She was young and pretty. She was short, but her manner and dress suggested she was easily nineteen years old. She had black hair that she drew back into a pony tail. Her bangs curled over her forehead in front and cascaded down at the sides to frame her golden porcelain face. Her eyes were deep purple.
A tiny top hat was clipped into her hair. It was so small that she might have stolen it from a child's doll. Tucked into the brim of the hat was a silver Sekirei symbol. She wore a silver peasant style blouse that fell off her shoulders and sheathed her arms loosely with puffy sleeves. Over that was a black corset that flowed into a wide, mid-thigh length skirt with black petticoats beneath. She wore black lace fingerless gloves. Around her neck was a silver cross.
She wore black boots that rose just above her ankles with silver laces. She walked slowly and with purpose. She carried a black lace parasol. She was number 33. Her name was Yuuwaku.
Yorinuku Naniyori was bicycling home. As he approached Tashaki's Fruit stand, he spied her. Her smooth skin contrasting against her dress was quite fetching. Her taste in fruit baskets was excellent. Her manners seemed in need of improvement.
Yuuwaku watched the Fruit vendor tell some one's grandmother about which of his peaches were best for desert making. She reached down and took a basket by the handle while he was faced away from her. She turned and walked away confidently. She had gone two meters when a man stepped into her path.
He was in his forties. He was dressed in a plain brown suit. His graying hair was darker than his beard, which was almost completely grey. He adjusted his glasses as he spoke, revealing a pair of bright blue eyes. "Are you going to pay for that?"
She looked up to him and narrowed her eyes. She worked out her answer carefully, "No."
He grabbed one end of the scarf around his neck and tossed it over his shoulder as though annoyed with it. "Such a cute girl should not be so rude." He leaned toward her like an angry teacher, but kept his tone civil. "If that isn't paid for," he pointed behind her at the stand, "then Tashaki will lose money on it."
The girl frowned and her eyes darkened, "Who are you to be telling me what to do?"
He smiled and stood up straight again. "No one." He slipped his hands into his pants pockets. "Just a man who hopes you will do the right thing."
She smiled back wryly, "Fat chance."
He sighed as he took some money out of his pocket, "Good thing I'm here then." He walked toward the fruit stand while counting it out. "Good day to you, Miss."
Yuuwaku's jaw relaxed as she watched him walk up to the fruit stand. She stood there as paid the vendor for the basket she had taken. The Vendor seemed confused. When the bright-eyed man pointed toward her she stepped quickly back into a shadow and disappeared.
Yorinuku reached home a while later. He unlocked his door as usual and looked at his mail. He did not see the girl watching him from the shadows across the street. No one saw Yuuwaku. She was completely covered in shadow. She watched him enter his home and reviewed what had happened earlier in her mind. He made her smile. She'd never done that before. She'd never felt this way before. Was this her Ashikabi?
She watched him enter his home. She moved with a thought from the shadow across the street from his front door to a shadow in the corner of his living room. He never saw her eyes watching him as he made and ate a modest dinner while sitting at a computer and reading messages.
She watched as he washed his dishes and then went to sleep.
The next morning, he ate a simple breakfast and washed and dressed and then he rode his bicycle through the city, passed the shadow of the great MBI building to the university.
"Good morning, Professor Naniyori," said his student assistant when he entered his classroom.
"Good morning, Keiko." He sat at his desk and frowned at the work load sitting on it. His ceramic figurine of Totoro smiled back at him holding an umbrella stretched high over it's own head.
"I had a question about the format of my thesis." Keiko said meekly.
"Oh, what was the topic again?" he asked tiredly.
"Nietzsche's influence on Ayn Rand," Keiko answered. "Should I use a comparison of their views or a presentation of how her philosophy evolved?"
He picked up a student's exam and set it before himself. "I'll get back to you on that."
Keiko bowed, "Very good, Professor."
Yuuwaku watched him all day. He lectured several times, but spent most of his day grading entrance exams. She moved from shadow to shadow as he moved from room to room. Then followed easily as he rode away from the university at the end of the day. Ninja would envy her seemingly mystical ability.
