In England...
One month had passed since the marriage contract to the Malfoy family had been created. Sirius Black, the head of the Black family, had contested it claiming that the Malfoys were too closely related to the Black family for the contract to be valid.
Unfortunately money and fear won out. It went through, despite strenuous objections. Even if his name had been cleared, that didn't mean he had the clout of the Black family of old. That had been lost when he was falsely imprisoned.
However, it seemed his missing goddaughter (and heir), had some Marauder blood after all. She had found someone to agree to a betrothal contract of her own in Japan. He didn't know the details of her fiancee, but the fact was his claim considered valid before the Malfoy, seeing as how the Japanese had a law that allowed one to marry before the age of majority in Europe.
Sirius would have gone to Japan to congratulate his missing goddaughter, but they had banned any more from Europe from coming back after Snape tried (and failed spectacularly) to force her to return to England. A mistake that had nearly cost him his life and his freedom, because the Japanese Aurors found out he had used an internationally illegal curse to force Rose to follow him. Only a timely intervention had stopped it, and Snape could barely remember what the woman looked like.
As it was, if he had to deal with one more snide remark from Snivilous or another round of shrieking from Molly Weasley despite the fact it was his damn house, he was going to leave England and the war. You couldn't pay him enough to put up with Molly bloody Weasley and that strident voice of hers!
"Sirius! Are you even paying attention to his report?" demanded Molly.
Sirius' head thumped on the table.
"You know what, screw this. I'd rather deal with foreign Aurors complaining about me being a Brit than listen to this crap!"
"What's that mean?" demanded Molly shrilly.
"I mean I would rather try and find my missing goddaughter than listen to another bloody minute of your shrill strident voice! Merlin woman, have you ever stopped to listen to your own damn shrieking? It's no wonder your sons flee as soon as they can!" shouted Sirius.
Molly twitched in fury. Her wand was sparking in a dangerous fashion.
She was pissed.
Dumbledore tried to reign in the two, but the damage was done. Sirius had had it with England and the rampant stupidity.
It was long past time he went looking for his goddaughter. The only reason he hadn't left before now was because it took so long to get permission to enter Japan.
And because he had not-so-subtly been threatened when he tried to get into the same city Snivelous found his goddaughter in. He didn't know who that gray-haired woman was, but she scared the shit out of him.
"So let me get this straight. My long-since-forgotten godfather and surrogate werewolf uncle want to move to Japan...why?" said Honoka, when informed that her 'family' was trying to move into Japan.
"They're tired of Europe and want a change of scenery. The chance of finally seeing you since you went missing is apparently a bonus. I believe Karasuba-san was the one to meet this...Black Sirius the last time he tried to come here," said Hikari, looking at her notes.
"That couldn't have gone well," snorted Honoka in amusement. Karasuba took great pleasure in scaring the hell out of foreigners, especially anyone from England. Mostly because Honoka hated that country with a fierce and fiery passion.
"Yes. Well. In any case, I though it prudent to run it by you first in case you wanted to send a stronger message that you wish to be left alone."
"Which would be stronger, Karasuba and Haihane with Homura backing them up, or me acting like I'm the Demon of the North?"
While Miya had a rather...unique...reputation as the dreaded Hannya of the North, Honoka had started to garner her own similar reputation using the same technique.
Hikari snorted in amusement.
"I dare say learning the fact you're a lesbian with the occasional tendency to be straight will be enough of a shock."
Because the ratio of female Sekirei to male was now four to two (soon to be five-to-two if Matsu's increasingly erratic behavior was anything to go by), and the fact she was more forward with females than she was with men, Honoka could safely claim to be a lesbian who occasionally happened to have male partners. Especially since both of her 'male' partners could pass for women if they wore the right clothing. Bishounen at it's finest.
Homura was just glad he wasn't turning into a woman, despite the fact Honoka liked one more than the other.
"Are we absolutely certain they just want to leave Europe?"
"Considering we put them both under veritaserum, I'd say so. Apparently they're sick of the place and willing to take it slow if you're willing to meet them at least once."
"Oh, what the hell, why not? At the very least I can always have my flock with me ready to cause unspeakable amounts of damage if they try anything," said Honoka far too cheerfully.
"So long as MBI is willing to pay for damages, feel free," deadpanned Hikari.
