Chapter 11: Open Your Mind


We finally reached the restaurant that was green on the inside with yellow lights over the booths.

"Couldn't we have gone somewhere less envious?" Uzume humorously asked.

"Indeed." Kochō agreed.

I shrugged. "Never judge a book by its cover, and they let us in without difficulty so it can't be that bad. You remember what happened last time we left that one restaurant that was all orange just because you didn't like the color? You lead us around for 5 hours until we ended up at a sushi restaurant with terribly prepared food and got drunk forcing me to carry you home," I reminded her and will never let her forget it.

Uzume grunted and crossed his arms. "Well sorry~ I don't like orange."

"You're talking about when you went into that restaurant owned by the Yakuza," Kochō stated like it was yesterday's news.

I drew my attention towards my new addition to the nest and asked, "How do you even know about that?"

Kochō tilted her head as if saying "you're truly ignorant if you're asking me that" before looking back down to her tablet. One she placed under her arm before getting ready for her response. "I don't control electronics like you believe. I access them." Kochō grabbed the hem of her top and pulled it out and reached within for something. A phone the size of her hand appeared out from the hem of her top with a pen thing on the side attached by a string. How she concealed that thing so well and without any form of sweat or moisture on it is beyond me.

Kochō pressed a button on the top of the phone and it cut on after a tune played. "As long as I have a way to the net like with my tablet or my phone." I watched as her hands zoomed from one edge of the tablet screen to the other. "Personal Information. Name: Katsuha Namura, Age: 27, Profession: Police Detective, Single, no children, no romantic interests, and the list goes on." The woman in front of me did something else and placed the phone down on the table to my right.

"I understand." I heard over coming from the speaker. It was the voice of a woman that I recognized from somewhere. I may have heard it once or twice.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" A man spoke this time.

"Yeah, the suspect just walked into the restaurant," the woman responded.

"Do you have a confirmation of his identity?"

"No, but the outfit is the same and I can see that he's unarmed as well. The patch on his shoulder is ike the one left behind in the cell. He has company on top of this. Three females. I will link over their appearances in a second."

I touched the tablet on the red triangle and sighed. "I knew that police precinct incident was going to fall back on me." And if this detective recognized my patch on my shoulder that means they know the mark of the old boss. I've used it for my newer members and worn this to make me appear as a grunt. I didn't think one of the idiots in the cells would draw this out. I'm going to have to change the symbol soon then.

"We should leave then," Uzume pulled my sleeve with urgency.

"Or dispose of her." I heard on the edge of hearing from the woman still currently on my back. I can agree with this. I'll would only take me a moment and this place has an incinerator in the back. I saw it on the way inside. I'm sure a couple bills will keep the owner silent as well.

"I could make her bankrupt or release some scandalous material to the net to make her lay off as they say. All I need is your command Ashikabi-sama." I nodded at Kochō instead. That's much cleaner. I thought I'd have to take care of this personally, call Lady Nightingale to "release the hounds," or call Vic to "clean up" this mess that I'm in. I have a monster and a sekirei of death to take care of barriers but maybe Kochō can save time and resources.

"Get her and anyone else out of the picture. I can give you full clearance into the system that currently I have Mutsu on, since you're clearly more qualified."

This seemed to brighten up her day and fast. "That will help. I can only set root so far into your 'business' and associates without proper access, but I can do this." I watched slightly amazed at the ability I am witnessing. I can see a field of light form some sort of digital sphere around her head and around her hands. I watched as the field spread out and encased the electronics around me. I'm the only one that can see this else everyone's eyes would be wide like dinner plates, and she probably connecting her mind with the net, I believe. Uploading her consciousness into the net or maybe a piece of her mind is amazing. It bit like in this one game Uzume and I played called Luv Wave. It had the same premise in a way.

I watched as she placed that tablet, my phone, and her phone down on the table of a booth and moved her fingers from one screen to the next with such speed and dexterity that it left me baffled. Suddenly she stopped the all the screens went dark. A mask of some sort… no that's the mask of The Hunter on the three screens as if the pieces are broken and placed on the screens separately. "Done. Soon she will be transferred by next week at the latest and the next one to take the case will be handled in kind to understand just how far his/her jurisdiction truly extends."

I smirked and I don't "truly" smirk much.

"Kochō," I leaned in close, "You are amazing." I kissed her forehead and walked to the back to a private booth in the back. A blushing sekirei followed shadowing her eyes from me. Even though this one isn't in the single digits she is quite powerful if used right. More than worth tethering myself to.

"I have also made a list of sekirei that will benefit you master. I believe it would work best in our favor for later in the game if you were to acquire them."

"Really?" I ask a bit curious.

"Yes," Kochō rose her eyes, "I have the current roster of sekirei about to be released right now for you; in fact the ones that I picked out will most likely follow you as their master." Kochō pressed a spot on her tablet thing and did some other motions that I couldn't make sense of at all.

In a moment, the woman did one last click and turned the screen to me. The first sekirei I saw in fact was one I have not seen yet I think. No, I have seen her before and by the looks of it this one is not a fighter like I first presumed. The outfit she wore was much like Karasuba's with the same haori as well. This one though is more of Irish/Scottish decent versus Karasuba's Asian. This woman has bid circular shaped glasses on her face and long red hair in a braid that fell over her left shoulder. The woman didn't have any form of weapon on her or appeared to have the mass to be a close quarters fighter so what sort of sekirei is she I can only guess. All she's missing now is a stack of books.

"Matsu," I said with a sigh. Memories of the talks between Karasuba, Mutsu, and I came to mind and the fact this sekirei on the loose apparently might be closer to me then I might have first thought. Of course, I'm sure I'll recognized her easily now that I know aura and have her scent.

"You know her," Kochō questioned lightly to which I shook my head. Personally, I don't other than what I've heard from Mutsu and Karasuba. Most of it isn't that commendatory. "This is Matsu, Number 2 of all 108 sekirei." I looked up to the almost forced attitude that the woman had when she said the name.

"Before we get into a talk like this shall we sit down?" I gestured to the booth then looked back to my sekirei.

"Ah," the two in front of me said. "Sure/Hai," they both responded at the same time.

I kneed down to the floor and let my grip on Akitsu's legs slacken but it seemed like she got a little clingy during the walk. She didn't let go for a minute or two making where I was standing a little awkward and comfortable at the same time. She was a little warm and not in the bad way.

"Forgive me," she whispered then took to her feet first to the floor. I need to get her some foot wear not that I mind her going barefoot but don't think it is all that comfortable for her to begin with. Her arms slithered from around my neck and over her shoulders to her sides thought they felt along my shoulder all the way down but I think that is because she didn't lift her arms only slid them off as she stood. Akitsu waited for me to sit down and when she did she sat to my right on the outside with a wall on my other side. I never liked the inside but sandwiched with beautiful woman in each direction isn't a bad way to be.

Uzume sat in front of me, still wishing we had left this envious place behind, but I took her hand in my own to calm her. She sighed and squeezed firmly but softly with a smile. "One of those day's huh Koibito?"

I looked down a little at the mention of that and nodded. "One of those days Angel."

Uzume rubbed the top of my thumb with her own to keep my attention. "Can you let your hood down in here?" I leaned my head back at the sudden request. "Please," she pressed. I cracked and did as she asked me to do.

"Now about Number 02," Kochō said in slight annoyance. I also noticed Uzume's eye twitch but it was subtle at best and faintly noticeable. These two seem to know this particular sekirei to a point that it makes them tense. This begs the question of, "Who is this Sekirei?"

Kochō frowned for a moment before answering. "Matsu: number 2, is a brain type sekirei like myself." A brain type and one of the single digits at that and yet has yet to be winged by anyone. That is curious indeed. "She's older and more experienced than me, that I am willing to admit. I would prefer that you don't wing her master."

"Then why put her on the list then?" I questioned.

"Because," she growled and changed the screen. "She has the same ability, no I could say her ability is much more... comprehensive than my own. It's because of this that she's a threat to you if she is winged by another it would prove disadvantageous." She's taking all of this into consideration and letting go of her pride to ensure victory in the end. I must admit, this sekirei is an interesting one.

"Only one problem though with this."

I want snort at that comment for there is always a catch. "A large problem with many smaller ones under that I am sure."

"You… could say that. In fact, Number 02 has been missing for over 6 months. Currently I do not have the power to access more on Number 02, but I know that her disappearance is tied to this sekirei." Kochō showed me the screen again. My eyebrow slightly rose at the woman I saw on the screen and so did Uzume but her version was more of a short of a lifetime sort of reaction if anything. "I believe you already know her as well right master?" Kochō peeled her eyes from me and glued them to Uzume.

"Tssk," I clicked my tongue and looked up to my Angel Uzume. The veil sekirei chuckled nervously with a sheepish rub of her head. "How could I not, right Uzume?"

"I wonder who that could be heheheh." Uzume murmured trying to feign innocence and failing at it badly. This was her carrying a badly injured Matsu in bridal carry that much is clear to me.

"Whatever," I said with a dismissive wave of the hand. "We can talk later at home if we go back to the inn today," I pushed a red box on the top right corner and the picture shrank into a folder. Uzume sighed in relief and Kochō rolled her eyes.

"Very well then." Kochō dismissed my action though I could see by the way she is touching her tablet that my action was something she didn't approve of. "The next…"

"Before you continue I have a question."

The woman nodded her head. "Yes Ashikabi-sama."

"Just how many sekirei do you have listed that you wish of me to have total?"

"8 in total master."

"8?" Uzume almost thundered.

"Yes." Kochō answered coolly.

"8" I repeated.

