I don't own Sekirei
This day was really starting to irritate me. I have yet to kill anything, and I've already had to sit through a rambling session of that moron Minaka, Benitsubasa whining over her breasts not being bigger as well as fantasizing over that pathetic man known as Natsuo, who clearly was not interested in her, and another session of complaints from Takami.
Honestly. Sometimes you had to wonder how have humans survived this long. They're so fragile. So easy to crush. Just like insects.
I decided to get some fresh air. Well, as fresh as the air in a place like Shinto Teito gets. Which wasn't actually that bad compared to other large cities across this miserable planet. But I'm getting too far off track.
The summer season was coming to an end. But the heat didn't let up at all. Not that cared. I'm not like those fragile meat bags that could not stand a small rise in temperature. The more I thought of the dominant species of this planet the worse my mood got and urge to spill their blood rose.
I can't believe me and my fellow Sekirei are to be expected to form a 'bond' with this pathetic race. All they ever think of how to undermine one another. How to kill and betray and lie to one another for their own personal gain. But most importantly, they were weak.
Weak.
Weak.
Weak.
I felt my lips tug slightly into a grin. My right thumb drawing circles on the tip of my Odachi's hilt. I glanced across the area, looking to see which insect would sate my bloodlust. That's all they were useful for anyway.
My aimless trek across Shinto Taito had eventually led me into the Shinjuku special ward. It was sunset by now. And an admittedly large number of restaurants and cafés were still open. Only a few 'proper' folks were still around though. Businessmen and women boarding the late-night train out of the district towards their homes after a long day of scamming others, earning their share of wealth and still being unsatisfied with what they have.
Yet the district didn't die down. It never did. The repulsing stench of cheap perfume filled the air, overpowering the leftover vile from the cars, trucks and motorbikes. Scantly clad women exited neon bombarded buildings. Some came from back alleys; their seductive smiles and poses did not reach their dead eyes.
I held back a snort of amusement when one winked at me and gestured for me to come over. She quickly reconsidered however, when she looked me in the eye and noticed my sword. She scampered away like a legless deer caught in the headlamps of a bus, tripping over her own useless limbs.
I got no more invitations. Seems like most of the insects like their pathetic lives enough to know to stay away. For now, at least.
Ignoring the gathering filth around me, the walk itself was quite pleasant.
And now that I thought about it, I should have probably found Musubi and had her spar with me. See how much she improved since last time. To see how much closer, she is to Yume.
I was just about to leave the special ward and enter Toshima, when a group of four men got in my way. Judging by their clothing style, the way they carry themselves and the plethora of tattoos on their semi-exposed bodies, they were most likely a part of a Yakuza I haven't exterminated yet.
I kept my face neutral, but my heartbeat picked up. Wasn't this nice of them. Volunteering to be my stress relief. I could already see their blood painted across the ground they so casually walk on and the walls that wouldn't talk of what was about to transpire here.
I bit my inner cheek to remain calm. It would be no good to kill them now. Still too many eyes and ears. And Minaka might just throw a fit this time. And that's a headache I'd rather avoid.
"Oy oy, wat'cha doing pretty lady? The night's still young. My and my friends could use a good time you know? How about it? We'll treat you real good." Said the first insect. His speech so slurred that even without the pungent stench of cheap booze you'd be able to tell he was drunk.
It took so much willpower to not smile. So naïve. As if I'd ever bring myself to so low as to spend any time with pigs like them. It took a moment for me to compose myself and not immediately bisect the vermin in front of me.
The leading trash stalked up to me, now standing barely an armlength away. He was rather short and quite lanky. With slicked back, greasy black that looked like a dead rat and an unattractive face. His companions were not much better. One overweight sleezbag that seemed to be allergic to exercise, another was over muscled and obviously drugged up and the last one was fingering what was most likely a hidden blade, idly glancing at my nodachi.
In summary, people who would not be missed if they suddenly disappeared. Good.
"Oy, oy. What's the matter? Don't worry, no need to be nervous. Be a good girl and we won't bite…much." He said with a perverse laugh reaching out to grab my arm.
