This chapter has a lot of foreshadowing. Like, a lot.
As things progress, it might be good to refer back to this chapter from time to time.
It also has a lot of fluff and creepiness, which is why the genre of this story will now be referred to as 'Horror Fluff' until further notice.
What threatened to be a dreary day was interrupted by a message from Myriad 1, explaining that the boy intended to enter the building through the 'back channels', and requesting that his mother not be notified.
Minaka Hiroto allowed himself the kind of smile he didn't often show around others… followed by an explosive sigh of relief.
Much as he enjoyed aggravating his oldest friend, watching her suffer was something he could do without… not to mention, in the two days since the Garden Maze incident, she'd been… volatile.
On the note of volatile, he had yet to inform the Vice Captain of certain variables to the Sekirei Plan… though it could wait for tomorrow, he swiftly decided.
It wasn't so urgent that he needed to interfere with B-Team's time off, which was liable to grow more and more scarce as the Games progressed, but…
It also wasn't worth it to carelessly risk the manageable half of the Disciplinary Squad.
Mind made up, Hiroto dismissed the matter, and began brushing his thumb across the touch screen, rapidly clearing the Doctor's schedule for the day.
… Electing to handle personally the appointments that she'd be the most angry at him for cancelling.
… Well, with the exception of the boring appointments, naturally.
It was surely a coincidence that Hiroto didn't actually end up personally attending any additional appointments for the day.
"Alright, I'm going to go visit Mother, so I'll be back in a bit." Minato told the girls after breakfast.
"Thy mother!? Why hast thou afforded us such little warning!? 'Tis no small venture thou proposest, 'tis the first meeting with my future mother-in-law!" Tsukiumi protested sharply.
"Huh? No, this time it's just me, I wouldn't spring that on you with no warning," Minato replied in confusion. "Well, actually, Mother might but there's no helping that."
Most people were too intimidated by Mother to realize how mischievous she could be.
"And why, precisely, dost thou not wish for me to meet thine mother!?" Tsukiumi retorted with a scowl. "Art thou ashamed of our relationship!?"
Rather than be taken aback by the accusation, Minato just looked even more confused, and Kazehana concealed a grin at what was about to come.
"Why would I be ashamed? You girls are the best thing that ever happened to me." Tied with adoption, naturally.
Kazehana coughed quietly into her fist, her heart skipping a beat even though she'd braced herself for her Ashikabi to say something ridiculously sweet with a straight face.
At least she wasn't the only woman feeling the heat, though Kusano was a bit of an exception, since her reaction was just to twist around in Minato's lap so that she could hug him better.
In unrelated news, she wished Miya let her get away with spending that much time in her Ashikabi's lap.
But Minato didn't really seem to understand what he was doing to them, so while Tsukiumi was being all cute and spluttery, Kazehana intervened to lend a hand.
"Sounds like this is an important step to get out of the way before the girls meet your mother, right, Hun?"
T-that shimmer of gratitude in his dark eyes was just too cute.
"That's right, this has to happen first." It wasn't a lie- Mother wouldn't want to show up in front of the new Sekirei when she wasn't her best.
"I-I see," Tsukiumi floundered. "V-very well, hurry along, D-Dear, and make certain thou givest ample warning for whence we might present ourselves before our mother-in-law!"
"Of course." They needed time to brace themselves properly, after all. "I'll be back before lunch, I think," Minato told them, turning his head to Miya.
"Very well then, take care." Miya smiled.
"Play with me lots and lots after lunch, okay, Big Brother?" Kusano instructed.
Minato nodded back just as seriously, scooping the little girl off his lap and depositing her in Akitsu's, who was at his left. Akitsu stiffened, but relaxed a bit when he smiled at her, wrapping her arms ever so carefully around Kusano's waist as she did.
That sort of thing made Akitsu happy, but she would never initiate so Minato did it for her.
Speaking of initiate-
Minato kissed his older Sekirei on the cheek (Kusano he left giggling when he poked the tip of his nose against hers), and Kazehana was in no way ashamed in the way she cupped that cheek, feeling the lingering warmth of his touch.
Only one of them hadn't made it out of bed, but Uzume wasn't getting left out- Minato was going up the staircase instead of towards the entrance.
Another twinge coursed up the right side of her face, and Takami punctuated her sentence with a low growl and a bit more force than the unoffending keyboard needed.
Continuing the cycle of misfortune, her heart attempted to leap its way out of her throat as the hand that had reflexively reached up towards her bandages was gently pried away.
'Something dark' was reflected on the computer screen, leaning over her shoulder.
"You should have knocked," she said, wincing internally as it came out like an accusation.
