Okay some people may be wondering about the time and its flows the last few chapters. Minato and his Sekirei arrived to the bridge around 7:00-9:30 AM. The battles lasted a good four to six hours.
"This isn't what I was expecting to see..." Ryu muttered as he glanced around.
His mind scape was completely in ruins-destroyed. The once rolling and expansive hills were charred and a blackened as coal. The blue sky that permeated everything was something completely different. It was dark and gray with dark rolling clouds. The horrid stench of burned earth reached his nostrils. However, the landscape itself hadn't gone through any changes. It just looked and smelled awful, and felt like a twister ran through it.
"I suppose it does fit the way I feel at the moment." Ryu muttered to himself, walking up a hill. Ryu almost lost his breath as he found his master before him. The older man lying on his back with his hands cupped behind his head. Ryu guessed he was asleep, he still breathed well, but there was some struggle he could tell. The greenish orb that floated around his master was there as well, though it appeared to be less energetic than usual. It still hovered above his master's head, but it was nearly completely still, the surface moving sluggishly.
"I won't be getting any answers from him soon." Ryu said with a light groan as he sat on the ground. "You two seem okay." He lifted his hands up to his shoulders. Uzume's bond wasn't effected. Whatever had happened in here didn't have any lasting effect if any on Uzume. Ryu was relieved with that at least. He wasn't sure if he could ever forgive himself if he hurt Uzume with his mistake. However, that relief was cut short as he turned staring at shattered remains of the bond he shared with Yashima, Nanaha, and Yomi. There were three orbs with fragments floating off, Ryu noticed as each orb withered away, fragmenting and dissolving.
"Damn it!" Ryu clenched his teeth. The anger hit him, and hit him hard. "Damn it, no!" Not Yashima-chan!
Yomi, Yashima, and Nanaha were no more.
"Hey idiot..." A voice called out.
Ryu turned and looked up. His master was standing a few inches from him, a tired look in his eyes. Ryu guessed it was taking everything he had just to stand.
"You need rest." Ryu said stubbornly, he didn't want anything else going wrong.
"I tried containing the explosion the best I could." He glanced over at the withering remains of Yomi, Yashima, and Nanaha. "It would seem I didn't contain enough."
Ryu shook his head ruefully, he wasn't going to let his master take the blame. "You did everything you could. I told you to sever the connection. It's my fault."
Ryu seethed. "If I had thrown everything I had at Koto from the beginning maybe I could have..."
"It's not your fault, kid." His master said with a firm tone. He simply did what Ryu told him to do, and Ryu did what he thought was best at that time. He didn't need to shoulder anymore blame than he already was, he wanted Ryu to focus on recovering fully.
"It shouldn't happen at least." His master said, closing his eyes for a moment. "Those bonds there are connected to me." As he said this Ryu glanced over at the orbs representing his bonds with the others. The fragments of Yashima's was still dissolving, her's was dissolving a bit slower than Yomi's and Nanaha's. It was strange to think that somehow she was hanging on, but it was hoprless her orb would dissolve just like Yomi's and Nanaha's. "Thanks." Ryu said quietly.
A grunt escaped his master's lips as he turned and laid back down in his previous spot closing his eyes and falling into a slumber.
With his master sleeping Ryu slipped out of his mind scape. He could mourn tonight properly, when they were at the safety of his home.
Ryu opened his eyes, grunting softly as he became hyper aware. His eyes dashed around the room falling onto Takami who sat in a chair with a clipboard in her hand and a mysterious look on her face. "Good, you're awake." She looked at Ryu, staying silent.
"Where am I?" He groaned, sitting up ignoring the look Takami was shooting him. He gathered he was in a hospital, but this didn't look like the Hiyama Kai where Uzume went and Chiho was residing.
"A hospital MBI owns." Takami answered looking at him pointedly. "You should take it easy, you had seven broke ribs, a fractured elbow, and a concussion."
Ryu nodded, he sure felt like he sustained those injuries. He sighed, resting a hand in his thick hair, he felt... Empty. It was hard to describe, but something felt missing. "Where are my Sekirei?" He asked a moment later, casting out his senses as he did so sensing several life forces nearby. Takami closed her eyes for a moment, man did she need a cigarette, it was going to be a pain trying to cover up this bridge incident.
