Ok, just figured I would put this here. I looked at the outline, and I made a minor change. In Chapter 19 it was supposed to say 'Last Single Number Un-winged Sekirei' instead of just 'last un-winged.' I've changed 19 to reflect that and over the next few days will be updating 20, 21,22,23 and 24 to show that. For now though, you get this and the note at the beginning of that.
Chapter 25: Come Get Some
Walking into the Botanical Garden it's dark, the sounds of crickets gently chirping the only natural noise beyond the faint sounds of the city. Lights line the paths at even intervals, casting long shadows and giving me very little to see with. The bushes and plants are perfect hiding spots for an ambush and I'm alone and unarmed.
If a mugger were to come out of the bushes and attack me I wouldn't stand a chance...
Ahead and to my right the bushes shift as if in response to my thoughts. My entire body tenses, the sight of movement making me nearly jump through the moon in surprise. Narrowing my eyes a figure steps through the bush and onto the path. As the figure enters into the light I recognize Yukari's Sekirei, Shiina.
If he's here, then how are they holding Yume-chan?
"What have you done to Yume-chan?" I demand hotly, and Shiina steps back with his right foot, motioning farther into the Garden with his right hand.
"Follow me." He says in a monotone.
Without another word the bishounen Sekirei turns his back to me and begins walking. With no other choice I fall into step behind him, following my younger sister's Sekirei through the park as he leads me to wherever Yukari is keeping Yume.
I don't have any choice, wait for me Yume-chan...
Following him down the path the two of us are silent as a grave. As we near a corner covered by a large bush Shiina turns to the right and jumps, leaping over the bush suddenly.
"Wait!" I call out to the male Sekirei, running around the bush to see a ten foot wide clearing.
In the middle of the clearing stands Yukari and Shiina next to one another. Lights on the perimeter of the clearing illuminates the entire scene clearly. In front of both of them kneels Yume, her hands bound behind her back, her eyes closed and her head held low, a gag in her mouth and tied around her head. Directly behind her Shiina stands with his arm extended, his pointer finger no doubt resting on her Sekirei crest.
If he recites his Norito it will automatically remove her crest and terminate her.
My gaze shifting to Yukari my younger sister stands with her arms crossed over her chest, her face set in an impassive mask.
"Yukari! How could you do this?" I demand from my imouto, my voice raised in ire.
"I want to see the strength of your bond." Yukari responds coldly, and I shiver at the sound of her voice.
Many times in High School I heard her speak like that, and it usually ended with me giving her whatever she wanted, whether it was my MP3 player or something else I had that she wanted or some favor that she wanted from me.
"If you bond isn't strong enough to survive the next stage then I'm going to end it here before you allow Yume-chan to be killed later." Yukari continues, and I blink in surprise.
"That's your logic?" I demand in surprise. "You know me Yukari, you know I would never let something like that happen!"
"Then show me." Yukari says flatly, nodding toward Yume. "Show me how much you care for her and her alone."
Show her how much I care for her and her alone? How am I supposed to do that?
Looking at Yume my first Sekirei looks at me with shame in her dark eyes for a moment before looking down again. I can feel how ashamed she feels to be stuck in this position, and deep down she just wants this to be over.
"How?" I ask evenly, looking back toward Yukari.
"A kiss." Yukari answers my question. "A passionate one from a man to the woman he loves, not from Ashikabi to Sekirei."
Nodding my understanding I slowly walk toward Yume. As I approach Shiina has her stand up, the auburn haired Sekirei getting to a vertical posture quietly, her eyes locked on the ground in front of her. This close I can see Shiina's hand on her back, his finger touching her crest.
"I'll have to remove this gag." I say to Yukari, and my Imouto nods her understanding.
"Go ahead, but no funny stuff." Yukari warns, and I reach out, grasping the knot behind her head and removing the gag from her mouth.
Setting the bundle of cloth aside. Looking up at me I can a storm of emotions on my Sekirei's face and in her eyes, fear, longing, sadness, they're all there and I can feel them in my heart. Reaching out I gently grasp her by shoulders, her hands still bound together in front of her, preventing her from reaching around me and embracing me. Looking into her eyes, her mouth opens slowly, a shuddered breath wisping past her lips.
"I love you Yume-chan." I solemnly whisper to my first Sekirei.