"And you should have used pain-killers if you wanted me to ignore this." Her son scolded her. "I was very worried about you, Mother."
This time, the cringe wasn't internal, and Takami found herself momentarily wishing she wasn't smart enough to read between the lines.
"... I'm sorry."
Minato shook his head lightly in response, and gently spun the chair around, kneeling so that Mother didn't have to look up at him while they were face to face.
Well, as much of her face as Mother was showing, anyways, the bandages covered almost half of it, which was why she'd been staring at her screen with only one eye.
Dark eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and her son's outline distorted like static.
But the moment came and went, and his form settled as Minato opened his eyes to smile kindly up at her.
"Let's get those bandages off, okay?" He urged softly, reaching up. "I imagine they itch."
"... It's not as bad as it looks," Takami insisted stubbornly, catching him by the wrist but not pushing his hand away.
Minato's expression didn't change, though internally he was just a little bit frustrated.
Mother was strange about these things, sometimes- she encouraged him to use every 'advantage' he had, as much as he could get away with… unless it was for her sake.
It occupied an unwelcome position as the only aspect of their relationship Minato found to be truly unpleasant.
"... Okay, so it's pretty bad… would you… would you please help me, Minato?" Shaking hands and a small voice like that didn't suit her very much, and so he was all too happy to finish eliminating the cause.
"Of course, Mother." Minato knew full well that Mother took pride in her looks, as she should.
She would have averted her gaze if she could- she was the one who should be grateful, not him!
The bandages unravelled, revealing wounds that hadn't healed nearly as well as they should have.
Despite Takami's hopes, the blades of Sekirei Number 31 had in fact ruined one of her eyes, coming dangerously close to taking her left eye as well. Three thin pink scars in parallel, starting high on her forehead and angling across her cheek, the path of the middle scar interrupted by the now sightless right eye.
"I can't help but wonder why you didn't just move out of the way, Mother. The blades were sharp but the one wielding them was nothing special."
"... There was a reason I couldn't move." Not that she would ever blame the little girl she'd been shielding.
"Is that so? Then as much as it saddens me that you were hurt, I should thank you for protecting Kuu. But there's no need to worry- injuries like these are no problem at all," Minato assured his mother calmly, pretending not to notice the tension leaving her shoulders. "Although... it's going to be messy."
"... Hold on, what was that?"
"I said it's going to be messy." Minato readily repeated.
"N-now hold on, d-does it really need to be 'that way'?" If it were someone who didn't know Takami, they might have almost assumed she was panicking a bit. "Can't we just do a transfusion!?"
His smile as beatific as that of a saint and as cruel as that of a demon, Minato shook his head slowly, and lifted three of his fingers to his mouth.
Takami blanched as a snap of jaws rendered the digits a knuckle shorter with dreadful ease.
"This way is more reliable and direct." He didn't move his lips to speak because his mouth was full, naturally.
"... Son, for some reason I feel like you're holding a grudge." He was only bleeding because he wanted to!
"No, no, don't be silly. Oh, but while I'm thinking about it, maybe you should reconsider giving your son nightmares due to your stance on painkillers, Mother?" Minato cheerfully suggested. It had taken a lot of work to conceal those nightmares from his flock.
"So you are holding a grudge!"
"Anyways, Mother, you should hold still," the 'wounded' monster smugly advised. "I wouldn't want to bleed all over everything."
When one of the secretaries came up to Doctor Sahashi's office bearing coffee, she was surprised, and pleasantly so to see that not only was her son visiting her, but the bandages on the Doctor's head had been removed.
Information was sparse, but from the placement of the bandages, there had been whispers that the Doctor may have lost an eye, rumors which were thankfully, wholly false.
Why, there wasn't even a scar!
The Doctor's smooth, pale skin was as unfairly flawless as always, her beautiful red eyes glimmering with that familiar, fierce intelligence.
… Well, mostly… at least the part about her injuries having healed without leaving a scar was true.
It was just that, for some reason, Doctor Takami was looking remarkably haggard and exhausted. More so than she had seemed this morning, that was for sure, but healing wasn't always linear, she supposed.
Just then, and for no reason that the secretary could discern, Minato gave a quiet little chuckle.
Kazehana had carefully considered how the talk was meant to proceed.
It was of vital importance, and even demure Akitsu was sure to have her own wishes and desires, though it might take a bit of coaxing to lure them out.
Silly girl still seemed to think her position in the flock was 'lesser' in some way because she hadn't been winged yet.
… Even though Akitsu was the only one who ever thought that way.
Tsukiumi was naturally going to be fierce opposition, and this was the perfect opportunity for Uzume's competitive side to come out to play.
