Author - MikeX713
Disclaimer – I don't; own Elder Scrolls or Sekirei. If their owners would like to give me them… that's cool… but for right now… nope… don't own anything but OCs.
Author's notes.
First off… to all of those who are fans of my other stories that have not touched in some time… I am sorry. Really really sorry. I know… I really should work on them but right now… really sorry but I just have some issues with some of them and others simply not inspired. I am working on fixing both issues. But for right now… sorry.
Second, currently I have about I think six chapters finished. After that I don't know how long it might take to make more. I will be posting new chapters weekly until I have no more chapters left to post. Then who knows when I will post. Sorry.
Third. WARNING. If you like stories where the Dovahkiin is super badass and op as fuck RIGHT AT THE START, then this is not the story for you. I like progression in characters. The Dovahkiin in this story is currently in full end game level of power and gear however is in a mind set that limits him. He is not weak in terms of power but he just has some personal issues that prevent him from using his full power all the time. But as the story goes on he will begin to use more and more.
"Talking"
"Thoughts"
"Thu'um"
"I have faced down dragons, Daedra, vampires, killer dwemer robots, armies of men… so how… for the love of Nocturnal am I beaten by a stupid entrance test?" Malistantius Caeraso grumbled to himself as he stared at the sign stating the grades for the entrance test. He was supposed to be the Dovahkiin, the Thieves Guild Master, Harbinger of the Companions, Hero of the Stormcloaks, Hero of all of all of Nirn. But this test… this had beaten him twice. "Maybe I should just steal the answers." He grumbled as he turned around and began his way back to his apartment.
He walked through the crowds of people most if not all happy with their test results. He pushed down the feelings of jealousy toward them, he had in another life done so much more. Or so he had been told. His name was Malistantius, shortened for this world to be Malist. He was the Dragon Born, but again he had been told this. He couldn't remember much of his previous life. He knew how to do certain things, skills and spells but very little from his life before this world had stayed with him in travel. He remembered names, faces, and small important things about a few people from back in Nirn, the world he came from, but that was it.
He could remember Brynjolf and everyone from the Thieves Guild, though him the most. He could remember all the times they taught him to never play or fight fair, and the motto of the Thieves Guild, Shut up and go steal something, we need the money. He remembered the Companions, he was supposed to be their Harbinger. Memories of laughing and drinking after a successfully clearing a bandit camp could come back to him but then leave as quickly as they came. There were other faces and names that every now and then came, Ulfric Stormcloak, Delphine, Vavos Aren, and many others. But there was only a small ember of recognition in his mind.
But these memories were not the only thing from his former life he retained. He still had the many skills that made him a hero and so powerful that he could raze whole cities. He was a natural talent with Magicka, he focused on Destruction and Conjuring but he held some skill in the rest of the schools of magic from Nirn. He still could call on these powers as easily as breathing. In all honesty, he would have preferred a bit more of his memories to this. But his body also retained much of the more sneaky skills that had been taught to him by his friends in the Thieves Guild. And he was still the same expert marksmen with a bow as always was back in his old life. The only place he lacked was in close combat… where he was a Divines awful mess. But he had something that fixed that. In the form of two enchanted Daedric Daggers that both increased his speed and ability in knife play. Along with those two Daggers he had still a whole Inventory of equipment and gear form his previous life. Tools and weapons that only the Dragon Born would ever have in number.
But all of this was useless in this world. This world was not Nirn but Earth. And enchanted daggers and spells had no place here. This was a world built on science and technology. And so he was very out of place here. Even more so given what happened to him on the way here. Not only had he been sent to a world unknown and had his memories taken from him. But even his body had been taken as well. The being that sent him and his three traveling companions here thought it would be funny to also de-age him down to eighteen years old. He had only done so to him… and only Malistantius' memories had been taken. He had no idea why the Daedric Lord of Madness and Chaos did this but given what that being was it was impossible to ever know the why and even if he did… the reason would be stupid. He just knew it.
So now Malistantius the Dovahkiin had been taken from the world he had saved and placed in this world as Malist the Confused. Now a nineteen year old young man with the powers of a world saving hero and the knowledge that he carried the legacy of said world saving hero. A legacy he was doing a very poor job of living up to.
Malist pulled out his phone and glared at the device for a moment. He knew he had to call her, he didn't want to… she would make fun of him. He had been her Harbinger and yet… things were very different.
"You failed didn't you?" He heard Aela mocked without even waiting to see if he had might have passed.
"Yup…" He said simply before holding the phone out as to not shatter his eardrums.
"YOU COMPLETE DUMBASS! How in the name of Talos could you be this stupid! You can discover the secrets of the inner workings of magic and yet you fail a fucking math and science test! And you! The man that can convince anyone of anything, fail two separate language tests… how?!"
"I don't know… it just happened." He didn't even try to defend himself. That would be pointless. He had tried, he really did… but when it came down to taking the test… the paper in front of him… he just buckled under the insane pressure of trying to do as good as the Dragon Born would do. In his previous life he was considered a genius in many regards… he rarely acted like it given that he was far more at home with thieves and drunk warriors than academics and scholars.
"Listen… here's what is going to happen… I'm going to provide you some incentive… I'm cutting your funds in half." Malist stopped walking at that, his face contorting into terror. "You get in to college then you get your money back, got it?"
"Wait… Aela… please. I have saved you from countless dangers back in Nirn, that has to count for something please." He said this but the weak and fearful voice undercut the argument.
"That was back home… this is Earth, not Nirn. Here, you are a nineteen year old brat that needs to go to school and get a job afterward. Trust me… I'm not happy doing this."
"So all that time back home means nothing. Nothing at all?"
"Malist, you need to move on from Nirn… we all do." Aela said, her voice turning a little more soft and saddened. And at that Malist scowled, it was the same double standard that had developed for him. On one hand he was supposed to live up to the man he was before and yet at the same time move on from that life. "This isn't having to do with anything from back there… we all need to learn to live in this new world." She said before hanging up leaving Malist alone in the moving crowds of people.
"But this world isn't the world I belong in… damn you Sheogorath." Malist mumbled to himself before putting his phone away and continuing toward the train station. It had been one year and two months since Sheogorath had ambushed him and his companions on their way to get rid of a dragon that had been threatening Riften. He showed up out of now where and after annoying the group with his nonsense sent them all through a portal landing them in this new world. This Earth. Aela, Eirk, and Serana had all been dropped into this new world relatively untouched, they had all their gear and equipment with them and there was no change to their person.
But as said before, Malist had been changed both in mind and body. He now stood a head lesser than what he had been, it was still rather tall for most normal people but it was uncomfortable for him. His face had lost many of the scars that he had once been proud of, he still had the sharp features and dark hair of his Imperial heritage. His body was quite fit but lacking the highly trained muscles that only came in living a life filled in combat.
