A/N:

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

My father recently passed away. That being the case, I'll be going on a very long hiatus until I get my smile back. Truth be told, I haven't been enjoying writing for the longest time, as my father has been sick for the better part of 18 months. Needless to say this blow to my heart has taken its toll. My writing is going to have to take a back seat in my life while I cope with the grief. The only reason this update happened is because the chapter was finished before the inevitable occured. I don't know when I'll be back writing for you all again. This is without a doubt my most popular story (though I really wish my Saw crossover was), and I hate to leave you all hanging. But this is one of those times where I can't help it.

I hope you all enjoy the second part of the date. At least I can rest easy knowing I finished this story arc before going on hiatus.

XXXXX

Whine & Dine Part 2

"I got it, Uzume."

Being the gentleman he was, Minato pulled open the door and gestured Uzume to walk ahead of him. A bell jingled atop the apex and the cool air drifted inward, drawing the attention of the employees.

Uzume giggled through her simper. "Why thank you, Minato."

Minato followed her in as she flicked her hair back. The door pulled itself shut as they approached the main desk. A young man, who donned monk-like attire, greeted them. He grabbed a pamphlet from his breast pocket.

"Hello, table for two?" he asked.

Uzume and Minato nodded. "Yes, please."

After he jotted something down in his pamphlet, he snapped it shut with style and a smile. "This way, please."

He led the not-couple through a warren of private chambers featuring traditional Japanese statues and artwork. Tasty clouds of steam filtered the air as frying pans hissed and sizzled in the kitchen. A mosaic of slate decorated the path which they walked, and wooden carvings framed the kanji-etched walls.

Two geishas cloaked in flowery kimono's welcomed the two with a bow. Upon separating, they pulled open the shoji screens leading to their private room. The magic of the setting had pulled an 'ahhh' from both the ronin and Sekirei. Their eyes even twinkled in a moist bliss.

Anchored to low-rise wooden architecture, the wall-length window immediately invited their eyes to a stunning view of the beautiful garden outside. Moths encircled the paper beacons as they blinked along the mahogany fences. At the room's center, a hazelnut-brown table sat upon a dozen vanilla tatami mats, cushioning the floor in varying stylistic patterns. Four zaisu chairs with soft cushy pillows surrounded the table.

The greeter seated the not-couple with the sway of his arm and pulled out two menus from inside his monk's robe.

He bowed his head. "Your waiter will be here shortly to take your order. Enjoy your stay."

They bowed back as he left and then flipped open their menus.

...and flipped

...and flipped

and flipped…

"Man," Uzume went on. "Tofu this, tofu that… dang."

"It's what the restaurant specializes in, Uzume." he said, grinning. He then tilted his head to the side. "Oh no, you're not allergic, are you?"

"Oh no, no, not at all." she said, shaking her hands before her face with a doe-eyed expression. "I'm just a little overwhelmed with all the ways you can have the stuff." She leant into him and pointed at a dish in particular. "Take a look; they actually have it with bamboo shoot and something called a 'rape seed'!"

Minato started laughing and Uzume immediately followed.

"A rape seed? Wow!" Minato chuckled.

"I know, how appropriate!" Uzume giggled. "I think I'll try some of this 'rapeseed' tofu. It sounds so appetizing!"

They burst out laughing again.

Minato wiped away a tear. "I never even knew such a thing existed..."

"Hey," Uzume said as the hilarity calmed. "I just wanted to say thank you for tonight. I've never had the opportunity to go to such nice places with my Ashikabi, so it really means a lot to me that you'd go through all this trouble."

Minato set the menu down. "Hey don't mention it, Uzume. I just hope Chiho makes it through all of this okay in the end."

She leaned into the table, chin resting on her palm. "Thank you."

"And hey," Minato continued further drawing her eyes closer to him. "When she does get better, it'll be the three of us, all gathered here with everybody. Tsukiumi, Matsu, Musubi, you, me, and Chiho. We'll be like one big happy family."

Uzume turned away with a blush. What he said touched her very deeply. "Wow, uhm yes, it certainly would."

Minato arched his head back and looked out the window. "It's hard to believe that this oasis exists in the middle of the Capital."

"Yeah," Uzume agreed, "and in the shadow of Teito tower, no less…"

"Yeah, it looks really beautiful all lit up like that at night time…"

The door swooshed open. Uzume peeked over her shoulder as Minato sat upright. It was the waiter.