"We're having a what?" said Homura.
"Call in sick or tell them you're taking a night off. Either way, we're having a day off and I'm making a large picnic for us."
"Uh-huh. What's the real reason?"
"Apparently my long-since-absent magical godfather and werewolf uncle were recently cleared to enter the city, and if we're going to go at it I want enough space for all of us to do some damage, plus witnesses," said Honoka without hesitation.
"Ah. Why don't we all bring a dish with us. You know how much we can eat if given a chance," said Homura.
"Unlimited picnic basket, but feel free to bring a dish with you...or the drinks. Otherwise all we'll have is Kazehana's seemingly unlimited stash of sake," said Honoka.
Homura snorted in agreement.
"Our first official day out as a flock of Sekirei and their Ashikabi. Plus I get to show off my new tattoo," said Honoka.
"Tattoo?"
Honoka pulled her hair aside to reveal the still-healing tattoo. Even magical tattoos had to wait a full three days before they healed properly.
There on her back in the exact same position as the crest on every properly winged Sekirei, was the crest that all Sekirei had. It was even in the same color.
"Now we all match!" said Honoka.
Homura didn't know what to say. It was actually kind of flattering that his Ashikabi loved Sekirei so much she had their crest tattooed on her back in the same spot. Almost like she was a Sekirei herself.
He paused in that thought. Honoka liked Sekirei better than humans. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact they weren't human, she never would have opened up so quickly.
"Maybe if we're lucky Matsu can join us too," said Honoka.
Matsu rarely, if ever, left the house. Mostly because Minaka was still pissed about her stealing the Jinki. Honoka was sure if she worded things right, she could convince him to forget about the whole thing.
There was a loud series of thumps from the direction of Matsu's private room. It was pretty clear she was reacting.
"Please, please, please let me come too! I want some time outside the house!" she begged.
"I'll see what I can do. I'm sure if I word things the right way...or scare him enough, he'll forget all about your little theft."
"Are you actually reacting to Honoka naturally?" asked Homura.
Matsu's glasses steamed over.
"I think winging Haihane set it off," she admitted.
The more Sekirei you had, the more you started to become attuned to others that might not have reacted to you previously. And Honoka had already made sure that the 'winging' prompt quit popping up after Miya explained to her why she disliked it. So now the only way she was winging anyone was if they naturally reacted...or they happened to be Akitsu, who was firmly attached to Honoka's side at this point. And Honoka already had six Sekirei if you included the quiet ice maiden.
It was possible Matsu was reacting because of Haihane being part of the girl's flock.
"Ara... Are you planning to add another to your harem, Honoka-san?" said Miya from behind them. Homura jumped.
"I didn't prompt this," said Honoka quickly.
"I hope for your sake that you don't play with young men's hearts as easily as you have the birds of your flock," said Miya, eye-smiling. It was one of Miya's favorite past times, teasing her tenants about their birds.
"Can it be construed as teasing when they're just as quick to flirt with me back?" asked Honoka, tilting her head.
Miya conceded her point. Honoka seemed to attract the more... forward...of the species. Kazehana, Matsu, Akitsu...all of them were rather open about their intent. Karasuba too, when she was in the mood for it. Shiina was still too young and polite, while Homura was more experienced. Haihane...well she was more likely to unleash her dry sense of humor as a way to flirt.
All in all, Honoka had a harem of rather perverted Sekirei who couldn't wait for her to reach sixteen.
"Just remember Honoka-chan..."
"No illicit activities in the inn..." said Honoka in time with Miya. The purple haired woman smiled.
"Just so long as you remember my rule Honoka-chan," said Miya.
"So Homura, think you could help Shiina find a good dish to bring to our little picnic?" asked Honoka.
"Since it's more likely he'll be swarmed by females if I don't? Why not."
"A picnic?" said Miya.
Honoka nodded.
"Hikari-san said my magically bound godfather and werewolf uncle have been granted a temporary visa into the city. I want plenty of room to work with if they try anything, and I figured this could also double as some much needed time with my flock. We could all use a day off," said Honoka.
Miya looked at the girl with approval. She barely spent any time with her flock as a whole since she kept winging so many. A day off would be good for them.
"But first..." said Matsu, eyes gleaming as she tackled Honoka. She firmly locked lips with the girl, which set off the winging process.
