A/N:
Phen0m20:
I'm deeply sorry for this delay. Real life had to take priority not only for myself, but mordreek too. The good news is that you'll have an even meatier chapter to comb through and enjoy.
Can't really say much now without going into spoiler territory, so now I shall pass the mic to mordreek.
mordreek:
"Well then. I am definitely pleased by the responses to the previous chapter. Love it or hate it, you guys had real and solid opinions about the characters and their interactions.
I will admit that an off review comment about Uzume's surprising eloquence during the fight makes a good point about how she's a bit more calmer than she should be. I'll admit I basically just went with what felt natural and forgot the tone of the fight...then again this is Sekirei and it's not like its the first time someone has been talky during a fight in the verse.
Still, I have to say that I love that Tsukiumi had a lot of supporters or detractors, as this was a pivotal scene for her was striving for people to form an opinion.
I love the character and I'll admit I'm one of those authors that loves to put characters I like through the wringer.
For those of you who felt that everyone was unfair to her...you are right, they were. That will come into play in the following chapter. Also keep in mind that as far as they know, she's a person that is now trying to kill someone and threatened another and they have no real reason so assume anything different...until now. Enjoy."
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Equilibrium Part II
Fifteen minutes prior, back in the Izumo Inn...
Tsukiumi finally reined in her temper, embarrassed she had been so easily and repeatedly goaded into giving up her advantages in battle. She summoned several water spheres as she had been doing at the beginning of the fight, and smiled dourly at Uzume's paling expression. Both knew the game had changed again, and this was the final round.
"Thou hast done well to last as long as thou have, so removed from thine own abilities as thou are. For this if nothing else, I will give thee a quick end. Now, I conclude this." And with that she began a steady onslaught on Uzume's legs, aiming for them exclusively to pin her opponent down and prevent any more acrobatic displays from her.
Even so, her pernicious challenger did not give up, constantly moving in erratic directions to lessen the impacts or avoid them entirely. Had she had a less personal stake in the fight, Tsukiumi would have been impressed to find such an effective sparring partner.
"Thou spoke much of mine perceived failings in my dealings with my Ashikabi, but yet I see much the disappointment of thine own errors. What kind of Sekirei is so willing to be apart from their Destined one, as vile and unworthy as yours might be-" Tsukiumi had to concentrate on fighting as Uzume let out a howl of wrath at the insult, trying to retaliate. Unfortunately for her, Tsukiumi was not willing to make the same mistakes as she had in the past. While she was not willing to win through suffocation or drowning and allow the victory to be cheapened, Tsukiumi was also unwilling to let her demolishing be interrupted any longer.
"Don't you dare say a word about my Ashikabi you damp hag! You have no idea what you are talking about, never have from the start." Uzume's words lashed out even as her fists were blocked by flowing streams of water.
" Thine Ashikabi is involved with the hospital, Thine Ashikabi is never with thee, and that same varlet is more than willing to let thou whore thineself out in an effort to win the game. I think I have divined enough." Tsukiumi was tired of being told she was wrong, that what she had seen with her own eyes had some other meaning to it. She had heard some American MBI workers use a saying, "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck...chances are it is just a duck." Well, Tsukiumi was going to tenderize and roast this fowl for good and all for the temerity to come between her and the one she had let Wing her.
Tsukiumi felt that was one of Uzume's greatest flaws and hypocrisies, to constantly deride Tsukiumi for supposedly derelicting her duty while Uzume cavorted and drank around away from her own Ashikabi. Tsukiumi knew she might have a temper and some...tension regarding her new status, but she also knew her proper place as Minato's Sekirei, to be at his side, to defend him, and keep him from dishonor. The fool was so hapless it was a wonder he had survived until now.
As much as the man drove her crazy and made her question her letting him Wing her sometimes, as much as he seemed to ignore the efforts of those around him to gain his attention and affection, one thing that Tsukiumi never doubted was that Minato needed her. Why else would their destiny bring them together?
Thus Tsukiumi felt her face twitch at Uzume's response to her declaration, "One out of three, sorry but not even close. Then again, you seem determined to drive the Western stereotype of 'dumb blonde' to new lows aintcha?" Even with her temper urging Tsukiumi to smack the wench down and hard for such an insult, Tsukiumi kept herself under control, seeing that her defensive strategy was working in wearing Uzume down.
Tsukiumi merely narrowed her eyes and continued to wear her enemy down like her power would a mountain, seeing the outcome of their battle as inevitable as the tide itself. "I am weary of this banter. I might have served you well had you been more skillful. But failure is your only recourse, and shame your last emotion when I finally put an end to this." Her voice was cold, level, and damn near as monotone as the ice wielder to the south.
Her constant assault on Uzume's legs had not faltered in the meantime, each successful strike further slowing her adversary and making Tsukiumi's following blows that more effective. Tsukiumi saw the resignation in Uzume's eyes and felt a brief moment of regret at the idea of Terminating another Sekirei before ruthlessly suppressing such weakness. Were it not required by the game, this...tramp had earned this by interfering with Tsukiumi's relations with her husband. She could not, would not, let anyone come between them and ruin their chances for happiness.
She slowly shifted her focus from Uzume's legs, which were barely able to keep her upright anymore, let alone allow her to dodge the non-stop volley, to steadily slam Uzume's arms with high-pressure blasts, punishing the brunette with each block and protective gesture. Tsukiumi wanted Uzume helpless before her when Tsukiumi finally made the Termination, that when MBI took her away, Uzume knew full well that there had been nothing she could have done once she had crossed the line.
XXXXX
Like all living creatures, even Sekirei had their limits, prodigious as many were in the realm of endurance. Uzume was no different, having fought constantly far outside of her skills-set and experience and taking continuous punishment all the while. Most would have fallen much sooner but her anger and desperation to keep Chiho and Minato safe had given her reserves of strength she had had no idea were there.
It was still not enough.
One final strike to her sternum had Uzume on her back, her ragged breath gasping in pain, her body trembling as it tried to obey her commands and failed.
Uzume clawed the dirt beneath her nails as she desperately strove to pull herself upright once more, seeing Tsukiumi advancing almost leisurely upon her. "No…" she moaned aloud. "It can't end like this...Chiho…Minato...I'm sorry...I failed you both."
"What's this? Even now, when your end is near, you still seek to defame my Ashikabi's name? Should not your own Destined One be the last name upon your lips, and not another's?" Tsukiumi took a very slow stride towards her now defeated opponent, one high heel in front of the other. Uzume supposed that she had not heard her say Chiho's name but at this point Uzume didn't care, Tsukiumi would no doubt find some way to twist it and justify what she was about to do.
Uzume wondered what would happen to the two people she cared for most now, one trapped by illness and her 'care', the other by his own scars and 'family'. She knew that trying to make everyone happy ended in disaster, but wasn't the joy of two people a reasonable thing for Uzume to hope she could achieve?
Uzume giggled for a moment, the erroneous thought that she was about to go out a virgin, despite Kazehana's best attempts, seemed hilarious to her.
She looked up and saw that Tsukiumi was taking her time with her approach, no doubt in an effort to reinforce her 'superiority'. Uzume refused to give the watery harpy the satisfaction of begging for her life or Winging,
"Tired already? Take your time, there's no hurry here."
