When Yori came out of the bath, he was wrapped in a towel. Yuuwaku was sitting on his futon, naked and surrounded by books.

"I was wrong," she said coolly.

"Are you going to read all of these?" he asked, somewhat impressed.

"I have read all of these."

He stared at the books strewn about the futon. "You read all these while I washed?"

"I did."

"Wow, you must actually be a -" his memory failed him.

"Sekirei," She stood up ceremoniously. "I am your Sekirei."

Yori raised up a hand toward her, palm out. "Hold on there, girl. You aren't my anything."

She did not approach him. "I am Yuuwaku, Sekirei number thirty-three, and you are my Ashikabi."

Yori pulled open a drawer and took out his clothes. "You told me that I wasn't your Ashikabi."

Yuuwaku closed her eyes regretfully, "I was wrong."

"OK," Now half dressed, Yori decided to humor her. "What does an Ashikabi do?"

"You help me to emerge."

He paused the buttoning of his shirt. "That sounds both vague and ominous."

"It is simple," the naked girl stepped forward. "You kiss me."

"Whoa there!" He pressed his palm out again. He did not seem to mind that it contacted just above her left breast. "What happens after that?"

"We are partners." Yuuwaku explained. "I fight other Sekirei for you, until there is one winner."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I don't care much for fighting."

"It is the Sekirei Plan." She pushed herself up on her toes. "Kiss me, Bright Eyes."

He covered her mouth with his hand. "Do you forget that I am a married man?"

She leaned back from his hand. "That is why I thought you were not my Ashikabi."

"What changed your mind?" he asked with great curiosity.

She lowered her head shyly. "You made me laugh."

He put his hand in his pockets in a conceited fashion and smiled. "Suki said the same thing."

"Suki?"

"My wife."

"I see," she smiled and leaned toward him.

He caught her with his outstretched hand just below her collar bone. "You need to get dressed."

Yuuwaku complied. She mentally called shadows closer to her. They obediently climbed her body and deepened as they collected on her skin. They then solidified into shape. The last one tied up her hair and came to rest atop her head in the form of a tiny top hat. She was dressed.

Yori backed away from her, stammering. "W-hat are y-ou?"

She was surprised and disappointed by this. "I am your Sekirei," she protested.

Having backed into the wall behind him, he quickly scuttled along it until he could get around her. "I have to get to work," he recited and jogged to his front door. He stopped there and looked about nervously, "Where's my bike?"

"At the park, I guess." She said sadly.

"How am I supposed to get to work?"

"I'll take you," Yuuwaku lifted her parasol and his front hall became darker.

The gathering shadow seemed to concern him. "Wait!"

She stopped. The light returned.

He managed to calm himself a little. "This could take some getting used to."

She lifted her hand now, "Take my hand, Bright Eyes."

He hesitantly took her hand.

"I promise keep you safe." The shadows gathered again.

His fingers played along her lace glove nervously. He closed his eyes against the darkness.

"You can open them now," she told him.

They were in the university courtyard, beneath an oak tree. People were walking back and forth as they did every morning. "Did any one see us?"

"No."

"Fascinating," He mused. He walked a few steps.

Yuuwaku followed, still holding his hand.

He frowned at her hand a moment and let go of it. "Thank you for the transportation," he said stiffly.

She looked up at him expectantly and somewhat sadly.

"You need to go now," he explained.

This disappointed her. "As you wish," She faded into the shade of the tree.

He watched the place where she had stood a moment before he stepped out of the shade.

"Professor!" Keiko called as he approached the Social Institute. "You are early today."

"Yes," He agreed. "I got a ride this morning."

"What about your bicycle?" Keiko asked.

"I lost it," Yori said sadly. He'd had that bike for years.

"Oh," Keiko said sadly. She changed the subject, "Have you considered the format of my thesis?"

Yori paused just before they reached the front steps of the Institute.

Keiko stood with him, "Whether to use comparison of Nietzsche and Rand or show her evolution?"

Yori had not given it any thought in the slightest, but he did not want to reveal this to Keiko.

"You should contrast them," said a melancholy voice.

Yori looked up with a start. Yuuwaku was sitting on the railing of the steps, just inside the shade cast by the building.

"Pardon?" Keiko asked her.

"Rand expanded on Nietzsche's ideas in ways that don't completely agree with his philosophy," the Sekirei explained. "You should show that."

Keiko considered that and her face brightened.

"An astute observation," Yori had to agree. He told Keiko, "I believe you have your format."