Leaning forward I kiss her, pressing my lips to hers with as much feeling as I can muster. Pulling her closer to me she resists at first, then her lips part and I slip my tongue past her soft lips, into her mouth feeling her relaxing into the kiss. Pressing her own lips back against mine her tongue begins to move with mine, the two of us French kissing for several long moments, our bodies beginning to grind against one another even with our clothes on. Even with her hands between us I can feel her leg slide up the side of my body, my Sekirei leaning against me for support my hands slip from her shoulders to her sides, holding her up as her Sekirei crest appears behind her back, her wings of light flashing into brilliance as her arms tighten around me, embracing me and relying on me for support when she is at her most vulnerable.
Pulling back a string of saliva connects our lips for a bare moment, her wings fading as I look into her eyes I can see happiness there, a warm feeling spreading throughout my body as her lips curl in a genuine smile. Without a word I feel her arms slip around my waist and up my back, my Sekirei pulling her body closer to mine.
"Your arms?" I ask curiously, blinking in surprise to see and feel my Sekirei embracing me when the last I saw her hands were bound together with ropes.
"That was a pretty hot kiss, Onii-chan." Yukari comments her normal lackadaisical tone, and my head spins toward the source of the noise.
Off to my right both Yukari and Shiina stand next to one another, my younger sister smiling in spite of the situation.
"What's going on?" I ask in shock, not comprehending what just happened.
"You really can be dull when it comes to reading a situation aren't you Onii-chan?" Yukari asks with a shake of her head. "This was all a ploy designed to get you to express your feelings for Yume-chan, because after the bridge she's been feeling that you might now want her around since you've gotten a bunch of other really powerful Sekirei."
Hearing that I can't help but look at Yume, my eyes wide in surprise.
She's worried that I don't want her anymore because I've got other Sekirei? I mean it is true that I've gotten Tsukiumi, Kazehana, Akitsu and even Homura. But Yume is my wife, as much as I care about the others, she's special to me too...
"Is that true Yume-chan?" I ask her, and she nods, leaning against my shoulder and resting her head against it lovingly.
"It was." She solemnly answers me. "But I felt your love for me in that kiss, and it makes me incredibly happy that you feel that way about me."
"Yume-chan..." I whisper her name, feeling the urge to kiss her again.
As if Yume can read my mind my first Sekirei pulls her head from my shoulder and looks into my eyes. Smiling she leans in and presses her lips to mine, the two of us kissing once again. Like before her wings appear again, a warm feeling cascading over my entire body.
"Tch." Yukari scoffs sarcastically. "You think you two could get a room?"
Standing next to her Yukari reaches out, grasping the sleeve of her blouse and tugging on it, seeking her Ashikabi's attention.
"Yukari-sama, please kiss me like they just did..." Shiina begs his Ashikabi, my younger sister blushing in embarrassment. "This is supposed to be their time, but later I promise that I'll kiss you and do all sorts of things with you."
His face turning red Shiina nods his understanding. Hearing my sister say that she's going to start doing 'all sorts of things' with a boy my knee jerk response is to say 'that's never going to happen' but I bite my tongue.
She's a grown girl and you've hardly got any room to talk. How many women are you sleeping with in rotation? At least she's only doing it with just him, I hope...
XXX
Walking back to Izumo Inn hand in hand with Minato by my side I can't help but smile. Yukari's plan worked exactly as she said it would and I now know in the very core of my being that Minato loves me and cares about me. He may care about his other Sekirei as well, but as long as I have a place in his heart I can be happy.
"This is going to be hard to explain..." Minato trails, his fingers gently caressing mine.
"Why?" I ask curiously, turning my head toward him, concern in my eyes.
"If the others found out about this they'll want to try and outdo you to get my attention. If that happens then Miya will go ballistic..."
"That's probably true." I admit with a smile, the image of Miya holding a wooden spoon standing atop a pile of Minato's unconscious Sekirei like a conquering hero comes to mind, the landlady's infamous demonic visage floating behind her. "I'll still savior that moment, and I'll remember that kiss forever."
His hand squeezing mine I can't help but smile.
I will never forget you Minato, my beloved Ashikabi...
XXX
Entering into Izumo Inn holding hands with Yume I call out to everyone living in the Inn.
"I'm back!" I call out, and at the sound of my voice a cacophony of footsteps come barreling down the stairs.
At once both Tsukiumi and Kusano practically fly off the bottom step, the both of them landing directly in front of me. Tsukiumi reaches out, grabbing me by the collar, Kusano doing the same with my waist.
"MINATO! Where hast thou been!" Tsukiumi demands irately, shaking me for all she's worth, Kusano helping the blonde Sekirei.