Naturally, Kusano wasn't involved (she was playing in the yard with Homura), because while she should usually be included in any Sekirei talks, this was also an adult Sekirei talk.
Kazehana carefully regarded her fellow women, who seemed to instinctively know that a discussion of the utmost importance was about to occur.
Then she nodded once to herself, and decided to go nuclear.
"I'm willing to negotiate for everything but the first wedding night."
After a short delay, all hell broke loose.
"Minato, why are you huddled under my desk?"
"I don't know, but it feels safe under here. In fact, you should hide down here too, Mother."
"... Stop that. Get up, the loon cleared my schedule, which makes this the perfect chance for me to make a surprise visit to my new daughter-in-laws."
"... Feeling terror makes me feel closer to humans, and I don't think I like it very much at all." Minato admitted after a moment, emerging from under the desk with clear reluctance.
"Speaking of 'humans', did you remember to have that talk with the new girls?"
"Kusano already knew, but I made sure to properly tell Tsukiumi and Uzume."
"What did they say?" Mother's tone was neutral, but he could tell she was just a little worried, so his answer was prompt, and his tone fond.
"Tsukiumi asked if it rendered our winging false, and when I said no she seemed pretty relieved and told me that my species was irrelevant, and Uzume was…"
"Was what?" Red eyes narrowed dangerously as his words trailed off.
"... Really curious about whether or not I could turn into a girl when I told them I could shapeshift, for some reason. Actually, everyone was interested in that question."
… Aaaand she'd been worried for nothing.
"... What did you tell them?" She said at last.
"Oh, I just turned into Uzume to demonstrate." Minato smiled at the memory- Uzume's knee jerk reaction was to say "Huh, I'm pretty hot, aren't I?".
"Good, that's good. Don't forget that 'that' is forbidden, got it?" Takami said sternly, though she looked like she had just eaten something sour.
"... Hm? Oh that. Don't worry, I remembered." Minato answered readily, smiling innocently at his mother.
Truthfully, he didn't really understand why looking even more like his mother could possibly be a bad thing, but it related to what was a thoroughly mortifying memory for Takami… even the confirmation that she really didn't look her age was no help.
After all, it was the first, and absolutely, 100% last time that men had ever tried to ask out her and 'her cute sister', and it would stay that way.
Absolutely.
"Mother, you seem very tired today, maybe you should lay down for a bit?"
"And just whose fault do you think that is?"
She eventually did ask, while the car took them to Izumo Inn.
It was a significant event in it's own right- the first Level 5 of the Sekirei Plan.
Sekirei Number 31, Sai- not just dead, but her body completely unrecoverable. Not a single trace was left, and the culprit was an Ashikabi, not a Sekirei.
It was a worrying precedent, even if the culprit was her son.
And, when Takami asked her son if killing Sai was necessary, she wasn't surprised at all when the question served mainly to confuse him.
"What do you mean, Mother?" He had asked her. "That was the Sekirei who hurt you."
The car ride was silent, after that.
Miya was serving Mother tea, and there was once more that strange sensation of large predators circling one another.
Kusano was the only one of his Sekirei present at home- the others had stepped out for a bit, though Miya had opted out of explaining why.
Speaking of Kusano...
The pitter patter of small feet had stopped at the door, and the little girl had come to a sudden halt at the entrance to the living room, staring wide-eyed at Takami.
"Hello, Kusano," Mother smiled gently. "I'm glad to see you're safe, are you having fun living with your new big brother?"
"... Big Sis Takami!" The little girl shrieked happily, practically flying across the room and into her arms, Takami catching her with a laugh.
Miya had carefully glanced away- a little running in the living room could be excused, given the circumstances.
Kusano had knelt in Takami's lap, the woman being a good sport the Green Girl meticulously examined her for 'ouchies'. Kusano was making serious little 'hrrm' noises as she pushed Takami's bangs this way and that.
Minato bit back a laugh as Kusano, finished her examination, patted Mother on both shoulders with a big smile.
"Nope nope, still just as pretty as ever, Big Sis!"
"Why thank you, Kusano," Mother shot him a sly look before leaning into whisper, "though I have your Big Brother to thank for that."
Kusano covered her mouth with a big, awed gasp, looking at him in wonder.
Then she stiffened, and blinked her big green eyes several times in slow succession.
"Big Brother… is Big Sis Takami your mama?" Whispering across the room like that wasn't a particularly subtle tactic, but it was cute so it must be fine.
"That's correct, Kusano." They stared at each other for a moment, and when Kusano began to fidget shyly, Minato gave her a nod and a wink.
Another big gasp, and then she whipped her head back to Mother, who quirked an eyebrow at her.
