Chapter 9-Chasing the Wind
Sahashi Minato was a nervous boy. Always had been when growing up. His Mother and sister kind of made that happen on a daily basis with him as a child. One was scary when angry and the other was wild as well as scary when provoked. Though with everything going on in his life now, he had every right to be nervous. First, because he was living at Maison Izumo with a nice, yet scary landlady named Asama Miya. Second, Seo of all people had come to visit not that long ago, and told the nervous teen how one Uzumaki Naruto: The Phantom Ashikabi was also residing in the Northern area of Shinto Teito. While Miya had told the nervous boy he was safe at Maison Izumo, her reason behind this belief, which she did not share, did not help relieve Minato of that nervousness.
It didn't help that another Ashikabi similar to him in almost every single way in terms of living in Shinto Teito was here at Maison Izumo, with a Sekirei of his own, and asking for his help in escaping the city. The only difference between Minato and this other guy, one Haruka Shigi, who was the mentioned other guy, had only one Sekirei named Kuno. Another noticeable thing was Minato had three Sekirei while the one Sekirei Shigi had was a shy weak little thing. In fact, Kuno nearly fainted in fright from seeing her own shadow, and even now was shaking like a leaf.
"You have to help me here Minato. You know the Sekirei Plan is wrong!" stated Shigi while Minato was unsure if he should agree or not with him.
"I don't like it anymore then you do Shigi. I really don't. But...there is really nothing we can do against M.B.I. or its army of soldiers," replied Minato nervously while glancing at Miya sitting there watching the whole thing and drinking her tea.
"Not if we work together!" protested Shigi since he and Kuno had been on the run since the two had gotten together.
They would have gotten a nice place to stay, but Kuno had lost her card shortly after her winging when they were running from the lightning twins. Next, they tried to escape the city all together, but the troops deployed around the entrance/exits of the city made the idea of leaving incognito with everyone else impossible. M.B.I. had a special scanning system setup to detect if you were an Ashikabi with a Sekirei while making sure all the soldiers did a very heavy detailed search of every vehicle leaving the city.
They almost made it across the bridge recently due to the heavy traffic during the day along that point, but were caught by a rather sharp M.B.I. soldier, and made a run for it. Shigi and Kuno had nearly made it out of Shinto Teito if not for the appearance of the Discipline Squad.
Fortunately for Shigi, this particular Discipline Squad sent out to watch the bridges for potential Ashikabi and their Sekirei escapees was the one run by Natsuo. His own squad without Karasuba now consisted Sekirei # 104 Haihane and Sekirei #105 Benitsubasa. Both of them while triple digit Sekirei, had been enhanced more then the other Sekirei when at M.B.I. specifically for the purpose of being part of the squad, and to go toe to toe with some of the stronger double digit Sekirei. Karasuba was suppose to be the teeth of the group and would fight should the two fail in successfully defeating a Sekirei in battle. Fortunately, for Shigi anyway, Karasuba was now winged to Naruto, and at the moment the Black Sekirei was currently preoccupied with other things.
Namely, having her long silvery hair pulled hard while Naruto claimed the woman from behind in a show of sexual dominance the moment.
"Even if you did team up with our Ashikabi, you are asking him to risk himself, and us in the process with nothing gained in the attempt. Why should Minato-sama risk so much for you?" questioned Kaho while glaring at Shigi and Kuno with the latter a second away from fainting.
"Because he could escape with us. We could all escape together and be free of the Sekirei Plan!" offered Shigi with Miya frowning slightly at his words.
"You are forgetting that M.B.I. is the most powerful company in the world. Its resources are global!" protested Yashima since she had a feeling such an attempt at freedom would risk the entire might of the company down on their heads.
"Not to mention the Discipline Squad run by Uzumaki Naruto," commented Kaho while Shigi and Minato stiffened slightly in fear at the mention of the man.
Shigi of course had never met the infamous Uzumaki in person during his own brief time being an Ashikabi. He had of course heard the rumors about Naruto and how the man possessed nearly every single numbered Sekirei with the exception currently being 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8. Not only that, but the two Sekirei under Naruto's command were nothing to laugh at in terms of strength either. One was Sekirei # 10 and the other was Sekirei # 88 with the latter having two victories against Hayato Mikogami's Sekirei under her belt.
To challenge Naruto or his Sekirei...was to court defeat in the Sekirei Plan.
"Would he really stop me from escaping with Kuno?" asked Shigi while Kuno shook even more at the thought of facing the Sekirei of such a person.
"I honestly don't know. He might. It would be against the rules of the game. Still, Naruto-san doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would. Its...complicated," replied Minato, as his own experience with the man was limited, and was quite awhile ago.
Kusano could only nod despite the fact she had little to no understanding of what was going on regarding the conversation between the two Ashikabi.
"We should still risk it. There must be a least one spot in Shinto Teito we can try that isn't heavily guarded by M.B.I. during the day or even at night," said Shigi in the hopes of his fellow Ashikabi backing him on this matter.
"I'll think about it Shigi," said Minato while seeing the boy in front of him slump in slight defeat.
"In the mean time, I suggest the two of you get to work around my Inn. to cover your rent for the week here. Since neither of you have jobs at the moment," remarked Miya while glancing at the shy and bashful Minato.
The poor boy's Boss had not been pleased with ditching work with Seo the day they went after Kusano and fired the two Ashikabi the very next day.
"You always were quite good a bossing people around Miya," commented a smooth yet slightly drunk female voice on the veranda after the two Ashikabi left with their Sekirei.
"So you've returned yet again Kazehana," commented Miya while Kazehana smirked from her position and laughed a little.
"Oh you know me better then most Miya. I follow the wind wherever it blows," replied Kazehana before she took a swig of the sake bottle in her hand.
"And what does the wind tell you Kazehana? It certainly isn't telling you to come here to find an Ashikabi, right?" asked Miya with Kazehana's smile lessening slightly.
"No. Not yet anyway. Besides, my heart doesn't feel the need for one right now. Not after what HE did," remarked Kazehana while walking into the Inn. and sat down lazily across from Miya.
"Still dressing as lewdly as I remember. Be sure to keep it under control while here. I do not need you bringing out the beastly urges of my male tenants or possibly corrupting little Kusano's mind at the sight of you. I don't need them getting any ideas," replied Miya while seeing Kazehana was wearing a very tight fitting purple dress that stopped just past the hips and showed off a lot of leg for her liking.
It also didn't help the dress made Kazehana's incredibly large breasts more pronounce and noticeable with every bodily motion performed by the wind Sekirei.
"I'm not staying for long Miya. I just came to visit. Getting the latest gossip from you and Matsu. Where is the red haired pervert? Still in her little room peeping on people?" asked Kazehana while Miya sighed sadly at the mention of Matsu.
"Sadly no. Matsu was winged awhile ago by her Ashikabi. She is living with him now," answered Miya while Kazehana looked surprised.
"And you let her go? Wow Miya. This Ashikabi must have made quite the impression on you to let Matsu go out into the world," commented Kazehana with Miya grimacing since Naruto had done just that.
"In a manner of speaking he did. This Ashikabi just happens to work for M.B.I. and...he is also the Ashikabi of...Karasuba," answered Miya while Kazehana shot up from her lazy position and stared at the woman in horror.
"W-What?! Karasuba?! This guy is working for M.B.I. and you still let poor Matsu leave with him? Why did you do that?!" demanded Kazehana, as she was all for Sekirei finding their destined ones, but the wind Sekirei felt Matsu sharing an Ashikabi with Karasuba was like a chicken sharing a house with a hungry rabid wolf.
The assumed outcome never did end well for the chicken.
"Because I couldn't stop him. Their Ashikabi is...Uzumaki Naruto," replied Miya with Kazehana freezing further at the mention of the name.