His mind had also been changed to that of teen, his memory fuzzy with the his past life. Much of what he didn't recall had to be retold to him, he believed it all as he had… something of a recognition of the facts just no real connection to them. His mind had cleared somewhat in time since then, he remembered the feeling of excitement of killing a dragon, or burring a giant to ash, all those fantastic things he had done in Nirn. And these things more than anything created a sense of longing for Nirn and a growing resentment to this new world.
In the year since coming to Earth, the four of the Nirn born companions had tried their best to integrate into their new home with varying success. Aela had been very successful in landing a high paying job at a local mega company as part of their internal security. She now helped the rest of them with any money problems. Not as much for Malist as of now however it would seem. Eirk bounced around, doing odd jobs and a bit of hard labor here and there. Out of all of them he missed Nirn the least, he had said he missed life as a adventuring mercenary but this world had TV and the Internet… Eirk unlike the other three didn't need much out of life. Serana was a bit of a mystery to the three, they knew she stuck around them in the city they lived in but what she did… none of them knew. All they had was a cell number and an address to a small apartment above a jazz music club.
Malist himself lived in a small single apartment. He had no job and he had very little social life. He didn't talk to people that much. He still could if he wanted to charm anyone into giving him everything they had on their person but he just didn't like talking to people in this world. Everyone felt so bland and boring. Being told that he once lived in a world filled with excitement and things like dragons and magic made everything in this world boring. Lately it just felt like in this world… he just didn't belong. That his very existence in this world was wrong. He didn't belong anywhere here, here in this world he failed time and time again to find a place. Back in Skyrim he did have a place… he was the hero.
"Damn it… I really hope that Nocturnal is beating his ass for taking her fav…" Malist continued to grumble his grievances toward the Daedra that sent him here but then stopped as his ears picked up the sound of an explosion. A small spark of hope of excitement run through the veins of the Dovahkiin. His years of battle and experience taking over his body as he heard the screams of a young woman coming at him.
"AHHH! Get out of the way please! I can't stop!" He didn't need to look as he readied himself to catch whoever this girl was that was coming toward him. He was fully prepared to catch her out of the sky like the hero he was supposed to be… only he didn't. He had mistaken the speed at which she was heading toward him and she quickly crashed into him sending him to the ground with her on top of him.
"Great… once again… I just prove what I already know." He grumbled as he opened his eyes only to find his view filled with the girl's underwear. Now… Dovahkiin Malistantius Caeraso of Nirn had seen many naked women and had long since lost his awkwardness around such things as this… but Malist of Earth had a biologically teenage body and lacked the solid memories needed to have a fully mature mind on the subject. And so, the mighty Hero of Skyrim blushed at the sight and quickly pulled back in embarrassment of the rather attractive girl on top of him.
"Ow… I should have known that building was way too high to jump off of." She mumbled to herself before turning around to Malist. "Thank you very much, you must be the kind person who caught me right?" Malist just stared at the girl, his brain needing a moment to fully grasp the situation. The girl in front of him looked to be around the same age as currently was, she was very pretty with a kind face and trusting eyes and short brown hair. Her outfit was… strange… and it did nothing to hide her figure… mostly her rather large bust.
"Well… it was more like a softened your fall… not that I didn't try to catch you." He grumbled that last part, upset at himself for not doing something a s simple as catching a falling girl. It looked like she was about to say something but then both her and Malist felt the a attack come to them.
"Look out!" She said before Malist could and rushed over to him to push him out of the way of a incoming lightning attack. Much to his surprise, teen joy, and warrior irritation in the process of pushing him to safety he was given a face full of the girl's chest. The girl was oblivious to it as she had more important things to worry about, or at that was what Malist assumed.
"There's no use running." Malist looked up after the girl got off him and he saw two twin women standing on top of a nearby building. Both in what he assumed to be leather armor but he had to concede that was unlikely given the design and how little the outfits covered. He didn't care due to one, they looked good on them. But more importantly, things were finally getting exciting for a change. This was still his chance to prove to himself and everyone that was still a great and mighty hero as he was back in Nirn. "We'll just find you again, so hurry up and fight us!" One of the twins called down to the girl.
"I can't fight! Well… at least not yet." She said a little weakly. Malist wasn't in the same boat as this girl, he was fully ready for the first real fight he was going to have in a year.
"You may not feel like fighting right now sweetie…" The other twin said as they both gave off a display of their power. "… but we do!" She said as the two of them jumped down toward Malist and the girl they were clearly hunting.
"As do I-iiiii…hey!" Malist screamed as he was taken by the hand and dragged away from the fight by the girl. "Whoa! She's strong!" Malist thought as he was dragged away, the girl's strength high enough to actually keep Malist off the ground the whole way out to the side of a river on the edge of the city.
"We should be safe for a while…" The girl breathed out after coming to a stop but then screamed at the sight of a motion sick Malist. Something he would later swear here to never tall a single soul about. "Please forgive me for this!' She screamed in worry as she tried to help Malist back to full awareness. "I'm soooo sorry, sorry sorry sorry…" She continued until Malist regained a bit of compose and sat back getting ahold of his breath.
"By the love of Nocturnal… we stopped…" He said as he looked around to try and get an idea for where he was.
"I'm sorry for getting you involved like this, I didn't mean to take your hand. I just did for some reason." She said with an apologetic look on her face as she kneeled down in front of Malist. "Oh! We haven't been properly introduced… my name is Musubi, what's yours?" Malist was… surprised at the friendly attitude this girl Musubi was showing him, a complete stranger. It was a nice change of pace to the normally either rude or superficial masks people of this world normally held.
"Malistantius Caeraso, but just call me Malist." He said simply deciding that this girl earned an honest answer.
"Malistantius Caeraso, that's a funny name." She giggled and for once Malist didn't take offence at someone saying his name was strange or funny or when back in Skyrim… too Imperial. It was one of the few memories he had… because there were so many of them. People in this country of Japan still found his name strange but just assumed he came from Europe. "Well thank you Malistantius for your bravery for saving me back there." That made a small vein pop out of his forehead.
"I didn't save you… I was going to but you dragged me away before I could!" He mentally raged as he finally found people that might provide a chance at glory and vindication but he didn't say it out loud because this seemed like a nice girl and he didn't want to upset her. She was already feinting and he didn't want to add on to that. "Wait… she's feinting?" Malist was taken out of his thoughts at the sight of Musubi falling to the side with her eyes closed. Malist stared at the girl for a moment thinking over the events of the last hour.
