Hello one and all, how are you this fine day? Me, I've been doing really well and now that I'm done with my weekend events a whole day early I decided to go and post this as a super special awesome friendship bonus chapter! To all of those who understand that joke congrats, you earned an e-cookie. Anyway, a big thank you to all of the reviews I've been getting, especially the comments comparing me to other well known and talented fiction writers. It really does mean a lot to me and lets me know that I'm doing something right here. That doesn't mean I'm not done improving, I've still got a long way to go to really get good at this stuff, but it really helped get my spirits up. Well enough of my blabber, you came here to read right? Well please settle down and get ready to read an extra special chapter of Claws and Kisses!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 4: Settling Inn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~START~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This is where Minato-sama lived before Izumo Inn?" Akitsu asked with a calm gaze, her sleepy eyes carefully scanning the interior of the small apartment.
"Yeah," Minato said with a soft chuckle, his hands laying down the last strip of tape on the box before him, "it wasn't much but it was home enough for a ronin like me."
"What is it that the Miya-sama would say?" Akitsu thought for a moment, her head tilting to the side as she contemplated her next words carefully, "Ah yes, 'unacceptable Sahashi-san'."
The accuracy of Akitsu's impression sent a shiver down his spine, horrible memories of metal and pain flashing into his mind as he carefully started upon another box with his belongings, "Yes...well, Musubi-san, Haihane-san are you almost done?"
Haihane grunted as she brought over a small stack of boxes, her bandaged hands easily balancing the heavy packages with ease, "Yeah...bedroom's finished."
Musubi smiled as she lifted up roughly three times the amount as Haihane, furniture and other commodities easily being hoisted by her incredible strength, "Musubi has everything else Minato-sama!"
"Great," Minato said, slightly dumbfounded by Musubi's strength but long ago he learned to ignore it in favor of keeping his sanity, "Now all we need is some way to get all of this to Izumo Inn. I don't have enough money for a moving truck and I don't know anyone who owns a car..."
"Oh, oh! Musubi knows Minato-sama!" Musubi shouted out with glee and excitement, her hand up in the air while she hopped in place, her breasts bouncing more than a few times much to Minato's secret enjoyment.
"Okay Musubi what's your idea?" Minato asked, his curiosity getting the better of him the moment his mouth opened.
Musubi said nothing but instead started to work in silence, her movements quick and deliberate as she began to stack everything upon itself with agility and skill. Before long everything that had been packed by the three Sekirei and one human were piled in the center of the room, a massive blanket lying beneath the entire structure. With wide eyes Haihane and Minato watched as Musubi proceeded to tuck everything into a simple satchel, the blanket becoming a carrying sack which she then hoisted onto her shoulders without a problem in the world, "Musubi will carry it!"
Akitsu was the first to speak surprisingly enough, her eyes looking over the bundle with both eyebrows raised, "As Haihane-san would say...damn."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a short conversation with the landlord, something that ended with Minato receiving a full refund on his initial deposit surprisingly enough, the four began their walk back to Izumo Inn, Musubi carrying every worldly possession of Minato's on her back while Akitsu and Haihane greedily took an arm of his each. Given how deeply Musubi was frowning and the force her fist was clenching onto the bundle it was easy to see that she was beginning to regret her choice of tasks in the moving department.
However she had no choice but to sit back and watch as Minato was gently tugged between Haihane and Akitsu, his face kept in a constant flush as each girl attempted to perpetually bury his arm into the soft cushions of their chest. Granted Akitsu was far more gifted than Haihane in that area but that didn't stop the bandaged reaper from trying, the thin wrappings that covered her body doing nothing to separate the heat of her flesh from Minato as she pulled him tight, "Hey Minato, I ever tell you that you've got great tone for a skinny guy?"
"Y-You don't say," Minato said with a nervous chuckle, a bead of sweat dripping down the side of his head as he did his best to avoid touching Haihane's clawed fingers with any part of his anatomy, "Th-Thank you Haihane-san."
Haihane smirked, her one visible eye sparking with mischief as she spoke, "If you want I can give you some pointers...we could give each other a real good workout 'Ashikabi-sama'."