A snort from Tsukiumi showed that the blonde was aware of Uzume's rather empty snark, "I am hardly surprised that thine tongue is the only muscle that still answers thine command. Thou were indeed a sharp-tongued shrew in life...I suppose it is fitting you go out as one too."
It was the casual way Tsukiumi said "were" that had Uzume shivering, as if she were already dead and Tsukiumi was speaking to an unusually lively corpse.
Uzume had sworn she wouldn't beg for her life, but as ever, Chiho came first, compelling her to speak, "P-please, I know I'm more screwed than a cabinet, but let my-" Tsukiumi quickly cut her off, having reached Uzume's prone form,
"Once thou are ended, and my Ashikabi...disciplined for his indiscretions, I will deal with this Higa forthwith and ensure he is a threat to no one anymore. Do not embarrass yourself begging for his life."
Uzume wheezed another laugh at the idea of doing anything, let alone begging, for Higa's life. If Tsukiumi wasn't such a misguided and cast-iron bitch, Uzume would have cheered her on as the ninth Sekirei took down the "Ashikabi of the East."
Uzume looked straight up at the newly-formed Water sword that surrounded her hand, making Uzume feel an almost overwhelming urge to gulp. She resisted, if barely, and instead took a deep breath in order to stare Tsukiumi dead in the eye.
She could see the grudging respect in Tsukiumi's eyes, unwillingly impressed with the fabric-fighter's fortitude in facing her death without fear. Yet that respect apparently wasn't enough to deter Tsukiumi from the path she had chosen.
Uzume's breath hitched in her generous chest as the sword rose, its point tilting as Tsukiumi poised it to cleave her neck in one chop, "I would ask if you have any last words, depending on their contents, I may convey them. Choose carefully."
Uzume wanted to go out with a quip, pun, or joke, but in the end she decided to let her heart speak, " Don't hurt Chiho...or Minato, that's all I ask."
Uzume saw Tsukiumi's expression waver in confusion, before reaffirming into an severe mask once more, "I will see to mine own Ashikabi as I see fit, and I do not know this Chiho and have no reason to seek her out...so thine final request was squandered as thy life was, pointlessly."
Uzume felt despair as Tsukiumi's water-blade reached its zenith, knowing that when it fell...so did any hopes for Chiho's future. The sheer futility of the fight they had just had only increased Uzume's misery and guilt at goading Tsukiumi earlier.
As the water sword descended, Uzume's courage finally gave out and she closed her eyes, crying out to the man she had never intended to fall for...and yet couldn't regret doing so,
"MINATO!"
The moment of pain before nothingness that she braced herself for never came, prompting the defeated Sekirei to crack one eye open to see what had stayed her bane. That and her other eye rapidly bugged out at the spectacle before her.
XXXXX
Present time...
Minato landed on the soft ground in the backyard on his feet, pleasantly surprised he hadn't injured himself in his panicked charge. He winced minutely as he heard his flock and Kazehana squawk in shock at his irresponsible move but resolved to soothe their ruffled feather after he prevented Tsukiumi from crossing a line she'd never be able to retread...not to mention getting them exiled from the Inn.
He ran full-tilt across the now marshy ground, slipping and sliding as he watched Tsukiumi raise a blade made solely of water to "smite" her "mortal foe". He couldn't tell what they were saying, the rushing sound roaring in his ears put paid to any hope he could have of that.
At least until he saw the blade start to fall, and he saw Uzume close her eyes to her end. Then he heard her call her name clear as any shrine bell, and he leapt, refusing to let it all end here...
XXXXX
Tsukiumi felt pure, undiluted panic as she saw her recalcitrant Ashikabi dive in front of her blade, his hand outstretched to catch it as he appeared in front of her prey.
In her terror, she completely forgot to banish the water away or even turn it aside, so shocked and surprised had she been rendered.
To her further astonishment and now great relief, Minato was uninjured by her aquatic armament and actually held the cutting edge in his palm with no more harm than the chance of pruney fingers.
"THOU RECKLESS FOOL OF A MONKEY, WHAT DOST THOU THINK THOU ARE PLAYING AT? HOW DARE THOU RISK THINESELF FOR OUR ENEMY!" Tsukiumi screamed at him, venting her mortal terror at him while her whole body shuddered in nauseating horror at what had nearly happened.
"I noticed how Seo stayed alive despite all the shocks and zaps the twins hit him with and I thought that a Sekirei's powers couldn't hurt her Ashikabi if they used it on them." Minato answered her levelly, his eyes hidden by his messy hair and keeping Tsukiumi from using them to know her Ashikabi's mind or lack thereof based on his current actions.
"So thou decided to risk all based on a hunch? What if thou had been wrong?"
Minato's deadpan answer made her stomach drop,
"Then I would have died and Uzume would live, it was a risk I was willing to take. But I'm confused, why are you so worried? After all, you were going to kill me next weren't you?"
Tsukiumi felt her mind skitter and leap as it tried to comprehend his answer and his accusation, falling back on the bluster that the inhabitants of the Inn had come to know so well,
"I-I, thou forget thyself Minato, I-"
"'Indecent, dubious liar! I will have your head for this fornication', ' Leave her side at once Minato or thy life will be forfeit' Weren't those your exact words?" Minato's voice never wavered, making Tsukiumi wince all the harder as having her own words thrown back in her face, words she now found herself regretting with every fiber of her being.
Still, her stubborn pride refused to let this go unanswered, even as something inside her began telling her discretion was the better part of valor, "Apparently thine memory is good, yet thy faith in me is not, else thou would not be so willing to throw thyself into danger like that!"
Minato seemed to still, not even breathing as fair as Tsukiumi could tell, and her instincts were now screaming that something bad was about to happen. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Uzume was staring at her with almost pity in her eyes, goading Tsukiumi into further prodding her silent partner,
"Indeed, had thou sense, thou-"
"Faith? Faith in what? That you'd listen, possibly consider my actions before judging me? Or am I not worth even that much consideration?" Again, Tsukiumi felt disconcerted by the incredibly...casual way Minato was speaking, so out of place in the currently tense ambiance. It took a moment for Minato's questions to penetrate Tsukiumi's mental fugue and when they did she began to reactively puff up with outrage at their content, which mirrored many of Uzume's rants in the prior fight,
"I do not think-" She found herself cut off for a third time, adding to her already immense irritation,
"No you didn't, otherwise we would not be in this mess."
Tsukiumi growled, finally getting over the novelty of Minato's seeming change in expressiveness, ignoring the warning signs continuing to ring in the back of her mind as well as Uzume looking at Minato with growing apprehension,
"I have had enough of this and you will-"
"SHUT UP! FOR ONCE SINCE YOU INVADED MY DREAMS TO TELL ME YOU WERE GOING TO KILL ME, WILL YOU SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH AND JUST LISTEN?!" Minato's roar came out of nowhere, making Tsukiumi take a shocked step backwards. Never before had Minato ever acted like this, Tsukiumi couldn't even recall a time when he had raised his voice at all, let alone in apparent fury. With that step, the water sword was dispelled and Minato's hand clenched in a white-knuckled fist except for his index finger. That was pointing accusingly at the blonde woman before him, unwavering and steady.
Tsukiumi found herself going cross-eyed trying to keep both her eyes on said digit, as if it was some sort of dangerous animal. Her eyes refocused as they met Minato's when he began to speak again, his own gaze full of pain and frustration, plus some other emotions that Tsukiumi was prevented from deciphering by her focus on the lecture by the one who her fate was bound to.
