Hello one and all! How are you? Me, I'm so fan-freaking-tastic that I can barely contain myself! This next coming week is Spring Break for my University and I finally get to have a real vacation for the first time in years! Granted that means I won't update for the next week but trust me when I say I will make it up to all of you in spades! I promise from the bottom of my little Sekirei loving heart. I am sorry about the lack of updates that will occur in the next seven days but I'd rather be sane and able to give you this story instead of insane and locked up in a mental institution. Anyway enough with my babbling, without further ado please read, review, and most of all enjoy the newest chapter of Claws and Kisses!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 9: Are You Sure?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~START~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The day was crisp and clear, the air slightly warmer than that night so long ago as Minato sat on the back porch of the old Izumo Inn. How long had it been? A month? Two? Whatever it was it almost seemed like an eternity since he had come in through the front gates, an injured Akitsu on his back with Haihane and Musubi trailed behind. He had barely stayed a week before he had to leave, a long and bloody night landing him in a silent and extensive coma.
And that dream...
Minato sighed as he looked down at his injured arm, the bruising long ago faded and the swelling reduced to where he looked mostly normal...except for the trio of scars that dressed the skin of his pale arm. From the top of his wrist to the bottom of his elbow were three long discolored patches along his skin, indents running along his flesh and telling the tale of his grievous wound. With a careful flex of his fingers he formed a loose fist, a dull ache being his reward as opposed to the lightning bolt of agony which had affected him only a short while ago.
To everyone at the M.B.I. hospital he seemed to be a walking miracle, his recovery rate and the speed at which he was regaining his strength astounding to say the least. It even came to a point that his mother was surprised at his progress, her readjusted estimations giving him roughly another half of a week before his rehabilitation was complete and all of the strength and dexterity he could ever hope to come out of that arm would come to pass.
It was a sort of bitter sweet victory for Minato, granted it was much better now that he could actually move on his own and he didn't have a shooting pain every time he tried to grab hold of something but, as odd as it sounded, he was going to miss seeing his mother every other day. She had always been the one that demanded he be put in her care, to yell at him when she thought he was over doing himself, to criticize him when she thought he was slacking off...okay maybe not all of the memories were things he could treasure but there were a few that he knew he would never forget...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Back again eh Minato?" Takami smirked, her toothy grin clamped upon the end of a half used cigarette, "how's it feeling this time?"
Minato held up his arm and clenched his hand into a fist, his fingers flowing effortlessly as a small wince of pace dashed across his features. Given that he had left the hospital nearly screaming in agony every time he gave someone a thumbs up it was definitely a step in the right direction.
"Well I'll be damned," Takami chuckled, her body flopping down on her swiveling stool before she turned and began writing on the chart on her desk, "looks like you're gonna heal up just fine Minato...but you're slacking on your exercises aren't you?"
"No Kaa-chan," Minato mumbled, the odd habit of referring to her with an affectionate title sticking after the first couple of visits, "I've been working on them every morning before I go to cram school and every night before I go to bed."
A soft snerk rose from Takami, the completed chart in her hands as she slid her pen into her front breast pocket, "I'm sure you get plenty of exercise with that hand, just not as much as you used to with all of those Sekirei around eh?"
Minato's face blushed a beat red, his voice caught in his throat as his head violently shook back and forth to dispute the white haired woman's claim. Certainly it was no surprise that all of the girls had straight out demanded to sleep with him but Miya's rule was steadfast and strong...until one of them was feeling gutsy. This would lead to one sneaking into his room, then another, and another, until finally he found himself crushed beneath the weight of seven different women as he awoke the next morning. This typically ended when Miya would enter the room, a wooden spoon at the ready as she gave them their customary 'wakeup' routine.
"N-No! Nothing like that!" Minato stuttered as he finally regained his voice, both hands up and waving madly in denial.
"Sureeee," Takami chuckled, a deep puff of her cigarette giving her resonating word an eerie touch of black smoke, "Whatever you say Minato. But I do have to ask, how is little Yukari-chan doing?" Seeing Minato's face go from blood red to sheet white caused her sadistic grin to grow, oh the joys of being a mother and being able to fuck with your kids like no tomorrow.
"Sh-She is doing well," Minato stuttered, a slightly hard look being cast toward Takami before he looked down and focused on his hand, "she still comes by every day just like you asked her to."
"Who me?" Takami asked with an innocent voice, the shark like smile on her lips and sharp eyes revealing the full truth, "I'm hurt that you would say that Minato. It's my motherly duty to make sure all of my children are safe and taken care of. Just because the stronger one of my children has to look over the weaker one doesn't mean I'm not still concerned with her health."
Minato felt a little bit of tension rise up in the back of his neck but he pushed it down, his mothers poking and prodding comments almost scientifically designed to rile the new sense of anger that he had developed, "Your concern for my 'health' almost made Yukari become a 'loose end' to the M.B.I. kaa-chan."