One… a cute girl crashed into him form the sky. Not that out of the ordinary back in Nirn but here… yes… very unusual. Then two women in… leather armor… appear and have some control over lightning but it didn't look to be Magicka based. This world had the flow of Magicka running through it, it was closed off from the humans that lived in it. Their bodies simply lacked something that humans and other beings in Nirn had that allowed them to use the energy. But after seeing those two women, the girl pulled Malist away from the fight and ran off to his current location. She also did so with strength not normal to humans. She had been friendly and in a way that Malist found refreshing and not fake at all. And then after introducing herself and he to her, she feinted. He knew what he wanted at this point, to figure out just what was going on and how he could find those women again and perhaps others like them. This world was starting to show its exciting side and he wasn't going to let it go. But he had only one connection to it… this girl, Musubi.
So Malist picked the girl up and threw her over his shoulder and casted over him and her the spell Invisibility. It would look strange and rather shady if he was seen carrying an unconscious girl back to his apartment. Not only that but his landlord was a total dick when it came to girls at Malist apartment. Malist arrived at his apartment with no issue and set Musubi down on his bed so that she may be comfortable. His apartment was filled with various things either brought with him in his Inventory or he made himself to try and give it a sense of home for him. It ended up looking much like his first home in Riften once he had filled it up with stuff. Aela and Serena both agreed that it was probably unhealthy for him to do this but he didn't care. It reminded him of what was his true home and that was important to him. He waited nearby reading, Lord of the Rings, it was one of the few stories that he had found to be of his interest in this world. This world called it Fantasy but it was far more closer to reality for him than the current world he was living in. At the sounds of Musubi stirring awake he looked up from his reading of Aragon fight the Nazgul.
"Are you okay… do you need something for your head?" Malist asked as he put the book to the side.
"Food… so… hungry…" Musubi said weakly as she reached out for something. Malist got up and took out a few premade sandwiches from his fridge and handed them over to Musubi. She quickly began to munch on them with great vigor. He walked back to his chair and grabbed it and placed it closer to his bed so the two of them could speak.
"When was the last time you ate?" Malist said clearly concerned over the pace the girl was eating.
"I don't remember…" She slightly sobbed with a cutesy face full of food. "Oh Malistantius I owe you everything, how am I ever going to repay you. Not only did you save me but you gave me food too."
"It's fine… I have pliantly of food so eat all you want." He said perfectly aware that if he ever needed to, he could just steal food. Money wasn't that big of an issue, Aela won't ever let the man hat had been her Harbinger starve. Or at least he hoped that she wouldn't.
"Okay." Musubi sobbed before returning to her eating. But then soon stopped as she looked around his apartment. "Wow… this place is cool… it's like something from way back in time."
"Thank you… I think… most of this stuff holds a lot of meaning to me. almost all the furs are from beasts I hunted and skinned myself." He said with a proud smile on his face. That was not entirely true but he liked to think it was. But then the sight of her tearing up wiped the smile off his face.
"You mean you killed poor fluffy animals Malistantius?" She asked with tears in her eyes.
"No! I only hunted down big bad beasts that threatened to hurt people if they weren't taken care of. I have never hurt anything that couldn't defend itself." He defended and it looked to be able to turn around the girl's opinion of the subject. "Besides… the idea of hunting small game in Skyrim is boring." He added in his head while smiling guiltily off to the side. "Like that one…" He said pointing to a massive bear skin that draped off the side of the wall. "… I worked for a group that was sometimes called to kill off bears and other big beasts that could hurt people. I got that pelt of the bear that was my first job all alone with them. It was a nasty bear that had killed two children, but I stopped it." He had been told that story to by Aela, it was one of his favorites as it was able to give him back a small memory of Kodlak telling him he did a good job. The grandfatherly man was someone that he knew was important to him.
"Wow… you're like a hero Malistantius." Musubi said with stars in her eyes at hearing him be so heroic. That made Malist blush a bit, he still didn't think of himself as a hero… even though that was his dream. To be a hero once again like he had been back in Skyrim. So hearing this girl call him that… it really meant a lot to the young Dovahkiin.
"I told you… call me Malist. It's a lot easier." He sighed as he brushed off the comment. He also really preferred people calling him that nickname due to the fact no one had been able to pronounce it correctly. They always said it Mal-ist-ant-ius when it was pronounced Mal-ist-an-tius. It was just easier on his ears if people just said the part they could get right.
"Okay, but umm… Malist… we need to talk. Could… uh… stay here for the night? I don't really have anywhere else to go." She said looking down at the floor not wanting to look at his face if he said no. She didn't see the look of blank dramatic phase Malist was giving her. He had already planned on keeping her here until either she had given the information he needed to seek out this new powered people. Or they came for her and he could protect her from danger and thus prove his heroics.
"Sure… so long as your quiet and don't burn down the place it's fine with me." At that she looked up in grateful happiness.
"Thanks so much, you've saved me once again." She said excitedly causing Malist to smile a tad. This girl simply had a small effect on him, she just had this air around her that just felt so vibrantly honest he could help but relaxed by it.
"It's no issue, but I need to know why… hm…" He stopped as she leaned in closer to him seemingly unaware of things like social boundaries.
"You're so wonderful, kind and brave… I just wish someone like you would be my Ashikabi.' That was a title for people of impotence in some kind of exciting and not normal world. Malist could tell, she said it with all the meaning that he would when speaking of him being the Dragon Born. Although the level of importance might be a little different.
"And… what is this… Ashikabi?" Malist was really interested now. This could be his way back into a life where the bland and boring did not belong. "A life that I need, if I have to spend another year being so nobody I'm going to go insane."
"The special one I'm supposed to find." She said before taking Malist hand, bringing it closer to her. Malist just let her do as she wanted. One part of his brain was looking for information and the other was slightly freaking out over the fact a cute girl was so close and touching him. He was a teenager after all "I've been looking so long for mine. Even though we've never met our Ashikabi's are the ones we were born to serve. It's our job to guide them… to the higher sky above." She said as she brought Malist's hand to her breast. For what reason he had no clue and at that moment he didn't really care. His brain was working over time trying to keep him from looking like a complete dumbass while the other side was going YAY! BOOB!
"Uh yeah… okay listen we should get to sleep soon so you can have the bed while I sleep on the floor." Malist quickly said as he took his hand away and walked over to one of the nearby cabinets and took out a few blankets and pillows that he kept away for when Eirk needed a place to stay for a night. Normally it was him that was on the floor and not Malist but this wasn't that situation. "Good night." Malist said quickly before wrapping himself in the blankets. "I touch a girl's chest and I get all flustered and embarrassed! That's not how the Dovahkiin should act, I never got embarrassed back in Nirn. I… oh fuck… whatever… it happened you stupid moron. Damn you Sheogorath!"
-o0o-
Serana entered the apartment of the de-aged Dovahkiin quietly. The former Thieves Guild Master was a paranoid one and that had kept true for the young Malist. But Serana was far superior in her ability into gain entrée than his ability to try to keep people out of his home. She had done this back when he had built traps into his homes and wards that required the use of many Soul Gems, both of such things he was not able to use now.