Before he could respond Akitsu had pulled him over to her side, his arm being unabashedly buried in her own mountainous cleavage despite the fact she was wearing a completely covering kimono, "Minato-sama, I have a request if I may be so bold."
"S-Sure, what is it Akitsu-san?" Minato asked, his tongue nearly tied as he felt Akitsu's warmth surround his limb.
"I would like to visit a Love Hotel with my Ashikabi-sama so we may consummate our bonding in full Minato-sama," Akitsu said with a bluntness that threw everyone for a loop, even Haihane had raised an eyebrow at the comment.
"What does consummate mean?" Musubi questioned, her innocent and naive nature blinding her to the intent of Akitsu's words.
"As Haihane-san would say, 'I want to bang Minato stupid'." Akitsu said without the slightest bit of pause or hesitation, the fact that her impression of Haihane was spot on far less surprising than the content of her words.
At this Haihane's jaw dropped open, her arm pulling Minato back as she quietly growled, "I think that pleasure goes to me first ice tits, he's my real Ashikabi not yours."
Akitsu pulled Minato back, her expression unfazed at Haihane's menacing glare, "I only wish to prove my love for my Ashikabi through intense carnal intercourse."
Suddenly Musubi popped up behind the trio, one arm holding tight to the bundle on her back as the other wrapped around Minato's shoulder, her one arm pulling him back and pressing her massive breasts into his back without shame, "Musubi loves Minato-sama too! Musubi should get to bang Minato-sama too!"
"You stay out of this mega boobs," Haihane growled, pulling on Minato's arm, "and I get to make Minato's eyes cross first, got it?"
As the three continued to argue none of them had noticed that Minato had long ago passed out, his nose leaking a torrent of blood the moment Akitsu had clarified her intent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The day before had been rather normal for her. Wake up with a massive hang over, nurse it with a few sips from her favorite bottle, get dressed in her lavish luxury apartment, head out to see what there was to see before planning to go to a bar and drink them out of house and home. Her plans were very simple, her life very formulaic and safe...and oh so utterly boring.
Taking a short glance towards the towering building in the distance she remembered why it was so boring...rather a life of boredom than a broken heart.
With a sigh she returned to strutting down the walk with everything she had, her barely there dress leaving nothing to the imagination as man and women alike gawked at her amazing figure. An hourglass of the finest hand couldn't compare itself to her shape, bountiful bust and slim waist perched atop the flaring curve of her hips. A dream made flesh with flowing black hair, narrow cat like eyes, and a permanent smile curved on her painted lips.
Yet, there was something different about today...something that she couldn't quite place as she woke from her alcohol haze. Lying beside her was her common bottle, the massive porcelain vase empty of its contents as it law askew on the blankets beside her. For some reason that didn't matter to her, neither did making her bed or cleaning up anything from her previous evenings drunken stumbling. There was something in her heart that seemed to sing as she took a shower, hot water cascading down her form, cleansing her body and soul as she soaked beneath the steaming rain...what was it?
Even as she dried herself off she found herself more excitable than usual, her body's sensitivity ratcheted up as every nerve on her skin seemed to activate, seemed to crave something warm and soft. It was almost too much as she slipped on her purple silk dress, the feeling of such fine material sliding along her skin sending shivers along her spine and a happy purr to rise in her throat. What was this? What had happened?
She tried to shake it off as she left her apartment, her high heeled shoes clicking along the hard tile of the hallway as she left the building. A simple wink here, a bawdy smile there, every man within her gaze fell beneath her feet. Yet, nothing seemed to phase this ache in her chest, the heat rising up and consuming her as she walked. For a moment she turned left down a busy sidewalk and continued her pace but the warmth seemed to wane, the fire of her soul extinguishing itself the more she strolled down the way. Before long she swiftly turned around, confusion in her mind as she continued to walk, approaching that mysterious heat that seemed to build and build with every step...it was going to be quite an interesting day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She could feel him out there, no matter how hard she chose to ignore it she felt it. That ever present pull at her chest, that rising fever starting from her heart and filling her entire body...she hated it.