Though her confusion was clear, Mother's expression was very gentle as she met the doe-eyed gaze of the small child in her arms.
"What is it, Kusano?" Takami asked softly.
"Hmmm…. so you're Kusano's Mama too, right?"
… As a surprise attack, it was flawlessly executed- Mother made a choking noise as her cheeks flushed the same luminous red as her widened eyes. Though, Mianto was happy to note that her grip on the little girl tightened, rather than loosened.
Miya had abruptly become invested in staring out the window, her slim shoulders shaking subtly and her mouth covered tightly by not one, but two hands. Her mirth was soon replaced by something far more gentle the moment Takami found her voice, however.
"... Yeah, I guess I am your Mama, Kusano." There was a catch in her voice that the adults in the room pretended not to hear, but Mother's quiet affirmation quickly vanished behind delighted shrieking as Kusano threw herself into a hug, nearly bowling Takami over as their cheeks smooshed together.
Smiling happily, Minato quietly rose to his feet, leaving them to it as he made his way to the front door.
Kazehana had won somehow, Minato had noticed before he'd even reached the door.
Kazehana confirmed it by throwing open the front door with a beaming smile on her face, and though the bedraggled state of dress they all shared suggested they'd clearly been in a fight of some kind…
Regardless, Minato's attention was quickly seized- the motion required for Kazehana's grand entrance had signalled the end of another kind of 'battle'.
The crossing strips of fabric barely covering the middle of her bust looked like they had been nearly sliced through, and so Minato watched without shame as those last few threads quietly surrendered to the bouncing of Kazehana's breasts.
"Oh my~!" Kazehana tittered as she found herself exposed, a hand lifting to a sly smile, rather than preserve any semblance of modesty.
Instead...
"Catch me, Hun!" Leaping into Minato's arms and throwing her arms around his neck, Kazehana glued herself tightly against him in order to 'hide' her bare bosom.
Seeing no reason not to indulge, Minato wrapped his arms around Kazehana's waist, while peeking over her shoulder at the other three.
The other women were in similarly if not more so ragged states as Kazehana was, but thankfully, there was nothing to worry about injury-wise beyond a few scrapes and bruises that would be gone by dinner.
That Uzume looked like she'd fallen a pond, and what remained of the hem of Tsukiumi's dress was slowly thawing confirmed that yes, they had been fighting with each other.
Akitsu's outfit incorporated metal and was unsurprisingly the most intact overall, but there were twigs in her windswept hair, and leaves sticking out of the links of her chains.
This was the first time he'd seen Uzume's combat outfit though, so Minato naturally found his attention drawn that way while he was giving everyone the once-over.
It only had a little to do with how the soaked nature of her outfit made the already skimpy garments cling.
Wrapped around her neck and beneath her bust was, as far as he could tell, a single long length of pure white cloth- crossing over her breasts to form a sort of revealing halter top. Another band of cloth circled several times around her round hips, forming a sort of tight miniskirt that offered glimpses of creamy skin here or there where the cloth didn't quite overlap.
Completing the look were long white gloves and form fitting high heeled boots that ended halfway up her thighs. Twined around her arms here or there were several veils of cloth, the bulk of which coiled protectively in the air about her.
The veils had clearly seen better days, but curiously, Minato noted that while Uzume had clearly found herself in the dirt a time or two, the cloth was damaged but undirtied.
"... Were you girls sparring?"
"Something like that, Hun." Kazehana said with a mysterious smile.
He didn't think that was all of it, though- Kazehana was smug, Akitsu was disappointed, Uzume resigned, and Tsukiumi frustrated.
He didn't get a chance to ask any further though.
"My my, someone's been having fun~" a cheerful voice softly called from behind.
Minato turned in surprise, pulling Kazehana with him.
… He hadn't seen Miya coming at all.
And was it just him, or had the hallway gotten darker?
"Oh, hello there Miya," Kazehana greeted, still feeling a bit of that victory high.
"Welcome back, Kazehana," Miya returned, her voice mild. She gave the couple a quick glance, her lips pursing slightly.
From the side, it was painfully obvious that Kazehana's attire had taken that short step past decency; the Sekirei of the Wind was just too well-endowed for that fact to be hidden.
"Hmm. You know, Kazehana, I seem to recall telling you that…"
Minato stiffened as he felt fear spike it's way through both Kazehana and Uzume.
"W-wait a second, Miya-!"
"Indecent acts within Izumo Inn are prohibited."
Darkness pooled out from behind Miya as the whole house seemed to shudder and groan.
Within that storm of blackness, something horrible slowly began to stir. Something pale as bone with leering golden eyes and grim horns.