After Minato had finally woken up after Yukari's first visit with him she had interrogated him about how why he was living with so many women in the same house hold. It would have gone very smoothly with plenty of diversions and lies had Musubi not been on the other side of the room from Minato and blurted out the word Sekirei, something that only caused Yukari to turn up the heat and grill her brother for every last answer that she could get. Despite this Minato was able to skirt around an answer until she left, Minato nearly pushing Yukari out the door with his thanks and assurance that he would rest and heal up.
This only led to more questions, Yukari even going so far as to call Takami and ask about the people that called themselves Sekirei. It took Takami a full hour to get Yukari to forget about the subject...right up until the point she visited Minato the next day and caught a glimpse of Akitsu and Haihane sparring in the backyard. From that point on Yukari couldn't be kept from the truth, her observation of the girls using mystical and other worldly powers forcing Minato to tell her as much as he thought was safe...including the fact that their mother was one of the top researchers on the project.
That caused a hell of a fire storm with Takami, her own ammunition turned on her as the pride and strength she had installed into Yukari came back around in full force. It took Takami the better part of two hours to explain it all to Yukari, especially the part about being killed if she said anything about it, before Yukari decided to keep quiet for the time being.
Takami's teeth clenched into the butt of her cigarette but she kept her smile, that cold and slightly demonic grin that could stop a charging rhino in its tracks bared behind the smoldering stick, "You're getting better at those come backs Minato, you're making your mother proud."
Minato felt a tremor of fear race through him at his mother's tone, that ice cold voice of warning nearly as chilling as Akitsu's attacks. Yet, in some way Minato found a way to respond in a shaky voice, "Th-Thanks...I think."
Takami's smirk grew but she decided not to press the point, the fact that he son was actually willing to throw barbs her way was showing some progress from the perpetual coward that would buckle under the pressure of a grain of rice. Maybe she had raised him wrong when she tried to scare the living hell out of him? Maybe he did have the capacity to face pressure and win like the rest of the family did...
And maybe she would profess her undying love for Minaka after this examination was over.
Chuckling a bit Takami stood from her stool, Minato's chart tucked under arm as she looked at the boy on the exam table. Despite her sudden movement he just continued to look at his arm, testing its strength and what he could do without it beginning to hurt. His face was locked in deep concentration, a sort of half stubborn look that was peppered every so often by a wince of pain from his arm.
Really, did he have what it takes to do what he said he would?
She had no idea and if she had money to best she'd be honest and bet against him but...there was something that was changing in him, something that only a mother could see in their child. That slightly stern face, that determination to keep going despite the pain that kept striking him; for once he looked more like an adult than her child. The boy that had called her on the phone and told her how he had failed his entrance exam for the second time seemed to drift further and further away as time went on, this more determined and ballsy young man starting to take his place. If he kept up like this...
Well hell, she'd lose her bet by a landslide.
"Well your exam's over Minato," Takami sighed, the last little dregs of her cigarette puttering out before she plucked it from her lips and flicked it into the nearest sink, "Anything you want to ask your old kaa-chan or you just wanna up and go?"
Minato was quiet for a moment as he looked at his arm, those three fresh scars staring back at him as a mark of what had happened. Suddenly her turned up to face Takami, a soft smile on his face and those same old kind dark eyes looking at her from beneath his messy black bangs, "No just...thanks for helping me kaa-chan."
And there he was again, five years old all smiles and fucking sunshine. It was almost like the serious side he had been showing her had gone into hibernation and there was the little runt that she sent off into the world. One minute a growing man and the next an innocent child.
God he never did change did he?
"No problem…musuko," Takami muttered, her hand patting the top of his head, "kaa-chan's always here for you."
For a moment Minato was stunned, looking at his mother as she pointedly looked away. Suddenly his face burst with a bright grin, an odd touch of joy welling inside of him at the first tender moment with his mother in all the years he could remember. His mother had always been on the distant side, their interactions with one another being almost diametrically opposed in every way. She was harsh and he was soft, fire and water, dark and light...
"But don't you dare do anything stupid," Takami suddenly growled, her fist lightly rapping him on the head as she spoke, "I didn't spend fourteen hours in labor for you to die before me."
Minato chuckled as he idly rubbed the sore spot on his head, his smile never loosening as he spoke, "I wouldn't dream of it kaa-chan."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Takami would call from time to time since he had his last checkup with her but she was still a very busy person and in a way so was he.
Oh lord was he...
When he came back from that hellish ordeal he found four new faces ready to greet them, each with their own personalities, their likes, their dislikes, and a complete and utter devotion to him and him alone.
In his mind Minato could probably easily handle Musubi, Haihane, and Akitsu without too much trouble. They were a handful and they bickered between one another but he cared for them deeply, Musubi's innocence, Akitsu's intelligence, and Haihane's wit were things he looked forward to every day. He had learned how to stop arguments with them, how to split his attention between then, to be the best Ashikabi he could be…but then came everyone else.