Her glowing red eyes scanned the small apartment, Malist was sleeping on the floor and the girl he had brought with him was in his bed. Just like Malist, Serana was intrigued by the strangeness that surrounded the events of the day before. She was not as needful for the excitement that Malist now craved to prove his legacy of being the Dovahkiin, so her interest was far more objective.
"Even back in Nirn you were always driven. The idea of adventure always brought a smile to your face." Serana thought to herself as she glided over to her companion. The two had known each other the least in terms of time for the four that had come to this world from Nirn, but the bond between them was in her opinion the strongest.
Aela and him were brother and sister in arms, both loving battle and the celebration after. But the two were not nearly as close as they used to be, it had started when Malistantius decided to rid himself of the Werewolf curse and she kept it. They still were close friends and companions but… they were no longer the packmates they had been.
Eirk was a classic fanboy of the Dovahkiin. While he was a very good warrior and had saved Malistantius' life many times, he still held the man on a height that no one could ever touch. It was a master student relationship without the teaching component. Given that Malistantius and Malist alike preferred range combat above all else. He was a master mage and one of the best bowmen in all of Skyrim. Only ever using daggers in close combat. Eirk on the other hand was all about heavy armor and great swords. Which worked well when the two them fought together.
But Serana honestly thought she and him were the closest out of the four. The only one that might be closer to the Dovahkiin would be Ralof, and she knew why. The two had been though the whole civil war together and survived Alduin attack on Helgen. But she and the Dragon Born had been through much as well, maybe not as much but it had been quite the ride. Fighting her own family and saving the world from endless darkness. She then continued to follow the Imperial, he at first was just an interest to her. What they had been through with her family had brought her attention to him beyond just a tool to finish her father off for good, and so she followed him on his adventures. All the time being quiet and observant, and a silent bond of understand and respect had formed between them.
And now they were in this new and bland world. Seemingly devoid of the adventure that Malistantius lived off of. But now, something had shown itself. These new powerful beings in the form of two twins who commanded lightning and a girl with amazing strength. Serana knew Malistantius, she knew that he was going to find his way to the heart of this new development. And if his track record showed anything… he was going to end up saving the world by the end of it. Time would only tell if this rule held true for Malist as well.
Serana then moved from hovering above Malist to tip toeing over to the girl alone in his bed. She was young, around Malist current age. Malist had gotten sevreal tests done and everything showed that he was both physically and surprisingly mentally in many regards. The girl was soundly asleep and it would be so easy for Serana to cut her throat and kill her. Serana smiled as she pulled back the blade she had in hand, not leaving a mark on the girl's neck. Malist was all that was left of her friend. He had retained much from his former self, both in his skills and many of his personality. But he also carried a few of scars that weren't so easily seen. Scars that had been caused by loss, pain, and despair.
"Maybe you can finally fix the wound to the Dovahkiin's heart. Maybe you can make him move forward and on to a life of true love and happiness." It was strange for a vampire to be wishing for anyone to have such a life, but the young man that used to be her greatest friend was different to anyone else. And with that Serana disappeared into shadow letting the two sleep for the night undisturbed.
-o0o-
Malist was walking down the side walk trying to figure out just how he was going to get some money. He told Musubi that he was going to the bank to get money for dinner but he wasn't sure if he would have the money. He thought about that plan he had for robbing it. It was one of his various idea for proving that he was in fact the Dovahkiin. The only reason why he didn't do it was not because he couldn't, with his Nightingale gear and skills he could rob any bank in the world. The only thing holding him back was the idea that he would be stealing from normal innocents, and while he honestly had no issue with steal from anyone he wanted to prove he was a hero. That was what he wanted above all else, to be a hero. He wanted it more than proving he was still as skilled and capable as the Dragon Born of Nirn was.
"Oh Brynjolf… you would hate to see my coffers so dry." Malist chuckled as he thought back to his friends in the Thieves Guild. That was where things all started for him back in his old life. He had moved from the core Imperial lands to Riften in hopes of getting away from his over bearing family. He hadn't lived much of a life before hand and was hoping to just have a quiet life away from it all back home. How wrong was he in thinking he wanted the quiet life. Brynjolf picked him out the day he arrived in Riften, and was able to convince him to join up with the Thieves Guild. That was where Malistantius found his love of anything but a quiet life. From joining the Guild in full, to being betrayed by Mercer Frey, to joining the Nightingales, to becoming Guild Master. Then things took a turn for the worst when he got caught on the border of Skyrim coming home from a meeting with a sister guild in Blackmarsh. But then that's when the whole Dovahkiin thing got started and a whole new life of adventures opened up to him.
But now he wasn't the Guild Master of the Thieves Guild, nor the Dovahkiin… well… he was that last one still. Just he wasn't in a world where that meant much. Other than being able to use Thu'um. Which he didn't do much of these days given that he didn't want to draw that much attention to himself. The idea of him being strapped to a lab table had been a threat learned early on in coming to this world. And now he was just some nobody, but not for long… he had a small glimmer of hope. And as he was walking he heard something that he knew would bring him closer to that hope.
"… having its grand reopening. And your all invited." Malist smiled at the sight of the two lightning twins handing out flyers. It was funny to him that they needed day jobs.
"Isn't this a nice surprise." He announced himself to the two women he looked surprised to see him. "Love the outfits." He joked as he scowled at him.
"Hey, you're that guy that ran off with that Sekirei." The twin in the blue maid outfit said as they fully recognized him form yesterday.
"So… Musubi is a Sekirei… but are they the same or am I looking at two separate races fighting each other." Malist thought to himself as he tried to gather as much information as he could on the situation. Information was power after all, that held true in any world you were in.
"Where's the Sekirei at pal?" The other twin asked with a slightly less irritated but no less stern tone. Malist was about to give back a well done lie about how he had no idea, but then…
"Hey Malist!" He turned back his head at the sound of Musubi calling for him. He saw the girl running down the street toward him. "Silly me I forgot to ask what you wanted to have for dinner tonight." She said with a completely unaware smile on her face, clearly having no idea that she was running toward people that wanted to do her harm.
"Oh damn… this is going to complicate things." Malist grumbled as this new development showed itself. Musubi stopped once she did in fact she the two twins begin to ready themselves with their lightning sparking around them.
"This is the second day in a row you've run into us."
"This city is pretty small." Malist eyed the area around them as the twins tried to intimidate Musubi. There were far too many bystanders for his tastes. If he were to use anything to flashy it would cause him problems later. But that line of thinking did make him wonder, this two girls had no issue showing off their powers and did that mean they had some kind of backing that protected them. Either way if they did or didn't he and Musubi needed to get to a more secluded area.
