Chapter 4
She could feel the sun beating down on her, the rays shining through the open window and striking her back. There should be warmth there, but she felt none. Lethargically she moved to get up. Her arms supported her upper half but her head remained low, her long red hair covering all sides of her face. She stayed in that position, head down in a lull as if she used up most her energy just getting up and was debating whether to continue the action or quit and lay down again.
All she saw through her red curtain were the bed sheets, still damp in some places from when her tears fell in her sleep. Thinking about the reason for those old tears almost made new ones fall. She closed her eyes and focused on breathing, deep breaths in and out. Once she felt calm enough, she opened her eyes and slowly moved her legs off the bed.
"Come on Matsu," she whispered to herself. "Just get up and act like nothing happened. You can do it."
She stood up and made her way to the door. Steady step after steady step she ambled forward. She thought about how to act today. Could she get away from training? She was sure being denied by your Ashikabi was a good enough reason to miss a day, especially if that person was your Sensei. She was almost at the door when her vision blurred. Details of the door and room before her became lost in watery distortion. Wetness claiming a home in her eyes as she brought an arm to the door for support. She slid down and turned her back to the door. Tears trickled down and she sobbed as she brought her knees to her chest.
"I can't do it. I can't."
Still, she could feel the sun shining down on her as she sank deeper into her emotional abyss. The sun's rays were so warm.
So why did she feel so cold?
***(MBI)***
By the time Miya got up, her unexpected visitor was gone. His pillow and blanket were neatly placed next to her bed. Looking at them got her curious to how he spent his free time. After every day, he would end practice and say that he had a couple of things to do. She followed him a few times, but all she ever saw him do was enter Takami's office. It seemed like Naruto liked to talk to Takami every day after he finished with them. She tried listening in on their conversations, but after her first time eavesdropping it became difficult to hear them. It felt like there was something muffling their words. She heard enough the first time to know that he talks to Takami about things that he doesn't discuss with them, like about his abilities and issues about his body. She couldn't hear it all, but she could understand that he was still having problems with something. However, every time she tried to follow him after he left Takami's office, she lost his trail.
It was more than infuriating to not know what he was up to, and now that the idea of him maybe planning to leave them was brought to her attention, she needed to see what it is that he does when no one is looking. Matsu brought up a good point when she inquired about Naruto's future plans. Plans that will see to the end of the time they could spend with him. Miya felt a deep and subtle anger stir within her at the thought of him just disappearing the day he deems them no longer needing of his care. It wouldn't be fair of him at all. You can't worm your way into people's hearts like he has and then just leave. There had to be something that could convince him to him stay.
Miya took in a small breath to calm herself. That way of thinking will only cause her to follow Matsu's unsuccessful footsteps. If nothing else, she could always just sabotage whatever plans he had on leaving. Shouldn't be too hard since he was stuck here on this island with them. She had time to figure out what to do, and thanks to the islands relatively small size she never would be too far from him. Letting out her breath, Miya made to leave her room and promised herself to cut or stab Naruto at the soonest available opportunity. That would teach him for causing her such mental distress early in the morning.
That, and it was just so extremely satisfying to hurt him sometimes.
***(MBI)***
There were a number of things wrong with the circumstances that roused her from her slumber. She felt refreshed and unusually well rested. While not bad in itself, it was the reason she immediately knew something was wrong. Takami lifted herself up and let the covers drop from her chest to bundle up over her legs and waist. She looked towards her windows and saw the light coming through the curtains in a faded glow. It was the final clue she needed to put together that she had slept in. She prided herself on her work ethic, and that ethic showed itself in her quality of work and her insistence to be the first and last person to leave the workplace. If the sun was up, that meant that she was at least 3 hours later than her normal wake up time.
Takami brought her leg up and placed her elbow on top of her blanketed limb. Her other hand ran through her hair as she let out a deep breath. It was most unusual for her to sleep in this long as she had many fail-safe's in place to prevent this very thing. Multiple alarms and assistants that she hired specifically to wake her up all seemed to have failed.
She let out a small and tired hum. Might as well make the most of it though. She plopped back down and snuggled into the warm embrace of her covers. An extra bit of sleep would do her some good.
It was about forty minutes before her eyes opened again and she got up to get ready. Now that she followed through with her idea of allowing her body its needed rest, she wanted to know exactly why no one had come to wake her. The day before had almost killed her in worry because of what happened to Matsu. If she wasn't there to supervise everyone, there is no telling what other mistakes may happen. Takami really doubted that Naruto would be so passive if something like that happened again.
After a quick shower she went to her closet and put on her normal work attire. Mentally preparing herself for whatever may have happened while she gave it to her morning impulse, Takami walked to the door. What awaited her when she opened her door did not make her feelings of apprehension settle at all.
There stood an open mouthed and clearly surprised Naruto with a paper in his hand. He quickly hid the paper behind his back and gave her an awkward wave. On her part, Takami couldn't decide whether to stare at him blankly, or narrow her eyes at him in suspicion. So she settled for keeping her face neutral and her side rested on her door frame.
"First, I want to say that whatever you think I'm doing, I can assure you that I didn't do it and/or I was not a part of it." Naruto said.
Now she knew to narrow her eyes at him in suspicion.
"I can tell that you don't believe me, and honestly I have got to say that your lack of trust hurts me deeply."
"Is that so?"
She stepped out and closed the door behind her. Considering how her morning went and Naruto's strange behavior, she put together that they were somehow connected. She did not know how exactly, but she wouldn't press the matter. Naruto had a penchant for somehow giving himself away when he tried to be sneaky. It was only a matter of time before he eventually gave away what it was that he did. So she spoke up again to change the subject.
"Is it already time for training? I might have to miss it this time. I have work that I have to catch up on."
"Actually, I forgot all about the training today." Naruto said. "I've had something on my mind for a while now and I was hoping you could help me."
Takami paused and put a hand on her chin. "Hmm, I'm not sure. You're starting to owe me a lot of favors." She gave him a sideways look and a grin, "I'm starting to doubt you plan on paying your dues."
