Author's Note 1: Sorry it took so long to upload this chapter. I was mostly finished as I had said before. However, it was the Haihane part in the middle that was holding me up. That, and I had just started a new semester at school (gotta get my learn on).
Chapter 8: Moving Inn
Dashing for about three blocks, Kai and his team managed to catch their transport just before it left the bus stop. For the young man, it was a relief since neither he nor his Sekirei wished to sit on the hard bench for another two hours (mainly from the stares they garnered from passing onlookers). The ride was silent and uneventful, which compared to before, was a breath of fresh air (though Haihane made a small complaint about wanting to travel a faster, high-risen route). After two hours of riding and another hour and a half trip on a third bus, the trio made it to their destination: the quiet neighborhood within the northern ward of Adachi.
"About time we got here," Haihane said as she cracked her neck. "I've been sitting in that seat for so long, my body nearly went numb."
"No kidding. With the box in the way, it was difficult to take a descent seat. And besides that, it's already past five o'clock. I didn't think it'd take this long," Kai replied as he stretched his back before turning to his map. "Anyway, the place we're looking for should be in this neighborhood somewhere."
"Master Nakamura's note wrote that it's a two story building surrounded by a wooden fence," Akitsu said.
"You mean like most of the houses on this block?" quipped Haihane with folded arms.
"The house we are in search of is built with a comparatively classical style," the ice Sekirei clarified. "The rest of these homes are more modernized in comparison."
"As astute as always, Akitsu," Kai replied.
"So in other words, we're looking for a needle in a haystack," Haihane said with folded arms. "Good luck with that."
"Well, it's not like it's a five-star hotel we're searching for," the black Ashikabi replied. "Hey, Haihane, can you take the box this time?"
"Aw. Do I have to?"
"Please, Haihane. My arms are tired from dragging that thing and Akitsu already did her fair share."
As Haihane was about to create an excuse, the shinobi felt a small wind blowing against her spine along with the piercing glare of a certain cryokinetic. Lightly shaking her head from whatever fear was creeping upon her, the young woman relented. "Sure, I'll do it. Besides, my Ashikabi should have as much rest as he needs," she said.
"Alright, thanks."
When the three arrived at an intersection, Kai glanced inspected the streets ahead of him and to his sides. "It should be around one of these corners…" he murmured to himself as he glanced at his directions again. After a short second checking over the information, the young man took a left turn down the street with his Sekirei in toe. After passing a few homes, the young man stopped near in front of his destination. "We're here," he said as the trio stopped in front of a large two story building with a wooden fence surrounding its perimeter. Its built, as Akitsu had previously surmised, gave it an older appearance compared to the surrounding houses on the lot.
"This is supposed to be the place?" Haihane commented listlessly. Once they arrived on the porch, the shinobi relieved herself of the package and stood with folded arms. "Kakunodate just called and they said they want their building back."
"That's a pretty harsh critique, don't you think?" Kai asked nonchalantly.
"Hey, I'm just calling it like I see it," the clawed Sekirei shrugged.
"Of course," thought Kai before he and his comrades walked up to the building. Standing under the shaded front porch step, the black Ashikabi knocked on the front door. "Hello. Anyone here?" he called.
The door had soon opened, revealing a woman in her late twenties or early thirties with lengthy lavender hair tied by a white ribbon. Her slender frame was covered in a white robe which was wrapped by a purple hakama and matching colored obi while her feet were covered with socks along with a pair of geta. "Good afternoon," the woman replied in the entryway with a polite tone and welcoming smile.
Kai blinked as he took in the scenario. Here he was on the grounds of an old-fashioned house carrying a pair of katanas on his hips (the flyssas on his back were easily dismissible) while being accompanied by women who bare uncanny resemblances to a geisha and shinobi. Then out comes a woman who could perfectly fill in the role of a maiden from either a temple or shogun's domicile. With such thoughts in mind, the young man wondered if he had actually stepped back in time or was the target of a complicated prank from some weird reality show. Kai shook those thoughts out of his mind and regained his focus, though a small smile cracked his lips. "Is this Maison Izumo? If this is the right place, we would like to speak to whoever is in charge?"
"Why, yes it is," the woman replied with a chuckle. "I am Miya Asama, the landlord of this house. What can I do for you?"
"Well my friends and I are interested in renting any rooms that you have available. Another friend of ours told us that you may have such living arrangements."
"I see. Please come inside and we can discuss this matter further."
"Yes, ma'am," Kai quickly replied as he gave a slight bow.
Miya stepped aside as the Ashikabi and his entourage entered the premises. Once they were inside, the woman gently closed the door behind them. "Please, leave your shoes here at the door."
"Alright," Kai responded, slipping off his sneakers.
"Do we have to?" Haihane whined, wondering if such an old-school request was really necessary.
"We are guests here," Kai reminded. "Besides, it's not such a big deal. I mean look at Akitsu. Her shoes are already off."
"Actually, Master," Akitsu began, "I did not possess any manner of footwear."
"Huh," was the young man's only response from the Akitsu's statement. He glanced down to inspect the young woman's feet and then back at the geisha's flat stare. "Okay…" Haihane rested her hands on her hips, waiting to see how her Ashikabi would prove his point. Kai cleared his throat to recover. "Well, that right there was a show of keen foresight," the young man rebutted. "Nice job, Akitsu."
Akitsu gave a prompt nod in response to her master's compliment.
"Fine," Haihane relented as she spun her eyes in defeat. The grey-haired Sekirei pulled off her long, thick knee-high steel-toe boots and pushed them aside.
"I must ask that you also remove your weaponry," Miya insisted.
"Oh come on!" Haihane replied. "Why's that?
"I do not condone any acts or signs of violence within the walls of Maison Izumo. Also, there are some things in this house which are quite valuable and fragile. I do hope you understand."
"But-!"
"We get it," Kai promptly responded as he stepped in front of his Sekirei. The young man knew that their only chance at gaining residency in what may be the only available complex in Tokyo was to stay within the woman's good graces. In a show his good faith, the young man detached his sheathed swords from his person and placed them against the wall. Kai then turned to see Haihane, who wore a questioning glare toward his direction. "Her house, her rules," the black Ashikabi reminded. "Besides, a few of the walls are shoji decor. We don't want to accidentally cut a wall, do we?"
