Chapter VI
Having tracked down Yukari and then their Sekirei Zeilla ended up spending the night in the student's flat again. A wave of deja vu hit her upon waking to the weight of Yashima on her chest making soft noises of content.
Looking around it seemed Yukari was faring a little better, but not much. Shiina had managed to steal all the duvet after he had snuck into her bed with her. On second thought, perhaps it was Shiina who was worse off as Yukari had wrapped herself around his cocoon for warmth.
I wonder how they'll get out of this predicament.
As if her mind had called it forth Shiina groaned about heat and needing water then began shuffling about in an attempt to escape the duvet. Yukari clinging to him through it made that more difficult, to the point that both ended tumbling to the floor.
Thank whatever for Sekirei resilience, Shiina just faceplanted.
The thud woke Yashima and the fall woke Yukari. The former observed with Zeilla as the latter proceeded to panic at the possibility Shiina was hurt and showered him with questions or apologies. The Sekirei himself was fine but feeling awkward about her attention. He cleverly shifted the topic to the hunt for Kusano and let Yukari get pumped up about 'today being the day'.
You could feel the relief flooding off him when his Ashikabi finally hurried off to prepare breakfast.
Note to self: keep Matsu and Yukari away from each other.
Yashima picked herself off her own Ashikabi and went to help while Shiina splashed water on his face in the bathroom. Zeilla took the opportunity of an empty room to try moving with Yashima's giant hammer. She concluded that it was best not to have to use it in battle if at all possible. A Sekirei would just be too fast for her to connect with. Yashima was the only person for such a weapon.
"Hey, Z-chan?"
Zeilla carefully put the hammer down and faced the speaker in the door way.
"Yashima said you were training her while you were gone." Yukari began hesitantly, one hand on her hip and the other scratching the back of her head. "I was wondering if you could do a little with Shiina too - s-so he doesn't get hurt fighting another Sekirei."
Zeilla hummed. "I can, but it's a time-consuming task and the search for Kusano currently takes up most of that."
Yukari laughed nervously. "Yeah... Well... We can't do that the whole day so perhaps after lunch we could do something before looking around some more?"
"I could evaluate his abilities at least." she agreed.
"Thanks, Z-chan." the girl smiled, then returned to the kitchen.
With that Shiina emerged from the bathroom quietly.
"She has so much energy." Zeilla commented to him.
He nodded. "It's good that you and Yashima are here again. I'm a terrible cook. They always have a lot of fun as both are energetic."
"Yashima is a Sekirei. Yukari is just one of those people who can't contain themselves for long. Does it ever get too much for you? Her doting on you every minute of the day?"
Shiina shook his head. "I want to spend eternity with her, but I know I can't be all she needs. I'm not as useful as other Sekirei are to their Ashikabi because of my power."
Zeilla tilted her head to one side in silent query.
"I suppose you could call it Entropy, or Death." he continued hesitantly. "I can control it, but it's like a switch: on or off. Without my power, I'm just like a Human."
Zeilla clapped her hands together and grinned. "That is something I know how to fix. I'll train you to fight without your power so you can learn to expand your skills. First, let's see to dressing and eating. Eat plenty because it could be a long day if Yukari has her way."
Shiina nodded, a little fearful of what may come.
About three hours into the search Yukari had single handedly beaten up, scared off or knocked out a number of Humans. Shiina had only incapacitated one Sekirei so far. Twice Sekirei teams of two in the east of the city had attacked them, one targeting Yukari and Shiina on the ground, the other targeting Yashima and Zeilla on the rooftops, but fortunately the immediate arrival of the accompanying Ashikabi-Sekirei pair was enough to shoo them away.
Clearly some Sekirei were not willing to risk defeat by facing a Sekirei with their Ashikabi on hand - something Zeilla noted with interest.
"How does she keep dragging Shiina around?" Yashima groaned. "I'm bored already."
"Shiina wants to reunite with Kusano and Yukari is obsessed with Shiina." Zeilla replied.
Now I have seen it for myself, I think I understand. With all the Sekirei she must have spared that girl can't be trying to kill Kusano - it wouldn't make sense at all. Nor would our strange alliance for that matter. Yukari isn't interested in playing the game.
A target arrived on Yukari's radar so the party halted again. Zeilla peeked over the guttering on a squat office block, watching as Shiina and his Ashikabi herded a man to the back of the alley he was loitering in.
As usual Yukari opened up with Kusano's description in a tone that dared the man to respond to the negative. Their target in the grey hoodie did just that, as usual, but he didn't appear intimidated in the slightest. In fact, he didn't even seem to care about the pot of frustration boiling over in front of him. Yukari interrogated him for a while and he offered money freely if they wanted to rob him.
