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Ryu changed his clothes as he said he would and headed downstairs with a grinning Uzume who had her arms snaked around his neck as he carried her bridal style with an annoyed expression on his face. She asked him to carry her saying that her legs were tingly, well she never let that stop her before and her subtle kisses didn't help his opinion much on the matter he didn't want Miya to give him a lecture or something along those lines Uzume just didn't listen, none of his Sekirei did for that matter they had a rebellious streak from here to Madagascar.
But despite the distraction his mind was still hazy, that dream or nightmare whichever name could be used to describe it was more. It was like an ominous warning, why was it Yashima. What did she have to do with anything?
Nothing, she had nothing to do with if anything he tried keeping her out of harm by any means, she was frail and indecisive a terrible combination and to add to that she was obsessive, how she made it as long as she did before he saved her always flew over his head, if any Sekirei caught her off guard they'd have an easy time beating her that hammer was a positive and negative, the negative was simple it was only good for one blow. Growling her shoved the thought away heading down to flight of stairs, the wood creaked every so often keeping him aware and not digging through his thoughts.
He wasn't surprised to see the kitchen area packed with people, Minato and his Sekirei having their usual banter and Matsu giggling at the scene. He suppressed the urge to frown, he didn't like her getting so involved with the ronin, maybe it was jealousy but he just didn't like it. There was just something about Minato that irritated him, though it wasn't personal and he pushed the feeling aside every time he seen the ronin they were enemies in the end. Yomi and Nanaha helped cook as they always did, there was a feast laid out on the table and all of the smells wafted through the walls, Kazehana had a bottle of sake in her hand as she rested her head in her palm talking with Miya and Kagari about random things with Uzume joining in, Toyotama and Ahiko were talking about something that had to do with fighting he was glad to see the two getting along finally, Hari spoke animatedly with Musubi about what he wasn't sure since there were so many different conversations going on, Karei spoke with Uzume for the most part the two joking with Kazehana and talking about the past, and lastly Yashima stared at him with those doe eyes as she talked to Nanaha.
He didn't feel hungry, seeing those eyes her face. He remembered what he considered to be a dream, that voice so much malice and hostility and she was there. A part of it, it put him on edge. Why Yashima out of all of his Sekirei she wasn't the strongest that went to Miya and Karasuba without a single question in his mind, then there was Uzume, Ahiko, and Toyotama who were all abnormally strong, and fast but had a certain grace as they fought then there was Yomi she had a weapon and could to some extent use wind as her weapon, That said Yashima wasn't the most impressive. Miya who was laughing behind her hand noticed Ryu's absent look as he put one piece of food in his mouth at a time, which was odd when in all honesty he had no manners what so ever. But as far as showing any emotion he wasn't doing that, as usual he kept a studied yet blank face.
Kami he was losing it...
Ryu.
He glanced at her with slightly wide eyes hearing her voice in his mind as if she were talking to him with her mouth. He was sure that was her voice, but how did Miya do this when all of his Sekirei Matsu included couldn't do it. I know more than the others do, I am Number 01 after all. Her sweet voice echoed again as she seemed to read his mind sending him a small smile that made his stomach turn into knots, Kami how did she do that to him?
I'm alright Miya... I'm just...
No need to explain I understand. I do need a few things from the store, cooking for all of these people has sapped some of my supplies. Miya smiled excusing herself from her spot walking swiftly into the next room and turning left disappearing.
"So you going to say something?" Toyotama asked raising an eyebrow at her Ashikabi as she bit into a sausage looking at him expectantly. Well, he was never one for too much words but he supposed even he was being abnormally quiet.
"I'm just a little tired..." Ryu lied smoothly, well it wasn't a complete lie he didn't get much sleep last night and woke up drenched in sweat. It wasn't pleasant to say the least. Toyotama looked at him for a moment before shrugging and going back to eating. He wasn't expecting that.
"Ryu um..." Yashima spoke timidly but shuddered when he sent her a glare that literally knocked the air from her lungs. "Are you okay?" She asked looking at him with big eyes. Ryu was struggling to answer that honestly, too much was happening and he didn't have enough answers. In fact he was getting no answers after running around the city a few days ago he was coming to the conclusion that he shouldn't give two shits about this anymore, and how could he tell her about that dream or nightmare he had... He couldn't/
"Yeah" He muttered causing her eyes to widen slightly before she looked back at her food and continued to eat struggling to hold her suspicious gaze away from him. He didn't care honestly about her suspicions and wasn't going to answer anymore questions regarding the subject. He just needed some air time to think and clear his head of all the fuzziness that was putting a haze over everything. He only hoped that Yashima wouldn't pry and try to talk to him about this later on, she had a bad habit of prodding for more when there simply wasn't more to give or just he couldn't tell her.