Kazehana was by far the most obvious with her intents and desires, her wild actions stretching from trying to get him drunk with herself and the other two drinkers in the Inn, Haihane and Uzume, to wearing only an apron and greeting him as he came back from cram school, asking him if he wanted a bath, food, or her first. That ended with Minato passing out from blood loss and Kazehana being reprimanded by Miya with a heavy spoon. While it stung for quite a while it took only a few cups of sake and a kind smile from Minato to send her back into a wave of flirtatious interaction with her 'manly' beloved.
Matsu was only second due to her need to hide, her interactions with Minato isolated to the Inn and nowhere else. However, that little hiccup meant nothing in the face of what one would call a legendary pervert. She had more than once undressed in front of him, her naked body bared before his eyes in nothing but her underwear. In those moments she would approach him slowly, a perverted giggle pouring from her lips as she groped the air before her, her body itching to feel his skin beneath her touch again. That usually ended with him bolting in fear of Miya's wrath...though this did nothing to stop the amorous woman from sneaking into his room at night or trying to create another 'bath time encounter' experiment again.
Tsukiumi and Kusano tied for their devotion and drive to win Minato's eyes and heart, the sweet child and the tsundere woman both putting forth their best effort to gain some of Minato's already divided attention. Kusano, being the lucky one, was given a spot of honor next to Minato at meal times, her insistence to feed him more than once causing Tsukiumi to snap her chopsticks in agitation. Tsukiumi on the other hand would do her best to try to appeal toward Minato with her strength and drive to go to whatever lengths she could for him. Granted, she would never admit this was the case but somehow, someway she hoped to catch his eye. After all, she WAS his one and only wife so it was her right to get some attention once in a while.
While these four fought like no other for the attention of their Ashikabi the original three girls were facing catastrophic gaps in consideration from Minato on their own. Haihane missed being able to grab onto his arm and make a joke without any interference from the 'runt' or 'water balloons.' Musubi missed being able to have some sort of alone time with Minato-sama without being interrupted by the ever nosey Kaze-chan or Matsu-chan. Akitsu was getting rather annoyed that her request was constantly having to be postponed due to the continues interference from all the other outside sources that seemed to want the same thing.
It almost made him want to take up his earlier thought of running away to a temple...
But he couldn't' he knew he couldn't.
He cared about them, they supported him, they loved him and with every bit of his heart he loved them too. It just seemed too unfair for them...to have so many rely on one for so much...
"Yen for your thoughts?" A voice called out from behind him, his attention so focused on his thoughts that he hadn't heard anyone approach. His body gave a slight jolt in surprise, his head turning around and facing the person behind him. Standing there was the voluptuous and curvaceous Kazehana, that ever present small smirk crossing her lips as she sat down beside her Ashikabi.
Minato chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head as he turned to look at his hand, "It's nothing Kazehana-san."
"Please Minato-kun, call me Kaze-chan," Kazehana's smirk grew wider as Minato blushed, her heart picking up pace at his flushed cheeks, "and I've been around enough to know when someone is troubled."
Minato shook his head, his blush slowly fading away with the sudden movement, "It's really nothing Kazehana-san, I've just been thinking."
"Kaze-chan Minato-kun," Kazehana chuckled as she corrected him once again, "and what have you been thinking about?"
"The last week, since Yukari came here and I was able to meet you and the others," Minato started, his tone dipping slightly as he spoke, "since everyone was winged and we ended up living here at Izumo Inn."
"Oh?" Kazehana quirked an eyebrow, "and why would that have you so sad Minato-kun?"
Minato looked at Kazehana, prepared to tell her nothing was wrong once more but instead silence was his reply. He could see the seriousness in her eyes, the concern, the worry for her beloved Ashikabi. Minato turned his head away from Kazehana, his scarred arm slightly curling into a fist, "I've just been...worried."
"Worried about what Minato-kun?" Kazehana asked with genuine curiosity, an eyebrow quirked as she crossed her legs.
"That...I'm not enough," Minato muttered, his hand finally clenching fully before he allowed it to relax, "I barely have enough time to spend with one of you let alone all of you...I feel like I'm cheating you all out of a fair experience with a good Ashikabi instead of me."
Kazehana's heart pounded in her chest, a warm blush working its way up to her cheeks. He did look like 'that man,' she was sure enough about that the moment she had seen him up close and alive. But this voice, this heart, it was something she hadn't experienced before. He spoke with such genuine feelings and with a sincere caring soul that she felt fire begin to burn within, her smile nearly doubling in size as she thought of her choice in Ashikabi...she most certainly hadn't chosen wrong.
