This one is sort of continuing on from the last. Only however in that it makes mention of the events, while they use the same continuity none of these are really connected to each other. And since this isn't yet three lines. StupidShareBar StupidShareBar StupidShareBar StupidShareBar StupidShareBar StupidShareBar StupidShareBar StupidShareBar StupidShareBar. I really hate the share bar thingy.
Fourth Feather
After three days in the hospital, a week confined to bed rest and thirteen hours confined to the Inn by Musubi, who seemed to have it in her head that gun toting assassins now lurked around every corner. Minato had finally been able to take advantage of the shopping to get a much needed break outside. Having been able to do so alone was a real relief.
Of course this had originally been met with a range of responses. Several seeming to get it into their heads that he wanted to join the shopping race. He had to admit there was something rather cute about Musubi, looking like her head was close to exploding with her confusion, trying to figure out what to do when fighting her Ashikabi for her Ashikabi. Not to mention Haihane (whose eyes were spinning slightly by this point) who was muttering about him being in two seats at once.
However he had hurried to explain that he was not talking about the shopping races, compelled by a combination of Akitsu's dejected aura and Haihane's hands -claws equipped- rising to scratch her head in her bewilderment. Of course explaining that he simply wanted to go shopping to have some time alone had been awkward in the extreme. It was not that he disliked their company, just that he also liked the occasional moments alone with his thoughts. Something hard to come by since he nearly died...again.
Of course they had singularly failed to handle this idea with any real grace, Matsu had been the only one not to launch their personal brand of protest. Minato knew full well this was simply because she would be watching him anyway. Rather then try to calm down the assorted protests and huffs he had taken a seat, careful of Kusano clinging to his leg, and distracted them a little.
It wasn't as though he had done it solely to get time alone, the unhappiness of the losers in the shopping races had bothered him a great deal. By this point none would shirk their chores in the Inn anyway. So he wished to change the format. That it also completely removed the attention from him was a mere coincidence...obviously...
He had proposed that they simply rotate the seat not claimed by Kusano. Seven days and seven Sekirei seeming a reasonable arrangement.
Unfortunately he had failed to account for a few points in his proposal. Namely that being physical types Musubi and Haihane were at a very large advantage in the shopping races that had so far decided the matter. Meaning they had been winning most of the shopping races between them. Meaning they spent most meals beside him. Meaning that they both felt he was trying to spend less time with them.
Then had been Tsukiumi's objection that he was stealing the chance for victory from her hands. Even someone who didn't know the water user well could have seen the conflict between her pride and her desire to spend a meal at his side.
He had assured her otherwise only to find Homura looking like she was on the verge of either glomping him or committing murder. Akitsu was between them but too lost in daydreams to help. So leading to another bout of careful words, further encumbered by Kusano and Kazehana clinging to him, simply because they wanted to.
In the end he had managed to calm and comfort them all. Even Kusano had eventually released him, Miya approving his trip and so he had set off content that he would have time alone, furthermore one of the things paining his Sekirei had been dealt with. A far more sensible system put in place.
Of course he was quite sure it would fall apart amidst the entropy that seemed their very nature. Yet he couldn't bring himself to find it annoying. Rather he would openly admit to enjoying some of the chaos and excitement. As long as things remained at a friendly level of competition Minato could not deny some enjoyment in that aspect of his life. It made every day interesting.
Unfortunately after he got himself into hospital again there had been a lot of excess emotion floating around. Unsurprisingly this was making things a little tense. Thus bringing him to seek time alone. He knew they would work it out, in the meantime he would take advantage to spend some time alone...well alone except for Matsu following him with her satellite. Not to mention Kazehana; who had stowed her normal bottle to complement the alternate dress, wig and sunglasses that were probably meant to keep her hidden from him.
He had noticed the latter almost immediately, the former was simply a fact of life. Things fall toward bigger things, the sky is quite big, Matsu is watching. Always.
While he was certain that Matsu knew that he knew that she watched him he wasn't so sure about Kazehana. Just in case he took care not to reveal that he knew that she was there, he suspected she enjoyed the intrigue of it quite a bit. No point ruining her fun. Objectively he could also recognize that there was a threat, despite the warning of the ruthless Ashikabi's fate. Cut off from MBI and now tried for terrorism, a dozen countries clamouring for extradition of the one who harmed their citizens.
Still there was a chance of danger. A small chance but enough that walking truly alone would be foolish. He certainly appreciated that they would try to give him it anyway, he owed them so much and they just kept giving him more.
So he smiled and walked through peaceful streets, the bombings having actually calmed the city a little. The threat of Government intervention, of serious armed forces smashing through MBI's own army. Whose ability almost made Minato wonder if that crazy Director had purposefully tried to make an army of incompetent, cannon fodder mooks...actually that sounded like him. Regardless, with an act of terrorism now justifying the measures MBI had placed there was a good deal less tension on the streets.
So Minato quietly walked on, going about the shopping with the same peaceful aura he did most things. The bags slowly got heavier, he would not be able to run with them like his Sekirei did, fortunately he was a good deal stronger then he looked, so he could at least carry the shopping himself. Human limits just limited him to a slow walk.