"May I take your order?"

Uzume lit up upon seeing who it was. "Oh, hey! Fancy seeing you here!..."

XXXXX

Tsukiumi put an ear to the wall as the conversation progressed.

The harem arrived shortly after Uzume and Minato were seated, and Tsukiumi took it upon herself to scout the courtyard. She hid well enough to see them conversing through their window, and made sure to request the room next to them when she and the others finally went inside.

Now that they were here, she would do everything in her power to halt any naughty business Uzume might force upon Minato.

"Let them have their fun." Musubi pouted.

Tsukiumi glanced a quick scowl at Musubi and turned her nose at her. "Hmph; poppycock. The moment Shrew-zume inquires about something even remotely intimate, I will drown that sow beneath my boot!"

"Has she even done anything yet?" Matsu questioned.

"Not yet but she will! I can feel it in my bosom!"

They started talking again and Tsukiumi inched in closer.

XXXXX

"Yes, for an appetizer I'll have the miso soup with tofu." Minato decided.

"Ditto for me." Uzume added. She nudged Minato's arm with her elbow. "I'll have a go at the 'rapeseed' later."

They both laughed.

XXXXX

"Gah, what is this about a 'rape seed'?! Don't tell me Uzume plans to-!"

Matsu interrupted before Tsukiumi had a meltdown. "Relax Tsukiumi, rape is on the menu. Take a look for yourself."

Tsukiumi swiped the menu from Matsu's hand and scanned through it thoroughly. Sure enough, she was right. Her shoulders slumped as she took a sigh of relief. "Ahhh, thank the gods…"

"Did you overhear anything else, Tsukiumi?" Musubi asked.

"Minato and Uzume art ordering the same soup for an appetizer, " she paraphrased, stroking her jaw. She balled her fist and squeezed hard. "Must be her way of getting closer to him. Relating thy love for my husband in similar tastes! How despicable!"

At that moment, another waiter entered the harem's room.

"May I take your...order?"

The harem stared and gasped at the waiter, but Tsukiumi having kept her eyes shut shouts, "I'll haveth the miso soup!"

After a moment she opens her eyes, perplexed by the silence. She gasps and falls back in her chair upon seeing their waiter for the evening. It was a familiar face; Kagari.

They shouted in unison and pointed fingers at each other. "What are/art you/thou doing here?!"

Tsukiumi bit first. "My husband is lollygagging with that harlot Uzume and we have come to catch him in the act!"

Matsu spoke up. "I thought you said we were only here to protect him if he was put in some kind of danger?"

Tsukiumi squeezed her fist and slammed it on the table. "Silence!"

"I got promoted." Kagari began.

Everyone in the room went, "Huuuh?"

"Yeah, I was so well received as a host that the people here offered me an opportunity. Lucky me, right?"

"I'd say." Matsu added.

"Yay, Kagari!" Kusano and Musubi cheered stretching their hands to the air. Musubi pulled two paper party horns from her cleavage and they blew into them to celebrate.

Kagari rubbed the back of his head. Jeez Musubi, what else do you keep in there? "Uhh, thanks." He started to step away, "Well, I gotta get going...see yo-"

Tsukiumi grabbed him by the wrist, still sitting motionless with a smug expression. "Halt thy footing, Kagari…"

Kagari facepalmed. "Oh, what now?"

"Thou art an asset to us. Come hither-"

He caught on to her scheme immediately. "No, absolutely not! I am not spying on them for you. I'm not going to lose my job over your petty insecurities!"

She bent his arm back more, sighting a yelp from him. "Thy job is not important now! What is important is the safety of my husband!"

Matsu's expression melted into her palm as she exhaled an annoyed groan. "First she wants to catch him cheating so she can kill him and now she wants to protect him from danger. Jeez will you make up your mind before I get whiplash?"

"Leash thy tongue at once, Matsu!" Tsukiumi shouted, bending Kagari's arm back more. His bones were about to break.

Kagari yelped and thought to himself. You are so lucky we're in public and I'm on the job right now, because if I wasn't you'd be burnt to a crisp right about now…

He asked politely. "Will you please let go of my arm?"

With a huff, Tsukiumi let him go. He twisted his dangling forearm in his hand.

Tsukiumi made a proposition to him. "You know, my MBI card is unlimited, Kagari. Therefore if I put in a good word for you, thou wouldst most likely get to stay here for good."