"It's you two again!" Musubi took a step back and tried to block the incoming lightning strike but she fell back onto the ground at the sudden flash of light. But then to her surprise the actual attack never came. She looked up and saw that a dome of shadowy black and red light was blocking the incoming lightning. She also saw Malist holding his hand up to the center of the dome and in the palm of his hand was a orb of flowing black and red light.
"You got to be kidding, this guy is a Sekirei too?!" The more aggressive twin growled at the sight of the shielding dome.
"What, no." Malist answered for them. "I'm just a normal human with a bit of mastery of the Conjuring Magicka." Malist chuckled as the Shield Dome Spell dissipated. "I'm also the last in the line of Dragon Born. Let me show you a bit of that. FUS RO DAH!" Malist Shouted and a wave unrelenting force exploded outward toward the two twins sending them back a few feet and staggered from the force of the Shout. Musubi was speechless at Malist power and his willingness to defend her.
"Something is happening… my body… it's feel strange…" Musubi was having a hard time thinking straight as her own body began sending her singles she didn't fully understand.
"There we go… they should be able to follow us. This is so fun! I'm actually in a fight with powerful beings and using Thu'um like a Real Dovahkiin would!" Malist thought as he looked down to Musubi who looked pretty out of it for the moment. Malist ignored that as right now she was in danger and he needed to get her out of harms way for the time being. The best way he could do that was getting to place where he could fight properly.
"Malist… what are… ah!" Musubi was interrupted by Malist picking her up off the ground into his arms.
"We need to get away from here." He said as he watched the twins start to recover from his Shout. "Hold on, this is going to get a little fast." Before she could ask what that meant, Malist Shouted again. "WULD NAH KEST!" She felt the two of them speed forward, as if being pulled by some storm of force. They ended up at the end of the street where Malist quickly turned down a unused alley. Musubi still looked like she was having a hard time breathing for some reason and her face was getting very red. The reason behind this Malist had no idea what it could be. "Are you okay… you look like you might be…" Malist was interrupted by Musubi pushing herself onto his chest. She held on to his jacket for support.
"Help me… I don't know what's happening… my body is so hot and it just keeps getting hotter." She said as she continued to push herself closer to the increasingly confused and flustered Malist.
"If you're sick I can see what I…" At that moment the two of them fell to the ground with Musubi on top of Malist, and with his hand on her right breast. "… I'm so sorry, I did not…" He stopped his quick and frantic apology her hand grabbing on to his and holding it where it was.
"Malist… your touch…" Musubi breathed out as she began to inch closer to Malist.
"This… is new for me." Malist was trying to figure out the chain of events that had brought him to this point but his mind wasn't fully active nor working at its finest.
"Aw… are we interrupting?" He looked back and saw that the twins had caught up with them and each was now at both ends of the alley. Blocking off any exit. Malist would be fine with this given that he knew he could take both of them on but currently the young Dovahkiin wasn't in a tactical mindset.
"Both of you are trapped like rats, so give up." The other twin said as they both took a step forward toward Musubi and Malist. However, Malist could tell that Musubi wasn't even aware of the danger she and… mostly she was in. All of her focus seemed to be on him.
"Musubi… we need to…" He stopped at Musubi getting even closer to him, her lips inches away from his. Some part of him heard the twins panic but that part was deafened by the rest of him figuring out what was about to happen. And then it did, Musubi leaned in and kissed him. It was then followed by a burst of pink energy all around them. Centered around ten wings of pink energy springing from Musubi and her being enveloped in the light, which seemed to be causing no small amount of almost sexual based pleasure.
"No way… of all the places she could have emerged it had to be here."
"And we almost had her too." Malist wasn't really listening to the twin complaining. The sheer amount of energy that was being given off by Musubi actually was given him a large buzz. The energy was very Magicka like and was effecting him more than it would a human without the large connection to Magicka like Malist had. This caused him to be unable to stop the twin in blue from pulling him back away from Musubi and hold him back with a sparking finger aimed at his face.
"Now that's she's emerged there's nothing we can do about it. But we can do something about the guy cocky enough to get in our way. So where's that fancy power now huh?" She mocked but Malist was still a little drunk on the intense power Musubi had been giving off.
"Let Malist go!" Musubi called out as the light died away leaving her standing and fully ready for battle.
"So you got tough all of a sudden?" The twin holding Malist said as she looked back at Musubi.
"I said let him go." Musubi all but demanded.
"And if I don't… what are you going to do about it?" Musubi responded by rushing forward at inhuman speed, pulling back her fist ready to pummel the twin holding Malist. Said twin threw the young man to the side and unleashed a torrent of lightning onto the incoming Musubi. This resulted in a explosion and when the dust settled Musubi was nowhere to be seen.
"Heads up Hikari." The other twin called to her sister. She looked up and was able to form a shield of lightning to block the incoming fist strike from Musubi. It soon because a battle of power with both sides pushing back against the other.
"Not bad, you can really challenge my sister and I." Hikari said before detonating her shield throwing Musubi back and temporarily blinding her. When Musubi was able to see again the twin was gone and had escaped with her sister to the top of the building at the end of the alley. "But we don't fight those that already emerged."
"Well good luck guiding your guy to the higher sky above." The other twin said in a slightly mocking tone before both flew off. Musubi ignored them and looked back to Malist who was leaning back against a wall, his head still swaying around as his mind was currently rousted.
"Malist! Are you okay… what's wrong?" She cried a she looked him over trying to understand just why he was acting like this.
"Calm down girl… he will be fine." Musubi turned around a saw a woman with glowing red eyes under a heavy hood walking toward them. Musubi stood to defend Malist but that just made the woman chuckle. "Don't even think about it girl, I have fought beings far greater than you. With him at my side I might add." The woman said looking down at Malist. Hearing that she knew Malist on some level Musubi wearily stepped aside.
"What are you going to do to him?" Musubi asked with clear worry in her voice.
"Just sober him up… whatever you did seems to have affected him in the same way a hard night of booze would. I'm actually impressed, he's always been a very good drinker… or at least he was." The woman said as she kneeled down next to Malist and… reached into some kind of portal and pulled out a glass bottle filled with a brown liquid.
"Wow… where did that come from?" Musubi asked as she stared at the magically appeared bottle.
"It's a spell called Storage, makes for carrying around lot of sometimes needless stuff easy." She explained as she opened Malist jaw and poured the liquid in the bottle down his throat. She emptied the whole thing before pulling away. It took a few second but eventually Malist coughed a bit before looking better.
"Damn it Serana… you couldn't have just let me work off my buzz off like a normal person could you… oh… wait…" Malist said as he remembered that it wasn't a normal buzz he just sobered from.
"Yes, Malist… besides… it's not like you could legally get drunk anyways." Serana chuckled before standing back up with Malist following. "So… do you remember what happened with this girl?" Serana asked look at Musubi who was just happy that Malist was fine again.
"Yes… I do… what of it?" He said doing his best to hide his small blush at the memory of the kiss.