"Ryu, Miya needs some more things." Ahiko's chipper voice broke him out of train of thought, he turned to look at his childhood friend with a blank expression noticing Miya back in her seat with a piece of paper extended to him. "I'll come with I'm done anyways, you don't mind Hari?"
"Not at all." Hari beamed a smile.
Ahiko clapped her hands standing up from her seat, taking her dirty dishes with her. She felt somewhat obligated to do so, there were so many people in the Inn she was going to need help with the dishes. Not that Yomi or Nanaha didn't help with the house chores every day, she felt better pulling her own weight around the Inn, though she noticed it would be getting crammed soon Minato showed no signs of stopping at three Sekirei. But, that was a talk for another time she doubted Ryu was thinking about living arrangements everything but living arrangements from the vibe she was getting, but she wasn't a nosy person in general but maybe she should ask him. As the saying goes you can't bottle things inside. Ahiko was dressed in one of Ryu's t-shirts most likely one of the several she stole when she first moved her with a pair of sweatpants and tennis shoes. Ryu wore his usual attire which consisted of a losse fitting kimono, hakama, a matching obi, zori and white tabi unlike before when he made the mistake of not bringing his sword he brought it with.
The day was hot, the air was thick with moisture and humidity he could practically taste it and the heat constantly bearing down on his thick hair was a constant reminder, but there was a breeze that broke everything back to even it wasn't too hold nor too chilly. He took the time to relax keeping his eyes on the patches of clouds overhead this was what he needed to clear his thoughts for the day, peace and quiet something that was very rare during this time. Ahiko hummed to herself as she to observed her surroundings with a curious glint in her eyes her head craning from side to side, both walked in peaceful silence enjoying the other's company. Ahiko's presence was like a soothing blanket that calmed his racing thoughts and steadied his heart, it was such a relief that he had Ahiko with him despite being life long friends she was kind, patient, intelligent, caring, kind and at times tender but piss her off and you'd have hell on wheels coming for you.
"So..." Ahiko said breaking the silence whistling lightly. "Who was your first Sekirei?" She looked at him with her head titled to the side.
"Uzume." He answered without missing a beat, he recalled that day very vividly and soon learned that Uzume and that pervert Matsu were two trouble makers. "It kind of just happened, I woke up at the Inn and she was there at my side and then just kissed me."
Ahiko looked confused for a moment. "But you kissed her back, right?"
"Yeah," he said slowly that day was just one giant mess and the days that followed after. The last thing he was concerned with was fighting the advances of Uzume. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know I just watch how you and them interact with each other, it's rather cute and curious the dynamics are far reaching. I'm actually quite surprised I wouldn't expect each relationship to vary like they do." Ahiko replied turning her focus forward on the road ahead clasping her hands behind her head. "Don't misunderstand I don't mind and think you love one or more of them more than me, some things are out of our control." She shrugged absently.
Ryu looked at her for a moment with an arched eyebrow. Well he was happy to hear that Ahiko wasn't jealous in any sense but she wasn't the jealous type and didn't need to exactly tell him that for him to know, going off their link alone she was a constant soother calm and serene yet there was a bold and energetic feel to it. But, relationships he pondered that for a second he never intentionally tried to treat his Sekirei any different, sure they all had their own quirks, likes, interests, and dislikes; some of them namely Miya and Karasuba dislikes ran very deep but he never tried to treat anyone different he was just forward and honest at times a bit blunt and lecherous. "Dynamics?" He asked quietly. "I never.. Looked at it like that."
"You mean when Matsu is trying to fluster you and you play along you don't see it like that? Or when Toyotama is done training with Miya or one of the others and cups her hand over your mouth and nose to drag you to the bath house? Or when Yomi is tidying up your room wearing one of Uzume's costumes? Or when Uzume herself is purposely wearing too little?" Ahiko asked in one breath leaving out a few names not needing to go any further seeing realization dawn on Ryu's face was enough of an answer. "Ryu."
He looked at her his head heavy with more thoughts. "Ye?"
"Regardless I am going to stay with you until the end." And she wasn't talking about some stupid game devised by some maniac or a battle royal with what she considered her sisters, she'd never fight Hari yet alone the others. No, they were life long friends, they grew up together and they were going to grow old together. "Don't change." She whispered interlacing her fingers with his holding his hand tightly and leaning her head on his shoulder sighing softly.
"I won't." Ryu said uncertainly, giving her hand a small squeeze. "So what does Miya need?"
"Mmm.." She hummed softly rummaging through her pocket and pulling out the slip of paper. "Milk, eggs, bacon, juice, fish, daikon radishes, onions, beef, a couple big bags of rice, and... Sake." She blinked a few times She was a little confused on the last part, didn't they sell rice in the bag like on the country side? Judging from how many different cell phones one person had, and different shoes and boots (Hari) she concluded there would be different packaging for rice. More importantly why would Miya want them to buy sake she didn't seem like a drinkr, maybe on holidays and occassion but she put a dozen bottles, a dozen bottles.