Something looking right at them-
… The baleful illusion unceremoniously fizzled out as Miya blinked rapidly in confusion.
"... Huh?" The usual elegance of Miya's voice was nowhere to be found.
Miya had quite suddenly found herself alone in the entryway.
Of course, she had seen precisely what had happened, but that made her more confused, rather than less.
Ever so slowly, Miya made her way out onto the porch to take a look.
"... Oh dear."
With some approval, Miya noted that while Minato had fled, he had not fled alone- Kazehana was still in his arms, and yet somehow or another he'd grabbed the other three women on the way.
… All five of them were currently on the roof of her porch.
"... I'll admit that's a reaction I've never seen before." Was the comment Miya decided on, after several long moments.
Admittedly, she approved of how the thoroughly confused Sekirei had all found themselves behind their Ashikabi.
"Please don't eat us," Minato replied.
"... E-eat you?" Clearly, she hadn't sufficiently conveyed her displeasure if Minato was feeling cheeky enough to make jokes like that.
… He was making a joke, surely?
Miya considered her tenant carefully.
… He wasn't, was he.
"... Pfft." No, no, that simply wouldn't do, she was supposed to be cross with them-
Ah, it was no good.
Takami nearly spat out her tea as the musical but outlandish sound of Miya giggling echoed down the hall.
"... It sounds like someone was having fun out there." Takami commented without looking, Kusano having taken up residency in her lap.
"Hmm? I'm not sure what you're referring to," Miya blithely returned. "This is an old house, one hears all kinds of strange and inexplicable noises from it over time."
A rather stiffly moving Minato re-entered the living room, seating himself opposite from his mother and shooting Miya a wary look.
"The others are just getting changed and cleaned up," Minato commented, somewhat tensely.
"I expected as much, so I prepared the bath." Miya was the one who had shooed the girls off to the park in the first place, after all.
"The bath, huh?" Takami murmured with a speculative look. "... Would be one hell of a surprise, wouldn't it?"
Mind made up, she shot Miya a glance, a silent question in her gaze.
Minato stiffened slightly as another one of those worrying staredowns occurred.
Under normal circumstances, Miya would refuse. While basic hospitality was not something she'd forsake for any guest, no matter how unwanted, at the same time, she had to think of how the girls would react.
… She didn't remember being such a mischievous woman.
"Spare towels are to the left of the door." She said after a moment's pause. "They're taking their time in the bedroom, so slipping ahead of them shouldn't be difficult."
Minato was glad that Mother's smirk wasn't directed at him.
A big grin on her pretty face, Uzume slid open the door and strode boldly into the bathroom, towel over one shoulder.
The bathing area of Izumo Inn was quite large, and designed so that multiple people at once could use it comfortably.
She'd occasionally done so with Miya, or Matsu, but doing it with flock sisters felt… special.
The other thing that felt special, just then, was the gorgeous woman who had gone ahead of them, and had just finished dumping water onto herself as she sat on a bath stool, largely turned away from Uzume.
Uzume's thoughts came to a screeching halt as her eyes naturally found themselves tracking droplets of water tracing the elegant contours of a smoothly toned back, before detouring to go up and over the mildly sensational curve of-
The small part of her brain that was working properly helpfully supplied that the butt her gaze was glued to belonged to her Ashikabi's mother.
And so before embarrassment could catch up to her, Uzume did the only thing she could think of, and took refuge in audacity.
"Well, now we know where he gets his good looks from."
Takami glanced over her shoulder with one smiling red eye, and said "I think we're going to get along just fine."
Uzume made way for the other Sekirei, and wasn't surprised in the least when Tsukiumi also froze up.
"Good timing by the way, how about one of you girls wash my back?"
Tsukiumi blushed as she found herself taking an unwitting step forward, as Uzume gave the back of her towel a little covert 'shove' without actually touching her.
Caught out and in no way willing to admit it, red-faced Tsukiumi carefully knelt on the mat behind Takami, and reached for the shampoo.
The hint of a smile directed at her in the mirror's reflection, Tsukiumi carefully got to work.
"If thou find'st I treat thee in too rough a manner, I would be most grateful for thine instruction- tis a new experience, I must confess." Tsukiumi shamefully admitted, after a minute or so.
"You're doing just fine, dear." Takami returned calmly, her eyes shut. "A little more pressure would be nice though- I'm not made of glass."
"V-verily." Quite the opposite in fact- no matter how soft the skin nor feminine the silhouette, it did not change the fact that apparently, Takami's body was very solid.
...
"... Well, I suppose it would be rude not to return the favor. Take a seat, Tsukiumi."
The heat must have gotten to her, because Tsukiumi's thoughts got a little hazy for a bit, after that.
