After Ryuuji had left the Izumo Inn, Miya took Matsu aside to speak.
"Is that really all you found Matsu?" Matsu nodded carefully, but looked at her with a worried face. "If I had the time to test some other things, I could find out more, but as it is, he somehow has DNA that is more closely related to Sekirei. However, he has some additional traits that I was not familiar with. And since he can wing Sekirei, I think I should compare his data with Minato's. I'll ask him for some of his blood." Miya nodded to this and started to walk away before she turned around. Her smile was innocent, but the Hanya behind her spoke volumes more. "He may be your Ashikabi, Matsu, but do remember the rules of the Inn. I would hate to have to enforce them." Matsu felt a drop of sweat fall off her brow as she left to her room. She moved inside, looking once again over the MBI data again. "Who are you, Ryuuji Izanagi?"
The next morning Ryuuji woke up, feeling weight on his arms and chest. Looking around, he saw Akitsu on his right shoulder, Ikki on his left, and on his chest was Anna. He smiled looking at each Sekirei, noticing their cute faces while they slept. While looking he noticed another mark on his chest had changed. On the right side, a symbol had transformed into two closed eyes, with one open eye above the other two. It seemed a fitting symbol for the 'third eye' that Anna has for looking into others mind's. With his hands, he caressed Ikki and Akitsu, seeing them cuddle even closer to Ryuuji. He looked over to his clock on the nightstand and saw that he had a couple of hours before he had to be at work. Slowly, he pulled his body up towards the head of the bed. As he moved, he gently laid each of the bodies into pillows, though Anna was still asleep on a portion of his body. As he continued to try and slink out of the bed, Anna smiled and opened an eye. He looked at her with a smirk, saying in his head 'how long have you been up?' Giggling a little she gave him the same smile. Ryuuji then heard her voice in his head, 'ever since you tried to moving us off of you.' He looked at her a bit surprised. 'So you not only can read my mind, now you can communicate to me through it?'
'Well, from what my adjuster told me at MBI, a Sekirei and Ashikabi should be able to communicate in this manner once their bond is strong enough. But, with me, due to my abilities, the bond doesn't need to be as strong for us to do this.' Anna then gently rose to her knees in between Ryuuji's legs. 'But, I would like you to know that I feel a strong bond between you, Ryuuji. I remember when I had no control over whose mind I was reading. People would look at me, and I could hear their thoughts. It made it hard to want to be near others. Now, I'm glad I left MBI.' Leaning forward, Anna began to kiss Ryuuji, holding his shoulders with his hands. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer to him.
When they separated, both were smiling with blushing at each other. 'I have a request Anna. Can you look in my mind and see if my past is in there? I can't remember my life before a certain point.'
She moved her body to straddle his, placing her forehead against his. 'I'll see what I can do.'
'Thank you. Does putting your head on mine help?'
'No. I just like being closer to you.'
Ryuuji was doing his best to think of the last memory he had when he woke up in the hospital, hoping that Anna might be able to see his past. As he kept thinking about it, they sat there still for some time before Anna backed away from him. She shook her head softly and Ryuuji sighed.
'Thank you for looking.'
'I wish I could have seen something, but it was all blank. I'm sorry.'
This time, it was Ryuuji who shook his head. He smiled at her and kissed her deeply for a moment. After that, he got up off the bed gently and went into his bathroom. He was about to sit down to wash himself, when he heard footsteps. Looking up, he saw all three of them in front of him. Each had a towel wrapped around them, but they shared the same smile. Anna stepped forward. "I told them about what you asked this morning and what I saw. We all want to assure you that even if you don't have a past, that you do have a future with us." Looking at each Ikki and Akitsu, they each nodded to him. He started rubbing the back of his head while looking down. Ryuuji could feel his heart beating quickly and he couldn't wipe the smile from his face. He turned around and laughed at himself quietly thinking about how is life had turned out. He was about to turn around when he felt his body being wrapped by three others. He continued to smile, but was feeling the rush of heat around his body. "So who wants their back washed?"
In unison, the three Sekirei all said, "Me!"
It had been a quite the long bath time, but Ryuuji left the apartment in time to head to the Kendo studio. Each of the girls watched him drive off with a smile on the faces. When he was out of their site, Akitsu grabbed the hands of the two other girls and brought them back inside, bringing them to the couch. Akitsu knelt on the other side of the coffee table while she led Ikki and Anna to the couch.
"I thought it would be best if we talked about the Sekirei Plan together while Ryuuji was out, so that we wouldn't have to worry him with it. There was a time a few days ago when we were attacked by 3 Sekirei and their Ashikabi. And this Ashikabi had cold eyes. He was all business, no emotion, no sense of honor."
Ikki leaned forward. "Did you guys make it out okay?"
"I was able to take care of them, so it was alright. I didn't take them out of the plan though. Maybe I should have, but I felt bad for those Sekirei. Having someone who treats you in such a way, for only their own benefit, makes me treasure Ryuuji that much more."