Playful indignation took over Naruto's form and she could swear that she could see him trying not to pout at her words.
"I'll have you know that I am very good at paying my debts! If fact, back home they sang praises and songs of legend about my ability to pay my debts!" He wasn't really sure where he was going with that. He just knew that he had to defend his honor from her teasing and slanderous words; however, he started talking before he really thought of a comeback, hoping that something good would come out if he just kept saying words.
"That just sounds like you had an extraordinary amount of debt, really doesn't give me confidence now that I know you have a history of being indebted to people."
Obviously, his defense not only failed, but put him in a worse position than he started in. He had played the game and lost. The look on Takami's face openly showed that she was not buying that he had people singing his praises for such a silly reason.
Takami figured that was enough amusement for now. Something had caused him to forget about 'his girls' as he calls them, much to Mustu's exasperation, whatever that something was has to be important.
"What do you need?" She asked. His behavior quickly became more mature.
"You said Minaka came here with some sort of crystal right? I want to see it. Can you take me?"
She gave a small noise of indecision.
"Minaka has been pretty adamant on no one having access to it besides him and myself. So I can't take you there." She said before lacing her arm around his and guiding him to her office. "However, if I were to lose my key to room 1448, on the lowest level of the facility, and if someone were able to find it and avoid the hidden cameras that line the hallways and the walls of the room itself, I'm pretty sure that person would be able to see a certain crystal without Minaka knowing."
Naruto put his hand on top of hers and gave her a soft grateful squeeze. She hummed in response as they reached her office. She let go off the embrace that she held on his arm and took a key out of the middle drawer of her desk. He walked over to her and she held it out to him.
"Thank you," he said.
"There's a pretty complex set of alarms surrounding the crystal. Five inches above every part of the crystal are a few hundred thousand almost microscopic lasers outlining every small detail. So I hope whatever you are going to do does not involve touching it."
Naruto nodded and pocketed the key. Not being able to touch it might make things a bit complicated, but avoiding cameras and personal on the way to the room would be child's play. Jiraiya would disown him as an apprentice if he couldn't even do that much.
"What time would be the best to go?"
"Any time after noon. By that time every day Minaka is usually deep into some distraction or another."
With that Naruto turned to make his leave. A flash of white of white drew Takami's eye to his back. She stared at it for a second and then opened her mouth to speak.
"Uh, Naruto?"
He turned.
"You…" She hesitated. After a small moment of contemplation, she smiled. As he so often does, Naruto once again managed to give himself away. "How about we go get breakfast?"
"Sure!" He said happily. She came to join him and placed a hand on his back and rushed him out the door.
"We better hurry then. Breakfast hours stop in a few minutes." As she followed him out she took the piece of paper he mistakenly taped to his back when they first met this morning, the paper he had placed on her door, and tossed it into her trash. How he forgot that he was hiding it behind his back was beyond her. On the paper was a note in his rough handwriting stating that she needed extra rest because MBI worked her too hard, and that anyone who woke her up today would have "a personal day" with him. On the bottom of the page was a drawing of a miniature, mean-faced Naruto.
He tried so hard to do something nice for her, and make it seem natural.
It wouldn't hurt to let him think it all happened flawlessly.
***MBI***
"Did we miss a memo?" Kazehana's perpetually amatory voice sounded over the other two waiting Sekirei. It was time for training, yet the only people present were herself, Mustu, and Karasuba. Considering how everything went down yesterday, and all the stress and worry she went through, she was ready to get some normalcy back into her daily schedule. She felt that with the usual training, and subsequent blasting away of Mutsu, would help her emotionally reset. Then she could see about finally get Naruto alone. She had many questions for him, but he always seemed to spend his free time with either Takami or Matsu. After he reprimanded Takahito, she was sure that Matsu would probably be even harder to get away from him. Silly girl probably finally recognized how much he cares for her and protects her.
"While missing memos does seem like something stupid enough for you two to do, I make it a habit to always be informed. Since I've last checked, I saw no news that training was cancelled or delayed." Karasuba said, arms crossed and focused on the entrance to the facility, waiting for anyone to come through,
"Did you just.." Mustu started.
"Did you just call us stupid!" Kazehana interrupted him.
"The fact that you have to ask that should answer your own question." The silver haired sword slinger drawled out.
"Ohhhh!"
Mustu had to grab Kazehana before she got tried to blow a gust of wind at Karasuba. Frankly, he was scared that it would anger the frightening woman enough to actually fight the wind user, and that it would be a battle that'd be more than what Kazehana bargained for. Then after Kazehana went down, it would be too late for him once Karasuba's battlelust took over. He sincerely doubted that he would be able to stop her if that happened.
"Apologies for my tardiness. Did I miss much?" Miya said from behind the group. Mutsu visibly relaxed and let go of Kazehana, now not having to worry about keeping anyone in check. No one dared to get on Miya's bad side. Like he expected, the wind Sekirei settled down after Miya came close. "Where is our Sensei?" she asked.
"I don't think he is coming," Karasuba said, eyes still glued to the door.
"He is not." A new voice entered their conversation as the facility door finally opened. Takami came out looking happier and livelier than they have seen her in a long time. Strange, considering the last time any of them saw her was when they all were recovering from pointlessly trying to keep Naruto from harming Takehito. She even missed overlooking the adjustments made to them this morning. Which normal would cause the adjusters to feel like they had room to do what they pleased with them, but since yesterday's events, no one wanted to be the next guy to mess up.
"You guys are quite loud. I heard you all while walking towards the door." Takami said with a smile. "It would be wise to remember that the walls here have ears. This conversation may be relatively meaningless, but the future will hold topics that I am sure you all would rather keep undisclosed. A girl will have her secrets, as the saying goes."
"Hm. We will keep that in mind." Miya considered her words for the true meaning they held. Takami was trying to warn them of something. Something that will make MBI want to keep more tabs on them.