"Yes. All of them are well versed in different abilities as well as use of the elements I found useful for this game. I know from what I have seen you are a hands-on sort of man when pushed. Coupled with your ability to mask yourself from view I also choose a close quarters sekirei for you along with an element or nature based sekirei. The ones I choose will match you well and you're getting stronger as an already powerful ashikabi since you've already attracted three."

So, she knows of all my other Sekirei and not just Uzume. This isn't a surprise to me at all.

"Three," Uzume asked and I shook my head. "Ya know what, I'm going to the bathroom." Uzume rolled her eyes and stood up leaving the three of us at the booth. Maybe it's for the best.

Kochō watched the woman get out of earshot before she did something else on her tablet. To do it she went silent for a moment focused on the task. "As an ashikabi I planned for you to become The most powerful myth in this game."

"Myth?"

"Yes," the insight sekirei nodded, pleased with her plan. "The more sekirei you wing the more powerful you become as an ashikabi and as result more powerful sekirei will be attracted to you as well. If I did my calculations right, the ones I choose won't be able to stand near you without a reaction like mine was. As your record shows you are like a phantom or a ghost in the system. You're one of the most feared unknown characters in this city because of your still unknown capabilities. Most don't know who you are but those that heard believe that you don't even exist and that shade of mystery is what will give us an edge in the sekirei plan. You will become the most well informed, powerful ashikabi, and the last thing that anyone will never see if they cross you. You will be like a ghost building power until you are ready to strike and I will do my utmost to ensure this master. We, your sekirei, will be your shadows, always there and growing larger the closer you get to the light known as the end. This I swear."

A smile formed on Kochō's beautiful face. "I can see that already you have three pieces to success master," her eyes glanced at Akitsu then back to me, "and only more will come." I could only smile at this little plan of hers. I liked it. To wait and build our strength while being a horror to my enemies. To let the knowledge of my power leak in small acts here or there and allow the foolish minds of man to take care of the rest. A Ghost Ashikabi with a shadow so large it covers a region yet goes easily unnoticed. I didn't care about the game because of the Group known as Nomad that I've been contending with and the monster superpowers I've had to extinguish in the last couple months. The Sekirei game was the least of my worries and low on my priority list since it's yet to inhibit my movements. But I'm curious enough to humor this sekirei and her vow.

"I agree." Akitsu inaudibly said but I heard her loud and clear. Akitsu has been quiet the entire time, neither talking nor moving some as an inch from her sitting position, but what she did do was watch me through the corner of her eyes. She's been examining me little by little. My every move and action. I couldn't blame her because if I was in her place, which I am, I would examine the sudden stranger that I, by some hand of fate, ended up crossing paths with. I have watched her carefully like she has watched me, but I have very little to get from her other than the few things I know already and not because I'm not looking hard enough. It's because there isn't much more that I can notice from her stationary state of being. She did nothing else except 4 things at once and the normal person does at least 40 to 60 from normal bodily movements to that actions they can control without years of stillness training.

Kochō regarded Akitsu with a twinge of surprise but then nodded in approval at her supporting view.

I hummed and crossed my arms while leaning back in my seat. "You have an appealing plan Kochō. You're a very keen strategist any sensible man would kill to have with him in a game like this." A dust of red blessed her cheeks. "Can you tell me the rest of the names and possible locations?" I asked a little curious of where she might take this. I'm not going to wing sekirei forcibly but I feel she knows this already.

Kochō nodded with the red deepening. "But some might not accept you right away until you're stronger… but the Sekirei you have currently surprised me. It might be destiny or maybe proper coding." I noticed Kochō glancing at someone and I sensed her behind me.

"Mutsu-nii and I make do a good pair for him. You too, I guess." Uzume caressed my shoulder before sitting back down in front of me. Took her about a three minutes to finish her business.

"Mutsu and I?" Kochō looked at me questionably to which I just shook my head. "In-deed," she answered just going along with Uzume's blissful ignorance for now. Something that Akitsu blinked to which I didn't miss because my eye has yet to leave her.

"Yep. Mutsu was his first and I'm his second with you in third place but me in first. It's only right, right?" Uzume took a quick shot to which Kochō just looked at me then switched the previous screen she was on to a new one. She used all five of her fingers and tapped on her screen fast to the end. Uzume looked over and giggled at just what she was looking at making me really curious. Not that curious to spark a long line of questions right now or enough to ask about this later. Kochō is a grown woman and women need their privacy, right?

"It seems our food is here."

"Huh?"

Uzume pointed behind me and line of waiters and waitress all came to our booth with platters of food ranging from domistic to exotic.

"Your orders are ready sir."

"Ah," I looked over to Uzume and she shrugged.

"I ordered while you and sister glasses here were getting to business," she confessed smoothly. The shot towards Kochō wasn't missed by either of us same with the smirk on Uzume's lips once we passed the Veil shot taker a look.

A couple drinks were sat down in front of us as well. I had a strawberry kiwi juice I think, which I didn't mind. The flavor tastes good. Kochō had a banana juice or something like that. Uzume had a blue and white drink with the blue on the bottom. Akitsu was given jasmine tea for some reason. "I took the liberty to also order drinks as well. I hope you don't mind? Although I think Kochō is supposed to get the tea not the juice," Uzume pondered.

"No, no it's fine. Thank you for what you did during our talk," I said before I gestured for the girls to lay the food down.

Akitsu and Kochō looked down to each other's drinks with the same looks on their faces. I reached over and switched them around and sat back.

"I wanted that," Kochō said and I switched them around as well.

"Same… with me." Akitsu spoke up.

My eye twitched and I switched them back.

"I still want the banana juice," Kochō said again.

"God damn it," I sighed.

"Waiter another banana juice and tea please," Uzume snickered at the waiter then the man bowed and ran off to get our new order.

"Thank you Uzume," I said gratefully and Uzume gave me a thumbs up. "But before we eat, Kochō," I called.

"Yes," she did instantly to my call.

"Take care of our other tail however you see fit." I've notice that I've been followed for a while now being another reason we took our time to get her. Kochō has worked well with the time we've had to find a fix for our loose end.

The ghost of a smile formed on her lips and her glasses glistened "As you wish… Ashikabi-sama."


An hour later


"Ah ha! That was a good meal," My seemingly only enthusiastic sekirei announced as we exited the steak and lobster place. My seemingly Only sekirei that wore her emotions on her sleeve; unlike the cold stoic Akitsu and the blank poised Kochō. That's something I have noticed about my current sekirei. Uzume and Karasuba are the only ones that are the most physically intimate with me. They literally show me exactly how they feel without need to hide their emotions; not that I want to be physically intimate with Mutsu or anything; but the man is sometimes lacking more emotion than I am, by choice I might add.

The bond with the sekirei I have is as close I have been to raw emotions in a long time. I find this to be not only mind rushing but also equally interesting. I can feel Uzume's happiness right now and Kochō's balance of annoyance and amusement. Feeling three emotions at once, even though they didn't stem from me, still feels like a part I 'feel' I must understand.

But not now.

"The next place to go is the clothing shop I assume?" I directed my question towards Ms. Enthusiasm.

"Hell yeah and show off!" she didn't fail to impress with the overbearing level of light she produced.

"I will not 'show off' as you say," Kochō dismissed Uzume's sudden flight of emotion.

"You will if Otieno asked you too," Uzume responded slyly to Kochō's denouncement.

Kochō fixed her glasses. Why does she do that every time Uzume does that witty thing on her. I suppose it is a tic like most of us have. I could assume she does that as well when she goes into deep thought and judging from the subtle glances my direction from the woman, it's pertaining to me just as much as it was related to the response to come. "That is beside the point, I don't plan to flaunt like you do."

Uzume sneered in a very Karasuba fashion. "Come on, the only one allowed to check me out are two people in this world. Not sure about you but I plan to keep it that way."

"Hm." Kochō put her phone away with an ever so faint smile. "I see, well then we should hurry and give you the opportunity to flaunt to your chosen ones then. I have work to do."

"Work," Uzume asked with a puzzled look on her face as she cupped her chin with a single finger. "You work in this city?"

"Of course not," Kochō rolled her eyes. "I work for only one in this city unlike you apparently."

Uzume shrugged taking no offense. "Don't care if you agree for I care for my Otieno as well as our Chiho together. A sandwich is my aim after all with the three of us and Chiho in the middle."

"Uzume!" I growled and covered her mouth. I couldn't see it because of my covering her mouth but I know she has a snobby 'I got you' sort of smile under my hand.

Uzume reached up and pulled my hand down without any form of resistance from me. "You know you want to but you are too prudent to do it. A kiss is as far as you go all the time ya know?"

"An ease of access into the topic is simpler than to break and enter forcing the issue."

"But what if I want you to break and enter," she returned back pushing me from my chest until I was at arm's length.

"You and I know she's getting healthy but she's not there yet. Please settle down." Bringing up the health out our little left Uzume to feel a bit sad but she nodded when she remembered how Chiho is recovering right now. Uzume understands that I'm the cause of it but it's not because of money. I'm not paying an incredible sum of money for something I can fix with a routine visits I make anyway.

What Uzume doesn't understand is how I do it even though Chiho sings praise of my magical abilities when I show up. She loves my stories and magic shows and we've become noticeably close. When I visit I let her sit in my lap like a child and I admittedly baby her a bit. I can't help it and neither can Uzume.

"Alright," Uzume relented. "How much longer do you think she has? I can wait a little longer but I'm eager."

"Give it a two months and I'll take care of it. I promised that I would remember?"

Uzume gazed upon me with her light growing bright once more. "Yes," was all she said before placing a small kiss on my cheek. "But I do like the time I've had with you alone." Uzume rubbed my cheek making me gulp at the look she gave me. "Because I love breaking your little wall down little by little." I pulled her hand down and walked past her toward the direction of the mall.

