The Mutant Ashikabi
Ok, a few notes, Z does not have time based powers. He was just musing about how his powers decelerate his aging, causing time to pass him by. The reason it does that will be revealed somewhat in this chapter. Also, the story takes place a little after the time that the Days of Future Past timeline would take place in. In this AU, mutant/human relations, have begun to improve, so that they are beginning to live in peace, though there are still some prejudices. That's why a lot of the Sekirei won't know about Mutants, as it wasn't deemed to be essential knowledge by MBI, so they would have to learn on their own.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Z sighed as he walked through the streets back to Izumo Inn. He had just been turned down from yet another potential job. The employer had told him that he wasn't suited for the position, but Z could read between the lines. He'd experienced this kind of treatment before. Even though things had begun to change for the better, people were still wary of people like him. Old prejudices were hard to let go after all.
It was evening when Z managed to make it back to the Inn. He walked through the gates and saw that Akitsu was dutifully waiting for him.
"Ah…welcome home, Ashikabi-sama," said Akitsu with a slight bow.
"You don't need to call me that," said Z, "you can just call me Z."
"Ah…hai, Ashikabi-sama," said Akitsu.
Akitsu had become almost subservient to Z since she had been 'winged' by him. Z still didn't know what Minaka had meant by that term, but Akitsu was, for all intents and purposes, devoted to Z. This was reflected in her choice of clothing.
When Z had decided that they both needed new clothes, he had asked Akitsu what she wanted, and she had said she wanted something that would show he was hers, and had proceeded to take him to a 'specialty' store and buy what resembled a kimono with chains attached to it that showed a lot of cleavage. That was an awkward moment for Z.
"Ara, welcome home, Z-kun," said Miya, "did you have any luck finding a career?"
"Unfortunately no," said Z, "there weren't any openings that I was qualified for."
Miya could tell that there was more that he wasn't telling them, but she didn't push for details, "I'm sorry to hear that. Though, I do wonder how you will pay next month's rent."
"That is a question," sighed Z as he walked into the inn, "perhaps we can discuss it over dinner?"
"That would be agreeable," said Miya as she and Akitsu followed him.
"Will Kagari and Uzume be joining us tonight?" asked Z.
"I believe so," said Miya.
Z had met the other two residents of Izumo Inn a little after he had gotten settled into the Inn. He had just finished moving his newly bought furniture to Izumo with Akitsu's help.
xXsceneXx
"Asama-san, we're back," said Z as he walked up to the entrance to the Inn with Akitsu.
They both were carrying large bags containing, toiletries, clothes, and some other things Z had bought that would make the room they had homier.
"Welcome back," said Miya as they walked inside.
As Z walked inside, he noticed a young man with grey hair sitting at the table dressed in a white dress shirt and pants.
"Oh," said the man, "hello. I'm Kagari. I guess you're my new neighbor."
"Nice to meet you," said Z as he put down his bag, "I'm Z, and this is Akitsu."
"Ah…nice to meet you," said Akitsu.
"Does Z stand for something," asked Kagari.
"Perhaps," said Z, "but it's not something I want to talk about."
"Why is that?" asked Kagari.
"Because I said so," said Z.
"Oi Miya," said a female voice, "is dinner ready yet?"
A woman wearing nothing but her panties walked down the stairs, causing Kagari to sigh.
"Hello," said Z with a polite bow, "I'm your new neighbor. I'm Z and this is Akutsu."
"Oh," said the woman, "the name's Uzume."
"U-zu-me," said Miya in a sweet voice that promised doom and suffering, "wandering around Izumo while dressed inappropriately is, prohibited."
Suddenly, the air around Miya darkened and she seemed to exude a dark miasma that formed into the shape of a hanya mask with bleeding eyes and dripping fangs.
"Gah!" exclaimed Uzume as she backed away in terror, "Please Miya! I'm sorry! Please stop! I hate the bleeding eyes!"