"Grr..." Kusano mumbles in protest, adding her voice to Tsukiumi's.
"I told you what happened Tsukiumi!" I practically yell in protest.
Remembering the blonde woman thankfully stops shaking me, turning her attention to Yume standing on my right.
"Thou art a fool allowing thou self to be kidnapped by another Ashikabi!" Tsukiumi scolds Yume, the look Yume gives Tsukiumi is still happy, in spite of the situation.
"It wasn't like that!" I try to calm the hot headed blonde woman down. "Yukari hatched this weirdo plan and set the whole thing up."
"Thine imouto is responsible?" Tsukiumi asks, and I quickly nod.
"Yume-chan just went along with everything, she had no idea how things were going to happen!"
Hearing that Tsukiumi releases the grip on my collar, Kusano doing the same for my belt.
"I shall go see her and insure that this doth not happen again." Tsukiumi says plainly, and I quickly shake my head.
"You don't have to do that!" I protest, Tsukiumi crossing her arms obstinately. "She knows not to do something this again, so there's no reason to go storming over there looking to hurt someone."
"Verily well." Tsukiumi relents. "Should something like this happen again there shall be no forgiveness."
Sighing I can't help my shoulders slouching in relief.
At least I managed to avoid that. If Tsukiumi had gone over there demanding an apology things only would've gotten worse. As it stands things managed to work out pretty well. I only hope that it stays this way and that word of this doesn't get out, if it does...
XXX
With that both Tsukiumi and Kusano allowed both Yume and I to go upstairs and go to bed. By the time the both of us got back to the Inn it was almost 1 in the morning. After the incident with Yukari and all the studying I've done I just want to go to bed.
Lying down on the futon with Yume I can feel her hands on the back of my head. My wife gently pulls my head toward her chest, resting my cheek against her bosom.
This is...
"Would you stay like this for a while?" Yume asks, her hands gently holding my head against her breasts.
They're soft, so much like a pillow...
"Sure Yume." I answer my wife in a hushed whisper, closing my eyes with my head in her bosom, her scent filling my nose.
"I love you Minato." My Sekirei wife solemnly whispers.
"I love you too Yume."
XXX
Unfortunately the fallout from the incident did not end that night.
The next morning I wake up with my head still resting on her chest, and I can't help but smile at her just sleeping there peacefully, enjoying just being in my presence. It's heartwarming to know that she cares for me like that, and that after everything we've done she still appreciates the little things.
Fortunately her hands have since fallen away, but somehow I managed to keep my position on her soft pillows...
"Yume-chan, wake up." I call out to her gently, pushing myself to my hands and knees before reaching up and gently stroking her cheek.
Her eyes fluttering open she groggily sits up slowly.
"Minato?" She whispers my name, and I smile, giving her a good morning kiss.
"Let's get something to eat." I suggest, and she nods.
"Let's." She agrees.
XXX
Being married and living in the same room with one another we've developed an effective routine in the morning, the two of us both getting dressed and doing our normal morning routine, brushing teeth, washing face, etc. Walking downstairs all of my Sekirei are waiting for me in the dining room. Seeing them all assembled and waiting for me I feel a ball of dread form in the pit of my stomach at the sight of them all.
Tsukiumi is irate, clearly displeased with what she knows. Matsu stands there grinning, enjoying what she's seeing and looking forward to what is about to happen. Kusano looks serious, her arms crossed over her chest in an imitation of Tsukiumi's posture. Homura stands off to the side leaning against one wall, her eyes closed with one foot against the wall, her arms crossed beneath her breasts. Kazehana sits at the table, a bottle of Sake in her left hand. Akitsu stands next to Tsukiumi, her normal placid expression on her face.
"What is all this?" I ask curiously.
"We all want to know about last night." Homura speaks up, confirming the dread I feel in my stomach.
"I felt it was only proper to tell them what you told me last night Minato." Tsukiumi explains, and I sigh in resignation.
"What exactly happened between you two last night?" Tsukiumi asks, sounding more like an interrogator than a significant other.
"Nothing really." I lie, and Kazehana smiles.
"That's-not-what-I-saw..." Kazehana says in a sing song voice.
Hearing her tone Tsukiumi turns her attention toward the Sekirei of Wind.
"You followed him and didn't bring me!" Tsukiumi demands, and Kazehana shrugs.
"You would've stuck out like a sore thumb." Kazehana argues with a shrug.
"You told me that you were going out drinking!"
Sitting there Kazehana grins.
"Well, technically I did go drinking..."