She saw his hands fall to his side as if in exhaustion, the volume of his speech dropping to match and yet losing none of its passion, "Just listen to me please before you do something irrevocable, if you haven't already."
Tsukiumi felt dread pool at the base of her stomach at this, while often depressed or strained, her Ashikabi wasn't given to fits of melodrama. He sounded almost terrified, whether of her or the consequences of her actions she couldn't tell, and that she couldn't added to the miasma plaguing her mind,
"Since thou are so passionate about this, I will hear thee. If thou-" She found herself wincing at Minato once again shouting over her words,
"ENOUGH! STOP TRYING TO GET THE LAST WORD AND LET ME TRY TO FUCKING EXPLAIN HOW YOU BOTH PUT OUR LIVES AND HOME IN JEOPARDY!"
XXXXX
Miya had arrived just in time to see her femininely beleaguered tenant evidently reach the end of his tether. Seeing everyone gathered and watching the...it was either a meltdown or a pent up explosion, Miya couldn't be sure. Hearing Minato's last diatribe, she held herself back behind the gate and decided to see where this was going. That Minato was fully aware of the way she could react to the state she found her husband's inn in and the cause of said state gave Miya enough pause that she didn't immediately banish them.
However, if his conviction flagged or if that...foolish chit that couldn't admit her enamorment of him tried to ignore his words, then Miya would step in. To do so any sooner would destroy any hope of Minato becoming more than a sad, broken child. And while she might enjoy pushing his buttons to see if he'd react (something she was looking forward to if she was honest, the game was so much more fun with a fellow player rather than a perpetual victim.), she was not cruel and took no joy in genuinely ruining the lives of others..
So she quietly unwrapped her new ladle, and waiting with demure poise to use it if necessary, all the while observing her tenant shake off his past in a most...definitive manner.
XXXXX
Minato was beyond angry or upset, he was terrified, and now enraged that his latest Sekirei had no idea why. Striving to keep a level head, knowing that giving into his feelings would lead to words and worse that could not be taken back, he took several deep breaths.
And his worry and determination to save Uzume didn't gloss over the fact that she HAD been naked in his room and with another woman too, with a rather...pungent odor too which had started this whole situation. He'd have been lying if he didn't feel a sense of fault with her for creating the situation even as he was grateful she went so far for him.
He refused to look Tsukiumi in the eyes, too worked up to be able to do so and risk seeing her usual expression of disdainful superiority. Instead, he looked around the backyard, the lawn devastated and churned up with mud, ruined grass, and bits of glass near the Inn itself,
"You ask why I was willing to risk all on a hunch? Why I'd put the bond with my other Sekirei at risk as I did?" He saw that she nodded at him slowly, as if wondering the point he was driving at, her hands clutching the front of her skirt in a white knuckled grip. Satisfied she was actually going to listen to him, he continued, "The way I see it, they had already been put at risk."
He raised a hand to stall her budding protests, his voice growing harsher despite his best attempts to keep it mild, "Look around you! Look what you both did to the place! Have you forgotten that we are merely tenants, that we are guests in another's dwelling?"
Minato heard a gasp from behind him and knew that Uzume had gotten the point he was driving at right away, and with the way Tsukiumi's face drained of color, making her already pale complexion go pasty white, she was starting to figure it out too.
"You know both full well how strict Miya is with the "No fighting in the Inn" rule when it's just a matter of squabbling over seating who sits where or the like, but this, trying to kill each other? I will honestly be amazed if any of us still have a home when she finds out...and I honestly wouldn't be able to blame her, none of us here did as we should have."
Holding up a hand once more to forestall all the protests this declaration had started.
He focused on Tsukiumi, satisfied that she was now thinking clearly after being shocked out of her rage, and felt such a swelter of emotions it was impossible to tell which were which. "Do you get it now Tsukiumi-san?" He saw her wince at the formality, which was odd as she was always insisting on decorum and proper suffixes, just another thing he didn't understand, "If Miya-san is feeling incredibly generous, we will merely be tossed out on our ears...all of us. You, Matsu, Musubi, Ku-chan and I would all be homeless,and that is the best case scenario..."
He paused a moment to take a breath, and heard Tsukiumi take advantage of his pause to ask a question in a surprisingly subdued and hesitant voice, "And should the worst befall us when Miya-dono finds out?" her head was bowed, hiding behind her golden locks and her fingers entwined in from of her.
He felt himself grow numb at the contemplation of what he was about to tell her, "-She will terminate you or request that you be so, for being willing to harm and murder another in her sanctuary. Either way, I would lose you for good."
He heard her gasp in horror, her face still hidden by her hair and he pressed on despite his adrenaline flagging and the desire to fall apart growing stronger,
"Do you see? You would have gained nothing by your 'victory' here, you nearly killed someone and for what Tsukiumi? Why would you even care enough about me to do this? I mean you only winged me out of obligation and I can't imagine your pride-" Minato was jerked mid-rant by Tsukiumi placing a finger on his lights with firm yet gentle pressure, an indecipherable look in her eyes.
She stepped back and seemed to take a moment to think before levelly asking him, "Is that why thou think I let thou wing me? Why I bound my fate irrevocably to thine? Out of sense of obligation for stopping that...trash from touching me and nothing else?"
Minato blinked, unsure what the issue here was, "Well yes, you made it clear what you thought about men in general and Ashikabi's in particular before. I figured since you didn't feel safe around men and had just had a traumatic experience I'd give you space and let you decide when you were ready. I know it wasn't exactly 'manly' but considering how little choice seems to be involved in this 'game', I'd have to be...Higa to take more from you. I mean, since you've moved to the Inn you've pursued the trappings of marriage but wanted...nothing to do...with me?"
Minato's answer trailed off as he watched Tsukiumi's head tilt to the side, with a look that Matsu referred to often as one signaling a "broken brain." with her jaw dropping and an erratic tic developing in her forehead,
"Thou mean to say, that while I was here, thinking thou felt I was unworthy, that I was not enough to entertain thine interest or worthy of thine love, thou mean to tell me thou wert being NOBLE AND UNDERSTANDING?!"
Minato felt his own mind bend a bit as he and the other tenants of the Inn watched his latest feather start pacing back and forth, her arms waving in grandiose accompaniment to her own venting and rant, which wasn't angry at all but rather a mixture of relief, exasperation, and guilt. Of all the reactions he would expect his admission to create...this, was not one of them.
"Here I am, attempting to be a 'proper wife' and ensnare thine heart as a demure and genteel lady-" She regally ignored the snorts from the uncouth peanut gallery, "- and thinking that thou were unsatisfied with mine form and skills, and thou were merely waiting for the 'all clear'?
That instead of stewing in mine fears and doubts I could have been having a proper wedding night in a grand hotel, that we could have gone on our own dates!
Oh no, thou had to be a 'thoughtful male' and leave me almost crying for thine touch at night when thine fingers could have been better served sending me soaring, Oh no, we had to be 'patient' and 'respectful of boundaries' whist I waited and dreamed of the day thou would finally turn me into a puddle of pleasure!-"
At this point Musubi was tilting her head in confusion while holding her hands instinctively over Kusano's ears as she had seen Miya do on occasion. Matsu had a look on her face that suggested she had found a cybernetic skull key unlocking the greatest of all treasures, chuckling pervertedly at the things Tsukiumi was inadvertently letting slip during her histrionics and the potential experiments this brought to the cyber siren's mind.
