Chapter 7: Origins

Alesandro waited a moment to observe the various reactions of the four Sekirei to his statement, mostly consisting of bewildered frowns and confused parting of flawless lips.

"So big brother...is also an alien?"

The moment was broken by Unicorn's confused inquiry, Alesandro chuckling at her tone as the other three also gained smiles at her words.

"More like slightly alien. Can any of you briefly fill me in on what MBI has told you of your past?"

Illustrious shook her head, stating, "In all honesty, master Alesandro, they spoke very little of our origins. The only information we ever received as to our history was when we directly asked about it, even then we were told mere snippets."

Victorious nodded, fiddling with the neckline of her bathrobe—briefly distracting the male with how it exposed her generous and attractive cleavage—as she added, "The four of us were more adventurous and curious than most of our other sisters and we pursued the history of both this world and our own with more dogged determination than the others. But all we really learned was that we were a special kind of Human with a core—a Tama—and that we could achieve great happiness if we were to seek out an Ashikabi. More or less what all other Sekirei know."

Formidable nodded, finishing her sister's recollection with, "We suspected there was more to the story—else why would MBI not just be forthright with us—but to think that we are not even of this world..."

Four gazes turned to Alesandro, clearly wishing for him to continue his tale.

"Right, from the beginning then. While actual dates are hard to come by we feel confidant in assuming that the first Sekirei colonization vessels landed on Earth around 1500 B.C., during the height of ancient mythological Greece. Each vessel contained 108 Sekirei embryos, one of which was an incredibly powerful protector, what was called a Pillar, while the others—still quite strong all on their own—would begin to grow and adopt biological forms similar to the denizens of whatever world they landed on."

Pausing to take a sip from his water glass Alesandro glanced at the four women, noting that they had nothing but rapt attention present in their body language, clearly eager to learn of their heritage as well as his own.

"One of the ships—yours—obviously suffered some kind of system familiar and was only recently recovered by MBI. The others, however, largely made planetfall with few complications and began to integrate themselves into Earth's population. Their great powers and strength caused many Humans to begin worshipping them as heroes or gods, their legends being passed down throughout the ages."

Alesandro thoughtfully tapped his lip, explaining, "Due to their fame, popularity and attractiveness they got around quite a bit, enough so that our best estimate puts roughly half the Human race as holding some measure of Sekirei genetic material within them. But the original Sekirei were by no means immortal, merely long-lived and they began to die off over time, their descendants carrying less and less of their power within them."

He spread his arms, intoning, "And this is where we come in. One of the Pillars—who was often worshipped as the Goddess Athena back then—was worried about the possibility of Sekirei powers fully dying out through the eventual passage of time, leaving Humanity lacking in individuals who possessed great personal power should threats befall them from beyond the stars. After all, if the Sekirei found their way to Earth who was to say others couldn't do the same, others who wouldn't be as kind and amenable to the local populace?"

"You, you mean like Independence Day?!"

Blinking at Victorious's sudden outburst the blonde Sekirei blushed fiercely, shyly defending herself with, "What? I quite enjoyed that movie, it was highly inspirational..."

Deciding to cut her some slack Alesandro continued with, "Regardless, the Pillar created the foundation of what would eventually be known as the Custodes Avem, Humans who—even to this day thousands of years later—still carry within them the power of the Sekirei."

Formidable nodded in understanding, musing, "That would explain why you were able to use water so aptly, master Alesandro...you carry within the abilities of our species."

"But why was big brother so weak after using them?"

Wryly smiling at the smallest Sekirei's question the male replied, "Because I'm not a Sekirei, not really. Those power and abilities were artificially brought on by the culmination of centuries of work and experimentation by my family line. Generations upon generation of genetic drift weakened and eventually neutered the coding that allows for the control of abilities you four no doubt consider to be second nature...what I used was one of six syringes carrying a concoction we call the Unlocker."

Massaging his arm—which still occasionally jumped or twitched with the odd muscle spasm—the male continued his explanation with, "An Unlocker allows the dormant and unresponsive genetic heritage of my Sekirei ancestors to once again become active, granting me control over whatever powers I would have been naturally born with for a short time. But, as you can see...there are side effects."

It was Illustrious who nodded, calmly observing, "I assume your body is simply not prepared to handle the strain of such improved performance?"

"No, it isn't. Both the ramp-up period and then crash afterwards take up an incredible amount of energy, never mind the body is left to desperately repair itself from the greatly increased strength after the Unlocker runs its course. About twenty minutes after initial injection to fully utilize our capabilities, a few hours of usage, then roughly a day of recovery."