He had no problem with the pace. Excitement was nice but stopping to smell the flowers...and with that in mind he crossed the street to a florist and set to doing just that. With a very careful nod to the florist (that Matsu might have more paranoid girls in her room not escaping him) Minato had gone through the store at his own pace. Admiring more then choosing, after all...
Now he thought about it he did have a good deal of spare finances at the moment. Something about the nature of this latest fight had led to MBI's Public Relations department giving him a reasonable sum. 'To make up for their carelessness in letting the terrorist through', had been the official words given to him and other victims. Of course he knew enough to recognize the guilt money someone was sending out. A conscience in the company perhaps.
He had thought of ditching the money, but it was not as though he couldn't use it. Getting shot was a pretty unpleasant thing so...he had earned it that way...and if he didn't spend it on himself. Maybe stick most into his vacuum of a saving account. So he could indeed buy a bouquet. Size meant that he could not however buy eight of them, perhaps just one for Kusano.
A flash of longing drew his attention to a large chested woman seated at a coffee shop across the street. A woman who was definitely not looking at him or the flower shop...
His lips twitched upwards, his plan already forming.
Kazehana was definitely having fun. This was even worth taking a break from drinking.
She had been asked by Matsu and Homura to follow Minato secretly, the excuse of going to a bar enough to get her past Miya. Then she had simply changed into a different style of dress, slipped on some shades and a wig (a gift from her absent, cloth-draped drinking buddy) then left the house with no-one the wiser.
She had taken little time to get ready and even less to catch up with Minato's slow, meandering progress. Since then she had found herself with a rather better understanding of Matsu's habits. There was something wonderful in being able to watch Minato like she was doing. To see him without him knowing she was watching.
Like this she could see him...lighter. He was more relaxed then she often saw him at the Inn. The simple task in the bright, open air lifting the sombre mood he had been in since he...
a splash of warmth, the scent of crimson, scent of metal, falling! How-
The memories were far easier to shake off like this. She wondered if she too had been in a slump in the last week and a half. If such a mood had shrouded her she knew it was no longer present. Minato bounced a fruit in his hand, then grinned and bought it, she found herself grinning with him. Hiding her carefree smile by turning to face a particularly nice clothing store.
The selection in the window was beautiful, her focus remained on the man reflected in it.
So she found herself following him from one small shop to another, his selections slow and careful, just how she wanted them. Every moment she spent watching him smile and laugh ate away at the guilt and the pain.
He wondered toward a flower shop and she took a seat in a coffee shop conveniently nearby. Keeping a close eye on him, rather satisfied by how little in he looked at the flower shop girl. His slow steps around the store holding her subtle gaze, a sip of her drink the only distraction she allowed.
Was he going to buy some flowers? Who for? It was unlikely he could carry the shopping and eight bouquets, even if he had the funds to do so. She squashed an overwhelming burst of longing, Kusano would appreciate a bouquet more. He knew that so...
Even knowing that the young girl would derive more pleasure from a bunch of flowers then she would...even still...
'Some Onee-chan I am...'
Her head sank to lock eyes with her drink, she really wished it was alcoholic. It wasn't as though she doubted his feelings but it was her foolishness that had gotten him shot. It was her that had failed to push him out of the way.
It was a bit much to be wanting flowers. So admonishing her own selfishness Kazehana glanced back up-
Then promptly ran out on the bill when she saw Minato -wrapped bouquet in hand- already turning a corner onto another street entirely. Her headlong rush up the pavement checked just in time to stop drawing attention to herself and losing her disguise. Instead she turned the corner in a dignified manner, catching casual glimpses of her Ashikabi through the crowds.
He was carrying the shopping bags but no bouquet. Which was strange as she had seen him with one. Her gaze swept over the bustling streets and found a bench near to where she stood. A bench with a red-ish, purple bunch of flowers lying on it. A card with a hastily sketched bird-in-flight nestled between the petals.
She stepped over to it with a raised brow, picking it up and extracting the card she read:
For a flower of the wind.
A sad face stands out in a crowd of apathy. Whatever it is that troubles you, it won't keep you down. Nothing ever could. Not someone as tough as you, as admirable as you.
A prop can give a focus to a disguise. A newspaper or something to carry or a bouquet for instance. This will give the impression of a character, of some task or another. Since you seem to lack such a thing I thought you might like to use this one. I hope its beauty can keep up with yours.
I couldn't miss you,
Minato.
Vaguely aware she was disappointed to have been spotted, Kazehana drew a delicate purple lily from the bunch. Deftly tucking it into her hair she held the bouquet close and fought off the urge to dance.
She smiled and looked for her quarry once more. No longer very worried about being seen, nor about whether she was still a worthy Sekirei, nor about much of anything.
Which was quite lucky, otherwise having to flee the owner of the shop she had just ran out from would have annoyed her.
Minato tried not to worry too much about the flowers. He was pretty sure she would like them, but the message might be a bit too mu-
a burst of happiness, the urge to giggle, a blush alre-
He suppressed the connection, knowing Kazehana would want to keep her status as the cool, composed Onee-chan. He could not however suppress a grin as he continued with his shopping.