A familiar vein bulging on Tsukiumi's forehead Matsu starts to giggle quietly.
"It's so much like a soap opera..." The Shameless Sekirei giggles.
With that Akitsu steps forward, putting her arms around my neck.
"You kissed last night, kiss me too." She says in her normal flat tone.
How did she know that!
"I really don't want to get the Landlady started about me having an improper relationship..." I begin awkwardly, and Akitsu tilts her head to the side.
"There's nothing inappropriate about a kiss..." She begins, leaning forward.
Her lips meet mine and the two of us kiss, a quick innocent peck on the lips before Akitsu pulls back, her expression still completely blank.
"See?" She asks, and behind her Tsukiumi is practically growling.
"Mi-na-to..."
XXX
Resolving that situation took a lot of talking, with a promise to take Tsukiumi out on a dinner date as well as kiss each of them. Kazehana said she wanted to go to a Love Hotel tomorrow morning, and Akitsu said she wanted to go see a new romantic comedy. Kusano wanted me to play with her and Matsu wanted to 'experiment' which sent a shiver down my spine. When I'd asked Homura if she'd wanted anything she said she was fine, taking a kiss on the cheek rather than on the lips, my newest Sekirei still uncomfortable with her Ashikabi being a man.
After dinner I head to my room to study, and Yume agrees to give me some time to think. An hour into my study session my phone rings, and I look at the screen to see it's Yukari's number.
Oh no, don't tell me she's up to something...
Opening the phone I'm immediately greeted by the sound of arguing female voices.
"Hello?" I ask curiously, and through the speaker Yukari is practically screaming.
"Onii-chan?" Her voice comes out of the speaker.
"What is it Yukari? Who is that I hear in the background?"
Her next words are like a demon, bellowing from the deepest, blackest pit of the underworld.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!" Her voice practically booms from the speaker. "Each of your Sekirei came here one after the other looking for me to hold them hostage! Did you tell them what I did for Yume-chan! I thought you said you weren't going to tell anyone about it!"
"Kazehana followed me from the Inn." I try to explain. "She must've told them after the fact."
Through the speaker I can hear what sounds like something ceramic breaking.
"Please, all of you stop it!" Shiina's pleading voice wafts through the speaker.
"Listen Onii, you have to come over and stop this, NOW!"
XXX
Approaching the door to Yukari's apartment I'm alone. Leaving the Inn I thought I would bring Yume with me, but after everything that's happened it isn't lost on me that bringing her along might only make the problem worse, rather than better.
After all, Yukari made it sound like they were arguing because of what happened between me and Yume...
Stopping in front of the door I slowly raise my fist, gently tapping it against the wooden door. Straining my ears I can hear female voices from inside. Knocking again I knock louder this time, and there's a slight pause in the cacophony of voices on the other side of the door. A moment later the door opens, and Yukari stands in the doorway with a flustered expression on her face.
"Onii! Come in, hurry!" Yukari reaches out, grabbing my arm and almost literally dragging me into the apartment.
Somehow Yukari manages to close the door behind her, and looking around I'm greeted by the sight of Tsukiumi, Akitsu and Kazehana all sitting at a table. Tsukiumi sits with her arms crossed over her chest hostilely, while Kazehana has a green bottle of Sake. Akitsu wears her usual vapid expression, though the air around her is somewhat cold, thin wisps of fog visible around her form. Standing away from them Shiina looks demure and insecure, his eyes lowered to the floor in front of him.
"What's the matter?" I ask Yukari. "I heard arguing..."
"They came over here one after another asking me to kidnap them like I did Yume-chan." Yukari explains wearily, her voice showing her exhaustion.
Turning my gaze to the three assembled Sekirei I smile disarmingly, trying to look relaxed and amicable.
"You three all know that this isn't necessary..." I begin, and Tsukiumi huffs in annoyance.
"If being kidnapped and nearly removed from the Plan is what it will take for thou to kiss me and admit thou love me like thou did thine concubine then I shall do what is necessary."
"Tsukiumi..." I begin slowly. "You know I love you and care about you."
"Yet thou treat Yume differently than me or any of thine other Sekirei." Tsukiumi argues, and a frustrated sigh escapes my lips.
"Tsukiumi, I've made love to you, I worry about you and I care about you. I want you to be happy and I would bleed for you. Tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it."
Hearing that the blonde bombshell's cheeks flush red in embarrassment.
"A k-k-kiss would be a fair show of affection..." She mumbles, her fingers shifting back and forth against her biceps in a nervous fidget.