"Minato-kun," Kazehana spoke, Minato's attention drawn away from his arm and his sorrowful talk as he turned to face her. Before he could get a word out Minato felt Kazehana's hands on his cheeks, her lips meeting his own in a soft and endearing kiss. Her tongue slowly slipped between his own, twirling with his slick muscle. The heat of her body began to build, a raging inferno fanned by the flames of her heart until at last it burst, a cascade of dark purple wings exploded from her back in a glorious show of the wind mistress' love.
Pulling away from the kiss Kazehana smiled, Minato's dazed and confused drawing a giggle from her lips, "Minato, we are Sekirei. We love; it is what we are meant to do. We bond forever to the one we are destined for, red strings of fate tying together the purest of hearts." With a soft smile Kazehana's wings began to fade, her eyes gazing lovingly into Minato's, "And if a lot of Sekirei find someone with a big enough heart, they all want him to be theirs."
"But...it's unfair," he muttered, his face resembling a tomato at Kazehana's intense attention.
"What's fair and not fair is very relative Minato-kun," Kazehana could still see the indecision in Minato's eyes, the worry that something was wrong, that he was letting someone down. For a moment she cursed whatever parent had done this to their child in her head but she shook it off, her smile kind and gentle as she released Minato and returned to the seat beside him, "Would you like to hear a story Minato-kun?"
"S-Sure Kazehana-san," Minato mumbled, his blushing face and worried eyes turned to his right hand which had began doing exercises out of nervousness.
"Kaze-chan Minato-kun," Kazehana playfully chided, her body setting in as she began her tale, "A long time ago Minato-kun, I met a man who I loved very deeply. He had drive, ambition, and charisma. So much so that everyone who knew him could tell he was going places. I loved him deeply Minato-kun, that handsome face, those wonderful arms." Kazehana sighed, her head leaning back as she looked up into the sea of azure that was the sky, "but he held no love for me. Instead he saw me as nothing but an object, something he couldn't love, only play with. I told him my feelings Minato-kun, I spilled them out from my heart and hoped he would accept them. He didn't, so I left."
"Kazeha...Kaze-chan, I'm...I'm sorry," Minato whispered, his voice soft as he looked at his hand. The thrill of an electric shock jolted down Kazehana's spine, her entire body warming at the shivering sensation. That deep and masculine voice that he used when he whispered, his feelings on his sleeve as he did it...and when he whispered her name like a lover! God did she ever want to fuck him.
"What are you sorry for Minato-kun?" Kazehana asked with a slight hint of pink to her cheeks.
"I can't say I know what it feels like, to be rejected like that. But...I'm guessing it hurts. I'm just sorry you had to feel that pain," Minato said, his head turning from his scarred arm to face her, deep and expressive eyes offering every bit of condolence they could as he gently grinned, "No one as beautiful as you deserves to be treated as an object. You're a wonderful person Kazeha...er, Kaze-chan."
Kazehana's pulse rocketed upwards, her hear thundering in her chest as one thought raced through her head; she was going to tie him to a bed and ride him until his eyes crossed.
"It-It's alright Minato-kun," Kazehana spoke, clearing her throat softly as she tried to suppress her natural urges, "do you want to know why?" Minato looked genuinely clueless, a cute expression that made Kazehana giggle again, "It's because I got to meet you Minato-kun."
"M-Me?" Minato asked, his voice surprised at he looked at the beautiful buxom woman besides him.
Kazehana nodded, "You return my feelings Minato-kun, my pure and unsullied maiden's heart beats like a drum just for you. To me, it doesn't matter if I have to share you with a hundred others. Just so long as you can see me for me, not another face in the crowd, not some sort of object, just for my love Minato-kun."
"K-Kaze-chan?" Minato stuttered, his blush reaching new proportions as he shyly responded, "I could never see you as anything than you are. I could never see any of the Sekirei I have as anything but the wonderful, caring, and loving people that they are. But that's not my point-"
"Well it's mine Minato-kun," Kazehana swiftly interrupted, her body on edge as Minato's words attacked every one of her weak points. This boy was just too sweet for his own good; if she hadn't have stopped him he would have found himself missing a pair of pants in ten seconds, "My point is Minato-kun that no matter what other Sekirei you might have, as long as you pay attention to us and love us with all of your heart then I'm willing to bet that almost all of them share my feelings. You make our hearts throb and just by what you said now...you have more than enough of your own to share between all of us."
For a moment Minato looked down, thoughts traveling through his mind a mile a minute. It was almost adorable seeing his traditional values clashing with Kazehana's words in his head. "I...I still don't feel that it's right Kazeha...Kaze-chan. It feels like I'm being dishonest," he nervously muttered, "I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me."
Without warning Kazehana put her hand on his shoulder, a small smile on her lips as she spoke, "Why don't you ask us then Minato-kun? Ask us for our true feelings for you, I think then you'll see what I mean." With a sly and sultry wink Kazehana rose from her seat, her body gyrating and moving as she left the scene, "Bye Minato-kun~"
Ask them?