After what he had felt from Kazehana, the lifting of the weight from her shoulders.
He kept walking but his face turned pensive as he considered those feelings more closely. The happiness that had drawn his smile had come after a flash of something darker. A moment of misery and guilt that he was ashamed not to have noticed.
The thought stopped him dead on the street. 'I didn't notice,' He had been shot, he had probably did have some right to complain. To seek time alone... 'what about them.' Even if it came at their expense? 'I feel their pain...so they...' Never. Even knowing that he had really just used something he had already wanted to do. That he had not done anything...wrong.
He had thought of himself before his Sekirei. He could think of several others who practised a similar approach, bile rose in his throat at the very thought of it. How could he have ever even thought about it. How could he have been happy to manipulate their feelings for his sake. How could h-
This wasn't helping, wallowing in self pity had been all he had done for the best part of two weeks. Time to act like the man they thought he was. The first thing to do was apologise, his first impulse was to rush to the Inn and throw himself at them in that apology. Self-consciousness squashed the latter part, a recent memory the former. He needed to make them feel better and Kazehana had felt better.
So the plan for the rest of the shopping trip was set. Fortunately he had plenty of time, having set out far ahead of schedule to get Miya her shopping.
And that toy shop over there looked very promising indeed. Crossing the street Minato made his way to the brightly painted store, his determined expression at odds with the venue.
Onii-chan had been hurt very badly. Kusano knew this because he'd had to go to the hospital to get better. Then even after he came home Onii-chan hadn't been able to play with Ku-chan for days and days.
Ku-chan had been brave though. She hadn't cried or made a fuss, Onii-chan needed rest and if she was going to be his bride when she got older then she had to be considerate and gentle and things like that. Sexy too, she thought, well Ku-chan was pretty sure she was already sexy, it was another word for pretty after all.
Everyone agreed she was pretty, so why wouldn't anyone admit she was sexy. Kusano found her Onii-chan and Onee-chans to be very silly sometimes. It wasn't that she wanted to be like Matsu-nee-chan who always talked about things Ku-chan didn't understand...
It was just hard sometimes. Especially when Onii-chan was sad like he was now. Ku-chan was his Sekirei too, even if she was short and still didn't understand things and couldn't be his wife yet...she still wanted Onii-chan to be happy. He wasn't hurt any more, he didn't even wince when she hugged him now.
But Minato was still sad, Ku-chan didn't know why but he was definitely still sad. She could feel it and it was making everyone sad. Now he didn't even want to be in the Inn with everyone and now Ku-chan was alone and even the adventures of Nyan the Cat couldn't cheer her up. She wasn't going to cry though. Ku-chan was a brave Sekirei, she wasn't going to cry...
A few sniffles didn't count, and as long as she kept scrubbing at her eyes there wouldn't be any actual tears...so she wasn't crying...
She could feel Onii-chan coming back now, but Ku-chan was too afraid to see his thoughts. She had the strongest psychic link of any of Onii-chan's brides. Normally she was proud to have an advantage like that over her sisters-in-love...now she couldn't stand it, not when he was feeling so sad and...she had to be brave, had to share his sadness. Ku-chan was his Sekirei too.
happy glad satisfied relieved smiling eyes flushed hearts content smiles
Kusano was snapped out of her daze by her rising delight.
Even as she berated herself for being so sad that she hadn't noticed him getting right into the hall, desperately trying to hide that she'd been crying. Ku-chan's mouth was bursting with her smile. Onii-chan was happy again.
He was pausing in the hall, talking to Hai-nee-chan, she felt the clawed girl's feelings shift, the change making her even more happy. Of course her Onii-chan was going to be making everyone happier. Now she was feeling everyone again she knew that Hai-nee-chan wasn't even the only one Onii-chan had made happier.
She felt like she would burst with happiness, the moment he opened the door to the living room she was on him, hugging herself to his form. Simultaneously getting closer to him and hiding what was left on her face of her sadness. A gentle hand came down on her shoulder. Giving a comforting rub even as his quiet voice vibrated through her.
"Sorry Kusano-chan. I made you cry, your Onii-chan can be a real idiot sometimes, huh?"
She stared up at him, eyes wide with the same surprise that kept her mute. 'How did he know?' Onii-chan couldn't read her mind unless she wanted him to, so how did he- It didn't matter, what did was making sure he didn't blame himself for her not being brave enough.
Shaking her head desperately Kusano said, "It wasn't you Nii-chan, you were hurt and it was our fault and I'm sorry and we should have been nicer." Well that was what she intended to say. Her lingering emotions turned it into a fierce whisper, her face being buried in Minato's chest made it reach his ears as, "iwassaew, uwurt antasoralt anmry aneshooeener." This didn't clear anything up at all but some of the tone must have reached him.
It was a long time before Kusano thought to pry herself from him. Her favourite show was nearly over. She didn't care.
When he reached into one of the bags he held and removed a 'Nyan the Cat' costume in her size, Kusano didn't think her day could possibly get better.