"Hm, it seems another weakness is the female aggressive and flirtatious approach but only from overly appealing women. Signs of high preferences in bodily details but not in race," Kochō remarked like she just found the way to cure world hunger.

"You right about that," Uzume snickered. "Apparently he never gave women the time and you have to be very "hands-on' and direct with him. He's especially weak towards when I place my hand..."

"Uzume," I growled at the woman.

"You can stop me now but you know I might tell them later once we have some girl time about rules and boundaries," Uzume bemused at the truth of her words. I could waste time to isolate her from Kochō and Akitsu but that time and energy is needed elsewhere.

I hate to admit it but my interaction with woman in the past usually involved killing them, killing monsters alongside them, stealing priceless riches together, or kidnapping them. Other times I was greeted with that presence of a Succubus like Uzume. Even though I'm much more experienced than "me" months ago I'm still getting accustomed to having beautiful women with me beyond the "comrade" standpoint. Uzume is the most alien to me, because of the way she handles me and smiles in triumph whenever she gets her way or gets to me period. If this was a fight, and I mean a more physical fight like with Karasuba every time I see her, I could handle it. A test of physical constitution is simple, but in this regard I am at a loss.

"Anyway, I am interested about ah… you, you ah…" Uzume stopped a bit over herself.

"Akitsu," the woman answered my veil sekirei in that cold stoic way with sharp eyes on her as well. Eyes that were previously looking around in what seemed like vigilance but are now settled on a woman who could barely take it.

"Ah, yeah, Akitsu w-would you like to know where we are going?"

"It does not matter," she answered in the midst of a hard exhale that almost made her sound like she's growling as well. Her tone may have scared Uzume but what I felt was a little akin to when Karasuba is upon me. I could hear and feel the power in that voice and it made me a little excited. Though now that I think of it that seems a little wrong. Getting excited from strong woman figures must stem from my previous interactions before I met my first sekirei.

"Oh, okay well, I suppose you already know dontcha?"

Akitsu looked at the woman again through the corner of her eye and nodded.

"Then you know what you have on is not going to fly right?"

Akitsu looked down in genuine confusion at her attire. "What is wrong?"

"Come on sister, you have a lab coat on covered in blood, no shoes, and no underwear. Even though Otieno doesn't care You should at least to a point?" Akitsu blinked and looked back down pulling the coat open but I quickly closed it. From what I learned people look down on public nudity and anymore police involvement would be slightly aggravating.

"Why?" Akitsu asked once I placed her hand back around her coat to keep it closed.

"Because uh," Uzume tapped her chin looking up in thought then snapped her fingers. "Because Otieno-kun would love to see you in more proper clothing."

That got Akitsu's attention because now her eyes are on me now instead of her coat.

I nodded when I peered back. "Another reason I'm adamant on this shopping thing is for you all to find proper clothing you might want. I want you all to look your best even though you're all beautiful to me already." I smirked inwardly at the blushes I received from all three of the sekirei behind me patting myself on the back. Damn god job, I made Uzume flustered and the Ice queens behind her but can I keep it up? Why yes, I think I can.

"You think I am…Beautiful… Otieno-sama?" I rose and eyebrow at the sudden question and the look I saw in her eyes. It was slightly fragile and not like how I picture the Ice Queen to be at all times. We are all human I suppose even Karasuba in her attraction to me and habit of teasing me with her body. The first female body I wanted in a long time other than Uzume's when I first saw her as well but mortals can't touch gods or angels.

"Of course, why would I think otherwise?" I looked over to Uzume. "I'm confident in Uzume's master skills at picking out clothing and your own desires to pick out an outfit for yourself."

"And some costumes and a swimsuit as well. Maybe a black strapless," Uzume added in.

"Uzume," I groaned.

"What, you know she would look good in either white or black or maybe a mix of the two."

"Hm," I grunted for I did agree with my sekirei on this one. She would look good in black or white. Colorless colors would be better for her personality that anything. "Depends on what she wants as well." We looked back to the Ice Queen and waited. "What would you like to wear?"

"Anything… you request Otieno-sama."

"Good, then I'll leave it up to you," I said ignoring her response and walking on with Uzume as the lead this time around.

My veil sekirei was almost bouncing in place with excitement being a little too ecstatic right now at the coming act of buying clothing. Before I would have found this uninteresting, for the most part, but things change I suppose. Now I have three women I have to find suitable casual attire for which shouldn't be too difficult to do seeing that this isn't the first time I've had to do this. Sadly, this isn't going to be the last. For as long as I can remember the female species has been going shopping whether visually or physically for 'stuff' that they may or may not need. Only the poorest of women couldn't do this out right but they still make do some way or fashion. I'm not saying that they all do it but many that ended up traveling with me did. Bethany, Hideki, Kuu, Dahlia, and even Rin as well.

I don't understand what it is about woman and clothing. It was always "I want the best silk" or "does this make me look fat" or "do I appear satisfactory to thou in these garments" and the list just goes on and on. You would think that with the large amount of randomness that happens in life the majority of women wouldn't have time to be that annoying, but I was wrong. Some of them know of the opposite sex enough to understand us men to a point to get what they want. That or maybe all woman inherited some form of ability to read men like an open book and use that ability to take control of us. Maybe that is why I say 'yes' a lot more that I should be saying 'no' like a fool. It's happened for almost every circumstance that called for a woman desiring something like this.

Now that I think of it Uzume plastered on a sad face when she figured out I haven't spending all that much time with her and like one of those suitcases I folded to her will. But when she did that sad face her emotions were anything by sad. They were conniving and conceiving in nature and amused when I gave her what she wanted. Gods above, even now I'm being controlled. Who's to say that Kochō or Akitsu won't do the same or worst learn from Uzume on how to do this. That or maybe things might grow so far that my choice will be thrown out the door and they will contest for my attention. That would be as infuriating as it would be entertaining.

"All right, we made it." I blinked and we were there like the saying or play on words goes. I looked up to large building comprised of mostly windows on the outside with cement like support as well not that it would affect much I believe if there was an earth shake or maybe a big wave. The building had men, women, and children of all ages entering and leaving by the dozens every second and akin to my previous thoughts the woman had a smile on their faces and the men looked to be more miserable looking than a bloodhound. Each dragged their feet with an unknown amount of cases or bags on their arms. Relationships should be a job we're paid for because the man is always the pack mule. Not me for if they buy it, especially with my money, they can take responsibility to carry their own packages. That's one rule that will never change for as long as I will live. You will pull your own weight and take full responsibility for your actions if you're the direct source of the ripple in the water.

I prefer to stay out of large crowds like this, but sometimes I have to be the snake and slither through. Speaking of snakes something snaked around my waist and pulled me toward the large 'Mall' thing that I really didn't want to go inside of. There was something about being in confined spaces packed with more people than it is rated to have that made me uncomfortable, but it seems that I had no choice in the matter.

"Come on, come on, come on let's go." Uzume practically dragged Kochō and I into the mall with Akitsu following silently behind us. Kochō was as excited for this as I was which rounded out to be obscure at the most for the both of us together. I could feel her reluctance to go inside but we had already reached this place so the odds of us turning away now are slim to nonexistent.

As we entered the mall almost immediately I was amazed at the size of the shopping center. Instead of taking half the city its compressed into this one building, floor by floor, with so maybe moving staircases leading up, down, straight, and even one that goes in a circular fashion around the mall. The shops around me are so very numerous as well with at least thirty from where I am standing currently at the front doors. I can't even see the ending of the large hallway because it curves leading elsewhere. It could be infinite for all I know. I do t frequent this side of town from outside a car and this mall is strange to me. I think this is the firs time I've been inside.

"Hehehe." Uzume waved a steady hand though my line of sight until I subconsciously followed it up and down then side to side. "Don't lick the windows too much Otieno." Uzume tipped up to my ear with one of her sly smiles. "I need you aware for the next part and the part after that."

"Really," I mused yet again as Uzume chuckled away with a sway in her walk. I rubbed my head. Uzume may be a demon with how she acts sometimes. I followed Uzume quietly as she led us to the rising staircase. I placed Akitsu in the front with Uzume for reasons I wouldn't have bothered with explaining. If it wasn't for the teens that are checking out my girls, Akitsu included, I wouldn't have shielded her between Uzume and I. It doesn't take a genius to see that she wasn't wearing much under the combination of my coat and the lab one. The naked feet are that apparent. A few have attempted to cope a feel on my property and I nearly broke one man's wrist.

"Ah!" I rose up a young man's hand just shy and entering Akitsu's coat tail and squeezed until his wrist jammed, just shy of snapping it in two. I pulled him in and presented him to Akitsu. This was the fifth time so it's times to make an example. "God, let me go! Please!"

"Apologize for attempting to commit molestation upon her and I will. Say it exactly how I said it," I worded firmly.

"Ah, okay! I'm sorry I tried to cope a feel and molest you! I'm sorry!" The young man of maybe 16 cried.

"Do you accept his apology Akitsu?"

She nodded slowly without a word.

I released the boy and let him drop to the ground. I held him up to the point that he stood on his toes.

"Let's go." I gestured with my head forward and Uzume continued with a sigh.

"We really need to get ya some clothes, that's something that has to come first. And maybe some sort sexy underwear as well." Uzume pondered. Kochō scoffed from disgust. Uzume lead us up to the fifth floor which was the women's garments department. An entire floor for woman to buy whatever they wanted from jewelry to lingerie.

Kochō was staring at the directory thing for the longest time and what can I say, I got curious find out what she was looking at. I walked silently behind Kochō; not that I needed to because of how loud it was in the floor let along the building. "Ashikabi-sama." Kochō said knowing that I was behind her and pointed to a place on the directory on the eighth floor. "Electronics and gadgets," that's what the red collection of squares said in big bold blue letters. Kochō wanting to go to an electronics department wasn't all the surprising in the least to me. When she turned to me and I nodded the go ahead. I reached into my back pocket and pulled a card out for her to take. Kochō bowed and left briskly with the card in hand.

