Sorry this took so long, but like I've said before my muse is a terrible thing and I write what I feel inspired to write. Some of you will probably notice that I've 'messed' with Tsukiumi's speech and have her speaking in an old English dialect, and there is a reason for this. In the original Japanese version Tsukiumi speaks in an old dialect, and it never really 'hit home' with me until I bought the English dubbed version and heard the English dub, which has her speaking in a similar manner (the English VA's performance for Tsukiumi is excellent and I highly recommend it, especially since the original performance was memorable as well.) Anyway, this is the latest chapter, things come to a head in the next chapter and the excrement hits the fan, so to speak, and I'm going to try and work on it but I'll get it done when I get it done. Thank you for the reviews and even those silent readers who simply add this story to their favorite list, it's nice to see the e mails in my inbox telling me my fan base is growing. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 20: What Are Your Intentions
"Wait a minute; you're saying this really is Kagari-san?"
Sitting at the table my eyes are set on the landlady, the scary bluenette sitting next to Homura. Sitting on my left is Tsukiumi, and on my right is Yume. After the proverbial 'bomb' had been dropped I'd been speechless, and it had Miya that had cut through the atmosphere and gotten everyone to sit at the table and drink some tea, giving everyone a chance to process the information.
In response to my question Homura just nods her head, her cheeks colored red in embarrassment. Sitting there I can't even begin to comprehend how he…er…she is feeling. To one day up and change genders?
It's like something out a comic book…
Sitting next to me Tsukiumi stares at the silver haired woman with a critical eye, her arms crossed beneath her ample bosom.
"Are thou seriously mine rival?" Tsukiumi asks evenly, and the silver haired woman bobs her head in agreement.
"When I fight I wear a mask to conceal my identity…" Homura affirms for her. "There have been a few times when I've thought that you saw my exposed face, but you've never put the pieces together."
"I was there when he changed." Yume speaks up from my right side, my first Sekirei's hands folded on her lap, her wedding ring hung around her neck.
"Then we can all agree that this is in fact Homura-san." Miya says matter of factly, her dark gaze directed straight toward me. "What concerns me is what you plan to do with this new information Sahashi-san."
When the word 'you' passes the landlady's lips a demonic visage appears behind her, like the landlady is a creature sent straight from the pits of hell whose sole purpose is to terrify me and give me premature gray hairs.
Seeing the terrible image both Yume and Tsukiumi unconsciously straighten their posture. As much as they may loathe to admit it both Sekirei are scarred of the landlady of Izumo Inn.
"I don't plan on doing anything!" I quickly and adamantly respond, holding my hands up palm toward the landlady.
"Homura-san is the last un-winged Sekirei in the city." Miya continues, staring at me with suspicion in her dark eyes.
Then that must be what that message I got this morning was about…
"Then you do know that the Director has sent a message to all the Ashikabi in the city that he's here?"
"I am well aware." Miya responds coolly, turning her gaze toward the open doorway. "Matsu-san, why don't you just join us, it's rude to eavesdrop you know?"
On the last words the demonic visage turns toward the doorway, and from beyond it I can hear a small 'eep' of surprise.
Matsu-san…?
A nervous laugh precedes the bespectacled Sekirei slowly sidling into the doorway, her right hand slowly waving back and forth in a nervous wave. Standing there her left hand is scratching the back of her head in embarrassment.
"You caught me…"
"Have a seat." Miya says, her eyes glancing down to a vacant spot at the table next to Homura, the demon staring daggers at her.
"Of course, thank you landlady!" Matsu empathetically responds, quickly sitting down at the vacant spot at the table.
"Now then…" Miya continues; turning back to me as the demon thankfully disappears. "This place is filled with your Sekirei, and Homura-san is the last un-winged remaining. It doesn't take much to assume that you would try and force her to join you."
"I would never do that." I answer absolutely, glancing to my left and right and then toward Matsu before continuing. "Each of my Sekirei came to me of their own volition, and I would never force a Sekirei to be with me, they deserve the chance to be happy and I don't have the right to take that from any of them."
"There are other Ashikabi out there that do not feel the same Sahashi-san." Miya informs me coolly. "Many of them would have no qualms about taking Homura-san from here and forcibly winging her against her will. Would you be willing to risk your lives and the lives of your Sekirei to protect her should she choose not to be winged?"