"They're in the rooms nearby." Takami replied, seeming uninterested in that subject. She opened up her mouth to speak, but shut it not going to speak the words. Yashima, Yomi, and Nanaha were terminated-level four. Yashima was sliced through collarbone to the abdomen and Yomi was struck right in the sternum. Yume made an appearance according to Karasuba who was increasingly getting aggressive.
"They're okay?"
Takami nodded, understanding why he was asking. "They're injuries were bad, some look worse than they actually are." She wrote down something on her sheet of paper, setting the clipboard down and giving Ryu a serious look.
Ryu nodded. He looked at his torso noticing the thick bandages wrapped around his entire torso, there was some blood staining them but nothing too gory. It seemed he was going to be in here for a moment and that he did not want. "You may want to listen to what I have to say." Takami narrowed her eyes. "I'm not going to mince words with you." This caused Ryu to raise an eyebrow. "Takami held up a diagram of a spine, Ryu gave it a pointed look. "As you can see in this there are 33 vertebrae-I won't bore you with the technicalities of it, but this is a human spine."
Ryu nodded.
Takami shuffled the picture away, and held up another one-this one looked particularly different it was longer for one. "This is a Sekirei's spine." She pointed to several spots on the spinal column. "You'll notice there are over twice as much vertebrae compared to a human's." Ryu looked more closely nodding his head in understanding, the difference was dramatic. "There has to be about... Seventy five."
"Eighty three." Takami corrected. With her point made she shuffled the picture away, and pulled out another one. She fixed Ryu with a serious look again. "This s your spine as you can see in comparison to a human's you have almost twice as much as they do-in comparison to a Sekirei you have substantially less. Seventy five as you said." Takami frowned as a thought passed through her mind, this was strange, and it got stranger with Yume around, she had no idea she was alive and well. Fucking Minaka!
"I'm going to take some of your blood, if that's okay." Takami stood up walking to his side.
Ryu looked uncomfortable. "I'm going to pass."
"I'm not taking a lot, just a little sample enough to study." Takami explained further.
"When you put it like that I don't want to at all." Ryu scowled.
Takami chuckled softly, looking away from Ryu. "Oh, I had no idea you're afraid of needles."
"I'm not!" Ryu snapped defensively, tensing for a moment before collapsing on his back. Takami took her shot and stabbed through his arm before he could start thrashing.
"I guess you're not." Takami said with a triumphant look. She carefully extracted some of his blood, moving towards the side area and rummaging through a rather large cabinet storing it in a bag.
"You haven't told Minato that you work here, huh?" Ryu asked. Takami bristled and he resisted the urge to smirk.
"I haven't." She said lowly.
"Of course." Ryu waved her off. "Where is he anyways?"
"In a room down the hall, recovering." Takami got up, walking towards the door and opening it. "If you can manage it. You can walk around, but leaving the hospital is prohibited until you're fully recovered."
Minato wearily blinked his eyes open, flinching back from the light beaming above him. He turned his head to his left and his right. He was alone, which was something entirely new to him. "It's over, finally." He mused softly, relaxing into his bed careful to keep his breathing in check. He felt like he had a few bruised ribs. "Where am I?"
He turned towards the door hearing the knob click. Surprise in his eyes as he seen Takami step through giving him a plain look before walking towards him. "How are you feeling?" She asked glancing over his vitals making sure everything was in order.
"Mom, you work here?" Minato asked ignoring her first question and answering with one of his own questions. "You said you worked at a pharmaceutical company." He glanced around spotting three letters. "You work at MBI? Since when?"
"Ah, that..." Takami laughed softly, running a hand through her hair. "Well, I lied." She said as if it was normal.
Minato started sulking, muttering incoherently.
"Stop your moping and answer my question." Takami said with a sigh. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay, I guess..." He felt like he had been hit by a trunk. Though he wasn't fighting the debris flying around smacked him several times. He rubbed his torso carefully, a thought entering his mind. "Where are Musubi-san, Kuruse-san, and Tsukiumi-san?" He asked noticing just how quiet it was. He had winged Kuruse without Tsukiumi knowing it, it being so quiet was strange.