A sigh escaped Haihane's lips as she let the information sink in. "Jeez…" was the only thing she could say before pulling off her gauntlets and placing them alongside her master's weapons.
With everyone relieved of their footwear and combat arms, the maiden-like woman led the three through a hallway on the left and slid open a shoji door on the right. They were now within the living room, a large space covered with tatami flooring. At the center was a long wooden dining table which was close to the ground and a television set on the opposite end of the room resting on a small cabinet. "Please, take your seat and tell me your names," the woman said.
"Yes, of course," Kai said with a nod before he and his Sekirei took their seat. The lavender-haired woman took her seat at the far end of the table. "My name is Kai Kagazaki."
"I am Akitsu. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance."
"My name is Haihane. What's up."
As the two women introduced themselves, Kai took in his surroundings. With its paper walls and tatami flooring, the interior matched the house's rather semi-feudal style quite well. For the youth, the feeling of being in a classic era home sunk in even further. "This is quite a place you have here," the young man commentated. "You must have a lot of history buffs stopping by."
"I'm glad you like it," the woman said. "Actually, we don't get a lot of guests here. You are one of the few people to have found this place."
"Really?" Kai said in partial surprise.
"Though there was another young man who visited a couple of days ago and was also interested in the vacancy. However, I had to ask him to leave due to his harassment of one of my guests."
Kai paled from the news that the woman gave. Though it was entirely possible that the landlady was speaking of someone else, the young man was sure that her description matched someone he knew all too well. "Out of curiosity, did the guy have messy brown hair and appeared to favor the color blue?" he asked.
"Why yes he did," Miya said, surprised by her guest's details. "How did you know?"
Kai tightened his eyes from the woman's answer. He knew that Shiro was the person Miya was talking about. After all, he was the person who shared with him information of the inn. It was only fitting that he would stop by to check the place over. "Oh… Just a wild guess…" Kai said before letting out a sheepish chuckle. Miya watched the black male, trying to discern a connection between him and the earlier guest. Noticing the musing landlady, Kai cleared his throat, deciding it was best to quickly change the subject before any suspicion was made. "As I said, my comrades and I are in-between living arrangements and are hoping you have spare rooms. I'm enrolled in Todai and will start in about a month. Before then, I need to find a place before school starts."
"You're a university student? Well congratulations on getting into such an esteemed school."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Though I am quite confused as to why you would be looking for a place so late in time. Most people in your position have already found somewhere to live by now."
"Yes, well we did have an apartment not too long ago. However, there were a few… complications with the management."
"The last landlord ran a single's only complex," Akitsu replied. "As such, our presence there would have been strictly prohibited."
"Oh dear," Miya replied as she placed a hand against her mouth. "So you were evicted because of lewd misconduct? My aren't you quite a pervert."
"It's not what you're thinking!" Kai denied as he shook his hands to defend against any forming accusation. Meanwhile, Haihane was busy chortling, covering her mouth with a bandaged so as not to draw a lot of attention. "The real reason had nothing to do with them. You see, the last landlord was extorting the tenants living in the building, myself included. Let's say the motives behind his crime were… a hefty debt he held toward an incredulous financial sponsor."
"In other words, the dumbass was shaking down the tenants to pony up enough dough to pay back his bookie," Haihane simplified.
"I don't think she needed it put so frankly," Kai whispered to the Indigo Sekirei, surprised by the woman's lack of censorship. Haihane only shrugged as her Ashikabi turned back to the landlady in order to continue his story. "Since our departure, the three of us have been staying at a friend's place until we found one of our own. Unfortunately, luck hasn't been on our side and just about every place but the street is unavailable. Landlady, your inn may be the only one left with any spare rooms. Please let us to stay here." Wanting to make his point clearer, Kai bowed his head down and rested his hands on his knees.
"I'm sorry to hear about your situation," Miya responded as she continued to watch the young man. Seeing him in a begging position along with the company around him felt somewhat familiar. As if a long forgotten memory had just resurfaced. The woman gave the bowing young man a warm smile. "Please lift your head, Kai," the lavender-haired woman said in a kind tone. Kai sat back up and saw the woman's warm smile. "It's alright. You and your friends are more than welcome here."
The party three turned to Miya, surprised by her announcement. "You mean you'll really let us stay?" a confused Kai asked.
"Why of course. My husband and I shared a firm belief to help anyone in need," the landlord explained.
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Asama!" Kai exclaimed with a respectful bow.
"Please, just call me Miya. You don't need to be so formal."
"We are truly indebted to your hospitality," Akitsu added with a bow of her own.
Haihane responded with a silent nod. As glad as she was that the three of them finally found a home, the Indigo Sekirei's main focus was on Miya. Though she seemed generous, Haihane partially felt her kind display was a mere facade. She quirked her head as she started to feel a familiarity to the lavender-haired landlady, but couldn't understand why. "You seem really familiar…" she noted. "Have you ever worked at M.B.I.?"
"I'm sorry?" Miya replied as she heard the woman's question.
Before Haihane could say anything else, Kai hastily covered the grey-haired woman's lips with a cupped hand. "She didn't say anything!" Kai quickly said, trying to think of a cover story. "She thought you were a part of… M.M.I. Yeah! She just loves motorcycles and figured you could be a famous mechanic from that institute."
"Really?" a confused Miya said. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I think you have me confused with someone else."
"Yeah, that's what I'm thinking to," the black Ashikabi said as he let out a sheepish laugh.
"Well then, I'll show you to your rooms as well as give you the details."
"Sure thing. But can you give us a quick minute alone. We won't be long."
"Certainly. I'll be waiting for you on the second floor. Just follow the stairs near the front door." Kai and his Sekirei watched as Miya returned to her feet and left the dining room. With a small smile on his face, the young black male watched the woman leave the room.
Assured that she was out of earshot, he released his hold on the Indigo Sekirei's lips. "What was that for, Kai?" Haihane asked.
"Perhaps it was due to your lapse of judgement which nearly revealed classified information of the Sekirei Plan to a civilian," Akitsu droned.
"Exactly!" Kai said. "Don't you know that stuff is secret? Whether you were an M.B.I. agent or not, I doubt Minaka would want you spilling info like you nearly did."