He thought about this for a moment. An endorsement from anyone involved in MBI would no doubt do his career wonders. May even get him a fatter paycheck.

He shook his head and groaned. "You're not going to stop going on about it until I give in, so I may as well listen to your offer."

"All I ask is that every minute or so, thee step into Minato and Uzume's room to see what they're doing and how close they art getting. Then come to us and tell thy findings."

"I'm afraid I can't do it that often. Higher ups might get suspicious. While these private rooms have no surveillance, the hallways outside of them are a different story. Electric eyes are on us day in, day out."

"Drat." she said, biting her fingernail. "Then how often willst thou be serving him?"

"Since it's a private room, usually every 15-20 minutes we check in to see if they need anything."

Tsukiumi slammed her fist on the table again. "In that time Uzume could do the deed with him! Rapeseed and all!"

Matsu spoke up. "You know we could just bug their meals…" she suggested.

Kagari offered sarcasm. "Oh, that's nasty. Do you want me to get fired?"

Ku made a sickly frown. "Eww, a bug?"

Musubi did the same. "Bugs are yucky, especially in soup."

"Not that kind of bug, nitwits!" Tsukiumi snapped. She turned back to Matsu. "Why can't thee just bug his phone? Surely there is something on your person that can hack into it."

"Afraid not, Tsukiumi." Matsu said. "His phone isn't capable of being hacked into for our needs. It's a very old model. The only things I can do without risking it blowing up in his pocket and ruining his evening would be to make it ring. Anything else puts him at risk."

"Damn, well that settles that then." Tsukiumi lamented. "So how art we to go about putting the bug in his food? Would it not just short out in the liquid?"

"The bug is waterproof." Matsu explained, reaching into her pocket. She handed it to Kagari. The bug was no bigger than a cluster of grains. "Just put it in his soup, and we'll be able to listen in to their convo while you're away at least for a little while. Then when you do visit them you can tell us about their body language and mannerisms."

He sighed. "Fine, I'll do it, but if we get caught I'm making sure you're thrown under the bus as well."

Tsukiumi groaned as he asked, "Now may I take your orders?"

XXXXX

Kagari mumbled incoherently under his breath as he wheeled the not-couple's order down the corridor.

He whispered to himself as he slid the door open. "Just my luck for that watery tart to draw me into her little scheme at a time like this...fuck my life."

Uzume swirled her finger about the table as their conversation progressed. Following a giggle from both, they took note of the door being slid open.

"Ah, hey Kagari. Welcome back!" Uzume said as he pulled the cart up the ramp.

"Thanks." he replied.

Kagari plopped down the not-couple's appetizers on the table. Blocks of tofu floated about the brothy mixture of steamed vegetables and beefy meat chunks, all inside two leaf-shaped bowls.

Uzume took a whiff of the flavorful aroma as it escaped into the air.

"Oooh, it smells so good." she said.

"And the leaf bowls accent the restaurant very nicely." Minato added.

"It's a real pleasant surprise serving my housemates first day on the job. Don't tell Miya I said this, but the food here is more divine than anything she could ever hope to make."

Minato waved it off with a laugh. "Ahaha, don't worry, our lips are sealed."

"Oh, before I forget…" Kagari grabbed some seasoning from the cart. "This seasoning brings out the best in the soup's flavor. Here, lemme sprinkle some on for you."

As he did this, he let Matsu's bug slip through his glove and into the falling season grains.

"I'll be back in about ten minutes to check on you two. Enjoy."

"Okay, thanks Kagari!" Uzume waved as he walked away.

"No problem. Hey, since we're all friends here, you wouldn't mind putting in a good word for me before you leave, would you?"

"Not at all! Thanks again!"

Kagari grinned as he slid the door shut and left them to their business.

He hurried to the next room sheltering the rest of his housemates, being careful not to spill the other orders he had and stepped in upon knocking.

Tsukiumi was first to greet him upon opening the door. She stood before him with her arms crossed.

"Is the bug in place?" she asked in a demanding voice.

"Yes, yes I did as you wanted," he said, rolling his eyes.

"C'mon Tsukiumi, let him in!" Musubi wailed as she grasped her stomach. "I'm getting really, really hungry now…"

"Yeah, me too." Ku frowned.

Both collapsed head first on the table. Little spirits began floating out from their mouths and into the the air like sperm balloons on a string.

"Hmpf, very well." She stepped aside and allowed him in. "Can't have thee starving to death whilst there's still work to be done…"

XXXXX

Branches blown by the cool night wind tapped against the window as the not-pair prepared their spoons and began to dig in.