"Recovering in the rooms nearby." Takami answered, fixing him with a stern gaze. "You still have that job?"
"No..." Minato felt himself deflate. Though it's not like he quit or was fired. "Can I go see my Sekirei?"
Takami shook her head negatively. "At this moment you can not. I need to run more tests to make sure there's no longstanding effects or issues in regards to your condition and recovery." There were several things she had to monitor like heart rate, brain activity, oxygen levels and things of that nature.
"Effects?" Minato asked.
"Like brain damage from a lack of oxygen." Takami suggested with a shrug that made Minato sigh mentally. "Any splinters from your bones. Make sure that's not circulating through your bloodstream."
"That's a good point..." Minato admitted as a fierce growl surprised them both.
"I'll bring you something up to eat. Try and get some rest." Takami offered a small smile, rising up and exiting the room.
A day or two passed and there was no change in the schedule or events. Everyone still spent the majority of their time resting in too much pain to do anything else and the pain meds put them out. However, Ryu was already walking through the hospital with the support of a wall. He was thankful his legs weren't broken otherwise that'd be irritating.
Minato was moving around albeit slowly. His Sekirei were making a full recovery and that involved a lot of food. Musubi was scarfing down plate after plate of food, Tsukumi even snapped at the buxom brunette when she was snatching food from her plate and Minato's. Toyotama for her part stayed in bed, her sight was impaired. A large section of bandage was wrapped around side of her head covering her eye, in addition she had bandages wrapped around her torso stained with some blood.
Ahiko was in the same manner. One arm was in a sling and thick bandages were wrapped around her torso. Her breathing though easier was very strained and painful. Musubi was making a quick recovery the wounds still clear from the beating she endured but she was well on her way. Kuruse was also subjected to her bed for several hours at a time. Benitsubasa could be heard shouting about something every few minutes to hours, one could imagine she was bandaged to her hairline, or the fact Haihane's laughter boomed after her yelling.
Nothing changed really. Surprisingly Uzume was nowhere in sight.
It so happened that Kazehana spent a lot of time in the hospital, particularly Minato's room. On the second night while everyone was asleep in their respective rooms she stopped in... A few minutes passed and there was a bright set of wings glowing inside of the room. If everyone didn't know from that it'd be clear upon his departure. Minato winged Kazehana.
Ryu spent most of his time awake, mind heavy with thoughts of the future and what happened on the bridge. Three of his Sekirei were gone.
Ryu sat at the edge of his bed with Toyotama seated across him on a chair donning a hospital robe. She didn't look too pleased with her bandages but she wasn't complaining regardless. "I really want to get out of here." She said.
"Not with that on your face." Ryu gestured towards the bandages. "Where's Ahiko?" He recalled seeing her earlier in the day conversing with Musubi while chowing down on a platter of food with brunette. Ryu kept his objections to himself, no harm in letting them socialize while they were in here.
"Probably down the hall." Toyotama replied, reluctantly agreeing with Ryu.
Koto was in the room next to Minato's. The second in command was no longer furious, but he shot them glares and scowls whenever he passed them or seen them in the hallway. Not that Toyotama cared about that, he could give her glares all he wanted the hospital was the one place where fights didn't take place. Koto had a broken arm, a gash that required a lot attention, and like everyone else severe bruising.
"I see." Ryu mused, stretching out his neck.
Another day passed and there was a slight development. Ahiko's arm was no longer in a sling and Miya stopped by with Kagari to give them all food, there was some discussion on what happened but everyone was too wounded, full, and tired to delve too much into it. Toyotama no longer had to wear bandages all over one side of her head, and both Ryu and Minato were walking upright despite their conditions.
"Hey, Ryu-san." Minato called to the taller man as he stepped into his room. Musubi was at his left while Tsukiumi was at his right all three of them were scarfing down food, Musubi at a much faster pace. Tsukiumi growled in annoyance once, stood up, and paced out the room. Brushing off the strange gesture Minato continued. "How are you?"
"A hell of a lot better." Ryu flexed his muscles a little.
