she stood up. "We have a duty to fight," she said in a firm tone.
"Tsukiumi do you mean it is not fair that she gets to run away and spend all of her time with her Ashikabi," Miya said with a smile on her face.
"Landlord," Tsukiumi said as she went red. She took a deep breath. "Well maybe you are right. The fact that the Number 95 is so weak is upsetting, but on the other hand it is possible that I feel a bit envious," she added.
"It looks like you are aiming to be the strongest," Miya said.
"At first, I thought it would be possible to become the strongest without an Ashikabi," she said. "But now," she said. She thought back to James, protecting her. "I am aiming to be the strongest so I can spend the rest of my married life with James," she said.
"That is cute," Lois said.
"You heard all that," Tsukiumi shouted. "You better not tell him," she added.
"I think he knows," Lois remarked as she walked towards Tsukiumi.
"Why are you here?" she asked. "Did James ask you to convenience me?" Tsukiumi asked.
Lois smiled. "James did not ask me but you do want to help him, maybe this will get you to be his favorite Sekirei," she teased.
"Favourite Sekirei? " Tsukiumi.
"I am only kidding about that, James loves us all equally," Lois said. "And I know you are strong, we need you there to help us, we are family," she added.
Tsukiumi looked at Lois.
"She is right," Miya said. "Together you might be unstoppable," she added.
"I said, I am strong," Tsukiumi said.
"Let's see how strong you are," Miya said as she walked in the middle of the garden. Miya held a wooden sword. "Come at me," she added.
"Okay," Tsukiumi responded. "Hydra Blast," Tsukiumi said as she raised her palm and blasted water.
Miya raised her wooden sword and slashed the water away.
"What was that?" Tsukiumi asked.
Miya dashed forward and swung her wooden sword. "You have so many holes in your defence," Miya said as a burst of air was released. Tsukiumi clothes flew upwards from the blast of the wind. Then her clothes tore apart. Her dress was completely destroyed and she was just in her panties. "You have a lot to learn," Miya added.
Tsukiumi looked in shock. She used her hand to cover her breast. "Landlord, just who are you?" she asked.
"Someone very strong," Lois responded as she with a smile on her face.
"You are not too bad yourself, you have been learning well," Miya responded. "For a human, you all sometimes feel like Sekirei," she added.
"You are just flattering us, we can never match your power," Lois said. They both smiled at each other.
"So Tsukiumi are you coming with us?" Lois asked.
Tsukiumi looked at Lois. "I will," she responded. "For him and you all," she added.
After a few hours they all gathered at the entrance of the Shrine. "This is the perfect night to do it," Musubi said. She wore a white gi with red string decorating. She had a short red skirt, mid-calf brown boots, and upper thigh-high white stockings. She also had a pair of red combat gloves.
"You are right, it is a beautiful night," Jasmine said. She was wearing a modern, form-fitting outfit consisting of a light blue, sleeveless mock-neck top and matching light blue pants that had a glossy finish. Over the pants, she wore a black belt and harnesses. A small black pouch on her right hip. She had black ballet flats. One top of her head she wore a dark blue headband with a large light blue circular gem, and matching light blue teardrop-shaped earrings.
"Where is Mastu?" Rei asked. She was wearing a dark green corset with thin straps. It showed some cleavage. She also had matching short dark green shorts with a shiny leather finish. Rei also had black thigh-high socks and combat boots.
"She said, she will support us from here," Saya responded as she wore a cropped, light blue denim jacket worn over her black top. She had fitted, straight-legged blue jeans which had secured with a black belt with a gold buckle. She had dark brown combat boots.
"Okay, that is fine. She will be doing her best from here," James responded. He turned his attention to Tsukiumi. She was wearing her usual clothes. "Thank you for coming, I really do appreciate it and I love you," he added.
Tsukiumi went red instantly. "Do not say things like that out of the blue," Tsukiumi said back.
"I love you all," James said. He thought they were all looking stunning.
They all smiled. "We know," Lois responded. She was wearing a black outfit. It was a full-body jumpsuit with long sleeves and pants tucked into high boots. There was a zipper running down the center front of the torso which showed her cleavage. She has black fingerless gloves and her pants had holsters attached to the thigh. She was also wearing tall, black combat-style boots.
Kusano came to James. "You love me?" she asked. She was wearing her green dress.
"I do," James responded as he petted her head. Kusano smiled as she felt her head being petted. She thought it felt good. The other girls looked slightly jealous.
"We should focus," Saya said as she looked into the sky. "We are running out of time," she added.
"Yes we should keep moving Danna-sama," Saeko said. She was wearing a long, black dress.
The skirt of the dress extends to about mid-calf or ankle length. It featured a high side slit on the skirt, revealing her upper thigh. She had black gloves and black boots.
"I will follow you James," Akitsu said with her usual clothes.
"We are here," Haruka said as he came with Kuno. "Are you all Sekirei?" Haruka asked.
"No, some of us are human," Saeko responded.
"Is it safe for you all to come?" Kuno asked.
"We can handle ourselves," Rei said with a smile on her face. She had a gun in her hand.
"I don't want you all to get hurt," Haruka said.
"We said, we can handle ourselves," Lois stated.
James smiled. "They all are tough," he further stated. "We are running out of time," James said. "Let's go," he added. James thought this was what he was waiting for. He punched his fist into his palm.
Kazehana looked from the rooftop and smiled. "What are you going to do?" she said.