" "- Dialogue
( )- Thoughts
~ - Inflection
[ ]- Action
There's a chill in the air, hovering over the columns of people traveling up and down the side walks is a small haze of their collective breaths rising through the overcast night sky. The city formerly known as Tokyo still comes alive like it used to in these night hours, despite a certain company's attempt to rebrand the metropolitan. Minato is taking this all in as he makes his way down these same sidewalks.
Not out of wonderment or contemplation...
But rather to distract himself from all the eyes that are beating down on him as Kazehana and Taki lead him down the street arm in arm.
"To think that he was so possessive immediately! I hope Minato-kun will be that way with me!" By the time Kazehana had finished her, slightly embellished, recollection of her first night with Minato dinner time had already passed and it was well into the evening. Taki was completely engrossed by the story and, by the end, seemed to be fantasizing about what Minato would do to her once they were out of the public eye.
"Did you have to go into such detail about our first time?" Minato asks, finally making eye contact with Kazehana for the first time in an hour and a half. (How she could go into such detail in public is beyond me. And saying it louder when she sees I'm uncomfortable... she's not getting anything from me for a week!) While Minato is questioning Kazehana, he's already devising payback for such an embarrassing and indecent display. (And I liked the food there too! So much for ever going back.)
"Well I can't tell the story in full if I leave out the climax now do I?" Kazehana purres as she emphasizes the climax part. While Kazehana and Taki are enjoying their time with Minato enough to ignore the stares of jealousy and confusion by passers by, Minato does not have such fortitude.
"How do two gorgeous girls end up with a guy like that?" One salaryman incredulously asks another.
"I mean isn't it obvious, they're just escorts. No way a guy like that can actually get those two girls. Besides they're drugged up anyway. No way anyone can walk around in dresses like those in this weather and not get at least a chill." The fellow gawking salaryman answers condescendingly.
"[Sigh] Why are the hot ones always crazy or in it for the money?"
"Self-esteem. The crossover of molestation victims to the adult service industry is nearly 100 percent."
"Way to bring it down Satou-san." With that those two gawkers are passed, but that is just a two man sample of what Minato could swear was 150 odd passing comments, queries, observations, and even pleasant qualifications.
"Mmm I can tell he's packing. Not just that but he's probably got the tongue of a cobra." Says one mature business woman to her clearly flustered kouhai.
"N-N-Nagase-senpai you can't say such things in public... and how would you know that anyway?" The poor girl was getting a full dissertation on the life of a swinger before they were even out of earshot.
(At least I have a kindred spirit in this perverse wasteland of one-samas) Minato has to get out of the public eye before he loses his cool.
"Are we almost there?"
Kazehana can feel Minato's restlessness through their bond as they reach a stopped crossing. Pulling his arm from her breasts, Kazehana takes Minato's hand and kisses him on the cheek. "Don't worry, after we get into this park there'll be plenty of privacy to wing Taki-chan. Once we're outside of the park it'll be just a few more blocks before we reach the Inn."
"You're sure the landlady received our belongings with no issue?" Minato's tendency of redundant questioning when nervous is showing now too.
"Of course Minato, like I said earlier, I checked while I was in the lady's room before we left the cafe." The lights turn green as people start to trickle into the crosswalk. Not many people seem to be heading to the park at this time of night.
"Let's go Minato-kyunnnn!" Taki drags Minato, and by connection Kazehana, across the way and into the park. In no time at all time they've found a nice, secluded area to themselves. Kazehana sneaks off so that the couple can have some privacy. Taki looks around, spinning slowly in a circle as she walks with Minato as the focus. "What a place to share my first time with my ashikabi-kun."
They are in a small clearing in the path walled off by foliage. There's a concrete outlet just off the path that holds a fountain. The entrance of said outlet is sandwiched by two wooden benches. All along the path their steps are broadcasted by the crunch of orange leaves and fallen pine needles.
This natural scene helps to calm Minato. Walking around still holding Taki's hand, he checks out the area in detail. (The mixture of dead cherry blossom trees and black pines is beautiful even in the low light. All the leaves and needles floating around that fountain and on the ground, along with the dead trees and chill in the air are screaming winter... DID SHE JUST SAY HER FIRST TIME?!!)