The wind Sekirei had heard the name shortly after arriving in Shinto Teito. Appearing out of the heavens it was said. Winged the "Scrapped Number" it was said. So many rumors about him without any real confirmation on whether they were true or not. In fact, she even had planned to observe the Ashikabi from a distance to see what he was like when her free time drinking sake ended.
"The Phantom Ashikabi?" asked Kazehana with Miya nodding.
"The very same. He apparently, according to him, joined Minaka only to help enforce the rules that were not being enforced from the start. He's gained quite a number of Sekirei with most being single numbers and become their own Discipline Squad. From what Seo had managed to learn of his actions, several Ashikabi were defeated by his squad, and the Sekirei forcibly winged were free to find their actual Ashikabi once he undid the false bond," replied Miya while the wind Sekirei looked shocked and in awe at hearing this.
"So he only goes after the Ashikabi, who forcibly wing Sekirei?" asked Kazehana while Miya nodded.
"Yes. Yashima-chan, who is Minato's Sekirei was a prime example of one such Sekirei forcibly winged until Naruto-san intervened," answered Miya while happy the Sekirei mentioned found her true destined one.
"And yet, I sense you dislike him for his actions outside of winging Karasuba," remarked Kazehana while Miya's frown deepened.
"He made some rather...bold comments to my face when I first met him after he winged another one of former tenants," replied Miya with a hardened look that Kazehana knew all too well.
"And he's still alive?" asked Kazehana with Miya letting out a slow almost suffering sigh at her words.
"Its not that I let him live because I couldn't kill him Kazehana. But the truth is, I let him live simply because I can't kill him. His power...its beyond mine," remarked Miya while Kazehana looked at her like she just said Minaka was hot, sexy, and wished she married him instead of Takehito.
"What did you just say?" asked Kazehana while hoping her ears had heard wrong due to the sake she drank earlier.
Miya grimace again before telling Kazehana what happened when encountering Uzumaki Naruto when he arrived at her Inn. to collect Uzume's things.
(With Naruto)
"So Minaka has tightened security around the city," commented Naruto while in Matsu's room and looking at the computer screen in front of him.
"That's right. Security is everywhere. Troops at all points of exiting, entering, and have orders to detain anyone even remotely suspicious. M.B.I. even has special scanners setup to detect Sekirei and has the Discipline Squad under Natsuo finally deployed and out in force. Five different escape attempts in the last two days in one sector alone. All failures and twice a Sekirei was nearly deactivated during a fight," said Matsu while she showed Naruto the footage of things progressing throughout the city.
"These Ashikabi, who know they are going to get picked off are getting nervous. Scared. It won't be long before they get even bolder. Not to mention stupider," remarked Naruto, as he knew how people acted when desperate, and wanted to escape the darkness that was to come in their lives.
"I wouldn't be surprised if some of them went to Higa or Mikogami for help," replied Matsu before glancing over at her Ashikabi.
"Desperate people do desperate and stupid things Matsu. Namely going to people, who claim they can help, but in fact only make things worse," said Naruto while sighing at this new development.
"My money is on Higa. He wants an army of Sekirei under his command by the time this game hits the point of picking others off," said Matsu knowing the man wanted to take what M.B.I. had and destroy anything resembling the Sekirei way.
"Agreed. Once Higa has enough Sekirei and Ashikabi with Sekirei under his command, he will move against one of the other two major powers. My guess is Mikogami since the brat is the closest in terms of territorial threats and overall number of Sekirei. Once that boy falls, Higa will move onto consumed the West, and finally the North when any of the remaining Ashikabi still not under his thumb flee here," replied Naruto with Matsu now grimacing.
"And possibly provoke Miya in the process. There is a standing truce between her and Minaka in terms of her not getting involved with the Sekirei Plan. If Ashikabi come into the Northern area of Shinto Teito to escape Higa or any of the other powers pressing their advancement...," said Matsu while Naruto nodding.
"It will break the truce Minaka has with Miya. Not only that, but I suspect by that point, Higa, or one of the other powers will get bold in trying to take her out. While I dislike how Miya folded against Minaka, I can see why she did it. I also need to know everything there is to know about your Sekirei Crests and what they do outside of giving a Sekirei their wings," said Naruto with Matsu nodding.
"I can already tell you plenty Naruto-tan. First, there is a tracking chip of sorts imbedded into the crest. More like hundreds of thousands of nanomachines. All centered around the literal 'heart' of the Sekirei Crest. Minaka did this so when another Sekirei touches the crest, they are able to connect with them, and use their power to shut us down. Its a little deactivation of our bodies," replied Matsu while Naruto frowned.
"So you can be tracked anywhere at any time by M.B.I. no matter the location," remarked Naruto with a frown on his face.
"Yes. The troop deployments, the scanner detection systems, and everything else Minaka has setup to keep Sekirei from escaping are merely various forms of nets. The real means to keep tabs on us is the crests themselves. Even after we are deactivated, they stay active well up to 48 hours, which is why Minaka had troops pick us up immediately once one of us loses. It is also one of the reasons why Minaka keeps the Sekirei Plan confined to the city rather then some other place or on have it on a larger scale," added Matsu while she had done a bit of snooping on the crest before fleeing M.B.I. with Uzume's help.
"I will deal with that issue when the time comes," replied Naruto knowing he had to wait until the time was right to deal with Minaka before focusing on helping the Sekirei as a whole.
"At the moment, most of the Sekirei currently walking around in Shinto Teito have been winged by an Ashikabi. There are still a few hold outs, but that could change soon with Higa, and Mikogami hunting them down," said Matsu while Naruto nodded.
"They still think themselves beyond the rules of the game and the laws of the land. Such arrogance," remarked Naruto while frowning in thought.
"Naruto-tan? What are you thinking?" asked Matsu while seeing the look on his face.
"Only that this hotel is too easy a target to attack. Higa and Mikogami don't care about the rules. Not to mention Minaka is insane and doesn't care if people live or die from the fighting," answered Naruto while walking out of her room with Matsu right behind him.
"What are you saying Naruto-tan?" asked Matsu while she quickly followed him to the living area where the others were located.
"I'm saying we are too easy to attack while living here in this hotel. Higa's weak attempt already proved it. I did not give the idiot enough credit in the belief he wouldn't attack soon after my warning to him not to break the rules. Not only that, but Mikogami tried to attack my clone in the belief it was me not that long ago. Who is to say they won't team up temporarily against me? Who is to say they won't attack here again or do something to destroy the building with all of you in it? I can survive such a thing if it happened with my powers, but none of you can," replied Naruto with his Sekirei focusing on him now.
"What are thou suggesting husband?" asked Tsukiumi curiously while glancing at Matsu and wondered if the red haired woman had upset him in some manner.
"Simple my Tsukiumi-chan. We are moving to our own home and out in this hotel where we can properly defend ourselves from outside threats," replied Naruto while the others were shocked by this.
"Where will we live Naruto-sama?" asked Musubi while Uzume and Matsu were silently praying he wouldn't say Maison Izumo.
"Somewhere here in the North. To be honest, I was actually thinking about this for some time even before attempts made by Higa, and Mikogami due to the growing number of Sekirei I seem to be getting," replied Naruto while feeling Akitsu sneak up behind him and wrap her arms around his waist.
And feeling her impressive bust against his back.
"Ah...location?" asked Akitsu curiously.
"A nice little plot of land I bought using the money from your M.B.I. card a week after I winged Matsu and Uzume," replied Naruto with a grin on his face.
"Naruto-tan...where exactly is this plot of land you bought?" asked Matsu nervously since she didn't like that mischievous smile.
"Ooooohhhh. I...I may have...purchased a house right...next to...Maison Izumo," replied Naruto with Matsu, Uzume, and even Karasuba looking shocked by this while the others were either stumped, happy, or indifferent to the idea.
"YOU WHAT?!" yelled Matsu and Uzume while grabbing him by the shoulders and they shook him violently and made his head move all over the place.