He came to a hospital and went quickly to a room upstairs without stopping or asking the way. He went into a private room and visited with a woman there of similar age. They talked for some time. He fluffed her pillow and called the nurse for her and stayed some time. Then he kissed her goodbye and clasped her hand in his.
Only then did Yuuwaku notice the glint of matching rings on their hands. He was married. A contract with an Ashikabi was an intimate, sacred thing. Some thought it was like a marriage. He could not be her Ashikabi. She gave up her surveillance and went to her favorite place to rest.
"You need not stay here all night, Yori." His wife told him. "I'm quite weak tonight, but I am no worse."
He smiled, "Where else would I be, Suki?"
She looked at him lovingly, "I'm such bad company tonight. Go out somewhere nice. Do something fun and tell me about it when you come another day."
"Very well," He kissed her and took her hand. "I'll find something."
He left the hospital wondering where to go. Suki had not meant for him to go home. He rode about randomly and looked at the stars. Then he saw where he should go, the park.
He had lived in Shinto Teito for years, but had never been to the park before. It was a destination for tourists and locals alike with a zoo and a large pond and a cherry grove. A wonderful place to relax.
It was dark by the time he arrived. The zoo and the boat rentals were closed by then. So he walked the path, looking over the cherry trees and the statues of figures from history and mythology.
He was looking over the statue of the last samurai when she walked out of a patch of darkness.
"Hello, Bright Eyes," Yuuwaku greeted him as she looked up at the statue.
Her appearance startled him. "Are you following me?"
"I was," She said blandly. "but this meeting is by chance. I am fascinated by the way you exalt your fellow man."
He looked at her, trying to determine if she was a threat. He was too distracted by her beauty to make a determination. The dim moonlight did wonders for her appearance. "It wasn't my idea."
"What wasn't your idea?" she asked.
"Exalting these people," Yorinuku clarified. "I'm just surveying the art here."
"I was referring to the human need to exalt other humans."
He snickered, "You sound like you don't include yourself in th-"
"We thought we'd find you here!"
The pair turned at the call to see two young women dressed in revealing leather.
"Am I that obvious?" asked Yuuwaku.
"Ready for a little sparring?" asked the girl in the darker leather outfit.
The twins held hands and electricity played in the air around them.
Yuuwaku cocked her head. "Emerged, have you?" she asked as though about whether it would rain.
"We have," the twins said proudly in unison.
Even with their obvious increase in power, they did not worry Yuuwaku more than before. They were challenging her at night in a grove with occasional artificial lighting. Shadows were everywhere.
Hikari lifted one hand at Yuuwaku as the lightning intensified.
"Stop!" Yorinuku jumped between them as the bolt was cast. His body convulsed for an instant as it struck him. He was turned toward Yuuwaku when it stopped.
She fidgeted with her parasol as she cocked her head in confusion, "Why did you do that?"
Yori did not answer, he sank to the ground, barely catching himself in a sitting position.
"You need to work on your aim, Sister," said Hikabi.
Hikari turned angrily to her sister, "How was I to know he'd jump out like that?"
"If you moved faster, he wouldn't have been there."
"Do you want to try it?"
"Why would I want to hit him?" Hikabi asked haughtily. "She is our opponent."
Hikari angered more, "I know that she-" She pointed at the statue and became quiet, "is gone."
"Uh oh," Hikabi whispered.
Then both girls felt a hand at their backs.
"Do you really want me to end your career as Sekirei now?" asked Yuuwaku.
"You can't defeat us," protested Hikari.
"You haven't emerged yet," agreed Hikabi.
"True," Yuuwaku said in her usual monotone. "I still recommend that you go home." She let her hands climb their backs slowly, growing closer to their marks.
"Not a bad idea," Hikabi said quickly.
"Even a good one," Hikari nodded.
"On your way then," Yuuwaku encouraged.
The speed at which the twins left was both impressive and pathetic. Yuuwaku walked over to the middle-aged man now lying by the statue. She poked him with one of her feet, "Answer my question."
He looked up at her giddily a moment and then lost consciousness.