Making his was out of the toy shop Minato pondered his choice. He knew from a number of encounters that Kusano would appreciate the costume. Not only did she enjoy dressing up (words which would -in about eight years- take on a meaning he never once came close to thinking of) but she had a deep love of the character too.
Even in her sleep her dreams occasionally strayed towards the mascot. Humming the theme song in quiet moments, Homura occasionally joining in unthinkingly. Now he thought about her Minato started thinking what to buy Homura. Girl or not she remained poised and elegant. The sort of person words like cool were made to describe, he was at a loss as to what he could even buy for her.
Clothes were a definite no. He hadn't even realised that the various suits and coats that the pyrokinetic wore varied. His idea that they were all the same outfit had brought him low some time ago when he had replied as such to her request for his opinion on one such article. He had since started paying closer attention, the near embarrassed and pained look on Homura's face had more effect then any number of emotional punches.
Nevertheless he could only just tell the difference between one designer and the next. The idea of buying such things was foolish...
A passing shop caught his eye, a few events in the last week bringing his half formed idea to clarity. This would do nicely.
She wasn't upset. Really she wasn't. She sometimes felt the need to be alone, to have some space for herself. There was no reason why Minato should not be given the same, they were after all the intruders on his life.
The ones who burst into his life with problems and battles and bullet wounds. He'd be studying now, working to get into university so he could go change the world with his brilliant mind and kind heart. He wouldn't even have been in a bar fight, his nature too gentle for it. He was tough without the need for violence, an incredible person that they'd latched onto.
No wonder he didn't want to be around them.
'We can't protect him from our own messes, we just rely on him for everything.'
Homura flopped back onto her bed and released a long sigh. She wasn't holding back tears, crying felt wrong; too selfish. It was his pain that she bemoaned after all, what right did she have to cry. He was the one depressed and miserable and grumpy...she hadn't realised Minato was even capable of being grumpy!
So she wasn't upset he wanted to go shopping alone. Just that he did so to get away from them, not just to be himself for a time. Even there how much right did the one who caused so many problems have to be upset about them? Groping for the rarely touched packet of cigarettes in her bedside cabinet Homura absently flicked a flame in and out of being.
The others were making fusses all over the Inn, she would stay here though. Sit in her room and smoke out her misery. She'd tried to reduce her already low habit, knowing that even without the medical problems a human would face it was still an unpleasant habit to most people. Not much point trying to be pretty for a guy, not when she hurt him simply by existing.
Her questing fingers finally found the half-empty packet. Slipping a slender tube from the box and rolling it in her fingers for a moment. Some part of her still crying that she couldn't taste of smoke if he decided he wanted her.
Her snigger was derisive, a fractured sound trailed by her low mutter, "As if I'd be s-so lu-lu-luc-"
A knock at the door interrupted her low stuttering. She absently called the person in, placing the cigarette between her frowning lips.
"You really shouldn't smoke indoors, Kagari-san."
Her hand blurred with the speed she hurled the cigarette away, already rising and protesting; "I wasn't going to-! It wasn't a-! I told you to call me Homura! A-a-and there's n-no need for s-s-s-sa-san." her voice had started off loud with indignation and panic, trailing off at the combination of what she was saying and who she was saying it to...
Wait he was smiling...and properly, not the fact, painful things that had torn at her heart ever time she saw them in the last week. Several bags weighed him down but he stood straight again, no longer weighed down. That handsome face stumbled over words for a moment then aimed a quiet smile her way, the simply expression lighting her entire being as he spoke.
"Ah, okay then Ka-Homura-san...I...ano, I have something for you...is your hand meant to be on fire?"
Ripping her gaze from his face and his lips and...oh shit! The fire she had lit for her cigarette had spread with her blooming emotions. Her happiness now shown by her entire hand being on fire. It was fortunate that she had so much more control these days or she might have damaged something like this.
She shook it out easily, carefully avoiding his face as she thought of ways to salvage her dignity. This was ruined somewhat when she remembered what he had said and whirled to face him as she said, "Y-You bought me something!" His bemused expression was not quite enough to bring her out of her happy daze at this. Even her anger couldn't overcome the joy that he had thought of her while walking and he was obviously happier and...
Homura didn't notice the small smile that spread her lips. Nor the slight blush on her cheeks. She sat on her bed with Minato as he showed her the phone he had bought her to replace one lost in the recent battle. Not even fighting the giggle his -poorly hidden- worry over whether she liked it drew from her chest. Her demeanour both cool and girlish as she sat with her Ashikabi, drinking in his presence, his aura back to how it should be.
Happy.
When she looked again at the phone as he left, Homura found her calm manner shattered. Dangling from it was a small charm. A Nyan the Cat phone charm...which meant he knew that she liked!
A frantic, pointless check determined that he had indeed left the room when he walked out the door. So assured Homura hugged the phone to her chest and wondered how long it would take to obtain the theme as a ring-tune. That he had noticed something like this really didn't bother her that much, after all it just mean-
"Hey, Homura-san I forgot to say, I left the manual in the other bag if you nee-"
He ducked back out of the room just in time to dodge the fireball she sent his way. Her expression of childish awe having switched to homicidal embarrassment with a speed born of a maidenly heart...or so she assured herself.