"Cease your assault on my husband this instant and let him explain!" demanded Tsukiumi before soaking them all (Naruto and Akitsu included) in water to get them to stop shaking him.
"Yes Naruto-kun. Please explain yourself," remarked Karasuba with a smile, but unlike her usual predatory smiles, it was a happy one this time, and for good reason too.
She would be happily living next door to her nemesis/rival and said nemesis/rival could do nothing about it. Hell, Karasuba may just have sex with Naruto outside of their new house where Miya would be able to see and hear them clear as day, and make her former teammate in the Discipline Squad go completely insane.
"I just felt it would be better for everyone if we lived near Miya-san. Every Ashikabi in the Sekirei Plan already knows to keep a safe distance from Miya in terms of fighting in the Northern part of Shinto Teito. If anyone does, she will no doubt smite them before you can say 'Matsu is a pervert', and send the rest a message to tread lightly when here in the North," explained Naruto like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"Does this mean I can visit Miya-sama and train with her more often?" asked Musubi since Miya was very strong and had been her sparring partner every so often.
"Yes Musubi-chan," answered Naruto while Musubi jumped up and down, which made a wonderful sight for Naruto in terms of seeing the fist fighter's breasts.
"Perhaps I too shall receive training from this woman as well. After all, it would be most foolish to let such a means to get stronger slip my me," remarked Tsukiumi, as she did train with Naruto just like the others, but seeing Musubi making great strides with Miya's support made the busty blonde think of joining in.
"In any case, I have made up my mind on this issue, and the decision is final," replied Naruto with Uzume and Matsu slumping their heads in defeat.
It didn't take long for them to pack up their belongings. Most of it was their clothes, a few books, and Matsu's computer system. Afterwards, Naruto put the hotel suite back the way it was before he changed certain designs of various rooms back to normal. Even the pink bathroom was restored and as much as Naruto wanted to destroy or recolor it...he just figured the room could be someone else's problem.
Poor Akitsu actually seemed to whine when she found out he had to turn the hot spring back into that smaller pink monstrosity for a bathroom. Not surprising since they had spent many days and hours being intimately passionate while in that hot spring. Her first time in general and with Naruto was in that hot spring.
Of course she instantly perked up when Naruto told Akitsu that he was going to properly rebuild it once they settled into their new house.
Once they were all set for moving, Naruto called the Main Desk, checked them all out, used his M.B.I. card to pay the hefty hotel bill, and then used Kamui to transport them to chakra marker he set at their new house with a Shadow Clone earlier that day. When they arrived, Naruto smirked at the reaction his Sekirei had at the sight of the house since it was nothing like when they first saw, or imagine it to be when they saw the home.
Mainly because it looked like a large five story compound with high walls, a gate, and equally large yard to match.
"Uh...I'm pretty sure this part of the neighborhood didn't look like this when we were here last," remarked Uzume while Matsu nodded dumbly.
Musubi looked at the house in awe like a kid seeing a large selection of candy and told it was all for free.
"Ah...big," commented Akitsu while internally happy to know she had a home with her Ashikabi to call their own.
"Does it really need high walls?" asked Karasuba since she had hoped to give Miya a real show on what the prude woman was missing out on in life, but couldn't now.
"I do not recall a building as tall as this one here in this area," remarked Tsukiumi since she had been in the Northern part and never saw a building this big in the residential area of Shinto Teito.
"Yeaaah. About that. I may have...made extensive modifications to three homes that were here and bought from the previous owners," remarked Naruto while Uzume, Matsu, and Tsukiumi looked at him in shock.
"How the Hell did you do all of that? And with what money? Surely it didn't come from Akitsu's M.B.I. card?" asked Uzume since she thought her Ashikabi's financial resources were limited to the M.B.I. card he had on him.
"Ah...his book," remarked Akitsu while pulling out an orange book from her cleavage.
"Yes Akitsu. My book was published and within the time since it was published, I have gained a small fortune in the process. I also took a nice chunk of the money and had a Shadow Clone break the bank at three different casinos. All of which I am banned from ever entering again under certain names and appearances. I think one casino even issued a 'shoot him immediately once he sets foot on the property' order too if I recall correctly," replied Naruto while using his stupidly incredible luck and amassed an impressive if not stupidly huge fortune within a matter of an entire day with his Shadow Clone gambling on his behalf.
"And easily bought out the land no matter the price tag offered," remarked Karasuba with a grin on her face.
"Exactly. It wasn't that hard. Not when I merely paid all of the owners of the homes triple what they offered," replied Naruto with Matsu looking at him with shock.
"Triple?! The value of real estate has been through the roof since Minaka started taking over Shinto Teito. The amount you must have given must have been...HUGE! Even with the help of Akitsu-tan's card!" exclaimed Matsu while Naruto shrugged.
"Would you also believe the renovations, which came out of my own pocket, surprisingly didn't make a dent in my wallet when I did this?" asked Naruto with Matsu moving to speak, but shut her mouth since she wasn't sure if such a purchase did or not.
"No comment," replied Matsu at last.
"Okay. Enough with the showboating. I want to see the inside of our new home and break in the bed," commented Karasuba while dragging Naruto through the gate and into the house.
"Hey! Wait for me!" protested Matsu while rushing after.
"And me!" added Uzume while following Matsu.
"Hey! No fair! Musubi wants to have sex with Naruto-sama too!" exclaimed Musubi with a childish pout and ran after them.
"Silence thou words you loggerhead! If anyone is going to be intimate with my husband in our new home first, it will be me!" declared Tsukiumi angrily while she chased after Musubi.
"Ah...and they say I'm the needy one," remarked Akitsu while taking her time after them since rushing would do little, except waste energy trying to be with their shared Ashikabi.
And Akitsu had far better ideas of using that energy over running after the others to gain what she wanted simply by being slow, quiet, and played it smart.
(Just Across the Street at Maison Izumo-At the Moment)
Miya was not happy. Not in the slightest. Oh she could overlook the fact her neighbors, whom had visited from time to time had left. She could easily overlook the fact they left without so much as a goodbye. She could even overlook the big monstrosity of a home that was casting a shadow over her Inn. like a mountain does over a small village setup at the base.
What Miya could NOT overlook was the fact Uzumaki Naruto had taken up residents in that big monstrosity of a home that was casting a shadow over her Inn. like a mountain. She could NOT overlook the simple fact that Karasuba living next door to her and was about to have relations with Uzumaki Naruto. Just the idea of Karasuba mating with the primordial God of an entity and being happy made Miya's blood come to a slow boil with the Hanya Mask coming out behind her to the size of a large horse.
She was tempted to just pick up her trusty sword and slice the building across from the Inn. into tiny pieces with Karasuba in it.
"Miya! Stop it! I'm not even drinking sake right now!" protested Kazehana while she saw and felt Miya's angry manifestation take shape.
"Ara? Stop what?" asked Miya while going into her landlady persona with her Hanya Mask vanishing.
"You know fully well what I'm talking about Miya. So what exactly has you so angry?" asked Kazehana while walking out of the house to see Miya staring at the massive house looming over the Inn. to her surprise.
She really needed to cut back on the drinking if such a thing was missed by her.
"That horrible eyesore and its new occupants," remarked Miya now in serious "I am your superior officer" mode she used when leading the Discipline Squad.
"And who would these occupants be to get the infamous Hanya of the North so angry?" asked Kazehana curiously while Miya's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Karasuba for one," replied Miya with her hand twitching in desire to use a sword right now.
"Karasuba? Next door?!" questioned Kazehana in alarm.
"And her Ashikabi...Uzumaki Naruto," added Miya while her hand twitched again for a sword.
"The Phantom Ashikabi?" questioned Kazehana with Miya nodding.
