A/N: Well guys, hell hath finally frozen over. That's right; I'm finally picking up Veil again! :D

I would like to thank the 100+ whom have alerted this story, and for being so patient for an update. It really means a lot, especially with the emotionally draining year I had back in 2013. However, the Saw crossover is still my main priority, though given my current personal circumstances, I felt a change of pace was in order, hence my decision to delve back into Veil. With all the tragic shit that's been happening in my life as of late, something more light hearted should keep my focus more positive.

This chapter will be shorter than the last though, as I feel releasing them in short 1,500 – 2,500 word bursts will help me keep a decent update schedule as well as stay motivated on the task at hand. The one after this will likely be longer though, so stay tuned.

Chapter 2: Coiling Emotions

One week ago…

It was 11:00pm. Visiting hours at the hospital were over. Caressing her Ashikabi's soft cheek and gazing into her hazel tear pools, Uzume leans in for a parting kiss. Their lips brush together, and The Veil Sekirei's wings emerge to a glittersome twinkle. The crinkling light pulsed more intently as the transparent feathers sharpened and tensed on face-flushing climax. The couple pulled apart from the kiss, their saliva still embracing. The silence was golden.

The elongated spittle dropped to the floor upon Uzume's sudden smile. "Well," she said. "I'll see you next week, Chiho."

"Remember what I said, Uzume." She mentioned, gripping her pjs as she crossed her legs. She looked warm, soft, and comfortable. "I don't want you to be alone when I'm gone. Please…find somebody. Then I will be happy."

#10 responded by giving Chiho a pat on the head, ruffling her hair as if trying to make light of the situation. "Don't worry." She tilted her head, giving a playful wink. "You can count on me."

Chiho's face lit up. "Good. Thank you!"

Uzume then helped her into bed, flicked out the lights, and blew her a kiss as she gently clicked the door shut, leaving her bed-ridden Ashikabi to her peaceful slumber.

XXXXXX

Present Day…

It had been two hours since Uzume relayed the information to Minato. Sleep had not been able to grip her consciousness into submission. Pillow smothered tightly into her well-developed chest, she stared blankly at the moonlit bookcase housing all her stuffed animals, relaying the conversation in her mind over and over.

'…She said that as of now, we should look at our relationship as a very loving and protective big sister, little sister relationship...which I am fine with.'

"Dammit." She rammed the pillow into her face upon the recollection of that statement. "Why did I say that?..."

Smearing the pillow from her visage, Uzume shook her head rapidly, trying to erase the thoughts. Sure she wanted Minato to feel more comfortable entering a relationship with her if he chose to, but to exaggerate her feelings for Chiho to now be nothing more than sisterly love was by no means true. What they had was so much more…

She yanked at her hair, pulling till the pain was moderate, but not enough to actually rip it out. She had to punish herself somehow for saying something so crass. "Ow, ow, ow, ow!"

She lessened her grip, flopping back on the bed, and sprawling out her limbs as they landed in conjunction. "Ugh! I'm so stupid!"

Propping her head on her hands, she crossed her arcing legs, letting the one on top bounce a bit. "I need to apologize to Minato first thing tomorrow." Her expression became softer, reddening at the utterance of his name. "…Minato."

XXXXXX

Sunlight slipped through the cracks of the Sahashi youth's eyelids. Groaning forth a loud yawn, he kicked himself from the futon and clawed at the dandruff flaking from his scalp. Something was odd though. His Sekirei weren't present in the room with him.

'Just how long did I sleep?' he wondered.

Angling his hazy sight to the dresser, the half-nude ronin squinted at the clock. '2:14pm?' He thought. 'No wonder no one's here…'

Getting up and pulling on his dungarees, Minato peeked through the blinds and into the backyard as he snapped the button and yanked up the zipper. As suspected, his Sekirei were outside, soaking in the hot summer rays through their swimsuits. A soft breath exhaled through his heart-warmed smile.

There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me." The knob twisted, and Uzume stepped through. "Look, about last-"

Her face reddened upon seeing the ronin's bare chest. Her sight coiled to the door. "Oh I'm sorry! I didn't know you were dressing! I- I'll just wait outside while you-"

"It's alright Uzume."

She fell silent at his voice. "I'm a guy, so it's not like I need to cover up."

He climbed into the innards of his grey tee, tucking it over his belly. "You can turn around now."

Although she had his consent, she still didn't dare turn with the blush she had. She was boiling hotter than a lobster's armor. She did however gulp before speaking. "My, uh…it's kinda hot in here…I think I'll go take a cold bath! See ya! Bye!"

Minato scurried to the door as Uzume rushed off down the hall. "I can't imagine how hard last night must have been for her to open up to me like that…"

He sighed. "I wonder if I could do something for her today?..."

XXXXXX

Whiffs of steam gravitated off the tenth Sekirei's nude body as she hoisted up the wooden bucket and poured the icy bath water over her head. The cold moisture streaked along her slick, milk-chocolate strands like monorails and swabbed the soapy foam down and off her sweat-glistening orbs. She stood and tilted her head back with a shivering gasp, then soon retreated back to her body heat as she hugged her bare chest and clavicles.

She took some deep breaths.