Was such a thing really possible?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes Minato-sama?" Akitsu asked with a neutral look, her stiff and formal voice as monotone as ever s she spoke, "can I help you with something?"
"Well...it's...it's...well it's kind of complicated Akitsu-san," Minato started, his voice awkward and his eyes trying their very best to avoid Akitsu's.
"What is it Minato-sama?" Akitsu questioned, her head quirking ever so slightly in curiosity at her Ashikabi's reluctance and nervousness.
With a sigh Minato's hand scratched the back of his head, nervousness and a healthy amount of fear tinting his tone as he spoke, "Akitsu-san…with the number of Sekirei that I have it's been getting harder for me to spend any significant time with you or the others and…I feel like I'm betraying you. I just…I wanted to tell you that I hate feeling like I'm hurting all of you like this."
For a long moment Akitsu was silent, her face unchanged as she stepped a bit closer to Minato. In a slow and deliberate act Akitsu reached up with her arm, her two pale and immaculate hands gently grasping each of his shoulders before they roughly fisted into the soft cotton. Without warning Akitsu pulled hard, her body leaning up as his fell down, their lips meeting in a powerful and intense kiss. Akitsu's tongue force its way from her mouth, the slick organ pushing back Minato's and wrapping around his slick muscle in a dance of vibrant passion. Somewhere in the back of her head she felt a distinct tug on her heart, an insistent pull that grew stronger and stronger as time went on and their kiss grew deeper and more intense.
After several moments of her enthusiastic kiss Akitsu broke away, her face flushed with arousal but her expression still locked in a neutral stare, "Minato-sama, I won't lie and say that I enjoy being put up against all the others for your attention but you are the only one I ever want. You make my heart dance, you make me weak at the knees, and you make me want you to plow me so hard I lose my voice."
Minato invented a few new shades of red but Akistu continued, an almost invisible smirk on her lips as she spoke, "You are my world Minato-sama, it's only natural that a world needs to be shared."
"A-Are you su-" Minato began but he was cut off by another powerful kiss, Akitsu's frenzied pawing at his clothing and flesh making her intentions and feelings abundantly clear...
~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~
"What is it husband?" Tsukiumi said with a sidelong glance, a slight pinkish hue to her cheeks as she caught his dark expressive eyes, "Landlady-dono's one on one training session with me is in a few minutes."
"I...I just wanted to ask you something Tsukiumi," Minato smiled, his nervousness lessened by his 'discussion' with Akitsu. However, between Akitsu and Tsukiumi was an ocean of difference and he felt as though he had forgotten a paddle…and a boat.
"Well, please get on with it," Tsukiumi tapped her foot with impatience, an eyebrow quirked as she waited for his words.
With a small scrap of courage Minato nodded, his tone calm but tinged with deep regret as he spoke, "I...I feel that I'm not being fair to everyone with the number of Sekirei I have and I hate feeling like I'm hurting you like this Tsukiumi."
"Hmph, is that all?" Tsukiumi grunted, her head shaking side to side sending her cascading blond hair in a slow swaying motion, "As your one and only lawful wife I am not happy with your indiscretions...but, in olden times a powerful man…n-needed his share of c-concubines to prove his power did he not?"
"Tsukiumi?" Minato asked confused, her arms crossing tighter as she turned away in a huff.
"I-I-I'm saying th-that as l-long as you c-care for m-me and t-take me into y-your embrace then I-I don't c-care!" Tsukiumi's face was bright neon red, her temper flaring as she stomped her foot angrily, "Look what you made me say you idiot!"
With a swift turn Tsukiumi faced away from Minato, her hair gently fluttering from the rapid spin. Minato looked at the woman before him, her raging nature doing its best to hide the emotions that she held inside. She did her best to hide what she felt on the inside and in doing so she over compensated in a…rather frightening way. But despite this Tsukiumi still cared for him, she gave her 'consent' as a Sekirei and his 'one and only wife.' Because of this he went against his better judgment and walked forward quietly, his throat swallowing nervously as he took one of the biggest gambles of his life and wrapped his arms around Tsukiumi's waist.
The woman in his arms stiffened, her body going completely rigid simply at his touch. For a moment he thought she was going to throw him off, a tidal wave of water crashing into him and sending him to a water logged death...instead she slowly relaxed, her body slightly leaning against his own as she softly whispered, "Y-You idiot..."
~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Musubi's here Minato-sama!"
"Ku ku ku, this Matsu is too Mina-tan!"
For a moment Minato wondered how Musubi had wandered herself into Matsu's room, the secret compartment at the end of the hall being completely unknown to Minato until Matsu had forced herself upon him in the bath. However that was quickly set to the back of his mind at the fact that Matsu, the woman who was almost fanatically trying to get into his pants, leered at him like a starving dog would eye a juicy steak, "Erm, hello Musubi-san, Matsu-san...I have a question I want to ask both of you if you have the time."