Approaching her I kneel down next to her, the blonde Sekirei turning her head to watch me as I put my hands on her shoulders. Leaning in I pucker my lips, pressing them against hers Tsukiumi's entire body tenses momentarily, the blonde Sekirei closing her eyes as her lips part. Relaxing into the kiss our tongues begin to intertwine, my third Sekirei beginning to enjoy the kiss more and more with each passing second.
With hardly a word I find myself suddenly on my back, the blonde woman on top of me, her hands moving up my thighs to my waist, pressing her body against mine and grinding against me.
"Oh my..." I can hear Kazehana mumble, and it's then that Tsukiumi seems to remember that we aren't alone, the blonde Sekirei becoming absolutely still a moment after the Sekirei of Wind speaks.
Pulling back Tsukiumi's face is cherry red, and I can't help but smile at the cute expression on her beautiful features.
"Do you know how I feel now?" I ask, and she quickly nods her answer to my question.
"Do you mind going somewhere else to do that?" Yukari asks, and Tsukiumi quickly climbs off of me in a clamor.
"My apologizes." She says stiffly, bowing her head toward Yukari. "I was caught up in the moment..."
"I'll say..." Yukari mutters, shaking her head. "You know Onii-chan, I had no idea you kept your Sekirei so deprived."
"I don't keep them deprived!" I try to argue with my younger sister. "I'm just one guy! It's not like I can wholly devote all my time to just one!"
"Yet you married Yume-chan didn't you?" Yukari asks matter of factly. "You can't have your cake and eat it too Onii-chan. You either devote yourself to all of them or none of them at all, you can't play favorites."
Looking around I can't help but feel guilt form in the pit of my stomach.
Have I been playing favorites? Because I'm married to Yume-chan we can be together at the Inn, but because of that have I been ignoring Tsukiumi, Kazehana, Akitsu and now even Homura-san?
"Do you all feel like I've been favoring Yume-chan over the rest of you?" I ask each of them, my eyes slowly looking at each in turn.
Kazehana is the first to answer.
"A little." The Sekirei of Wind answers, taking another drink from her bottle. "A woman likes to hear that her man loves her, so it couldn't hurt for you to give us kisses and tell us how much we matter."
"Sorry..." I apologize, lowering my head toward the table. "I never thought I would have multiple lovers, and I don't have any experience with just one, so..."
"Then I've got a splendid idea!" Kazehana smiles, setting the bottle down on the table. "Let's the four of us get a room together and give you plenty of experience handling more than one woman!"
Both Tsukiumi and Yukari hit the floor in surprise with a dull 'thud.'
Looking at Kazehana I almost don't believe my ears. Had Yume been the one to say that I wouldn't believe it, but Kazehana has always been a bit more provocative than the others...
"Do you really want that?" I ask scandalously and Kazehana smiles.
"Of course! I wouldn't suggest it otherwise!" Kazehana emphatically assures me, and next to her Akitsu finally breaks her silence.
"I...would like to try that..." The stoic Sekirei speaks up, and Tsukiumi sits up straight, finally over the surprise she felt at Kazehana's suggestion.
"How can thou be so shameless!" Tsukiumi demands from Kazehana, and the Sekirei of Wind shrugs indifferently.
"I love my Ashikabi and want to be with him." Kazehana answers easily. "If doing this with him will help him to understand my love for him and let me be with him more than I have no problem with it. Or would you rather he be with each of us in turn once every week or so? If we share him like this then it's possible we can have sex more than once a week, wouldn't you like that?"
...What...! Sex with the three of them more than once a week...? I'll die from exhaustion!
Sitting there Tsukiumi seems to think about the older Sekirei's words, considering the prospect of being intimate with me more than once a week and increasing how much time I spend with her compared to what she's receiving now.
"I..." Tsukiumi begins carefully. "I...suppose there's no harm in at least trying it..."
"Splendid!" Kazehana answers with a smile, grabbing her bottle before standing up from the table. "Let's go Minato-kun!"
Blinking in surprise I quickly look around the room at the other two Sekirei.
"You mean...right now?" I ask in surprise, and Kazehana grins.
"No time like the present, right my darling Ashikabi?" Kazehana asks, and both Tsukiumi and Akitsu stand up, showing their support for the idea.
Out of the corner of my eye I can see Yukari grinning like the world's greatest practical joker.
"Onii-chan's gonna get him some..."
From his spot against the wall Shiina finally breaks his silence.
"Yukari-chan!"