"Only known her for less than a full two days and already hit first and from what I saw second base… naughty naughty Dovahkiin." Serana joked as she was greatly amused at this turn of events. "Yes… I do think I was right in letting this one go."
"Oh stop treating me like I'm nineteen… because I'm not." He said like a spoiled brat being given a lecture. He was the Dovahkiin and he had just started to prove that he was just as deserving of that tile as he was back in Skyrim.
"No… you are Malist. In every way you have become Malist and are no longer Malistantius Caeraso. That man has been lost to time and space. His body given your youth, his mind forever sealed away behind a fog of unknowing. All that is left of him is the stories we know, the ideal you dream to gain again, and the skills he passed down to you. You are more Malistantius Caeraso's son than the man himself." Serana stated.
"You do know how insane that sounds right… I'm my own son?" While on the surface Malist was angry at the insinuation that he wasn't the man he used to be anymore. But deep down Serana had hit his deepest fears right on the head. Even if she had done so in a very bizarre metaphor.
"Given that this is the work of the Daedra of madness and chaos… yes… I'd say it fits. The facts are as such… your body and mind can no longer considered to be thirty three anymore… you are nineteen. You must accept it." Serana said before focusing on Musubi who had been thrown into a storm of confusion by what had been said. "And you…" Serana said as she turned to Musubi. "… from what I was able to gather from events and what was said. You have somehow bonded with Malist in some way correct?"
"Yes, I'm now his Sekirei and he is my Ashikabi." Musubi said fully happy with the turn of events. Malist had been so kind to her so for him to be her Ashikabi was wonderful to her.
"I won't pretend like I understand the meaning behind those words. But I do hope that you take care of Malist. He's all that's left of a great man that I respected and admired."
"I really wish you wouldn't talk about me like that…" Malist grumbled as an air of depression hung above him. "I'm the Dovahkiin damn it… I'm supposed to be a hero."
"You keep telling yourself that Malist and it may one day come true." Serana waved off as she started down the alley and flew away in a burst of bats. Musubi's eyes went wide at the sight while Malist continued to grumble about what Serana had said.
"Malist! How did she do that! One second she was walking and then poof… she turned into a whole bunch of bats and flew away!" Musubi asked her Ashikabi excitedly.
"She's a vampire." Malist said bluntly as he began to walk out of the alley. His head still hurting from the sobering drought Serana had given him.
"NO WAY!" Musubi yelled out as she flailed her arms in shock at that information.
"Yes… now let's head home. My head is killing me and I need something to fix that."
-o0o-
Malist was currently on the roof of his apartment building. It was a little tricky to do so but he did it. He gripped in his hands his two Daedric daggers, Grim and Despair, and eyed the Frost Atronach in front of him. The summoned being made no move and that is what Malist needed right now. He just needed it to remain still while Malist did a bit of training.
Malist rushed the Atronach and made flurry of slashes at its frozen body. He continued the attacks, each came one after the other. Malist personal did not like to fight up close but he recognized the fact he couldn't always avoid it. So he trained in daggers, Vex had showed him how to fight dirty and other tricks… but by the end of it she had given up. Malistantius had proven that the last Dragon Born sucked at anything that involved with getting up close and personal in a fight. That is where Grim and Despair came into the picture. Malistantius had created these two Daedric Daggers with special Enchantments and doubled his speed and talent with blades. With hem he became decent at close combat fighting, without them he sucked.
"Sixty seven cuts in under a minute… damn… I need to improve if I'm going to be fighting Sekirei that can get in close really fast like Musubi can." Malist grumbled as he stepped back from his work. He noted every cut made to the walking and moving ice block. "No… sixty eight… Divines… even my eyes need improving."
"WOW! That's so cool." He turned around and saw Musubi climbing up onto the roof. "What is that… and you were moving so fast and those daggers look so sharp and… evil looking." Musubi excitement dipped at closer look at Grim and Despair. Malist chuckled at that very apt description. They were after all Daedric weapons. The blades still felt warm to the touch from the inclusion of the heart of a Daedra in their making.
"Yeah, but they are some of the best tools for what they need to do." He said ominously as he placed the two daggers back into his Inventory with the Storage Spell. "Do you need something Musubi?" Malist said turning to the Frost Atronach and banishing it. Causing the being to melt into a puddle of water.
"I wanted to tell you that dinner is almost ready." She said as her smile returned to her face. Malist had been watching her demeanor since returning back to his home. And while on the surface t didn't look like Musubi had changed much, she was still as happy and peppy as before but now, there were clear undertones to her behavior toward him that he was able to pick up. There was an air of loyalty and even small waves of subservience toward him now.
"Is this how all Sekirei act toward their Ashikabi. That… could be very dangerous. Blind loyalty toward someone just for… winging them as she called it… that is a dangerous system. How easily could Musubi ended up in the hands of some dumbass that would treat her like dirt. The idea that someone as honest as her in that situation… I'm going to be Shouting people to pieces aren't I." Malist thought to himself as he helped Musubi back down the apartment. They both entered and Malist returned to the small table he had for eating and Musubi went back to finishing up their meal. Malist played with a knife in his hands as he continued to think about the bits of information he had been able to gather. But he was irritated at the fact he still had lots of holes in the bigger picture. And then, his Nightingale luck showed itself again.
"TADA!" The small TV Malist kept around but rarely used turned on and a silver haired man in a ridiculous white suit appeared on TV. Both Malist and Musubi turned to the TV. "Hello my dear boy you've just become partners with a Sekirei, congratulations."
"Professor!" Musubi said excitedly as she moved in front of the TV. Malist meanwhile eyed the nearby dinner and was more concerned if their meal was going to get burned. But noting the low temperature of the stove he didn't worry too much.
"Musubi, I assume you know this guy?" Malist said as he returned his attention to the scene in front of him.
"Of course, he's my professor and the company president." Musubi cheerfully explained.
"If you don't know who I am…" Malist really didn't but he had an idea. "… then you really should watch the news more often. Malistantius Caeraso." At that Malist narrowed his eyes. The few people outside of Aela, Eirk, and Serana that knew him knew him as Malist. That meant that this man likely had access to databases where Malist legal name was stored. "The Dovahkiin really should be more observant." And now this man had his full attention.
"How. Do. You. Know. That. Word?" Malist growled out. There were only four people… he guessed now five if you included Musubi, that knew that word. It was not a word found in any language of this planet and the odds of him learning it on the planet it did come from was unlikely. Unless he was also form Nirn but then he would be far more respectful to Malist. That suggested he got the information from one of his companions.
"Ha… there's nothing that I don't know my dear boy." Malist snarled at that not answer. It reeked of something a Daedra would say. And certain Daedra at that, one that was far more annoying than most. "The Sekirei plan… that's the name of the game of which you have become a major player in as of today." The man said smiling as he spoke. "You are a Ashikabi, the partner of your Sekirei. Sekirei are to soon be engaging in a secret war between each other and will fight one another until only one is left standing. Those are the basic rules of the game, she fights and you make sure you or her don't die."