Waking up this morning had been pure torture, her heart refusing to cease its infernal thumping, her body refusing to cool despite the icy shower she graced herself with. Even her breakfast suffered from the horrible curse of the feeling, her queasy stomach and nervous body rebelling against the food and making it neigh impossible to swallow. Here she was starving because of him...that thrice damned Ashikabi.
That vile and despicable cretin, that horrible and disgusting monkey that dared to think he had any power over her. Damned be the Ashikabi's and their flawed, weak bodies, he was only a hindrance who wanted to violate her senseless. Her teeth grit against one another as her fists gathered together the material of her coat, the black fabric floating in the breeze as her pristine white skirt fluttered about her hips revealing pure sterling panties. The body of a goddess outlined by the sun would meet the eyes of any that looked up towards the midday sky, generous breasts perched high on her chest and held back by pure white diamonds, the material straining to hold back her smooth orbs. Rich sun stroked golden hair rose with each gust of wind, intense sapphire eyes staring out into the city below with unkempt hate.
Lifting one hand a single thumb went to her lips, the edge of a knife like canine biting into the soft flesh with a hiss. She would kill him...it was her only choice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A twisted giggle filled the darkness of the room, bespectacled eyes staring at the pale glow of a dozen computer monitors the only light in the shaded room. Every second a burst of information flooded the screen, a bright gleam of importance flashing for the briefest second before being drowned by the latest knowledge to cross her eyes. She could remember it all. She could see it all. And all she wanted to look at was him.
Slender fingers gently touched the screen on which his image lay, the innocent and goofy smile causing her heart to trill with its intense rhythm. A slow blaze of heat began to build the longer she looked at him, those kind eyes, that messy dark hair, that slight bulge pressing through his jeans, it all made her mouth water. She began to wonder how it was that every time she had seen him he had seemed cooler before, more masculine...she would love to experiment with him some time. As swift as lightening her fingers danced across a keyboard, lines upon line of text filling the screen before she stopped, every bit of information on her collection of computers coming to a halt and becoming devoted to him. To his presence, his person, his face.
She needed to know him, inside and out. It was not longer a question.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She had been so cold...so lonely...she was tired of this...she wanted to go home even if it was the laboratory again.
The thought made her curl further into herself, tears pricking at the edges of her eyes as she though of it. The needles, the cold eyes, the environment without a single piece of green outside of a vial. She wanted the sun, she wanted the fresh air, she wanted the grass between her toes and the wind in her hair. She wanted to see the world with wide eyes and hope in her heart...
Her body started to shiver as she remembered the mean onii-san that had come for her, the mean onee-san cutting Takami-nee with her sharp stick. He leaned in and his lips came closer, his voice flat and without meaning as he said something about not letting another get away. She remembered the red all over the yellow flowers, Takami-nee reaching for her, begging her to run...to save herself.
She remembered as she began to cry and the world erupted in a flash of green, plant life sprouting from every inch of ground below her feet. She remembered how the mean onii-san had jumped back and the onee-san with the sharp stick grabbed hold of him before running away, promising to find her again. She remembered looking at Takami-nee, her one eye closed with blood as she reached out...trying to pull her back...then all she remembered was dark.
It was cold here...but it had been getting warmer. It wasn't much but it was heat...something building up inside of her as she lay curled up deep within the cocoon of her making. Onii-chan was out there...he was somewhere to care for her...he would make her warm, he would keep her safe...she wanted her onii-chan.
Surprise gripped her as she felt him, his warmth, his love; she found her onii-chan. With one hand she reached out and cried, "Onii-chan!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~
After having recovered from Akitsu's impromptu attack on his modesty Minato had been able to calm the brewing storm between the three girls. However, that did nothing to stop Haihane and Akitsu from tugging on his arms, Musubi now joining in as she draped one arm around his shoulders to hold him close. Overall it was quite the awkward walk back to Izumo Inn, many jealous and irritated glares sent his way from the attention he was being given by the three beauties. Yet, as all things must come to an end when they arrived at Izumo Inn all three girls released their hold on him, memories of metal ladle's and furious hannya enough to scare even Haihane into complacency with the rules.
"Ah Sahashi-san," Miya said with a soft smile, broom in hand as she stopped sweeping the porch, "I see that you gathered your belongings...and placed them on the back of a girl."