HAH! Called it! Uzume crowed triumphantly in her mind, both glad to see Tsukiumi actually talking to her Ashikabi and vastly annoyed that she had been right that all they had to have done was talk and she wouldn't be sitting naked in the mud...not to mention having been an inch away from death, that counted too.
Miya found herself blushing of all things, Tsukiumi's words bringing to mind memories of Takehito that she found herself slipping into, thus preventing her from interrupting Tsukiumi, who was winding down finally,
"-and then mark mine neck in no uncertain manner!"
Minato was floored, all this time he had been sure Tsukiumi despised him and she was more pent up than Uzume and Matsu combined, "You didn't hate me? Then why all the threats, the mixed-signals, the..." He waved his hands helplessly in an attempt to illustrate the general...Tsukiumi-ness.
Tsukiumi stopped mid-pace and seemed to deflate, hunching herself inwards with shame and self-recrimination as she recalled how she had acted and now realizing how the others had perceived her and her treatment of them,
"In truth Minato, I let mine own doubts and preconceptions rule me. When thou grew, in mine mind, cold and distant after going through so much for me...I feared I had lost thine interest. I had heard of men who were all about the 'chase' and that when said chase found its end, they no longer cared for the woman they so ardently wooed. I convinced myself that thou wert one of them and thought that if I behaved as I had when thou initially pursued me, thou would seek me as ardently as before."
Her voice began to break here, the feelings that had hounded her since she first entered the Inn proving too much for her to maintain her composure,
"As time went on and mine efforts failed again and again, I grew certain thou found me lacking, while thou focused all thine attention on the others like Musubi. I was hurt that the one that called to my soul through my pride and pain did not care for me and in turn grew more desperate not to lose thee. I knew I was driving thou away but let my pride rule me and swayed myself to the belief that if a man strayed, it was his wife's duty to keep him home...she told me it would work."
That last was almost too quiet for Minato to hear but the key word was almost and he felt himself growing angry once more. Not at himself or Tsukiumi, but this nameless...harridan that had decided she knew best and nearly ruined everything by convincing Tsukiumi of this. He kept silent however, not wanting to interrupt Tsukiumi and prevent her from finally getting all this off her well-formed chest.
Said Sekirei was sobbing gently, her arms holding herself tightly as she forced herself to speak of what she had held too long in her heart to the point where speaking of them was causing genuine emotional pain,
"A-and when I had finally worked myself up to the point of approaching t-thou, of throwing away my hubris once more, Ku-chan told me of thine trip with Uzume. I went m-mad with jealousy and betrayal, seeing the outing as p-proof thou wert bored of me and felt me a hindrance or the like. I didn't see anything but sign after sign that I was a failure, as a woman and a Sekirei while our fellow tenant was getting all I dreamed of."
Minato and Uzume both felt their own hearts breaking a bit as they looked at each other, able to admit finally that they had crossed the line from "friends spending time" to "romantic date." without paying attention and the damage it had caused. Minato felt his stomach twist as he reflected on Tsukiumi's entrance into their lives...and how he had basically declared her an outsider with his hands-off approach and passive acceptance of everything.
Kami, he of all people should have known the signs of someone desperate for acknowledgement and acceptance.
He continued to listen to Tsukiumi, putting his newfound desire to give her proper attention for once into immediate practice.
"The others assured me that I was wrong and even then, I could not wholly give up on thou, that while thou might not care for me, thou wert an honorable man and wouldst die rather than betray thy word. But when I entered your quarters...all mine heart could feel was the need to lash out and take another's dream along with mine as it died. That the man I loved would never want me, that I would be trapped in a marriage and Winging in name only as many others have been. I am so sorry, Minato, i nearly ruined everything and I know that thou must hate me and I-"
Tsukiumi's descent into self-loathing was interrupted by Minato lunging forward and holding her close, letting her cry into his chest as he stroked her hair,
"I don't hate you Tsukiumi, if I did, I wouldn't have been terrified of losing you as I was. That is what made this fight so terrible to me, no matter who "won" I'd lose someone special to me." He looked up at Uzume as he said that, nodding at her to get up despite being almost afraid to approach. He briefly gestured to his other Sekirei and they all rushed in to hug the pair, creating a cocoon of warmth and support.
Kusano promptly claimed a leg each, alternating between beaming at her Onii-chan for saving the day once more and stroking Tsukiumi's leg to reassure her. Her bunny was still clutched tightly in the crook of her left arm, making Uzume smile, (with a quick wince of pain). She was going to grow a special flower for Tsukiumi to cheer her up, and show her that regardless of their "feeding Minato" rivalry, Kusano had never wanted to take her Onii-chan away.
Matsu was restrained in comparison to her usual behavior, likewise forgoing the usual pervertedness that she favored for quiet care, instead showing the perceptiveness that earned her the moniker "Sekirei of Wisdom.". She hadn't forgotten the off-handed teasing that had set off Tsukiumi the night before and decided she had been alone too often and had lost the ability to read the room as well as she used to. She let her hand run across Minato and Tsukiumi's shoulders, letting her fingers speak for her, glad that the soap opera was over.
Musubi started to give her patented rib-crusher hug to all, but a quick look from Matsu stopped the fist-type and convinced her to instead simply wrap her arms around as many as she could in a great bear hug. She was glad Tsukiumi had always cared about their Ashikabi...even if her methods made Musubi's brain hurt. Still, they all loved each other and Musubi knew that was enough.
Minato smiled at the way his Sekirei were all coming together and whispered to Tsukiumi, "See, nobody hates you. I'm sorry for what I put you through, now and before. I can't promise I'll be completely changed overnight, but I swear I won't take you for granted again...any of you" He added, looking over the group, "We'll get through this somehow, but it won't be alone, we have to trust each other and enough that we can feel safe in talking to each other."
Tsukiumi nodded mutely into his chest, not looking up at him. Her tears had died down and as much as she might have denied it earlier, Minato could tell she was enjoying the feeling of closeness to her husband and the others.
He turned his head once more to Uzume, who was looking at the picture with both wistful longing and bitter loneliness. He held out his free hand to her and motioned her to join the group hug. When she started to shake her head no, his gestures grew more insistent, unwilling to let one that he considered a part of their family, even in an as yet undefined role, be alone at a time like this..
XXXXX
Tsukiumi looked up as she felt the motions of Minato attempting to coax Uzume to them and inadvertently made eye contact with the woman that until recently she had been doing her level best to slay.
In her eyes Tsukiumi could see the same longing for acceptance that she was sure had been in her own for many days, and the same guilt as having let her emotions drive her too far. Her pride, once a force that had driven Tsukiumi to potentially terrible deeds, now compelled her to act honorably and make amends. Tentatively, she reached her own hand out to her former foe and hoarsely spoke to her, "We began this affair together Uzume, it is only fitting we end it in a like manner. Thou wouldst not be so crass as to deny succor so freely offered would thou?"
Tsukiumi saw Uzume's eyes brim with tears, and before more than one could be shed, the naked and bruised woman rushed in and completed the gathering, her own sobs echoing the pain and fear of loss that had driven her in the battle.