It was still a few days before she had to deal with the mood swings again right?
Even with the dread checking the calendar instilled in Homura her smile and tight grip on her new phone (which she would soon discover to be an especially, heat resistant model) didn't waver for a moment.
A gift for the temperamental ex-host secured Minato continued on his way, the sun having now passed the noon mark and the crowds almost ready to start thinning for lunch. Minato himself had no intentions of stopping for food, he could eat when he got back to the Inn. Until then he had more important things to worry about then his mewling stomach.
An idea as to what to get Haihane had occurred while he browsed the phones, another gift that he felt was practical while remaining personal. He knew they would be nice and smile whatever he got them. However he refused to let himself rely on their devotion, not in this. He had promised long ago not treat them any different then he would a human girl.
"I guess I fell short of that, time to get ba-"
His spoken thoughts were halted as he mentally backtracked over the last few moments. Walking, store on left, caught glimpse of...
He turned and walked the few steps back to the store front. Staring into the window his eyes locked on what had drawn his attention. As he stared into the store his keen sight also found another item, one less visible but just as perfect.
He barely noticed the signs in the store window at first, he had already decided but the notices did make his stroke of luck all the sweeter. He was almost whistling when he stepped into the shop.
Haihane was sitting in the hall, slouched against the wall, mindlessly dabbing a slave onto her sunburnt hand. Biting her lip at the nagging pain.
It was some oddity in her genetic make-up that made her skin so pale. In a tired, semi-drunken haze (after Kazehana had nearly managed to get him drunk before Miya intervened) Minato had once compared her favourably to alabaster. As wonderful as that had felt the clawed girl still felt badly about her skin. It was one of many things in her appearance that -though she would sooner pull out her tongue then say so- she was...nervous about.
Her skin however came with problems that her scars and posture did not. Namely that she simply could not tan, if she'd been human she thought skin cancer would have taken her by now. Fortunately her body didn't have those kinds of problems but it could definitely burn. Which would sting and hurt and protest her every movement and then fade to reveal the same ghostly, vulnerability as before. Ready for the sun to inflict more agony.
Complaining however was something that her experiences during tuning had taught Haihane not to bother with. The rare occasions she had been listened to had often ended in her tuner telling her to stop being so ungrateful. Maybe tossing in a beating for good measure, couldn't let the experiment get rebellious now.
This had made her prone to keep quiet about things when they truly, deeply bothered her. Knowing how good Minato was at seeing through her the ghost-pale girl took pains to conceal as much of her ill-fortunes from him as possible. It was not right for her to be worrying him, she was meant to help him. Something she had found herself to be useless at as of late.
So her surprise when Minato returned from his shopping trip with a smile and a parasol was more then palpable.
Yet even the rising joy that he had noticed. And the nagging voice reminding her that she shouldn't be troubling her Ashikabi. And the far louder voice -well, urge was more accurate- telling her to jump him now and show her appreciation.
All of this was drowned at by what she saw in his eyes as he gave her his thoughtful present.
He had ignored his injury, pretended to be okay, refused to talk about what lurked in his eyes. Haihane had wondered what it was that pulled him down, she knew he feared not for his life. He might be an idiot for it but he was no coward. Yet something had been there, stopping her from even thinking about cheering up herself. Making her sit out in the sun if only to punish herself for what she couldn't change.
Now it was gone, her heart did cartwheels and she was struck nearly dumb. Her thanks came out slowly...more slowly then normal. She stumbled over words and barely managed to hide her burns from Minato's eyes. She guessed he was simply granting her privacy to attend to her sunburn. That he had actually missed the injuries was ridiculous.
She just couldn't seem to hide her pains from him, somehow that thought didn't make her feel useless now. Possibly something to do with the beautiful lacy parasol she clutched with her unclawed hands.
Placing both his purchases back into one of his rapidly multiplying bags, Minato nodded absently to the smiling cashier. The shop was closing for lunch as he left, putting paid to his plans to avoid eating.
A few more minutes of walking and he had no choice to accept that the shops not themselves serving food were closed. He could either sit around doing nothing, or go eat...
An illogical surge of guilt accompanied his seating at an outdoor café. A small lunch already ordered he sipped his drink and wished Kazehana wasn't quite so into the spy game she was playing by this point. Company would have been nice.
Then again he had been so very specific with his request to be alone, not their fault he hadn't thought how much guilt would sour the time spent alone. He occupied his thoughts by looking through his bags, as he thought his selections for the groceries were complete. All that remained was the gifts he had decided to get his Sekirei.
Which was a bit of a problem, he still had no idea what to get the others. Especially Matsu.
He had no idea about computers, she had no outdoor interests that he knew of, she wore the same dresses almost constantly. She valued practicality over most anything else, with her own appearance at least. She would certainly wear clothes to seduce him but...that would be a little...
His awkward thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of his lunch.