"Kai, you're overreacting. It was just a simple question," Haihane said in a carefree demeanor.
"Yeah, but it's a touchy subject either way. Whether she's in M.B.I.'s employ or just regular civilian, Doc Brown and his goon squad would come down hard on us if anything slipped. I know better than to gamble with corporate crackpots in shiny armor. Especially if the price means loosing you two."
Haihane sat silently as she studied her Ashikabi's face. She could see the concern on Kai's face along with the hint of uncertainty over her seriousness. The Sekirei gave the young man a small smile. "You should really calm down, Kai," she said in a calm tone as she stood up from the floor. "If it makes you feel better, I won't bring up anything about M.B.I. again."
Kai blinked as he wondered over the gray-haired woman's sudden change of demeanor and how nonchalant she seemed to be taking the issue. Still, seeing Haihane's rather child-like smile made the young man feel at ease. Kai shrugged his shoulders to alleviate himself from the issue. "As long as you get it, I guess it's cool," he said as both he and Akitsu pushed themselves off the ground. "Now then, we should hurry up and see Miya."
"Well this is it," a smiling Miya said as Kai, Haihane, and Akitsu joined the woman on the top floor. The four stood near a room's entrance next to the staircase whose door was labeled number 202. "I'm sorry if it's a little dusty. It's been a while since anyone has taken this room."
Miya opened the room door and allowed the Ashikabi and his Sekirei entry. It was a small room with tatami floors and a closet on the left side with sliding wooden doors. On the right was a wooden desk which, though dusty, was in good condition. On the other side of the room was a large window which overlooked the inn's backyard. "It's a little small, but still pretty nice," a pragmatic Kai thought as he scanned over the quarters. "Of course, considering there are no alternatives, we might as well make due."
"How do you like it?" Miya asked.
"It's very nice, Miya," Kai said with a smile. "Though it is pretty small for a three-person room."
"Well then, why don't we make it just the two of us," Haihane said as she grabbed a hold of her Ashikabi, a lecherous chortle escaping her lips. "Have Snow Balls get a room of her own while we have that private sparring I told you about."
"I believe my master would rather benefit from my intimate company than from someone so uncouth," Akitsu said, her neutral voice hiding rather defensive undertones as she wrapped herself around an arm opposite of the Indigo Sekirei's.
"Who are you calling uncouth, you walking ice cube!" The two women glared deathly daggers as their grips tightened around Kai's arms.
"Guys, please stop," Kai said, feeling uncomfortable by being in the crossfire of their leers and the pain he was feeling from his latched limbs.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that won't be possible," Miya spoke up to Kai's relief. "Since neither of you appear to be married and polygamy is an outlawed practice in this country, I'm afraid you girls will be sharing another room."
"You're kidding!" Haihane replied while Akitsu gave a silent, yet defiant scowl from the rule.
Before the two ladies could continue to voice their disagreement, they were silenced by the appearance of a thick dark aura appearing around the landlord's person. "As I said, I believe that won't be possible," she said in a low tone. Her humble grin was not enough to hide the frightful energy she exuded. "Indecent behavior will not be permitted within Maison Izumo. Is that understood?"
Both the Sekirei and their Ashikabi were scared stiff by Miya's sudden shift in demeanor. Never had they felt such a fearful presence. Even Akitsu felt a shiver run down her back. "You're the boss, Miya," Haihane replied, wanting to quickly appease the lavender-haired woman.
"Yes, Lady Asama," Akitsu said with a bow, also wanting to quell to woman's wrath.
"I'm glad you understand," Miya said pleasantly, her dark aura fading away much to the relief of the trio. "Now then, follow me to your room."
Once Miya left the quarters, the three new guests let out a calming breath. "I'm starting to see why she doesn't get many tenants," Haihane shrugged.
The three left Room 202 behind and continued further down the hall. Passing the next door, the four stopped in front of a door two doors down labeled Room 204. "Akitsu, Haihane, this will be your room," Miya said as she opened the door and revealed a room nearly identical to Kai's.
"Thank you very much, Lady Miya," Akitsu said.
"Miya, how come they're assigned to this room?" Kai wondered as he scratched the side of his head. "Is something wrong with the one in the middle?"
"It's nothing like that?" Miya said. "Actually Room 203 is already being occupied."
"Huh. Makes sense."
"Well then, I better get dinner ready. We can discuss the arrangements afterward."
"Understood, Miya."
"I hope you will enjoy your stay here at Maison Izumo."
The party of three gave the landlady a bow as she left the hall and went downstairs. "Well, we finally found a new home," Haihane replied. "Now what?"
"Don't know?" Kai admitted. "I guess we can start introducing ourselves to our housemates. I want to be prepared for any weird surprises down the road."
"Whatever you say, Kai," a nonchalant Haihane said. "I'm gonna get my claws and bring them up here."
"I shall follow after Haihane in order to bring your swords and keep watch over her."
"I don't need you watching over me."
"Due to your unpredictability, it would be safer to assure your actions don't risk our habitation," the reasonable geisha explained.
"You're one to talk considering how those ice buckets of yours are close to popping out of that top with every second."
"Can you two please stop arguing," Kai pleaded as he rubbed his temples. "You two do what you need to do. But please, don't make too much trouble."
"If that is what you wish," Akitsu said promptly. After sharing one last glare, the two women went their way.
Kai shook his head as he let out a small sigh. While he did enjoy the company of his Sekireis, the young man did feel a need to break away from their literal and proverbial hold over him. Getting such thoughts out of the way, Kai went to Room 203 and knocked on the door. "Hello, is anyone here?" he asked.
"Just a second," a feminine voice called from the other side. Once the door had opened, Kai stood in surprise from what he saw. Standing before him was someone who he didn't think he'd see again. Wearing nothing but nearly see-through white undergarments was the brunette he had saved a few hours ago, Uzume. "Hey there! Need something?" she asked exuberantly.
"It's… It's you!" Kai replied, pointing at the woman as he used his other arm to cover his bleeding nose.
"Huh? Hold on… You're Kai, right?" the brunette replied in realization. The black male shook his head in affirmation. "I didn't think I'd see you again so soon."
"Yeah. You and me both… Especially, well…" Kai only pointed toward the bare-skinned woman as he averted his eyes.