This time it was Victorious who tilted her head, asking, "But you were exhausted after just a few minutes earlier today, what caused that?"

Alesandro sheepishly smiled at her observation, replying, "Well...once I heard the message Urion sent you—and recognizing his voice—I did something you're not actually supposed to do. I short-changed myself, only injecting a partial bit of the dosage. It takes effect quicker but the power surge is vastly shortened, not to mention recovery time is roughly the same. I was worried that bastard would do something to you that couldn't be undone."

The towering male was treated to the unusual sight of four unfairly beautiful women—Formidable and Victorious in particular—blushing up a veritable storm at his words, breath quickening as they stared at him with undisguised worship as he realized that was probably not the right thing to say when one was dealing with incredibly empathetic individuals who were incredibly attentive to your every want and need.

"But damn if it isn't insanely attractive."

Clearing his throat and dispelling some of the sexually and romantically charged tension in the air he was about to continue-

"Apologies, master Alesandro...but does that mean that foul man was similar to you, one with access to an Unlocker?"

Releasing a sight at that Rastus explained, "He was what we refer to as a Siren...a group who broke off from our organization about two centuries ago who didn't agree with our restrained usage of our Sekirei powers. Rather than use an Unlocker, which is limited but mostly safe unless overused, they go in the complete opposite direction. They permanently unlock their Sekirei heritage and all the strength that comes with it...but there are tradeoffs."

Expression twisting in distaste the man explained, "Those of the Siren lineage mature fast but only live for twenty to thirty years on average, their accelerated metabolism and bodily functions leading them to an early grave. Not to mention they exhibit a strange aura that makes normal Humans more inclined to heed their suggestions or orders, Sekirei too by the sounds of it...you can imagine what results from relatively immature minds guaranteed short lives with incredible powers and strength at their disposal. A casual disdain for others, god complexes..."

Formidable and Victorious winced, remembering full well the unhinged and callous actions of Urion.

"Needless to say the Custodes Avemand Sirens have been at odds for the entire duration of time after our split. I should have figured they would be out here in Shinto Teito, what with the resurgence of the Sekirei..."

"Please do not worry yourself over the matter, my dearest Ashikabi. You undertook great strain to aid myself and my sister in our time of need...that is atonement aplenty, provided there was ever a need to atone in the first place."

Victorious's firm statement caused the man to lightly smile, Illustrious curiously inquiring, "If you do not mind me asking, master Alesandro...is the reason you are so tall because of your Sekirei heritage? I observed the denizens of the workplace you visited earlier today and they, much like yourself, were quite towering and athletically inclined."

Sheepishly grinning at the Sekirei's observation the dark-haired man replied, "Well...in studying and cultivating Sekirei genetics the Custodes Avem became quite good at performing quite a number of basic enhancements and biological alterations. Many of us are actually genetically engineered to be taller, stronger and more durable than a baseline Human to both better withstand the strain of the Unlocker and, well...because we're actually rather vain. If we have the technology and know how...why not use it?"

The four Sekirei only looked to be immensely pleased at his explanation, Illustrious giggling as she playfully stated, "Oh I do not believe we object to these 'alterations' one bit, master Alesandro~."

"Unicorn thinks big brother actually looks cool..."

It was the male's turn to blush, swiftly replying, "Good lord, you all don't have to be so open with your praise. It's even worse when I know you all mean it with absolutely zero ulterior motives."

Victorious quietly murmured, "Not quite zero ulterior motives..." just loud enough that her sisters shot her scandalized looks...and then broke down into giggles or shy smiles.

"...Not entirely sure what I'm getting into here with these four, but it looks to be crazier and crazier with each passing conversation."

A yawn slipped past his lips before he could stop it, the action causing him to wince as it strained his body which the four Sekirei instantly noticed.

"Master Alesandro, while we appreciate all you have done in ensuring that our decision is as informed as it possibly can be—and even knowing that you still no doubt have much you wish to speak about—our decision is the same as it was when we first laid eyes upon you."

Illustrious's words were both calm and resolute, something her sisters added upon with their own variations.

Formidable resolutely stated, "You aided us when we were set upon by a threat we had no knowledge of or ability to effectively fight against. And you have been nothing but considerate of our feelings when it would have been laughably easy to merely ignore them. We could scarcely ask for a better Ashikabi."

Victorious nodded, grandly announcing, "You have displayed naught but honor, courage and skill, my brightest light...at this point I can scarcely imagine any other being the chosen partner of my heart or that of my sister's."