Tsukiumi cringed at each wound and bruise on the brunette that her hand found, without the righteous fury from earlier she could not help but empathize with the woman for enduring so much.
So busy was Tsukiumi in reprimanding herself in her mind that she nearly missed Uzume begin to speak...
XXXXX
If yesterday, someone had told Uzume that she would wake up that morning naked with her Ashikabi-approved crush and then get in a fight with one of his Sekirei and nearly killed, only to be rescued by that same crush and then offered support and group hug by the same woman who had nearly killed her, Uzume would have checked them into a hospital for alcohol poisoning as they clearly tried to drink more than even Kazehana could handle.
(The same woman who was busy swooning at all the love and romance in the air, unable to keep herself from cooing at the tableau in front of her. If there were any doubts in her mind as to who her Destined one was, they were gone now. Still, Kazehana decided to hold off, both to let the group finish their catharsis, and to see if this change was permanent or not in her potential man. )
Still, it had happened and now found herself marveling at the fact that even now, Minato continued to surprise her. Most would have just torn them both a new one and washed their hands of the situation, instead he somehow managed to find a way to bring them together.
She swallowed and spoke her piece, her own behavior at the start now much less noble in her mind without the accompanying outrage on his behalf,
"I'm sorry too Tsukiumi. While I don't regret defending Minato and will never stop...I shouldn't have goaded you like that. I was out of line and while I may have had my Ashikabi's approval, I never once thought about going to any of you. I was too giddy and excited and then it all spiraled out of control. I never wanted to hurt anyone..."
She started crying again, the realization that she had almost lost everything because of her temper scaring her more than she thought possible. Even as the others murmured words of understanding and forgiveness, she still shivered at the idea of never seeing Chiho again...and how close it had come to pass.
She was joined by everyone else in her shuddering as a soft, but stern voice cut through the moment like a katana through a melon, "Ara ara, well isn't this a dramatic scene to return home to. I'm sure the explanation will be equally riveting."
In simultaneous fashion, the entire group looked up mechanically and saw their landlady by the gate, her mouth hidden by her sleeve and her eyes completely hidden. They all swallowed heavily in unison.
"And perhaps someone could tell me why my backyard has been replaced with a swamp, complete with a naked savage woman?"
XXXXX
Miya had had to take a moment to compose herself before confronting her errant tenants, both from the visions Tsukiumi had summoned and from the way the scene had touched her. Once she was sure she was properly presentable and inscrutable (would never do to let them know she was a softy after all, else they'd be all over her...she had to swat away visions of Minato in the bath at that and put them firmly away.) she had made her grand entrance as only she could, ensuring they would be at their most flat-footed and giving a natural response.
Her shoes squelched softly as she treaded the muddy and sodden ground, her lithe figure and dainty steps unable to ignore the recent change in terrain of her home. She was thankful she had not worn her best yakama out, nor her better shoes. While not materialistic, Miya knew it was hard to cultivate a proper and dignified image when mud was all over one's person.
She kept her expression level and neutral, hiding the simmering outrage at the state of her backyard, the hole in her husband's inn and merely stared at the huddle mass before her, waiting for them to speak.
As far as she was concerned, their next words and choices would decide if they still dwelled under their roof. Otherwise, she would evict them, regardless of her personal feelings on the matter. So she watched impassively as they all turned to behold her, and pondered what they would do next.
XXXXX
Minato had always thought that his mother was the only person who could summon this level of gut-wrenching dread, with her ability to contort her face into demonic expressions and more guilt trips than a blame cruise. How young and innocent he had been...last week.
Take responsibility The words his mother hammered at him again and again ran through his mind as he struggled under her seemly benign gaze. Despite her lack of towering rage in her facade, Minato could see in her eyes that they were beyond thin ice at this point, and he could only hope he survived what he was about to do next.
Slowly disentangling himself from the bevy of females, Minato stepped cautiously but resolutely until he was standing directly in front of Miya...and the girls. He could tell Miya was not unaware of how he positioned himself, and she stopped three paces away from him. a respectable ways away for any human but less than nothing to the Pillar of the Sekirei. The message was clear, This is your chance...make it good.
Minato looked back once, taking in the apprehensive and worried looks on the faces of those that in such a short time had become the center of his life. He focused on the pair that had been recently fighting, both with marks and bruises marring their features, tears staining their cheeks and knew that his usual excuses and half-hearted protests would not serve at all.
He turned his eyes back to his landlady, who had been standing perfectly still where she had stopped, almost statue-like in her tranquility. Forcing his shoulders from their usual slouch, he took the plunge,
"Asama-San, before I say anything else, I want you to know that this is my fault."
Miya waited for the confused protests that rang out behind him to die down before responding, "Is that so Minato-kun, and just what did you do to cause this...and why?"
Minato nodded softly as he answered her, the words take responsibility still echoing in the back of his mind, "I-I caused all this to come to pass, and I-"
Miya shook her head slightly, "No Minato, I asked what you did...not what you blame yourself for." she said calmly, as if he had offered her the wrong spice in the kitchen. This sent Minato's prepared speech into a screeching halt as he wrapped his mind around the seemingly innocuous question posed by his as-yet current landlady.
He had been prepared to take the blame for everything, even kowtow in the mud to show his sincerity. But with one sentence, Miya had firmly derailed that plan.
Feeling lost, he looked over his shoulders at the others, his flock and the "naked savage" woman as she had been dubbed. He saw the looks of apprehension they cast at Miya, the way they all kept the group hug and supported each other. But what shook him the most were the looks of trust and faith they cast his way, their eyes so expressive of their confidence in him. He felt so unworthy of that reliance, he couldn't understand how they still thought the world of him after everything he had done...
And with that thought, his eyes widened and his lips curled up in a smile. Not the fake one he threw out in public to mask his insecurities or the hesitant one that seemed almost afraid to show itself. This was a simple curl of the lips that nevertheless still told Miya that her wayward tenant had come to a long overdue epiphany.
"Well Sahashi-san, I do believe you promised me an explanation, and I would hate to think you would make a poor widow like me wait any longer."
Miya met her eyes, and for the first time in years, he didn't find himself afraid, "You are right Landlady-dono, I must first apologize for the recent delay in my response. I found myself needing a moment to collect my thoughts. Being a male, naturally that took some time."
Minato could hear Matsu snort out a laugh, and he could have sworn he saw Miya's face twitch as if holding back a smile of her own, "Be that as it may, I am still waiting Sahashi-san, and time is a precious commodity to all. It is always wise to avoid wasting it."
Minato took the hint and soldiered on, " Of course Miya-san, and to answer your question; I did nothing-" Minato could already see Miya's eyebrow raise and continued before she could get the wrong idea, "I did nothing to make Tsukiumi welcome in my life, I did nothing to encourage the others to do the same...and worst of all, I did not to make my intentions clear about my outing with Uzume." He paused, taking in a breath and giving Miya a chance to respond. Last thing he wanted to do was lose it on her and make her even more upset.
Miya gave a small wave of her hand to indicate that he should continue, "My original intentions were to simply hear Uzume and her Ashikabi out, as they had a rather...unique proposal for me."
"Which was?"
