A Twist of Fate Chapter 2
Renji, Tsukiumi, Minato, and Seo return to the Izumo in to sort things out and explain the situation to Renji.
"Ara Ara, it looks like you're all back, and with a new friend." Miya comments as she places her hand softly against her cheek. "And who might you be?"
"Yeah, sorry about this, but would it be possible for me to house an extra resident in my room?" Renji requests with a deep bow.
"Well I suppose it can't be helped, but what is your relation to this girl?" Miya inquires wanting to better understand the situation.
"Well she's my gi—"
"—I'm his wife," Tsukiumi replies without even a hint of hesitation.
My wife! Renji screams but keeping trying his best to maintain a calm demeanor.
"Oh my, is that true Inakawa-san?" She asks in a calm and composed tone.
Well it's too late to do anything else I guess I'll roll with it.
"Ye-yeah, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it earlier, but there were some circumstances behind it." Renji replies scratching his head embarrassed.
"Circumstances?" Miya repeats questioningly.
"We-well, ummm." Renji stutters unable to come up with a good reply.
"Perhaps you're talking about the Sekirei Plan?" Miya asks with a knowing smile.
"Huh? Landlady-san you know about it?!" Minato exclaims just as surprised as Renji was that she knew.
"Of course, I told you didn't I? My husband worked for MBI as a researcher." Miya reminds him "So I know all about it."
"So…so when Kuu-chan came…?" Minato stammers.
"I already knew some of it." Miya chuckles. "So you are Inakawa-san's Sekirei?"
"I am his wife, Tsukiumi." She replies stubbornly.
Seo walks up to Miya and whispers something that Renji couldn't make out. "Ara, and why are you here again?" She asks him with a surface smile that sent shivers down Renji's spine.
She's dangerous definitely dangerous. He affirms to himself.
"Well you see I don't have any money so I came here to eat." Seo replies with a casual laugh.
"Ahh~ you are most definitely scum." Miya replies still smiling dangerously.
As this exchange was going on a handsome grey haired man walked down the stairs. "Is he another resident?" Renji asks.
"Yes, that's Kagari-san" Minato responds apparently being used to Miya and Seo's exchange.
"YOU!" Tsukiumi suddenly shouts startling Kagari as he turns to her with an alert expression "Could you be?!"
"…" the air seems to freeze as everyone's attention was frozen on Tsukiumi.
"Who are you again?"
Kagari suddenly falls over messaging his temples and mumbling to himself.
"Tsukiumi, what was that? Don't start problems with the other residents." Renji complains to her.
"But he looks so familiar." Tsukiumi answer with a strained expression as if she was trying to force herself to remember something.
"Minato-sama!" A familiar voice yells from behind.
"Ah! Musubi-chan I forgot." As Minato turns around the young sekirei jumps on him toppling him over.
"I was soooo worried Minato-sama, why did you leave me behind." Musubi pouts as she frees him.
"Sorry about that Musubi-chan, a lot happened." Minato apologized and her demeanor instantly brightened.
So Musubi-san was a Sekirei as well huh? Renji thinks as he feels someone yank forcefully on his arm. When he looks over Tsukiumi was looking up at him with an annoyed look on her face.
"Why are you looking at her like that?" Tsukiumi asks him in an irritated tone.
He stares at her confused for a few moments. Is she…jealous? He wonders and he reaches out and pats her on the head "Don't worry it's nothing like that, I was just surprised that Musubi-san was also a Sekirei."
"Wha-what do you mean!? I wasn't worried!" Tsukiumi shouts looking away with a flustered expression. "And why are you patting me on the head?! So I look like a pet?!" She shouts as Renji suddenly feels about a buckets worth of water crash into his face causing him to stumble backwards a few steps.
"Sorry about that, it's a force of habit." He admits "It's just my way of showing affection." He assures her as he returns to his original position.