"Thank you very much," Keiko bowed to the dark girl and waited expectantly.

"Yuuwaku," introduced herself.

"Thank you, Yuuwaku." She bowed again, "I am Keiko Musimi. I must make notes!" She quickly climbed the steps. "I hope to see you again, Yuuwaku." She then turned and bowed to Yori, "Professor," before she entered the building.

Yori stepped up to Yuuwaku. "I told you to leave."

"I came back," Yuuwaku said plainly.

Yori did not look pleased. "How did you come by that suggestion?"

"It was obvious," Yuuwaku seemed almost proud, "from what I read this morning."

"Just how do you absorb so much so quickly?"

She stood, "I am your Sekirei."

"Repeating a lie incessantly does not make it true," he entered the building.

Yuuwaku was hurt. She only paused a moment before she followed him in. "The truth would rather be naked than dress as a lie."

Yori spun angrily to face her. "Look," he spoke through his teeth to keep his voice low. "The relationship you propose is completely inappropriate and I am not going to discuss it here!"

"In your office then," Yuuwaku took a step back and melted into the shadow of a nearby locker.

Yori nervously looked around the hall. No one seemed to notice her disappearance. He walked quickly to his office.

Yuuwaku entered his office through the shadow of the door, but Keiko thought she had walked in the door.

Keiko looked up from her notes on her small, assistant's desk, 'Hi, Yuuwaku."

"Hello, Keiko." She leaned on the professor's desk. "I need to talk to the professor."

"He should be in soon."

"Yes," Yuuwaku agreed. "It's personal."

Keiko had to process that a moment. "All right," she picked up her notes and started out the door. "Yuuwaku is here to see you, Professor."

Yori did not look pleased when he came in. "What did you tell her?"

"That we have to talk privately." She raised one hand and the door began to close.

Yori stuck his foot in the way of the door. "I can't meet a young girl alone in my office with the door closed!"

"Are we going to talk publicly or privately?" Her eyes narrowed. "Make up your mind."

"I can't discuss what you are asking."

"But you are my Ashikabi," she pleaded softly. "I am your Sekirei."

"Look," he said as calmly as he could. "You are a very pretty young woman. We cannot be anything to each other."

"But," she looked like she may cry. "Bright Eyes."

"You should find someone else," Yori said softly.

"We'll take her off your hands."

The couple looked to the half-open door.

A young man wearing a well-tailored suit with a frilled ascot stood there. He seemed to be about fifteen. Behind him, stood an imposing woman about Yuuwaku's age. She was dressed for battle and carried a scythe.

Yori was suddenly suspicious. "Who are you?"

"Mikogami," the younger man's eyes were dark. "I can give number thirty-three a purpose. One away from here."

Yuuwaku backed away from the door. "My place is here."

"He's refused you," the young man told Yuuwaku. "I will gladly take you in."

"Fuck off," Yuuwaku said softly.

His face turned cross, "Yomi."

His Sekirei ran behind Yuuwaku and grabbed both her arms. "I have her, Master."

Yori was visibly angered. "I am not going to allow you to rape her."

Mikogami was flippant, "It's only a kiss."

Yuuwaku struggled in the grip of the stronger Sekirei as he stepped closer. She turned her face away, but he took hold of her chin and pulled it back.

A flying Totoro figurine struck his head. It broke into several pieces.

"Yomi" Mikogami slurred as he fell.

Yomi grew angry at the site of her Ashikabi falling. She threw Yuuwaku down to the floor and brandished her scythe. She sneered at Yori, "You will pay for that!"

Yori lifted his desk chair like an untrained, nervous lion tamer.

Yomi rushed him, her blade held high.

Yuuwaku lifted a shadow in front of her.

Yomi growled as she tripped.

"Run, Bright Eyes!"

Yori dropped the chair, knelt down and pushed up on his desk strenuously. It flipped over onto Yomi. Then he ran straight to Yuuwaku. "Are you all right?"

His Sekirei looked up at him. She could feel her skin burning. She wanted to hold him, "Bright Eyes."

"Yuaku?" He knelt down next to her.

They kissed.

Wings of shadow formed behind her spine.

Yomi sliced the desk in two just in time to see those wings turn to shining silver before they faded.

When the kiss ended, Yuuwaku told him to "Stay down." She rose and turned to face Yomi. A shadow rose behind her. It kept a roughly circularly shape, but moved as though alive.

"Out of the way," Yomi spat.

"I protect my Ashikabi." Yuuwaku stretched out her parasol, "Can you say the same?"