"That is quite the ability."
The mask fizzled out and everyone in the room turned to Z.
"Ara Ara," said Miya, "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Z-kun."
"You don't have to deny it," said Z, "it was quite impressive."
"How did it not affect you?" asked Kagari.
Z smiled grimly, causing the male to shiver, "I've seen things that no child should ever see. I've experienced things that no normal person could live through. A simple hanya won't faze me. Now, I think we should unpack."
He said all this with a smile and headed to his room with Akitsu, leaving the other residents standing there, dumbfounded.
xXsceneXx
Z was relaxing in the dining room of Izumo. He still had yet to find a job, but Miya was nice enough to allow him to substitute his rent for various chores around the house, as long as he paid her once he had a steady income. He was sipping a soothing cup of tea, waiting for dinner to be served, when he heard a large crash in the lawn, causing him to jump up and rush outside.
When walked outside, he saw a young man, about 18 years old, lying on the ground under the tree in the yard with a girl about the same age sitting next to him wearing a tattered outfit that looked similar to a miko outfit, except with MMA gloves and a short skirt.
"Um, hello," said Z, "this might seem like a silly question, but how did you get in that state?"
"Funny story," said the young man.
"Musubi jumped and forgot to plan a landing," said the girl.
Z was silent for a moment, "…Riiiiiight. Why don't you just come inside? I'll see if the landlady keeps a first aid kit around."
Z led the two of them inside and called out for Miya. When she arrived, she sent Kagari to get the first aid kit and sent Z to get some of her late husband's clothes for the male, who's name was Minato Sahashi, while she went to get clothes for the girl, Musubi.
"So what was that about?" asked Z after Minato had changed and Kagari had dressed his cuts.
"It's hard to explain," said Minato nervously as Kagari left to put away the first aid kit, "to put it simply, I was kicked out of my apartment and was looking for a place to stay."
"Alright then," said Z.
"So your name's Z?" asked Minato.
"That's what I call myself," said Z.
"Does it stand for something?" asked Minato.
"It might," said Z, "but that's my business."
"Oh…so where did you meet Akitsu?" asked Minato awkwardly.
"Ah…Ashikabi-sama rescued me," said Akitsu with a light blush.
"Ashikabi?" asked Minato, "You're one too?"
"It seems so," said Z, "I assume that you are one and Musubi is your Sekirei?"
"Minato-sama!" exclaimed Musubi opening the door before he could answer, "Landlady-san, leant me a spare kimono."
Minato blushed at the sight of Musubi wearing a floral patterned kimono. The kimono seemed to bring out her natural beauty, as opposed to the fetish charm that her original clothes had.
"You look great, Musubi!" said Minato.
"Thank you, Minato-sama!" said Musubi as she hugged Minato.
"Ara ara," said Miya with a smile, "I'm glad my husband's clothes fit you."
"Husband?" asked Minato.
"Yes," said Miya, "my late husband helped me run this inn before he passed. He would never turn away someone who needed help."
"Then, may I ask something?" said Minato hesitantly, "You see, we were recently evicted from my apartment, and are looking for a place to stay."
"Oh dear," said Miya, "what happened to cause that?"
"Heh heh," laughed Minato nervously, "it's a long story."
"Well," said Miya, "we can discuss business later. I was just about to serve dinner. Perhaps you could join us and discuss the arrangements after?"
"We wouldn't want to impose," began Minato.
*growl*
A sound from Musubi's stomach, reminiscent of the growl of a lion ended that argument.
xXsceneXx
The next day, Minato left with Musubi to gather his things from his apartment, while Z headed out to try and find a job that would help him pay the bills. Unfortunately, most people wouldn't want to hire him, either because he looked too young, or because of other reasons that were more prejudiced.
"I hate this," sighed Z as he walked away from yet another failed job interview, "just because I'm 'different' these idiots think I can't do a simple loading job. I showed them I was strong enough."