One spoonful was enough to make Uzume's eyes glisten like sequins. "Holy crap, this is good!"

Minato took his first bite. "Yeah, Kagari wasn't kidding! This is amazing!"

XXXXX

Meanwhile next door, the other housemates enjoyed their dinner as they listened in.

So far, the two weren't saying anything out of the ordinary, just yucking it up as they spoke about how their lives were before the Sekirei Plan. Or at least that's what the lacklustre quality of the bug was picking up. To ensure Matsu didn't bluff, Tsukiumi put an ear to the wall to ensure what they were saying was precisely what the bug transmitted. Sure enough it was.

Tsukiumi sat back down and continued eating, trying to drown out what the others were conversing about. Maybe they were right about her being too high strung on her Ashikabi. Why choose to backstab not only her but all his Sekirei by going out with the Sekirei of another Ashikabi? It made no sense. Was Minato really that much of a monkey?

But in spite of feeling guilty, Tsukiumi continued to listen in. For all she knew, Uzume could be plotting to assassinate him. After a few seconds passed, there was some static interference.

She stared at the receiver. "What in the blazes?..."

XXXXX

"By the way, Uzume." Minato began.

She stopped eating and looked at him. "Yeah?"

"How did you and Chiho first meet? You're a healthy and active young woman. I don't see you going to the hospital so often."

"Oh that, well it's a funny story actually. I was jumping along the rooftops searching for my Ashikabi. The view over the hospital was beautiful, so I decided to stop there for a moment and sit upon the fence atop the building to get a better view. Then Chiho came out shortly after and the poor thing thought I was going to commit suicide."

"Suicide?" Minato asked. "Why on earth would she think that?"

"I was dangling 'dangerously' over the fence on top of a five-story building. She had no idea what a Sekirei was and that I would live if I fell so that's the only logical conclusion she could come to."

"Ah yeah, that's right. Sekirei aren't exactly public knowledge, I forgot. And she must have been further sheltered from life due to being in the hospital so much."

"Yep, she sure was. She wheeled up to me in her wheelchair begging me to come down. That was the moment where I felt myself reacting to her. When she came close, she leaped off the chair and tried pulling me down. We fell off the building instead, and I ended up being the one saving her. She asked if I was an angel, and I winged myself on the spot."

"Awww, that's so sweet…"

"It still gives me goosebumps all over to this day. She's one of a kind and my one and only-"

Uzume motioned to stop herself from saying that but it was too late. Damn, damn, damn! Why did I have to say that?!

Minato put a hand on her shoulder. He could what she said was on impulse. "It's okay, Uzume. She is your Ashikabi, and your one and only. No one will ever be able to replace her."

"Oh you, flatterer!" she giggled nervously.

"What?"

"You're just saying that to make me feel better, aren't you?"

"No! I really mean it!"

XXXXX

After a few adjustments to the audio receiver (and by that I mean Tsukiumi whacking it over and over again.) the sound finally started to clear.

She went back to eating.

"You're so coming onto me tonight!" Uzume said.

"No! I just don't want to come between you!" Minato added.

Tsukiumi spat out her soup.

Matsu cackled under her breath. "At least he's responsible! kukukuku"

"Yeah, yeah okay then." Uzume giggled. "I don't expect you to come onto me if you can't with any of your other Sekirei."

Tsukiumi's eyes began twitching. Poor thing was about to lose it. "Please tell me she didn't just say that…"

"She didn't just say that." Musubi said volunteeringly.

XXXXX

Minato bashfully scratched a cheek with his index finger. "Well it's not so much that I don't come on to them, more than it is me not having a chance to given how often they come onto me."

"Yeah, I suppose that's true. Not even the threat of Miya can keep them from crawling into your room late at night."

Minato laughed. "That's right. Nothing can ever split us apart."

"Speaking of your Sekirei, how have they been? I haven't seen them at all since they destroyed the inn last night."

"Beats me, I haven't heard a peep from them either."

"Hmmm, that's strange." She pondered. "I wonder where they are?..."

"Maybe they're planning a big surprise party for when we get back." Minato joked, taking another bite.

Minato put a hand to his throat the moment he swallowed. What started as simple coughs escalated to him choking.

Uzume took immediate notice. "Minato are you alright?"

He tried to wave it off, but rolled out of his chair as the hacking became more intense.

