"Kaze..." whined a young girl with fiery red hair, "I'm bored."

"Hono, your shift doesn't start for another two hours. Go read or draw your manga," said Kaze tiredly.

"Better yet, go help Tsuchi in the garden," said another male.

"Tsuchi went to the hospital thirty minutes ago Mizu," said Kaze.

Mizu closed his book.

"If I let you come with me to the club, will you calm down?"

Hono was practically vibrating on her seat.

"I can come to the North?" she said eagerly.

In order to cut down on the arguing, Kaze split each of their available areas based on their animal forms. Hono had the south, Mizu the north, Tsuchi the east, and Kaze had the west. Unless they gave permission, the others left those areas alone.

Or in the case of Hono, the childish one of the group, kept her from bugging the other three.

"Is Crow-onee-sama coming to pick you up?" asked Mizu.

Big Sister Crow, as she was known, was Kaze's work partner. Her real name was Karasuba, but Hono had immediately nicknamed her Crow-onee-sama once she got to know her. It had amused her, so Karasuba let them call her that.

Plus it was hilarious to see the expressions on people's faces when they realized that Big Sister Crow was in fact Karasuba. They had already gotten one like Karasuba with that nickname, and it still made her laugh.

"If she gets drunk, either call me or walk her home," said Kaze, not looking up.

"Please, at this point it's a given she'll end up drunk," snorted Mizu.

"Too bad she's off tonight," said Kaze tiredly.

Hono worked in one of the maid cafes in her territory after her school let out. She was a part-time student...and a noted manga author. Most of their income came from Kaze's job as a 'problem solver' at MBI and from Hono's books.

Homura, known as Kagari publicly, had long since despaired of finding his Ashikabi. Which was why he decided to protect the other 'unwinged' Sekirei until they found their mate.

So when one of his few actual friends (who also happened to be his coworker) showed up for work with his younger sister in tow, he was very surprised when he felt himself reacting. Rather violently at that.

He had once asked one of his fellow tenants at Izumo what it felt like to react to someone. Uzume had been surprised, but had answered his question.

So for him to find his Ashikabi now, right when he had given up all hope...well it felt like destiny for him.

"Ah, Kagari. This is my sister Hono."

Hono, how fitting.

"How do you do?" he asked, kissing her knuckles. It was an old host's trick.

Hono blushed, but replied, "Mizu-nii's said a lot about you."

"So why did you let her come this time?" asked Homura, leading her to a table.

"She was getting very annoying. And unfortunately for Kaze and I, she was off tonight."

"Oh? Where do you work, Hono-chan?" asked Homura.

"I work at a maid cafe in between classes."

"Which means that Tsuchi-chan must be the one who works at the hospital. I've heard of her from one of my roommates at Izumo Inn," said Homura.

"Izumo? Isn't that the house next to the empty lot with the cherry blossom tree?" asked Hono to Mizu.

"I think so," said Mizu.

"How do you know that?"

"Our house is just down the road," answered Mizu.

The feeling of destiny was gripping Homura tightly now. How the hell had he missed his Ashikabi all this time when she lived right down the road from the inn?

"Wait...you two live in that jungle house?" asked Homura incredulous.

"Jungle house? You mean the garden that Tsuchi made? She said that she was tired of such wimpy plants so she raised them up really high..." said Hono.

"We've been calling it the jungle house because of how wild the plants are," admitted Homura.

"Oh Tsuchi is not going to like that one bit," snickered Mizu.

A few hours later, Hono was either really drunk, or her acting was very good. Mizu noticed Homura looking rather frayed, so he offered to take his clients for the night in exchange for Homura taking her home...or at least to the Inn where he lived.

Homura managed to maneuver Hono onto his shoulder, and felt his reaction to her getting worse the longer they were in contact with each other.

He was about halfway to Izumo when he realized he was having trouble breathing.

Leading the half-drunk girl to a nearby alley, he managed to lean against the wall.

"You alright, Kagari-san?" she asked tiredly.

"I'll be fine. I think some of the liquor didn't agree with me."

"Kazehana-nee would call you out on that...or call you a weak drinker. She never gets sick from too much sake," yawned Hono.

"Kazehana?" asked Homura. Surely she couldn't mean that Kazehana.

"She has big boobs and loves liquor...though she occasionally spars with Crow-onee-san. She sure likes the wind...sometimes she opens the windows to let the breeze in," said Hono.

Homura sweatdropped. Big breasts, loved sake and a fan of the wind? The odds of it being Kazehana were pretty high, but what were the chances?

"Of course Crow-onee-san loves her swords and the apples Tsuchi grows."

"Crow-onee-san?" asked Homura. Please, for the love of the gods don't let it be her...

"She hates it when we spoil the surprise," mumbled Hono.

Hono's eyes suddenly became a little more clear.

"How long are we going to stay in this alley?" she asked.

"Sorry. Just needed a breather."

Homura was about to step away when his knees almost buckled. It was getting worse.

"You feel really hot. Like almost boiling. You sure you're alright?" she asked. Her voice was definitely clearer now, as if she was loosing her drunken nature in proportion to his reaction to her.

"I...I'm not sure," he admitted.

Hono's face cleared up and she felt his forehead.

"That's no fever. You're literally boiling! How did you get this sick that fast?" she asked.

"It's my reaction..." said Homura, nearly the point of collapse.

"You're like Kazehana-nee," she said in realization.