Seeing the bashfulness of the Ashikabi, Uzume gave a wide, playful grin. Even with his attitude, Uzume could sense there was a part of him that was enjoying the show. "So what brings you all the way up here? Don't tell me you were stalking me?"
"D-Don't be ridiculous!" the black Ashikabi quickly denied. "As I explained to the landlord, we've been looking around for a place to crash at. Low and behold, here we are."
"Oh, so that makes you the new borders, huh? Well let me be the first to welcome you here. I'm sure you'll fit in fine."
"Heheh… Hopefully…" Kai said nervously while trying his best to keep his eyes off the woman's near visible and very ample bust. "So when did you get back?"
"I've been here for a couple of hours. Thanks to those guys, I was running late on the food that Miya sent me to get. Luckily, I managed to get the stuff before the stores closed down."
"Well, at least you made it back alright. That's the important thing."
"You almost sound like Miya." Kai cocked a brow, confused by the comments. "That's exactly what she said after I finished explaining everything."
"She sounds like a good person."
"She really is. Though a little word of advice: If you act up, a hannya will appear to punish you," the brunette warned.
"A hannya?" a skeptical Kai asked as sweat dripped from his face.
"Or at least, that's how the story goes," Uzume said jokingly. Though it was hard for Kai to believe, the young man decided to take the advice to heart. After the sensation he felt when Miya was upset, perhaps it would be best to tread carefully around the lavender-haired woman for safety's sake.
"Master Kai, when are we to retrieve the items from our previous abode?" came Akitsu's voice as she climbed up the steps, holding Kai's four weapons in her arms.
"Oh, right," the black male responded as he watched the beige-haired geisha approach. "Well it's too late in the evening to do any work now. We'll spend the night here and work on moving things in tomorrow."
"Of course, my Ashikabi," the woman said monotonously. She then turned to her attention to Uzume, silently scanning the woman with an careful gaze. The brunette blinked, wondering over the reason behind her intent stare. In all seriousness, the woman's attentiveness was somewhat unnerving. "Who exactly is this woman?"
Upon hearing the question, both Kai and Uzume nearly fell to the ground. It was shocking for the brunette as she recovered from the passivity that was Akitsu's lapse in memory. "Come on, it hasn't been that long," she said with a sweat drop sliding down the side of her face.
"Akitsu, this is Uzume. You know, from the back alley," Kai reminded.
"Ah. Yes, of course," the beige-haired Sekirei said. "It is good to meet your acquaintance once more."
"Likewise, Akitsu," Uzume replied. She then turned her attention back to Kai. "Hey, what happened to the other girl? You know, the scary one with the giant claws?"
"I believe you are referring to Haihane. Once she grabbed her claws, she promptly left the grounds. Evidently to 'vent some steam' as she put it."
"I was beginning to wonder where she was," Kai thought aloud. "Hope she's not doing anything crazy. And I wonder when she'll be back?"
"Well, look at you being such a player," Uzume chided playfully. "Not many people can juggle two women at once, Kai. You must be having a lot of fun."
"Could you please stop making me sound like a weirdo?" Kai asked as he glanced at the half-naked woman from the corner of his eye. "Things just… happened… that way." For the black male, the more the two conversed on the subject, the more it sounded like a chat with Shiro. "What is it with me and brunettes?" the young man thought to himself.
Uzume snickered at the flustered young man. "Oh yeah," she thought. "Things are really gonna start getting interesting around here."
Night had now fallen on the city of Tokyo. Beneath the white light of the crescent moon sat Haihane on a roof of a large department store a couple miles south from Maison Izumo. She sat on her perch and sipped a large cup of soda she had bought moments ago, her unblocked eye watching the bright lights from the city in the distance. "Now this is what I needed," she gray-haired woman thought at her leisure. "After wasting the day walking around down there and sitting in a crowded bus, it feels great to finally take a breather."
Feeling a cool breeze blow through her hair, the clawed fighter pulled her head back. A smile grew on her lips as she appreciated the light wind. "Too bad Kai was too busy," she contemplated. "I'm sure he would've enjoyed this. Next time, I'll be sure to steal him away from Glacier Tits when I get the chance."
Suddenly, a loud crackling sound broke the Sekirei's train of thought. She quickly stood from her seat in high alert and watched as lightning erupted in the distance. Haihane was puzzled by the sudden bolts; there wasn't a cloud in the blackened sky and the more she observed, she realized that each strike seemed to be following a path. However, her curiosity was quickly replaced by her fighting instinct. The booms and flashes were like a beacon, attracting her like chum to a shark. Her claws twitched with anticipation as a small smirk grew on her lips. She knew instinctually that whatever was going on demanded her utmost attention. After finishing the last of her soft drink, Haihane crushed the cup and dropped it on the roof before leaving to scene with a great burst of speed. The shinobi Sekirei's crumbled container rolled off the slanted surface and into an open trash bin below.
"Damn it! I can't believe we lost another Sekirei!" Hikari hissed as she shook a clenched fist in rage. Both she and her sister were in a small alley, searching for a target that was in their sights. Unfortunately, their quarry had managed to slip through their grasp, much to the electrokinetic's disdain. "That's the third one in the past four days!"
"Calm down, Hikari," Hibiki assured, hoping to ease her twin's frustration. "I'm sure we'll have better luck next time."
"Yeah right! First there was that scrap number who nearly killed us. Then there was that other one that got winged at the last minute. And now we lost this one, who just up and disappeared! I thought you were sure this trap would work?"
"It was supposed to. There was only one way in or out of there," Hikari explained. "It's not like she could vanish without a trace. Maybe she climbed up here before we could catch her?"
"Argh! It doesn't matter how she got away! The point is that she isn't here! Damn!" the purple-clad woman cursed as she kicked away a nearby can.
It was at that second, both lightning sisters heard a small chortle. The sound of the low cackle made them shiver more than the evening air. "That sound?" Hibiki replied as she heard the laugh.
"Who's there?" Hikari demanded as the two turned to the direction of the chortle.
Standing at the entrance was a shadow of a hunched figure. Long talons etched the ground as cat-like eyes leered at the two sisters. Seeing the figure's shape was an imposing sight and hearing the dark chuckle was just as discomforting. "What's wrong? Loose something," the figure said as it approached, revealing itself to be Haihane.