Yomi looked at where the parasol was pointing. Mikogami was sinking in a puddle of darkness. Yomi glared at Yuuwaku, "I won't forget this!" She then grabbed her Ashikabi by the collar and dragged him along as she leaped out the window.

"Neither will I." Yuuwaku turned around to face Yori and knelt. "Bright Eyes?"

"I'm fine, Yuuwaku." He started to get up and paused when his body would not move fast enough for him.

Yuuwaku offered him a hand.

He took it and she helped him up.

They stood in the ruined office a moment.

"So," Yori broke the silence first. "You emerged?"

"Yes."

"Did I see.." he looked at the air behind her, "wings?"

"Sekirei have wings when their power surges."

"Is that so?"

"It is."

Yori clasped his hands behind his back, "and your power surges..?"

"When you kiss me," she finished.

"Of course it does," he sighed.

It took a while to clean up the office, even with Yuuwaku's help. Yori requisitioned a new desk. They were both tired when they went home.

"I'll make some dinner," Yuuwaku announced.

Yori did not argue. He sat down in the chair at his computer and turned it on. An E-mail notice was flashing. This was odd. Important E-mails were indicated by an exclamation point, not flashing. He selected the E-mail and read it.


Greetings Professor Nukuyori,

Congratulations on bonding with Sekirei #33, also known as Yuuwaku.

As her Ashikabi you are now a contestant in The Sekirei Plan. The Sekirei Plan is a contest run, owned, and officiated by Mid-Bio Informatics, henceforth known as MBI.

You will henceforth be receiving private, exclusive, and direct communications and announcements from MBI concerning the contest. Paying close attention to these announcements will help you and your Sekirei win matches with other Sekirei. Ashikabi are not to take part in matches, which are to exclusively involve Sekirei. The winner of this contest will be presented with a fabulous prize.

Contestants are not to reveal or discuss this contest with any press, media, corporation, organization, government, or person who is not themselves involved in the contest. Contestants who fail to abide by these rules are subject to censure, up to and including expulsion from the contest and repossession of the contestant's Sekirei.

MBI is not liable or responsible for injuries or damages resulting from Sekirei matches. All associated Trademarks, Service-marks, processes, images, likenesses, names, identities, and Sekirei are the exclusive property of the MBI corporation.

The MBI corporation wishes you the best of luck in the competition.

Cordially,

Hiroto Minaka

Chairman, CEO, and Founder


"What the-?"

"Everything all Right?" Yuuwaku brought him a bowl of rice and chicken and sat on the floor next to him.

"This says you are their property!"

Yuuwaku glanced at the screen and nodded. "I am a Sekirei."

"You are a person!"

She made a tiny smile, "Thank you, Bright Eyes."

"And what sort of prize are they offering?" he griped. "Watch it be something I can't use." He rolled his eyes, "Like a car."

"It's me."

"What?"

"The prize is me," she explained as she ate. "I will be your property instead of theirs."

"Do you understand anything about human rights?" He picked up a book on the subject that lay on his futon and waved it at her.

Yuuwaku nodded as she swallowed. "I read it this morning, but I am not human."

That gave Yori pause, "It doesn't matter." He turned his chair to face her more, forgetting the dinner. "Besides, I have you now."

"The Sekirei who wins will stay with her Ashikabi forever and guide him to the higher sky above," she was looking straight into his eyes. "The other survivors will be reclaimed."

"Survivors?" Yori did not seem to like that word. He looked back at the screen and noticed the bowl again. He picked it up ate. "This is good!" he after swallowing. "What did you do?"

She shrugged, "Made rice and chicken."

"You have a talent for it."

"Thank you," She smiled.

He finished his dinner and stretched, "I am so ready for bed."

Yuuwaku's clothes melted and faded away.

Yori shook his head, "Must you?" He sighed, "Is there no where else you can sleep?"

She shook her head.

He pointed as he walked into the next room, "There is a spare futon in the closet. Set it out."

Yuuwaku waved her hand. The closet opened, the futon floated out and unfolded next to the one already on the floor.

Yori returned wearing sweat pants.

Yuuwaku was lying naked across both futons, looking up at him.

Yori got on his knees, grabbed the spare futon and pushed it across the room, dragging Yuuwaku's lower half with it.

She held onto the unmoving futon and let him pull the spare one out from under her.

He lay on the spare futon, "Good night, Yuaku"

In the dark he did not see the tear on her cheek, "Good night, Bright Eyes."