Kazehana slipped into the tub with a pleasant sigh, feeling the warm water soak into her skin.
It was nice that the tub was big enough for all five of them.
It was less nice that it meant that every one of the Sekirei discovered they'd been trapped at the same time.
"The catfight was to decide who gives making grandchildren a shot first, I take it?"
… The water might have been a little too warm, this time.
"And then the mean girl tried to bully Kuu, but Big Brother went 'whoosh!' and then she went 'waah!'!" Kusano narrated with grand gestures of her little arms. "But then she came back, but Big Brother told Kuu to close her eyes, so she did, and the mean girl vanished and then it was just Big Brother and Kuu!"
"Oh my, you had quite the exciting night, now didn't you, Kusano?" Miya softly exclaimed, a playful twinkle in her eye as she hid her smile behind her hand.
"Mhm, mhm! And then Kusano got a big brother, and lots and lots of big sisters and even a mama!"
"I'm very happy for you, Kusano. I'm sure that was your reward for being such a brave girl." Miya said softly. "Oh, but speaking of girls, the ones in the baths should be down any minute now, so I suppose it's your turn at last, isn't it, Kusano?"
"Nuh uh, Kusano had a bath yesterday!" Kusano protested, crawling to her feet so that she could more easily stomp one of them.
"Are you sure? I could use the company, you know~?" Miya teased.
Kusano took a step back, eyes darting to Minato for help.
"... Wait a second, Big Brother likes water! That's why he winged Tsuki!" She declared, peering at him suspiciously.
"That is true, I do like water." Minato nodded agreeably.
"... Kusano is gonna go play with Mura instead!" So she declared, before turning on her heel and swiftly vacating the living room.
Miya watched her go, noting with approval that Homura had good timing, as he was on the back porch but didn't seem to have his cigarettes with him. They'd discussed how those could be bad for a little girl's education, after all.
That would have been the ideal moment to broach one of the many subjects she was curious about, with her mysterious young tenant.
But the moment Miya opened her mouth, something brought her up short.
Minato's head lifted suddenly, glancing past her and towards a corner of the ceiling.
Directly at one of Matsu's thoroughly hidden cameras.
He had one eyebrow raised, and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped.
"... She really is shy, isn't she?" He said, with a soft frown.
Again!
It happened again!
What was Miya doing letting something like that in the house!?
'Sahashi Minato' was too normal to be normal! All she could find out after countless all-nighters was his status as a part-time employee of MBI, and as the 'biological son' of Doctor Sahashi Takami!
There had to be more, there had to be!
Otherwise, how could Number 31 have just vanished beneath the forest canopy!?
Otherwise, how come, no matter where or when, how come every single time she tried to observe him on any kind of camera…
How come each and every single time she looked at him, he was looking right back!?
Satisfied at having put the fear of Mother into the girls, said Mother had departed shortly after they'd all exited the baths together.
Minato took mercy and distracted them with his plan for the week, which was going on one-on-one dates to help learn more about each individual Sekirei.
He liked learning new things.
A discussion about order wasn't necessary, though- the girls had been talking, and it was to be more or less in the order that they'd become his Sekirei, with one exception.
Kazehana had offered the first day to Kusano and opted to take Friday. She had pointed out that she'd already had a turn, though Minato was pretty sure she was just making an excuse to not seem too nice.
What it didn't explain was what about Friday made Kazehana seem 'hungry'... maybe she had a restaurant she wished to go to with him?
Kazehana was truly mysterious at times.
So from Monday to Friday, it went; Kusano, Akitsu, Tsukiumi, Uzume, and then lastly Kazehana.
True, in Kusano's case it wasn't really a 'date' date, but it would be wrong to leave her out completely, and so they were spending today in the woods.
Kusano liked forested areas, naturally, and Minato liked that there were no humans to run away screaming from the sight of a happily shrieking little girl using a sizable mass of 'something dark' as a living trampoline.
This, Minato had learned, was the true purpose behind Kusano's request that he 'become squishy again'.
Afterwards they would have a lunch that Miya packed, before spending an indeterminate length of time riding the 'skinny fwoosh' that Kusano was so interested in.
He'd perhaps underestimated Kusano's attention span- they'd rode the bullet train, switching stations at random, for almost three hours before the Green Girl had promptly curled up against him like a little blonde cat and fallen asleep.
Thankfully, the station they'd found themselves at wasn't too far away- another block or two and he'd be able to smell Miya's cooking.
He appreciated that the shy one had given them some privacy, and was hopeful she'd continue to do so when he took the other Sekirei out.
That being said, Minato couldn't quite figure out what he might have done to the only Sekirei they did encounter while out and about, the one who'd noticed them just before they hopped onto the bullet train, four stations back.