'Get a hold of yourself, Uzume!' She thought as her body heat struggled against the nip-stiffening cold. As much as the creeping numbness stung her nerves, it was still something to keep her emotions in check for at least a little bit. 'Why are you acting like this? You just went to apologize to him last night…'

No matter how hard she tried, the pages in her mind would not flip past that one image. 'His chest…'

Granted Uzume had seen plenty of better fit males in her travels, but she had never been so close to a half-naked man before in her life. Minato was also a very close friend…and knowing she may have planted the seeds for something greater-...Her spine tingled at the thought. It sent hot quivers spiraling downward to her still-foamy netherlips.

Then came the throbbing…oh the moist, hot throbbing…

Uzume's bottom lip pulled back to her tongue, she lightly nibbled. Her blush expanded, hand lowering closer and closer between her thighs, the throbbing became more pleasurable with every lapsing internal bounce. The gravity was too strong; she was at the event horizon. Uzume's knees gave way as her fingers coiled, curving inward. Fleshy squishes leaked outward from her warm honeypot as she pressed onward. Her cerebral folds peeled over her teary sight, pleasure melting over her naughty expression with every greasy slick.

A choir of soft moans and purrs prompted the veil maiden to flex and stretch her toes. She bit down on the geysering climax.

The exhausted Uzume arched over the edge of the bath, panting deeply. 'That was-'

Before her thought could conclude, there was a knock at the door. "Uzume?"

# 10's eyelids retracted back at the voice. It was Minato.

"Yes, um…what do you need?!" She said hurriedly.

"I'm free this afternoon if you'd like to spend some time."

Uzume's heart missed a beat.

Minato continued. "The others are going to be training in the backyard with Miya for the time being and I have nothing better to do, soo…."

"I'LL BE DOWN IN A MINUTE!"

He pulled his knuckle from the door. "O-ok then. I'll downstairs doing the laundry if you need me. Talk to you later."

After a moment of silence on his end, Uzume hung her head when she was sure he'd left.

After drying off her smooth appendages and tiptoeing into her panties, Uzume approached sink and leaned into it with her palms, letting her breasts dangle over the ceramic bowl. She stared into the mirror with a blank expression and slapped her cheeks a few times. She blinked.

What was getting into her? She'd never felt such hot embarrassment around anyone before. Well, anyone except her Ashikabi. 'Man…what is it about him?...'

Grabbing a hairbrush from the rack, Uzume twirled her hourglass figure and angled an eye over her shoulder, parting the lengthy brown strands from her back and began to comb. She halted her action midway, as a shadowy fuchsia orbited her Sekirei crest; it beamed with warm pulses. She stared at her glistening wagtail, and gravity coaxed her pupils downward. They drifted to the corners with her next thought.

"I think I'll give Chiho a visit later tonight…"

XXXXXX

The stairs creaked as Minato waddled down them, hauling a basket overloaded with grimy towels and stained kitchen cloths. He slid the laundry room's door open with his foot and slammed the basket atop the washing machine. It buzzed to a stop, and he pulled the circular door open, clawing out his sopping wet t-shirts and unmentionables into the empty laundry basket below.

Wiping his brow, he set them aside and prepared to load in the 'freshly caught' batch.

A voice called out as he gripped the handles. "Minato?"

"Oh," He turned to the doorway and said with a smile, "Hey Uzume."

Softly smiling back, her palm caressed her forearm up and down. "Hey, um…about last night…"

"What about it?" Minato asked, tilting the basket of filthy fabrics into the washer and snapping the door shut. He turned the dial to normal.

"Well, it's just that I said something which I now feel undermined the relationship I have with my Ashikabi."

"Undermined? I don't think you undermined it at all, Uzume." He went on, pouring the detergent down a slanted hole. "It must have been difficult for you to come forward to me with this the way you did. I could sense you were nervous last night, as was I."

"I…appreciate that…" she said, giggling.

"So," He jabbed his thumb into the power button; a jackhammer of hums and sloshes ravaged inside the machine. "I decided to bring it upon myself to do the same for you today."

Her eyes widened suddenly. "What do you mean?"

"I'd like to take you out for dinner this evening if you don't mind."

"You mean like, for a date?"

He placed his hands on the washer and looked to the ceiling. "I'd think of it as two good friends having a night out together. So, how 'bout it?"

"Okay, since you put it that way I'd love to."

"Great!"

He lifted the basket containing his soaked clothes; Uzume spoke up.

"Would you like me to help you with that?"

"No, it's fine. I got it. Thank you."

After he left, Uzume noticed an article of clothing left behind on the floor. She crouched and scooped it in her palm. Unfurling it with her fingertips she gasped and backed away, seeing it was Minato's boxer shorts. She turned away from it quickly, sweat flooding over her plasma-painted flesh.

"Tell me I did not just see that!..."

She shook her head and pinched them up by her fingertip and thumb, rushing out of the room. "Minato, wait! You forgot something!"

XXXXXX

In the laundry room's far corner, a ficus shook. Kusano's dirt-speckled head of hair popped up from beneath it. A question mark loomed over her head as she tiled her noggin to the side. "Dinner?..."

A/N: As I mentioned previously, this was a very short chapter. However, I will try to update as soon as possible. The main things I wanted to address here were the criticisms some had about the relationship between Uzume and Chiho being undermined. Also had to put in some hot tension as per request of some fans who shall remain anonymous. :P *wink*

I am still open to suggestion, however, so if any of my fine readers want to share a scenario or two of how they would like the outing to go, I'm all ears.

Take care, and I look forward to everyone's feedback.