He dug in and pondered what to buy, putting Matsu aside for the moment he focused on his remaining Sekirei. His thoughts rolling and flowing over all he knew of their likes and dislikes. Of what exactly it would be that might convey his...
What exactly was he trying to convey? This wasn't just about apologising for being so unpleasant for the last week and a half. So what was it that he was trying to tell them? That he cared? That he was sorry?
His questions did not cease until long after he had finished his meal, paying quickly he rose with a purpose to his tread. He had his answer, and though he still had no ideas for Matsu, he now knew exactly what else to get.
It did not take long to find a good, quality jeweller.
Her husband was late!
As if it were not bad enough that he had decided to take one of her duties as his wife away. As if his refusal of her company on his trip did not already speak of terrible things. He had left his wives, legal and otherwise, to go off...
If he was drinking she was going to throttle him...
If he got hurt again...well it wasn't like she planned on forgiving herself anyway. What was a little more guilt to shoulder. She had every right to be angry at him right now. He had spurned her every attempt to aid his recovery. Refused not only most of their help while he was bed ridden but also any offered when he was in obvious turmoil.
He had been pained, depressed and upset. His brush with death seeming to effect him on a deeper level then previous ones had...Which was exactly why she couldn't really be angry. This was not the first time he had nearly died because he was her husband. Their husband. The pain of her sister Sekirei was as plain as her own. Everyone was hurting and he would not let anyone help!
Tsukiumi rose from her seat by the front door and paced back and forth in the hall, diverting from her straight path to avoid Musubi who stared determinedly at the door. Trying to bring him back by will alone.
A moment more and Tsukiumi was seated beside Number Eighty Eight. Her own eyes joining the futile summoning.
.
.
.
Would he even return, was he leaving them, sneaking out of the city so he could live in peace and tranquillity. Did he have a mistress, a lover none of them knew of. A human woman that could give him a normal life and-
Tsukiumi's imagined elopement was interrupted by the arrival of its main character. Her shock that Minato had returned to her -especially after she failed so in her duties as his wife- kept her still. Musubi had no such limiters, diving headlong at him while almost crying with joy.
She checked her rush just in time to avoid spilling the shopping he held across the ground. Nevertheless pushing him back outside the door. Tsukiumi's mind was about halfway through rebooting as Musubi divested him of his bags. He kept several of them from her grasp, Musubi unable to ask about this since she couldn't quite meet his eyes.
Minato reached out to grasp her shoulder, she flinched at the touch, Minato at her flinch. Then she burst into tears.
He placed his bags carefully out of the way with what range of movement he still had, hers hitting the floor just as Tsukiumi (returned to her faculties) hit the two of them in a flying hug. For several long minutes they were a ball of guilty Ashikabi and balling Sekirei. Minato's arms about them the only thing keeping them from crying forever.
When they did speak it came all at once and together, voices tumbling over one another; "Husband I am sorry-"
"Musubi is sorry Minato-sama! She cou-"
" failings as your legal wife. I beg-"
"otect you from tha-"
"please give me another chan-"
"Musubi kept messing up trying to help you get bett-"
"will protect you at any cos-"
"n't let Musubi help you at a-"
"ase don't ever leave me-"
"broke my promise to protect yo-"
"could not live without you my husba-"
"ato-sama should be angry at me, not s-"
"I am so sorry."
"Please don't be sad any more!"
He couldn't stop the tirade, couldn't pretend not to have understood both perfectly well. He had no idea how to apologise for doing this to them. For being so short sighted and stupid and not thinking. He should have been honest, he should have told them how he felt and let them help him and now his weakness was hurting them.
His weakness...screw that!
He grabbed them both, an arm over each of their shoulders. Pulling them to himself he brought his lips first to Tsukiumi and then Musubi. Then back to Tsukiumi, kissing longer this time and only stopping so he could return his lips to Musubi's. Their wings flared out bright and wide. Their connection bloomed.
'You have nothing to be sorry for.''I'm not sad any more.''I'm so sorry to worry you.''It was not your fault!''You are the ones who deserve to be angry.''I love you.'
His thoughts washed over theirs. Both girl's minds had been rendered as mute as their tongues by the shock of being repeatedly kissed. Warmth and contentment burnt away their sorrow all the same. Leaving behind an understanding. In Tsukiumi's case some embarrassment accompanied the realisation she had been beyond ridiculous in her imaginings.
Any anger she might have (rightfully) directed at him for making them feel like this was cut off by what he did next.
Minato returned to his bags and there, outside the Inn they called home, beneath the dusky sky, he produced a pair of rings.
Tsukiumi was shocked still once again, even if it was just a regular gift...a ring! This! This meant!
He took their hands and gently curled each of their fingers over one of the rings, both girls holding the items like they were made of glass. Reverent gazes flitting between their hands and him.
"I wanted to give you...I wanted to show you that I...I'm not perfect and, and I mess up a lot. But I hope you can forgive me and tha-that we can be together...all of us."
He looked at them, both girls meeting his honest gaze. A deep happiness overtaking them at the smile that twitched his lips when he quoted their words.
"Forever and ever."