"I see… well… things I guess are finally getting interesting." Malist said with a half angry and pleased smile. Things were indeed getting more interesting but at the same time this man unnerved Malist in a way that he didn't like.
"Yes my dear boy… your days of boredom and monotony are over. You may now prove to world that you are indeed worthy to hold the name you claim." Before Malist could remark at that the man continued to speak. "But there is one last thing I must say… this game is a highly confidential project. So keep your mouth shut about it or else." A vain popped out of the Dovahkiin's forehead at the threat. "Or perhaps there might be a few tanks showing up on your doorstep ready to take you away to see if we can't figure out what makes Magicka work. Now if you will excuse me I'm quite busy so you will have to excuse me now. And take care of yourself number eighty eight AKA Musubi."
"Yes professor." At that the TV turned off leaving Malist and Musubi once again alone.
"That man… annoys me." Malist grumbled to himself.
"Malist… the Professor called you the Dovahkiin… what does that mean?" Musubi said as she turned back to her Ashikabi.
"It means that I have the blood and soul of a dragon. I can speak the tongue of the dragons called the Thu'um. Where I come from I am called the last Dovahkiin, as I am the first one to be born in many ages. But it worries me that this man even knows that word much less its meaning."
"Whys that?"
"Because it's a word that doesn't belong to this world." Malist said as he stood up from his chair and walked over to his bookshelf. He pulled out a black book with a diamond shaped dragon symbol on the front. "This is the Book of the Dragonborn. It tells the history of my kind and ending the prophecy of the last dragonborn saving the world of Nirn from the World-Eater Alduin. First son of Akatosh and mightiest of the dragons. And it was me that killed him… or at least a version of me." Malist said with a sad tone that Musubi instantly picked up on. "I am the last Dragonborn and more importantly I am not from this world. I come from a place called Nirn, more specifically the continent known as Tamriel. It is a world of magic and what this world would consider fantasy. Still in a very medieval age, with little sign of advancement." He took a moment before looking back to Musubi. "This all sounds crazy to you doesn't it?" He said fully expecting Musubi to call him insane or react in some similar fashion.
"Not at all." That surprised him. "You are my Ashikabi, I have complete trust in you." She said with sunny look in her eye that left little doubt in Malist that she honestly believed him. He didn't know if that was a good or bad thing considering what he had told her and how crazy it sounded. But he chose for some reason to take on the more positive side.
"Thank you, not many people would be so ready to believe me. Even after seeing what I can do." Malist sighed and looked back to their cooking dinner. "You should probably finish that before…" Malist was interrupted by the sound of the door knocking. He narrowed his eyes and glared at the door. "Laas..." Malist whispered and to his vision came everyone around him as bright red spots even through the walls of the apartment and any building. Outside there was a fairly huge man holding something. Now that he knew it wasn't his land lord Malist got up and went to open the door. There was indeed a large man in a suit, and the second Malist opened the door he dropped a large box in Malist hands and shut the door. "That was rude." He said as he walked back to Musubi and dropped the box in front of her. He pulled out a small steel dagger from his inventory and opened the box.
"Oh yay… they sent more of my clothes." Musubi cheered as she pulled out some spares of her standard outfit.
"They seem so… I guess am more used to something more practical." Malist said as he looked over the outfits, if what Musubi was wearing was what she planned on wearing into battle then he was going to be a little worried.
"You don't think they look cute…" Musubi sobbed with tears in her eyes.
"I didn't say that… it's just… when I think of combat attire I don't think… well…" Malist said trying his best not to upset the Sekirei more. "You are a close range fighter, but at the same time you can't go in with anything too heavy because of the style of fighting you use. But what you use is more in line with what a mage would wear… here… I'll show you what I generally wear into combat." At that Malist changed his clothes in a instant, gone were his red t-shirt, black jacket, and jeans. Now he wore the Ebony Mail with Dragonscale boots and armguards. Around his body was a sleeveless black open robe made out of the hide of an elder dragon and had been enchanted by some of the best mages in the College of Winterhold to help with all kinds of casting. And then the Dragon Priest Mask of Konahrik covered his face with the hood of his robe over his head. "See, this is the armor I wear when I fought in battle. I mostly stay back and use magic and my bow at range, but this armor is special, it allows for the best amount of movement for the amount of armor it provides. I have done my best to improve and enchant it to the best my ability and money could buy."
"Wow, it looks so cool." Musubi said as she looked on in awe at the battle form of her Ashikabi. Though she did not like the Mask, she liked Malist's face and didn't want it covered up.
"It's actually very lucky that you are a close combat fighter, this way we can both play to each other's strength. You keep anyone we fight busy while rain down arrows and magic from a safe distance." At that Musubi looked a little sad and look to the floor.
"Well… I'm happy you want to help but… Sekirei are supposed to fight one on one battles."
"Is that an established rule that would get us kicked out?" Malist said as he changed back into his casual clothes.
"No… it's just… something that is expected of us."
"Always play dirty." Malist said playfully as he leaned in to Musubi. "You want to win right, then do what it takes to win."
"I will win. I promise… I will fight for you and win. And then you and I will ascend into the higher sky above together." She said with complete conviction and belief that she could make that come true.
"Already been there done that… but I wonder what this world's Sovngarde is like?" Malist thoughts on the matter however evaporated at the sound of his door opening.
"I knew it." Malist's face soured at the hearing of that gravely and irritating voice. He turned around and saw his land lord standing behind the opened door to his apartment. Malist's lease on his apartment stated that he would not bring women back to his place for any type of relations. It was a rule that quite honestly the Dovahkiin found degrading to him, but it was common addition to lease's in the city and this apartment was the best one for the price. But then Malist thought about the new fact that Musubi would have to live with him, and thus this opened up a fun little opportunity to mess with the ugly bastard that was his land lord.
"This is exactly as it looks." Malist said throwing the older man off for a moment. "I brought this girl back home with the full intention of ravishing her body in all manners of amoral and kinky ways. To cause her to scream my name to the heavens in orgasmic ecstasy." Malist gave his little speech without the barest hint of shame or doubt that he had planned anything but. And Malist's land lord… looked like he was going to have a heart attack from the sheer amount of anger building up.
"GET OUT! I WANT YOU AND YOUR FLOOSY WHORE OUT OF THIS PLACE BY TOMARROW MORNING! AND IF I HEAR ANYTHING HAPPENING TONIGHT I'M CALLING THE COPS!" He raged before slamming the door in Malist smirking face.
"That was fun…" Malist chuckled before turning back to his Sekirei who to his surprise wasn't the least bit embarrassed of affected by his words.