Minato sweat a little bit at the implied annoyance, an apologetic smile on his face as he scratched the back of his head, "Landlady-sama, Musubi actually volunteered to carry it all..."
"Musubi did Landlady-sama! Musubi would do anything for her Ashi-" was about all she could get out before Minato had to put a hand over her lips to cease her from spilling their secret again.
"Hm...Very well," Miya said with a noncommittal shrug, her smile filled with her normal refined hospitality, "You each remember where your rooms are, correct?"
Minato nodded before bowing deeply, "Yes, thank you once again Landlady-sama." Haihane, Musubi, and Akitsu followed suit, a tint of regret in their tone that went totally ignored by the purple haired woman.
Miya giggled slightly, "Oh it is no problem. Now I must tell you, you were quite lucky to escape this morning before breakfast but my other borders have fully awoken and I expect you to be courteous and give your introductions. That goes for the three of you as well."
Minato nodded, "Of course Landlady-sama."
Musubi smiled brightly, "Musubi will be more than happy to!"
Haihane shrugged and scratched the top of her head, forgetting she was wearing her claws and thus sending a thin rivet of blood down the side of her face before removing her hand with a jerk, "Ow, ow, ow...yeah, I'll say hello."
Akitsu bowed low to Miya, the angle of her body matching Minato's previous one perfectly before she spoke, "I will happily accompany Minato-sama in greeting your other guests."
"Wonderful," Miya said before returning to her sweeping, the four new borders carefully entering their new home with Musubi and the massive bag of items bringing up the end.
After a great deal of maneuvering and rearranging the three succeeded in entering Minato's room, the sparsely furnished area quickly being filled with whatever Minato had with him at his old apartment. Having the three in the room definitely helped expedite the process, all four of them working together and getting Minato's room into order...at least somewhat.
"'Huh," Haihane muttered as she held up a pair of Minato's underwear, the material stretched between her fingers as she smirked, "Well we finally know if it's boxers of briefs for Minato...not that I wouldn't have found out sooner or later."
Minato had the decency to blush, something that Haihane lacked, at the grey girl's sudden exposure of his under garments, "H-Haihane san...please put those back."
"Aw," Haihane pseudo-pouted, her eye sparking with amusement at Minato's discomfort, "what's the matter 'Ashikabi-sama'? Afraid that I'm gonna steal them and sniff them in the middle of the night?"
Before Minato could answer Haihane found her right hand frozen, a solid chunk of ice encasing her limb as well as the underwear in her grip. Gritting her teeth together to stop the chattering before it could begin Haihane turned to Akitsu who had casually returned to folding Minato's clothes and putting them into a small pile by her side, "Miya-sama said to refrain from anything obscene whilst inside of this Inn."
"So says the one who proposed to go to a Love Hotel in the middle of the street," Haihane grumbled, a strong clench of her hand shattering the ice around it.
"So?" Akitsu asked with a face of slate, "That was well outside of the walls of the Inn and I was within my right to request my Ashikabi satisfy the yearning between my legs."
Haihane's eyebrow twitched and her bandaged fingers itched for the claws she left in the corner of the room, "And last night? You were asleep with Minato without clothing ice tits."
For a moment Akitsu stopped, a slightly confused look on her face before she spoke, "without clothes?"
"Yes. You know, naked?" Haihane said, folding the chilly pair of Minato's underwear and beginning on the next.
"I was not aware I was nude, I must have forgotten my clothing," Akitsu said with her natural bored tone, her hands returning to folding the clothes as Haihane stopped.
"Doubtful," Haihane challenged with crossed arms, "How can anyone forget something like that?"
"Shall I remind you of your claws the next time you try to scratch your head?" Akitsu returned without missing a beat, her concentration still fully turned upon the pile of shirts and pants before her.
Haihane's hands tightened into loose fists but released as she went back to folding clothes herself, "Say what you want ice tits, Minato knows I did it on purpose right Minato?"
Silence was her response as no sound rose from Minato, be it a slow agreement or a nervous change of subjects. Confused at their Ashikabi's sudden absence they turned to find Minato had gone and with him was Musubi, the heavy chested Miko having dragged Minato off at the beginning of their argument to meet their neighbors without the bickering duo to bother them.