I couldn't control myself and smirked, the second he touched me he'd lose his arm, then his life. I'll simply have to gouge out the prying eyes after I'm done having my fun.
Just as he was about to touch me, someone came between us.
It was a young boy, probably fifteen or sixteen, couldn't really tell with his back to me. With black hair, short on the sides and back and long on top, arranged into a short braid that reached the bottom of his neck. He was fairly skinned and didn't seem to be of Japanese Origin. A half-breed perhaps. The top of his head barely reaching my collarbone.
He was dressed casually, a red t-shirt and black shorts. Nothing extraordinary.
I was momentarily stunned. How is it possible that I didn't notice him until he was right in front of me?
"Excuse me, but this lady clearly has no interest in you or your friends. So please leave her be and go your way." He said politely, his voice a bit higher pithed than what I expected. But then again, he was still young.
Unsurprisingly, the insect didn't take this well. His beady eyes narrowed, and he put one hand in his pocket.
"An' who the fuck are you supposed to be? Fuck off before ya get hurt kid." He yelled, his face red. Was it from the alcohol or anger? Probably both.
The boy didn't seem to be fazed by the outburst. Surprisingly he was rather calm. How interesting.
"I'm just a passer-by. But you're not in the correct state of mind sir. You're drunk. Please go home before an accident happens." He said, again with the same polite tone. What a lovely voice.
The alcohol reeking vermin suddenly grabbed the boy by the collar and put a small knife to his throat.
"You tryin' to make fun of me? You wanna die you little shit? How about I ruin that pretty face of yours huh?" Snarled the walking trash bag like the animal he is. And yet I couldn't sense any fear from the boy.
Speaking of him, the boy simply stared silently for a moment. Seemingly unaffected by the fact that a small twitch could end his life.
"Oy, Tatsu, lay it off." Spoke one of the vermin's companions in a hushed tone. He was sweating and wafted off more fear than the soldiers I butchered at Kamakura in their final moments. "Look at his earing." He said nervously.
We all me and the trash turned our gazes towards his right ear. Seems I missed something out when looking him over. On his right ear was a Hanafuda-like earing. Depicting an eastern dragon coiling around itself in a figure of eight pattern, its head on the bottom right facing the left 'breathing' a puff of fire. On the card were also small characters spelling out 'Muramasa'.
Another Yakuza group perhaps?
All I know is that it seemed to frustrate the vermin still holding onto the boy's collar. He suddenly let him go, shoving him back and spitting in his face.
"This ain't over. C'mon boys, well find another bitch to bang." Were the vermin's last words before he and his gaggle of trash left the area, the other three nervously glancing back and forth as if scared of something.
A somewhat animalistic growl escaped my throat. I was about to trail them, get them in a secluded alley, and them make them sing as I rip out their entrails through their throats. But I was suddenly reminded that I am not alone.
"Well, that was quite unpleasant." Came the boy's soft voice that made me pause.
He was wiping the spit off his face with a small cloth. Now that he was fully tuned to me. I could finally see his beautiful eyes. Green eyes, like small emeralds, shined slightly under the bright streetlight.
Now that I look back on it, I probably looked like some sort of pervert, not that it would matter. But God knows how long I stood their staring at him. With my face warm and mouth slightly agape.
"Are you alright miss?" He asked, suddenly standing not even an armlength in front of me. My breathing stopped for a second, but I regained control of myself.
"Yes. Quite alright. Though I could have handled that myself." I idly fingered the hilt of my nodachi.
He laughed good naturedly. "Yes. I have no doubt that." He glanced briefly at my sword. I smirked. He looked back at me. "But I rather resolve things without conflict if it's possible."
I only gave a hum in response. For some reason I couldn't form any words. I could feel myself starting to sweat and for some reason I could only stare at his lips.
"Are you alright miss? Do you need me to call an ambulance or take you to a local clinic? There's one just down the road and to the right." He asked, his eyes reflecting his worry.
Why was it that seeing him like this made me both uncontrollably happy ye incredibly upset?
His voice broke me out of my staring. I put on my best reassuring smile and waved him off.
"No need. I was merely lost in thought. But you should be going now. It's not safe for small boys to be out at this hour. You might just get eaten up." While normally my tone would be either fully hostile or passive aggressive, I later noticed that I was teasing him instead.