"Malist, did you mean all those things you said?" She asked, Malist was genuinely very confused at the tone. It was a normal Musubi happy to it but also… expecting… no that wasn't it, it was as if what he had said was completely within the expectations she had concerning their relationship. But in way that was slightly indifferent, like it didn't matter if sex was involved between the two or not. Her feelings concerning him would remain the same regardless.
"Uh… not really…" He said in a unsure manner as her reaction had thrown him off. He knew that as the Hero of Skyrim he had women thrown themselves at him for a long time, the nineteen-year-old sorta wished that some of those memories would come back to him, but these women had been unlike Musubi. They had the intention of getting into his bed while Musubi simply accepted anything that came, it was strange to him. "… that old bastard is just a big prude and I wanted to leave this place with a bang… heh… wrong choice of words." He chuckled even harder at the unexpected joke. One that Musubi didn't exactly get but from context had a pretty good idea. "Anyways, I'm not going to force myself on you or make you do anything you don't want you." He waved off before starting to go through his apartment placing his things into his Inventory. But as he did so… his mind wandered to the idea of actually going through with his joke. Musubi was clearly on board with the idea and this seemed to be a expected aspect of a Ashikabi and Sekirei relationship. But that mare fact alone gave him pause, it felt too much like he would be abusing the situation. So he for now he kept it as a joke… in reality. His mind however was perfectly fine. But as he began to let his imagination run a little wild… something hit him with all the force of a Giant's club to the face.
A total unexpected wave of pure guilt and loss washed over him and killed any thought about Musubi. Malist had no clue why he suddenly felt this way… it didn't change how he felt about Musubi… just made him unable to think about her in any sort of sexual way. It felt like doing so was betraying something or to be more accurate as that felt too active a word, it felt like he was crossing a line he knew shouldn't be crossed. It didn't feel like it was because of the bond shared between them, if anything that bond was actively making the counter argument. This felt like it had to do with him, something about him and his former life.
Malist had only felt this way one time before but it was slightly different. It was when Serana and Aela had encouraged him to try and find a girlfriend to help him move on from Nirn. It didn't work, he was handsome and could talk to women just fine. He just found the whole idea to be pointless. None of the women in this world that he had seen met his idea of a good romantic partner. He was of the opinion that the women of Skyrim were far superior given that many of them knew hardship living in that tough and unforgiving land, it built a kind of character that was lacking here. He was sure there were probably women out there that did in fact meet that type of character, this world did hold its share of hardship and tough living. He just didn't find any women that lived through that in the places that Serana and Aela had practically dragged him to. Musubi had become something of an exception to his normal preferences, it was mostly her honesty and seemingly unshakable faith in him. It… helped to know that someone did in fact believe in him. Crazy backstory and all.
He did eventually find one woman that caught his interest when Serana and Aela forced him to date, she was a American that had been transferred to one of the military bases in Japan. She had seen war and lived through it and had an air of confidence one only gains in life and death situations. They had hit it off a bit but once they had started moving the prospect of a night together… just like now something had hit him. And he couldn't find in himself to go through with it. It had been a disappointment to himself but the event seemed to have given Serana and Aela the message as they stopped all speaking of the idea of dating and girlfriends after that. The suddenness of their change in attitude was a little strange but he didn't think much of it.
But now this whatever it was that was affecting him was interfering with his bond with his Sekirei. And in the sort span of knowing Musubi he had come to… care for her. How much was yet to be seen but he did. He felt something for his Sekirei and it was strange to him how solid that feeling was for him. He didn't feel that he should immediately declare his love for her, no that would be too sudden and he knew that doing so would do more harm than good. His feelings on the matter were all jumbled up and he needed time before doing, saying, or even admitting to himself anything of real merit. So for now… he would go with denial and awkwardness on this until he knew exactly what was going on in his head. But this guilt and loss he was feeling was major problem down the line in his relationship with her once Malist finally understood and accepted what he was going through.
-o0o-
The next day Malist and Musubi spent all day looking for a place that they could rent. But given that Malist had no job, no savings that he could legally claim, and all the places that were dirt cheap enough for him to afford without those two things all had the same singles rule as his previous place, he wasn't having much luck.
"Nocturnal is having a fun time playing keep away with my good luck." He grumbled as he sat down on a park bench. Musubi sitting next to him didn't say anything to the reference she didn't understand. "Maybe I should just steal something and get the cash to actually buy a place."
"But isn't stealing wrong?" Musubi asked naively.
"I'm going to tell you the motto of the Thieves Guild… shut up and steal something, we need the money." He said before hanging his head forward. "I really am such a loser… I can't… I can't even find a place to live. And yet once I did things only those in legends do." And as if things couldn't get worse… because they always did… it started to rain. "Thanks, Kynareth… great job there."
"Malist…" Musubi asked with a tone of concern.
"I used to be… thee hero. I used to be the one who saved everyone, saved the world… and now… I've failed a stupid college entrance exam twice and now I'm homeless. I don't think people can fall further than I have." Musubi watched her Ashikabi with sadness in her eyes. She didn't like to see him in this state. In the short time she had known him he had always been so made sure to look so confident and sure of himself. Musubi could tell that it was a act, that he had this weight of expectation on his shoulders. But he always made sure to put on a brave face for her. but now it looked like he was starting to buckle under the weight.
"You can't tell… but there's supposed to be a beautiful moon out tonight." She said looking up to the sky before looking back to the young man sitting next to her. "I don't think you've fallen. I think you're doing the best you can in a situation that you're still not used to. And to me, you'll always be a hero." Malist stirred from his depressing thoughts and was surprised by the kiss he received once he looked up. As the two kissed, Musubi's Sekirei wings materialized from her back as they had done when Malist emerged her. Though this time it lacked the overwhelming flood of Magicka like energy that would send Malist into a semi-drunken stupor. The wings faded away as Musubi pulled away and stood up from the bench. "I swear… I'll do anything for you, whatever you could possible wish for." She said before turning to the sky and reaching up to the clouds. "I would even break through those clouds to reach the moon. And someday… to the higher sky above." And then Malist watched in stunned silence as Musubi began glowing with pink energy. "By my fists of the contract, my Ashikabi's perils will be shattered." Musubi gave her prayer and then pulled Malist off the bench as a torrent of wind began circling around them. "Well, shall we go?" Musubi smiled as she and him began flying up into the air, riding on the wind circling around them. After getting over the initial shock of what was happening, Malist found himself laughing as he was being pulled up into the sky by his Sekirei. They soon hit past the clouds that blotted the sky and all they could see in the sky was the full moon in all its glory. "See… it's a beautiful moon just like I said."
"She… really believes in me…" Malist couldn't help but feel better by this feeling of complete support and trust he was getting from his Sekirei. "If she does so in me… then… I will make sure to make that belief isn't unfounded."