"FIRST TIME?!! WHAT DO MEAN BY FIRST TIME TAKI?!" Minato's suprise is shared by Taki who is startled by Minato's sudden outburst.
"Ehhh Minato-kun don't yell so much, it'll make a scene!" Taki shout whispers as she lets go of Minato's hand and feels around her now-ringing left ear.
Once Minato shows that he remembers where they are and calms down Taki continues in a joking tone."I said that awhile ago how did it just now register?"
Minato just scratches his head and looks up with an awkward laugh. "Ehehe I was kinda caught up in looking around the path, sorry."
"You're fine just try and pay more attention I guess." Taki says in a laid back way. Her ending up telling Minato how to act in public is a strange juxtaposition to the earlier cafe affair, but it doesn't even cross her mind as she looks into Minato's eyes.
They are now standing in front of the fountain at the mouth of the outlet when Taki takes both of Minato's hands into her own. "Back to before. Like I said earlier, this is the place where you'll take my first kiss..."
"Oh thank goodness, I thought you meant.."
"...And you'll make me yours!" Taki squeaked in an adorable manner as she nervously fidgeted and avoided eye contact.
"..That you were going to...say what you just said but it turns out you weren't done. [Sigh] I don't like being bait-and-switched mid conversation." As he begins to rub his eyes with his index finger and thumb, Minato can't help but fear that every sekirei he meets is going to be a rollercoaster emotionally before the winging. "Anyway we can't do that here in public, especially with the cold."
Taki's grip around Minato's hands tightens, "But Minato-kun! The way Kazehana spoke about your first night together has only gotten me more excited for this! I want Minato-kun to love me like he does Kazehana!" She seems to be losing her grip on the situation as she starts to shake and her eyes gain a more frantic look to them.
Minato can't help but feel slightly intimidated by the power of the reaction on one's psyche. Worming his hands out of her own and pulling Taki into a tight hug Minato says his piece on the matter. "You are not Kazehana, you are Taki. I will do my best to love you and make you happy as your ashikabi, but you have to realize that you are two very different people. How I love each of my sekirei may vary, but I promise you will be loved equally. This is just your reaction stirring up your emotions and desire. I promise when we finish settling in, I'll take you out for a weekend." Minato is rubbing Taki's back gently as he tries to calm her down.
Pulling out of the hug, Taki is blushing uncontrollably. "You promise Minato-kun?"
"I promise Taki-chan."
Hearing her new suffix Taki can't help but smile. "I promise I'm not gonna be high maintenance or fight with any other sekirei you might wing. As long as you love me and keep your promise I'll be perfectly content."
With that Taki leans in and kisses Minato. A small patch of moonlight sneaks past the cloud cover and lights up the fountain area where they stand. Taki's porcelain complexion is glowing not only from the gentle waning moonlight, but also with her smoke white wings and sekirei crest. The wings absorb all the heat of the reaction as they blossom, letting off a small vaporous fog as they flutter for the first time. Once Minato pulls away from Taki the wings dissipate. All that's left is a tired, but blissful, Taki who leans into Minato with a small moan. "Mmmmmist of my pledge hide my ashikabi from enemy soldiers. Number 65 Taki is all yours Minato-kun."
"Mist huh. That's an interesting, yet fitting, power for you. Now let's get going to the Inn." As he exits their embrace Minato can feel Taki start to fall. Catching her, he takes Taki into a bridal carry as Kazehana pops out from behind a tree.
"That was just so cuuute~. Minato-kun just can't help saving young damsels in distress can he? Or maybe he likes to put them in a little distress before he wings them? Oh what am I going to do with my sadist ashikabi." Kazehana starts to put her hands on her face and feign worry.
"It's true this is my fault," he says looking down at the now sleeping Taki in his arms. "From now on I'll need to wing them immediately after I find out they're reacting to me. The reaction can be dangerous if we put it off for too long." Kazehana gets serious after this statement.