"A dozen bottles of sake?" Ryu blanched. "Why would she need that much?"
"She didn't say."
"What the hell I thought it was supposed to be a fight?" Benitsubasa grumbled, she stood next to Haihane just to the side of Karasuba an irritated scowl marking her features. She didn't know why Koto decided to stand on the ground level about seven rows behind the front one when there were stands and seats several floors above them lining it entirely. The snacks she bought were hardly doing anything and serving more as buttery goo than popcorn she grimaced shaking her hand violently.
"Relax would ya?" Haihane said in a cheerful tone, as she let out a loud yell of applause followed by hundreds of others, the volume grew to ringing heights, each shout echoing and bouncing off of the walls around them.
"They're human Benitsubasa." Koto said in a dry manner not turning to look back at her. She had been non stop since they left, no before they left. That just seemed to be Benitsubasa loud, obnoxious, and aggressive hostile by nature. How many times he had to dodge her fist or recover for a few days after a vicious spar he'd lost count after the tenth. Why couldn't see be more like Haihane quiet, humorous at times and laid back.
"I know that!" She muttered sending him a heated glare.
"Then be quiet and watch." Koto almost snapped, not missing her tone at all.
"Enough the next fight is going to begin." Karasuba's voice cut through the air like a knife the two bright haired Sekirei silencing themselves for now. Haihane covered her mouth the best she could snickering every few seconds, and she didn't feel bad about it at all.
"Everyone! The betting windows are going to close in just a few seconds if any and all of you wish to place a bet go and do so now!" A voice boomed over a microphone eliciting a deafening chorus of applause and shouts, several thuds reverberated through the buildings as patrons stomped their feet on the floor. "This will be the sixth match, and it will be great. In one corner we have six people armed with swords and chains, six people I remind you!" He paused reveling in the atmosphere. "And in the other, he has been undefeated since the beginning!"
Karasuba felt a flare in the back of her mind it wasn't anything to be concerned about, but there was someone relatively powerful that entered the room. His or her energy coating the room thickly, she glanced at her subordiantes. Koto's eyes flicked in every direction searching for the cause of the flare, she nodded slightly he was more mindful than the other two, Haihane was screaming and cheering with the crowd having pushed her way a little ways further, and Benitsubasa was fuming still but looked curious standing near Haihane; it was a surprise the two weren't arguing. "Who do you think it is?"
Koto's eyes settled several feet away, seeing a path being slowly cleared out for whoever was coming, he narrowed them slightly. "I think we don't need to ask." He said, catching a mane of extremely long, and wild black hair, he would laugh at how ridiculous it looked but he remembered his abnormally bright and colored hair so he couldn't be one to talk. The man looked powerful the way he carried himself but he couldn't be older than twenty five, he was tan skinned and had piercing yellowish eyes, it was kind of weird like Beni's red eyes the little devil. He had a muscular build he was built like a house but wasn't too massive, his attire consisted of dark gray hakama held together with a white obi, he wore a plain black kimono and a dark blue haori over it, not quite like Karasuba's but more like his, and both sides of waist rested four katanas. Well. He looked thoughtful as he examined the man, he was definitely a real fighter. It was hard to describe a person's energy but his was ghastly; it almost reminded him of Karasuba when she wasn't holding anything back namely her blood lust. Haihane thought it was funny when some idiot pissed his pants, Karasuba had that effect on people.
"That guy needs a haircut." Benitsubasa commented loudly, obnoxiously in Koto's opinion.
"I don't know I kind of like it." Hahihane retorted. "
"You would."
Koto just shook his head for the life of them they couldn't get along and it fell on him to keep them in line. Karasuba didn't have any energy or patience for their folly, and Koto did not want to see an angry Karasuba. "Hmm.." He glanced t Karasuba hearing her murmur.
"He's not weak like the rest of these monkeys." She commented not meeting his eyes but instead focused towards the ring, a small grin on her face. "Six on one that's terrible odds, even if he does have a sword." She chuckled taking a few steps closer. "This I have to see." Koto smirked as he walked forward well he couldn't argue with that logic.
The six gathered warriors were all massive, varying in skin tones but all were in the lighter shade of complexion, compared to their opponent; they were also much more massive their bodies rippling with muscles but they were much larger and engorged, they also stood several inches to a whole foot taller than the wild haired man. Their weapons varied but all of them would take advantage of their size and mass one had an ax, while three settled on chains, another had a long lead pipe and the last and largest man had a long truck chain whirling it around menacingly.