"Oh damn it," Haihane muttered with agitation as she stood up, exiting the room with Akitsu following close, her tired eyes slightly narrowed in annoyance at being left behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So this is it, "Minato asked, turning a raised eyebrow to the cheerful Musubi, "whoever is in 203 is our neighbor."
Musubi nodded with a joyous smile, "That's correct Minato-sama!"
With a sigh Minato turned to the door, his hand raising up and giving his knuckles a light rap against the wooden portion of the otherwise paper door, "Hello? Is anyone in?"
"Just a second!" a voice responded from inside, a feminine call reaching out and slipping into Minato's ear with a melodious sound. With a new interest and curiosity in his new neighbor he waited with Musubi as footsteps approached the door, a hand easily pulling it open and revealing the women inside. She was very beautiful if nothing else, her enchanting smile and unique hair style giving her a charm all her own. Her shape was generously curved and topped by a bountiful bust line, her size nearing but not quite overtaking Musubi with their mass. However there was something that was absolutely stunning about her, something that Minato couldn't ignore...it was the fact that she came to the door dressed only in a pair of panties and nothing else that left his jaw to drop and his eyes to bulge, "Hey there, what can I do for yah?"
Minato was just barely able to staunch the flow of blood from his nose, his blushing face turning away from the nearly nude girl with an uncomfortable choking noise, "Uh, y-your clothes?"
Glancing down the girl seemed to finally register she was nearly naked, a coy smirk on her lips as she struck a pseudo-pose, "What? Can't stand my womanly charms?"
A slight drip of blood leaked down Minato's nose despite his death grip pinch, his eyes going wide at the woman's provocative pose, "Uh..."
Thankfully, before any more awkward comments could take place Musubi suddenly jumped in to the front of attention, her smile just a bit too cheery and her voice a might too peppy as she spoke to the skin bearing woman, "Hello! I am Musubi and this is Minato-sama, we will be living next door to you and the other people in Izumo house!"
The girl blinked a bit before chuckling, "You don't say? I heard there were going to be new borders today but I didn't expect them to be quite as interesting. Well nice to meet you Musubi-chan, Minato-kun."
Minato nodded, his eyes closed as he tried his very best not to stare at the breasts presented before him, "V-Very nice to meet you...um...what's our name?"
The girl smirked, a knowing gleam in her eye as she crossed her arms beneath her chest, emphasizing her naked globes and making a wave of lightheadedness cross Minato, "I'm Uzume, good to have you as part of the family. Though...I heard there were four of you, where are the other two?"
As if she had spoken the name of the devil a thunderous racket clambered down the hall, all eyes turning to see Haihane and Akitsu running at a full sprint and directly for Minato. Without even stopping Haihane grabbed hold of Minato, her body spinning around his and coming to a stop with her head on his shoulder, modest but beautiful bound breasts pressed against his arm as her own limbs wrapped around him, "Minato, what was the big idea leaving me back there? You take big boobs and leave me with ice tits? That hurts Minato."
Stopping on a dime Akitsu stood beside Minato, her borrowed kimono barely wrinkled as she took one of Minato's arms and pressed it between her breasts, "Minato-sama, please do not leave like that again. You worried me greatly. You also left me with, what was it that Miya-sama said? Oh yes, 'the metal pussy cat'."
The resemblance to Miya's voice gained another round of shivers from all of those present, her accuracy in imitating the prim and proper landlady down right horrifying. However Haihane recovered quickly enough to send the ice girl a withering glare, something that didn't even seem to register with Akitsu's perpetually sleepy features, "I'm better company than you chill chest...heh...heh heh heh ha ha ha!"
Soon enough Haihane was laughing up a storm, her own pun sending her into a fit of laughter so hard that she buckled over into herself with her hands pressed against her taught stomach, "Ow ha ha ha hurts but ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Chill Chest!"
In the midst of Haihane's laughter, Akitsu's raised eyebrow, Musubi's confused look, and Minato's blushing face Uzume could only say one thing, "Finally! Things will start to get interesting around here!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~
"Nothing like before okay," Minato muttered in aggravation, his fingers rubbing at his aching temples as he spoke, "Please, just try to behave?"