Sitting there I calmly shake my head no. Seeing that Homura's face pitches toward the table, an air of apprehension and fear forming around the silver haired Sekirei. Sitting there I look into the landlady's eyes, putting as much resolve and courage into my gaze as I can.
"I can't make my Sekirei fight if they don't want to." I answer the landlady's question honestly. "If they choose to stand and protect Homura-san then it is their choice."
"What about you Sahashi-san?" Miya insists. "Will you take up arms and fight against those who would subjugate others against their will?"
Seeing the look in her eyes I can't help but feel as though there is more to that question then whether or not I'm willing to fight to protect the last un-winged Sekirei.
"I don't know what I could do, but I would do whatever I can." I offer with a nervous chuckle. "Against a Sekirei I'm hardly anything, and even with a gun I don't think I'd be much good."
Nodding Miya reaches out to the table, grasping her glass of tea and raising it to her lips, drinking the still hot liquid quietly.
"That is all I needed to hear." Miya answers carefully.
"Does that mean…?" Matsu begins slowly, looking at the Landlady expectantly from her spot at the table.
"Mean what Matsu?" Miya asks cheerily, the demon appearing again as the landlady smiles, the expression sending a shiver down my spine at the sight of it again.
"N-nothing!" Matsu adamantly answers; the fear in her voice unmistakable. "I don't even know what I'm saying!"
Glancing between the two of them I can't help but wonder what exactly it is that Matsu is referring to that could cause the landlady to respond like she did.
"Anyway…" Miya changes the subject, turning her attention back to me. "It is only a matter of time until other Ashikabi come to try and claim Homura-san for themselves. If you intend to defend her from them you're going to need each of your Sekirei to assist you."
"What about you landlady-san?" I ask curiously. "If they attack this place are you going to fight to protect it?"
"What makes you think I could do anything to protect this place?" Miya asks, the demon appearing once again.
"Nothing!" I quickly explain myself. "I just thought that with you being the Landlady and training Tsukiumi and the others that you would fight to protect the Inn, that's all."
Beneath the table Yume places a gentle hand on my right thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance. Glancing toward my wife the dark haired Sekirei smiles, and I can feel how she's feeling.
She doesn't want me to worry, she's right here with me…
"As I was saying…" Miya continues, speaking to me. "I would appreciate it if you would ask all your Sekirei to assist you in protecting Homura-san from any Ashikabi that would wing her against her will."
"I will." I offer with a nod, and Miya raises her hand to her mouth, clearing her throat loudly.
"Why don't the rest of you come out now?" Miya asks pointedly, staring down toward the table.
Huh…?
As one Kazehana, Kusano and Akitsu all seem to slide into the doorway, the two older Sekirei standing behind the younger.
"Everyone…" I mumble in surprise, not expecting all of my Sekirei to be listening in on the conversation.
"Oh Minato-kun…" Kazehana moans, jumping into the room, a gust of wind carrying her across the table and over the other Sekirei's heads, tackling me to the floor and smushing my face into her ample bosom. "You're so manly, helping out a damsel in distress!"
"Get off of him you strumpet!" Tsukiumi growls, glaring down at Kazehana with murder in her eyes.
"I am NOT a damsel in distress!" Homura cries out irately from across the table.
Out of nowhere I feel a pair of cold hands grasp me by the shoulders and pull, somehow pulling me from beneath Kazehana. For a scant moment I can breathe again and light fills my eyes, then suddenly I'm once again smothered, a pair of arms wrapped around my head and holding me in place.
"Me too…" An emotionless voice wafts into my ears.
Akitsu? When did she…?
"Let go of Onii-chan!"
Trying to pull my head from Akitsu's bosom I manage to catch a glimpse of Kazehana, Tsukiumi, Yume and Kusano all glaring daggers at Akitsu, while Matsu remains at the table, her hand raised to her lips, the Shameless Sekirei giggling gleefully.
What am I going to do…?
XXX
"Now then…" Miya begins slowly, sitting down at the table, one of her fearsome smiles decorating her features; wooden spoon in her right hand.
Around the table sit all of Minato's Sekirei, including me. Each of the Sekirei has several new lumps on our heads, the lumps given to us by Miya to corral us after we'd begun fighting when Akitsu had grabbed on to Minato and held him against her breasts. We'd started to fight and Miya had quickly stepped in to keep the peace.
Unfortunately…
"Landlady-san, why did you have to hit me too…?" Minato asks quietly, rubbing the lumps on top of his head given to him by the landlady when she'd intervened.