Tsukiumi held her trembling pose for a few more moments, then came to life in all her normal fury.
"That-that's a Sekirei's line y-y-you baka!"
He seemed to have lost his nerve when she moved, now unable to stop blushing or look at either of them. Grabbing the bags he half mumbled, half yelled a few words about seeing them at dinner and needing to talk to the others. Then he was gone, leaving Tsukiumi trying to quell her blush and Musubi staring at her hands with a mix of awe and confusion.
Curiosity getting the better of her Tsukiumi said, "What are you so puzzled about! I-it's a gift! A sign of devotion! Don't tell me you are still upset after thi-!"
"Where should Musubi wear it?"
"...Huh?" Tsukiumi's rant trailed off. She hadn't thought of that.
" We can't wear a ring, it might get damaged in a fight. What should Musubi do?"
Tsukiumi took in her friend's sparkling eyes and wobbling lip. She needed help but where coult it go. As Musubi turned from side to side in her panic a sweep of her hair inspired the water-mistress.
Tsukiumi grabbed Musubi's bound hair, the ponytail was the perfect length for what she had in mind.
"We can thread it into your hair. Near the top and securely. You'll always have it with you."
The words stopped Musubi, she grabbed her hair and let her fingers trace it up to the top of the ponytail's bindings. The ring would be hidden in her shorter locks, cushioned by her hair and out of the way in battle.
Overtaken by a wave of enthusiasm Musubi grabbed the blonde Sekirei and set off down the hall. Pleading with her friend to help her get her hair ready and secure it in place. Tsukiumi letting the words wash around her as she pondered the pleasant shift in the day, only really paying attention when Musubi nudged her.
"Sorry?"
"Musubi asked where you will wear your ring?"
Tsukiumi stopped walking.
She swallowed and as ever felt another small item, that she had sewn inside her ever present choker. A very special compartment hiding (and holding firmly) a stone from a pair of earrings her tuner was probably still wearing. A connection she would never forget.
"Yes, I know exactly where I will place it."
She looked at Musubi for a long moment, then decided that if there was anyone she could trust it was another of Minato's Sekirei. One of her sisters really.
"Come. We must go to the bath. I will show you there, while we get your hair brushed out nicely."
He left the jeweller's with a pleased smile. Only one item still remained and he was sure he would be struck by inspiration for Matsu's gift soon.
An hour and a half later he was somehow still optimistic. Now certain that he would find it just as soon as he did something about the woman following him. Not the one with the enormous chest and sunglasses now holding a vase full of flowers to her chest. That woman he had no objections to beyond wishing she would risk his safety long enough to return the flowers to her room at the Inn.
It was the woman with the MBI badge in her wallet that not only didn't realise he had made her, but had even failed to notice him stealing her wallet. Something he hadn't expected to be so easy. Her MBI credentials stopping him from discreetly calling Kazehana and pointing her out.
Instead he was left to try to look for a gift while he was being spied on by someone he had never met before. Somehow it was not nearly as cute when it wasn't one of his Sekirei doing it. Instead he felt almost violated. Not to mention annoyed.
He had few ways of dealing with her though. Kazehana could be subtle enough normally but as soon as he contacted her she'd give in to her lingering paranoia and body tackle the other woman. As for Matsu...Matsu had probably seen her, but a satellite laser was both fatal and not very subtle...Matsu. What to get for...
the perfect plan formed in his head, looking in a store-front window the reflection showed him a hand bag that she had not pointed away from him even once in the last hour. A handbag outwardly identical to the one hanging from a hook before him.
A few moments later he was walking away from the shop with his newly purchased gift. Another few minutes and he was walking away from the woman he had somehow bumped into twice in one day, having picked up a handbag very similar to one he had been carrying when picking himself off the floor.
In another few minutes when she went to check the array of incredibly advanced sensor technology in her bag Agent Mikoto of MBI found an assortment of small rocks and balled up paper to be what now gave the bag its weight.
When she tried to find the man she had been ordered to follow and had somehow swapped bags with, Mikoto was amazed to find he was nowhere to be seen.
Minato whistled to himself as he made his way back to the Inn.
"Ufufufufufufufufufufu!"
Mina-tan had just run a foul of Homura-tan.
In a house full of depressed Sekirei (and a very scary landlady, but we''ll leave her out of this story. She nearly caught the narrator last time) it might have seemed odd to some that one of those Sekirei was giggling over the antics on her screens. The misery of the others not to be found in Matsu's hidden room.
Of course her own spirits had long since risen. She had seen the depression leaving her beloved Minato's manly shoulders hours ago. She didn't need anything else then to watch.
Yet there was certainly something to be said for the knowledge that he was coming up the stairs right now...with a present. A present she knew nothing about.
What if it sucked?
Of course anything from Mina-tan would be treasured forever...but she wanted to get some use out of it. How could she do that if it was something awful. Or boring. Was it a dress, she hoped not. Minato wouldn't have bought lingerie so it would have to be dresses or something equally useless. No fun at all.
'Please, please, please don't have bought me computer parts.'