He felt like he would have remembered a Sekirei that smelled of ozone, if they'd met in the past, so just what reason might she have had to be terrified of him at first sight?
… Minato kind of hoped she didn't know something she shouldn't know.
It was one thing if they'd made themselves his enemy, but barring that, he'd prefer not to reduce the numbers of an endangered species.
On the note of 'enemies', he'd just finished processing-
"Big Brother, are we-" a big yawn, "-there yet?"
… Perhaps the walk had been a bit too relaxing- shortcuts stopped being shortcuts when you followed them until you missed your destination.
"It won't be long now, Kuu. It seems I've been daydreaming a bit."
"Silly Big Brother, dreams are for sleepy-time."
"That must have been where I went wrong, then." Minato guessed, smiling softly as a forehead thunked against his back, Kusano seemingly having said her peace and opted to resume her nap.
As Kusano settled in, his slight smile faded as Minato pondered the strange word stuck in his head.
… It sounded like a name of sorts, but Minato was confident he had never met anyone named Lethe.
"... Are you alright, Sis?"
"Hm? Yea, no worries, think I'm just a little tired after all," Hikari replied, placing the grocery bags on the table. "Could ask the same, I'm usually the one caught snoozing."
They were going to go shopping since it was a day off, but Hibiki had fallen asleep on the couch not long after breakfast, so Hikari had put a blanket on her and went to pick up a few things on her own.
"I woke up not long after you left," Hibiki confessed, "but I'm very cozy and all attempts to rise ended in failure."
"Hehe. Well don't go trying just yet, keep it nice and warm while I put these away. It's a day off, ya know?"
Hibiki gave a sleepy nod as Hikari swiftly put the groceries away, and when her sister approached, opened the blanket briefly enough for her to slip in.
The couch wasn't really meant for two grown women to lie on it together, but the twins never felt cramped when it was the two of them.
"... Are you really sure you're alright, Hikari?" Hibiki murmured into Hikari's hair, her twin lying down facing away from her.
Hikari winced slightly, wishing her twin was just a little less perceptive.
"... Yeah, I'm fine Hibiki… promise. Go back to sleep."
"... Okay." Hikari lying to her like that was more than a little concerning, but Hibiki could only hope that she'd be ready to talk about whatever it was after a bit of time had passed.
Her real answer was no.
Hikari only caught a brief glimpse of him, only long enough to make eye contact.
Even that had felt like electricity racing up her spine- she'd never reacted that strongly to an Ashikabi.
Which should have been a wonderful thing and should have led to her chasing him with all her might instead of running away, glancing constantly over her shoulder for a glimpse of the lurking fear he embodied.
Because Hibiki hadn't been there, and so with no way to know if her twin would react the same way, all the memory of those deep, dark eyes brought her was dread.
When sleep found Hikari, she was greeted by dreams of staring into an endless darkness that stared right back.
It had taken Akitsu precisely five minutes to determine that if she died now, she would die satisfied.
She and Mi- Master were on a date.
… It was very warm today, but not as warm as Master's hand and-
"... While your smile is very cute, it also doesn't really answer my question, Akitsu."
"... It sounds wonderful, Master."
"You have no idea what I asked, did you?"
She did not, but she also had no intention of retracting her words.
Master had said it, so it must have been wonderful.
Just like being on a date with Master, which was also wonderful.
Ahh…
… Well, she seemed happy so Minato supposed it was fine.
He was feeling very blessed right now, and the beautiful sight Akitsu was presenting had made his heartbeat quicken- truly mysterious as his heart didn't usually beat faster without instruction.
The girls had had great fun deciding Akitsu's outfit and keeping it a secret, and Minato could readily agree that the surprise made it even more exciting.
Akitsu preferred traditional Japanese clothing, but today she was in a pale blue sundress that hugged her body in all the most interesting places. The thin fabric of the skirt was fluttering lightly in the late spring breeze, like a stage curtain teasing the audience with the curve of her hips and the length of her legs.
She had elected to wear sandals once again, but this time, they were straw instead of wood, strappy wedges with a modest heel to them, further accentuating how much of Akitsu's height was leg.
The sun was a little bright for either of them, today, and so Akitsu had brought along a simple white parasol that Miya had lent her, their hands linked on the handle.
He'd noticed that she was calling him Master even when the two of them were alone… Minato had learned from Kazehana that 'Master' wasn't a pet name, but he more or less understood the title was just as much for Akitsu's sake as anything else.
… No, come to think of it, they were alone, so this was a good opportunity.
"Akitsu."
"Yes, Master?"