"Yes that seems to be the case with the younger ones. While myself and the other singles can endure it for much longer without this sort of effect. It seems these younger birds were adjusted to where they can't ignore the reaction for more than a few hours before it starts to affect them mentally." Just as she finishes her hypothesis, Minato's phone rings. Kazehana grimaces slightly as she knows exactly who's calling.
"Can you get that Kazehana?"
"Of course Minato." Pulling the phone from his pocket and answering the call she and Minato are graced with the maniacal visage of one Hiroto Minaka.
(This will definitely help push Minato further along the path of freeing us. I just hope he isn't the only kind ashikabi in this godless game.)
Elsewhere in Shinto Teito
In the alley of a neighborhood just a little Northwest of the park the twins Hikari and Hibiki can feel the power of their future ashikabi grow. Even as they speak with the one they thought to be their ashikabi.
Standing in front of them is a tall and lean man by the name of Seo Kaoru. His hair is brunet with a wild, scruffy look to it. He's got a bit of stubble on his chin and is wearing a white wife beater, jeans, brown work boots, and a denim jacket with a cotton lining for this cold night. He looks to be in his late 20s or early 30s.
Both of the twins turn as they feel a strong reaction to the southeast. Like their ashikabi just shot a signal flare calling for them. In front of them is a dying campfire of a reaction in Seo. Hibiki is the first to respond, "What? But I thought Seo was...we have another ashikabi?"
"Huh another? What are you two talkin about I'm your ashikabi!" Seo declares with an annoyed scowl.
"We have a stronger connection to this ashikabi though." Hibiki states in an apologetic manner.
Hikari seems to be the most bothered by this, saying in an irritated tone, "Yeah but we reacted to Seo first!"
"Are we really going to ignore the stronger reaction then?" Hibiki asks in a defensive tone.
"What do you mean stronger? I can tell ya now theres no way they're man enough to match up to me! Right Hikari?" Seo has pulled a sleeve up and is flexing toward the half of the twins that is looking to be siding with him. (If I just get Hikari to join me then Hibiki will follow. Stronger reaction or not. Man why did this have to happen now?) While Seo is lamenting his incredibly poor luck, the twins are entangled in a serious debate.
"Are you saying we abandon our ashikabi in the hopes that this new one is somehow better?! Stop kidding yourself Hibiki, theres no way we'll find a better ashikabi than Seo. We've been reacting to him for almost a decade now when he helped Takehito-sama adjust us. We'd never have a bond as strong as that with some new punk!" Hikari's furious tone is matched with an incredibly harsh look pointed toward her sister.
Hibiki isn't about to back down from a simple temper tantrum though. "Look at this from your heart Hikari! We're getting a stronger reaction from this new person than we are from Seo who, as you so kindly pointed out..." This causes a vein to appear on Hikari's forehead, but Hibiki continues with a stone cold stare of her own. "...we've known for quite some time now. It won't hurt us to just look and see what they're like. If they aren't up to snuff then we'll return to Seo and wing ourselves to him. There's no harm in weighing our options."
"Do you have no sense of loyalty?! We promised ourselves to Seo! We can't just go and check out some new guy because we're reacting to them!" Hikari doesn't see Seo start to approach her from behind as she continues to cross Hibiki.
"We promised ourselves to him thinking he was our destined one, but a new potential destined one has appeared not too far from here and you don't want to at least check them out? We could be throwing away potential happiness with our true ashikabi and settling for all we know! Remember that we were all warned about the consequences of staying with Seo specifically. This could be fate chosing a better path for us, and it's in our best interest to at least look!" Neither Hikari nor Hibiki is budging from her stance any time soon, and Seo can tell. (Better just end this now before it gets ugly)
With that Seo sneaks up behind the more chesty Hikari and grabs her by the breasts, pulling her backwards to him. "Enough already! You'll wake the neighbors!" As he massages Hikari's breasts he continues. "You two are my sekirei and that's final. Right Hikari?" Much to his suprise, however, Hikari is shaking.
Hibiki immediately gets into a battle ready stance, "Hikari what's wrong?!"
In front of her is an utterly befuddled and shocked Hikari. "I-I can't feel anything. What is this? When S-S-S-Seo grabbed me, both of my reactions went away. I can't even use m-m-mmm-my powers." Seo continually kneading her breasts as she stutters out her response.