She loved Mina-tan's brain, she loved having a mind around that she had to struggle to keep up with. That it belonged to her Ashikabi was a dream come true. This did not change that he wasn't very good with computers. Certainly not good enough to have the slightest idea what kind of thing she needed.
Maybe it was more jewellery...that wouldn't be...so...bad.
Okay he was outside the door. Knocking. Only one thing for it.
Sneaking across the room Matsu was pleased to find Minato was leaning against her door. One of her cameras showing her exactly where he was. A throw of a catch and a little pounce.
Yes this was the best present she could think of. A lovely Mina-tan all ready for experimenting. Definitely the best present.
"I can't wait to unwrap it."
"Sorry, I didn't wrap your present."
Bravely soldiering past the entirely non-sexual tone of those words Matsu already had one of her hands under his shirt and the other was dropping steadily. The handbag she was presented with barely phased her.
'ah, cunning Mina-tan. I won't remove my hands so easily though!'
Dropping her head level with the item Matsu kissed along his fingers until she reached the bag, sinking her teeth into the edge of it she was about to toss it aside...
'...wow.'
With her new perspective Matsu could see the contents of the bag. It was stuffed full of...so many new toys. This thing must have been fresh from MBI's R and D divisions. She rolled off of Minato her hands moving from one treasure to another, their previous goals forgotten.
"So...do you like it?"
After standing behind Matsu, ignored completely in favour of his gift, for a few minutes Minato quietly left the room.
He really wasn't sure how he felt about that one.
He could see the street now, the Inn just a few hundred metres away.
He checked his bags and settled his breathing. He had sat feeling sorry for himself for quite long enough. Time to make things better.
It was the fourteenth time she had cleaned Minato-sama's room.
Well actual cleaning had been done with after the first time, then she'd done it again just to pass the time and then she'd done it again and...
Here at least she still had his smell. If she closed her eyes she could imagine he was here with her.
It helped her forget that she was a failure. A useless, broken-winged thing that even Minato-sama didn't have room in his heart for any more. He hadn't said a single word to her in the last week, nothing more then replying to direct questions.
Not one inquiry as to her mood, not one sentence of casual conversation. He hadn't even chastised her for being so useless and worthless and generally pathetic. That at least would have meant he noticed her, that she was good for something. Instead she could just sit and be ignored while her Ashikabi suffered and there wasn't a single thing she could do.
For the fifteenth time that day she straightened his desk and wondered if he was even coming back. His things were here but...well he would at least still want the others. They weren't broken. So at least they'd be happy.
She'd been so cheerful in the hospital. His survival had been so wonderful she hadn't even thought about the effect on his mind. About how it was for him to keep on coming so close to dying, what kind of Sekirei was she that she didn't even notice something so simp-
"Oh there you are Akitsu-chan, I was looking all over for you. I...well I got you this...I hope you like it."
He sometimes forgot just how much they cared about him. How important he was in their lives, he had trouble getting his head round the idea of it. That a girl like Akitsu would get so worked up over him was not something he'd ever expected to happen. Nor to see such a reaction a gift as that.
The kimono was on sale, he'd simply glimpsed it and bought on an impulse, nothing special at all; yet when she holds it he almost thinks he's about to see Akitsu cry. The emotions she could hold so easily overwhelmed her with the simplest of gestures from him.
It was that simple really. Always the same. A few words, a simple gift and all was forgiven. Minato was terrified by it. By how much power they put in his hands, he held their hearts and it scared him.
Minato knew that it wasn't going to go away though. The power he'd seen and the danger he was in, they weren't things he could walk away from easily. His feelings however weren't something he could even turn his back on in the first place. The thought of leaving them, of hurting them.
So he'd keep going. He could deal with life and death for moments like these. For these girls he would do almost anything.
During dinner, as six jealous gazes took in Kazehana's far from subtle attempts to hug his arm into her dress, Minato felt rather good about himself. His plan had worked perfectly.
Each of his other gifts had met with similar reception. The various exchanges all ending with the relief of their emotions lightening. The weight on his heart easing. He had lifted the pain from their own hearts, he felt more then a little proud of that. Any one could take a bullet for someone they loved but this...this made him feel...confident.
Perhaps awareness of this is why no-one mentioned that it was seeing him feeling happier that had lifted their own spirits. Appreciated as they were, a gift was meaningless beside his smile.
Fourth feather; Gift
There we go, a slightly longer piece to try and make up for the length of the wait. Sorry about that but things got pretty hectic for a while. I'm not sure about the end of this one but after redoing it a dozen times I don't think I can get the last few pages any better right now.
I was originally trying to make this one Akitsu centric. Unfortunately the others jumped in and hijacked it. Blame Minato for refusing to neglect any of them in his attentions. Selfless b*****d XD
It was also going to be a cheerier piece but I found myself wanting to examine the repercussions of the events of 'Devotion'. Don't worry, there should be a few nice happy ones coming from me for a while.
As ever your opinions on my pathetic attempt at writing are welcomed, good, bad or apathetic; all reviews are treasured...no, seriously. Got a special e-mail folder and everything. ;)