As usual Yukari took that as an insult and promptly - and with considerable force - landed the toe of her boot into the seat of his sweat pants.
As usual her latest victim collapsed and Shiina flinched in sympathy.
Yashima puffed out a breath. "Boring."
"Alright then, my turn to plant the note." Zeilla decided, kneeling down to start lowering herself down into the alley. "You keep on our friends and watch for anything at all that could be a threat. While I'm gone, you can come up with a better way to go about this for Yukari."
"Yes, Z-sama. I'll try to stay up high so you can find us easily again." she said, then leapt away.
Zeilla slipped over the edge and hung off the guttering for a moment, then tucked a leg up and kicked off the wall into the exterior of the taller opposing building. She rebounded her way to street level and cautiously approached the man as he lay where he'd fallen.
Unexpectedly he rolled over and wriggled to sit against the office building wall.
"Damn, that was a low blow. I bet she has steel-toes in her boots." he wheezed.
Zeilla blinked. "You would be right."
The man chuckled, tugged off his hoodie and proceeded to brush off the dirt. "Surprised me that she didn't even try to wing me while I was down. I suppose she's the loyal-type with that boy at her heel. Who would have thought the first Sekirei I bump into would be another male, huh?"
The Spartan's eyes widened under her hood. "You are a Sekirei too?"
Mister unnamed alien looked up at her with surprise in his plain brown eyes - the same colour as his slicked back hair and his creased shirt. "And you didn't know just looking at me. Tells me you aren't much of an Ashikabi." He replied. "I was sure you had seen her leave and were going to do what she neglected to. Almost. After that girl, I'm not so sure of my thoughts on Ashikabi. Where is your Sekirei, huh? You got a guy too or one of the girls?"
Zeilla frowned. "She is following your attackers, our friends."
"Friends?" he echoed. "Yeah, okay. I know nothing, huh."
The man got to his feet and pulled his hoodie back on before brushing off his brown sweat pants. Stepping towards her he peered into the shadow of her own hood, then slowly reached up and pushed it back to reveal her face. Zeilla was too busy considering his actions for signs of attack to bother stopping him.
"Wow, you aren't Japanese. Surprising." he said quietly. "You speak the language very well. Where are you from, before being trapped in this game?"
The Spartan blinked, unnerved by his curiosity. "Classified ONI information."
He seemed to roll the thought around in his head for a moment. "Hm, classified... A foreign soldier? You must be decent then, soldiers are responsible and disciplined people with a reasonable sense of justice."
Then without any warning he kissed her.
Technically.
He didn't make a scene. The male Sekirei pressed his lips to hers and stuck his tongue into her mouth. Just as quickly he retreated and watched over his shoulder as silvery wings exploded from his back. After the light show he felt around at the nape of his neck and shrugged.
"Huh, pretty. Well... I - number fifty, Yuuma - am your Sekirei. Now and for many years to come." he recited, boredom creeping into his voice. "I admit I kinda thought there would be more of a bang. The girls really hyped this up back at MBI and my adjuster thought it was terribly romantic. Women, huh?"
After a moment, he looked away and scratched his chin. "Ah, that was rude. Sorry."
Zeilla shut her jaw and raised her hood again. "Somehow, I don't feel like you really mean anything you say." she muttered, trying to get the taste of something bitter out of her mouth.
He nodded, then looked back at her sheepishly. "Oops, forgot to pop a mint first. I bet you're discovering my protein shake from breakfast a few minutes ago."
"Do you Sekirei ever think about asking for permission before doing that?" she asked darkly, his careless attitude getting on her nerves.
"Don't have a clue. I just thought it was better to wing myself to you than keep hiding until someone else finds me, seeing as you didn't take advantage of me when you had the chance. Figured you would be a safe choice. I had heard stories about mind numbing reactions leading to a trance-like state before I was released." he told her.
Zeilla sighed. "That's how it happened with Yashima."
Yuuma brought a hand to his chin in thought. "Hm... Anyway, I've caused you a bit of trouble with this incident, haven't I? Shall I follow you or would it be easier if we just acted like it never happened?"
"What were you doing before getting kicked in the balls?"
He shrugged. "Working out at the gym I sleep behind, trying not to get mugged, trying not to get arrested, trying not to get spotted by a Sekirei or an Ashikabi... You know, generally keeping my head down and hoping the game would leave me behind."
The Spartan scowled. "Wasting your life?"
"You spotted it earlier: I actually don't care about the Sekirei project at all, or anything...else..." he trailed off, looking thoughtful. "I take it back. I just realise I kinda do care about you."
Huh, must be a because of the bond we have now.
"Huh, must be because I'm now bonded to you." he echoed her thoughts unwittingly. He stood up straight and tried to snap off a salute. "I will follow you anywhere, my Ashikabi-san. Lead on."