"No way…" Hibiki said as she trembled from the nearby Sekirei. "You're the Indigo Sekirei."
"What!" Hikari replied in disbelief. "You're kidding me!" Both sisters knew of the woman's dreaded reputation: a terrifying Sekirei hunter who was a promising Disciplinary Squad recruit. A wild monster with an unquenched thirst for violence. Even with their combined abilities, the lightning twins were sure that a battle against her would be a futile effort.
"So you've heard about me. That's good," Haihane said with a snicker. "It saves time on introductions." The gray-haired shinobi enjoyed the duo's fearful expressions. Even though she was outnumbered, such a small detail didn't matter to her. As long as they were a challenge, she was more than satisfied. "Now who are you?"
"We're leaving. Let's go!" Hibiki quickly replied, a hint of panic within her tone.
"Right!" Hikari exclaimed as she followed her sister from the alley. Both sisters bounced up the sides of the wall until they reached the top of the building and made a break for it.
On the ground below, Haihane stifled a laugh. Did those two really think they can escape her? That their pitiful speed was their saving grace? "That's not going to help," she thought playfully. After giving her quarry a five second head-start, the Indigo Sekirei ran up the wall and began the chase. Her large claws trailed behind her, ripping through the air as she raced after her targets.
Hikari turned her attention behind her and saw the reaping shinobi quickly closing the distance. "Hibiki! She's catching up!" the bustier sister reported.
The magenta-clothed Sekirei made a quick glance to their foe to assess the news. As she feared, the Indigo Sekirei was hot on their trail. "Damn," she hissed. "We need to loose her. And fast." The two did whatever they could to loose their pursuer. They increased her speed, leaped off buildings, cut corners, and bouncing from either vertical surfaces or power lines. However, their attempts were in vain as Haihane was just as agile, if not more so. "It's just like the rumors have said," Hibiki hissed as she and her sister were beginning to feel fatigue. "There's no way we can keep this up!"
"That's it!" Hikari replied as she broke away from her sister.
"Hey, wait!" Hibiki's cries fell on deaf ears as her twin had broke right. For the purple-colored woman, it was time for a head-on approach. Haihane watched the Sekirei from the corner of her eye as she jumped in the air. Hikari's fingers crackled with electricity as she began launching lightning bolts at the clawed fighter.
Using her uncanny reflexes, the gray-haired woman evaded the attacks with sidesteps and dodge rolls. "Finally! Now we're getting somewhere!" Haihane thought as a small smile cracked on the bandaged woman's face. After giving Hikari a fleeting glance, the clawed Sekrei changed her target to the assaulting enemy.
Hikari continued firing her electric volleys at the incoming foe, hoping to catch her with a paralyzing blow. Unfortunately, her strikes only grazed Haihane, who was undeterred by the passing electricity. If anything, the strikes seemed to only excite the battle-hungry warrior. Once in range, Haihane leapt forward and delivered a swing of her right gauntlet. Hikari screamed in pain as he body fell out of the air, twisting like a knot before hitting the surface below. The gray-haired Sekirei then dove toward her downed opponent for another attack, her smirk growing to a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
Hikari watched in horror as Haihane rocketed toward her. Due to the lengthy chase and the use of her powers, the woman was too exhausted to move. Before the Indigo Sekirei's strike connected, the shinobi was thrown off course by a surprise flash of lighting from Hibiki. Knocked back to the roof, Haihane was stunned by the bolt as electric current coursed through her body. "Come on!" Hibiki said as she helped her sister back to her feet. "That attack won't keep her down for long!"
"Thanks, Hibiki," Hikari said with much gratitude in her voice. After resting her sister's arm on her shoulders, Hibiki sprinted from the scene. All that they cared about was putting as much distance between them and their pursuer as possible.
A few yards away, Haihane gradually pulled herself off the ground, her body still feeling some of the lightning strike's effects. After a short moment, the woman managed to recover from the shock and turned her attention back to the sisters ahead. "Looks like they do have some fight in them," she figured. Before the gray-haired woman could resume the pursuit, a sudden wall of flame flashed before her and blocked her path. Though she was partially singed from the blaze, the woman was still full of vigor. Haihane softly chortled as she straightened her stance. This wasn't the first time she was stopped by a literal firewall. "You know it's rude to get in someone's way. Right, Homura?" said the hunting reaper as she glanced to her left.
Standing a few meters away, the self-proclaimed Sekirei protector. "Haihane," the woman growled as she glared daggers at the gray-haired woman, her arms folded as the tails of her longcoat blew lazily in the breeze. "Why were you going after them, Haihane?" she asked.
"Pfft. Do I really need one? Honestly, it's pretty difficult to pick from a whole list," the clawed fighter scoffed. Homura's eyes narrowed in response to Haihane's lackadaisical response. He knew the Indigo Sekirei better than anyone and was aware that reason usually took a backseat when it came to her actions. Seeing the Sekirei Protector's leer, Haihane shrugged and decided to entertain the pyrokinetic. "If you want to get into specifics, I saw them chasing after someone. Being the curious and helpful girl that I am, I figured I'd go see what was happening. But as soon as I showed up, they up and flew the coop. You can say it sorta hurt my feelings."
Homura averted his gaze as she realized what the lightning sisters were in the midst of. "Damn it! I told those two to stop chasing unwinged Sekirei." she mentally hissed. "Looks like I'll be having another long talk with Seo."
Haihane smirked as she saw the expression in the silver-haired Sekirei's eyes. Even if half of the opposing Sekirei's face was exposed, she could still read her with ease. "I take it you know the Twiddle Twins?"
"Whether I know them or not isn't your concern," Homura replied sternly. "What matters is the fact that you're this far north. If you don't leave now, then I will be forced to stop you. Permanently, if need be."
"Fu fu fu. Don't get your cape in a bunch, Batman," Haihane quipped as she relaxed her stance. "I'm not going to fight you. Well, not right now anyway. To be honest, finding you was on the top of my to-do list before I got sidetracked."
"What are you talking about, Haihane?" Homura asked. "Is this some kind of trick?"
"After all this time, do you really think I'd try something so low?" the woman replied as she lightly shook her head. "You should know by now that if I wanted something, I'm more than capable of doing it."
