The Great Escape Ch4 bit – Hostage

A whisper of a gray cloak, and Karasuba had an eerily gentle hand on a young man’s shoulder. A tracker dangled from her fingers, battered and dusty. “One last time. Where is the Ashikabi of the North?”

Messy black hair. A young face, above a casual jacket, with one of the future’s newfangled computers slung in a satchel over his shoulder. Just an ordinary Japanese teenager, with a smear of someone else’s blood over his eye.

Naginata up in a guard position, the robed girl froze.

MBI wants Minato, Steve realized. If these kids have lasted this long in Minaka’s death game, they know other Ashikabi are their enemies

Karasuba’s young hostage swallowed, and looked death in the eye. “Even if I knew… I wouldn’t tell you.”

Karasuba smiled.

The naginata flashed. “Get away from him you murdering-!”

“Let’s go.” Yards away, Karasuba snapped her fingers. “We’re done here-”

Eerie gray eyes flickered. Steve didn’t think. He shoved Haihane away, and threw.

Vibranium rang.

Half-covered by the shield, one of the Sekirei fell, bleeding.

Karasuba’s smile gleamed like her blade. “Later.”

A rush like wind, and they were gone.

15 thoughts on “The Great Escape Ch4 bit – Hostage

  1. The one thing that you can count on when Karasuba shows up is that the blood starts flowing and if you’re lucky no one dies.

    I’m guessing the Ashikabi and Sekirei are Oosumi and Kaho?

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  2. Good thing Steve has good and quick reflexes, isn’t it?

    Might be good if the Avengers get to talk to some of the Ashikabi and Sekirei that are there. Because the Discplinary Squad wouldn’t exactly give you the best impression of Sekirei.

    Especially Karabasa. Haihane and Benitsubasa are tough and scary enough in their own right but the Black Sekirei is a much bigger threat than them.

    Not that you should ever discount or not keep your eyes on the Red Sekirei or Blue Sekirei. Not being as dangerous or scary as their leader doesn’t make those any less dangerous.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Nice guy, good reflexes, not squishy – he might be in trouble!

        Especially if they can figure out how to re-bond the Sekirei who have been deactivated who got stuck with abusive Ashikabi the first time around. . . like that one who was with Yashima (the one with the hammer that Shiina deactivated) – he fully deserved getting hit with Yukari’s signature move. And Yashima deserves so much better than him for an Ashikabi. (And she isn’t the only one either).

        Side Thought: I have the feeling that Matsu isn’t going to be the only one taking some amusement about the fact that Minato all but glows in the dark when he blushes. (Through I think Kazehana already does and Kagari / Homura has been known to).

        Side Thought 2: Does anyone else think that Pepper could probably learn to do the oni mask thing that Miya does?

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      2. There’s also the Sekirei that were winged by Higa and Mikogami (I think I got their names right) that have been deactivated – both those Ashikabi had huge flocks, and if my memory serves me correctly they were both winging Sekirei by force. Some of those birds might well chose to go elsewhere, given a second chance. And you were thinking Steve, but I’ve been wondering for a while if Bruce might not have an easier time keeping the big guy under control with a bit of friendly help. Seriously, he’s nice, intelligent, and when push comes to shove he can certainly take care of himself. If he has Ashikabi potential, the poor guy might well be Doomed.
        Also, is anyone else super glad Karasuba is already winged? If she’d found out there are humans out there that can actually fight, well she might have decided to go shopping for an Ashikabi more to her taste. (And just our luck she probably would have found someone as charming as Magneto. Thank goodness he’s probably too old for her)

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      3. >Side Thought 2: Does anyone else think that Pepper could probably learn to do the oni mask thing that Miya does?>
        Considering Tony’s well deserved issues resulting from his kidnapping, torture etc along with the problems that he developed after New York judging from Iron Man 3, attempting to make him back down via excessive amounts of fear would be……..bad.

        Now her using it on the board of directors etc would be perfectly alright.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. > Side Thought 2: Does anyone else think that Pepper could probably learn to do the oni mask thing that Miya does?

        Hannya, not Oni. Can’t say it wouldn’t be appropriate, though.

        (And now that I’ve imagined it, I can also see Tony flashing betrayed looks at Minato and/or Miya, every time Pepper uses it.)

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Especially once they figure out how far he’s willing to go to protect those he considers his.
        Also, company that doesn’t have a lens of 70 years worth of assumptions and hagiography to see him with would probably be good for him too.

        As for Bruce, I’m enjoying a mental picture of the expression on General Ross’s face when it gets back to him that Bruce has a bodygaurd of insanely protective/cute teenage girls. All of whom think going a few rounds with the Hulk is the funnest thing ever!!!

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      6. “Also, is anyone else super glad Karasuba is already winged? If she’d found out there are humans out there that can actually fight, well she might have decided to go shopping for an Ashikabi more to her taste. (And just our luck she probably would have found someone as charming as Magneto. Thank goodness he’s probably too old for her)”

        I’m more of the thought that Karasuba would want an Ashikabi that would not try to reign her in or set ground rules on what she can or can’t do. Personality wise, Karasuba and Takami are similar in that they both have a dominant, head strong personality and that they prefer to play by their own rules instead of following someone elses.

        I belive with individuals like Magneto, she would prefer to fight them to the death instead of becoming ‘charmed’ by them.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m sure Pepper would only use her new power for good.

      I believe she is smart enough not to use a fear-based technique on someone with PTSD but the board and similar idiots should be fair game . . . .

      I like the image of General Ross getting his behind handed to him by a flock of Sekirei protecting their Ashikabi.

      Of course, part of me thinks that eventually someone will try to pull a Benitsubasa and kidnap Minato, again, and get his flock very, very annoyed (to put it mildly) with them.

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      1. >I like the image of General Ross getting his behind handed to him by a flock of Sekirei protecting their Ashikabi.>
        More like he tries to press-gang Minato and Yukari for whatever reason.

        Scene cut to Ross being forcibly shut up and secured via copious amounts of duct tape* and the Avengers/Minato attempting to explain to Musubi that no, hammering the General into the ground (head-first) like a tent peg won’t solve the situation.

        Meanwhile Bruce is steadfastly trying to ignore the comments from The Other Guy that Musubi’s suggestion is a great idea that should be carried out post-haste.

        *Because Tony isn’t interested in needing to have bits of General scrapped off the walls of his freshly-rebuilt tower.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Considering he tried to enslave a scientist and turn him into a weapon/property… If I recall correctly, we fought a blood-drenched Civil War to stop that attitude.(personally wish the Government hadn’t disobeyed the spirit of Abe’s ideal but…)

    Liked by 1 person

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