"Why won't he come?" Kazehana asked, getting back to her main concern.
"Something came up last minute and he went to check up on it," Takami replied. She looked at the group and noticed another missing person. "Where's Matsu?"
Kazehana gave out a huff, still upset with Karasuba. "She hasn't come yet either. My guess is that she is all cuddled up with Naruto right now. You saw how she was after Naruto stood up for her. She's so lovestruck that I doubt she would leave his side even if her life depended on it."
***MBI***
By the time Matsu finally was able to gather the strength to leave the room, it was already midday. She knew she missed any adjustment sessions that may have been assigned today, but given the circumstances she felt she would be allowed a pass.
She had decided to attend the training today. A part of her yearning to see Naruto even through the pain. Because she knew that even if it hurt to see him, it would hurt a lot more to go without his presence. Besides, if it got too hard on her, she could hide away when things got chaotic as they usually did during training. She could be safely out of sight, but still able to at least look at him from afar. After all, he was her destined Ashikabi to be, a part of her will ache for him no matter what. Even if it hurts.
As she continued her way she had wondered where he had gone last night after he left her. Her overactive brain telling her that logically he would go to someone else's room. Someone he trusts, and that limited to a small number of people, almost all of which filled her with slight dread. She was a self-conscious girl, and looking at the body of Kazehana, or the grace of Miya, or the Maturity of Takami, her insecure self felt like she was lacking. She knew he denied her because of his family, but what if she weakened his defenses enough that when he went to find comfort in one of their arms, he gave in. Gave them everything that she wanted, everything that she was deprived of.
She squinted as she finally made it outside and saw her sisters and brother circled together talking with Takami. She didn't see her sensei anywhere.
"Where's Matsu?" She heard Takami ask.
"She hasn't come yet either. My guess is that she is all cuddled up with Naruto right now. You saw how she was after Naruto stood up for her. She's so lovestruck that I doubt she would leave his side even if her life depended on it." Kazehana said. At first, her words seemed agitated for some reason but finished with a teasing edge.
How wrong those words were, though.
Maybe, Matsu thinks. Maybe she should have just been happy with what she had. Happy with him letting her lay her head on his chest to hear his heartbeat as he rested. Happy being loved, but not in the way she wanted, needed, to be loved. He was more than willing to hold her while he slept. His body always did like to stay in contact with others, like he was starving for love and attention.
Like the kind of love he rejected from her.
Any thoughts she had on letting them know of her presence got distracted by her new torturous thoughts. She could have given that love and attention, plus more. She knew she would be good to him, take care of all his needs. She knew she could be understanding, tender in moments he thought of home. She knew that he would always remember them, the others back home, and she wasn't asking for him to forget… but just… ease into her, let her take away the sadness. She wasn't asking for all of him at once, just pieces of his heart until, eventually, his whole heart found itself nested tightly in her love. Even if that took years, even if she had to give him pieces of her to make his filled.
She wanted to cry again.
A Sekirei denied their Ashikabi was a terrible thing.
"I doubt it," Takami said, bringing Matsu out of her self. "I was with him all morning and I didn't see Matsu."
"I think I know where she was this morning. Naruto slept in my room last night, and told me last time he saw her was in his room." Miya said.
"Hn, I guess it doesn't matter how lovestruck she is if in the end he rather spend the night with Miya," Mutsu said in an uninterested huff.
"Horrible." The Sekirei froze. They all turned to see her. Matsu had finally decided to let them know she was there.
"You guys are all just horrible." They heard it in her voice, but now that they saw her they knew. A betrayed look towards Mutsu was all she spared them as she turned away, shoulders slumped as she hiccuped through her cries. Her hands wiped at her tears as she made her way back to the dorms.
A breath passed between all of them before Kazehana spun around to face Mustu again, anger in her eyes.
"You idiot!" She snarled at him. A gathering of wind behind her appeared, ready to attack the only male in the group. No one tried to stop her.
"I didn't mean for-" He was interrupted by a torrent of wind sending him shooting away from them. A distance much farther than she ever gusted him before.
"Don't come back until you understand women!" She yelled at his retreating form. She didn't need to tell him to apologize. They knew he would.
They all dispersed after that, leaving Takami behind soaking in what happened.
"Is Matsu.. did she.." Since she was not a Sekirei, it took her a moment longer to come to the same revelation that the others had instantly. She liked to think she understood Naruto the best out of anyone here. Their numerous talks between each other building that type of bond. But for him, out of all the people possible, to be the person that Matsu reacted to. "oh no, the poor girl."
***MBI***
Naruto grumbled as he made his way through the facility. His inspection of the crystal was not very forthcoming with information at all. It was just a giant room, with a giant crystal (about half the size of the room), and it was too opaque to even look into! Hmph, beyond pointless. All that effort he made to get into the room, okay maybe not that much effort was taken, but still, only to come up with nothing. It had the slight feeling of chakra in it as was expected, being from his cave and what not, but it was too dense to get a proper feel of it. He wanted to touch it, but true to Takami's words a huge quantity of lights traced the shape of the whole thing. The only good thing that came out of the whole experience was a sword. There were a bunch a stupid things being held in that room, but the sword was calling out to him, so he took it out of spite. Maybe that would teach MBI to stop being so prudish with his crystal.
He puffed out his cheeks in frustration. He saw Takami's office door, and made to let all the air out his cheeks when the door opened. He stilled. Again Takami had caught him doing something strange outside her door. At this rate she'd probably think that he was some weird, crazy person. He was just glad that she never saw that paper he put up on her door last night after he tried to visit her. She looked so tired that even though he was troubled, the thought disturbing her rest made him feel guilty. Maybe if she saw that nothing terrible would happen if she actually let herself relax every once in a while, she would be more inclined to allow herself to take it easy now and then.
Now that he thinks about it… where did that paper go?
Takami snickered a bit at the man. He looked like he was thinking really hard about something. That alone would only be slightly funny normally, but he forgot that he still had his cheeks puffed. She shook her head in amusement. Both her hand made their way to his face and pushed into both ends gently.