"Great to hear." Minato smiled in relief it seemed everyone would make a full recovery. "They were saying something about us staying here for another week."
"I'm not." Ryu shook his head, stretching carefully. "I'm going to discharge myself tomorrow or the next day." He shrugged as Minato nodded, neither one of them wanted to stay in this place longer than they absolutely needed to. Ryu turned at the sound of the door opening and stepped to the side giving Tsukumi room as she walked in with a platter of food.
"Food!" Musubi cheered clutching the cheeseburger in her hand.
"Cease at once!" Tsukiumi exclaimed, smacking her hand away for good measure. "Let Minato eat he needs to regain his strength, Musubi!" Minato chuckled softly at the sight it was too bad Kuruse couldn't be present at the moment but she was currently sleeping like a rock, and Kazehana well he had no idea where she could be. After her rather overwhelming surprise a few days ago and a kiss telling him that she'd be waiting for him back at the Inn, she hadn't shown up at all. He was thankful for this since there'd be no doubt a confrontation.
"But, Tsukiumi-san this is soooo good!" Musubi said with stuffed cheeks snatching another piece from the platter. "And this one is soo goooodd too!"
"Stop stuffing your face!" Tsukiumi shouted. "You can't stuff anymore in there you glutton!"
"But, I think I can!" Musubi grabbed another piece of food. "Ooooo! I love bacon!"
"That's my bacon!" Tsukiumi exclaimed snatching it with super speed. "Have you no control, shameless glutton?"
"I don't know." Musubi replied. "I just love food!"
Ryu watched the scene with a strange expression nodding his head. "I'll be going." He said waving to Minato as he left the room. As much as he found the joy and amusement in watching Musubi and Tsukiumi banter back and forth he had his own Sekirei to look after and he hadn't seen them since yesterday. He walked to his room, ignoring a doctor that shot him a weary look for moving around like he was so soon, and opened the door.
He felt his breath hitch as both Toyotama and Ahiko sat on opposite ends of his bed. Toyotama was shoveling down food, something he was starting to see as a good sign of recovery, and Ahiko seemed to be half asleep with her hand in her arms breathing slowly. Careful not to intrude on the girl's slumber he made his way over to Toyotama, the green haired amazon looking at him for a moment before looking away. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
"Don't apologize." Ryu knew what she was getting at and didn't wish to entertain those thoughts. It felt like Yashima, Nanaha, and Yomi were still with him but they felt so distant and far, after the first day of staying here their presence all but faded from his subconscious. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead to ease her turmoil. Toyotama wasn't in turmoil all because she lost three of her comrades, she was also heavy on thoughts since Uzume wasn't around now or during the battle.
"We're leaving tomorrow or the next day." Ryu said changing the subject. "Is Ahiko asleep?" He asked, and a moment later Toyotama reached across smacking the girl on the back of the head.
"Owww!" Ahiko whined, cracking one eye open as she massaged her head. "What was that for?" She scowled at Toyotama, eyes turning to see Ryu looking on with some amusement. "Oh! Hey, Ryu!" She raised her head, pressing her cheek into her palm.
"Glad to see you didn't miss a step." Ryu commented.
"I think I'm all better now!" Ahiko raised her arms a little, grimacing as pain flashed through her torso. "Maybe not." She said with a sheepish expression.
Ryu was silent for a moment as he hefted himself up onto the bed, heaving a sigh once he got somewhat comfortable. Ahiko made room for him, resting her head on the inside of his leg while Toyotama just shook her head continuing to eat. "Ryu would it be okay if I slept with you?" Ahiko asked playing with her fingers as she tried to avoid his powerful gaze.
"Yeah, can I too?" Toyotama asked before he could answer.
Ryu closed his eyes, he was recovering and really, really shouldn't indulge his girls in cuddle time since they were recovering themselves. However, he needed someone to hold on to, he felt the same, but different at the same time. When you lose a loved one it's the worst kind of pain... He recalled Miya saying when she was explaining something important to him. It's unimaginable... However, when an Ashikabi loses a Sekirei that pain is thousand of times worse-the bond that connected them is severed leaving it to wither away. Ryu clenched his teeth for a second, feeling a flash of anger and hate rush through him. "Just be careful." He said finally, opening his arms as a gesture.