"Oooo Mina-tan, a threesome right here?" Matsu purred, her tongue licking her lips as undisguised want filled her eyes, "I think that's a lovely idea!"
"What's a threesome?" Musubi questioned, her head tilted to the side innocently as a small smile crossed her lips.
"Wh-What? N-No!" Minato shouted, shaking his head and crossing his arms over his body, "I-It has nothing to do with anything like that!"
"Aww..." Matsu pouted but she was quick to let it go, instead curiosity filling her as she addressed her Ashikabi, "Then what did you come here for Mina-tan?"
"I...I've been thinking lately," Minato muttered, his nervous tic reappearing again as he scratched the back of his head, "I...I don't feel it's right what I'm doing to all of you. I have all of these Sekirei and I can't devote the time you each deserve to you. I hate feeling like I'm hurting either of you because of all of this..."
"What do you mean Minato-sama?" Musubi asked in confusion, her unanswered question forgotten as she tried to figure out the reason for Minato's visit.
Before Minato got a chance to speak Matsu spoke for him, for once her gaze not oozing with sexual perversion but instead sheer amusement, "Musu-tan, Mina-tan thinks he's hurting us because he has winged so many Sekirei
"But that's silly Minato-sama," Musubi spoke before he even had a chance to respond, her soft and innocent smile warming his heart, "Musubi doesn't care how many Sekirei Minato-sama wings, as long as Minato-sama and Musubi can stay together forever then Musubi doesn't care!"
"As for me Mina-tan," Matsu chuckled, the gleam in her glasses catching the rays of light in just the right way as she spoke, "let's perform a special experiment so I can show you just how much I don't care."
In seconds he was pressed between two sets of massive breasts, Matsu on one side while Musubi took the other, and for once he didn't feel like trying to break free from it...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Minato's talk with Kusano was easy, the young child not understanding what was wrong in the least. Instead of competing she saw the others as sisters, all of them being Minato's wives and having a very happy life like that. In a way it was refreshing but slightly odd to hear a child so at peace with so many women hovering around a single man. It was only after she confirmed that she would be one of those same women when she grew up that Minato had to leave, a chill in his bones as he thought of the implications of that particular occurrence.
But as it was, when he had spoken to them all, they had all said the same thing. They loved him and only him, they wanted to be by his side no matter what...except one.
It only took him a moment to pick out the wild silver main of Haihane, her unnatural hair color sticking out against the brown back at her back. The slim and curvy reaper had set herself in the backyard of the Inn, her back to the old tree where Minato had first met Kusano. She seemed to be deeply pulled into thought but this was not something that he could wait for or take lightly at all. He needed to know. He walked toward her as he prepared to ask the question on his mind...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Toki Wo Tomare~~~~~~~~~~~
A hollow thunk echoed out with a steady rhythm, the sound of something hard hitting the unmatched strength of aged wood. Sure enough, sitting beneath the shade of the leaves above her head was the silver haired reaper Haihane. By her side rested her tempered steel gauntlets letting her slim and delicate bandaged hands free to settle atop her bent knees.
Why?
Why did it always end with some sort of disaster?
In some sort of problem that had no solution?
Slowly, from the bottom of her vision a grey bandaged hand rose, nimble fingers wrapped in thin cotton covering the emerald shine from above...
Why was it always so wrong?
~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CRASH!
The sound of thunder echoed across the land, the metallic ring of steel against steel shattering the silence of the cozy Izumo Inn. Blades erupted in a shower of sparks, the smell of hot oil filling the air with every contact. Every stroke was a taunt in the face of death, every slash another curse towards the rivers of hell. Five, foot-long claws struck down with the force of a two ton hammer, a single blade of steel meeting it head on and stopping without an ounce of effort behind the blow.
This battle raged in the small backyard of Izumo Inn, Haihane matching up against Miya with all of the force and speed at her disposal. Her breaths came in short pants and gasps, her body working overtime to somehow catch the purple haired woman off guard, to somehow slip behind her defenses and find her smallest weakness. As it was that goal seemed impossible, the sword wielding landlady breathing just as calmly as she had when they first began. Her blade only showed the barest marks of their sparring session and not a drop of sweat came down her brow. It was so...exciting!
Haihane could feel the fire of battle burn within her, her movements becoming faster, her strikes more accurate and powerful. She loved this, the rush of battle, the fight to the very bitter end! A wicked smile began to grow on her face, her one visible eye spreading wide as she thought of her victory. They would fight and fight and fight and fight and in the end she would spill the blood! She would win! She would have the tro-
The salty taste of blood filled her mouth as her teeth clenched upon her bottom lip, her body leaping back and disengaging her opponent with one last glancing swipe. A quick shake of her head threw her insane smile from her lips, her eyes clenching shut as she pressed her padded palm to her forehead. She couldn't...no...she wouldn't sink into that again...never again...