"pffbffbtbtbttthffhshhhh"
He looked surprised at the spluttering sound that came out of his own mouth.
"Better?" She asked, smirk still on her face.
"Mhm" He said, embarrassed.
"What do you need?"
He looked around before answering.
"May I come in?" His actions sparked a certain clarity into what he probably was here for. She stepped back into her office and widened the opening a bit to allow him to come in after her.
"Ah. Yes. I do have a guest in here with me though." She said. While it was a courtesy to let him now that they were not alone, and also to let her guest now that another visitor was here, it was mostly said in warning. She was letting him know that her present company was not someone that she wanted to be privy to the fact that she helped him find the crystal.
"Oh, no worries Takami! I was on my way out anyway! Just wanted you to know about the interesting news concerning our dear Karasuba." Came the energetic face of Minaka. "I hope you're having a splendid day as well Naruto!"
"Ah, yea, thanks. You too Minaka" Naruto replied. Minaka nodded his head gleefully.
He then patted the blond on the back and made his way out of the office, laughing boisterously to himself as he marched down the halls. Minaka has been nothing short of friendly to him after their initial encounter. For Naruto however, there was just a weird feeling that Minaka probably shouldn't be completely trusted. Every hand shake, smile, and embrace felt tainted in a strange way. The feeling wasn't evil. It was the kind of feeling that he had when he was near Danzo, except with a touch of childish exuberance. The man clearly had his own motives, but Naruto could tell they weren't exactly evil. It was hard to place how he felt about the man. For now, he would continue to follow along with what ever MBI is doing. He had nothing else going on at the moment, and he truly did want to make sure his girls were taken care of.
Takami closed the door, quieting the still echoing sounds of Minaka's laughter.
"I apologize for him." She sighed. "I know he can be quite eccentric." He means well, she wanted to add; however, lately she was started to feel as if he was starting to slip more and more into a perverse point of view. He ways of doing things, and even his final goal now becoming things she that she was having a hard time aligning herself with.
"What did he want to talk about?" Naruto questioned.
"He's noticed that you've been slowly taking away Karasuba's bloodlust since the spar." She answered. "Well, not exactly. He hasn't traced the cause to anything yet, but he's noticed it during the adjustments. It's important because the damage done to make her like that was supposed to be permanent. I wouldn't put it pass him to suspect you though. He probably already knows its you, but can't figure out how."
Naruto fished into his pocket and handed Takami back her key to the crystal room. "Should I be concerned?" He asked with a raised brow.
"Hardly. He was happy about it." She waved a hand with her dismissal. "Should you ever have need for concern; I'd let you know immediately. Do not worry."
"I appreciate it." He replied.
"I bet you do." She teased. "I fear you'd never be able to live without me." She said with an almost dramatic flair. Her weight shifted and her hand went her hip. He chortled at the aloof posture that didn't match her playful tone. He was happy to see her settle into a good mood.
"Well, I don't feel like doing much else today," Naruto started. "And I did miss my chance to meet everyone today." He paused. His chin tilted up and bit and he took a pose of concentration. While he was doing that Takami busied herself with putting her key back into its rightful spot. She walked from behind her desk to face him after the task, leaned her bottom on the desk now behind her, and crossed her arms. Whatever thoughts he was working through was taking a bit long for her tastes. She decided to help him out before he fried his brain. An image of smoke rising from Naruto's head brought a grin to her face that she had trouble trying to hide.
"Need assistance?" She asked.
"Hmm, I was just thinking what to do. I wanna see my girls, but I feel like I need a good excuse for why I missed them today. And maybe another excuse to get them all together."
"Or," She lead. "We could forget about excuses all together and get together to eat dinner in the mess hall." She remembered her last encounter with the Sekirei that afternoon. Her thoughts drifted to the melancholy of Matsu, and how they all dispersed, "I am sure that at least one of them could use a good meal with the ones they love.
Her eyes met his. She didn't think he would quite get what she was telling him since he was not there, but even without the finer details she knew that would be reason enough for him to accept her idea.
"Sounds good to me!" His eyes took a gleeful glint, "I can finally show y'all how real ramen is made." He stood proudly.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head at his antics and uncrossed her arms.
"Oh! Takami, look what I found!" The shinobi said as he took out a scroll. She quirked a brow at the object, but said nothing. He unfurled it and placed his hand upon one of many characters. Next thing she saw was a sword coming into existence and being placed into her hands. Her eyes widened when she saw exactly what the sword was.
"Naruto. Where did you get this?" She would have asked about how the sword managed to come out of that scroll, but a more important question needed to be asked once she recognized the blade.
"You like it? I couldn't really do much with the crystal except see that it had a very dense chakra. I could have done more to it, but I didn't want to hit a laser. So~, I may have saw that and taken it out of spite." He said. Now that words were said out loud he did feel a tad bit childish for taking it, but what was done was done.
"You shouldn't have taken this Naruto." Takami said seriously. It made him feel a bit worse to think that she may be a bit mad at him.
"You're right. I'm sorry." He said. Takami waved him off again.
"No need to say sorry. I'm just surprised. This is the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi. It's the sword of legend that was wielded by the god Susano'o. He was banished from heaven and came to the land of Izumo. It was there he killed an eight headed snake demon named Yamata no Orochi with this very sword. He had it with him when he presented his sister Amaterasu with the kusanagi sword as a reconciliation gift." Naruto heard a litany of familiar terms in her speech. Terms he did not think he would hear again. Though hearing them did raise a few questions.
"Susano'o, Kusanagi, and Amaterasu, huh? Those sounds a lot like things from my era." He tilted his head. "In fact, that stupid bastard Sasuke was linked to all those. Heh, especially the killing of some stupid snake." He chuckled.
"Really?" Takami said, willing to get more information out of him.