"Tsukiumi-san~" A cold voice suddenly calls as the two of them turn and see Miya smile dangerously at them, Renji felt as if he could see the image of an oni mask behind her. "Violence is not permitted in the Izumo Inn, do I make myself clear?"
"Ahem," Tsukiumi clears her throat trying to cover up her surprise 'I am one who goes by the adage "when in Rome do as the Romans do."'
"Well then if we've all come to an understanding let's go in and have something to eat." The landlady urges. Having finally calmed down the group shuffles into the dining room and sits down at the table.
Already sitting at the table was a auburn haired girl with large glasses calmly examining the new residents.
"Hmmm, so you're Renji-kun, and Tsukiumi-san," she says in a interested tone.
"Yes, we've just moved in today a pleasure to meet you." Renji greets in a slightly formal tone.
"I'm number two Matsu the last of Minato's Sekirei." She introduces herself as Miya places each person's meal down on the table. As he stare at the food Renji remembers the original reason he had gone out in the first place.
"Oh, sorry Landlady-san, do you think I can pay my rent tomorrow?" He requests "I need to get a bit more out of my bank since two people will be staying here."
"Oh, don't worry about it, you're still only using one room. As long as you don't plan to try and create a harem for yourself, I'm perfectly fine with the normal fee." Miya makes a meaningful glance at Minato when she mentions making a harem.
"Hey, Landlady-san, you know that's not what I'm—" Minato starts to speak up in his defense but Miya dismisses him with a wave.
"I'm just kidding don't worry about it." She assures him.
As Renji finishes eating he looks at the group and he can't help but as "Umm, is it really okay for us all to be eating here like this?" He asks.
"Huh?!" Seo grunts as he looks at Renji with an eyebrow raised "Why wouldn't it be okay for us to be having a meal together?"
"Well it's just…if the Sekirei Plan really is a battle royal where only one team can be left standing, doesn't that make all of us enemies?" Renji replies in an agitated voice.
"Actually Inakawa-san I had a lot of those same concerns when I first came here as well." Minato admits in a hesitant and somewhat bashful tone as he stares fixated on the meal in front of him. "But…I can't bring myself to see someone like you, who put his life on the line to protect a Sekirei as a bad person."
"Listen kid, even if we're all 'enemies' in name there are plenty of Ashikabi who have formed alliances." Seo explains to the worried boy. "Even if we end up having to fight each other in the end, it's a hell of a lot better knowing that even if you lose the victor will be someone who won't abuse whatever MBI is granting them."
"I…I see," Renji sighs looking down at the table while messaging his temples. "If you'll excuse me Ms. Landlady I'm kinda tired, and I'd like to go rest."
"Go ahead, you've been through a lot today, and we happen to have a leech here that can take care of your contribution for today." Miya says as her eyes shift over to Seo.
Tsukiumi also sets down her chopsticks and rises from the table following after him.
As he enters his room Renji flops down on the floor and closes his eyes. Even if I said I intend to aim for the top…this is really a lot to take in.
As he lies on the floor he feels a cool soft hand lightly brush across his face. "It won't do for my Ashikabi to have such a worried expression." Tsukiumi states as she places his head on her lap.
"Heh, sorry about that," he apologizes as a comfortable feeling washes over him "but are you okay with this? I mean if you're aiming to be the strongest wouldn't joining a strong team like Minato's be the best way to go?"
"What are you saying you fool? The bond between a Sekirei and an Ashikabi is not something so simple that it could be influenced by something so trivial." Tsukiumi scolds placing her hand on his forehead.
Not that simple huh? I guess I haven't been taking this seriously enough. Renji concludes after hearing her words.
"If you have worries, instead of holding them in you should share them with me." She says in a soft and slightly bashful tone. "I will compensate for anything you are lacking, and…"
Tsukiumi leans forward so that they could look straight into each other's eyes. "…I will crush whatever makes you feel worried or hurt."