"Minato!"

She crawled over to him and started patting his back. The bug was spat back up, but some tofu was still stuck in his throat.

XXXXX

"Okay, I'm gonna try to get it all up now."

"What the-?" Matsu said, leaning into adjust the receiver's antenna. The sound quality was dropping again.

"Get it up?" Tsukiumi swallowed. "Wh-what could she mean by that?..."

Uzume spoke again. "Man, you must have it deep in there, don't you?"

Tsukiumi's chopsticks snapped between her fingers. "Beg pardon?!"

XXXXX

Uzume encircled her arms below Minato's ribcage and pulled in with her fists.

"Alright on the count of three; One, two-"

XXXXX

"Hughn! Uaghhhhh! Ughk! Engh!"

Musubi leaned in with concern. "Are you alright, Tsukiumi? You don't look so good."

Tsukiumi's scorntastic visage was now redder than the bottom of a witch's kettle. Not even she could tell if it was from embarrassment or anger.

Matsu couldn't keep her cackling to herself as the grunts in the other room became louder and lengthier. It got so bad that she had to cup her hands over Ku's ears.

Kagari entered their room again balancing two sake bottles on a plate and moseyed up to the table with his cart rolling behind.

"It looks like you're done with the appetizers." he said, setting the plate down and trying to ignore the X-rated grunting coming from Matsu's little contraption. "Would you like anything else?"

"Kukuku, I'll have what she's having." Matsu mentioned, gesturing a finger at the receiver.

Kagari turned back to Tsukiumi, who was now hyperventilating and drilling her way through the wall with a corkscrew.

"You're going to have to pay for that you know." Kagari said.

"Shut thy trap, Kagari! I will stay in the dark no longer! Uzume hast gone too far! Who knows what that lewd harlot is doing with Minato?!"

Tsukiumi yanked the corkscrew from the wall and peeked through the hole. She gasped when she saw what was on the other side. Uzume was hunched over her husband, who was on all fours and both were panting heavily. To make matters worse, a creamy white glop was smeared on the floor right in front of them. Tsukiumi thought it was something other than tofu.

"So, was it good for you, Minato?" Uzume asked.

"Yeah," He coughed, sucking in more heavy breaths. "I think we got it all up…it was just so good that I couldn't help myself..."

Tsukiumi pulled away from the peephole. The look on her face was that of shellshock. Her entire body was trembling with rage. Jets of steam even whistled out her ears and pores.

To her right, Matsu came to view and leaned an eye into the hole. "Oh my," she said, putting her fingers to her lips. "Kukuku, I told you rape was on the menu, Tsukiumi..." she giggled. "My Uzume sure is 'handy', isn't she?"

As Tsukiumi motioned to kick down the wall, Musubi dragged her back and the rest piled on top of her. A dusty ball of food, debris, and chibified faces bumped, bobbed, and rolled around on the table as the harem struggled to keep Tsukiumi under control.

Kagari crawled out of the scuffle and out the door, sliding it shut behind him.

He sighed. "May as well check on Uzume and Minato while I'm here…"

XXXXX

"That was quite a scare, Minato. You okay now?"

Minato wiped his mouth with a napkin and crinkled it into the trashcan. "Yeah, sorry about that. Kagari was right when he said the quality of the food was incredible. I just couldn't stop eating until I choked!"

Speaking of Kagari, he just made his way in with their main order.

"Is everything okay in here?" He asked.

"Yes, why do you ask?" Uzume questioned.

"Well the people next door heard a bit of a struggle and some groans coming through the wall. Wanted me to check if you two were alright."

"Oh, we're fine." Minato asked.

"Yeah," Uzume went on. "You see, Minato choked on some of his food and I had to do the heimlich maneuver to get him to spit it back up."

"That's right. Everything's okay now. Tell the neighbors we're sorry for the disturbance."

"Will do."

Kagari then took his leave.

As he motioned to enter the harem's private room to relay the info, he put his ear to the wall. The scuffle was still pretty tense in there. He likely wouldn't be able get out a single word until things calmed down.

"I guess I'll come back later then…"

XXXXX

20 Minutes later...

Uzume and Minato both leaned back in their chairs and let out pleasured sighs as they pat their bellies.

"Ah, that was good." Uzume said.

"Yeah, I'll say. I'm completely stuffed." Minato added.

"So, what else would you like to do tonight?" Uzume asked.

