"I AM GOING TO STRANGLE THAT IDIOT!"
Someone above her giggled.
"Feel better, Onee-chan?" asked the young girl above.
Kusano had begged Takami to take her out to see the flowers, and Takami had dragged a beyond bored Honoka with her. Then everything went downhill when an Ashikabi who apparently hadn't gotten the memo that Honoka wasn't a Sekirei tried to kiss her...and then Kusano when she slapped him.
Mikogami was going to get it the next time she saw him and didn't have an unwinged Sekirei to protect. She knew he had one of the rare male Sekirei, so it wouldn't matter that much if she gelded the bastard.
To make matters worse, despite Homura guarding the outside, Minaka had boldly told every Ashikabi (it was a mass text, which was how she found out) where to find 108.
The fact he did mention Honoka was there guarding the girl didn't make her feel any better. He was still going to pay for this.
Retrieve the 'princess' from the dragon and the Green Girl, number 108, is yours! Be warned, this dragon is fiercely protective of her prize!
Immediately after getting that text, she called Takami and told her what the idiot did...and asked her to slap the fool for her since she was going to be busy watching over Kusano from people like Mikogami.
"So have you called your Ashikabi to you yet Kuu-chan?" asked Honoka, twirling her naginata in an intricate pattern. She couldn't stand at attention all the time, and this entertained Kuu-chan to boot.
Kuu nodded.
"He doesn't want me for his flock or for Kuu's powers. He just cares about Kuu because she is Kuu," said the tiny sprite up on the tree.
Honoka jumped up to the branch to lightly bop Kusano on the head.
"What have I said about third person, Kuu-chan?"
"Kuu-chan should never speak about Kuu as if she were talking about someone else," said Kusano. It was an annoying habit that Honoka intended to break.
Suddenly Kuu perked up.
"Onii-san is here!"
"Your Ashikabi?" asked Honoka. Kusano nodded.
Honoka could hear the sound of battle in the distance. It sounded like the Ashikabi had decided to make their move on Kusano.
Honoka grabbed Kusano without hesitation and jumped off the branch. Whoever attacked them with wind was an amateur.
She glared at the Sekirei before her.
"Number 43, Yomi. Ability, wind slash. Weapon, scythe. Your technique is sloppy and your posture is highly flawed at best," said Honoka.
"Hand over the Green Girl, little brat."
"Kusano, I want you to hide close by while Onee-san takes care of this idiot, okay?"
Kusano nodded. She hid inside a large group of roots and they promptly covered her up. The only way to get to her now was if her Ashikabi or Honoka came to get her.
Yomi snarled at Honoka. The red head twirled her naginata with expert ease as she declared "Number 109, Honoka!"
"Number 43, Yomi!"
And with that, the two went at it like cats and dogs. Because Honoka trained extensively with the likes of Karasuba, Haihane, Kazehana, and Miya, her fighting ability was on par with some of the weaker Sekirei. Add in her power, and she could easily pass for one, especially with the tattoo on her back.
Wind clashed against wind, tearing branches apart like paper.
Honoka's naginata had a longer reach than Yomi's scythe, and she had far more experience against stronger opponents to boot. She nearly disarmed the foolish Sekirei with a simple twist of the pole with the blade.
They were so into their battle that Honoka almost missed the arrival of Akitsu, who hadn't been with her when this mess had started.
"Number 07, Akitsu," she said simply.
Standing proudly in her new kimono was Akitsu. However there was a marked change in the ice woman.
Where the Sekirei crest had been on her forehead was now empty. She was a proper Sekirei again thanks to the fact Honoka had sparred with Karasuba and Miya both for a full twenty minutes to level up. Apparently that counted as a mini-quest, meaning she got extra experience.
It took Akitsu a full week before she got used to the fact she wasn't a Scrapped Number, but a full member of the Sekirei Plan again. And three days before Honoka got her to quit saying Ashikabi-sama whenever she addressed the girl.
"Hey! No interrupting another Sekirei's fight!" complained Yomi, as Akitsu launched multiple ice shards at her.
"It is against the Plan for Sekirei to fight humans," countered Akitsu.
"Human?" repeated Yomi in absolute disbelief. "But she's a Sekirei!"
"Actually because of a lame-ass joke by that idiot Minaka, I was classed as a Sekirei. Aki-tan, could you come over here for a second?" said Honoka. Akitsu walked over without hesitation, and Honoka kissed her full on the lips, causing her wings to break out.