Homura's last sight was that of Hono looking at him in concern. He passed out right in front of her. He heard her cry out in surprise.

Homura woke up long after night had fully set in a room he didn't recognize.

"You were having a pretty bad reaction, Homura-kun," said Kazehana.

"So it was you. Where am I?"

"The house of the Elementals," said Kazehana cryptically.

"House of Elementals?" he said dumbly.

"Fire, Water, Wind and Earth. Fire showed up looking rather panicky before Crow-chan and I were able to put you in her room. It's warded against fire magic."

"Fire?"

"Hono-chan. Hold on a minute..." said Kazehana.

"Kagari! You're alright! I was almost afraid that the CPR lessons Tsuchi-nee had me go through wouldn't work!" said Hono in relief.

Homura felt something akin to dread.

"CPR?"

Kazehana snickered evilly.

"You were winged by accident," she told him.

"Is that idiot awake yet?" asked a voice.

"Crow-onee-san! Your advice worked!" said Hono.

Homura looked horrified when Karasuba, the Black Sekirei, appeared in the door.

"You should have kissed her the first chance you had, idiot. Otherwise we wouldn't have had to haul your unconscious body in here," said Karasuba annoyed.

"Where am I?"

"Less than a block from Izumo house. Miya was informed that you collapsed because you were too stupid to kiss your Ashikabi in time," said Karasuba bluntly.

Miya had been angry to see her, and shocked that it was Karasuba of all people delivering the message.

"Wait...how did we get here? Hono was half drunk!" asked Homura.

"I may have flamed us here..." mumbled Hono.

"The only thing you need to do is sleep, idiot. And if you try to leave..." said Karasuba annoyed, her hand on her sword.

A book lightly bopped Karasuba on the head.

"Not in the house Crow-chan. Blood is a bitch to get out," said Kaze.

There was a loud shout from below the house.

"Sounds like Tsuchi-chan is back...odd though, she normally doesn't yell..." said Hono.

Homura was allowed out of the bed long enough to eat something...though he had to stare when he saw Tsuchi, the other sister of the house dragging another Sekirei up from the basement.

"I found her in the basement. Little idiot kissed me without warning!" said Tsuchi.

Hono and Kaze shared a look. Tsuchi was only half lying.

"Mu-chan!" said Karasuba.

"Karasuba-san!" said Musubi.

"Ugh. I'm going to get clean. Hono, you want to join in?" asked Tsuchi.

"Yup! Mu-san, why don't you stay here and eat?" asked Hono.

"Her name is Musubi, number 88," said Karasuba.

The two sisters left to get clean.

"What really happened?" asked Hono.

"She was with the One. The egg was glowing and she suddenly gained wings. I was able to get her to keep her mouth shut by modifying her memory into thinking she kissed me instead of the One," said Tsuchi.

"You are the closest to the One next to me Tsuchi. It probably wouldn't matter anyway," said Hono sensibly.

"Forget that...what's this I hear about you performing CPR and giving a guy wings? And flaming in public?"

Hono told her about Kagari and his bad reaction to her presence. Kazehana had explained about how he must have been reacting because she was his Ashikabi, and that he had been an idiot not to kiss her once they were out of public eye in the first place. If he had, then he wouldn't have collapsed in the first place.

"Ugh. First that drunk wind woman, and now a fire man. If this keeps to a pattern, I'll find either an earth or plant based one and Mizu will find a water or ice girl," said Tsuchi.

"Probably both. The One's luck did pass on to us remember?"

"Which begs the question as to who your second will be. Kaze winged his second within days of meeting Crow-onee-chan, and you know that generally means we'll all wing at least two," said Tsuchi complaining.

"At least He won't be alone anymore."

A few hours later, Mizu returned home...and he wasn't alone.

"Where did you find a Scrapped Number?" asked Karasuba.

"What?"

"That (she pointed at his companion) is a Scrapped Number. She can't find her Ashikabi," said Karasuba.

"She was in the park in the South. I would never allow a woman who looked as lost as she did alone in a park at night," said Mizu defensively.

"Number 07, Akitsu. Powers are over ice," said Karasuba.

Hono gave Tsuchi a look that all but said 'I told you so!'.

"I thought you were going to kill me if we mentioned the Game to those who aren't involved?"

"Your siblings are picking them up left and right. I think we have a little leeway at this point," countered Karasuba to her Ashikabi.

"So what's this winging thing about?"

"Typically an Ashikabi is either kissed or kisses the Sekirei, and a pair of wings appears on their back. With her though, the chances of it happening are all but impossible. Hence why she's called a Scrapped Number. Without an Ashikabi, she can't participate in the Game," said Karasuba.

"Don't count Mizu out," said Hono.

"Go on and kiss her lover boy! It's about time you got a girl!" said Kazehana drunkenly.

"Isn't that a bit forward?" he asked.

Kazehana slapped him on the back, sending him into Akitsu. Their lips met despite his objections, and to the shock of the single numbers, the crest on her head disappeared and a pair of icy-blue wings appeared on her back.

"What the hell?!" said Kazehana, looking at her sake.

"Impossible... Scraps can't be winged..." said Karasuba in shock.

"She's an ice element isn't she?" countered Hono.

"Looks like the only one missing their element is you Tsuchi," said Kaze.

Homura almost fell over in a dead faint.

There once was One, and now are Four. The One fell into a deep slumber and now the Four must bring him back. Glory to the One.