"Yup! But, now I'm hungry so I'll tell you after we all eat. Then we could add my amazing ramen making abilities to some of these legends!" She slapped him on the arm playfully.
"You should get going then. I'll go get the Sekirei."
***MBI***
She had saved Matsu for last, thinking that every extra second the girl had to calm down further would do her good. She rapped her knuckles against the girl's door mildly. No reply can as she expected. She opened the door anyway.
"Hey Matsu." She called out before she turned on the lights. The girl was sitting on her bed, with her back to the wall. Her legs tucked to her chest and arms wrapped around them in the standard position of someone wanting comfort. She was stripped of her normal uniform and the beige sundress she now wore complimented nicely with the light green sheets of her bed underneath her. The bedroom window was open. The white decorative curtains around the border flowed inward with the breeze that was coming in. Matsu's hair submitted to the same gentle force and wisped about her shoulders and face. In Takami's honest opinion the sad expression on the girl's face enhanced the picturesque quality of the scene.
She took a chair from the corner and placed it in front of the redhead. She sat down perpendicular of the mourning girl and placed one leg over the other as she shifted to maintain correct posture. Her arms crossed.
"Are you going to be silent forever?" No response met her inquiry. Takami nodded as if she was answered anyway. Her eyes looked to the side to gaze upon Matsu. The lamenting figure still looking down.
"Well, it doesn't quite take a genius to piece together what happened. Naruto gave Takehito a mouthful last night. You apparently went to his room and spent the night there, yet he stayed in Miya's room. Then the next time anyone sees you, you're a crying mess." She paused again. "They figured it out before I did. In fact, I believe they all knew it instantly when they saw you. You a reacting to him, aren't you?"
The poor girl only sniffed. Her breathing was starting to take an uneven pattern again, deep breaths sporadically interrupted by short powerful intakes. All this most likely caused from recollecting the memory no doubt. Matsu removed one arm from holding her knees to her face, using the back of her hand to wipe at newly forming tears. Other than these actions however, the girl remained silent.
"I came here first because I did not believe you would willingly return so soon to the place where he undoubtedly rejected you." That got a reaction out of the girl. She shuffled in place and curled her toes. Takami stayed silent and waited.
"It wasn't supposed to happen that way. I didn't mean for it to happen." Matsu finally uttered. "I get so hot when I see him. Right here in my chest. Then it spreads, and my stomach feels strange, my neck feels warm." It was silent again as the Sekirei tried to gather her thoughts and words. Takami was more than willing to wait. She uncrossed her arms and moved to turn to face the girl on the bed, "It goes from my head to my toes.." She uncurled her bare toes and wiggled them. "It burns so much, but I like it. Then comes the other feeling."
"Other feeling?"
"…I get the urge to get on top of him, to feel him, to grab him… to hold him." She sniffed again, and brought her knees closer, "And I want to see all of him, his body, his face, and the things he doesn't like to show."
Takami didn't need her to explain that part. Apart from herself, she knew most of the Sekirei under his care were at the least vaguely aware of when he pulls into himself randomly. When a thought or memory comes to the front of his mind, and he stares, looks into nothing, but sees everything. He then continues on as if that little flash of a moment never happened. Miya at the very least has asked her if she knew what exactly he saw when he fell into those moments. She had to shake her head. No one knows that but Naruto.
"Every time we are close I want him to touch me." Matsu started again. "I want him to explore every part of me, to have every inch of me. He smiles when he talks of her, of his time when the world was young and the air was sweet where the mountains kissed the sky, of his teammates. I want him to look at me and smile the same way. I want him to use me if he needs to. I want him to love me." She curled up really tightly and the let her body lean to the side until she fell and laid down on her side, "But I messed it all up. He was so mad for me, he stood up for me, and he was so nice to me. I only wanted to thank him. You got to believe me Takami! I only wanted..."
I believe you." Takami soothed.
"I didn't mean to give in to the feelings, but then I thought about him maybe leaving and it became too much."
"I see." Seeing that the redhead was probably done, Takami continued. "So I take it that was when he told you that he couldn't be your Ashikabi.
Matsu jolted a bit, like a kid caught red handed with candy they stole.
"Yes and no." She said.
That raised an eyebrow from Takami. "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"I told him I wanted to give him a reason to stay, and then I tried to kiss him. I didn't get a chance to tell him about him being my Ashikabi." She said guiltily. "He turned down my advances, I saw how the situation was going and I tried kiss him before he could turn me down again, but he vanished." She said solemnly.
"Oh, Hahaha," Takami laughed out. "Naruto doesn't completely understand the ways of the Sekirei. He just thinks that they want to find love. He doesn't even know what an Ashikabi is. For you to jump him while only saying that you want to give him a reason to stay, without him knowing the rest.." Takami trailed off teasingly. Her sudden demeanor change caught Matsu off guard, "From his point of view, you were just throwing yourself at a married man as a way to say thanks," Takami smirked. "How brazen of you." She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms again, "Keep up this pace, and Naruto might figure you for a loose woman."
Matsu's face flushed.
"How was I supposed to know that!" She yelled out, indignation and embarrassment overwhelming her sadness. Takami was just happy to see life return to the dejected girl, glad that her little bit of teasing had the effect that she hoped it would have, "I thought that you and Minaka had told him about all of that."
"Some facets of the Sekirei culture may have fallen through the cracks." Takami acquiesced.
"Doesn't change the fact that he doesn't want me," Matsu said as she slunk back into the bed, her melancholy taking hold again.
"I guess it does not." Takami agreed. "However, It would also appear that Naruto and first chances do not walk along the same path.
"What's that mean." Matsu slowly uncurled and sat on the bed properly to meet the woman sitting beside her.
"As a woman who respects fidelity I probably shouldn't say this to you, but I guess I could at least tell you this much. I take it he hasn't really told you about his love life back when his people walked the earth has he?" Matsu shook her head. "Yes, well that is to be expected. While Naruto was very forward with information when we first met him, I believe that also had the effect of sating most of the curiosity we had about him. An effect I'm starting to suspect he had planned on. So he told us much about adventures and fun times he had with his friends and teammates, but he never actually told us more the surface level information. Only happy tales and brief histories, nothing that actually breaches the surface to let us know about the deeper levels of his character."