"Number zero two, Matsu, yours forever and ever Hono-tan!" said Matsu happily.
Honoka hugged Matsu.
"Guess this means you'll be joining the nest in my room, huh Matsu-chan?" said Honoka.
Nest was a very appropriate name for it. Miya had no idea how she managed it, but somehow Honoka always ended up the center of a large pile of Sekirei in her room, almost like a couple of birds curling up to conserve body heat. And she always had one hand on the chest of whoever she was facing. It was actually rather adorable to look at. And to top it all off, the blankets were usually curled around them like a bird's nest.
Sometimes Uzume in a drunken haze stumbled into it, resulting in an even bigger puppy pile.
Minaka tried to get the Jinki back by asking Honoka the next morning. Instead, she threw this idea at him.
"Why not have a game of winner take all for the Jinki? Anyone who can get past my flock or the puzzle we set up in a set time limit gets the Jinki...and considering almost all of my flock consist of single numbers with a lot of combat experience, not to mention me..." said Honoka, tempting him with real entertainment.
Minaka's eyes gleamed with madness. That did sound like it would be highly entertaining.
"Fine. I'll leave Matsu alone, but the same rules apply to her as they do any other bird. Deal?"
"Deal."
Honoka skipped out of the room in a very good mood as she went to share the news with Haihane and Karasuba about their day off. Karasuba was bringing apples and Haihane was in charge of the cutlery and paper plates.
"Matsu is off the MBI's most wanted list, so no going after her when she meets up with us," said Honoka.
"How'd you pull that off?"
"We're acting as part of the entertainment in stage three," said Honoka, "Ashikabi and Sekirei teams have to either get past us or solve a puzzle we'll create later in a set time limit to retrieve the Jinki Matsu took."
Karasuba snorted in open amusement.
"You're going to be a total troll during that, aren't you?"
Honoka's eyes gleamed as her Otaku side kicked in.
"Hell yes! They'll have to solve a recreation of the Millennium Puzzle from Yu-Gi-Oh! to get that thing, and since there are five single digits with high combat experience on my side, plus Haihane with her claws and Shiina's powers there's no way in hell they're getting it. Not to mention if I join in," said Honoka.
"A way to keep it without having to deal with Minaka's whining. You are a devious girl and I couldn't be happier that you're my Ashikabi," said Karasuba with an evil smirk.
"Either way meet us at this park around noon for our picnic, and don't forget the plates and cutlery," said Honoka.
"No way...I can actually leave the inn? How did you pull that off?" said Matsu in awe of her Ashikabi.
"I promised to provide entertainment during the third round. Ashikabi and Sekirei teams have to either get past my flock, or solve a Puzzle we'll provide in order to retrieve the stupid thing. And since I have five single digits with high combat experience, one who is part of the current generation of the Disciplinary squad and openly feared because of her claws, and one with the power to rot anything he comes in contact with, not to mention if I joined in on the fun, I seriously doubt anyone will be getting it except us."
"I don't think Minaka will allow Aki-tan to play, since she's unwinged."
"She might not be allowed to play, but nothing says she can't hold it in an ice box to keep it from getting damaged or lost in the fighting," replied Honoka cheekily.
"So what sort of puzzle are we going to have?" asked Matsu. She could get behind this idea.
Honoka's eyes gleamed much like Matsu's would in the presence of something perverted or some new data she could hack into. It was a book, more specifically the first volume of the original Yu-Gi-Oh series.
"The Millennium Puzzle. No way anyone is going to crack that thing in two hours," said Honoka pleased. She said she would provide a solvable puzzle...she didn't state that she would make it easy for anyone short of an extreme Otaku to solve it. And even then they'd be hard pressed to complete it in two hours, unless they spent a lot of time with puzzles.
"What's this I hear about us being part of the third round?" said Homura angrily.
"We act as part of the third round in exchange for Minaka ignoring the fact Matsu stole one of the Jinki. This way she can leave the inn without him breathing down our necks," said Honoka.
"Honoka those things are..."
"The teams have to either get past my flock or solve a puzzle from this manga. In two hours. Otherwise we keep the Jinki fair and square," said Honoka flatly.
"I don't like this."
"Would it make you feel better if I told you we're the final act of stage three, and that Minaka is likely to send an LMD that you can trash?"
That seemed to make him perk up.