Unicorn lowered her stuffed animal, quietly but boldly announcing, "Big brother has been nice to Unicorn and her big sisters. And he hasn't treated Unicorn like a child yet...Uni also thinks big brother should be our Ashikabi."

Illustrious turned to the blinking Alesandro with a winning smile, primly stating, "There you have it, master Alesandro...despite all that you have told us, despite everything you certainly will tell us, we still desire to be Winged by you and no other but you. And in the interest of our own sanity..."

A crimson flush colored the woman's pale skin, her gaze demure and lustful in equal measure as she breathily moaned, "Master Alesandro, we have been holding back our desire to be Winged for quite the number of hours now...any longer and I think I may just explode..."

Blinking at the forward statement—and how the other three Sekirei also seemed to be exhibiting severe cases of agitation—Alesandro hesitated...and then sighed in acquiescence.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to cause you all such distress. If this is what you truly desire...then I would be more than happy to have you all as my flock. Is there any order we should go about doing this?"

Tangible thrill and excitement seemed to radiate from the four women as Illustrious swiftly rose to her feet, announcing, "I was the first to find you so naturally I should be your initial chosen."

Approaching the seated man Illustrious regally bowed and curtsied, gazing deeply into her Ashikabi's eyes as she lovingly stated, "Sekirei #32, Illustrious. Even though light should be shared equally among everyone, it's fine if you have slightly more of me. After all, I will also recieve something very important from you, my Ashikabi..."

With that the woman leaned in and sealed her lips over his own, a rush of shared emotion flooding between the two as wings of light burst from the Sekirei's back, great sheet-like constructs of black and white coloration that fluttered like sails in the wind as they parted barely a few seconds later, both expressions flushed and gasping for breath.

"That was...incredible."

Illustrious's breathless comment seemed to galvanize the other three, Victorious rising next as she sashayed forward with a seductive sway to her hips, lips tilted in a cheshire grin as she cupped Alesandro's face, whispering, "Sekirei #33, Victorious. There's no need to think too much about this, just let me become yours in any way that you like...on such a rare, ceremonial day, stop being so nervous and let's work hard on trying to be happy, at every moment in the future!"

This time the lip lock was more forceful, containing a searing desire that felt like it booted the male's brain right out of his ass with its intensity, shining constructs of light that resembled the headdress she wore earlier in the day growing from her back as the blonde shivered in primal delight, yet another wave of empathetic emotion flooding the man's awareness as they stared into the other's eyes.

But the moment didn't last, Victorious moving out of the way with what seemed to be colossal reluctance as Formidable filled the gap, exotically colored orbs containing a swirl of anticipatory emotion as she lovingly intoned, "Sekirei #34, Formidable. From now on, to the Ashikabi who will dedicate his love to me, through joy or sorrow, sickness or health...as this vow is rather long, I'll exclude the rest!"

Once more a kiss was shared between the pair, the grey-haired Sekirei's wings somewhat similar to Illustrious's, albeit the same color as her eyes as they swayed and undulated like seafaring masts.

"If I keep getting slammed with all of these emotional connections all at once I'm going to start losing track of my senses."

That thought was brought on by yet another forged connection of shared emotions, Formidable's feelings of quiet joy, affection and devotion beginning to blend with her sister's and create a bewildering cocktail of sensation that was chipping away at the male's ability to keep control of himself.

"Bloody Hell, no wonder the early Sekirei were worshipped...it wasn't for the insane physical feats they could perform, it was because of the simple intensity this bond could produce."

Setting that thought aside for the moment as Formidable drew back with a light caress of his jaw it was finally Unicorn's turn, the small Sekirei quietly approaching with her stuffed toy clutched tight for support, adorable eyes turned slightly upwards as she bowed her head in silent contemplation for a moment...and then bravely announced, "Sekirei #35, Unicorn. This precious moment…can Unicorn really have it? Unicorn…will continue to give her best for her Ashikabi...because Unicorn will love big brother the most!"

The final Winging of the night was just as intense as all the others as Unicorn shyly leaned in, her tiny mouth meeting her Ashikabi's larger one as she whimpered in delight, heat racing throughout her lithe form as her wings burst forth from her back, shining with a heavenly purple glow as they took on the shape and form of a pegasus, flexing slightly before dissipating from view as the duo separated from their embrace.

And then it was done, Alesandro having to take deep breaths in a desperate bid to keep a hold of his senses, the roiling sensation of having four sets of emotions that weren't his own suddenly there to consider and experience taking its toll...in a good way.