"I will!" Ahiko beamed, carefully grabbing onto his arm.
"If it's sex you're worried about..." Toyotama chuckled softly. "Don't worry about that Takami told all of us you need rest. Same with Minato."
"Isn't that a relief..." Ryu closed his eyes, opening them a second later. "Speaking of Minato I sense he..."
"That's right!" Ahiko snapped her fingers as if remembering. "He winged this woman with giant boobs, they make mine look small. Anyways Kazehana was reacting to him for a while now and while we were all sleeping one night she entered Minato's room and well..." She blushed lightly. She was his most developed Sekirei next to Uzume and Karasuba and Hari always commented on how big her breasts were. A few nights ago she had heard a rather loud and drawn out moan and it definitely belonged to a woman. "They're bonded now."
Minato how he got so lucky winging Kazehana, more importantly how strange it was she was reacting to him. Oh well, he never had his eyes set on Kazehana she always had a bottle of sake in hand and seemed empty. "I see." He muttered closing his eyes again. This would at least explain that shifting he heard down the hall and the bright flash of violet-pink.
"Don't tell me you're jealous." Toyotama said giving Ryu a pointed look.
"Of course I'm not." Ryu said with a scowl.
Luna sighed softly. She really, really disliked having to sit still like this. Yomi just missed her vitals and she bled profusely upon her arrival. The bleeding slowed down to a crawl finally. She had bruises all over her body and felt like she had been smashed between a concrete block and MBI tower. The first day she wasn't allowed to move, the second day she was permitted to move around but nothing that could cause too much strain. Bless Takami's heart and diligence but Luna wasn't in that bad of a condition as before.
She turned. Focusing her stare on Koto who sat with a scowl on his face his arm still in a sling. She wasn't going to ask what was the matter, she already knew what the problem was. "Could you stop scowling? You're too handsome to get wrinkles." Luna asked, throwing her legs over the side of her bed leaning towards him.
Koto sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "I guess." He couldn't shake off the anger however. Kuno and Haruka those two jokers escaped, he had them right where he wanted them and they slipped away from him. His pride-their pride was stomped upon! He exhaled slowly reigning his anger in, he knew the reason for this in the first place.
"You're not listening to me." Luna's voice yanked him from his thoughts. He turned his eyes up, staring into her own. He nodded barely confirming her statement.
Luna sighed softly, carefully getting off of her bed and making herself comfortable on Koto's lap. "I was saying when we're all better and back at the tower I was going to surprise you with a thing or two." Koto had to admit that didn't sound very bad at all, watching Luna dress and undress was all too enticing and whatever surprises she was talking about he was more than certain they'd surprise him. Luna tapped his nose. "But, you have to take it easy, last time you broke me in half."
"No promises." Koto said. An he was serious about no promises, he lost any and all control when they were alone.
"At least make an effort." Luna giggled, kissing him on the cheek. "See, now you have something to look forward to." Luna said. "Me, you, and maybe chocolate syrup." Seeing the look her gave her, Luna knew she had him!
Koto nodded. He wasn't going to argue against that. Now he wanted to get out of here faster than before. Luna's subtle gestures with her rump and hips-he swore she was trying to seduce him. However, he had one very small task to take care of back at the tower before he took up Luna's offer. Hopefully haihane didn't use all the chocolate syrup for her milk again. "I'm looking forward to seeing your surprises." He buried his face in her bosoms. Luna adjusted herself careful not to moan. "But, first I need to speak with Natsuo about what transpired at the bridge and the implications it is going to have with every single participant." He was very serious here.
"Kay!" Luna held him close. "Just don't keep me waiting long. You know it's not polite to make a woman wait."
Both of them tensed up. Luna yelped, falling off of Koto's lap and hitting the floor. Koto nearly fell off of his bed. Karasuba stood before them with a blank look on her face staring at the two of them. "I am not sorry if I was interrupting anything." She started, grinning slightly as she watched the two of them look away. She had nothing against them making love or flirting, but she'd rather not see them in the act. "Takami has informed me that you two will be ready to go tomorrow or the day after. We have many things to discuss..." She narrowed her eyes. "Koto I know you're well aware of it so I'm going to let you put things into perspective since he doesn't get it. I'll be waiting for the results."