Renji was struck dumb by the words that she had just spoken. With just a single oath he felt all of his worries and concerns wash away, and he was sure that she truly would be able to cleanse anything that tried to threaten them.
"Hey Tsukiumi," Renji called her name so softly it sounded like it might have simply been the wind. Tomorrow let's go to the shopping district there's something I want to get."
"Of course," she responds with kind smile.
"I really am lucky…" He says as he feels his consciousness slipping away "…to have winged the best Sekirei…"
The next morning Renji groggily opens his eyes and finds a blanket had been put over him and a strange sensation on his left arm.
Wha…what is this situation? After waking up Renji found himself in a situation that in his entire 20 years alive he had never experienced.
"…" When he looked beside himself he found Tsukiumi's beautiful form peacefully sleeping beside him. Even though he had said that she would be staying in his room it only now occurred to him that this situation was possible.
I can feel her chest pressing against my arm. Sirens were screaming in Renji's head and as he stared at the breathtaking woman beside him he could feel his self control slowly whittling away.
"mmmhhh…" she softly mumbles something and begins to lean towards him.
…It's okay right? I mean she is my Sekirei after all. He starts to lean in towards her as well his eyes focused on her slightly parted lips. But right before he reaches his target the discussion they had the previous night flashes through his mind and he stops. That's right, she's placed her trust in me so I shouldn't take advantage of it.
As he starts to pull back her peaceful expression suddenly becomes agitated and her eyes open completely. "What are you doing?!" She shouts at him in an aggressive tone. "I gave you a perfect opportunity and you pulled back at the last minute!"
"You mean you were awake the whole time?!" Renji yelp like a kid who had gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Oh…forget it!" Tsukiumi cries in frustration then grabbing his collar and kissing him. The glowing wings which had emerged the first time appeared behind her again as she slowly released him.
After she released him Tsukiumi averts here eyes slightly and raises her left hand to her lips "Kiss me good morning properly next time…" she says in a bashful tone completely contrary to the aggressive one she had carried only moments before.
Upon hearing her request Renji couldn't help but smile at his blonde counterpart. "I'll make sure not to disappoint you next time." He promises her as he grabs his wallet and opens it up, checking how much he had on him.
"Tsukiumi, let's go out for breakfast," he decides and grabs a change of clothes before heading into the bathroom.
"Wait…Renji, I'll scrub your back." Tsukiumi insists picking as she gets ready to follow him in.
"No, it's okay, but can you tell the Landlady that we're not going to be needing breakfast?" Renji requests giving Tsukiumi a composed smile that she couldn't refuse.
As he walks out into the hallway he hears a loud racket coming from the backyard. He walks over and looks out the window to find Musubi sparing with the Landlady. As he watches the fight he note that Musubi's fighting was largely based on her overwhelming athleticism, making her no match for the Landlady's carefully honed swordsmanship.
As Miya takes a step in preparing to land a finishing blow he calls out "Musubi guard your right!" Instinctually following the order Musubi shifted her guard to protect her right side and blocked the wooden sword a split second before it hit.
"Hahaha, that was good you're fast." He compliments Musubi before heading off to the bathroom, but he couldn't help noticing that Miya's gaze had shifted over to him after the attack.
After finishing his bath Renji headed downstairs and found Tsukiumi standing in front of the door ready to leave. "Shall we go?"
"Of course," she replies sternly placing both hands on her hips.
"Now, now you can't start out of first date with such a sour expression." Renji says cheerfully as he reached out and took Tsukiumi's hand.
"D-date?" Tsukiumi stutters as her face becomes deeply flushed and she looks at the floor shyly.
Even though she says she's my wife I she's still reacting so timidly. Renji muses to himself. Though that's what makes her cute.
"Well then let's get going." Renji says as he leads her out of the inn.
Thank you for sticking with me for chapter two. Again any reviews or comments on the story would be very much appreciated. And please continue to support Renji and Tsukiumi.