"The very same. That insufferable man not only challenged me in my own home, but proved he was indeed my better in terms of skill, and power that eclipses my own," said Miya while Kazehana looked from her to the house.
"And now he's right next door in a large house that dwarfs Maison Izumo with Karasuba of all Sekirei with him. That must really sting your pride Miya," commented Kazehana with Miya now looking at her with evil eyes.
"That it does and if a certain drunk doesn't wish me to take my aggression out on her over my pride being stung, I would suggest said drunk stay quiet on the issue," replied Miya while she saw Kazehana sweat a bit and bring her hands up in surrender.
'Miya must really be angry to threaten me like that. Still, this Uzumaki Naruto character sounds quite interesting. The wind has picked up a bit too. What does that mean?' thought Kazehana while Miya kept staring at the huge house for a bit before walking back inside.
At least it would be slightly amusing when the others came back to see the huge home and see their reactions to it.
(The Next Day-Naruto's Home)
"What is this?!" demanded Tsukiumi, who was no longer wearing her usual clothing, but rather a blue maid outfit that did little to hide her body's sex appeal.
"Uzume said it was a French maid outfit," commented Musubi while not bothering to ask how Uzume convinced the tsundere blonde to wear the outfit.
"I know what it is thou simpleton. What I am asking is why I must wear this garment in the first place?" asked Tsukiumi while grabbing Musubi by her shirt and shaking her.
"Because you don't want to get your nice clothes all dirty while shopping at the market," answered Musubi while Tsukiumi stopped shaking her and looked shocked at hearing the given answer.
"Shopping? And why must I do such a menial task?!" demanded Tsukiumi angrily while shaking Musubi again with more force this time.
"Because your husband said so," replied Naruto behind Tsukiumi, who upon hearing his words stopped shaking Musubi, and looked back at him.
"Husband?" asked Tsukiumi while Musubi was slumped backwards.
"You won't be the only one going to the store Tsukiumi. Akitsu, Uzume, and Musubi will too. We need to have the fridge and cabinets stocked with different kinds of food. I don't want you girls to starve," replied Naruto while Matsu and Karasuba were on either side of him.
"Then why aren't they participating in such an event?!" demanded Tsukiumi while letting go of Musubi and pointing at the two Sekirei behind Naruto.
"I have to stay here and monitor all M.B.I. related activity," replied Matsu while leaving out the fact if Higa found out she was walking around Shinto Teito, he would no doubt dispatch quite a few Sekirei to capture, or possibly deactivate her to spite Naruto.
"I don't do shopping. I do fighting. Besides, I have to go on patrol now that Minaka has been tightening the borders around Shinto Teito. Quite a few Ashikabi have been trying to leave the city recently and Minaka wants Naruto to send one of us out to hunt down any runners who make the attempt. While Naruto doesn't want to listen to Minaka, he also doesn't want to give the mad man an excuse to create problems for all of us," said Karasuba while knowing Minaka would do something crazy and stupid to make Naruto's life miserable.
And while Naruto could no doubt reverse it, the second Juubi of the world would prefer not to have his hand forced by drawing attention to himself further. Minaka did not care if his actions surrounding the Sekirei were brought to light. The crazy genius had nearly unlimited financial resources to bribe any country and the technology from the Sekirei spaceship to do just about anything he wanted to keep outside forces at bay.
Naruto could do the same, but he preferred to keep his action under the radar as much as possible since he still didn't have enough solid ground to repel the rest of the world. He also didn't know what Minaka's various contingency plans were in the event someone did kill him. Naruto imagined one of them was the deactivation of every Sekirei sans Miya and thus ending the Sekirei Plan all together while leaving Takami with clean up duty. A task she would no doubt hate, but at the same time try, yet fail to complete since Minaka's death meant exposure of all downed Sekirei, and foreign powers would swoop in like vultures to pick the bodies of the Sekirei for their secrets while they still could. And not just foreign powers either, but those like Higa would use his company to dissect them, and Mikogami would no doubt sell his own share of the Sekirei bodies for a nice sum of money.
Naruto couldn't risk that happening to the Sekirei. Even if he reactivated them all in time before any of those mentioned parties tried something, people like Higa would simply kill the Sekirei near him, and proceed with the plan to harvest what could be gained from the bodies.
"Karasuba and Matsu are right Tsukiumi. They aren't going to be lounging here doing absolutely nothing while the rest of you are doing this errand," replied Naruto while Tsukiumi huffed in annoyance and glanced at Musubi with the girl's soul lingering out of her body.
"It is a chore I shouldn't have to do. This is a job for a low level concubine. I am no such woman among the rest of them," countered Tsukiumi with Naruto smirking since he had an idea on how to convince the tsundere blonde to agree to this.
"Oh I see. You need some motivation to do this. Very well. There are currently two open seats at the table where we will be eating. One of those spots will be reserved for both Matsu and Karasuba on rotation between them due to their own tasks preventing them from joining in on this one. As such, this leaves only one true opening to sit next to me available to the rest of you. Meaning, the one who gets that spot will be the one to win the race of going to the store with their list of groceries, and back here will sit next to me when we eat for the rest for the week until the next shopping race," replied Naruto with the women in this "race" stiffening, Musubi's soul went back into her body, and she sat up while each of them looked at each other with lightning shooting from their eyes.
Each of them sending the other a silent message to the challenge presented in this major (for them) competition. There could only be one victor and that victor would be one of them.
The race for the seat beside their Ashikabi was on and all four Sekirei rushed out of the house to the stores with their assigned grocery list.
"That was almost mean Naruto-tan," commented Matsu with a grin.
"Oh really? I thought it would help create the spirit of healthy competition between them and help them get along. Do you want to join in on the racing too?" questioned Naruto with Matsu waving her hands frantically.
"No! No! Matsu-tan is happy being here at home helping Naruto-tan!" exclaimed Matsu since she knew her speed when running was the equivalent to a snail's pace.
She also left her motorcycle at Maison Izumo and Miya would certainly chain the red haired woman to the Inn. if given the chance.
"That is what I thought," remarked Naruto while Matsu grumbled.
"I have to go. Work and all of that stuff," said Karasuba while she walked out the door with her sword sheathed at the hip.
"Say hi to Miya for us," commented Naruto while Matsu started to panic.
"Don't worry. I will," replied Karasuba with a grin on her face.
"No! Please don't do that Kara-tan! Miya-tan will get very angry and violent! I want to continue living!" protested Matsu frantically while Naruto just smirked in amusement.
It was so fun to tease Matsu.
(M.B.I. HQ-Sometime Later)
"Hello Takami-chan. How has your day been so far?" asked Karasuba while watching the white haired woman take a drag of her cig and glare at her.
"Your Ashikabi is becoming a pain in my ass," grumbled Takami with Karasuba grinning at her.
"Oh? I thought Minaka would be quite happy with Naruto-kun being added to the Sekirei Plan?" questioned Karasuba while Takami glowered at her.
"He is happy and that is the problem. The happier Minaka gets thanks to Naruto's actions, the crazier his scheme become, and I have to run around like some crazy person in order to help buffer them so they don't spiral out of control!" exclaimed Takami while she got in Karasuba's face.
"Maybe you wouldn't look so angry and crazy at the moment if you actually got laid once in awhile Takami-chan," said Karasuba while Takami looked shocked and angry at being told such a thing.
"Karasuba," threatened Takami while wishing she could smack the Black Sekirei over the head with her clipboard, but held back knowing what would happen if she did.
"What? I was the same way until my Ashikabi screwed me silly after I was winged. Now I sleep better, feel better, and fight better then ever," replied Karasuba, as she had been in quite a few fights against certain rule breakers, and crushed her enemies easily.
All small fries of course, but it didn't matter to Karasuba in the slightest. Why would it? Karasuba had something to look to when her day was over fighting someone. Before, all that kept her going was fighting, and killing others with an empty feeling growing bigger by the end of the day. When she is with Naruto, her life is complete because he is there to hold, and cherish the woman without fear of him rejecting her for being what a hunter on the hunt for prey.