Koto nodded. "I'm going to put things into perspective, damn right I will."
"Luna..."
"Yes, Kara-sama?"
"Try not to spoil Koto too much." Karasuba laughed seeing him scowl and Luna blush furiously. "He has this awful habit of going too far. I'd like you to be in top condition not crawling around because Koto broke you." Karasuba turned, swiftly making an exit.
Going too far is putting it lightly... Luna thought recalling how Koto just bent her. "Where are you going?"
"To visit my Ashikabi of course." Karasuba smiled softly, rubbing her chin with two fingers. "I rarely get to see him and he is always surrounded by the rest of his little birdies."
Karasuba didn't wait for a response as she shut the door. Certain that her two comrades wanted to get back to cuddling and groping each other, she didn't want to stay longer than she needed. The Black Sekirei passed through several rooms. She had visited Musubi prior to going to Koto's room the bubbly Sekirei seemed to be doing well. Yume was nowhere in sight. There was a positive in all of this, and that was Musubi was no longer on the no-stab list. After about five minutes of walking she stood in front of Ryu's door.
She opened it not bothering to knock not at all surprised to see Ahiko resting soundly and Toyotama staring at the window with Ryu lying on the bed staring at the door. "Karasuba?" He asked, tilting his head to the side as she shut the door quietly, walking towards him. "I thought you'd be back at the tower or running your sword through somebody."
Karasuba chuckled at his jab of humor. Though it was the truth she would be looking for someone to stab, but she had other tasks to attend to. She stopped at the side of his bed, noting the glare Toyotama was sending through the corner of her eye but didn't decide to glare back or even acknowledge it longer than three seconds. "Are you okay?" Karasuba asked softly so only Ryu could hear her. Ryu nodded slightly it was still early about eleven and Takami's recent badgering of taking pain pills had him seeing stars.
Karasuba breathed in relief subtly. The fight had excited her, but she was also worried just a bit. Ryu sustained a lot of injuries as did everyone else, but especially him. Koto's feint to stab was one of the more major wounds he sustained. "I'm so glad." She whispered, brushing her hand across cheek, curling her fingers when she got to his neck. "My darling Ashikabi." She placed a tender kiss onto his lips, being sure to keep her tongue in her mouth.
"Funny hearing that from you..." Ryu chuckled a bit bemused. "I thought I was a monkey."
"You didn't like that one so I changed it, is that okay darling?" Karasuba asked with a challenging grin. Ryu had taken kindly to being called monkey or any other derogatory term associated with it. It wouldn't have bother him so much, except the fact Karasuba would say it with such disdain. "You know I love you so very much." Karasuba was nearly silent as she spoke. "The real battles are going to begin soon enough, Ryu."
"I... Know..." He said softly.
Karasuba grabbed his chin, placing another kiss on his lips. "I'd rather tear your clothes off and take you, but that'd be detrimental in this situation." Detrimental for Toyotama at least and Ryu since she'd leave Toyotama in a pool of blood and Ryu needing to recover for another three days. It had already been two to four days since everyone was hospitalized. "I'll see you later..." Ryu nodded staring into her lazy gray eyes, seeing a spark of tenderness and affection flash through them for a second before they returned to the same cold appearance they always took on.
"I still don't know why you winged her." Toyotama said once Karasuba excused herself and left the room.
"I actually didn't." Ryu said. "She just pushed me down and kissed me. Seems to happen quite a bit with my Sekirei." He gave Toyotama a pointed look not going to bring up the fact she had used him as a shield and pounced on him soon after thus emerging and becoming his.
"H-hey!" Toyotama blushed fiercely. "Look... I'm not like Karasuba. She can't love all she knows is battle! I may be a hot head and love to fight..." Toyotama got silent for a second. "But, Karasuba is completely different. Each battle she enters she wins, she grows stronger as her thirst for blood continues to rise. She knows no mercy."