Feeling like she went on a bit of a tangent, Takami started again. "From what he has allowed me to know he was denied by Sakura, his first love, for years until he eventually fell for and married his wife, Hinata. She had loved him for equally as long it would appear, but not even she could get his affections after her first confession." That brought a surge of hope into Matsu. As much as she didn't feel like hearing about the only two women in his life that had his heart, it was enlightening to hear how things happened. If even the wife he refused her for had to try multiple times to receive his love, then she might still have a chance, "In fact, and again I don't know much of all the details, but he told me he completely forgot about her first confession." Matsu gave Takami a stunned look. "Yes I know. She must have had the patience of a saint to deal with him."
"Takami?"
"Yes?"
Matsu wanted to ask a great number of things. Takami was in a rare sharing mood, and she felt that she should probably take advantage. Something in her resisted that thought in the last second. Perhaps some answers should be found out on her own, and perhaps, the others she did not really want to know, "Nevermind." She said instead, "Thank you."
Takami stood up and placed the chair in its original spot. "For what? I only came to tell you that everyone is going to gather for a group dinner." A smile her face was soon followed by a mellow one that found its way onto Matsu's. "Let's go."
***MBI***
By the time the two females made it to the double doors that led into MBI's mess hall Matsu was feeling much better. She still didn't feel like she had the energy to hold a smile, but she did not feel like wallowing in her own tears either. Takami opened the doors to huge cafeteria, the relatively empty place causing the action to echo and resonate. The others were already gathered at a table near the kitchen. Takami strode in the room in her normal confident manner with a shy Matsu tailing behind.
They sat down at the table, and Takami took a moment to study the faces of everyone. Mutsu looked off to the side with a bit of guilt showing on his features. His eyes went to Matsu and then went down to the table. She knew he felt bad for adding on the pain of rejection Matsu felt from her Ashikabi to be, especially with a comment like his that played on the insecurities the shy girl probably already had. Karasuba looked the same, but the way her gaze went to Matsu multiple times gave away at least a minimal amount of worry and understanding. Kazehana leaned forward to take Matsu's hand and looked the girl in the eyes. It was a nice and comforting gesture on her part and Takami was glad for it. Kazehana sent a heated glare in Mutsu's direction afterward. She must have remembered how angry she was with him after seeing that Matsu was okay.
Miya was doing her own thing, but that wasn't unusual since she always made sure to hold herself separate from everybody else. Takami saw her glance towards Matsu, and then towards the kitchen area. Her posture was perfect like always, and even Takami had to admit the she was a bit jealous of the regal air that Miya always exhibited. Miya's eyes caught hers and stayed. They stayed like this for a moment before Miya looked towards the kitchen again and decided to speak up.
"Takami." The lavender haired woman started, still looking towards the kitchen.
"Yes?"
"You mentioned that Minaka managed to grab a large sample of that crystal was locked inside of correct?"
"Yes."
"Could I inspect it?" Takami almost laughed at how similar Miya's actions were to Naruto's.
"Unfortunately, I cannot authorize you access to it."
"Could Minaka?" Miya prodded, unfazed.
"Yes," Takami answered.
"Will he?"
"Probably not."
Miya looked over to her then, first her eyes and then her head followed. Everyone on the table was wondering what got into Miya. This was unusual behavior. The Sekirei leader rarely showed interest in much. Something is causing her to push for access to what allowed Naruto into their lives.
"You are second in command, yes? So if I were to kill Minaka and you were in charge; would you give me access then?" Takami sighed, and placed a hand to the bridge of her nose.
"I thought we got past you wanting to kill Minaka. You can't just say things like that casually Miya. Honestly, you haven't a relapse since we first suggested adjusting the Sekirei." Kazehana snickered at Takami's exasperation. The alluring beauty felt the need to help the scientist.
"And why, dear leader, do you want to see this crystal so badly?" The wind user asked humorously. The other Sekirei felt a bit of the same amusement as they watched Miya's gaze turned to her.
"I was made aware of something last night. I feel the need to sabotage any plans Naruto may have on leaving us to return to his prison." Her words drained the happiness from all the Sekirei present. "I believe there is more to him than he lets on. I think we all have been lulled into a misdirection by him. He was so open to us that we felt like we knew all we need to know, so we stopped asking questions. Questions a simple as asking if he was planning on going back to that cavern." Miya turned to the kitchen again.
"I would rather he not leave, nor have a way to do so, but like I told him last night, it may be better to focus on the time we will have together instead."
Matsu was looking at her leader with a sad admiration. She knew she was smart, hence her being a brain type Sekirei, but it seemed like Takami and Miya were much more perceptive then her. They saw things that others did not, and came to conclusions others could not. It made her feel inferior. Maybe Mutsu was right and Naruto would rather be with Miya instead of her.
The swinging door connected to the kitchen busted open. Any other remarks were halted before they could be voiced. A jovial looking Naruto came out with a huge metal pot in his hands and an oversized chef hat.
"Man, you guys are in for a treat. This is the best stuff you can ever put into your stomach." Naruto, completely oblivious to the atmosphere, plopped the monster sized pot on the table, spilling some of its contents here and there.
"Naruto?" Miya called out.
"Yes Miya?" He replied energetically.
"Do you have a fork or knife I could use?" She asked innocently. He gave her a look for the strange question.
"Why would you need a knife for ramen?" She just glared at him. "Geez, alright. Here you go."
In true Naruto fashion, an ornate silver knife suddenly made its way into his hands. He offered the utensil to the purple haired beauty. No one questioned how it got there. They were more interested in why Miya wanted a knife in the first place. She accepted it gracefully, given a word of thanks as well. Then she immediately stabbed him in the back of the hand.