Uzume and Akitsu left from their previous spot out of sight. I felt my eyes morph and tracked down their willpower to one place that had a store with long row of mannequins each with very… striking clothing. I approached the store and saw them outside of it and not in it. It seems that Uzume isn't the lead in this one and she seems a little anxious to go into that shop.

I sat down on a bench instead of following. Goddess I'm tired and all I did today was walk but my brain felt like it was running faster than light right now if that is possible. Some much happened today that it shouldn't even be possible to deal with so much in one day. I have seen over a dozen or so seikirei today. Uzume and I took out three while winging one then we adopted one that is supposedly broken that was a gift to me from Minaka. It's an early release apparently before the critical adjustments could be made. That's what Kochō told me. Today is so eventful.

It all started with a simple walk because of Uzume and I can't be together without initiating some manner of physical interaction. I met or encountered too many sekirei in one day and a good amount got a good look at me and Uzume. Then I winged one of these sekirei that's been watching me from afar that turned out to be a jewel in the game and modern world. Then Kochō lead an unknowing Uzume and I towards my "gift" Akitsu. She's yet another sekirei but can't be winged and I took her with me before the other ashikabi I could feel could come and get her. Apparently message about his gift was sent to four other ashikabi in this city and I'm the first to approach out of four days. I have Kochō who tracked her down for me though and I feel she's been directing me towards Akitsu the entire time. Kochō truly is a gem.

So far the day hasn't been all that bad but it will eventually because one of those kinds of days always turns south. The questions are just when it will happen and how it will happen. I know the little conflict from before with the glasses wearing man and his entourage wasn't severe enough to qualify as a day ending spat so all I can do is continuing with my plans until the enviable life threaten fight comes or something that forces my hands to take my sword up again.

I couldn't help but let my eyes wonder the things around me. It was a central shopping section all in one single building instead of taking up a fifth of this city like the ones I have visited before but then again that was over several hundred years in the past though. It's still quite amazing what happened prior to my coming here. Mess with a witch that researched into messing with space and time it lands you in another place when you don't kill her in time. I am taking this quite well surprisingly. Being in a different time with so many wonders. And with very beautiful women.

I rolled my neck and rose my hood further down over my head.

"Ashikabi-sama," Kochō called over to me but I already knew that something was wrong. I could feel it.

"I thought you took care of our other tail?"

"New tail."

That was the answer I didn't want to hear. I stood up from the bench to my full height over the glasses wearing Sekirei. I could handle this myself but then a thought came to mind. I let the faints smirk appear at the corner of my lips and looked down to my sekirei. She didn't show any emotion or response to my stare down but I could see it in her energy. My gaze was making her anxious. "W-what is it?" She stuttered a little mentally shuffling in place.

"I want you to develop a plan of action with the mission to either completely avoid or eliminate the enemy." Then I took Kochō by the shoulders and replaced the starstruck sekirei to my spot on the bench. "I expect it completed by the time I come back with Akitsu and Uzume. Don't take too long." With that I turned around and walked to toward the pure energy I felt emanating from both sekirei.

My senses led me to a different store with mannequins draped in clothing of different kind but it was all women's. Swimsuits, dresses, suits, casual wear, and even lingerie. Strange, I assumed that there's separate stores for each of those if the manga I read mean anything. I threw these thoughts to the wind and proceeded inside. The woman at the counter noticed me coming inside and looked at everything else expect me once she took a glance. I could tell without even looking at her that she's nervous and now a little anxious about my being in this store and couldn't understand why. Could it be the tattoos on my arms that are a little intimidating to the woman behind the counter? I could understand that the one in my right arms do, after all the demons sealed within me use it as a focus to project their aura on the physical world. Now that I think of it I haven't visited them in a long time. They've been so quiet lately. I clenched my right hand and felt the under my skin burning sensation that comes from whenever one of them wake up. This one is making me feel…impatience and pride. It makes me feel strong like I could lift a house if I so wished it.

I relaxed my grip and continued in the store. Uzume energy spike all of the sudden. It seems my sudden release of demon energy didn't fall within deaf ears. She felt me and seemed almost too eager during my approach. I moved pass the many racks of clothing to a room in the back. Changing room. I guess they're trying things on. I saw Uzume standing behind the curtain to the changing room. I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms over chest. "Uzume." I called but to no response. I know that Akitsu is in there with her but what the hell are they doing? I heard a couple crashes and the sounds of fumbling. I rubbed my head.

"O-one moment," I heard within the dressing space.

I looked back to the bench behind me and sat down with my arms still crossed. I closed my eyes and mimicked Mutsu and the way he rests his energy. Head tilted downward in a little less than a 45, eyes closed to the point that they are Karasuba squinted, and my hands gripped my ribs. I guess all I can do is wait but right now I can't stand waiting right now. If that curtain was a brick wall I'd break it down just to break this bitter silence. Gods above something better happened and soon before I let the jack out of the box and no one would want that. He's not as nice as I am. I rolled my shoulders and opened my eyes a little more. I could see the carpet and its multiple colors from red to blue and even green. I hate the color green. The only reason I didn't turn it red is because there are specks of red already. Maybe a little more red wouldn't hurt though. That woman could cover half of this floor and bring some color to these white walls.

"Hehe heh," a low and dark chuckle escaped my throat. It wasn't my voice that made this chuckle though. It came from a deep and dark place within me. I took a breath and left this alone for now. I can't go around killing innocent people yet. I don't have a good enough reason to do this yet.

"Oh Otieno," Uzume cooed for whatever reason.

I had long since rested my elbows on top my knees for the, by my watch which I don't remember getting, eight whole minutes. I could blow up three buildings in this time. I could have done my nonexistent taxes in this time. I could have come up with a battle plan on how to assault the MBI clock tower in this time but instead I've been forced to sit here and wait for some uncontrollable little girl…

My eye widened. "Whoa."

Uzume smirked and pushed the curtains away fully revealing her in that… I'm not sure what it is but it showed off her body and yet covered her breasts and crotch. It like underwear but the fabric is wrong and it stretches down her sides and back yet kept her stomach open. Her legs, I'm not sure what to say. I've seen her in that maid outfit and it was appealing enough but this showed off her creamy and smooth skin. Like marble sculpted by a master same with the rest of her body.

Uzume turned around and placed and hand on her hip curving her body. She looked back with the same smirk on her lips. It was full of cockiness but also enticement. "So, what do you think?" I barely heard a word of what she said. My body shot to it feet and stood up. Uzume turned around to face me. "I guess you like my swim suit if you're speechless?" I took a step. "Just wait until…"

I didn't care about what else she had to say. I didn't want to hear what she wanted to say. I just wanted to claim those lips I found very irresistible right now. I took her hip and her thigh in hand and pressed my lips to hers. Our bodies molded together and a pleasure I found I'm unfamiliar with took a firm grasp of my mind. I saw white and not just from her wings and rose from her back. I still had a coherent awareness of my surroundings and I didn't want to explain a light show in the middle of this place. I took Uzume by the legs and hoisted her up earning a surprised groan from her. Her hands came out and cupped my cheeks and her legs wrapped around my legs. Her tongue broke past my lips and teeth and started a match against my own deepening the kiss. I walked forward into the changing room or a changing room. Her wings pushed against the sides strangely but I forced us both in without effort. This felt so good. Uzume feels so amazing but even that was an understatement. The bond I blocked off to keep myself free of unnecessary emotions and influence but the moment I saw her I felt something in my mind break. I had to have her. I had to touch her. I had to become one with her.

This list was different from Karasuba's. Uzume's felt earnest and much warmer. Like molten rock poured on a block of ice my restraints didn't stand a chance once I saw just how beautiful Uzume really is in this outfit. This swim suit. I reached up and pulled the ribbon holding her pony tail up off. Her lustrous brown hair feels like a blanket over her back and my left shoulder. I felt her hands push against my cheeks. Our kiss broke hesitantly and like before I was awestruck. Uzume also wore a mask of confidence and playfulness but this time her face was so flushed, her eyes glazed over from the pleasure we shared staring into my own, and the hard pants that burned so hot I could actually see her breath. I almost assaulted her lips again but she keeps me at a distance.

"Otieno… We," she panted again. "We can't… Store and…" She tried to explain but what left my mouth killed the reluctance I could feel through our bond. Blue and dull was this emotion but quickly it turned red.

"Uzume," I sounded so desperate and weak that if Karasuba were here she'd be laughing at me but I don't care. "I need you…" I breathed out. "I need you too much to care."

Uzume's eyes widened and if possible glazed over even more. Her hand wrapped around my shoulder and mashed out lips together into a wet kiss. I felt something on my shoulders and then felt my jacket fall from them. Let go of her one hand at a time to drop the unneeded piece of fabric. I reached for the clip on my chest and the sword I had hidden underneath dropped to the floor as well. Suddenly Uzume was on her feet again and my back was against the wall.

Uzume seemed even more feverish then me.

She shot to me and slip her hand up my shirt and around to my back pulling it up little by little while the kiss resumed. When my shirt reached up my back midway I broke the kiss and licked her neck right where the nerves are. Uzume light out a harsh exhale of air in response. I kissed and sucked on her neck and helped her pull my shirt up. I pulled back and quickly threw it away. Before I could get my hands on her again Uzume was doing something. She reached up to the top of her suit thing and pulled it straight down. Her breast burst out and like always they are amazing.