"Oh that's just a little parting present Takehito gave me. The power to nullify sekirei powers by touch. Neat trick right!" Seo seems beside himself in explaining his little trump card.
"But I've lost my reaction too, to Seo that is...this can only mean that he's not our ashikabi." Hikari realizes aloud before gaining a terrifying look in her eyes. "Unhand her." She whispers.
"Huh? You'll have to speak up I'm a little preoccupied at the moment as you can see." Seo says jokingly not grasping the gravity of the situation he just threw himself in. Hikari's moans are the only thing heard for a good five seconds before purple bolts of lightning explode from Hibiki's form.
"I SAID UNHAND MY SISTER!!" Hibiki roars in an uncharacteristic fit of fury.
"Alright! Alright! Just don't blow anything up!" Seo quickly lets go of Hikari and pushes her forward. Hikari stumbles to Hibiki, who has stopped the terrifying light show in order to tend to her sister. "See! She's alright, I just didn't want this to drag on is all! I didn't mean any harm by it I swear." All this backpedaling got for Seo is a nice little shock from Hibiki.
"It seems you've proved my point on who our real ashikabi is since I'm no longer reacting to you. Scum." Hibiki spits out. Before she can continue several of the houses around them start to light up on the inside as all of the neighborhood dogs are barking madly. "It seems we've made a scene. Come on sis, lets get going and find a place to stay tonight."
Hikari is still a little shocked from her sudden loss of power so she just knods tiredly.
As he recovers from the shock, Seo begins to see what he has done and starts to feel immensely guilty. "Izumo Inn. It's the Inn of Takehito's widow Miya. She knows about sekirei and will take care of you no questions asked. You'll find it 8 blocks past the park. Just look for the classic Japanese two story house. I'm sorry, I had no intention of hurting you. Goodnight." And with that he leaves, jogging off into the shadows to avoid trouble.
"At least he knows when to leave." And with that Hibiki takes Hikari into her arms and jumps away from the alarmed neighbors.
At the Izuno Inn
"Well this is it, our new home." Minato, Kazehana, and Taki have arrived to the inn shortly after their departure from the park. Taki is still sound asleep in Minato's arms, despite the time it took to get there he was able to carry her the entire way with no real issue.
The only issue he had was with Minaka's call. His apparent lack of sympathy and care for the sekirei was downright disturbing to Minato. Ultimately the call was uneventful as Minato just listened to Minaka explain the rules and circumstances. Neither Minato nor Kazehana really said anything other than greetings in the beginning, and agreements to him swearing them to the secrecy of the plan. After he finally hung up they exited the park and made their way to the Inn. Only a brief blast of purple lightning gave any additional life to the evening, though they chose to ignore it out weariness.
"Finally we can get some rest! I never thought I could be so tired from doing so little. Of course I have more than enough energy for a little love making with my hubby~" Kazehana says shaking her butt towards Minato with a sensual voice and smile.
"I'm way too tired for that. We've moved, given a four hour seminar on public indecency, walked about two kilometers, and winged another sekirei in the length of just one day. I'm going in and jumping in the bath as soon as we're checked in." Minato couldn't be more drained emotionally after today's excursions.
(Introduce myself to the Landlady, put Taki down, and then I can finally just take a long bath and relax.)
That reminded Minato, as they made their way into the courtyard he turns and asks Kazehana. "What did you say the landlady's name was again?"
A new, but somewhat familiar, voice answers, "It is Miya, Asama Miya."
As Minato and Kazehana turn to address the voice, moonlight again leaks through the overcast sky and reveals an absolutely stunning miko standing on the porch. Her purple hair falls down to her waist and is cut hime style in the bangs, perfectly framing her enthralling burgundy eyes. Hugging her shapely form is a purple hakama and a white haori with a sash-like belt. She's also wearing wooden sandals and a white ribbon to hold her hair in place. Her hands are crossed in front of her waste as she smiles gently at them.
"Welcome to Izumo Inn Sahashi Minato-san. I've heard quite a bit about you from Kazehana. I must thank you for taking care of the public indecency. Despite our differences she is a dear friend of mine and I cannot say how relieved I am that she has found an ashikabi of her own. Thank you." Miya bows deeply from her position on the porch as Minato and Kazehana approach.