"Oww!" He hissed and brought his hand back. The wound already healing. "What was that for?!"
"Hurting you brings me joy." She said matter-of-factly. "So, I promised myself this morning to stab you the next chance I got."
"Oi! Who goes around promising to stab people?" He said as he wiped the blood off his now healed hand. He grinned a bit. He knew this game well. Strong girls tended to show how they cared through violence. Tsunade, Sakura, and Tenten being prime examples. It was a trait that Miya seemed to share as well. Though he also supposed that it was also her way of letting him into her world.
"You should have seen her talk about killing Minaka earlier." Kazehana said. Once again becoming amused by the blond's presence.
"I doubt that counts for much. I'm pretty sure everyone wants to kill him." Karasuba added.
"No, I believe that's just you." Mutsu teased.
The scene was so otherworldly, especially since it was Miya who started it, that it brought the room out of the funk that had taken over previously. A more joyful air surrounded the bunch as Naruto went back into the kitchen to get everyone some bowls.
"Oh, Naruto?" Miya called out again. He stepped back out to address her.
"Yea?" A flash of silver made its way towards him and stabbed him in the foot. "Ow! Darn It, Woman! What was that for?"
Miya pointed to her shirt. A medium sized damp circle could be seen. "That is for spilling broth on me." The man shuffled back inside with a grumble, and a promise for revenge. Everyone turned back towards Naruto's assailant and froze. There, in public, bare for the whole room to see, a genuine smile was displayed on Miya's face. Her features set in a sincere showing of happiness.
It was almost enough to scare everybody into running away.
***MBI***
The dinner had gone really well. Everyone had a time, and even Karasuba and Mutsu showed that they were able to smile and laugh. Kazehana was walking back to her room with Matsu. She didn't want the girl to be alone to her thoughts after the nice night they had. So she volunteered to walk with her back to the dorms. Mutsu catch up with them right before they left and apologized to Matsu. Though it was short and he looked completely uninterested the whole time, they knew he meant it and that he felt really bad for hurting his sister. He promptly left after Naruto threatened to stick fish up his rear if he didn't help with the dishes.
She remembered the amount of anguish that Matsu displayed earlier and it made her want to re-evaluate her feelings on love. Previously , she had thought that love only elevated a person to a feeling of completeness. Watching Matsu interact with Naruto over that last couple of month made her think love only brought euphoria, but the pain Matsu showed earlier today was clearly the farthest thing from it. It may not be worth all that joy if it also brought such pain. She eyeballed the shorter Sekirei a little bit as her curiosity overwhelmed her desire for tact.
"What's it feel like? To react?" She blurted out. The redhead stuttered in her step a bit, but otherwise kept her stride.
"Hot." Was all the was offered.
"Hot?"
"I feel like someone takes a paintbrush, dips it into wells of heat and pleasure, and then works it all over my body. When I get closer to him, the better it feels."
That sounded exceptional.
"Tell me more."
This was switch. Usually Kazehana was the more mature one. Matsu didn't know if it was because Kazehana felt that her more mature, feminine, sophisticated features demanded that she acted more that way as well, but she really wasn't one to get into many antics. Her one vice in that regard was in how much she loves to mess with Mutsu. There must be something in the way Mutsu blasts off that makes her savor it so much. Matsu wasn't sure if she wanted to know why so she never asked.
But now, Kazehana was looking at her with giddy anticipation, hanging on her every word. It was the first time in a while that she felt like the older sibling that she actually was, even though the difference in age was by hours at best. Still, it was good feeling like she had something to offer the Sekirei that usually looked like she had all she ever needed.
"Um, well, I always want to be near him. I want to give my all away to him until I'm left bare, and then I want him to see that very core of me and accept it. I want him to want me. Sometimes when he is close I can feel his hands roam over me even though he never touched me. I want to be there when he cries, and when he laughs. I want him to hold me, and I always want to grab him and hold him."
It was at the point that Kazehana could see that little Matsu was actually started to get excited by talking about it. She thought again to how she was earlier, and to see the devastated girl bounce back so strongly. It could only be one thing. The wind user thought she was finally starting to understand. Love was more than one thing. It was multifaceted. Love is comfort. Love can hurt. Love can heal. Love brings you to your highest of highs, and parts of love and bring you low, but love could also be what brings you out of a dark and lonely hole. She changed her mind about changing her mind. Kazehana decided then and there that she did want love. Nothing would stop her from finding it. She looked over to Matsu again, but instead of childish wonder showing on her face, it was joy that Matsu even knew that type of happiness.
"I get it. I get it." Kazehana said in her usual amused tone. Her sensual voice interrupting Matsu before she forgot how to stop. "Reacting feels good. Now tell me about love."
"Love?"
"Yes, love."
"Um," Matsu fidgeted. "It feels soft."
"Oh? How so?"
"Soft. Like when you think of something that makes you really happy. So happy that you have to cry. But crying feels good too. It's also tender. You remember all the things that makes them laugh so you can do it again. You like the little things you only do with each other, like how he always pokes me on my nose."
Kazehana chuckled.
"I love when its quiet and we're together, and he holds me, and I could hear his heart, feel it beat against me while I'm held to his chest."
"That sounds wonderful Matsu," Kazehana praised. "I admit I'm a little jealous."
Matsu looked at Kazehana wide-eyed. Unable to imagine the alluring and powerful beauty being jealous of her.
"Really?" She had to ask.
"Really."
They turned the corner and standing in front of her door was Naruto. "Can't you ever go anywhere at a normal speed? There is no way you should have gotten here before unless you ran." Kazehana said to the shinobi.
"Maybe you're just slow walkers." He said back. Seeing that he was here, there was no reason for her to stay, so Kazehana bid them goodnight and entered her room a few doors down the hall.
Matsu looked at the man she wanted.
"I thought you would try to avoid me." She muttered.
"If I avoided someone every time I felt awkward, I'd be living in isolation." He replied with a smile. "One time during this tournament to get promoted, I won a fight by accidentally farting in my opponent's face. This fight had an audience by the way, and everyone heard it. It was so embarrassing."