Zeilla resisted the urge to sooth the throb growing between her temples. "Hooray." she muttered under her breath. "Alright then, help me up to a tall building so we can look for Yashima."
Yuuma abruptly swept her off her feet bridal-style and hopped up onto the squat office block, then launched them high into the air.
Just when I was settling in to this crazy world. Zeilla cringed inwardly as she scanned the area for her first Sekirei. Damn it.
In less than a minute they were atop a high-rise apartment building near the borders of the south and west in the CBD. Zeilla, after making Yuuma put her down had only been looking around for a few seconds when she noticed a black humanoid shape bouncing hurriedly across the city toward them.
"Looks like she's well aware of what happened." Yuuma said, still sounding hollowly polite.
Zeilla wasn't sure how the girl was going to take the news, but given her flight over many a roof... The Spartan was not optimistic. "If she is pissed I'm blaming you." she advised him as Yashima began her last leap.
Yuuma shrugged dismissively. "As you wish, Ashikabi-san."
"The name is Zeilla."
"I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you..."
"... But we are both aware that would be bull shit."
He made an amused sound as Yashima landed and bent over to catch her breath.
"Z-sama... I felt... Did... You... He... Umm...?"
"He winged himself." Zeilla told her straight.
The girl dropped to her knees. "I was... hoping I... wouldn't have... t-to s-share." she whimpered.
Great, she's crushed. Zeilla scowled. I don't need this crap. Screw you, Minaka, and your fucking game.
"Sorry." the culprit offered halfheartedly. "I'm number fifty, Yuuma."
"Why are you trying to take Z-sama away from me?" Yashima snapped with tears flowing freely, gripping her sledgehammer tightly as she used it to stand up. "Just because you're a rare male in the game doesn't mean you have to steal my Ashikabi!"
"I'm not stealing her." Yuuma replied, disinterested already. "While technically both of us are sharing, I don't care if you have Zeilla-san all to yourself."
Yashima balked at him. "How can you even say that? You- you... You weren't reacting to her? You don't love her?"
Yuuma hesitated. "No to the first... And... I'm not sure."
"Bastard!" #84 gasped. "She's mine! You can't have her!"
Zeilla stepped between the aliens and let her annoyance be known. "I won't have you fighting over me. I'm a Spartan not your crush, so quit squabbling like a pair of teenagers."
Yashima looked heartbroken and fell on her knees again.
"Zeilla, sorry to say this but it's clear that Yashima is absolutely besotted with you." Yuuma snickered. "If you were better at picking up on your Ashikabi instincts then you would have noticed. That and we are teenagers. I'll be twenty by the end of the week."
"You... Don't love me?"
The Spartan cringed and hauled the girl up into a hug. "Yuuma, this is your fault so you have to come up with a way to appologise to her, meaningfully."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yashima, I'm a Spartan: emotions weren't a huge focus in my life until we met and you started bringing them to my mind in every waking hour. I don't understand feelings such as love."
"I know, but I hoped." #84 sobbed into her neck.
"I acknowledge how you feel now that I'm aware." Zeilla continued softly. "However, now is not the time to deal with this. It's something we all need to think about over time. Can you hold yourself together and from attacking Yuuma until we can discuss things properly?"
Yashima sniffed but nodded. "I'll do anything you ask, Z-sama. Please ... Just hold me."
"Lead us back to Yukari and Shiina and I'll carry you all day." Zeilla promised, hoping she wasn't going to regret it.
Yuuma made an amused noise. "Girls are so mushy." he snickered.
"That reminds me, Yuuma." she began, turning to glare at him from under her hood. "Yukari is letting me stay at her place so you had better be on your best behavior. I will not stand between you two if you irritate our volatile hostess."
The male swallowed. "I'll do my best, Zeilla-san."
Nodding in acceptance Zeilla dislodged Yashima and they set off to the north east along the northern border. For a time Yashima had to help her Ashikabi with the variable heights of the buildings and it was clear the girl was choosing a path for this reason. Fortunately, Yuuma did not mention this. Zeilla was split between pushing the matter aside and examining it as they traveled so it came as a surprise when Yashima stepped off a low roof rather than leaping. Looking down she saw they had caught up.
Yukari turned around as they landed heavily behind her. She was annoyed but that expression changed when Yuuma dropped in beside his Ashikabi who Yashima embraced desperately. She squinted at him with suspicion for a full minute, throughout which nobody said a word.
"You made Yashima cry." Yukari growled finally.
Shiina looked at Yuuma sympathetically, then turned away and covered his ears.
"I did." Yuuma said in his usual empty polite tone. "Unintentionally."