"Thank you," Uzume whispered in my ear which she licked causing a shiver to sliver up my spine. I was thinking out loud again but didn't care. I reached up and grasped on of the same softest and biggest pair I have ever had the pleasure of touching. We which end sides and her back pressed against the wooden wall of the changing room. I molded my hands on her breast and pulled her leg up rubbing her flush against mine. Uzume's moan was more than a good motivator to keep me going with my ministrations.

"Ah…"

Just like that I froze in place as if I was hit with the frost breath of a hundred dragons at once. I froze to the point that I didn't even breathe. Uzume groaned in frustration at the sudden halt of our little 'activity' but then noticed something behind me. She looked over my shoulder and her eyes filled with so much shock I thought they would burst. The strange thing was the curtain to the room was to my left meaning and through my peripheral vision I could see that the curtain was still closed blocking the view from both sides. If no one outside the room made that noise and if Uzume is looking right behind me in shock then that could only mean one thing.

I let my hand fall from Uzume's rear, not sure when I started groping her there, and her leg fell down from my side. I took a breath but remained calm while facing towards my angel. "We're not alone, are we?"

Uzume blinked at my question then shook her head left and right. I took another breath.

"Is it someone we know?"

Uzume silently nodded her head up and down. That narrowed it down a great deal. Who else do we both know that could happened to be in the same store as us and in the same dressing room? I took a third breath and looked directly into Uzume's eyes.

"Is it Akitsu?"

Uzume put on a nervous smile and I knew. I did the brave thing and turned around to face the woman. The yuki hime was indeed sitting quietly on the only bench in the room with her back on the wall. She sat sort of formal but with a light swaying her of her legs while they're crossed. She placed her left hand over her right one but gripped the bottom hand tight to keep it still. It didn't work because I could still see her hand shiver a little. It hovered right over the place of her nether regions as well.

She finally covered chest with some sort of lime green bra with frills or something like that protected the modesty she didn't have previously. Honestly, I thought it looked good on her same with the matching panties. Light green isn't a bad color on her but I can't help but imagine her in black. I love this time period and its times like this I'm relieved I was woken up now and not before. I notice with the severe lack of clothing her chest rose and fell in an irregular and deep fashion. Probably in collaboration with her harsh deep breathes that matched with her flustered state perfectly.

Her eyes, by the gods her eyes pieced the both of us with their intensity. I had to ask her the questions even though I know the answers already.

"Did we barge in on you changing?"

Akitsu methodically began to moisten her lick her lips and take a breath. I was already seconds from letting that irrational side of me go and Akitsu's sensual actions didn't help calm me down either. I had the sudden and compelling feeling to kiss her as well but that was more base lust if anything. I could rein that in thankfully. Akitsu took another minute to come to terms before answering with a quiet and yet firm, "yes."

I nodded my own head this time like Uzume did for me. "Did you see… everything?"

Again the ice woman took a moment before doing that usual blink she does before replying. "Yes," she said but a little louder than the last one.

"Kiati," I cursed myself and my lack of self-control which put me in this position. "If we bothered you I'm very…"

"I…don't mind." I blinked a couple times before her sudden rejoinder. I brought my eye up to her own which were not Averted away slightly to the left. The flush on her cheek is now more pronounced then before and spread to her ears.

"W-what?" I stuttered like an idiot but that truly wasn't anything close to what I was expecting. I had assumed she'd write us off as a bunch of idiots or lusty little children than can't hold back for longer than a second. I had expected a healthy amount of criticism or maybe I've listened to the ranting or tales of the Innkeeper's chastening a little too much that I'm expecting it from everyone.

Akitsu finally drew a line across the room with her gaze from Uzume who's still behind me probably with the same amount of shock as myself and finally on me. "I found it…beautiful."

"Beautiful?" Uzume questioned instead of me.

Akitsu nodded only once and blinked. "The way you both moved…touched each other… Kissed each other, and gazed upon one another," Akitsu bit her lip and closed her eyes then nodded her head downward.

"The physical and mental connection between sekirei and ashikabi," she seemed to struggle to get out. "Witnessing you both giving everything to one another willingly and…" Akitsu finally opened her eyes and looked upon us. That cold and stoic look was gone. What I saw left me utterly speechless.

"How he said he needed you and the powerful emotions behind each word. It was… is so very beautiful to me," she finished with an impact that left me staggered.

I stepped back away from this sekirei. I looked back to Uzume and both joy but equal measures of sadness shown on her expression.

"Oh goddess Akitsu I am so very sorry!" Uzume fell to a full bow. Her breasts were still out and almost hit her in the face but she didn't care. The situation turned from hot as a volcano with red energy pouring through the bond to Antarctic cold with a deep grey flowing into me. Sorrow and pain from seeing this sekirei suffered like this. Guilt from how selfish I acted while with my ashikabi. How I let my own playful nature play on his inexperience causing something like this to happen.

I looked upon the surprise in Akitsu's eyes at the two of us bowing for her. She took a couple calming breathes and slowly her cheeks took on the usual paleness they held before. "It's to be expected, so I hold no ill will."

"No Akitsu we fucked up!" Uzume's cursing wasn't lost on either one of us. It just showed just how serious this was to her if she's willing to do that.

I looked back to Akitsu to follow on. "We… no, I acted without any thought of my surroundings and who might be watching or affected by us. I'm at fault for causing you distress and if there's anything you want from us please do not hesitate to speak your mind."

"What koibito said, please tell us how to pay you back."

After what felt like an eternity a ghost of a smile rose to this snow woman's lips. It was truly beautiful to see a smile on her face. Just when my image of her was of a stoic uncaring woman after this last couple minutes that picture was wiped clean.

"Can I have a moment," she stopped for a moment. "A moment alone," she finished while lifting up her clothes she's yet to put on fully.

Uzume blushed and nodded quickly. She rose up and pulled her swim suit back up then walked to the curtain. She stopped with it pulled halfway open and looked back. "Sorry again Akitsu." With that she walked out maybe to change back into her clothes form before.

I sighed and leaned over and picked up my shirt and threw it back on. I picked up my belt, not sure when that came off, as well as my jacket. I grabbed my sword as well and started to make my way out.

"Otieno-sama," she called stopping me from leaving fully. I glanced back to the snow woman and gave her a nod. Akitsu stood up and rose a ribbon up in hand. The one that both Uzume and I failed to notice.

"Thank you." I reached and took it from her grasp. Before I could take my hand back her took it. I had to fight my bodies reaction to this sudden and foreign touch. I watched silently as she rose my hand up painfully slow to chin level for her then changed grip. She closed her eyes and held my hand close to her before placing it on top of her mark. I didn't know what to expect from this action so I just followed suit.

This mark is strange. I have never seen anything like it then again I'm sure I've never seen a sekirei in the past. Then again I would have never had known it was a sekirei unless he or she reacted to me. Maybe they've been around for a long time. Maybe the ship found with this one hundred and eight wasn't the first one. I don't know but anything is possible. This mark isn't one of a kind though. Block, reroute, then release is the mark's main function. If there's more to be discovered it will take more research and time to figure out. Time which I don't have currently.

A slightly red faced Uzume, who couldn't keep her eyes off of me for longer than a few seconds, and a fully dressed and stoic still Akitsu followed behind me as we left the fifth store we went to. Some after the time I've found them we met up with Kochō just after Akitsu got herself fully dressed and is now leading us away. Akitsu dressed herself in some form of kimono that she was about to take but I had to put my two cents in. I don't mind her choice of that white kimono like top with a long skirt. I didn't see her as the 'clad in white' sort of woman. I chose somethings that appealed to me which is what she wanted more than anything it seems. I also had to express the importance of "buying" and not just "taking" the merchandise from the stores. I'm a thief but also believe in good business and healthy enterprise.

She wore a black kimono with a yellow obi tied down in a bow at her left hip. The designs on her kimono are red tsubaki flora with branches along her shoulders. I bought her a pair of yellow sandals with a green strap for her feet and around her neck hung a pendant of the same flower that doubles as a hair clip for her hair if she wishes to remove the chain. I made sure to buy the kimono in a size that fits her impressive bodice. Her chest, her hips, her thighs, and her ankles are covered. Pretty much made her appear as the formal inn keeper sort and hid her assets well enough.

Uzume sort of influenced the design a little but it stopped there. She wanted Akitsu to show a little more and I wouldn't allow it. If this woman was going to belong to me then I wasn't going to start showcasing her around like some arrogant tit. That's what Uzume is for because I can't really stop her. I know I have a few stunning women following me but I don't need or want to flaunt it like Uzume would say. Like I said, I can't stop her. She does whatever she wants. And besides there's some business that needs to be taken care of and its best they look respectable at the very least.

I'm not a prude though and did allow them to buy what they wanted. My only question would be, "Why the chains?" I looked back to Akitsu who wore a chain around her neck leading downward between her breasts to her sleeves. She flushed faintly. "I wanted them," she put as simple as possible. I can't blame her with wanting a weapon and with elemental users chains are an excellent weapon to manipulate said element through. I accepted her answer because of this even though I know those things are for an entirely different reason. I just have to figure out what that is.

I have at least nine bags full or clothing, jewelry, and computer parts along with a box of something 'necessary for the plan to go into action' that Kochō brought to me to carry… I'm carrying her bags. I would throw them at yet for her to carry but sadly she's working on our new tail. Uzume tried to give me her bags and I rejected her. She used a distraction maneuver and unconsciously I took them when she asked. Clever little girl. Akitsu's bags though… I owe her for before so in the end I'm carrying most of the bags like a mule.

God damn it.

We followed the tech sekirei whilst Uzume chatted up Akitsu the best she could. "So Aki…chan? Can I call you Aki-chan?"

"No," Akitsu fired back in tone so methodical and cold that the very air around her turned cold. Uzume flinched as if struck when her happy-go-lucky nature smashed straight into that brick wall of a glacier in the form of a humanoid.