He made the world tolerable. She wouldn't mind if some parts of the world still burned down to the ground, but they were only just the bad places everyone knew needed to be destroyed.
"That's not the point Karasuba. Besides, after raising two unique kids, and dealing with Minaka's machinations, my days of going out to fornicate are over," replied Takami with Karasuba's grin increasing.
"Really? A pity. Your body doesn't look that old," replied Karasuba while Takami sighed and the two began to walk through the vastness of M.B.I. and focusing on business.
"Your former squad encountered some activity on all of the bridges earlier today. Several escape attempts by several different Ashikabi and their Sekirei to get out of Shinto Teito. This one in particular was tracked to the Northern part of Shinto Teito. Since Haihane and Benitsubasa are dealing with the others running about in these points, I need you to handle the Sekirei who have begun hiding out in the Northern part of the city," replied Takami while Karasuba looked at her with a hint of disbelief.
"You do realize Miya will not like the idea of M.B.I. encroaching on the North, right?" asked Karasuba with Takami nodding.
"Normally, I would agree, but these two will no doubt make another escape attempt in the future, and if they haven't already taken refuge at Maison Izumo...they soon will," replied Takami while Karasuba smirked.
"Well its a good thing my Ashikabi moved us all into a house right across from Miya," remarked Karasuba, which made Takami stop walking, and look at her in surprise.
"HE DID WHAT?!" yelled Takami while not liking this one bit.
If Miya felt threatened by this, she would raise all sorts of Hell, and Takami knew such a thing would be bad for everyone!
(Naruto's Home)
Naruto was practicing some of his moves when he heard the rumbling stampede of his four Sekirei running back to the house. Judging from the sound of noise made, they were neck and neck with each other, and was trying to win for the spot of sitting beside him at the dinner table. It only made them all the more desperate to win the shopping race when you consider there was only one open spot between the four of them.
SMASH!
BANG!
"We're home!" declared Musubi happily while opening up the gate and the door to the house cheerfully.
"Ah...home," commented Akitsu while standing beside Musubi.
"Me too! Damn I'm tired!" declared Uzume while panting slightly and made a tiny mental note to do a lot more running exercises to keep up.
"As...am...I," replied Tsukiumi upon entering and collapsing on the ground.
"Welcome back girls. Who won?" said Naruto moments later while Akitsu and Musubi now looked at each other.
"I don't know. It was pretty close," replied Musubi sheepishly.
"Ah...unknown," added Akitsu with Naruto nodding.
"Let's find out," replied Naruto before they went to Matsu's room with Matsu waiting for them.
"I take it you need to know who won the first of what will no doubt be many shopping races in the future?" asked Matsu with Naruto nodding.
"At the moment, we have a possible tie. We need a decisive tie breaker," replied Naruto with Matsu nodding before bringing up the hidden security cameras setup throughout the outside of the compound.
While watching the footage, Naruto felt a sweat drop forming in the back of his head at the sight of his Sekirei racing through the neighborhood to get home. Musubi left craters with her footprints with the amount of strength she was putting into her legs. Uzume was using her cloth to hold the groceries to lighten her load to run faster. Akitsu had thought up the idea of using her ice powers to slide on the ground and the act kicking up her skirt to show a lot of skin if not everything below the waist.
Kami knows how many accidents were caused from people staring at Akitsu's exposed lower body considering she didn't wear panties.
Perhaps he shouldn't have let her play Mortal Kombat and as the character Sub-Zero that one time to give Akitsu ideas for manipulating her ice powers.
As for Tsukiumi, she was the only one among them racing like Musubi san the footprint sized craters in the ground, and was trying to win the race honorable. Knowing what the water Sekirei could do, she could easily use her element to gain the lead by riding the water all the way home, and leave the others in the dust.
Or in the water. Take your pick.
At the moment, Naruto was focusing on the end of the race. Akitsu had clearly gained a small lead over Musubi near the finish line, but had to stop a pivotal moment to make a sharp turn just when Musubi arrived, and opened the gate before the two reach the front door. Watching the Musubi shove open the door, Naruto watched the fist fight rush into the house with Akitsu right beside her, and with the very noticeable means of claiming victory over the other.
Their difference in breasts sizes.
Apparently, Akitsu did a small jump at the last moment, puffing out her larger breasts at the last minute, and won the race by a pair of thin fabric covered nipples.
"No fair! Akitsu can't use her breasts to win!" protested Musubi while pouting at seeing Akitsu's larger chest outdid Musubi's to claim being the winner.
"Ah...its not cheating if they are a natural part of me," countered Akitsu with a hint of a smile on her face while Naruto nodding in agreement.
Like it or not, Akitsu had the larger chest, and used it accordingly to win the race.
"She's got you there Musubi-chan. However, I cannot in good conscious give either of you, or even Uzume the win based on what I just saw," replied Naruto to the shock of the girls in Matsu's room.
"Why not Naruto-sama?" asked Musubi looking confused and Akitsu wondering what she did to warrant the loss.
"Because you three all used your powers to try winning the race. Musubi, you were using the super strength your body possesses to run faster, and it shows clearly in the massive footprints left behind on the road. Uzume, you used your cloth to hold the groceries while you were running to make yourself go faster knowing it would lighten the load. And Akitsu...my innovative and clever Akitsu. You used your ice powers to slide through the city rather then do any of the actual running, knowing it would make you go faster. Now using your powers in a Sekirei battle is one thing, but also using them to win a shopping race?" explained Naruto with Musubi looking sad, Uzume looked sheepish, and Akitsu looked like she wanted to cry.
"So who wins the race?" asked Uzume before Naruto turned to Tsukiumi.
"Out of the four of you, only Tsukiumi raced from the house to the store, and back to the house without using her powers. Out of the four of you, she raced honorably the entire time, and thus earned the right to sit beside me for the rest of the week when eating," said Naruto while Tsukiumi was shocked, yet happy to hear such news.
"Ah...but I am Master's favorite," replied Akitsu while Naruto smiled at her and kissed the worried Sekirei's forehead gently.
"Yes Akitsu. And you still are my favorite. That will never change so don't worry your pretty head over it. However, you like the others, raced unfairly, and while you did win the race, it was done using your powers. Being my favorite doesn't mean I will let you win the shopping race unfairly. If anything, you are set to a higher standard, and must race accordingly in an honorable fashion. One of the secret reasons I wanted to do this shopping race was to see if you four could race without using your powers to win. A test of control. Of restraint. Tsukiumi was the only one who passed the test," replied Naruto with the four racers and Matsu looking stunned by this.
"Why didn't you tell us this before we raced?" asked Uzume while Naruto smirked.
"Because I wanted to see if you would do it of your own. Tsukiumi wanted to win the race honorably. To prove she could win without using her powers. In that regard, she succeeded since without the three of you using your powers while racing beside her, I think Tsukiumi would have won, or at the very least been close to winning the race," replied Naruto knowing he had a point.
"I'm sorry I used my powers Naruto-sama," said Musubi with her head down in shame of racing that displeased him before she looked up with determination and vowing to win the next race without using her super strength.
"Yeah. When you explain it like that, using your powers to win a shopping race is kind of sad," added Uzume while making a note to up her training to focus on running faster.
"Ah...I'm sorry to Ashikabi-sama," said Akitsu while hugging him and hoping he would forgive her for winning the race in such a dishonorable manner.
His hand snaking around to her butt and giving it a nice firm squeeze helped calm the ice Sekirei's fears on the matter.
"Cease thy holding of my husband! Thou lost the race! As victor, only I may hold Naruto in my arms!" demanded Tsukiumi while going into a tsundere pose and pointing a finger at Akitsu.