Homura held in a growl as she folded her arms. While Haihane was ruthless and merciless, she knew that even the ex-Disciplinary Squad recruit was above underhanded tactics. Though considering their history, the young woman knew it was wise to stay cautious. "Fine. What do you want?" the black-clad wanderer asked cautiously. With a small smirk, the claw fighter turned her back to the silver-haired Sekirei, confident that she wouldn't be attacked. She then moved her braid from the back of her neck to reveal her Sekirei crest. "So you were finally winged," the pyrokinetic noted as the woman turned back around. "Well congratulations, I guess," said the Sekirei Protector with an indifferent shrug.
"While we're talking about this, I should also throw in a word that I hardly ever say."
"Right. And what word is that?"
Haihane glanced off to the side as she struggled to say it. It was the first time in recent history that the once solitary, fearless fighter had ever uttered a six letter word. "…Thanks," the woman replied. Homura rose a brow as he watched the clawed woman struggle with her speech. True it was a surprise to hear even a hint of gratitude coming from her, yet she didn't need it to make it seem so difficult. Seeing the skepticism in Homura's eyes, the gray-haired woman gave a scowl. "Look, don't get too comfortable and think I'm going soft," she replied. "I only said it because of what happened earlier."
"You mean when I spared you from termination?" Homura asked.
"You wish," Haihane scoffed. "I meant earlier today. I know it was you who burned that guy's gun. I guess if it weren't for you, Kai would've got hurt back there. Or at least, if I didn't get ready to step in and ripped the other guy to bits."
Homura closed her eyes as she reflected on the situation Haihane told. It was true that she had been patrolling the area at the time of Kai's fight and was responsible for disarming the thug. However, she involved herself, not to protect the Ashikabi, but to ensure Uzume's safety. Of course, it wasn't like she wished to indulge such sensitive information to Haihane. "Let her believe what she wants," the silver-haired Sekirei mused as she pushed those thoughts aside. Homura opened her eyes as a small smirk grew under her mask. "Wow. If I didn't know any better, I would think you actually care for your Ashikabi," the black-clad woman quipped. "And here I thought you only wanted to be winged if it meant being part of the Disciplinary Squad."
"…Well of course I did. Joining the Disciplinary Squad was my ticket to power. I wanted to be a legend like the first generation Sekirei. All that lovely-dovey stuff was just some crap coming from desperate Sekireis' mouths," Haihane admitted as her eyes shifted from side to side. Homura wanted to scoff from her rival's remark, but held back her action. If Haihane were to have divulged such comments to a friend she had known, the clawed Sekirei wouldn't have stood a chance against the lovesick romantic (ironically, she was a member of the clawed Sekirei's idolized team). However, the pyrokinetic decided to hold her peace and let Haihane continue sharing her thoughts. "But that was before Kai came along. The moment my Ashikabi winged me, it was like an unbelievable rush." The clawed Sekirei reminisced over the day she had been winged by the black Ashikabi. The power surge that Haihane felt once their lips had met was an exhilarating experience. Thinking about the sensation she felt, it was no wonder most of the Sekirei ranted and raved about finding an Ashikabi.
"So that's it? Your Ashikabi is nothing more than a power source?" Homura asked in a passive tone. "Heh. I guess I shouldn't be surprised seeing how you craved for strength."
Haihane stiffened from the silver-haired Sekirei's remark as she gave a steely glare. "What would you know what I feel for him?" she asked, offended by the wandering Sekirei's insinuation. "Considering the fact that you don't have an Ashikabi, you shouldn't say anything." Despite what Homura might have believed, Haihane felt that her connection to Kai was more than a simple partnership of convenience. For her, it was one on a deeper and more personal level. It was as if she had found a long lost part of herself.
Homura smirked from her rival's defensive rebuttal. It was true that she was still unwinged. Though being the Sekirei Protector did cut into her time in finding an Ashikabi. Then again, it wasn't as though she was reacting to anyone to begin with nor was she in much of a hurry to find one. "Heh. I probably deserved that one," the black-clad woman said. "Sorry that I hit a nerve."
Haihane's stern glare was broken as she averted her gaze to fight off a blush. Whenever she thought about her Ashikabi and the moment she emerged, her mind was filled with emotions she had never experienced. "What I feel for my Ashikabi is none of your business," the grey-haired woman replied. The claw fighter didn't know why she was acting like she had. "That girl's cheap shock must have done more damage than I thought," she told herself. "I better get back to Maison Izumo." Straightening her stance and clearing her throat, she turned her attention back to Homura. "Look, I said my thanks and your two buddies are long gone by now," she told her. "Since I'm feeling charitable, I'm letting you off the hook. But next time we meet, you better be ready."
"Gee, thanks," Homura replied with a sarcastic tone. Haihane ignored the black-clad Sekirei's cynism. With her good deed for the night finished, the grey-haired shinobi sprinted northbound. All she wanted to do was return to her Ashikabi and get her rest. Homura watched her with a nonchalant gaze as the claw fighter left the scene. While glad that Haihane found an Ashikabi that she cared for, the silver-haired woman was also concerned over the fact that her rival became a deadlier threat. All Homura could do was look on and hope that allowing the infamous Indigo Sekirei to run free was a fatal faux pas.
"Thanks for the food!" everyone called as Kai, Miya, Akitsu, and Uzume sat at the table in the living room. The low risen piece of furniture was decorated with numerous plates of food.
Looking at the dishes, it had slipped both Kai and Akitsu's mind that they hadn't eaten since breakfast. "This all looks so delicious," Kai thought before taking a bite out of a piece of fish on his place. As soon as the piece of meat entered his mouth, Kai gasped from the savory taste. "And it tastes even more so!"
"Well, how is the food?" Miya asked both the new borders.
"It's great, Miya," Kai replied. "I've never tasted a fish that was this good!"
"It is quite satisfying," Akitsu added.
"I'm glad you two are enjoying it," Miya replied. "Also, I heard about what you had done for Uzume earlier today. Thank you for assisting her."
"No thanks necessary," Kai said. "I'm sure if anyone else was nearby, they would have done the same thing."