"Okay," she tried to make light of that response. "Well then I'll just call you Akitsu then okay?" Akitsu didn't answer but her eyes did swift over towards Uzume. Uzume gulped and took a step or two away from the ice woman. "Akitsu it is!" She rose her hands up defensively. Akitsu just continued to stare blankly at the veil sekirei.

At this range I could tell the difference between their powers with ease. Akitsu's power is studded because of her mark over her forehead and lack of an ashikabi unlike with Uzume and yet Akitsu's power is so much more emboldened than Uzume's. If Akitsu so wished it she could kill Uzume in a single breath and it would be easy. She wouldn't see it coming. If the two fought on even ground I'd say Uzume would last five minutes at the most before she would fall. I have fought opponents that could use ice based magic in the past and they, in my opinion, are some of the most versatile fighters I have ever faced. Some have almost killed me compared to fire users and I'm highly susceptible to fire. It's ironic that I can take a bolt of lightning without so much as a flinch but fire on the other hand hurts a lot.

I believe Uzume could feel the difference in power between the two. That or maybe she's a little anxious over stories of this ice user. Uzume knew of Akitsu the moment we saw her and by the way she's behaving whatever she was told about Akitsu wasn't positive. I didn't tell Uzume to get along with Akitsu and I can appreciate her attempts right now.

"So do you like your clothes?" A glint appeared in her eye, something both Uzume and I noticed. A smile appeared on Uzume's lips the moment she saw it almost like you see in manga. "Do you like them because Otieno and I tried really hard to find you something nice for you to wear?"

Akitsu looked down to her kimono as she walked. Then she reached up and fiddled with the obi, then the borders, then the seams at her chest, and finally and sleeves with slight tug as if testing their length. "They're adequate."

Uzume smiled like the fox she was turning into. "I'd hope so because he actually finds you quite 'agreeable' right now." Akitsu and Uzume both turned their attention towards me. Uzume gave me an expectant gaze. It held equal measures of playfulness and excitement, maybe about her progress right now. Akitsu though looked at me with the opposite emotions that Uzume expressed. Akitsu was afraid, frail, and maybe expecting me to denounce everything that she heard.

"You're quite stunning in your new clothing and I pray you believe it yourself as well. I picked them because I believed they fit you but if think differently please tell me or Uzume." I finished before looking back to the front.

Akitsu blinked and turned her eyes away from me but a ghost of a smile rose to my lips when I saw the same on her lips.

"Next time we come here we can get you a swim suit as well. Maybe even a maid outfit. Otieno really likes those. Last time I wore one he was all over me," Uzume gloated proudly. Kochō snort but remained to herself. "It took a moment for him to contemplate what I was wearing but I can tell you for a fact he knows how to use his hands."

"So you're his toy." Like that the direction of the conversation took a turn in the opposite direction. Uzume's eyes widened and Kochō tripped forward a step. I had to catch her and help her back up. She gave me a slightly embarrassed "thank you" for my troubles.

All eyes shot towards Akitsu and she returned it blankly.

"W-what?" Uzume stuttered.

"You dress up for him," she pointed out. "You... let him do as his pleases… with you." She paused creating a drastic effect without meaning to. It impressed me.

"You are his doll correct?"

I heard a snort and glanced back. I noticed Kochō struggling to hold her tablet up to hide her face away from view. Her shoulders shivered and quaked as she fought the urge to laugh at Uzume.

"A doll like at one shop where you bought…"

"Ah no!" Uzume rose her hands up and waved them in front of Akitsu and blocked my vision on her. "No, no, no, no! Okay that's enough of that." Uzume's cheeks were a rosy red when she noticed my eyes gliding over her.

"A shop with dolls eh?"

"Hehehe!" Uzume chuckled nervously.

"What did you get there?" I asked.

"Nothing!" Uzume exclaimed.

I looked towards Akitsu. "What did she get?"

"I said nothing," Uzume reaffirmed but I didn't believe her.

"A leather thing… and a blindfold."

Uzume looked so betrayed right now.

"Which bag?" I lifted my arms with the many bags I have to carry hanging from them.

"No please don't tell him!"

"I thought it was nothing Uzume," Kochō finally decided to bud in with a smirk. She even said Uzume's name for once albeit mockingly. "Why are you so flustered?"

"I…ahh…well," she stumbled over herself.

"Why are you… flustered?" Akitsu asked as well but more out of inquisitiveness than the contemptuous pleasure that Kochō got out of it. Uzume withdrew into her shell so I stepped between the her and the other two.

"Her reasons are her own Kochō; you don't need to worry about this right Akitsu?" Both sekirei quietly backed down once I stepped in.

"Of course/Yes Otieno-Sama," the two of them answered.

"Good. Now let's keep going. Kochō find us a good area where we could do the least amount of collateral damage and witnesses."

"Wait what?" Uzume took my shoulder and pulled me back so I could face her. She recovered quickly from her rough patch. "What are you planning?"

"To see what else you can do." I waved my head in the direction of Kochō and walked up behind her. Kochō took point on hers and my phone.

"What do you mean by that?"

"He means we're being followed by someone that wants what we have," Kochō answered from behind her tablet now that quickly replaced her phone. When did she switch the two?

"Currently an ashikabi is following us with at least three sekirei acting as his entourage." I continued on with my Insight Sekirei's statement.

"And they will most likely excite a conflict with us." Kochō followed.

"So I wish to see both you and Akitsu in action to see how you stack."

"Of course we don't wish to cause a scene so ashikabi-sama wishes for me to lead us to an area we can do this."

"And if your wondering who or why I'd say it's the ashikabi that was tailing Akitsu before according to what Kochō has told me."

"As for the why it's most likely because of his own vanity."

"Why are you two doing that?" Uzume voiced loud enough to break the chain the both of us had.

"Because we are on the same page," I answered.

"Something you have yet to be able to do while wearing clothes apparently," Kochō quipped, I think.

"Kochō," I sighed and she just rolled her eyes.


The kid...yes kid of maybe 14 or 15 with some sort of white blouse and trousers appearing as some sort of noble's child appeared in front of us. Lucky for us we found ourselves in a vacant series of lots with the land just waiting to be scaled but for now it remains empty. It's around 8 acres of space with a few little buildings around us but not enough to cause drastic collateral damages. This way I can keep my pocket untouched after all I don't have an unlimited amount of funds like I hope I never get. What's the fun of try to build more money if you have all you could ever want? Now the kid has two Sekirei with him. One with a double blade and another with what appears to be a whip. I'd say they're in the thirties or less just from the small amount of…energy? I'm still unsure what sort of power these Sekirei hold. My first guess is chakra or spirit energy but it feels like none of them.

"My word do you know how annoying it was to chase after you?" The kid complained but I hardly noticed. I'm more preoccupied with trying to figure out why a kid is following me in the first place. I didn't steal any toys as of late so why is this kid following me? I can see the two sekirei standing behind him appearing a little nervous and hesitate about something. Maybe it's the thought of fighting us or something mundane.

I rubbed my head and drew my eyes towards Kochō. "His name is…"

"I'm sorry," I said quickly before she could finish. "I really don't care who this kid is." I faced the Japanese kid in fancy clothing and asked him, "what do you want?"

The kid frowned. "How dare you address me as 'kid, you ruffian!"

My hand rose up to my forehead and palmed the skin smoothly. I reached for my sword but I felt a hand on top my own stop me. I looked back to Uzume and noticed her giving me a look. I blinked for a moment at her look of distress and a little bit of fear. Her hand trembled for some reason as well on top my own.

"Master," I heard from a frail sounding Kochō standing close behind me. "Please calm down."

Calm down? I am calm. I'm the calmest I could ever be right now. I'm just not in the mood for something like this, this early in the day. It's not even four in afternoon yet. First, is the fact I'm pressured into the Chaos Dome creation schedule, then I'm literally kicked out of the inn I've paid to live in, forced to go without breakfast on a wild goose chase around the city, made enemies with some ashikabi with three sekirei that will more than likely be back for revenge, chased after by the police and their detectives, forced to carry more bags and boxes than I wished in one sitting, and now I find out that a brat has been following me for goddess knows how long. I need an outlet right now.

I reached for my belt buckle and pulled. My sword came off and with it my other tools of the trade as well. They must not want me to mutilate them with my blades like I desire to which is understandable. Who knows who could be watching right now? Causing the unexpected death of a rich family's brat will give the police the edge they need to crash down on my "honest" business and I can't have that. My work has lowered the crime rate in most of the city and taken a fair bit of drugs off my streets. So far I see myself as doing good in the grand scheme like always to control the darkness. Some don't understand this.

I took a couple breathes in and then out. "What do you want from me," I asked calmly and waited for a satisfying answer. The boy snort and lifted his head to me as if physically looking down at me. My eye twitched. I could ring his neck with two fingers if I wished it and have half a mind to do it too. I dislike teenagers so much. Every one of them should just die or grow up and leave us adults alone.

My views are bias yes, but it's not without reason after all most of my suffering was caused by teenagers, all of them noble, and upset with me just for doing my job. I may have taken care of a family member or two for a healthy sum of money but is all a part of the job. And yet they saw fit to throw soldiers at me and sent numerous hunting parties after my head. I couldn't do a thing because it's against the code to kill children that have yet to reach adulthood and are not targets. Sadly, none of them became targets until after I left country for the Middle East and Africa to sail. Lucky them.

This kid though won't be so lucky once I get my fingers around his neck and two into those little eyeballs of his. Let's see who looks down on who then. For gods' sake, I've killed a god and this brat dares to look down on me like this. Such disrespect needs to be…corrected.

"But since you asked," the kid finally stated. "I want what's standing behind you?"