Minato wanted to cringe, in hindsight he really, really shouldn't have just taken off like he did or keep it from everyone. From an outside perspective, particularly Tsukiumi's...there really was no way they could see it in a positive light without anything from him, "She-"
"My Ashikabi and I wanted him a part of our lives." Minato whirled around in surprise, not having noticed Uzume coming up beside him " Uzume, you don't have to say anything, I-"
"-am nor more guilty than I am, I am the one that approached you after all...and goaded Tsukiumi this morning as I said earlier" She retorted, holding herself upright relatively well despite her current state. Minato took a brief moment to marvel that no matter their state, Sekirei somehow managed to find a way to make it attractive. She gave him a look that, while not confrontational, made it clear that she was not going to back down and leave him alone to face Miya.
"Regardless of the issues between you and your Sekirei, I still made the offer and accepted your invitation out in turn. I am just as culpable-"
"And I, for coercing the others into spying upon thy outing and for drawing the worst conclusions possible rather than approaching thee about it Minato, and more besides."
XXXXX
Tsukiumi had felt guilt twist her insides as first Minato and then Uzume had braved their Landlady and the strongest Sekirei. Her heart had filled almost to bursting with pride, relief, and many other emotions as her Ashikabi and husband had taken responsibility for his errors and by the same token, apologizing for failing her and the others. To hear such affirmation after her own confession and the baring of her heart besides gave her hope as she had not felt in quite some time.
It made it easier to hear that Uzume and whomever had Winged her did indeed wanted her Ashikabi in their lives, and while she still felt concern at the idea, she no longer felt threatened by it.
But to Tsukiumi that didn't change the fact that out of the 3 that had been intimately involved in this fiasco, she had yet to face the "Dreaded Hannya of the North" and her now diminished but no less potent pride would not allow her to stay behind when she had her own transgressions to atone for.
She quickly found herself beside the pair and standing equally resolute to face her judgment. Besides, she still had questions of her own that she would like answered.
XXXXX
MInato felt his back pop from the speed in which he turned to his left, starting to wonder if all Sekirei had a stealth ability, if Tsukiumi could come up on him unawares so shortly after Uzume had. One would think after years with Yukari, I would have picked up a few tricks here and there to keep my observational skills up he thought ruefully to himself. For now, he could only look on as Tsukiumi spoke and wondered at how wrong and shallow he had been when he had looked on her before.
Unthinking, he offered his hands to both of them, Tsukiumi and Uzume, a silent offer of support he would have never had the courage to make even just yesterday. Both his hands were quickly taken and squeezed gently, as Tsukiumi began to speak once more,
"Uzume, thou said I knew not what I spake when I claimed Higa as thine Ashikabi. I was too stubborn to heed thee before, but I wouldst hear you now. Who did I threaten in my anger, who is the one thou fought so valiantly to defend?"
But before Uzume could answer, their landlady made her presence known once more, drawing their attention back to her.
XXXXX
Miya had let the byplay occur before her, becoming intrigued despite herself and so feeling patient enough to offer to them a bit of a stay of...retribution. However, she had to cut them off before the details really came out otherwise they'd never move until it was finished...and it just would not do for them all to be standing around in the mud like a herd of pigs,
"This sounds like a very...interesting story I must say, and one I am unwilling to stand in the mud to hear. Clean yourself up, all of your, and we will take this and a pot of tea in the living room."
She gave them a moment to wait for the shoe to drop, and then let it fall without fail.
"Do not think this is anything more than a show of leniency and a delay on sentencing of punishment, I merely wish to be comfortable as I hear you and would be loathe to let the neighbors imagine Kami only knows what going on in this house if they should look in. Am I clear?" The dreaded mask came out to emphasize her statement.
"Hai Landlady-dono." was the unified response.
Satisfied, Miya glided (to the tune of "squish" "squish" "squish" it must be said but Miya was never one to let the little things shake her poise.) imperiously to the inside of the Inn, taking care first to avoid the various detritus of the battle strewn about, then to take off her shoes and set them aside without flicking the mud around.
She heard her tenants follow her like goslings with their mother goose. The analogy making her frown to herself at the implications, she was only 27 after all. She continued to observe them and make sure they did not make any bigger mess, her ladle still hidden up her sleeve but ready as it had been since she had first made her presence known upon returning.
Tsukiumi offered her coat to Uzume to keep her warm, heedless of the fact that the mud would ruin it as Uzume tried to warn her. Miya watched as Tsukiumi insisted and extracted a promise from Uzume that she would wear it until she had gotten to the bath and was clean with fresh clothes. Miya was a bit confused as to Tsukiumi's reasoning behind this sudden change in behavior before noticing the almost rigid formalness in Tsukiumi's speech when she made the offer.
Ah, stubborn pride being useful for a change, how refreshing, she thought to herself. She had observed Tsukiumi enough to know that while she could be mercurial, it was more in the nature of making a decision. Once said decision was made, it was difficult to shift the blonde's momentum...hence the current situation Miya supposed.
The all migrated either to the living room to sit or upstairs to clean up as needed, with Kazehana taking up the rear with little hearts fluttering around her as she mumbled to herself about "true love conquering all".
Once she was satisfied they could get settled on their own and not tracked any mud inside that could not be helped or cleaned, Miya turned away into her kitchen to begin the process of making a large pot of tea, a soothing one as well. She had a feeling she would need it badly.
XXXXX
Two hours of explanations, misconception clearing, and catching up later...
Miya recalled the thought she had had two hours ago, and decided that if she ever made such an understatement, she would bonk herself. In the privacy of her own room of course, but after the headache she had gotten while listening and at times mediating this quagmire her tenants had created, a good bonking would probably find relief.
At first it had started out simply enough, with Minato and Uzume explaining what had started the "not-date" as Minato had attempted to describe his first thoughts on it. It hadn't been a moment before he had admitted he had been in denial from the outset, which lead to him apologizing for hiding it and basically "cheating on them" as he had described it. Although they tried to wave away his apology, Miya had been mildly surprised when Minato had stuck to his apology, citing that if he had been doing nothing wrong, he should have been able to tell them.
Miya further approved of the girls apologizing to Minato for spying on him rather than simply accepting the outing if they weren't upset by it (the vast majority of them.) or confronting him and sorting the mess out (Tsukiumi). Matsu made the point that by following Minato and Uzume and not actually interfering or even halting the date, they were giving a pseudo approval of the event even taking place.
That Minato had already seen the inequality of his previous treatment of his Sekirei and while not fixing it with them first, still proved to Miya that he was not so mired in his own self-loathing and pity to be able to change...like that trash that kept mooching off her husband's memory and goodwill from beyond the grave. His reasoning for not taking the others with him, and the revelation that he had wanted to had both touched and added guilt to an already emotional Tsukiumi. Minato vowing to make it right and offering each of his feathers a night just as romantic plus a family outing threatened to derail the discourse until Miya pulled out the mask once more.
The revelation about Chiho and her reasoning for urging Uzume to pursue Minato and bring him to meet her was a sobering one, and not one without tears shed. In a surprising reversal of roles, it had been Musubi who had struggled the most with the idea of an Ashibaki letting another be with her Sekirei while Tsukiumi had shed tears at such sacrifice and selflessness.