"Don't be so modest, Kai. I doubt a lot of people would have went into action like that," Uzume replied. "You should have seen him fight, Miya. It was like watching a kung-fu flick."
"I see. So that would explain why you were carrying two pairs of swords, is it?" Miya asked.
Kai sheepishly chuckled. In retrospect, it would have made more sense to only carry one pair of weapons instead of being a walking armory. "Maybe I should cut my load in half."
"I'm back," Haihane's said as she opened the sliding door and entered the room.
"Welcome back, Haihane," Miya said with a smile as she turned to face her. "Oh my!" The landlady gasped as she saw the gray-haired woman's disheveled state. Her kimono was nothing more than a large piece of shredded, burnt cloth and body wrap was hanging from her form.
"Haihane, what happened to you?" Kai asked in disbelief as he and Uzume gawked at the young woman's condition. Akitsu mere gave a small glance at her partner, unperturbed by the woman's state.
"Oh I was just having some fun with a couple of friends," the Indigo Sekirei said indifferently as she took her seat beside her Ashikabi and fixed her plate.
"Right, I'm sure…" the unsure black Ashikabi said as he watched the Sekirei from the corner of his eye.
"I wonder where Kagari is?" Uzume wondered. "Didn't he say that he had the night off?"
"I guess he decided to put in more hours," the lavender-haired woman answered. "You know how much he likes to work over there."
"Sorry, but who's Kagari?" Kai asked.
"Kagari is another tenant who lives here at Maison Izumo. He works at a well-established host club and is the top employee."
"Oh. That sounds pretty cool," Kai replied. As Kai was about to take another bite of his food, the young man paused as he replayed part of the information in his head. Now that he was moving to a new abode, the young man wondered if he should find a career himself. After all, it wouldn't hurt adding some extra dough to the allowance his father was already donating to him. "Maybe I should be on a lookout for a job while I'm here. I might not be host club material, but I'm sure I can find something."
"Is something wrong with your food, Kai?" Miya asked in concern.
The black male snapped out of his thoughts and turned to the landlady. "No, I'm alright," the young Ashikabi replied before he continuing his meal.
After dinner was over, Miya gave Kai and his comrades details of their living arrangements. She explained to the three that the rent would be a stable 50,000 yen and was to be paid at the end of each month. Both cash or credit were acceptable means of payment, though the landlord stressed that use of M.B.I. VIP cards were prohibited. Haihane (who had a card hidden in her clothing) silently shook her head as she was annoyed by the stipulation.
To Kai, Miya's compromise was truly a baragin. Compared to his previous residence, which paid nearly double the price, 50,000 yen was a killing. Also, considering the last place was reserved for bachelors, he didn't need to worry about being eviction brought on by his Sekireis' presence.
After agreeing to the terms, Kai returned to his room carrying a sleeping bag and blankets Miya had given him. As he made his bed, Haihane and Akitsu were busy bathing in the bathroom located down the hall. Though his Sekirei had invited them to join their shower session (with Akitsu willing to scrub his back and Haihane proposing to wash his front), the black Ashikabi decided to decline from the offer. Not just out of chivalry, but also due to Miya's stern warning that mixed baths weren't allowed in Maison Izumo (the warning came in the form of the dreaded aura appearing around Miya which instantly set the trio in their place). After finishing his bed, the young man sat down and called his father on his phone. "Hello?" answered his father's voice.
"Hey, dad. It's me," the young man responded.
"Kai. Why are you calling so late?"
"You do know it's only 8:30."
"At night," the parent specified frankly. Kai huffed as he spun his eyes. "So what is it?"
"I'm just letting you know I'm moving out of the apartment."
"What do you mean you're moving out?" his father asked, taken aback by his son's sudden announcement. "Do you know how much it cost me to get that room of yours? And where do you think you'll be staying so close to the deadline?"
"Hold on and let me explain," Kai replied as he rubbed his forehead in annoyance as he felt a migraine coming on. The young man was having second thoughts about giving his father a call. "The only reason I left was because the rent was too damn high. The place I found is much more affordable than the operation Dozunaka was running."
"Of course. And where is this place? Tell me you're not free-loading off of that friend of yours. I thought I raised you better than that," his father said with a blunt demeanor.
"I'm not," Kai denied. "It's called Maison Izumo and it's in Adachi." An abrupt silence settled between the two for a few moments. The low hum from the line was the only indication that neither male had disconnected. "Hey, dad. You still there?" a perplexed Kai asked.
"Yeah, I'm still here," he said, apparently returning to his senses. "If you really want to move so badly, then go ahead. If it's as cheap as you say, I'll continue paying for room and board. When will you be moving out of the previous place?"
"A few friends and I will be packing up and bringing the stuff over tomorrow."
"Fine. After you finish getting what you need, I'll call on some movers to grab the rest."
"Thanks. Oh, and what about the allowance?" Kai asked.
Kai's father let out a sigh. "If this was last year, I would have brought you back to Osaka and the allowance would be history," he said. "But since you passed the entrance exam, I'll continue paying the current amount."
"Thanks."
"Just don't pull anything like this on me again or I'll change my mind," the father warned. "I swear I didn't have to deal with Masaru playing games like this."
A small groan escaped Kai's lips as he shook his head. The mention of his brother had brought the headache back. "Oh god. So close," Kai thought as he hoped to had end their chat without his old man mentioning his brother. "Fine. Good night, dad." After Kai hung up his cellphone, the young man's head sank in exhaustion. "Glad that's finally over with," the young man said.
"Master Kai, the bath is ready for you," Akitsu announced to her Ashikabi.
"Okay, thanks," Kai replied as he got to his feet. "I'll be in there in a- Whoa!" Before Kai could finish his sentence, blood fired out of his nose as he faced his Sekirei, the force enough to make him crash to the ground. Akitsu stood in the doorway with no clothes and her famous blank expression. The cryokinetic's hair was still damp from her time in the tub and droplets of water slid down each curve of her freshly washed body. he young man was lying on the floor, his foot twitching from the loss of blood.
"Master Kai!" Akitsu replied as she hurried to her Ashikabi's aid. The woman sat on the ground and rested Kai's head in her lap. "Have I done something wrong, my Master?" the cryokinetic asked.