"You have to discourage this behavior Sahashi-san." Miya explains herself coldly.
"I never asked for them to do that!" Minato tries to argue.
"Yet you never tell them no." Miya retorts without missing a beat. "I'm glad that you view your Sekirei as people and you want them to live as they please, however there are boundaries that you need to set and make them respect, just as other humans do."
"I…" Minato mumbles, his eyes dropping to the table in front of him.
As much as I hate to admit it she does have a point. Minato has never told them not to do things like that and because of that they keep doing it in spite of what Miya always does.
"Tis all that harlot's fault!" Tsukiumi chimes in; the blonde haired blue eyed buxom bombshell glaring daggers across the table at Kazehana.
Across from her Kazehana holds a green bottle of sake in her right hand, the dark haired Sekirei of Wind raising the bottle to her lips and taking a long drink straight from the bottle. In spite of Tsukiumi's recent accusation the Sekirei of Wind looks as though she simply doesn't care at all.
"I am hardly a harlot…" Kazehana responds evenly, lowering the bottle to the table. "I love Minato-kun and what I did was how I show my love for him."
"You show your love by being obscene?" Miya asks coldly, her gaze shifting toward Kazehana accusingly.
"It wasn't obscene when Takehito was alive." Kazehana responds smarmily.
"Takehito was my husband." Miya snaps back. "Sahashi-san is married to Yume-san, not you, Ka-ze-ha-na…"
"So you'd be all right if my Ashikabi and Yume-chan were all lovely dovey right here in front of you now?" Kazehana asks, and Miya crosses her arms over her chest, still holding the wooden spoon in her hand.
"They are married, as such it is permissible." Miya answers Kazehana's question.
Well, that's nice to know…
"As if I would permit such a thing!" Tsukiumi declares from her spot next to Minato. "I am the only worthy wife, in spite of whatever papers they may've signed!"
Sitting between Tsukiumi and I Minato sighs heavily, the Ashikabi of all the Sekirei at the table showing his frustration. Sitting there I can feel his frustration in the pit of my stomach.
"How about we all get back on topic?" I ask, changing the subject away from Minato's disciplining of his Sekirei. "We were discussing what we planned to do with Homura-san now that she's become the last un-winged Sekirei in the city."
"That's exactly right Yume-san." Miya answers with a nod. "Sahashi-san, are you going to ask your Sekirei to assist you in defending Homura-san?"
Inhaling a deep breath Minato sighs, looking up and around the table at each of the assembled Sekirei in turn.
"Homura-san has become the last un-winged Sekirei in the city." Minato begins slowly. "As it stands now she doesn't want to be winged and because the director told everyone she's here it's only a matter of time until the other Ashikabi come here to try and claim her. I think that's wrong and I want to do everything I can to protect her, so I'm asking each of you if you'll help me to protect her and give her the choice that many people would take from her."
Sitting next to Miya the silver haired Sekirei blushes deeply, her cheeks turning cherry red at the sound of Minato speaking about her and wanting to protect her.
Seeing this Kazehana smiles.
"Ooooh it looks like she might want to be winged after all!" Kazehana smiles, staring right at Homura.
Blinking in surprise the color fades from her cheeks, the silver haired Sekirei glaring at Kazehana, holding up her right finger with a blue flame sparking to life.
"How about I roast you alive? I do not want to be winged!" Homura insists, and Matsu giggles playfully.
"Fufufu, it's like a soap opera!" The perverted Sekirei smiles, clearly enjoying the back and forth between Homura and Kazehana.
Shifting her gaze toward Matsu the flame on Homura's hand doubles in size.
"How about I roast you, you perverted witch?"
"No fighting at the table." Miya intones emotionlessly, and the flame on the end of Homura's finger disappears.
"Of course Miya." Homura assents demurely, and I shake my head in frustration.
"I will fight to protect Homura-san." I pledge to my Ashikabi.
Sitting there Minato nods gratefully.
"Thank you Yume-chan." Minato offers warmly, turning his attention toward the other Sekirei. "What about the rest of you? Will you help me to protect Homura-san?"
"I will help you Minato-sama." Akitsu offers in her normal monotone.
Hearing that Minato favors the normally emotionless Sekirei with a warm smile.
"Thank you Akitsu." Minato responds warmly, soliciting a light blush from the normally cold and stoic Sekirei.