Akitsu quickly bowed, "As you wish Minato-sama."
Musubi grinned brightly and nodded, "Musubi will do her best Minato-sama."
Haihane on the other hand only smirked, a playful glint in her exposed eye as she spoke, "No promises Minato."
Shaking his head Minato raised a hand, knuckles rapping along the small wooden section of the door before him as he called out, "Hello? My friends and I are new tenants and we wanted to introduce ourselves to the current borders here!"
"Just a second..." The voice was deep and masculine, a low baritone answering his call and bringing to mind the image of a mature and sophisticated man. Sure enough the moment the door was open there was a man standing before him, light silver hair gleaming as calm eyes regarded him with a curious look. The man was dressed head to toe in a black outfit, a long sleeved shirt with dark slacks maintaining an image of dignity and above all, immaculate social grace, "Hello, my name is Kagari. Nice to meet you."
Minato offered the gentleman a polite smile, his head bowing as he spoke, "Ah, pleasure to meet you Kagari-san, my name is Sahashi Minato and these are my friends..."
Haihane glanced at Kagari before closing her eyes and laying her head on Minato's shoulder, "Haihane."
Akitsu's face was unmoved as she looked at the charming man before her, a polite bow executed before she spoke, "Akitsu, servant of Minato-sama. Pleasure to meet you."
Musubi was by far the friendliest, her effervescent personality springing forth like a fountain as she bowed, "I am Musubi, good to meet you Kagari-san!"
Kagari's eyebrow quickly quirked at the introduction, a quick jolt of curiosity ringing in his mind as he looked at Minato directly, "Hm...Quite the first impression Sahashi-san. I suppose you live upstairs next to Uzume?" Minato's face flushed a deep red to which Kagari simply chuckled, "I see you've already met her too. Don't worry too much; she won't be naked at breakfast Miya would kill her if she was."
That comment sent Minato into a soft laughter, his embarrassment flowing away from the innocent joke. Seeing Minato laugh made something inside of Kagari start, some sort of pull grabbing at his chest as if there were a string tied to it. Shaking off the feeling he shrugged, curiosity getting the better of him as he spoke, "So Sahashi-san tell me about yourself."
Minato gave Kagari a kind smile, his hand scratching the back of his head slightly as he spoke, "Well not much of a story to tell really. I'm a third year ronin trying to get into Tokyo University, I work some part time jobs, and...I've got some pretty incredible friends with me."
All at once all three of the girls blushed, all of them with an equal tint to their cheeks and nearly the same expression of surprise and happiness. Even Kagari found himself with a slight grin working its way across his lips before he quickly crushed it, a casual look clouding his features with none the wiser to his half second reaction, "Hn, alright then. Well if you don't mind I have some business to take care of, a few phone calls to make. You understand right?"
Minato nodded, his bow polite and proper as he spoke, "Of course, of course, have a nice day Kagari-san."
A few more pleasantries and the new tenants were off, their squabbles and voices carrying them down the hall until they were out of sight, "Takami needs to hear about this one."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey Homura, been a while," a groggy feminine voice spoke into his head, the small phone in his hand cradled gently against his ear, "how are you Mr. Defender?"
Homura chuckled a bit, one hand combing through the mass of silver hair on his head, "I've been better Takami. How about yourself? I heard you were attacked by a winged one."
Takami grumbled before she spoke, "I'm lucky the bitch missed my eye but no rest for the wicked, god damn Minaka has me right back to overseeing this insane game of his. He's not even going to go after the fucker Ashikabi that ordered her to do it. He says that it makes he makes the game more 'interesting'."
"And number 108?" Homura asked with a dark tone to his voice, a deep set frown filled with disgust slicing its way across his face.
"He's going to wait and let more Sekirei get winged before he makes an announcement," Takami growled, her tone sounding dark and vicious with every word, "fucker is gonna make it a god damn contest to wing a fucking child."
Homura's hand tightened around the phone as he thought of it, Minaka playing with the fates of living beings like they were his own personal action figures. It made him absolutely sick, "God damn him."