"Oh it's nothing really. You definitely don't have to bow to me for it hahahaha!" Minato nervously laughs as he processes what she said when it hits him. (She heard a lot about me from Kazehana?) Immediately several red flags go off as Minato remembers the cafe. "On Kazehana telling you about me, she embellishes heavily and like you said is a bit of a public indecency..."
"Do not worry Sahashi-san, I would not judge a couple for loving each other. I am also well aware of how obscene Kazehana can be. I will not judge you from assumptions and hypotheses. I would like to know who that young girl is though." Miya says pointing at Taki.
"Oh this is Taki she's..." Minato pauses, trying to think of an excuse for why he's carrying around some random girl like she's a bundle of fire wood. (Sister won't work, cousin maybe? Ahhhhhh what do I say what do I say...Wait she said she was glad I'm Kazehana's ashikabi which means she knows...Huhhh I need to pay attention.) "She's a sekirei we met today that reacted to me. After the winging she kinda passed out."
"Well then lets head inside and get her taken care of. We wouldn't want Sahashi-san getting a cold out here either." Miya said in a kind tone as she walked over to the door and opened it. Once Minato and Kazehana had followed her inside, Miya closed the door behind them and locked it. "Sahashi-san, you can take Taki-san to your room upstairs. It'll be the first door on the left, some of my new tenants went ahead and set up your bed and nightstand too."
"Thank you landlady-sama, is it okay if I put off a full introduction until tomorrow? I just wanna bathe and get to bed." Minato says as he kicks his shoes off.
"Of course you can, I just need to inform you on the rules of the house and you're free to go for the night." With a nod from Minato Miya begins. "I only have three rules, but they will be followed strictly under fear of punishment. First, no violence. Second, no obscenity. Third, no illicit sexual activity. Breaking any of these rules will result in punishment and even eviction." As she says this a purple a hanya mask permeating miasma appears behind her. This terrified Kazehana who backed up against the wall with a nervous smile, but it was Minato's reaction that intrigued Miya.
(Is that a hanya? Hah! I'm so tired I'm seeing things. Better clean up and get to bed then.)
With no real reaction Minato just smiled wearily. "Yes I promise to follow your rules landlady-sama. Goodnight!" With that Minato turned on a heel and walked upstairs.
"...What? How did that not effect him?" Miya is completely shocked at how little the hanya affected Minato.
Once the hanya dissipated, Kazehana relaxed. "Looks like Minato-kun's immune to Miya's evil techniques. Isn't my hubby just amazing!" Kazehana then begins to fawn over Minato, but Miya is too preoccupied to notice it.
(A man who is immune to my hanya? Who are you Sahashi Minato? I'm watching you. I hope you prove her right Minato-san, please prove her right.)
Miya is brought back to reality by the sound of the water turning on upstairs. As she looks up she sees Kazehana sneaking upstairs. "You wouldn't be trying to sneak into the bath with Sahashi-san now would you?" Her hanya is out in full force as Miya smiles her too sweet smile towards Kazehana.
Kazehana turns around and freezes. "Wow look at the time! I think I'm going to go to sleep now. Goodnight Miya!" Kazehana attempts to escape upstairs but is blocked by the hanya.
"Oh I forgot to mention that your room is downstairs Kazehana. The last door of the right hallway to be exact." With that Kazehana leaps off of the stairs and takes off down the hallway to hide from a clearly miffed Miya.
(Mouu Minato-kun! Why'd you have to piss Miya off then leave her with meeee)
As Miya went to turn off the hallway light and retire for the night, she felt a pair of presences approaching the Inn. Sekirei presences. Pausing until they reach the door and knock, Miya walks over and unlocks it. "Welcome to Izumo Inn, how may I help you two girls at this time of night?"
All right, there's chapter 4! I feel like I might be making the scenes too short some times, but I'm really not sure. Leave thoughts on that, the update, and anything else in the reviews. Till next time!Update! I'll be moving the uploads to Mondays from now on, so keep a look out for that. Thanks for reading and have a nice day!