"Haihane-san," Miya quietly spoke, her blade spinning in her hands before it was easily thrust into its wooden sheath, "I believe this is a good place to stop today's training."
"No, wait," Haihane muttered, her head jerking back from her palm as she lowered into a fighting stance, fingers splayed wide in a deadly display, "I can still continue, just a few more rounds."
Miya glanced at Haihane for a moment, her head shaking as she spoke, "No, I do not think any more training will benefit you now."
With a disappointed sigh Haihane settled into her natural stance, her eyes looking downcast as she spoke, "I suppose I could rest up for the day..."
"No," Miya interrupted, her body turning sharply from the grey reaper as she continued her speech, "I mean there is nothing more I can teach you Haihane-san. You can no longer learn from me because I can no longer grow stronger."
"What!" Haihane barked, anger easily detectable in her tone, "I don't believe that, I can get stronger!"
"And to what end Haihane-san?" Miya asked, a casual glance cast over her shoulder before shaking her head and continuing her stroll towards the Inn, "You are a skilled fighter but it is your hesitance that is your weakness. If you lack conviction then the Sekirei Plan will show you no mercy at its end-"
"I don't lack conviction!" Haihane growled, her finger blades tensing and clicking against one another in vicious anticipation, "and I will never hesitate for Minato!"
"Then why did you stop?" Miya asked simply, her pace never slowed as she continued to walk, "If you cannot put forth all of your will into a spar then how can Sahashi-san rely on you in times of greater need?"
"I-I," Haihane stuttered, taken aback by the question before she forced out a strong reply, "I know Minato can count on me when things get tough!"
"And who are you trying to convince Haihane-san?" Miya's voice was slightly cold, her sandals slipping from her feet as she took a step inside the Inn, "Me or you? You cannot afford to be hesitant in a situation. You must do whatever it is you can to protect those whom you care about, the ones that you love."
Haihane could only watch at Miya left, the kind landlady stopping only to inform Tsukiumi that her one on one special training would need to be postponed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zah World~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She would.
She knew she would.
It was just...
In the back of her mind she could see the terror in his eyes as he lay on the ground, the soft smile on his lips doing nothing to hide the fear that tore through his body. Minato, his arm in tatters from her misguided attack...clenching her eyes shut she shook her head slightly, she would never return to that. She never wanted to be the thing that would haunt Minato's dreams in the night, a horrible vision that he could never rid himself of, a monster he would never want to touch.
The thought chilled her to the bone.
To never feel his gentle fingers touch her again, to never see that warm smile on his face, to never see those dark eyes that cared so much. It was a night mare all her own, she could never do it again...
Then why did it keep happening?
Why was it that every time she would begin to fall into the thrill of battle it began to rise up, the ghost of madness felt so long ago whispering poison into her ear. Bloodlust swelling like a tidal wave of crimson and threatening to swallow her whole if she so much as thought about letting go. The ability to lose herself in a scarlet haze of fighting, competing only to win, only to prove herself and gain another bloody trophy.
It terrified her...
"Haihane-chan?"
It was her turn to jump as she heard that voice, that oh so wonderful voice with that lyrical symphony of vocal cords that she craved to hear, "Hm? Minato?" Haihane lowered her head from her gaze on the jade canopy above, her one visible eye meeting Minato's as he approached with a smile. Deep within his eyes burnt that warmth that sent her spirit to soar, that wellspring of emotion that he could share with only so much as a glance. Even by looking at her he knew how to make her heart pound, the thundering in the reapers chest setting the world to a perfect rhythm.
"Can I ask you something Haihane-chan?" His voice was friendly but nervous, that nervous tic of his to scratch the back of his neck in full force while his left and injured hand was deep into his side pocket.
"Sure Minato," she said with a small smirk, her cheeks tinting slightly red as her bandaged hand patted the grass by her side, "take a seat and tell me what's on your mind." In no time Minato sat himself awkwardly by Haihane's side, his body wrestling with itself to become comfortable on the lumpy ground. A soft chuckle echoed from her throat after the tenth minute of watching him struggle, a small spark in her eye as she spoke, "Having trouble Minato?"
He offered her an apologetic smile as he shifted off of a upturned root, "Sort of...I think I must be sitting on something..."
A mischievous smirk crossed Haihane's lips as she gracefully stood up, her naturally flexible and agile nature allowing her to rise with the grace and silence of a house cat. Once standing Minato gave her a confused look before she slowly sat down once more, her legs tucking under her body so she would be able to sit on them.
"Haihane-chan?" Minato asked in confusion, his body still shifting back and forth as he tried to find a comfortable spot amidst the gnarled tree roots.