Takami sighed and a distinct scratching sound came from her end of the line, the echo of a sparking lighter indicating her next cigarette was clenched between tense teeth, "I know, I know...fuck, let's move onto other news. This is leaving a bad taste in my mouth."
"Agreed," Homura muttered, his fingers relaxing from their death grip on the phone as he took a deep breath to calm his emotions.
"So what'd you call for anyway? You usually don't call unless you've got something interesting to tell me," Takami asked as the rhythmic clicking of her lighter continued in the background.
"I have something you might like to hear," Homura's tone was all buisness, a deep and formal tone speaking to the severity of his call, "do you have a son named Sahashi Minato?"
The line was dead silent for a moment, the sparking of the lighter halting before Takami slowly spoke, "Yes I do...why?"
"He just moved in," Homura said, his frown deepening before he said his next words, "along with his three Sekirei."
The clattering of metal on tile resonated over the phone, Takami's lighter falling to the ground in shock, "OH FUCK ME!"
"It gets worse," Homura's hand slid into his pocket, fingers brushing against the small square pack inside, "One of them is a broken number."
"A broken number? ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?" Takami's voice screamed through the small speaker, a shrill and rough sound reaching his ears and sending his face into a painful wince.
"Yes, she has a mark on her forehead just like the first wing," Homura said with a sigh, his hands fumbling with the small carton as he mummbled, "Hell, I think she might even be the original."
"The original? Do you have any proof?" Takami questioned, a serious demeanor replacing the screaming irritation from just seconds before.
"Judging by the fact that one of his other Sekirei kept calling her ice tits and chill chest I think she has ice based powers just like the first broken number. She also has the same hair, eyes, and pretty much everything else from the original too," Homura finally pulled his hand from his pocket, a thin white cigarette clenched between his fingers as he spoke, "your son has the first disused number along with two other Sekirei on his side at the moment...and I think he might be getting more soon."
"God damn Minaka and his fucking games! I'm going to wring his...wait, what do you mean more?" Takami questioned, her righteous fury calming into an uncharacteristic worry as Homura brought the nicotine treat to his waiting lips.
"I mean he is already starting to pull in more Sekirei," Homura muttered, his face flushing slightly at the memory of meeting Minato. With practiced skill he raised a single finger to the opposite end of the cigarette, a small burst of flame erupting from nothing and silently lighting it, "his pull as an Ashikabi is growing incredibly quickly and frankly, I don't know where it will stop at this point."
The line stayed dead for a few seconds, silence hanging over the connection before one word rang loud and true, "Fuck."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~
Minato barely had enough time to think before he had broken away from the group. Musubi, Haihane, and Akitsu had broken into another argument over who would spend the most time with Minato, who would wash his back, who would be there to keep him warm on cold nights...it was almost a relief when Miya walked in and smashed all of them over the head with a wooden spoon followed by a hannya accompanied demand that the argument be stopped. Granted he had been hit too but it was a small sacrifice to get some sort of peace out of them. He chuckled a bit as he wondered how many people would kill to be in his situation, three beautiful women with incredible other worldly powers fighting tooth and nail for his attention. The otaku population of Japan would probably come after him with a vengeance if they knew...
Sighing slightly he slipped his hands into his pockets, his head leaning back and looking up into the bright blue of the midday sky. It really was a magnificent day, bright and cloudless with a light breeze to it. It might have been a touch chilly but that was fine, his skin bristled and he felt just a little more alive in the brisk air. Shaking that off he stepped onto the grass of the lawn, the warm earth beneath his feet seeming to radiate a peaceful sensation throughout his entire body. For some reason he just felt compelled to walk further into the back yard, the spacious area welcoming him as an honored and valued guest. Following his feet he continued to walk, his path taking him to a rather large tree settled on the premises. The tree seemed to be quite old but also very alive, bright green leaves hanging lazily from thick and sturdy branches. He remembered seeing so many of these trees in his childhood...he wondered how everyone in the old town was doing.
"Minato?" A voice called his name, his body jumping slightly from the surprise but easily turning around to face the new guest to his wandering, Haihane. She stood in the doorway for a moment before stepping out onto the grass, "There you are."