The moment was spoiled slightly when Uzume began squirming and stalling towards the end and Miya had had to pull out the mask a third time to prevent a borderline riot at Uzume's admission that Chiho wanted and was pushing her to "make babies" with Minato. Matsu had been instantly ready with "helpful pamphlets" that Miya could have sworn were summoned out of thin air, Musubi had joined Ku-chan in demanding an explanation as to what baby-making entailed and Tsukiumi had devolved into stutters, mumblings and half-intelligible denials that Miya roughly translated into "Me first!"
It had even taken Uzume swearing on her mark that it had not been her idea and that she had even pushed for she and Minato to take their time before everyone had settled down. When Minato added that Chiho had pushed just as strongly with him, as well as the kiss and the promise accompanying it, Miya had to resist the urge to press her fingers to her temples in a futile effort to dissuade the migraine growing there. If it weren't for the fact that the girl was hospitalized and not one of her tenants...this "Chiho" would have bumps on her noggin enough to make even Musubi fear. The amount of chaos she was causing even a day after the fact was almost mind-boggling.
What added to the tea-consuming headache was Uzume alternating between outrage that her Ashikabi had stolen a march on the man she was matchmaking for Uzume, Tsukiumi demanding to know who exactly Minato was supposed to make babies with or if this Chiho was merely expecting him to be put out to stud with Matsu offering yet more "helpful pamphlets", (from out of her cleavage for all Miya knew), and Musubi demanding a kiss from her Ashikabi while Ku-chan gnawed on his leg.
Kazehana for the most part had hung back, content to be caught up as Miya was and offering the occasional peanut-gallery type comment. She seemed to be focused rather deeply on Minato for the most part...especially when the romantic parts of the story were involved. Miya knew her former teammate well and that Minato's actions now and before were the Lush's equivalent of "Look at me, here I am, love me." signals and Miya resigned herself to the inevitable.
Miya took consolation that at least her sake stores would no longer be raided by the mooch...if only due to their lack of existence with Kazehana in her Inn once more.
When the subject of Tsukiumi and the others fighting with Higa's Sekirei came up, Miya noticed a great deal of unease and guilt in both Minato and Uzume. Although she put it down to the idea that their carelessness had put those they cared about in danger, an idea that had further credence by Minato having to be sat down and prevented from fussing over them, Miya saw Uzume look on the others with hidden shame and Minato at she with glances that suggested he was torn about something. Miya had not pressed the matter, as enough was being revealed as it was and she had already gone through three pots of tea and had been well on her way to finishing a fourth. (helped of course by her tenants, who needed it as much as she did if not more if she was going to be honest.)
And now, finally, they had arrived at the moment in which she had entered her living room last night and attempted her long-distance chastisement of Tsukiumi that had failed so disastrously. There was something...off about the way Kazehana and Uzume were exchanging glances, something...vulgar in the meeting of their eyes.
She pulled up her sleeve so that she could relax her smile and give a good snarl at the pack of pests before her if for no other reason than to let her face move, "A most...stimulating tale for a young widow like myself to be privy to, and it does help to explain a good deal of what set up the vista I beheld when I returned to my husband's Inn. But I have noticed something that all of you have neglected to mention." She let a hint of the mask out to emphasize her following declaration, eyes narrowing in pleasure that despite recent and frequent exposure, it was still as potent as ever, it would not do for a modest widow like her to lose one of her most effective disciplinary tools to overuse,
"None of you have made one hint of what exactly precipitated the incident itself. Minato, as much as you seem determined to take after Trash-san, I cannot find you directly to blame as of yet, so unless there is more for you to unburden yourself of, I advise you to be silent." While she had appreciated his willingness to make amends and own up to his mistakes...his earnest confession had felt more and more like a stall tactic to her and she was going to get to the bottom of this one way or another.
Seeing the person in question acquiesce with alacrity, she turned her gaze onto Uzume and Tsukiumi. She said nothing, merely staring them into submission with her will alone.
Oddly enough, (or perhaps not so surprising considering the person in question) it was Kazehana who broke first, attempting to sidle away without seeming to move at all. Miya fixed her firmly in place with a glare that Takehito had once said would make Kami himself freeze in place.
It worked just as well on her former ally and defender, making the busty woman squirm in place and causing shivers and wiggles that threatened to cause her only nearby male tenant to go into a nosebleed,
"Kazehana, you weren't attempting to leave were you? It would make someone more suspicious than myself think that you were somehow involved. And stop that unseemingly display, vulgar motions and enticement are forbidden in the Izumo Inn."
She ignored Minato's blushing assurances to his flock that they were all just as beautiful, going to so far as to kiss Tsukiumi on the cheek to reassure her. Miya kept the sake-slayer facing her under the gimlet gaze that had even Minaka hesitant to face her, and sure enough, the truth came out.
XXXXX
"I found Uzume looking rather troubled, all by herself in fact, and deciding I had had enough of drinking alone I took her out on the town for a little 'girls night out'."
Kazehana began her tale, having dreaded this moment a fair amount since Miya had come home. While equal parts enthralled, shocked, and moved to swooning by the tale recounted, she had nevertheless had the presence of mind to know that eventually her...playtime with Uzume would see the light of day. Still, it had been so moving and romantic at times, hearing this romantic tale of star-crossed lovers and sacrifices of the heart.
Why it was enough to make the hardest heart melt, as she could see in Miya at times, so what was an innocent maiden like Kazehana supposed to do but be helpless against this siege of passion against her tender emotions.
Now if only she could survive the next ten minutes, Kazehana might even be in a position to get in on the lovey-dovey that had her all a-flutter.
Miya was still giving her that glare of hers, the kind that broadcasted killing intent like a spotlight of doom, all the while having the utterly false and innocent smile on her face. Kazehana soldiered on, better to face the music now than later and risk hearing the fat lady sing.
"We had a nice time...had one or two drinks...here or there." The key is not to lie, she'll scent that right out...but the whole truth will have me in traction. She thought to herself, "After a time, we made our way back to your charming home that I have missed after all this time.
Yes she was laying it on a bit thick but this was Miya dammit, Kazehana had yet to see anyone make kitchen appliances into implements of disaster like she could.
And said kitchen queen wasn't buying it for a minute, "I highly doubt it was so little and so soon to be over oh drunken one, but do continue...now."
Kazehana sweatdropped at the way the room seemed to turn ice cold, although she let herself blush at the way Minato noticed the effects (two very pointed ones in point of fact) this had on her. But Miya gave a little *hem-hem* that pulled Kazehana away from her teasing of the young man.
"Right, right, no need to rush me Miya-chan, you always were too impatient. Well after Ho-" she paused at Matsu making "ix-nay" gestures at neck level behind Minato and Tsukiumi at Kazehana almost saying Homura's name. Kazehana didn't get it, but Matsu, while hornier than an overgrown rosebush, had a good head on her shoulders, so Kazehana took the hint.
"-me was so near, we started feeling the effects a bit more and-" Matsu was now mouthing "Kagari", which precipitated Musubi and Ku-chan making their own exaggerated faces in order to play along with her, "Kagari-san helped us home like a gentleman." Although that word is the only way "gentle" could be involved in how he got us here hmph! Kazehana mentally groused.
"Did he now? I shall simply have to inquire when he returns home as to your and Uzume-chan's condition...I do hope that you wouldn't be so crass as to lie to a poor widow and be so easily found out?"