"Toyotama..." Ryu massaged his forehead. He knew of her reputation first hand. However, he wasn't going to treat her an differently just because.
"Bah! You're crazy!" Toyotama shook her head I disbelief. "Anyone else would run for their life seeing Karasuba and you just let her kiss you."
"That's a bad thing?"
Toyotama huffed angrily turning away from him. It was no use Ryu wasn't going to budge on the subject. He'd have to see her relishing the pain she inflicted to other Sekirei to finally get it. "It would be." Toyotama sighed. "If you didn't do the same when I tackled you." Ryu nodded taking this for what it was. Toyotama was conceding with his point. "Now, kiss me." Toyotama leaned onto him.
"You're really something else, you know that?"
"I sure do." Toyotama grinned proudly.
It happened to be another two days before they could take their leave. Ryu wasn't too happy about it and demanded to know why he had to stay from Takami. She fired back with everyone had to remain in the hospital including Koto and Luna. Ryu didn't care about technicalities he felt fine physically and could walk so he was ready to leave.
Minato was back in top shape as were his Sekirei. The wounds of battle were still healing, though the bruising subsided to nearly nothing and their reset bones were set and tough like before. Minato for his part just agreed with his mother, despite his questions he wanted answered he kept them to himself and let her go about her task.
Koto for his part was eerily calm about the entire thing. However, whenever Takami would try to draw some blood or shove another handful of pain meds down his throat he'd tell her no and with the pills he'd just flush them down the toilet down the hall. Luna kept up a optimistic persona letting Takami do whatever it is she needed.
Ahiko and Toyotama were back at full strength and it showed in Ahiko's careful but energetic steps her eyes beaming with vitality no longer weariness. Toyotama's posture and looks were no longer pained and strained but confident and powerful like before. Though she had three nearly invisible scars running along widthwise on her stomach and back she felt good. Finally the day came for all of them to be discharged, and for all of them it couldn't have come fast enough. After spending at least five days in the hospital they were ready for some fresh air.
They all exited, and Luna dragged Koto off ignoring his small protests as he shot glares at Ryu who did the same right back. There had been enough violence and bloodshed for her and she wasn't going to let Koto ruin it.
Ryu could only feel an emptiness inside of him. He knew it was because he lost three Sekirei, he didn't want to heed Miya's warnings back then. He listened to her naturally, but didn't want to heed it and now he was suffering for it. Anger was the only thing he could feel, but he shoved it aside feeling both arms being seized by Ahiko and Toyotama pressed between their cleavage. "Let's go, I am in need of a bath." Ahiko said. Toyotama nodded rapidly in agreement.
"Sure." Ryu said starting the long trip back to his home. Hopefully Uzume and Hari were there since they weren't present at all for the last few days. He was a couple of feet away when Minato's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Ryu-san, if you can..." Minato said a bit uncomfortable. "We're having a welcome back party."
"Kazehana planned it?"
"You could say that. Miya-san would like you to attend, but you don't have to." Minato offered a smile. "I'm not sure if any of us want to party. It's been a long passed few days."
Ryu nodded. Minato could say that again. "I'll see, no promises though." Ryu said, stepping in stride as Minato ventured back towards Maison Izumo. He really didn't want to party and wasn't feeling very festive. He just wanted to get back home, sit down, and enjoy the company of his Sekirei.
"If we're going I need to get dressed up." Ahiko said. "I have this dress and high heels that go nice together."
"Except you're a complete klutz." Toyotama retorted. "You can't wear high heels for more than two minutes without something going wrong. As for the party I'm good I just want to lay down and spend time with you." She massaged his bicep.
"I've been practicing!" Ahiko said defensively. "I can walk in them now!"
Ryu shook his head, maybe spending an hour or two at the party wouldn't hurt. But, he was with Toyotama he just wanted to relax. "We can go for a couple of hours I suppose, don't want to be rude and all. But, before that I need to wash up."
"I hear that!" Ahiko and Toyotama chorused at the same time, leaning into his arms.
Also for those curious. They were at the hospital for roughly a week 5-7 days. If you weren't wondering then no need to read this little bit!
Until the next chapter.