Yuuwaku growled. She should have left him there. Instead she waved her parasol over him, encouraging shadows to surround his body until they could coalesce and solidify. The shadows lifted him gently off the ground and then, carrying their cargo, followed her into the darkness.
Yorinuku woke in his own room, on his own futon. His usual pillow was comfortably beneath his head. He was on his side in a semi-fetal position. One arm was wrapped around the young woman spooned against him.
Yori jumped up with a cry. Then he swayed as blood rushed to his head. He had not stood that quickly in years, maybe ever.
They were both nude. "Oh God," Yori cried out.
Yorinuku's bedroom window faced north, but her fair skin somehow caught the morning sunlight and reflected it the way the moon does. It looked like she was glowing.
Yuuwaku was awoken by his yelling. "Are you Okay?" she asked, annoyed.
He looked at himself and then at her. He paused dreamily before answering, "Fine, thank you." He stared at her as she sat up, "Why are you here?"
She looked back at him, enjoying his stare. Her tone was crass, "You didn't answer my question."
"I told you," insisted Yorinuku. "I'm fine."
"No," the young woman stressed. "I'm here because you didn't answer my question last night."
He seemed to remember a moment about the night before and then he shrugged. "It seemed the right thing to do. You were in danger."
"Interesting," was her only comment.
"Thank you for bringing me home, but I don't appreciate being taken advantage of," he said sharply. "You won't be-"
He was cut off by her soft, gentle laughter. "You think we bonded?" she seemed amazed. "You are not my Ashikabi."
His face fell. "We were both nude and lying together. I -" he blushed.
Yuuwaku shrugged. "I always sleep nude," indoors anyway. "Your polyester suit was starting to melt on your skin, so it had to come off."
"Oh," he found his glasses and put them on. "Why lie next to me?"
Her eyes widened. Why had she spooned in next to him? It had felt good to be next to him, his arm around her. She shrugged, "Why not?"
"I'll tell you why not." His voice rose, "I'm a married man! I'm old enough to be your father!"
"Whatever." She stood up and stretched. The way he watched her as she did was priceless.
His manner turned thoughtful, "What's an Ashikabi?" He rubbed his chin, "A moist assistant?"
She chuckled softly. "I am a Sekirei. We take humans as partners. They are our Ashikabi."
"You aren't human?" He looked her over again.
She turned for him, taking in his gaze. She enjoyed watching his eyes light up. "I am a Sekirei," she said as though it explained everything.
He turned to a bookshelf against his wall. "Well, you need to learn something about ethics, Young Lady." He selected a book and handed it to her. "You can start with this while I dress."
She took the book and looked at it, "Yuuwaku."
"Pardon?" he paused on his way to the bath.
"My name is Yuuwaku." She was opening the book and scanning the table of contents. She sat down on the futon.
He bowed deeply in response, "Yorinuku Naniyori is pleased to meet you, Yuuwaku."
She move her eyes from the book and looked at him, particularly at hip level. "I noticed."
Yori moved his hands over himself and stepped to the bath, grabbing a towel once it was in reach to wrap around his modesty. He then closed the door after him.
Yuuwaku did not realize herself that she was smiling as she finished chapter 2 and began chapter 3 of the book. It was a textbook about philosophy and philosophers, about choices and right verses wrong. something about it reminded her of her early days at MBI.
"I really don't see why we need a human partner," Yuuwaku told Yume.
Yume beamed down at her the way she so often did. "Our Ashikabi make us stronger."
"So we emerge and become more powerful because of them?" the dark girl asked.
"That is part of it," Yume nodded.
"That sounds all right," Yuuwaku said as though settling for that answer.
"I can tell you something about your Ashikabi," Yume whispered to her.
The girl's attention was caught. "What?"
She leaned in and told her even more softly. "He will make you laugh."
Yuuwaku leaned away from her mentor sharply and sneered. "Why would I do that?"
Yume giggled. "How should I know? He's your Ashikabi, not mine."
While nearing last chapter of the book, Yuuwaku gasped so sharply that she dropped the book. She stared at the closed door to the bath. She could hear some moderate splashing from inside. He was in there. The man who had made her laugh.