And as surface level as it may seem—with the depth of the emotion he could now sense in his four Sekirei—he couldn't help but compare they way they had kissed him, how each had a unique approach and technique.

Illustrious was tame but passionate, not attempting to slip in any tongue—yet—but eagerly brushing her lips against his in a variety of positions, quietly breathing in exultation at the action.

Victorious had been aggressive and exploratory but endearingly clumsy, attempting to delve deeper into his throat after barely more than a second of contact but bumping her teeth and gums against his before retreating in embarrassment at the mistake.

Formidable was a mix between the two, calmly but steadily increasing the intimacy of their kiss as their tongues had lightly caressed the other before she had withdrawn, seeming incredibly pleased with herself.

Unicorn was, as expected, the most chaste of all of them with only the lightest of lip brushing...and yet she had been the most insistent, unwilling to let go and even lightly nibbling on his lower lip before ending the embrace with a healthy blush.

...It certainly only wasn't wildly different looks they had in spades, it was personality and proclivity as well.

The man winced as another wave of emotional information tore through his skull alongside a fresh wave of bodily pain, a grimace creasing his features before he could hide it.

"Master Alesandro, are you all right?"

Illustrious's tone rife with worry as she tenderly laid a hand on his shoulder, the male offering a reassuring smile as he replied, "I'm fine, just a bit tired from the day's exertions, that's all."

Instead of accepting his explanation Rastus was treated to the vague sensation of suspicion and doubt emanating from his four Sekirei, Formidable stating, "Master, there is little shame in admitting one's own discomfort...was the Winging too much?"

It probably was, but there was no way he was going to openly admit that to them after it clearly been such a momentous moment for them-

"OH SHIT WHAT THE-"

Tidal waves of nothing but concentrated guilt in emotional form crashed against the male's mind, almost overwhelming him in its intensity as he could sense that distress in turn feed itself back to the four sisters which only exacerbated the problem-

"Breathe...calm down and simply breathe...that's better, just think of the sound of waves crashing against the shore and everything will be alright..."

Forcing himself to regain control the tanned male huffed out a sigh of relief as his own calm seemed to spread to the Sekirei, in turn offering them a reprieve from the blatant panic that had hit...even if they were still anxious and worried.

"Well that was interesting."

"D-did we do something wrong during the Winging? A-are we defective somehow?"

Victorious's stressed tone yet again caused a buildup of apprehension that leaked across the bond...but this time Alesandro was ready for it, holding up his hands in a consoling gesture as he explained, "No, you four are perfectly normal for a Sekirei. I'm fairly certain the problem is with me, or more specifically my genetics."

Much of the terror dissipated in exchange for wary curiosity, Unicorn quietly asking, "Is...is big brother broken?"

Chuckling at the choice of wording as he saw the older Sekirei turn to no doubt point out that very thing he quickly interjected with, "Almost the opposite, I think. Bear in mind my family line has never actually bonded with a Sekirei before, this is a first in hundreds upon hundreds of years. I'd wager that inbetween the four successive Wingings as well as my own pseudo-Sekirei nature the empathetic bond between all of us kind of went into overdrive. I'd wager that things will be less chaotic after we allow some time to pass and our minds to acclimate to receiving emotions that aren't our own."

A wash of relief was transferred through the bond, Alesandro smiling at the sensation as Victorious pouted, remarking, "Geez, Alesandro...did you really have to worry us there? That wasn't very a very kind thing for an Ashikabi to do..."

Recognizing the complaint as a release valve for her previous agitation the male merely chuckled, stretching his stiff body with a quick succession of pops as he asked, "Well if that's all for now I think a night of rest would-"

His words were abruptly replaced by the sound of a phone ringing, the man sighing as he retrieved his device before muttering, "Now what?"

"Master Alesandro, I believe I may know who is attempting to speak with you."

Giving Illustrious his full attention the pale-haired woman explained, "From what we heard when we were, shall we say...passing by MBI staff the CEO of the company will personally call any and all Ashikabi that Wing a Sekirei to explain to them the full details of the game."

"...Is that so?"

Frowning at his incessantly chiming phone Alesandro sighed, asking, "During the call can all of you pretend like you only knew what you did under MBI's supervision?"

Brief flares of confusion transferred across the bond but all four of them enthusiastically nodded, so eager to please it was almost unsettling.

"I really need to ask them about this hyper-submissive mindset they seem to have towards their Ashikabi...that's not what I've been told the initial Sekirei were like at all..."

Pushing that thought aside the male heaved a sigh, quietly stating, "All right, Minaka Hiroto...let's see what you have to say about this whole ordeal you've concocted."