"Haihane-san," Minato greeted, a small smile on his lips as he spoke. She might have looked scary to most but at the moment, with the wind caressing her full form, she looked beautiful. The slight breeze had gathered the tattered ends of her thin kimono, the black material floating up with the wind and revealing the trim and athletic body beneath. Her chest wasn't nearly as large as Akitsu let alone Musubi but it was her shape, the gentle curves of her body that left him breathless and craving more. The messy silver tresses of her hair floated on every gust giving the wild reaper an ethereal look, the frayed feral locks tamed on the gentle comb of the wind. Her face held a surprising softness to it, her small smiles accentuating her kinder side, the gentle air that she could so easily exude without and ounce of effort. Her eyes were somewhat scary but very expressive for their narrow appearance; the one visible orb easily ranging through hundreds of emotions if one knew where to look. Her pale lips were as soft as the most fragile feather, something he remembered from when she had kissed him, and to be honest with himself he wouldn't mind do it again some time soon...
"Miya wants everyone to start helping out with chores if they've got nothing else to do," Haihane said with a small smile, her heart beat picking up pace the closer she drew to Minato, to her beloved Ashikabi. Only he could do this to her, only he could send her emotions into a flutter simply by being there…there was no wondering, no guessing, just knowing this heat inside. At times being a Sekirei was very, very convenient.
"Paying for rent isn't enough?" Minato chuckled, this was Haihane. The killer from before wasn't the same silver haired woman, she couldn't be. Haihane was kind despite her looks, she was fun, and she made his heart race just a bit faster the closer she was.
"Apparently since we're 'family' we have to keep this place as neat as 'kaa-san' wants it," a soft chuckle drifted away with the breeze as Haihane stopped just a short distance from Minato, "So what are you doing out here anyway?"
Glancing behind his back he stared at the tree, his body still being pulled towards the age old plant for some unknown reason, "I don't know...I just wanted to come out here and look at this tree." Shrugging slightly he leaned back, his body hitting the solid trunk of the tree without a sound.
"Onii-chan!"
A young child's voice echoed throughout his body, the terrified scream tearing at his heart like a thousand rusty blades. Out of nowhere he felt a hand on his shoulder, a small grasping palm grabbing onto him and pulling roughly, turning him around to face what appeared to be a young girl hovering in mid-air. The girl was undoubtedly a child, her tiny body and innocent features giving more than enough proof to the point. However it was her eyes, those brilliant green orbs that broke his heart to pieces. They were frozen in fear, tears leaking from them and her mouth turned down into a sobbing frown, "Onii-chan!"
Without even thinking about it he raised his arms out to the crying girl, her body floating into them as he wrapped her in a gentle embrace, "Shh...it'll be alright."
The girl grabbed hold of him tightly, tiny hands fisting in his clothing and holding with all of her young strength, "Onii-chan, onii-chan...come save me."
Silently rocking side to side Minato continued to make calming noises, his arms holding the mysterious girl and comforting her on pure instinct, "It's okay, it's okay...Onii-chan will come save you..."
The girls voice began to crack as her sobs returned, fresh tears spilling from the edges of her eyes in terror, "Save Kusano onii-chan, it's so cold..."
Minato hushed her by running a gentle hand through Kusano's long spun straw hair, her sobs ebbing way into a series of quiet sniffles, "Where are you Kusano?"
Kusano whimpered a bit, her arms squeezing Minato tightly as she spoke, "It...it's a place with lots of plants onii-chan...please save Ku onii-chan...please save me."
SLAP
Minato awoke with a jolt and a powerful slap, his face aching with a burning sting as Haihane clutched the collar of his shirt and yelled only inches away from his face, "Minato! You alive in there? Answer me!
"Huh? Haihane-san?" Minato groggily muttered, his arms gently pushing Haihane away as he placed his head in his palm, "What happened?"
"I don't know," Haihane said with obvious worry in her tone, her one visible eye holding concern as she spoke, "You touched the tree and just collapsed. You were out for about a minute before you woke up."
In a flash it all came back, his eyes widening as realization hit him like a two ton truck, "Haihane-san, get your claws. There's someone we need to save."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~