"Kuu will do what she can!" Kusano chimes in, and Minato reaches out, ruffling the young Sekirei's hair.
"Thank you Kuu-chan." Minato offers with a playful chuckle.
"How can I say no to my darling when he's asking me for help?" Kazehana agrees, and Minato grins.
"Thank you, Kazehana."
"I'll do what I can to help with my abilities." Matsu offers, and again Minato smiles warmly at his Sekirei's decision to help him.
"Thank you Matsu-san."
With that all eyes turn toward Tsukiumi, the blonde haired Sekirei still sitting at the table with her arms crossed over her chest stubbornly.
"What art thou looking at?" Tsukiumi asks, her eyes glancing around the table.
"You are the only one who refused to help Shigi-kun and Kuno escape over the bridge." Matsu needlessly reminds everyone in the room. "This is a very similar situation, is it not?"
"Tis not a similar situation!" Tsukiumi denies. "Homura is my rival, and Minato my lover! Of course I am going to assist my beloved husband in protecting my rival from evil Ashikabi!"
"It's settled then." Miya ends the discussion. "As long as I am here I doubt that any of the other Ashikabi will be foolish enough to attack the Inn. However, tomorrow is the anniversary of my husband's death and I must pay my respects to his grave. While I am gone the other Ashikabi will undoubtedly take the chance to try and capture Homura-san and wing her against her will."
"So basically, we'll have to be on guard tomorrow after you leave?" I ask, and Miya nods.
"I will only be gone during the day, so all of your should rest tonight and be on guard tomorrow while I am gone."
"Using satellites I'll monitor the Inn twenty four seven, with MBI's tracking abilities I'll be able to detect if an Ashikabi approaches quickly and warn us."
"You should all still be prepared, I don't doubt that even right now the other Ashikabi are all outside watching and waiting for the opportunity to strike."
Sighing Minato puts his hands on his knees and stands up, the Ashikabi turning toward the doorway to the hall.
"I'm going to go call my mother, maybe she can do something to help."
Watching Minato head toward the door I open my mouth to say that I've already spoken to Minato's mother but her hands are tied and she's unable to do anything. However seeing him so focused and serious I can't bring myself to say anything. If Minato talks to her and can somehow convince her to help then so much the better…
XXX
Stepping out into the hall I walk up the stairs, making sure to put enough distance between me and the dining room that I'll be out of earshot. Once I'm at the top of the stairs I lean against the wall, reaching into my right hip pocket to withdraw the cellular phone and open it.
Fortunately my mother's mobile phone number is on speed dial. For the year after I graduated high school and lived in the city on my own I lived on an allowance from her. Now that I'm on my own I hardly ever talk to her, though I can't blame that entirely on my financial situation…
Mom has always been hard to get along with. Hell, even grandma and Yukari were hard to deal with and it's because of them that I have a hard time saying no to my Sekirei…
Pressing the button with a sigh I watch the screen as the call automatically dials. A moment later the screen shows the call connecting, and I raise the 'clam shell' style phone to my ear, listening intently as the line rings three times before Takami Sahashi picks up.
"Hello Minato." Takami answers casually. "To what do I owe the pleasure of hearing your voice?"
Great… I think with a heavy sigh. She sounds like she already knows what I'm going to ask her about and she's ready to beat me senseless…
"I take it you are aware of the message the MBI director sent out to all the Ashikabi in the city?" I half ask and on the other end of the line my mother sighs exasperatedly.
"Yes, I know all about that idiots so called 'proclamation.'" Takami mumbles and my mouth drops open in surprise.
"So, you're just letting him do this?" I ask in surprise. "Homura-san doesn't want to be winged! How can the Director force her to do something that she doesn't want to do?"
"You know as well as I do that Minaka doesn't consider the Sekirei people." Takami explains morosely. "He views them as his property and he thinks that he can do whatever he wishes with them. As long as he's in charge of the company then this ridiculous game is going to continue."
"So I don't have any choice but to just protect Homura-san until she finds her Ashikabi or one of the other Ashikabi forces her to join them?"
On the other end of the line Takami is silent for a long moment, my mother apparently choosing her words carefully or thinking about what she wants to say.
"Has she told you why she suddenly changed into a woman?" Takami asks carefully, her voice neutral.
Why…? Why would that be important?
"No…" My answer is completely clueless. "Why? What would the reason she changed matter?"
"She changed because of you, you nimrod!" Takami grumbles in disgust.
