Chapter 4: Explanations

Unicorn hadn't ever been much of a talker, always content to let her older sisters do the speaking while she supported them from the rear. And even then her preferred role was to let events run their course until she was absolutely needed, perfectly happy to simply go along with things and not try to exert the vast quantities of effort and courage needed to take a proactive role in events.

...That had changed with the beginning of the Sekirei game and her sister's adoption of a plan that would split them up into three teams, each one covering a different part of the city in search of their destined Ashikabi.

She knew that—while they had all been in agreement of the plan—splitting up like that had been a very brave thing to do. Sure, they had phones and other devices to never truly fall out of contact with the other...but they were being let out into the real world for the first time with no supervision and no guarantee of help from MBI should they run into problems. While some of the other Sekirei on the island had taken what they could learn from TV and the limited access they had to the internet and MBI employees as gospel, as the reality of the world...the four sisters—as well as a decent chunk of the other Sekirei—had realized the planet could be a bit more complicated than that.

Her, Illustrious, Formidable and Victorious had always been together. The initial plan of splitting up into a trio—with Unicorn visiting and helping each one as circumstances allowed—had been more difficult than any of them had wanted to admit.

Which was why the younger girl had known without a shadow of a doubt that it was time to be brave and bold in the search for their Ashikabi, to not just tag along but to make decisions and choices for herself. Her three older sisters had worried and tried to dissuade her, of course...but she had been adamant. They had been raised on stories and tales of what it felt like to be Winged by their destined partner, of the feeling of love, acceptance and pleasure that would exist in every second of their lives afterwards, spurned on heavily by rumors and accolades from Sekirei #8.

Unicorn had long been enamored with the idea and was willing to step outside of her comfort zone to achieve it.

…

Of course it had been big sister Illustrious who found their Ashikabi first—something the girl knew would frustrate Victorious a fair bit—but she had wasted no time in traveling across the city to meet with the one who would be their chosen for the future and would fight alongside them in the coming game.

"What do you think, Uni? Will he be nice and as powerful as big sister Illustrious says? And will he look at Unicorn like a woman? She isn't as big as her older sisters..."

Talking to her stuffed animal always helped keep the Sekirei calm and composed, settling the occasional worry and anxiety she held that she didn't feel comfortable sharing with others.

But as the young woman approached the door of her Ashikabi's home—maybe even their new home—she couldn't help but feel like there was a lot of butterflies in her tummy, hands tightly grasping Uni just a bit more solidly as she knocked on the front entrance.

There was the sound of footsteps approaching, ones she recognized as Illustrious's graceful stride...and a beaming, excited face with tinges of pink to her fair skin revealed her big sister, smiling down at the smaller female.

"You must have been quite excited, to arrive here so quickly."

Shyly nodding at her sister's teasing tone Unicorn found herself gathered up in a hug, Illustrious whispering into her ear, "It's like nothing I ever thought I would experience...a bit of the brightest light imaginable shining down upon you, dear little sister."

And with that admission the taller and bustier Sekirei set a comforting hand on her back, leading her further into the nice-feeling house...and upon setting eyes on the man who was to be her Ashikabi Unicorn felt her face and body explode into heat, Uni instinctively raised to hide her face from view as her eyes went wide and lungs stuttered.

"U-Unicorn is feeling funny..."

Alesandro couldn't help but smile at the young Sekirei's innocent attempt at hiding her expression from view with her unicorn stuffed toy, the childish action more than a little endearing.

...Then again, maybe it was a mistake to consider her a child, if the occasional lust-filled glances from her eyes and slight rubbing of her thighs were any indication. Not to mention that while she may have been fairly short she was by no means lacking womanly features, just that they weren't quite so noticeable when compared to her sister.

And in all honesty she was—much like Illustrious—astonishingly beautiful.

Light purple hair decorated with a ribbon while soft eyes of blue and purple mixture stared at him from behind her toy, a small ornament in the shape of needle or horn adorning her skull. Her slim form was mostly covered by arm gloves, white leggings and shoes while a backless dress of similar coloration was tied around her sides with small ribbons.

All in all she gave off the impression of young and innocent beauty, with just enough sexiness to not come off as childish.