"Ah...you may have won the race, but you are still a concubine," remarked Akitsu while Tsukiumi fumed in anger at being told that.
"I dare thee to say that again!" demanded Tsukiumi while her hair moved around like it was alive.
Naruto sighed and would have said something to keep the two from fighting over him yet again, if not for the simple fact he sensed a presence entering the outside of his home. A bit curious, Naruto snuck away from his group of Sekirei, and walked outside to the front yard. Looking up, he saw the sight of a woman, clearly a Sekirei by the looks of things, looking down at him, and one thought came to the primordial God's mind.
This woman looked almost like Hinata! All she needed was the Byakugan and a slightly different shade of hair color.
"Can I help you?" asked Naruto curiously while Kazehana just smiled gently at him.
Again, the smile reminded Naruto of Hinata when she smiled at him all those years ago.
"My name is Kazehana. Miya told me all about you," replied Kazehana while Naruto smirked.
"I'm sure she did," remarked Naruto with Kazehana smirked before she moved with the wind at her command to land a few feet in front of him.
"Don't worry. I'm well aware of Miya's biased tendencies surrounding men. To her, the only male worth loving was her late husband Takehito," replied Kazehana while Naruto nodded.
"And what about you? Where do you exactly stand on the issue of love?" asked Naruto with Kazehana practically swirling around him using her natural affinity for the wind.
"I adore the concept of love! Finding that special someone who you can spend the rest of your life with! Finding that special someone who you can wake up in the morning to see everyday feel only joy in the moment that comes with the rising sun! Oh just love the power of love! Love! Its love! Yeah!" exclaimed Kazehana while acting very emotional right now.
'And I thought Gai and Lee acted weird when they talked about the Spring Time of Youth all day long with their damn hugs,' thought Naruto while watching Kazehana spin around in circles with the wind at her command.
Any more thoughts the matter stopped when Kazehana finally stopped spinning and was now face to face with Naruto to the point where their noses nearly touched. Her face was a bit red and she was giggling like a joke was told, though Naruto clearly didn't get the joke. There was also the distinct smell of alcohol on her breath so this meant Kazehana had been drinking quite a lot earlier.
"You fascinate me Uzumaki Naruto. The wind moves around you like a tempest. Coiled around your form waiting to be unleashed, yet remains calm until the moment it frees itself," whispered Kazehana while placing a hand on Naruto's face and caressing it in a loving manner.
'Is she simply reacting to me? Or is it this woman is just drunk?' thought Naruto since he felt...something from Kazehana, but it was vague, and felt some kind of strange barrier preventing him from making a connection on his end.
Was she the one he felt the other day? Was she the one who was reacting to him, but was unable to properly make a connection due to a previous Ashikabi rejecting her? Who for that matter would reject her? What stupid, insane, full of himself moron would reject this hot woman as their Sekirei? Who I ask you? Who?!
(With Minaka)
"ACHOO!" yelled Minaka before wiping his nose.
"What brought that on?" asked Takami since she wasn't expecting him to sneeze.
"Someone was obviously talking about me Takami-chan. Maybe it was Naruto-kun and his acceptance that my game is the greatest game of all when ascending to the heavens!" declared Minaka before laughing in his usual stupid way.
Takami only sighed and wondered if Kazehana actually got the better end of things in being rejected by Minaka in the past.
(With Naruto and Kazehana)
The tender moment between the two was ruined when a large amount of water descended on them and soaked both individuals to the bone. Sighing, Naruto looked behind him to see an infuriated Tsukiumi glaring daggers in their direction, but more at Kazehana then at himself, and behind the tsundere woman were his other Sekirei sans Karasuba. They had finally realized Naruto was not around for the growing argument between Akitsu and Tsukiumi so they went looking for him.
Only to see their Ashikabi with Kazehana with the woman so close to his person and of course Tsukiumi did not liking how the woman was touching him. She was just overly protective like that.
"How dare thee touch my husband! What business do thou have for being so close to him in such a manner?" demanded Tsukiumi while marching up to the wind Sekirei.
'That was close. I...I was reacting to him. I almost...I almost emerged,' thought Kazehana while wiping some of the water out of her hair.
"I demand an answer to thy actions. Speak!" exclaimed Tsukiumi while getting in the woman's face.
"Sorry about that. I was...simply caught in the moment there. I will see you around Shinto Teito Naruto-kun. Maybe you'll do what no one else has in a long time and finally catch the wild wind," replied Kazehana before she took a few steps backward and was suddenly gone moments later using the wind to vanish from their sight.
"That was...interesting," commented Naruto with a raised eyebrow before Tsukiumi was now in front of him with an angry face.
"Who was that vile wench that placed her hand upon thy face?" demanded Tsukiumi, as she looked ready to explode with rage, and jealousy over another woman touching her husband.
"That would be Kazehana. She's a Sekirei. Sekirei # 03 to be exact," answered Matsu for everyone since she knew Kazehana from their Discipline Squad days.
"Ah...she was reacting to Ashikabi-sama," remarked Akitsu while finding there was quite a sense of enjoyment in seeing Tsukiumi getting angry by this.
"Or she could just be drunk. I did smell alcohol on her breath," added Naruto while the blonde in front of him was not happy in the slightest.
"Why did thee allow that wench to touch your face?" demanded Tsukiumi angrily.
"It was spur of the moment thing Tsukiumi-chan. Besides, do you really think of me as a sleazy womanizer? Someone who would be unfaithful to you and the others here?" asked Naruto with Tsukiumi's face going from red with anger to red in embarrassment.
"I-I...of course not! I just...I was...," sputtered Tsukiumi before she was held tightly in a hug by Naruto that made her face get even redder.
"My Tsukiumi. My poor possessive and loving Tsukiumi," whispered Naruto into her ear and made the poor woman's face go atomic red.
"Husband?" asked Tsukiumi while he let out a long shush.
"Let's all go inside. Its almost lunch time. Don't you want to sit by your husband when its time to eat?" asked Naruto with a smile while Tsukiumi nodded since she was able to speak for a second.
"Y-Yes! Of course! I am thy wife and should sit beside thee at the head of the table!" stated Tsukiumi firmly while she was now standing beside Naruto his arm in the valley of her breasts and followed him back into the house and he motioned the others to follow.
Akitsu on the other side, casting a small glare at the others for trying to take her own spot regarding his remaining limb away.
"And with Kara-tan away working, Matsu-tan gets to sit next to Naruto-tan," commented Matsu while laughing her pervy laugh.
"What's this about you sitting beside Naruto-kun when eating?" asked Karasuba behind Matsu, who shrieked in fright, and ran into the house.
"You still got the magic touch Karasuba," commented Naruto with Karasuba grinning at him with her usual smile.
"I like to think my presence helps keep Matsu on her toes. Just because she's not living under Miya's roof anymore doesn't mean the girl can relax," remarked Karasuba while she enjoyed making the red haired pervert scream in fear.
It brought back some good memories.
"Speaking of Miya, I take it you are back early to give me some interesting news about the widow, or something closely related to her that comes from the M.B.I. higher-ups," surmised Naruto with Karasuba nodding.
"Yep! Though we can talk about that over lunch. No point in talking about business over an empty stomach," answered Karasuba with Naruto nodding since he was the same way.
(Maison Izumo-Sometime Later that Evening)
Seo was nervous. Very nervous. He almost didn't come inside simply because of who the neighbors to Miya now were. But his poor stomach and his natural habit of mooching of Miya had won out, if just barely. As for his two Sekirei, they were out by the veranda, gawking at the massive house, pointing, mumbling "Big. Very big." repeatedly, and were also weeping over the fact they didn't have a house like their neighbors.
What was he? Chopped liver? Sure he didn't have a steady job, or a lot of money from those jobs, and what money they had was usually spent on booze, but...well...where was he going with this?