"AN ASHIKABI?!" shrieked Yomi. She had nearly gotten beaten by an Ashikabi?!
"I'm afraid our fun is going to have to end. And since I'm still pissed your master tried to kiss me earlier, you're not going to leave this forest," said Honoka annoyed, "Akitsu, take out her crest."
"Yes, Honoka-sama," said Akitsu.
Akitsu froze Yomi to the ground and used her scythe against her. The mere fact she would have forced Kuu to be winged by her master royally pissed Honoka off...plus the fact she couldn't beat the crap out of Minaka for telling all the Ashikabi where to find them. The bastard.
"No! NO! NOO!" screamed Yomi as Akitsu casually walked up behind her and put her hand on the spot where Yomi's crest was.
"This is the ice of my pledge. Shatter the misfortunes of my Ashikabi!"she intoned solemnly. There was a flare of light where the crest was as it broke, and Yomi slumped onto the ground.
"Good girl, Aki-chan," said Honoka, patting the ice woman on her head. Akitsu smiled. She liked being praised by her Ashikabi.
"I should have known... You're the one he called the dragon protecting the Green Girl aren't you, Chibi-Miya-chan?"
"Seo. What in blazes are you doing here? I know you're not Kuu-chan's Ashikabi!" growled Honoka, raising the blunt end of her weapon.
"Honoka-san?!"
"Sahashi Minato? When did you become an Ashikabi? More importantly which idiot ended up reacting to a wimp like you?" said Honoka in shock.
Seeing the shrine girl who she knew on sight, Honoka face palmed.
"Of course a wimp like you would wing someone as stacked as Musubi. Which reminds me, Musubi, Karasuba says hi and that she'll visit the next time Miya goes to visit her husband since you're staying at the inn. Kuu-chan, the idiot's here!" shouted Honoka, almost like one commenting on the weather.
"Onii-chan!" cried Kusano once she was free of the roots. She tackled Minato crying.
"What's going on? And what did you mean dragon, Seo-san?" asked Minato, holding Kuu.
"That brat...is the unofficial 109th Sekirei. However in reality she's an Ashikabi who thinks sparring with the likes of the Black Sekirei and Miya is fun. I call her a dragon because she's a damn pyro and because it was in the text Minaka sent this morning."
"He will be paying for telling every Ashikabi and their grandmother Kuu was out prematurely," said Honoka growling.
At MBI a few hours later...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! SOMEONE HELP!"
"GET BACK HERE YOU DAMN MORON AND GET YOUR PUNISHMENT!"
"BURN YOU DAMN BASTARD!"
Karasuba, Haihane, Matsu, Kazehana, Akitsu and Shiina were watching Honoka and Homura chase Minaka all around the sparring arena set up for the Disciplinary Squad while throwing fireballs the entire time. Because the cost of throwing them was so low, Honoka could keep up for hours, and Homura had enough dislike for the Director to keep up.
Takami said they couldn't kill him...but target practice was still acceptable. The closer they got to Minaka, the more points Matsu would put up on the scoreboard.
"Popcorn?" asked Karasuba to Kazehana.
"Don't mind if I do. Rum?"
"Thank you."
"Go Hono-tan! Beat him up Homura!" cheered Matsu.
"What did the Director do to anger them?" asked Shiina, who apparently hadn't heard the news.
"Takami took Kusano to see the flowers outside since it's not healthy for a little girl to be cooped up like that, and Mikogami tried to forcibly wing her. Honoka took offense and Kuu-chan got rid of him, but the damage was done. Minaka only added to the fire since Haihane and I were out dealing with some European idiots at the edge of the city for a few hours by telling all the Ashikabi Kuu was out, and that there would be a 'dragon' guarding her. Honoka's pissed because she had been planning to bring Kusano back with her once I was finished since no one would be stupid enough to cross both of us," said Karasuba.
"Is Kuu alright?" said Shiina horrified and angry at the same time.
"She's with her Ashikabi living at Miya's. From what I understand, Miya's going to have her share Hono-chan's room until she's old enough to properly be with her Sekirei, since Kuu adores her 'Hono-nee-chan'," said Matsu.
It wasn't proper for a man Minato's age to be with a girl who wasn't even ten. It was the same reason why Homura couldn't share a room with Honoka when she first winged him...she was too young and he was old enough to pass for an older brother. So they compromised.