Without warning Haihane reached out and grabbed Minato by the shoulders, her arms pulling sharply and sending him into a tilting fall. For a moment Minato thought Haihane was going to smash his face into the ground, his head turning and his eyes closing so as to avoid the rough impact with the solid soil. However what he landed upon was neither hard nor gritty, instead it felt rather soft and covered with a very thin layer of cushioned cloth.
Haihane smiled as Minato opened his eyes, realization flooding him as he came to understand that he was now lying with his head in Haihane's lap, "more comfortable no?"
Minato's face was a bright crimson but he simply nodded, his lower body twisting slightly and settling so he could be more comfortable with his head in Haihane's lap, 'Y-Yeah...thanks Haihane-chan."
Haihane chuckled, her grey cloaked fingers slowly combing through his hair absentmindedly as she teasingly spoke, "Anything for you my 'Ashikabi-sama.'" That only served to make Minato blush further, his head turning away from her gaze as he looked out to the nothingness at his side.
He was rather cute when he was so flustered, that red to his cheeks and the panic in his eyes giving him an endearing and amusing charm. Yet, as Minato's blush began to fade and his face relaxed, Haihane saw something that sent her heart into a helpless flutter. Minato slowly began to relax, his body gradually stretching out as his head unconsciously nuzzled into her lap. Bit by bit that cute panic evaporated, his embarrassment floating away leaving only the calm and content face of a young man with the one he trusts the most. His entire being resonated with a sense of tranquility as Haihane's fingers continued to comb through his onyx locks, his eyes fluttering closed and the illusion of sleep settling over him in the gentle shade of the tree...
He was relaxed around her...
Despite everything that had happened...
He didn't fear her...
It was almost enough to cause her to sob in relief.
"Haihane-chan," Minato suddenly spoke, one of his eyes cracking open as he spoke, "I still wanted to ask you something."
"Oh! Yeah," Haihane spoke, clearing her throat to try and rid herself of the slight squeak in her voice, "what is it Minato?"
For a moment Minato paused, both of his eyes opening as he spoke, "All of today I've been asking everyone the same question and from all of them, I've gotten pretty similar answers...it was something Kaze-chan suggested I do to deal with some of the thoughts I've had lately."
Making a mental note to glower at 'Kaze-chan' later Haihane's fingers cupped Minato's cheek, her head tilting with curiosity as she spoke, "What kind of thoughts Minato?"
She was happy to hear him sigh at her touch, his head subconsciously leaning toward her bandaged palm as he spoke, "I...feel like I've been unfair to all of you. I never want to hurt any of you but with all of Sekirei that I have, it feels like that's all I've been doing lately." Haihane stared in amazement at Minato, her heart beginning to pound as he continued to spill his every last emotion, "I never have enough time for all of you, enough to give you the attention that you deserve Haihane-chan."
"Minato..." Haihane whispered, her chest clenching tight as he spoke his heart. Was he afraid of hurting them? Was he scared that they weren't happy with him?
"I just...I didn't want to cause all of this pain. I just don't know what to do about it all..." Minato's voice trailed off as he closed his eyes, his regretful tone touching her heart as he concluded his speech.
With perfect silence Haihane lifted her hand from his cheek, his face wincing slightly before it settled into an even more despondent look as if he were waiting for a painful slap. Grace blessed Haihane as she reached up to her wrist, the fingers of her other hand fiddling with her wrappings for a bit before they slackened their skin tight hold on her. In seconds the bandages around Haihane's limb had loosened and pooled around her wrist, the soft pale white skin of her hand clashing with the pitch black coloration of her fingernails. Slowly and ever so carefully Haihane cupped Minato's cheek, the gentle curve of her palm caressing the side of his jaw with true skin on skin contact.
Minato's eyes jumped open, the feel of flesh against flesh surprising him as he came face to face with a sadly smiling Haihane, "Minato, are you mad at me for what I did to you?"
Minato blinked, Haihane's hand still holding the side of his face as he spoke, "Of course not Haihane-chan, it was a mistake and I can't be mad at you for that."
Haihane's heart nearly burst with emotion, her every nerve alight with passionate fire as she spoke, "Minato, I tore up your arm and almost killed you. If you're not angry at me for that then there's no way I can be mad at you for having more than a couple Sekirei."
Minato looked like he was going to talk back but his breath died in his throat, his mouth closing slowly as the corners of his lips curved up into a small smile. Haihane watched as he let out a slow breath, his body settling slightly while his eyes quietly closed. His head rested on her lap as she continued to stroke the side of his face, pale fingers dancing with the softness of the wind over his lightly tanned skin. It had been the first time he felt her flesh and it was something he doubted he would ever forget, "Thanks Haihane-chan…"
She had proven her point.
As long as he cared then they would be happy.
For better or worse they were with him to the very end...
Especially his own personal grey reaper girl…
"Mina-tan! We've got some big trouble!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