He pouted cutely before smiling. "Very well. I hope that the rest of your night is safer and more pleasant than what happened earlier. Good night." Was the last thing he said before disappearing down the road.
Even after he disappeared, I still stood there. Staring in the direction he left. The heat slowly leaving my face.
Only after standing there for five minutes did I finally snap out of my trance and realize what just happened.
What I've said, the way I behaved.
The heat that gathered on my face, the frantic beating of my heart hammered in my ears.
I reacted to him.
I reacted to a weak human. Not even an adult.
I reacted to a weak human. Not willing to fight.
I reacted to a weak human. A weak human.
Weak.
Weak.
Weak.
This would not stand.
This was unacceptable.
This was utterly repulsing.
The next few minutes were a blur. I couldn't really tell what was happening around me. All my mind could conjure was that boy, bleeding at me feet and begging for forgiveness. Yet the more I saw that, the greater the pain in my chest became. I ignored it and kept going.
It didn't take me long to catch up to the boy. He got on a train heading towards the Ota special ward. I followed. My blood boiling the longer it took for me to kill him.
I didn't strike him down once he exited the train. Nor did I strike when he travelled on foot to, presumably his home, I didn't strike him down when he stopped to talk to one of his neighbours. I didn't strike him down when he entered his home.
Nor did I strike him down an hour later, when all lights of the surrounding houses, including the boys went out.
Why didn't I strike him down?
That was the question that kept floating around in my head. It would have been so painfully easy. To break in. Slit his throat. And be done with it.
So, why is it that I'm standing on the roof of the house opposite to his like a complete fool?
The hand that grips me sword is trembling. No, my whole body is trembling. I wanted to scream out my frustrations but knew I couldn't.
I wanted to see his smile again.
I made a small cut on my arm when that traitorous thought came up.
No.
I didn't want to see him smile. I wanted to see him broken and dead.
No.
I didn't want that. I wanted to see him smile at me.
"Curse you Yume." I all but yelled.
I turned around and broke out into a full sprint. Wanting to get as far away from that accursed boy as I could.
I couldn't get his dumb smiling ace out of my head.
Curse you Yume. For putting these stupid ideals of 'fated partners' and all other love crap.
I didn't need anyone. I didn't want anyone. My only desire is to see this world burn. And to have all of the 'strongest' lying dead at my feet.
And yet, whenever I thought of that insect's smiling face, a feeling of satisfaction and peace invades my chest.
I hate it and love it at the same time.
I suddenly halted. No. It couldn't be.
I don't love this feeling. I can't. It's impossible.
I hate him.
I hate the fact that I'm reacting to him.
I hate how weak he is.
I hate how his smile makes me happy.
I hate that I want to see him again.
"He was rather adorable." I muttered under my breath as I sped through Shinto Teito.
I instantly bit my tongue. The iron taste of blood quickly filled my senses. Those traitorous words would not be uttered ever again.
I stopped to briefly catch my breath and gather my thoughts. A quick look around informed me that I was back in Shinjuku.
A short laugh escaped my throat. How cruel.
I mull over the information that I'd received this afternoon. There was something I couldn't understand.
How?
How is it that I'm reacting to someone so weak? To someone who looks like would kneel over in pain from a light tap. How is it that I felt happy when I saw him smile at me?
A sudden noise to my left alerted me of a Prescence other than my own.
I look down into a nearby alleyway and find the four insects from before. One of them Fucking some whore they found.
A smile crept up to my face as I unsheathed my sword. My current dilemma with that boy currently forgotten. Looks like I'll get to blow off some stress after all.
And besides, the short lanky one has yet to suffer the consequences of trying to touch me.
As for the whore? She's just at the wrong place at the wrong time. For her at least. Nothing MBI can't cover up.
Author's note
Just something I'm going to be writing in between the long pauses of my bigger stories to show that I'm still alive. Anyway, this is going to be quite a short story. Only five chapters long. I never intended for this to be a long story and is more something to do in my spare time when I don't feel like writing Son of the Huntress and whatnot.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed.
Stay safe everyone.