Ryu adjusted the grocery bag on his arm letting out a soft sigh as he followed Ahiko down an aisle of a costume shop. Yeah, a costume shop he never seen an array of erotic, revealing, and nose bleeding outfits in his life there was everything from Batman all the way to Phoenix most of the outfits were latex and skin tight they didn't have any boots, more like those slip on footy pajamas that was a one piece and zipped up all the way, except these had no zippers. Ryu wondered why Ahiko stopped here, she wasn't the type to wear this kind of clothing, her outfit said that already, unless this was for one of their nights, but even then..
"Um, Ahiko." He looked away from a bondage outfit.
"Mhm." She hummed turning to look at him, on her arm was slung at least a dozen different costumes some with masks. "What's up?" She tilted her head looking at her selection. "Is it one of the costumes?"
"Why are you getting them?" He asked more to himself than to her.
"Oh, well Hari asked me to get some, she wanted me to wear them." Here she shrugged though her eyes looked almost pleading as if she was about to endure some horrible torture or wanted a toy and couldn't have it. "Hari says I have no fashion sense and well..." Ahiko sighed. "She wants me to wear heels and skirts and that's just not me." She shrugged again though she looked defeated. "But I can't say no to her."
"Well... You can." Ryu said carefully raising an eyebrow, why exactly couldn't she say no? He said no all the time to his Sekirei, like when they decided to sneak into his room and he personally carried them back to their rooms Toyotama was notorious for her late night visits, and Miya wasn't very lenient on the subject he even got punished for her escapades, which wasn't fair considering he was asleep. But he still said no, denied whatever she wanted, why couldn't Ahiko do that it's not like she was bound to Hari. "It's not like she's got a chain on your neck."
"Oh Ryu-kun." Ahiko said lightly shaking her head spreading her bangs out over her eyes. He was always so forward and blunt when he spoke, it was one of the things she loved about him, but at times like this he could be more tact. "You mean you don't want to see me in skirts and high heels? Maybe a tube top like Hari's, or more low cut...?" She stared at him rubbing her finger on her chin in mild thought, the truth was she did wear those in the room she shared with Hari that girl loved clothes and decided to dress her up.
"Well. I..." Ryu looked sheepish struggling to keep his mind on track and not of images of Ahiko wearing an outfit like Hari's her perfect ass and legs on show just for him her skin glowing vibrantly, her small waist and perfectly shaped breasts. He unconsciously bit his lower lip, more of an act to restrain himself than anything. "I couldn't complain.." He said lamely, Miya's right I am a lecherous beast.
"Don't worry it'll be between us 'kay?!" She beamed at him holding her pinky finger out waiting for him to interlock with her's. Ryu stared at her for a moment before smiling despite himself interlocking his finger with her's.
"Pinky promise."
"Pinky promise."
Koto retreated from Karasuba, climbing onto a tall and long piece of cement that just a few people were sitting on drinking beer or something along those lines, he knew they contained alcohol that much was certain going off of the heavy smell alone, but he didn't let it bug him or distract him from the fight; his eyes stayed peeled ahead of him arms folded over his muscular chest. "Now, let's see it." He mumbled to himself feeling the air get thick and tense.
"Are you ready?" The announcer pointed to the wild haired man who gave a small nod his expression remaining cold, "and you?" He pointed to the six massive men getting shouts of grunts of confirmation as they stepped forward their bodies so heavy they shook the ground. "We'd spare you junior but we have our own problems to solve." The one with the blonde hair said slamming the pipe down by his feet in a show of intimidation, he let out a growl when his opponent didn't even budge.
"Not talking eh?" Another one sneered raising his chain over his head increasing its speed with flicks of his wrist. "Come on!" He roared charging forward, his arm darting to the side with the chain trailing right behind it, the crowd that had been silent erupted in a chorus of noise and stomps deafening his own war cry. The wild haired man gripped the hilt of his sword, darting forward with unreal speed scything it forward and up, a loud scream pierced the air as blood splattered across the ground the man held his side n a futile attempt to survive, blood gushed from the wound and chips of the bone could be seen.
"Damn it!" The largest man roared charging forward with his partners, his axe raised over his head as his eyes took on a crazed look. "You won't wind boy!" He swung the axe down just as he reached the wild haired man. It impacted with the ground rattling the foundation of the building and sending cracks out in every direction.
"GYAAHH!" Cries of agony followed one by one seconds apart as blood flew overhead like geysers, Koto could only watch in shocked astonishment. That speed and precision, seeing that was rare in a swordsman usually one had speed or precision not both each of them were different types of training and one normally devoted their time to one aspect of the art rather than many. It solved issues in the beginning but created more as time went on and one area laxed over the other .
"This could be the person..." He muttered to himself leaping from his perch towards the ground.
"Long winded trash." The wild haired man said coldly flicking his wrist to the side ridding his sword of the blood dripping from it. He turned his back to the carnage he left behind strolling through the crowd that quickly parted a path for him, he didn't spare a glance in their direction keeping his eyes focused forward.