I looked back and took my physical eyes off the kid and his entourage of sekirei and looked at the building behind me. It's still being built so I suppose it's not too late to take what's built down to match your desires. I faced back with a questioning look. "Then why not just buy the building and the lot then?" I mean honestly. Why follow me halfway across the city just for this? The answer is that he isn't following me for a lot and I'm just acting the fool just so he'll do the predictable bratty teenager thing and shoot first ask questions later. Or in his case never again.

The kid blinked then stomped the ground red in the face from fury. "No, you idiot! I want that standing behind you!" The kid pointed at me. "The sekirei."

I looked back and saw Kochō then looked back at the kid. "I've already made a contract with her so why do you want her."

The kid stomped again.

"Mikogami-sama please calm down," one of his sekirei tried to soothe his rage.

"Quiet you!" He snapped and then turned towards his sekirei and began to rant at them.

We listened to him rant for…

"Uzume the time."

"It's been seven minutes."

Yes, that long for him to stop complaining to his sekirei about me and about how he lost his newest toy.

"I'm so relieved," Uzume sighed in said relief. "I have you as an ashikabi instead of that kid. I'd wanna…I don't know but I'd do it," she groaned.

"So your saying I'm a better ashikabi compared to that kid? I'm almost insulted."

"What? Why?" She said frantically.

"You're comparing him to that young boy number ten," Kochō clarified. "Can you blame him?"

Uzume cringed and looked back at me then the kid. "I…no I guess not."

She guesses? I'm still offended.

"He must be here for the scrapped number," Kochō finalized on and I agreed with a nod.

"I knew that the moment he approached. Do you know how many sekirei he has total?" I asked the woman.

Kochō fiddled with her thing for a moment. "Around four already."

"four?" Uzume said shocked by the number. I frowned though. The fact that he sees Akitsu as an 'it' instead of a 'her' really made me uneasy.

"What should we do then Otieno?" Uzume questioned.

I crossed my arms and shook my head. "It's not about me or us," I spoke and turned around to face a blank faced Aktisu. "It's about Akitsu and what she wants." The woman blinked at my words. "This kid wishes to take you away," I noted to make sure this got across clearly. "You're your own sekirei so if you wish to leave me I won't stop you."

"Master I…" I rose my hand up silencing Kochō.

"I'm not an oppressive man that holds others against their will." I looked back towards the sekirei of unknown number and gazed intently at her.

Akitsu drew her eyes from my face to my chest. Her hand rose and gently pressed against my chest. "I do not wish… to go anywhere where you are not," she whispered but loud enough for me to hear.

"Then no force on this Earth will stop this." Before I turned back around I caught a harsh reddening of the ice sekirei's cheeks.

"Heheheh," Uzume chuckled to my right.

"Hm," Kochō smiled from approval to my left.

I picked up the large number of bags and other things up. "Let's head home. Maybe that woman has forgiven us enough to let us in."

"If she didn't we could get a hotel room," Uzume offered sly with an equally impish grin. I thought about it. It would make sense seeing that the hotel section is closer to us right now and would be easier to manage over that insufferable woman and her rules. "All of us staying under the same roof in the same room might be fun and we'd never be interrupted like at the Inn." Uzume was hitting all the fine points. Honestly having impossibly beautiful women willingly giving themselves to me like they do is in the realm of unknown to me. Unknown but not undesirable in the least. I sort of like the thought of being desired for more than just my power, my abilities, or my money. To Uzume all of this barely comes off as secondary. She just wants us to be…closer?

I'm not sure how to process this at all.

Kochō stated her wishes blatantly. She only wished to have me instead of any other rich or powerful ashikabi in this city because of what I'm capable of doing both in the light and behind the scenes. She wants to be at the top and be challenged as well as protected. Something I will do for I kill for much less than to protect my inner circle. I've killed for some man giving my sister figure a look I didn't agree with. I fear that she knows this. Taking lives are a norm in the old days and I've long taken a shine to it.

Karasuba wants a few simple things from me. Attention, physical contact, and greater power for her sekirei core thing she told me a little about. She wants nothing else and I can deal with this easily. It's the same as every other man and woman that selfishly wanted me for their own wishes. That makes her easy to please and easy to keep controlled if she doesn't go…yandere? That's the word I believe. I've seen her own version of a yandere glare and it sent a shiver up, down, and around my spine. I'm not stranger to fear but that one was so primal it left me froze like a deer in head lights. I was the rabbit and she was the tiger. "Don't ever cheat on me." Those word and that look made me gulp. I can kill Karasuba. I know I can but she can also kill me and she'll do it with a smile on her face at that out of anything.

Uzume though is much more confusing because she wants something I can't necessarily give for I'm unsure how to. Our bond transfers emotions maybe that's how they felt the savage calm I had previously that turned my blood cold. It works both ways and I can feel things like usual and use the color code as well to translate. Orange, meaning excitement. The thought of us all going to this hotel and us having our constant interrupted moments bought to the much-awaited climax excites her. Blue, meaning distress or sorrow. She's at odds about something but whatever it could be I can't guess. Red with a streak of black, passion inversion which means she's angry. The dark side of passion is always rage. Uzume is furious about something. I can see her gaze turn into a glare once she turns her attention towards the kid. I can feel the heat from her anger burning my chest and stomach. It felt good.

I looked back at her. It took me shuffling everything from one hand to the next but I succeeded well enough to free my hand. I preached for my sekirei and placed a hand on her shoulder. Uzume blinked and drew her eyes towards my own.

"You lied to me."

She blinked again and this time in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

"You 're angry and uneasy. You always tell me that beautiful and sexy women like you never feel negative." I smiled at her the best I could. I must have succeeded in helping her ease the hurricane growing within her. A smile rose to her lips as well but much wider than my own.

"You're right," she sighed lightly. "I shouldn't be mad at a nobody."

"Nobody!" And the kid's attention is back on us. "How dare you call me a nobody?"

Uzume groaned. "And he's back." I walked between my sekirei and this ashikabi.

"Listen, if you're after Akitsu she's agreed to stay with me."

"But I…" I rose my free hand to stop the kid and shut him up with a stern look I've used on kids before. Like then it works now.

"Forgive me for getting in the way of your claim and if it pleases you I will owe you a favor."

The kid stared at me. Then he cupped his chin and mused over my words. "What sort of favor?"

I shrugged. "I will not go by my better judgment and drown you in a river for one," I said dryly.

The kids jaw dropped at my words. It wasn't a threat. A threat would be just a couple meaningless work without actions to back them. I plan to do just that and end the kid while making it look like an accident.

"How dare…"

"Akitsu can you disable the two sekirei and Uzume can you hold him down?"

"Yes/gladly," they both answered though Uzume's was more sinister.

"What?" The boy turned around and looked back. "You two, hurry and…"

Akitsu moved fast. Really fast. Faster than the two sekirei with the kid could react to and stopped between them in a crouch. When she rose her hands, as if we all were dropped in the Arctic itself, the temperature dropped drastically. The kid stepped back away from her right into a white ribbon. One the quickly wrapped around him like a constrictor.

"Let me go mhhh mmmh!"

"That's enough out of you," Uzume pressed a silky white strap around his mouth and wrapped it around his head while he was suspended about the ground.

"Ashikabi-sama!" One of his sekirei with a double blade screamed and attempted to rush towards Uzume. She couldn't make it two steps before a block of ice built up around her feet and spreading up quickly. The same happened to the other sekirei and the ice spread up.

"Move and I will react in kind," Akitsu's tone was so cold it finished freezing what the ice didn't freeze over being their waist up. She rose her hands out and shards of ice aimed down upon them ready to fire down icy wrath at the slightest movement.

"You see kid there're major differences between you and I." I walked up to kid and stopped in front of him. I looked directly into his eyes and could read him like a picture book. The kid quivered.

"Ashi…"

"Do not move," Akitsu said again but made no move to press her threat down.

"Calm down," I said to the kid's girls. "I don't plan on harming you, your sister, or your ashikabi. Just relax and let me speak and then you may leave peaceful. Fail to acquiesce at your own peril." The sekirei nodded swiftly showing their understanding.

"As for you," I looked at the kid. "I don't care for you and I have half a mind to kill you and take you and your sekirei out of the game permanently before it's even began." The kid quivered and paled. "But I won't because it will cause me trouble. It's also not the right time for ashikabi to be facing against one another." These words come from higher and I'd rather finish my war in the underworld of this city before dealing with the game.

"I don't like to be followed. I don't like boys that disrespect women and think of them as objects. I don't appreciate disrespect towards your betters and elders. And I hate it when someone demands something from me. Akitsu wishes to stay and that is her choice. Until she decides otherwise this is how it will be. If you ever come on front of me again like you did before I will erase you from the face of the earth. So please…please," I narrowed my eyes and growled. "Disobey."

"Mhhh! Mhhhhhhh!" The kid shook his head left and right furiously.

"I'm happy we could have this talk." I nodded to Uzume and she released him sat him down to the ground. Akitsu though kept the two sekirei in ice. Most likely until we leave.

"Tell me why," the kid gasped. "She's broken and can't have an ashikabi. The freak in his tower said so and I've been searching because no one else claimed they would. It's not fair!"

"I don't care," I dismissed everything I just heard. "Akitsu is a strong and beautiful woman. I don't care if she's 'broken' as you say or a sekirei. I wished to help her no matter the circumstances and I will," figure her out and see what sort of spell or seal is plastered on her forehead. I kept this to myself of course. "As I said, I'm sorry if this seems unfair to you and appears a waste of your time." I took a knee down as the boy looked up to me. "And as I said I'll owe you a favor for this case of injustice towards you." I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a card. "I'm sure if you and I came to an understanding we could go far so here's my card." The kid reached for the card and looked at it. The calling card of the mask on top should be known well to most rich families in this region and by the look of shock on his face this kid's family is no different.