Kuu would sleep in the room next to Minato's, which happened to be the one Honoka shared with half her flock. Kuu didn't mind joining in what most of the residents and Seo called the 'nest' Honoka built in her room.
It could be called a 'puppy pile', but considering the species was named after a bird, a nest was the next best thing.
Besides...it was either sleep in Honoka's room, or share with Miya.
"AIIIEEE!"
"Alright you too, that's enough. Besides, that was a low-blow from you Homura," said Takami. Minaka had deserved it by forcing Kuu to meet her Ashikabi far too early for a mother to like. It was just a good thing her son lived with Miya, otherwise she would be beyond pissed.
"Ano...Takami-san?" asked Shiina quietly to the side.
Takami listened to his request, and nodded. Once Minaka left the arena, Shiina promptly took three steps towards him, and kicked as hard as he could between the legs. Minaka went down in seconds.
"That's for telling the Ashikabi about Kuu when she's not ready," said Shiina.
Homura ruffled the Sekirei of 'Death' on the head.
"Good job. He won't be moving for a while after that kick."
"Yukari-san is a very good instructor."
That comment made Takami wince. Honoka had no problems with having Yukari being around her youngest Sekirei. The problem was that Yukari was such an otaku that she couldn't resist dressing up Shiina because he was and this was quoting her, a 'total bishounen'.
Takami had long since quit trying to understand how her daughter's mind worked. It was safer for her sanity.
"Bet you fifty Yukari ends up a lesbian," said Honoka.
Takami winced again.
"And I bet you a hundred that somehow she end up with one of her own, and that it's female."
"Deal," said Honoka. Takami hoped getting Honoka to bet against it would increase the odds of Yukari being safe from this madness. It was bad enough her son got roped into the Plan, she would hate for her daughter to be dragged in as well.
If Minato was out of his depth when it came to Musubi and now Kuu, he was beyond shocked to learn Honoka was considered a 'Power' in the Sekirei Plan, and had an official title.
Ashikabi of the North, and the 'Dragon Priestess' Ashikabi. Apparently when she used the landlady's Hannya technique, it became a dragon for some odd reason...one with actual feathers on it's wings.
The weird thing was that when Honoka took a test to see what her animal form was, it turned out to be a wagtail of all things. As in the same bird the Sekirei were named after.
And this was before he heard about the reputations Karasuba and Haihane had.
Suddenly Kuu-chan perked up, as if sensing someone nearby.
"Taidaima," said a voice from the door as it opened.
"Shii-chan! Hono-nee-chan!"
"OOF!"
"I knew letting you read manga was a bad idea," said Honoka to no one in particular.
They had just come in after Shiina took out the massive forest Kusano had created to protect her and her 'Hono-nee-chan' from Mikogami. They couldn't exactly leave something that big out in the open.
"Kuu-chan, are you alright?" asked Shiina. Kuu nodded, though she wasn't happy Shiina had taken all the plants away.
"Don't worry Kuu-chan. Takami-san said you can go back and regrow everything...so long as it's not a total jungle like before of course," said Honoka, patting her on the head.
"Really?" asked Kusano. Honoka nodded.
"I'd never lie to you Kuu-chan," said Honoka. Kuu hugged her tightly next.
"Ano..."
"Relax. Not only is there no fighting in Izumo inn, Karasuba would be pissed if we didn't give Musubi a chance to train up and get a lot stronger under kaa-san first," said Honoka.
"Kaa-san?"
"She's talking about Miya. Kagari Potter," said Homura, bowing.
"Sahashi Minato. I didn't know Miya was her mother."
"Adopted. It was less headaches and it wasn't like Miya was pretty much my mom in all but blood anyway. Might as well make it official, right, Kaa-san?" said Honoka.
Miya smiled mysteriously. Between her and Takami, they had managed to more or less raise Honoka the way she should have been by her 'relatives'. Miya taught her how to fight, all the household duties a woman should know, and let her grow up without too many restrictions.
Takami slowly but surely managed to at least partially give Honoka some humanity. It wasn't much, but it was better than the 'who cares' attitude she had before to outright murder of her own species.
The strange thing was that Minaka had actually hit Honoka's personality on the head when he christened her Sekirei number 109.
Honoka was a Sekirei in all ways but species.