Yukari promptly assaulted his pride as a man for the second time in less than an hour.
"I'll admit... I deserved that... Probably..." the male choked out in a whisper, attempting to keep standing.
Yukari then landed a nice right hook to his jaw and sent him to the ground - also for the second time in less than an hour.
"I think he gets the message, Yukari."
The girl huffed and stroked Yashima's head. "He'll be sleeping in the hall, Ya-chan, don't you worry."
"Yukari, leave the matter be." Zeilla ordered sternly.
"Fine, but he's only inside at all because he's yours." stated the infamous Demon Ashikabi. "Come on, let's keep looking for Ku. Shiina, is Ku anywhere nearby?"
The 'Death God' Sekirei shook his head. "It's almost lunch time so maybe we could try around the markets here?"
Yukari perked up. "Good idea! I saw this nice little cafe when I first arrived here too. We could have a look when we get closer to the CBD if there is still no sign of Ku."
"Who is Ku?" Yuuma wheezed as he managed to stand again.
"Number one-oh-eight, Kusano, Shiina's friend." Zeilla informed him quickly. "Let's go people, before anyone gets mad at Yuuma again."
At mid-day, the party of five was still without success. The elusive #108 Kusano remained at large and unaccounted for and no information regarding her existence had been discovered. Shiina was resigned to continue until he found her and Yukari was determined to reunite the two. Zeilla was wondering why the cafe they were outside was still open for business without customers. Yashima was still upset and clinging to the Spartan.
Yuuma, the disturbingly carefree male Sekirei, didn't appear to have a thought in his mind at all.
How surprising. Zeilla thought sarcastically with a snort. I wonder where he gets his confidence from... Or if he truly doesn't care for his own life.
As they entered the cafe Zeilla scanned the room for threats, beings, escape routes and ambush points - a habit she was determined to keep no matter what the game threw at her. Only two beings were within. A young woman with fiery orange hair and an old woman with a hard but kind face, both dressed as maids, watching them from the kitchen.
The tall young woman's jaw dropped momentarily but she quickly recovered and hurried in a dignified manner to meet the five.
"Hello! Welcome to the Take-a-Break cafe." she said with a pleasant smile and a slight bow. "I'm the owner, Ruso. How can I serve you all this fine day?"
Yukari dealt with the owner quickly and they were allowed to choose any table they desired - for obvious reasons. Zeilla led them all to the back corner near the kitchen entrance and put her back to it so she could keep all entry points in her field of view. After a reading pf the menu and placing their orders the young owner cheerfully returned to the kitchen.
Not a moment later the old woman came out with Zeilla's jug of water and a glass.
"I must say, what an odd collection of children you are." she commented with a chuckle, setting the items down before the Spartan, then shoving both Yuuma's and Zeilla's hoods off their heads and bopping them both on the nose. "It's rude to cover your head indoors. What do they teach you these days?"
"I appologise, I am still learning the customs of your nation." Zeilla said diplomatically.
The old woman smiled pleasantly despite the calculating look in her eye. "You picked a bad time to visit this city, young lady. That blasted MBI conglomer-whatchamacallit has caused nothing but trouble for us sensible people. Buying the entire city, bah."
"The company has been throwing its weight around, indeed." Zellia agreed cautiously.
"And there I go spouting nonsense to young impatient people again." she chuckled. "Hold on to your seats, I tell you. Hotaruso is the best damn cook this place ever had - I know, I've worked here for thirty years or more. Gotta keep some of these girls proper you know. I tell you, her food will knock you for a round."
The group was dead quiet as the old maid wandered back into the kitchen.
"Now that is a character." Zeilla thought aloud. "I'm sure the owner has been dying for fresh company."
"You said it." Yukari snickered.
The next few minutes passed by with small talk about the various dishes in the menu and the sights seen during the morning. After an off-hand comment from Yuuma about Yukari's assaults on him Yashima and Shiina ended up regaling them all with stories of the numerous victims to fall before the Demon Ashikabi.
The recitations halted abruptly when the two maids returned, just as Zeilla was refilling her glass of water. They quickly set about bringing each dish to its requestor without even needing to check what was for who.
"Sorry for the wait." the redhead said as she maneuvered between Yashima and Zeilla to place their respective dishes before them without breaking eye contact with the latter. "Please don't hesitate to call upon me if there is anything you require." she impressed upon them.
Once the two were gone the group tasted their food and each was delighted and surprised. Zeilla found herself curious as to why people put so much effort into preparing food, her Spartan training dietary requirements being so controlled voiding her of such taste-bud experience. She wasn't sure what her opinion was yet and this was another curveball after adjusting to Yukari's modest culinary skills.
Strangely she found her glass empty, even though she knew she had just refilled it.