"Y-You're part of the Group? T-The Beheader." That's one of my nicknames.

"Mr. Kill Bill!" My eye twitched when he brought that one up.

"The one thing my father spoke about!?" The kid fell back and clawed back away from me slowly.

"You're the man who cut my dad's best friends head off in front of him and didn't even bat an eye!" I thought back on the different bosses in the room and don't remember a human with his likeness. I think I do see a semblance between him and another though. One of the monster's but this one is human. It happens when the monster gene doesn't pass over. It's recessive when they mate with humans.

"If you know my reputation then you realize you're lucky to be alive right now." I reached down and helped the boy up to his feet. "And if your father knows me and speaks of me then you must know that eventually I'll be coming for you and your family like the other two, yes." The kid was afraid now. The slaughter of the prior heads that challenged me is well known in the underworld.

"Y-yes sir," he said humbled by me.

"Then you should know as well that it's best to be with me than against me, yes?"

"Yes sir."

"I owe you a favor and you have my number. Tell your father about this and that I'll be seeing him soon."

"Who are you?" That kid shivered in place with his hands quaking. "I never heard of you before and then you showed up out of nowhere. You even hide your face in public. Just who are you to place fear and such uncertainty in my family. We are the third most powerful family in this country and yet my father fears you. Who are you!?"

"Nobody," I waved and past him and his sekirei. "Akitsu you may release them."

"Yes," she instantly followed my command. She stepped behind me. My left and right were taken but Uzume and Kochō respectively who looked at me in disbelief but refused to speak of what they just heard. "Let go home…then get to that hotel if it's not safe."

"R-Right." Uzume responded.

"Hm." Kochō grunted without any words to speak with.

"Yes." Akitsu spoke in her usual way.


Two hours later


"So this is Maison Izumo." Kochō noted. Her eyes shifted from one side to the next.

"I believe yourself and five other sekirei live under this roof correct?" I thought about it. There's the one behind the hidden door I have yet to meet, there's Homura who works as a host, Miya of course who owns this establishment, Mutsu my second in almost every way, and finally Uzume. The answer is yes, there're five total sekirei living under this roof with me being the lone earthborn.

"Yes, that's correct." I didn't need to see or be psychic to see the look of shock on Uzume's face.

"You know?" She stated the obvious.

"I know Uzume."

"How?"

This time I looked back at her with my eyes drooped. "I've told you once before I can sense your kind. It's not that difficult after all…you're not human." I noticed Kochō tapping on her little tablet after my words. "Sensory abilities above that of a normal human. Possible science experiment or anomaly in the system. 010110011." Once she began saying numbers I gave up listening to her.

"Of anyway," I broke the tension building but I know that with my sudden reveal of abilities I have a lot of questions I might have to answer later in the day. "This place is where I stay for now. I'm sure that if I explain to Innkeeper she will allow the two of you to stay here without much fuss. If she does have a problem I can just as easily relocate you both to a secure building in the city I have acquired during my stay here." The two sekirei said nothing in response which is fine with me. They heard me and that's all that really matters.

"Well we might as well go instead of stand outside all night." Uzume pointed out.

"Yes," I agreed. We approached the door and I knocked it.

"Always be on your best behavior and watch out for this woman. She's not to be trusted in my opinion." Kochō stopped tapping her tablet and looked up to me. Speaking of which… "Put that away as well Kochō. She doesn't like current technology out around her." Kochō hummed in discomfort but relented. She pulled the edge of her top out and slid the tablet away into her chest that somehow fit inside of it. She pulled the seams back over and sighed.

"Miya isn't as bad as you see her," Uzume defended the woman again. "I have nothing against her for I still don't know her background but what I've seen it doesn't help me bring her in a bright light." Uzume can't really retort against this. I've know the innkeeper for a shorter time than her and so far her attitude, the way she treats myself and the others like children, and a few other things makes it harder for me to like her in any way.

The door suddenly opened up revealing the tired grey eyes of Homura. His eyes slid from me to everyone else around me then back to me. "Morning," he greeted tiredly. I rose an eyebrow. His hair is disheveled with ends splitting every which way as if he just got out of bed. Seeing that we work from dusk til dawn it's no surprise that he's just gotten up or was woken up by my loud knocking. "Hey…Jaeger it's you," he yawned and wiped the sleep out of his eyes. "I see your back…" He looked around again. "And with friends."

I nodded. "Kochō is my newest emerged sekirei." I turned to the side to present her to him.

Homura's eyes scoped out my sekirei up and down. "You're the one that was hovering around…"

"I was number 6," Kochō said sharply. "But no longer. I've found my true and preferred ashikabi."

Homura furrowed his brow before shrugging. The guardian of unwinged sekirei then shifted his gaze towards Akitsu. His eyes suddenly narrowed at the sight of her sort of reminiscent to the look that Uzume first gave Akitsu the moment she recognized her. Or maybe it was that they recognized the mark upon her brow that has them looking at her like she's beneath them even though Akitsu is more powerful than even Mutsu. I'd say if Akitsu had the same level of experience as Mutsu she'd actually hold her own enough to get a win. I'm not belittling his own power or abilities but I know potential when I feel it and Akitsu's as vast as an ocean. Much like Homura's. If the two of them fought I'd be the first to get a front row seat to that.

I could see it before he even said. His eyes said everything. I rose a hand in a stopping gesture and frowned at the male sekirei. If there is one thing I will not tolerate is this level of discrimination against Akitsu, his sister sekirei, one of his very minuscule race, and he looks upon her like she's the plague.

"Homura," I said his real name which drew his attention to me. He's eyes widened when his eyes met my own then suddenly averted them. I didn't need to say what was on my mind for him to understand what I felt for him right now. I said it anyway. "I'm disappointed that 'you' would look upon a sister like she's less than a flea," I said fully disgusted with him. Homura winced at my tone but I wasn't finished yet. "I would have expected better from you seeing that her situation is very akin to yours."

"I get it," he lamented with his head down. He faced Akitsu and bowed his head. "Forgive me for my rudeness I meant nothing by it."

Akitsu just stared at Homura for a moment before answering. "It is fine…I am broken and you…see me as such."

Uzume, Homura, and Kochō visually winced at the coldness behind that blank tone Akitsu used. Homura was hit with it at full blast. Akitsu is strong enough to project her emotions out even though we do not have a bond with her. This is another testament to her lament power behind that mark that holds her back. I wish I could take it down. I wish to see the god locked away behind it.

"I'm very sorry," Homura said again and bowed a little lower this time. He sincerely meant it this time. Akitsu must have sense this because the aura that covered the area faded away. Uzume panted softly and Kochō wiped her brow of a fresh covering of sweat.

"Accepted," the woman spoke volumes with a single word. I wonder now what it would have been like it I would have found Akitsu first over Karasuba. I would have ignored everyone and everything for her that much I know.

"Thank you," Homura said grateful to have earned the ice sekirei's forgiveness. "My name as you heard is Homura but by day and at my job I go by Kagari. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Akitsu glanced over at me and I gave her a nod. She looked back to Homura and said, "You may call me Akitsu," in her same slow and methodical way. Homura took in her name and looked to the left in thought.

"Is Miya home," Uzume asked.

"No," Homura said quickly bit then appeared hesitate. "Or at least I don't think so."

"Four more," Kochō murmured to herself. I heard her but didn't question her on it. I caught her expectant gaze upon me though.

"Come in," Homura slid out of the way of the entrance.

"No point in standing outside all day until she gets here."

"Thank you Homura." I walked past him and Akitsu followed close behind me. "Homura can you escort Kochō and Akitsu to the dining room while Uzume and I put her things away?"

"Sure." Homura waved for the two to follow him and walked away. Kochō followed almost instantly but Akitsu hesitated. I looked down at her and saw a small sliver of fear in her eyes. I looked back to Uzume and she shrugged. "You wish to follow me Akitsu."

"Yes," she answered instantly.

"Very well." I escorted Akitsu up and showed her my room as well as the rooms of Mutsu and Uzume. I placed the clothes and the like on the floor of Uzume's room. "Uzume, can she stay in the same room as you?"

"Eh!"

"Try not to sound too appalled by the idea," I deadpanned.

"N-no. That's not a problem but I'm just wondering why when we have plenty of rooms she could sleep in."

"It's because I don't wish for her to be alone until she's used to her surroundings. Of course, if this is a problem she could just sleep with me."

"But I sleep with you!"

"I have a queen sized so it can take it. And if you keep being difficult I'll make it so she's the only one that can."

Uzume grit her teeth then smiled at me. I narrowed my eyes at her and transferred my seriousness across the bond to her. Uzume grit her teeth then sighed.

"Fine," she relented. "She can..."

"I wish to sleep with you Otieno-sama," Akitsu spoke for herself.

"Then I guess it's settled," I shrugged. "Uzume, I'll leave the clothes to you."

"Wait. Why are you cutting me out so suddenly?"

"Because you've had your time on screen," I smiled at her and left out the door and walked down the stairs.

"Wait, what!"

I smirked at her and left her behind with Akitsu right behind me to show her around.


A/N: Main Protagonist's neat of Sekirei: Karasuba, Mutsu, Uzume, Haihane (Winged by Natsuo), Kochō, Akitsu(Broken), ?

Kochō has a plan and it may or may not go into effect but only time will tell. Being almost 12 chapters in I have to a few more main cast appearances in soon. Minato being one of them. The plans I have heheheh.

Pieces of the Whole: Already winged that fill a portion of MC's Heart

Resilience - Mutsu

Compassion - Uzume

Ease -

Warmth -

Joy -

Patience - Kochō

Strength - Karasuba

Kindness -