"Gee, I dunno. Do you have anything in mind."

"I know, how about we go give Chiho a little visit."

"Chiho? At this hour? Wouldn't she need her rest?"

"Nah, she usually stays up late anyway." Uzume lurched forward in her chair and planted her hands loudly on the table. "So, how about it?"

XXXXX

Tsukiumi sighed in relief. "So he was only choking?"

The others began releasing their grip around her albeit very slowly. It took forever to get her constricted and they wanted to be safe.

"Yep." Kagari said. "It was all a huge misunderstanding. Uzume was just trying to help him spit back up some of the food he swallowed is all."

"Hey," Matsu interjected, fixing her glasses. "I think Minato and Uzume are chatting about something again. They're planning to leave…"

They all gathered around the receiver.

Unfortunately for the harem, the commotion they were causing drowned out the first bit of Uzume and Minato's recent conversation.

Uzume's next choice of words got all of their heads spinning.

"C'mon, Minato! The sooner we do it the better we'll feel!"

"But what if we get caught?!"

The group took a collective gasp. Now how was anyone supposed to interpret that beyond the realm of naughtiness?

"They're going to do it? So soon?" Matsu thought out loud.

Tsukiumi retreated into the corner and began taking deep breaths trying to calm herself. "Tis just a misunderstanding...tis just a misunderstanding...tis just a misunderstanding…"

Kagari crossed his arms. "Hmm, Their date must have went extremely well if they want to jump straight into doing it right off the bat."

Musubi looked confused. The cowlick sticking up from her hair was now scratching her head like a finger. "Straight into doing what?"

Matsu handed Kusano her mp3 player and to play with before nudging Musubi by the shoulder. She didn't want Ku to overhear anything that she was going to tell Musubi. "You know...sex…"

Musubi looked even more perplexed. "Sex? What's that?"

"It's ummm…" now how do I explain this… "It's like a form of fighting, except it's very pleasurable. And you do it with people you love."

"A form of fighting that feels good that you can do with the ones you love?" she paraphrased.

"Yes, and the first one to feel the most good first loses!"

Musubi got up from her seat without saying a word. She hung her head and clenched her fists.

"Is something wrong, Musubi?" Matsu inquired.

"I won't lose." Musubi said softly, raising her head and putting her squeezed fist to her face as she made her declaration. "I will have sex with Minato! Then I will have sex with Uzume! Then Tsukiumi! And Matsu! I, Musubi, will win at sex! Forever!"

"The hell thou will!" Tsukiumi shouted, getting in her face. "I will be the first to bed my husband!"

"No, I will!" Musubi declared, skipping about.

"You know, I'm open to a foursome…" Matsu said under her breath.

Kusano was too preocupied rocking out to the Slayer album on Matsu's MP3 player to take note of any of this.

"So," Kagari went on. "Since they're going to be leaving I take it you guys will be packing it in as well?"

"I guess so." Matsu said. "It's been a pleasure...I guess."

Tsukiumi approached him, reached into her coat pocket, and slipped Kagari her MBI card. "Here, and as promised I'll put in a good word for thee. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll like to leave first before Uzume and Minato do. Twould give us the opportunity to hide and scout them the moment they leave the restaurant."

"Fine," He takes the card and swipes it through the slider on his cart. He hands it back to her. "You should have about five minutes before Uzume and Minato up and leave. I still have to ring them up."

"Tis more than enough time, Kagari." she gestured the harem to follow her lead. "Come now everyone. It's time to go."

"Thanks for the wonderful meal, Kagari!" Musubi said as she followed Tsukiumi and the others out the door. "I'll be sure to give you lots of sex once I'm done with Minato and the others!"

Kagari facepalmed at that. Not that he would mind bumping uglies with her, but his employer just happened to be walking by when she said that.

He stepped in and looked around the room. Whole place was a pigsty from that fight Tsukiumi and the others got into. Kagari no doubt was going to be working overtime tonight. That was for damn sure.

XXXXX

Upon their exit from the gates of the establishment, Uzume stretched her arms and patted her stomach.

"Aaaah, that was great Minato." she said, full. She looked over the shoulder at the smiling ronin. "It was a bit fancy for my taste, but you really know how to treat a lady out for a good evening. That was fun."

Minato chuckled. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself Uzume. We should do this again sometime."

"Yeah," she replied. "But next time, we go somewhere of MY choosing!"