"I would hope that you are," said a voice from behind him, "I would hate to be reacting to a weak child. I would probably have to kill you."
Z jumped and spun around in surprise, landing in a fighting stance out of reflex, to see a smiling woman with long grey hair, wearing a black outfit and black stockings, with a grey coat on her shoulders like a cape with the same symbol that was once on Akitsu's head on it. In her hand was a sheathed nodachi.
"Who are you?" asked Z, "What do you want with me?"
"My my," smirked the woman, "you're quite the interesting one. A bit small, but interesting, nonetheless."
Without any warning, the woman drew her sword in a flash of silver and slashed at Z. He jumped back with inhuman reflexes and agility, but still got a slash across his shirt from the shoulder to the base.
"What the hell!" yelled Z, "I liked that shirt!"
"Oh?" said the woman, "You were able to avoid my blade without injury? Good! Continue to amuse me!"
The woman then attacked Z with a storm of lightning fast slashes that shredded his shirt as he tried to dodge, leaving him shirtless with various cuts across his torso. Z flipped back to put distance between them and the woman watched as the cuts closed up and healed without a scar.
"Looks like you have quite the ability," said the woman with a bloodthirsty smile.
"I didn't want to go this far," sighed Z before he smiled, "but looks like you forced my hand."
"Oh?" said the woman, "Does that mean you were holding back?"
"A titan among mortals," said Z, "that's what I am. To live, I must hide myself."
"You are an interesting one," said the woman, "tell me, what is the name of the one I am fighting?"
"Call me Z," said Z, "and what is your name, swordswoman?"
"I'm Karasuba," said the woman before attacking with a brutal slash that would have bisected the teen from the shoulder to the hip.
*CLANG*
…that is if the sword didn't stop cold as it cut through the skin and hit the bone with the sound of metal striking metal.
"What?" said Karasuba in surprise at her sword being stopped by what seemed to be a bone.
"My turn," said Z with a smirk, before he shot forward and buried his fist in her gut, sending her flying into a streetlamp, denting it upon impact.
Karasuba laughed as she pulled herself to her feet. She looked a bit shaky from both the blow and hitting the metal pole, but she charged at Z again, swinging her sword.
*CLANG*
Once again, the slash was blocked by Z, this time using his arm to block. Just as before, the blade cut through flesh and muscle, but was halted when it met the bone.
"Just what are you made of?" asked Karasuba.
"I could ask the same of you," said Z, "that punch would have left a normal human unconscious."
"I'm not a normal human," said Karasuba as pulled her sword away from Z's arm.
"Neither am I," said Z as the wound healed without a scar.
"Excellent!" said Karasuba as she began to breathe hard.
"Oh?" said Z, "Are you tired already?"
"Of course not!" laughed Karasuba before charging at Z again.
The two of them continued to trade blows, Z slamming punches and kicks into Karasuba that would leave normal humans lying on the ground in agony while Karasuba slashed Z's body over and over, the cuts healing seconds after being made. While Z's regeneration kept him going, Karasuba was starting to falter.
"You're looking tired," said Z as yet another slash healed up without leaving a scar.
"Hah, sh-shut up," panted Karasuba with a slightly red face.
Karasuba then shot forward with her sword and stabbed Z through the stomach, impaling him on her blade. Before Z could react she had closed the distance between them and slammed her lips onto his in a forceful and passionate kiss. Black wings made of light erupted from her back as she deepened the kiss and wrapped her arms around Z.
"Number 04, Karasuba," said Karasuba after breaking the kiss, "we will watch the world burn atop the corpses of our enemies, forever and ever."
"So you're a Sekirei too?" said Z.
"Oh, you know of us?" said Karasuba.
"Apparently I winged a scrap number," said Z.
"So I'm not your first?" said Karasuba, "Either way, I think I can share with one more person."
"That's fine," said Z irritably, "now can you remove your sword? It kind of hurts."
That's it for this chapter. I hope you liked it.