"Uh-hehe, of course not, you wound me Miya-chan"
"Not yet Kazehana-chan, but that might soon change if you keep stalling, and I would so hate to resort to violence."
*bullshit* Kazehana mentally fake-coughed, and somehow Miya must have guessed what she did because her eyes narrowed even further, almost to Karasuba length. After suppressing a full-body shudder, have to save the good stuff for later, Kazehana glanced over at Uzume, who looked rather confused and curious herself,
"And don't think I've forgotten about you, flasher-chan, and how you have remained suspiciously silent until now." Kazehana only felt slightly guilty at the way she relaxed ever so slightly at Miya turning her sights on someone other than her.
Uzume started a bit, having been evidently more distracted than Kazehana had thought,
"To be honest Landlady-dono, I don't remember too much but what I do matches up, so I figured I was in enough trouble without opening my mouth when I didn't need to?" Uzume cringed slightly at the anticipated ladle attack...
Which didn't come as Miya had rapidly re-focused on Kazehana, giving a low "hrmmm" of suspicion, " 'one or two drinks...here or there.' was it you drunken reprobate?" Kazehana didn't have to fake the look of injured dignity at that one. Yes she was a free spirit and liked to drink much of the same, but she wasn't some...vagrant. She was a pure and delicate petal of love that floated on the breeze!
Miya was plainly unimpressed and began tapping her sleeve in a rather transparent hint,
"Once we made it inside, we noticed no one was in the dining room and made our way up the stairs." Miya turned a brief glance on Matsu, who paled rapidly and began shaking her head. Not sure what that was about, Kazehana bit the bullet and started on what she was sure was going to be her last confession, "I assumed everyone was either asleep or out so I let Uzume guide me to her room...or so we thought."
No one in the room missed Uzume's expression of mounting horror and dawning comprehension, nor the way she seemed torn between burrowing into Minato and staying there...or turning away blushing hard enough to make Matsu seem blonde.
"Go on." Miya managed to put more menace into her voice than Kazehana had ever heard used in the Japanese language. Whether or not she had figured it out already or merely had misgivings, it would have to fall to Kazehana to spell it out,
"We, hehe, completely by accident I assure you Miya-san." A raised eyebrow was all the reaction the change in honorific garnered, "Found ourselves in...Minato's room and we...might have...played a little ah-he-he, oh my is it getting hot in here?" Kazehana tried to make a break for it, only to have Miya appear as if teleported in front of her,
"What...did...you...two...do? Kazehana couldn't resist marveling at how Miya was able to talk out of clenched teeth as she just did while still keeping her face so innocuous looking.
Uzume was no help, having given in to her panic and now was attempting the first Sekirei-human bonding via osmosis, so Kazehana screwed her eyes up, offered a prayer to Kami and any other deities currently listening in, and blurted out,
"wehadwildraunchygirlloveuntilshesquirtedontopofmewhileIwasontopofMinatosinceitriedtoWingMinatobecauseshewouldntplaywithhimdespitehimbeingrockhardtheentiretime..." Kazehana tried to make herself as small as possible for the oncoming storm...it didn't take long to arrive.
XXXXX
At first the room was dead silent as everyone attempted to decipher the long winded and rushed admission. Some were more successful than others as was proven by Matsu giving both Kazehana and Uzume a look of absolute betrayal at having missed out on a "threesome experiment" with her Ashikabi even peripherally involved, but soon she was quailing in mortal terror...
Tsukiumi was next, leaping to her feet with a look of vindicated and yet outraged satisfaction at the admission, a finger pointing triumphantly at Kazehana, "HAH! I sayest again HAH! I was right that thou wert bearing designs upon engaging in fornications with my Ashikabi!" A look of further understanding soon came over her face and she promptly turned and bowed at Uzume, shame and regret seeming to ooze out of her every pore in a miasma of disgrace,
"As if my previous failing were not enough, it seemest that I must thank thee for defending my husband's honor so thoroughly and chastising this...march stealer so creatively. I was entirely wrong to doubt thee and thine intentions...I will not forget this."
But the moment that was about to form between them was soon halted as both felt their souls fall into dire jeopardy...
Minato was next, his nose leaking blood and his body seized up in paralyzing shock as the indistinct feelings of betrayal from the more...primal aspects of his being suddenly made a lot more sense. These two irrefutably gorgeous women had buttered their muffins on top of him...literally he was gathering...even just that was enough to make him feel very conflicted. But such trivial details were soon forgotten in the face of the impending...
Musubi had once again show prescience beyond her normal maturity and covered Kusano's ears once more, thus halting the little girls ears and mind from being irrevocably scarred by knowledge that mortal man was not meant to know, (although many if not all would flatly deny such calumny) let alone innocent young children. Musubi herself seemed stuck and unable to process the rapid-fire declaration of guilt, whether it was because she hadn't understood the words themselves or the concepts behind them it was unsure. But even Musubi's denseness was penetrated by the force emanating nearby, a force of pure and raw indignation...
Miya had figured it out…
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A/N:
Phen0m20:
And just when you thought the dust was settled, a whole new horror emerges.
I promised you all that you would see Minato with a spine, and the two of us delivered. But will it be enough to talk down a raging Miya? Spoiler Alert!: No. Haha.
In case some of you are wondering why I had Uzume lose the fight with Tsukiumi (since she is the main focal point in the fic), it was to both gather sympathy for her character, as well as give Minato that big nudge he needed to act on finally growing a pair. Let me put it this way, if the roles were reversed and Minato had to save Tsukiumi from Uzume's wrath, wouldn't that have undermined Tsukiumi's overall power? A lot of people seem to forget that Tsukiumi is a single number Sekirei; one of the most powerful Sekirei in the Sekirei plan. Wouldn't her losing to a double digit like Uzume who was at a severe disadvantage being naked and having no access to her veil or any other clothing kind of cloth make Tsukiumi look like a little bitch? You're damn right it would have. These are my two favorite characters going at each other's throats. We had to do them justice and develop their characters accordingly and in the best way possible..
The challenge for us was to make both Sekirei look strong coming out of the battle. With Tsukiumi emerging victorious in the end and Uzume putting up one hell of a fight regardless of not being able to use her powers. This encounter will give both characters a lot of respect for each other. Said respect will carry on to future installments, this I assure you.
With that said, we have come to the end of part II. Given the length of this installment I was forced to split it again (mordreek really loves to go all out with his storytelling), so yes, that means this will be a three part story arc! Stay tuned for the conclusion of it in chapter 10, then we shall move on to the next major story arc. Hope to see you all there!
mordreek:
"And here we have our first major cliffhanger, 'ain't I a stinkah?'
This arguably could have been finished sooner but this was a tricky part to write to say the least. Or rather, the reconciliation was.
Mostly I kept stalling in how much detail to put into everyone talking to Miya. I could never get the tone right and the characters kept going off into odd and rather unwritable directions...so I cheated and went with a 'characters catching each other up' summary bit. I don't like using it as I prefer detail but in this case, I felt it was needed.
We and you delightful readers already know what happened so the catching up wasn't important, but rather everyone's reactions to what they didn't know. To me, this allowed us to have it both ways...plus we got to see Mount Miya get ready to lose it.
Don't worry, the story will be getting more lighter as time goes on, as these were a rather heavy few chapters. And that you can blame me for, so no mobbing N0m. TTFN, Ta-ta for now.