...And, much like with Illustrious, he could feel his genetic heritage reacting to the young woman's mere presence, mental discipline yet again kicking in and keeping him from making a fool of himself.

Instead he offered a polite and welcoming smile, stating, "I see you take after your older sister in terms of beauty. But I'm afraid I don't know your name, miss?"

Hesitantly peeking out from behind her stuffed animal the Sekirei replied, "Unicorn, #35...and this is Uni."

She hesitated for a moment before holding out her stuffed toy, body language suggesting she was somewhat embarrassed by the action but wished to follow through regardless.

Alesandro simply took it in stride, kindly stating, "It's my pleasure to meet you, miss Unicorn and Uni."

Illustrious suddenly giggled at how her younger sister once more retreated behind her toy at the slightest bit of positive interaction with their Ashikabi, setting her hands on the young Sekirei's shoulders in a comforting gesture as she said, "Now now, dear Unicorn...there's no reason to be shy, master Alesandro has proven himself to be quite the gentleman~!"

"Unicorn isn't shy, big sister..."

Momentarily confused by her statement the young man quickly realized she had been speaking in the third person, a quirk he found oddly endearing rather than strange.

Evidently of the same opinion the white-haired Sekirei merely giggled once more, gathering up the smaller girl in her arms before sitting on the couch a very short distance away from the male, smiling innocently as she hugged her younger sister tight to her body, most likely accentuating her chest on purpose as the smaller female's head parted her mounds slightly, their legs brushing up against his in a sinfully enticing motion that would have tested the restraint of even monks, they were that beautiful.

So instead of reciprocating their physical advances he instead focused on the conversation at hand, asking, "So do you wish to hear more of the background of your species? Judging by your reaction to my earlier statement MBI hasn't told you of your extraterrestrial origins, or of how the Sekirei have been on Earth for a very long time indeed."

Unicorn, who hadn't heard this part yet, seemed to set aside her shy and jumpy state to curiously look at Alesandro, inquiring, "Unicorn and her big sisters are aliens?"

"As strange as this may sound, yes."

Illustrious had a thoughtful frown on her lovely features while Unicorn simply tilted her head in an adorable expression, eventually manipulating her toy so that its neck was extended and front leg waving.

"E.T. phone home, aliens?"

Unable to withhold a chuckle at the question the man replied, "No, not quite those kinds of aliens. For one thing you two are much prettier."

The toy was quickly retracted in order to cover the Sekirei's blushing face, her words mumbled as she whispered, "Big brother is too free with his compliments..."

Raising an eyebrow at the moniker of 'big brother' Alesandro was saved the trouble of asking after that title as Illustrious squeezed her sister affectionately, pleasantly stating, "Not to worry, master Alesandro...my dear little sister by no means thinks of you merely platonically~!"

Said little sister in question practically buried her head in her toy, tone embarrassed as she protested, "Big sister needs to get her mind out of the gutter...she only pretends to be a refined lady..."

Shaking his head at the interplay the male moved on with, "This coming discussion will take awhile, are there any final surprises or guests I should know about?"

The smaller Sekirei once more moved past her bashfulness as she glanced at Illustrious, asking, "Discussion?"

"Our dear soon-to-be Ashikabi believes we won't wish to be winged by him if we know of his ambitions that might place us in direct opposition of MBI."

Unicorn gazed at Alesandro with the clearest and most direct gaze she had mustered yet.

"Big brother is silly. Unicorn and her big sisters want only to help and serve him...in exchange they..."

Here her nerve broke and she used her stuffed animal as a shield.

"They get to be loved."

While the young man was once again slightly worried at the emphasis the Sekirei placed on 'serve' he yet again put it on the backburner, instead clarifying, "The question still stands, are there any other of your sisters who should be here for this?"

"Yes. Big sisters Victorious and Formidable."

Giving Illustrious an inquisitive glance the bustier Sekirei explained, "I can include them on a conference call, they would actually have already been here if it weren't for-"

The sound of a ringing phone suddenly filled the room, Illustrious sighing as she looked at the caller ID of her device.

"Speak of the devil, and she will come...good evening, sister Victorious, how may I-"

Even through the comparatively tiny speaker of the cellphone Alesandro could hear the worry and stress of the speaker, alongside the sound of what was likely rushing wind.

[Formidable is in trouble! I need your help, sisters!]