"I can't believe it! The Discipline Squad led by Uzumaki Naruto is now living right next door. We are so screwed!" exclaimed Shigi while his Sekirei shook in fear to the point where the vibrating Sekirei looked like she might actually split into three people.
Across from him, Minato was also looking frightened too given how Naruto basically had quality and quantity in terms of winged Sekirei under his command. Poor Yashima was nervous since she knew Naruto was not one, who could be bested even by a well Sekirei of her substantial number. Kaho had her trusty Naginata ready, squeezing the weapon every so often to assure herself it was there, and glancing at the front door at the same time. Kusano was sitting on Minato's lap and holding onto him in an attempt to calm her Ashikabi and big brother since she felt how scared he was through the Sekirei bond.
"Calm down Shigi-kun. While what you say is true, Uzumaki Naruto does not go after other Ashikabi, and their Sekirei unless they break the rules. Also, I have a long standing agreement with M.B.I. regarding the Northern part of Shinto Teito. You are safe in my Inn. for a little while longer," replied Miya while sipping some tea calmly or what was the appearance calm.
But deep down she was anything but calm right now.
"Yeah. I guess you are right. But we can't stay in Shinto Teito. Kuno and I won't last long in this game. Even less with the Phantom Ashikabi living right next door!" replied Shigi while Kuno proceeded to faint at the mention of Naruto's given title.
"Miya-sama, could I ask you a hypothetical question?" asked Minato while Miya was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"That depends on the question. Provided it has nothing to do with your beastly desires for your Sekirei of course," replied Miya while giggling and saw how her words left the poor boy flustered with his two adult Sekirei blushing.
"No! Nothing like that! What I wanted to ask you was...do you think we could convince Uzumaki Naruto to...possibly help Shigi leave Shinto Teito? Or at the very least...ask him to look the other way while we try?" asked Minato with Miya becoming serious.
"Highly unlikely if you ask me," commented Homura, as he was also in the room with them lounging in the shadows, and brooding in secret since Takami had been unable to help the fire Sekirei in the slightest regarding the threat Naruto possessed.
"Now Homura you don't know that," commented Miya while Homura scoffed at the idea of someone at M.B.I. outside of Takami actually helping them thwart Minaka's plans for the Sekirei.
"Excuse me if my optimism isn't as high as everyone else's here due to the fact Uzumaki Naruto works for M.B.I. and winged the Black Sekirei to his side," replied Homura while his words made the Sekirei in the room outside of Miya and himself shiver.
"Not to mention he has a vast majority of the single numbers under his command too!" added Shigi nervously since he had seen them around in passing when out with Kuno and always ducked away with her out of fear of the possible battle.
"Still, I want to believe that Uzumaki Naruto's position at M.B.I. isn't one that hurts the Sekirei, but actually helps them. I just...I want to ask him for his advice. If he were really a bad guy, Kusano wouldn't have become my Sekirei, and she would have been winged by Mikogami," replied Minato with Kusano nodding in agreement.
"The kid does have a point. My two Sekirei could have been decimated by him from the start, but he let them off with a warning. Not only that, but he could have definitely taken Miya's head off, and removed the only obstacle preventing Minaka's Sekirei Plan from going into high gear," commented Seo while Miya nodded since what the piece of trash said was indeed true.
"Where is Kazehana? Shouldn't she be back by now?" asked Homura since it was getting late and the woman had already made it known she would be visiting more often.
"If I know Kazehana, she is out on the town like always. Drinking sake and mourning over past pain from a rejection done by her destined one," replied Miya while wondering if Kazehana's recent interaction with Naruto had made thing better or worse for the wind Sekirei.
"So she isn't reacting to anyone? Even now?" asked Kaho since she knew rejections for a Sekirei wanting to be winged were rare, but did happen, and they did mess with the Tama of the Sekirei because of the emotional pain delivered in the backlash of being rejected.
"Not that I know of. Not that she would even tell me of course. It is probably for the best though. Kazehana is a single number and very powerful despite being rejected by her at the time destined one," replied Miya since she knew that Minaka's rejection of Kazehana had made the poor wind Sekirei's pride as a strong beautiful woman go down quite a bit when the crazy man chose Takami to be his wife.
Though in retrospect, Kazehana was probably better off not being Minaka's Sekirei. But that was Miya's opinion on the matter.
"Well I think we need to speak to him. At the very least, I can go over there to see him, and find out where he stands regarding the Sekirei Plan as a whole," replied Minato with a determined look in his eyes.
He needed answers and Naruto seemed the best bet in getting them.
(Construction Sight-With Kazehana)
She was drinking sake. She always loved drinking sake. But for some reason, the evening drinking Kazehana did just wasn't appeal at the moment, and it made the woman sigh in a depressing manner. She had been rejected for how long now? Ten years? Maybe more? It seemed like a lifetime ago, but still Kazehana remembered the rejection by Minaka as if it was yesterday.
She was officially eight years old at the time, but her body's growth, and development had been accelerated greatly beyond that to a full grown adult. Minaka had done it as a means to aid Miya in defending the island from invasion by foreign powers. Instead of learning how to walk, talk, read, write, and do math like a normal eight year old should be doing...she became a child soldier with the body of a full grown adult.
And yes she killed people. Soldiers. All with a simple wave of her hand and command over the wind itself. The attack choppers crashed. Exploding. Killing humans, who died either from the crashes themselves, or were thrown all over the place on the jagged rocks of the entire island.
She still remembered their bodies becoming bloody smears all over the place. Hence why she started drinking to make the memories of those days go away.
Kazehana's intake of sake only increased that very day when approaching Minaka to be her Ashikabi and he said no. All because he wanted Takami. Kazehana never understood why he rejected her. Kazehana by that point knew she had a body most women, if not all women would be jealous of having, and had the sex appeal a horny succubus would feel envious seeing up close.
And yet Minaka still chose plain old Takami. Granted, the woman was not ugly by any means, but compared to Kazehana, the SIC of M.B.I. might as well be an old maid, and it hurt the wind Sekirei deeply.
After the painful rejection by Minaka, Kazehana left the Discipline Squad. She went on a world wide sake tasting tour, got smashed drunk at every turn, and tried to drown all of her sorrows away. Eventually, she came back to Shinto Teito, at the command of the man who rejected her because the Sekirei Plan was starting, and the Game Master needed all the game pieces on the board. Her included.
'Is that what I am to you Minaka? Just another game piece on the board? Is this Sekirei Plan more important then loving someone. Of someone loving you like I wanted to all those years ago? Is that why you chose Takami over me? Because she wouldn't smother you with love?' thought Kazehana while she drank some sake and stared up at the night sky.
The Moon was glowing nicely tonight.
"I never found drinking alone to be nice way to pass the time," commented Naruto while appearing beside Kazehana and somewhat shocked her in seeing him here.
"The voice of experience?" asked Kazehana with Naruto smiling.
"Actually yes. When you have lived as long as I have, the idea of drinking sake without a friend, or loved one gets old real fast," replied Naruto with Kazehana smirking slightly.
"I see. Where are the others? I doubt they let you leave the house without one of them around?" asked Kazehana while glancing around for Naruto's flock of Sekirei.
She was half expecting the blonde haired water Sekirei here ready to drench them just for having this conversation.
"I told them I needed to speak with you in private. They understand. Well...most of them understand," remarked Naruto since he had to spend time "taking care" of Tsukiumi in order to come here.
The exhausted woman would probably be angry later, but Naruto was certain his actions had bought him a get out of Tsukiumi's angry tsundere crosshairs free card.
Akitsu was the same way since she had been denied her victory during the shopping race and required he give the ice Sekirei his attention to show she was indeed still his favorite.
"Are you here to wing me?" asked Kazehana while Naruto sat down beside the woman.
"That depends. Are you having a reaction to me? You seemed like it for a second when we last spoke. Though it could have been the sake talking," remarked Naruto while he leaned back and sighed while glancing up at the Moon.