At this time, a dazed Kai was staring up at his comrade in a state of confusion and debility. The world around him was spinning uncontrollably due to the amount of blood he had lost. All that he knew was that his head had now been placed on something that felt very soft and smelled fresh. After a few minutes, the black male wiped his face and shut his eyes before popping them back open. Now that his vision had became focused the young man realized that he was staring under Akitsu's large bosom. Sheepishly chuckling, the young man yelped as he removed himself from the literal lap of luxary his Sekirei had provided him. "Akitsu!" he replied as sweat dribbled from the side of his face.
"I am glad to see you have recovered from your fainting spell," the beige-haired Sekirei replied as she lightly nodded.
Kai shook his head of whatever lecherous thoughts were creeping into his mind and calmed himself with a deep breath. "Akitsu," he began as he massaged his forehead, "why are you here right now?"
"I wished to report that the bathroom was now available for service," the woman answered autonomously.
"Yes and thanks, but you're missing the point," the young man replied. "Don't you think you're forgetting something important. Something to keep yourself… concealed?"
Akitsu silently sat for a few minutes as she pondered over her Ashikabi's hit. She then turned her attention back to her wet form. After she studied her skin and noticed her exposed breasts, the young woman came to a sudden realization. "Ah," Akitsu chirped from her revelation. "It seems I have forgotten my towel."
"No surprise," Kai murmured as he dipped his head and lightly shook it. Even though the young man seemed annoyed by the beige-haired Sekirei's absentmindedness, it didn't mean that he wasn't enjoying the sight before him. However, Kai knew that this wasn't his house and the last thing he wanted was to face Miya's wrath once more. The young Ashikabi walked to his table and grabbed a towel that he had brought into his room not too long ago. "Here. Take this towel and wrap it around you."
"Are you sure I can have this?" Akitsu asked.
"It's alright. There should be more of those in the bathroom."
"If you feel this is appropriate, then I shall comply. I thank you." As Akitsu took the large cloth from her master and wrapped it around her body, Kai let out a small sigh. He was glad that neither Miya nor Haihane were witnesses to the beige-haired woman's presence. Between the evil aura of the former and the taunting from the latter, the black male knew he wouldn't have stood a chance.
"Well, you two must be having fun," a new voice called from the room doorway, startling Kai in the process and making him curse his luck. The two turned to the entrance and saw both Uzume and a wrapped Haihane leaning against the doorway with a slick smiles painted on their lips. "Hey, don't let us interrupt you two."
"I was wondering what was taking Akitsu so long to get back," Haihane replied. "I didn't think you'd pull a fast one like this."
"Stop that, you two!" a flustered Kai exclaimed as Akitsu merely kept a calm gaze on her . "We weren't doing anything!"
"Oh? That's not how I see it," the brunette replied coyly.
"Then you need to get your eyes checked," he murmured.
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"No. Look, Akitsu didn't have a towel on her. So after she came in, I gave her mine. That's all there is to it."
"Is that it?" Haihane asked. "Tell the truth, Kai. I'm sure Mega Boobs over here was giving you some dirty ideas when she came in with only her birthday suit."
Kai pulled his head back as he let out a loud groaned in annoyance. It was true that a couple ideas of that category came to mind. Though unlike most men, the black teen believed himself to have a greater sense of impulse control compared to other males his age. Still, considering his perfuse flush and the small trail of blood leaking from his nostril, it was difficult for Kai to really defend his case. "Would you stop it, Haihane?" the Ashikabi asked as he turned away in order to hide his reddened cheeks from the taunting women.
"It looks like you four are having a small party in here," said a new voice in melodious tone.
Of course, Kai knew exactly who the new person was and grimaced at his already terrible luck. "This isn't winning!" he cried in his mind. The young man slowly turned around and, like the three women before him, was under the spell of Miya's intimidating aura.
"You do know that sexual liaisons are forbidden within Maison Izumo, don't you?" asked the lavender-haired landlady her aura flared out.
"We know that!" a frightened Uzume quickly replied. "There was nothing like that going on. Right, Kai?"
"Nothing at all!" the black teen affirmed. "We were just getting ready for bed. Isn't that it, Haihane?"
"That's right," the claw user agreed. "Akitsu and I were heading for our room right now."
"Actually, I was here to give my Master the attention he needed," the beige-haired geisha truthfully stated in a monotonous tone.
Hearing the cryokinetic's response, Kai's jaw dropped as Haihane whipped around to face her fellow Sekirei. "I knew it!" the gray-haired woman replied, surprised by the earnestness of the fellow Sekirei's remark and momentarily forgetting their predicament. "You were plotting something."
"Uzume, Haihane, Akitsu, please leave Kai's room and return to your own," Miya said politely despite the hannya mask looming behind her.
"We were just on our way out," Uzume chirped.
"Scary…" Haihane mumbled to herself.
Miya watched the three women as they left the room and entered their own quarters, wanting to escape their landlord's displeasure. "Now as for you, Kai," the woman said as she turned her gaze to the young man.
"I-I'm sorry! I swear I wasn't trying anything on anybody," Kai nervously explained.
Miya let out a mirthful giggle from the young man's misfortune and the scarcity in his eyes. "Alright, I see you've learned from your punishment," she replied as she alleviated her dark energy. "Now then, it's time for bed."
"Yes, ma'am," the black male quickly responded with a nod.
"Well then, good night." After Miya flicked the light switch, the landlady excused herself from the young man's room. Left in the dark sitting on his cot, Kai sat frozen for a few seconds before sighing in relief. He had survived the ire of the hannya, the taunting of two girls, and the oddness of the busty ice woman. "It wasn't an uneventful evening," the young man replied humorously. "Though maybe I'll hold off on that bath tomorrow. Just to avoid anything weird." Still, he was grateful that he and his Sekirei were able to find a place to finally call home. With that in mind, Kai changed his clothes into a pair of green pajamas found in the closet and slipped into his bed.
Author's Note 2: It looks like a new chapter had just opened up for Kai and his comrades. But what will the hands of fate write in these upcoming pages? Only time and the power of decisions are the only factors aware of what will occur.
Author's Note 3: The lightning sisters thought they had their shot. However, it seems they had underestimated their target. Who is this Sekirei that they were chasing and how exactly did she escape? Be sure to read the upcoming chapters in order to find out.