…Huh…?
"Mom, what are you talking about? I didn't do anything to Homura-san to cause this change. Yume-chan was the one with him when it happened, not me."
Again another sigh wafts from the speaker. Hearing her sigh so much is new to me, normally Takami is unflappable, nothing ever gets to her.
Guess I never really mattered enough before, or she just always prioritized her job and what Minaka was doing over her own family.
"You at least know the reason a Sekirei always asks for a kiss to confirm the winging, right?" Takami asks tiredly, and I nod, even though my mother can't see it.
"It's something to do with DNA right, something in our saliva that they react to?" I ask, and on the other end of the line I hear Takami laugh.
"At least you listened when your Sekirei explained that." Takami mutters humorlessly. "Yes, when a Sekirei kisses their Ashikabi they receive the Ashikabi's DNA and become capable of using their full capabilities. When they do this they…ingest, for lack of a better term, their Ashikabi's DNA and make it a part of themselves forever. Once that happens their body permanently carries that DNA around until they die."
"So, what does that have to do with what happened to Homura-san?"
"Homura was a Sekirei unlike any other. His tama, the core that all Sekirei have that let them use their powers was unstable. During his tuning she changed genders several times, and her tuner believed it was due to the nature of the adjustments. Once the adjustments were done we thought he was stable enough to be released, and his power would remain stable until he was able to locate his Ashikabi. Unfortunately we were wrong."
"His powers haven't been stable?" I ask curiously, and Takami sighs tiredly.
"Yes, his powers have been unstable and he's nearly burned himself alive because of it."
"So what happened?"
"As near as we can tell he began to react to an Ashikabi."
"Well, that's good isn't it?" I ask curiously, and once again my mother exhales a tired sigh.
"He began reacting to a certain Ashikabi, one that was nearby and steadily growing stronger and stronger with each passing day."
The way she accents the word 'certain' leaves a pit of prophetic dread in my stomach. Listening to her words I can't help but feel my throat go dry, swallowing the saliva in my mouth to try and moisten it.
"You're talking about me, aren't you?" I half ask, and for once my mother chuckles.
"You really aren't as dumb as that entrance test makes you out to be."
Gee, talk about a way to make me feel better…
"So he began reacting to me, is that why he suddenly changed into a woman?"
"No." Takami corrects me quickly. "The process was slow; it took days if not weeks for his body to change. As time went on the changes continued and he became afraid that his personality was going to change as well, just to suit you."
"So that's what happened? His body just finished changing to suit me?"
"Not quite." Takami continues. "We saw him go to Yukari, we can only assume he went to her to become her Sekirei and retain his gender. However Yume-chan followed him to her apartment and right before Homura kissed her Yume interfered and kissed him by accident. When that happened his body responded to the DNA Yume took into herself and he reacted. His body changed and once the change was done she no longer wanted to be Yukari's Sekirei."
"If she changed because of my DNA then shouldn't she already be winged? DNA is DNA after all, at least, I think…"
"Unfortunately not." Takami corrects again corrects me. "When a Sekirei is winged the DNA she takes from her Ashikabi is…" Takami pauses, searching for the proper word. "It's marked by that particular Sekirei. When Homura ingested the DNA from Yume it was marked with her DNA as well, so it wasn't enough to create a winging. However, if you were to kiss her then she would be winged and her power would permanently stabilize."
"So…you're saying you want me to wing Homura and make her my Sekirei even if that isn't what she wants?" I ask scandalously, and Takami sighs.
"Deep down she knows what she wants, trust me." Takami assures me. "She might not willingly admit it but her body is reacting to you and you are meant to be her Ashikabi. If you choose not to wing her then it's very likely another Ashikabi will."
"I can't just wing her." I say with a shake of my head. "She's a person, and she has the right to choose who she's going to be winged by. If she won't accept me then I'm not going to force her."
Sighing on the other end of the line Takami mumbles something incoherent.
"Fine, but don't come complaining to me if one of your Sekirei gets killed defending the Inn from another Ashikabi's Sekirei."
With that Takami hangs up, terminating the call and ending the discussion.
XXX
At the bottom of the steps both Homura and I listen to the conversation between Minato and his mother. Hearing him talk about Homura like a person I can't help but smile. Turning toward the woman standing next to me her cheeks are cherry red, her embarrassment as clear as day on her pristine features.
"See? What'd I tell ya?"