"I don't know. My heart aches from the past, yet yearns for something here in the present. To feel something for the future," whispered Kazehana while the wind picked up a bit and danced around her form.
"Minaka's rejection of you. Matsu told me all about it. Its bad enough the Adjustors went through a trial and error period with some of you, but for the guy at the top to say no to you is just...stupid on so many levels," replied Naruto while glancing at Kazehana.
"Would you have accepted me? If I was reacting to you?" asked Kazehana with a small hint of hope in her voice.
"If I were in Minaka's position when you asked him? Probably not. Or at least not at that particular moment in time. You were technically eight years old when you approached Minaka to be your Ashikabi, even if the body you possessed, and still do possess says otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I would have accepted you, but I also would have said to wait until you were of the right age annually before we bonded," answered Naruto with Kazehana smiling slightly.
"At least your answer is better then Minaka's when I was rejected. He chose Takami over me," remarked Kazehana with a sense of bitterness in her voice.
"And to add insult to injury, Takami had two children from his bloodline. Sahashi Minato for a son and Sahashi Yukari for a daughter. I already met one already. Nice boy. A bit spineless when in the face of adversity. But his heart is in the right place when it comes to taking care of his three Sekirei. I don't know much about the girl. She has a Sekirei herself, but I doubt either one knows of the other being part of the game," commented Naruto with Kazehana frowning slightly.
"Did you ever feel rejected by someone you loved?" asked Kazehana curiously.
"The story of my life. Or rather my childhood. I had this crush on a girl when I was kid. I thought the world of her. I asked her out so many times in a single day, you would think I was broken record, or damn parrot repeating the same thing over and over again," replied Naruto sadly at the memories of his childhood.
"What happened?" asked Kazehana while Naruto smirked.
"She rejected me each time. And she gave each rejection the same way when I asked her out in the form of her fist to my face. I wasn't well liked as a child growing up so I kind of yearned for the attention regardless of how it was packaged and sent my way. Even if it was the rejection by this girl each time I asked her out. Only one girl liked me growing up and I was too damn dense, if not dumb to see it until much later in life. In the end, I was actually kind of glad the first girl I had a crush on rejected me. It allowed my eyes to be eventually opened and find the one girl who would love me for me regardless of my personal flaws," replied Naruto with Kazehana looking surprised by this.
"So you're saying you were better off being rejected by your first crush if not first love?" asked Kazehana while Naruto smirked.
"Yeah. I know you are a believer in finding love from what Matsu told me. But you have to understand not all first crushes and loves we meet don't turn out the way we want them to be in life. Minaka rejected you and your love for him. He was an idiot for doing that to you. The same way the first girl I crushed and loved was an idiot for rejecting me for the emo brooding jerk she eventually married. The guy she loved always wondered about, barely spending time with her, or the kid they had together. I was more of Father figure to their daughter then the broody jerk ever was when around. In the end, this girl's loss was my gain. I eventually found love with someone who loved me back. Minaka's loss at not having you for a Sekirei is your personal gain because now you can find an Ashikabi who will love and appreciate you no matter what," answered Naruto in a sagely manner.
"Perhaps. But who would want me? A rejected Sekirei? If Minaka could reject me for someone like Takami so easily, who is to say my next potential destined one will do the same for someone else? Another Sekirei? Or even another human? I couldn't take another rejection like that. Could you?" asked Kazehana with Naruto smiling sadly.
"No. I suppose not. Which is why I spent all the time I could with my wife. Every time she needed me for something, I was there no matter how busy I was at work. When she was pregnant? I was there. When she was sick? I was there. Giving birth to our children? I was there. I made sure my wife knew how much I loved her and appreciated the fact she didn't look elsewhere for a boyfriend or husband. Especially when there were plenty of other male candidates to be in relationship with that at the time were considered superior to me," replied Naruto while sighing in remembrance of his late wife.
"She must have been really special," commented Kazehana while Naruto looked up at the Moon.
"Yes. She was special. After my wife died, I mourned her for years. I didn't date any of the women around me following her death and I had many offers. In fact, I haven't been in a relationship since Akitsu used her Tama to reach out for her Ashikabi, and got me of all people in the process," remarked Naruto while Kazehana looked surprised by this.
"And does Akitsu feel threatened by her memory? Being a former 'Scrapped Number' and all?" asked Kazehana while Naruto shook his head.
"No. I made peace with my wife's death a long time ago. She will always be in my heart, but Akitsu nor the others in my flock have anything to fear from my late wife's memory," said Naruto while Kazehana smiled now.
"I believe you. Which is why I propose a means to test whether you are worthy of being my Ashikabi," remarked Kazehana while standing up and stretching her limbs out.
And showing off her enticing breasts.
"A test? As long as its not a written one, I'm game for it," remarked Naruto while getting off the steel beam.
"A race. From here to Maison Izumo. If you can catch me before I get there, I'm yours," replied Kazehana while the wind picked up around her.
"Now that is a challenge I can get behind," remarked Naruto with a grin on his face.
Without another word spoken between them, the two were racing through Shinto Teito, and heading for Maison Izumo. Kazehana moved quickly, using her natural connection to the wind to move at incredible speeds. Naruto being a natural in terms of his affinity for wind himself used his own connection to the element and was hot on her trail. They made a game of it to be sure, as they raced throughout the city, deliberately avoiding the North simply because somewhere along the way...they were having way too much fun!
Kazehana was actually laughing happily at being chased by Naruto. It had been so long since she had fun with someone. The last time had been with Matsu when they got drunk together and the red head had accidently used her powers to access the Internet to look at many different kinds of porn stored there.
Hence why Matsu was the pervert she was today.
But this was different for Kazehana. Her heart didn't ache right now with pain. There was only joy in her heart. She was happy. For the first time since leaving the Discipline Squad all those years ago following Minaka's rejection, Kazehana was truly happy.
The happy feeling only increased when Naruto got close and tackled her onto the roof of a nearby building with him rolling their bodies until his was on top.
"Looks like I win Kaze-hime," remarked Naruto with Kazehana blushing heavily at his words.
"Flatterer. Even if you didn't win the race, I would have gladly become your Sekirei. I could feel it when we first met. It was faint, but the connection was there, and I wanted it so much," whispered Kazehana while Naruto smirked at her and was now nose to nose with the woman.
"Yes, that I am. But I'm your flatterer. I'm your Ashikabi now," replied Naruto before he kissed the woman and winged her right on the spot.
"Wind of my pledge, blow away the dark clouds that befall my Ashikabi!" Kazehana had openly declared for the whole city to hear.
And for the first time in a very long time...Kazehana was truly happy to know love from her destined one. No more heartache. No more pain. She finally felt complete inside.
"Let's go home Kaze-hime. I have to properly introduce you to the others before we can consummate our marriage," whispered Naruto in a hungry tone and it made Kazehana shiver.
"What about the angry one? Won't she object to our marriage?" asked Kazehana with a smirk on her face knowing Tsukiumi would be throwing a temper tantrum.
"She's currently asleep. I spent a good portion of the afternoon into the evening with her after our encounter. The poor woman won't know anything until the next morning," said Naruto while Kazehana smirk grew.
"Such a sneaky husband I've gained. What will I do?" questioned Kazehana in a "tragic" tone of voice.
"What indeed?" asked Naruto with a sly grin on his face.
"Miya was right. You are a perverted beast," commented Kazehana while Naruto's grin just got even wider.
"Damn right I am," whispered Naruto before he kissed her again.
'I could get use to this,' thought Kazehana before she felt herself and Naruto moving via Kamui back to his house.
And onto an empty bed with Naruto grinning down at her.
Oh yes. She could get use to this.
(A/N: YAY! Another update. Hope you enjoyed this since I made it a super long chapter for you guys. Until next time...PEACE!)