"Akitsu, you and Ikki are both combat types though. I'm only good for information gathering."
Ikki turned to her. "I wouldn't worry about that. It's great to have variety, and I think that you could help us so we would never be ambushed." Anna smiled to Ikki while Akitsu nodded in agreement.
"I just want you both to know that if it comes to it, I think that Ikki and I should be okay to do the fighting. Anna, you just need to focus on the surroundings for ambushes and making sure no one gets to Ryuuji. If he gets taken out, we would be terminated as well. Also, do you each have your MBI cards?" Ikki and Anna pulled out their cards, showing them to Akitsu. "Ryuuji prefers being able to support us on his own. So, while we have used the card before, I no longer have mine. When you can, get what money you think you'll need and purchase anything you want soon, then throw it away." Ikki nodded to her, setting the card on the table.
"If that is the case, why don't we all go shopping now then, together?" Anna looked at Akitsu and Ikki with an earnest smile asking them to go with her. Ikki and Akitsu looked atach other, Ikki shrugging.
"Why not? I'm up for it. What about you, Akitsu?"
Sighing in defeat, "Alright you two. Lets go."
The three of them were smiling as they left the apartment to go shopping. Anna a bit happier than the others, but all of them were happy to be able to do things together.
Walking out of the studio after another long day, Ryuuji looked over to see Miya walking out of a store, carrying several bags in her hands. Strapping his duffle bag to his bike, we walked over to Miya. "Would you like some help?"
From between the bags, she smiled to Ryuuji. "Izanagi-san. What a surprise. Thank you for offering."
Ryuuji picked up several bags and placed them under his arms. "It's nothing at all. Are you heading home now?"
"Yes, I am. Do you mind walking with me?"
"Not at all. Walking a beautiful woman home would be my pleasure."
"Izanagi-san, you flatter me. If you're not careful, I may fall for you."
"Oh Miya-san. I don't believe I have to worry about that. I'm quite a plain and uninteresting man. You must have many suitors far more worthy than me chasing after you."
"Izanagi-san, there you go again. You really are such a tease."
For about another half hour, Miya and Ryuuji seemed to enjoy each other's company as they made it to the Izumo Inn. In the kitchen, Ryuuji helped put away all the groceries. After doing so, he was preparing to depart when Miya got his attention. "Yes Miya-san?"
Miya had pulled out her sword again and with a smile gestured out to the yard. Nodding, Ryuuji took his case out to the yard again. This time, he did not leave the sheath by the case. Miya looked at him with a serious look. "Izanagi-san, this time we shall fight seriously. Agreed?"
"As you wish, Miya-san."
Both bent their knees, setting into the stances. At his left hip, Ryuuji left his sword, with his right hand hovering over it.
In a blink both combatants disappeared. Homura opened his window and stared out to see on flashes of steel hitting black steel. His eyes couldn't follow all the movements as the wind picked up around the yard. With each passing second, more and more clangs, swishes, and bangs could be heard. Over and over, it was a monstrous battle that showed no clear winner, nor could any human eye follow. Homura was struggling to see even glimpses of the fight that was occurring. Miya and Ryuuji were moving at speeds beyond human thought, swinging their swords at each other without restraint. In a loud clash, the two appeared several feet apart, holding their blades down. Around them, a torrent of wind would not stop. Like an eye of a tornado, the wind was pulling and pushing almost every object. Ryuuji and Miya lifted their swords and made a quick downward slash and the wind stopped immediately. Looking at each other, neither could see a bead of sweat on their brows.
Ryuuji sheathed his sword and bent down once again. "One more slash?" Miya smiled and pulled her sword behind her with both hands on the grip. For a moment, there was an utter silence. And then, with god-like speed, they disappeared and appeared in reverse positions. Ryuuji watched as his shirt fell off his body. He smiled, but then pushed his sword the rest of the way into its sheath. The guard hit the sheath and Miya's hair ribbon fell out, split in two.
Miya smiled and turned to face Ryuuji. "I suppose I won."
Ryuuji smiled as well, turning with his shirt off. Miya was pleasantly surprised to see his well toned muscles, trying not to blush too much. "I guess so, Miya-san." Ryuuji picked up his shirts pieces still smiling. "I had better get home. I'll see myself out Miya-san. Thank you for the match." With his case over his shoulder, he walked through the the house. Before leaving though, he raised his hand like and played and slashed down quickly. A small wind blew through the Inn until it waved into Miya.
She put her hands to her hair and closed her eyes. Opening them, she saw as her Miko outfit had fallen off her entire body. Gaping, she quickly picked up all her clothes and was rushing to yell at Ryuuji, but when she reached the entry way, she saw he was already gone. As angry as she was, she knew she couldn't rush after him only in her underwear. But as she went to her room to change, she smiled to herself. 'I told you to be careful about me falling for you, Ryuuji-san.'