"That sounds like a story only you could have."
"Right?!"
"So you're not mad at me?" She asked softly.
"I could never be mad at you Matsu."
"You don't hate me?"
"I doubt that is even possible," He said. He held his arms out. He didn't even need to ask as she flew into his embrace. One hand went to her back to hold her close, his other went to her head in a show of comfort.
"I'm sorry Matsu." He said, holding her close. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
She hiccuped into his chest. Her lips set into a sad smile. His hand on her head started playing with her hair. "I know. But there is something more I want to tell you."
"What?"
"I didn't do all that just to get you to stay. I also wanted to tell you that I think you are my ashik—"
A loud ringing with off from within Naruto's pocket, interrupting the redhead. He stepped back. An eyebrow raised at the late call he received.
"Hey, Takami." He paused for a few seconds. Then his eyes widened a bit. "That's right! I did promise to speak after dinner. I totally forgot." He turned to the redhead.
"Sorry Matsu, gotta go." She reached out for him.
"Wait!" But he was already gone. She sighed.
"Seriously, Kazehana is right. He needs to start going places at normal people speed."
***MBI***
Training had went really well the following day. It was light, but he had made a show of making sure that everyone got their own personal time with him so that they could get all the help they needed. Miya and Karasuba were the only ones who stayed after.
"Miya I get, because I asked her to stay. But what do you want Wannabe Gangster?" he asked warily. He didn't want to accidentally make her think he wanted to fight. So was starting to make sure that she always knew that he did not, under any circumstance, what to get into an unnecessary fight with her.
"My adjusters are saying that I've been making irregular progressions in my adjustments. I wanted to know if you are why." She bit out, annoyed with his nickname for her. He only eyed her for moment.
"Maybe I am." He said. "Come closer."
She did, and he put his hand on her chest and closed his eyes. When he opened them again they were yellow and horizontal. He made a face, and then she felt a weird energy invade her system. She gasped at the sensation. It was just like the last time, when he healed her during the spar, but this time it felt more serene. She moaned at the sensation. Unknowing to either of them a small amount of silver energy started to outline the Sekirei. A small trace of what could be wings extending from the outline of her back.
Miya, the only bystander at the moment, narrowed her eyes at the sight, and what that could mean.
"Feel better?" Naruto asked as he stepped back, his eyes blue again. With him no longer there, Karasuba almost fell.
"Y-yes. My head feels less clouded. What did you do?" She was panting pretty heavily. The energy invaded her, and ran through her system in an overwhelming way. She looked at the grinning man.
"I noticed it during our spar. Right when you almost killed Matsu. Then again when you sacrificed yourself to get a hit on me. There is something in you, messing with your energy. Kind of like a genjus—sorry, some kind of illusion was placed on you. It's making you more blood thirsty then you really are. Not that you're actually a nice girl by any means, but you certainly were made to like the taste of battle a lot more."
"So that was why. When I yelled out to them, to save them. That's because you already took some of that away?"
"Yup!" He said proudly. "But I suck at illusions remember? So it's still gonna take me a couple of tries to flush all that hatred out your system. The best I can really do is leave some of my energy in you to slowly drain it away. Well, that or hope that one of my teammates magically appears so that they could help you." He let out a small chuckle. The sound of it having a feel of nostalgia mixed in it. "You should go see Takami now that I think about it. Make sure she is the one who adjusts you from now on." The silver haired swordswoman nodded and ambled towards the facility. With that business done he faced Miya.
"I have a gift for you!" He chirped. He took a scroll out, unrolled it, and a couple seconds later a longsword was thrust into her grip. The red eyed girl stared at the sheathed blade for a couple of seconds. She looked back to the shinobi for an explanation.
"Long story short, that's a legendary sword. Wielded by some god or something when he landed in a place Izumo and helped people in need. I thought you deserved a sword that could actually keep up with you. Plus, it's a nice story. This sword has a history of being there for people in need. I thought it would be a nice symbol to always remind you of what is important."
Miya didn't express it visibly, minus a grateful smile that graced her features, but she really appreciated the gift. She was touched. Now she knew for a fact that she could not let this man leave. She'd cut off his legs if she had to. She appreciated this man too much to let him go. She held the blade closer to her chest.
"Thank you, Naruto." He let out a hum in acknowledgement.
"Now you have probably learned everything I could teach you, so I'm going to let you in on a little tip I picked up from one of my sensei's. It'll also help you in particular since you always have to get re-used to your body every time you get adjusted. You remember those katas I showed you."
"Yes." She nodded.
"Everyone loves speed, and so everyone always aims to master the move set so that they could do it faster. The key is, after you mastered the katas, the best thing to do is go slow." He grinned.
"Go.. slow?" She questioned.
"Yes, go slow. I'm talking real slow here, a snail's pace. By going slow you get to see all the shortcuts your body makes to make it so you move faster. Your body naturally cheats, and it gets hidden when you move fast. By going slow, you get to see those little cheats and correct them. This adds more power, and makes the technique more efficient. Which makes you faster in the longer run." He said looking beyond proud for relaying this bit of information. Miya could tell that he took great amounts of joy in being able to pass on his knowledge.
"I see." She said. She was about to ask him to watch her as she went through all the kata's when alarms started going off around the island. She turned towards the MBI facility and saw a happy looking Minaka skipping towards them.
"What is with all this noise Minaka?" She demanded. He was visibly pleased in being able to tell her.
"It would appear Miya-san, that the island is about to be invaded, again."
Oh great.
Miya turned to Naruto, "Would be willing to help us out with this one. This is the second time a unknown army has come after us." the lavender haired woman asked, almost pleading with him.
Naruto shrugged, "Nah, I think I'll just use this as a excuse to see how much my body has recovered. It's been a couple months and I could use the pick me up." he said walking past her and out the door, leaving a shocked Miya and a giddy Minaka behind.