Minato rubbed the back of his head. "Sure, Uzume. Would you like for me to call a cab so we can get a lift to the hospital?"

"Nah, I know a shortcut. It's through the arboretum! Lets go!"

XXXXX

Minato's harem exited the building just as Uzume began crossing the street with him. The hold up with Kagari's boss got them in quite a bit of trouble, but Tsukiumi's MBI card was able to do the talking for her.

"There they are!" Tsukiumi emphasized under her breath. "After them!"

They followed close behind as their Ashikabi was lead into the unknown. At times they were mere feet away while other times it was meters. Given how the all encompassing foliage of the arboretum sheltered and shaded them, they had no issue avoiding detection, especially with Ku's powers at their aid.

Tsukiumi peeked out from behind a tree and grinded her teeth as Minato and Uzume inched closer together. "That does it! Thou art too close to that wench, Minato!" she muttered through her scowl. "I must find a way to separate them…"

After some pondering, she noticed a mosquito on the tree Musubi hid behind. A lightbulb ding-dinged above her head. "Yes...I got it!"

"Musubi?" she whispered.

She tilted her head at her. "Yes?"

"There art a mosquito on the tree next to you!" Best swat it away before it bites someone!"

"Ah, okay!"

She gave the tree a good whack. It uprooted, and began to fall towards Uzume.

Tsukiumi cheered internally. "Yes!"

Minato noted the noise and looked over his shoulder.

He shrieked, "Look out!" and tackled Uzume out of the way. She was saved, but Minato was about to get crushed.

The girls gasped as it fell. Luckily Uzume caught it with her Veil at the last moment.

Minato crawled to safety as Uzume let the trunk fall.

He took a sigh of relief. "Thanks Uzume."

She gave him a grin and a big hug. "Don't mention it."

Matsu, who took refuge in a few leafy branches, took note of Uzume's ability. "Hmmm, she has power over that dress of hers. That's unique…"

Tsukiumi continuously bashed her cranium into the tree trunk. Not only did she nearly kill her Ashikabi (again), but now her and Uzume were closer than ever! Just fucking wonderful...

XXXXX

"We're here, Minato."

After a few minutes of walking, they finally arrived at the hospital.

"I can't wait to meet your Ashikabi."

She smiled back at him. "And I'm sure my Ashikabi can't wait to meet you."

As they advanced through the parking lot and through the roundabout door, his harem observed them with binoculars from the bushes across the street.

"A hospital?" Tsukiumi thought out loud. "What could Uzume's Ashikabi possibly be doing here?"

"You know…" Matsu began cackling. "They could be here for a little naughty nurse-patient funtime. kukuku."

Tsukiumi shrieked at the possibility of Minato being serviced by Uzume in a nurse's outfit. She shook her head wildly to cease the thoughts of him giving her an injection, but it was no use. They had to get in there to find out what they were up to, and fast!

As they rushed out of the bushes and motioned to cross, the street lights flickered out.

"I don't think so," a female voice said, coming from directly above them.

She jumped down from the street light and onto the sidewalk opposite Minato's harem. She reached for the large staff weighting her back and two other silhouettes joined her.

"Matsu, Ku, stay behind us." Musubi ordered.

"And who might you be?" Tsukiumi asked.

The street lights came back on.

The three introduced themselves.

"I am #16, Toyotama," the green haired Sekirei said, drawing her staff.

"I am #62, Kaie." the one flanking Toyotama's right said, cracking her whip.

"And I am #101, Oriha," said the one on the left, spinning bladed tops on her fingers.

Toyotama spoke up. "You are trespassing it the territory of our Ashikabi Higa Isumi. Begone or you will be made short work of."

"Higa Isumi?" Matsu paraphrased. "The Ashikabi of the East?"

"That's right," Toyotama acknowledged. "He owns this hospital. Only Sekirei working for him may set foot here, now begone!"

Tsukiumi's pupils shrunk. "Sekirei working for him? Does that mean-" She recalled how Uzume entered the building along side Minato with no adversity. "-Uzume's Ashikabi is Higa?"

XXXXX

A/N:

Before I go, I have a question: When I come back, would you mind a drop in the writing quality on not just Veil but ALL of my fics? I find that straining to find incredibly detailed descriptions really drains me overtime and more often than not burns me out like crazy. I feel that in order to keep motivated when I come back from hiatus, I may need to tone myself down a bit in order to start loving what I do once more. Leave me your thoughts in a PM or a review.

Thanks for reading.