"You don't have to call me that if you don't want to." Akitsu's expression cramped, and she lowered her gaze slightly, unsure of how to-
A pair of fingers tilted her chin back his way, deep blue eyes meeting an even deeper black.
"You don't have to call me Master, Akitsu," Minato repeated. "But…"
… That smile of his was so very unfair.
"But, I don't mind if you call me that until you don't need to, anymore."
… So very unfair, and so unbearably wonderful.
Ever so carefully, Akitsu shifted herself slightly as they walked, just enough that their shoulders would touch.
She would have to retract her earlier decision. She was in no way content to die now, even if she still believed she could die happily.
She was willing to do anything if it meant her Master would smile her way just one more time.
It was perhaps a small wish, but that Akitsu had the courage to wish in the first place was proof enough that progress had been made.
Hand in hand, they wandered the long paved roads and gentle hills of the public park- far from alone, but it mattered little when they only had eyes for one another.
Akitsu had had no real idea of what she wished to do on her date with Minato- it could have been anything as long as it was with him.
So they'd gone to the park for a picnic- the sort of date where they didn't really need to do anything but enjoy one another's company.
All in all, it was an almost unbelievably simple method for creating a memory they'd never forget.
Akitsu could remember keenly when Kazehana had brought up 'that'...
Putting aside the more… intimate details that she wasn't quite ready for, Akitsu had spent more or less every moment since they'd sat down on the picnic blanket psyching herself up for 'the next step'.
'Skinship'.
Kazehana had been quite confident that physical contact with Master would make Master interested in more physical contact, and while Akitsu was of course willing to let Master touch her whenever and however he wanted, it seemed that it was no good if he was the only one to ever 'initiate', so…
Akitsu slowly looked down between them, and took courage from their joined hands.
"M-Master."
"Yes, Akitsu?" Smiling at her was an unfair distraction.
"Would you like to lay down, for a bit? You have seemed… tired, over these past few days."
Minato blinked in that slow way of his.
"... You noticed, huh?"
Akitsu gave a small nod.
"Go ahead, Master, I will lend you my lap," she used her free hand to pat her legs for emphasis.
She'd said it! She'd said it she'd said it- "don't mind if I do"- her thoughts came to a screeching halt as Master twisted to lay the back of his head against her legs, stretching his body out to the side with a gentle sigh.
Akitsu's lap was very soft and comfortable, Minato couldn't help but think.
Her cheeks were also very red, as she stared down at him, and it seemed like her whole body was slowly warming up…
It seemed it was possible for a girl to blush with her whole body.
Truly mysterious.
As that last bit of tension slowly fled Master's body, his dark eyes gently drifted shut.
For which she was grateful in more ways than one- it meant he couldn't see the way her hand awkwardly hovered in the air above him.
It seemed to her that it took a pitifully long length of time, but in reality, it was only a few seconds before Akitsu's hand dropped, and slender fingers began to ever so carefully stroke their way through her Master's dark locks.
The sun had moved its way across the sky quite a bit when Minato opened his eyes once more.
With a faint surprise, Minato recognized that he'd needed to open all of them… he really must have been more tired than expected if he had shut down in full.
But it was hard to feel bad for being the only one asleep when Akitsu was smiling at him that way.
Not for the first time that day, Minato found himself thinking that maybe it was because Akitsu wasn't very expressive usually that her smiles were very unfair.
Wonderful, but unfair.
"Did you sleep well, Master?" Akitsu tenderly whispered, still lightly massaging his scalp.
For one worried about controlling her strength, or perhaps because of it, Akitsu was probably the most careful and gentle of his Sekirei, and it showed in little things like that.
"Your lap is very comfortable."
Like sunlight off the surface of a frozen lake, Akitsu's eyes sparkled with a quiet joy.
Despite the warmth of the day, her legs suddenly felt rather cold, as her Master sat up, though. How truly mysterious.
The next words out of his mouth, as he twisted around to sit facing her, were just as mysterious but far more interesting.
"We won't be able to do this as freely when you're winged, so let's take advantage."
Advantage? What sort of advantage could possibly-
Master cupped her cheek with one hand, and Akitsu quivered slightly as he brushed his thumb across her lips.
Then he leaned in slowly and kissed her on the lips.
That was all it took for the Sekirei of Ice to forget for a moment that cold existed.
A shuddering sigh was muffled as Minato gently wrapped his arms around a narrow waist that seemed almost too delicate, and Akitsu wrapped her arms around him in turn.
If any of the numerous passersby noticed the two young lovers making out in a semi-public place, none of them had the courage to complain.
Perhaps her mood was a bit strange, but Akitsu found herself with a severe distaste for the fact that kissing didn't remove her need for breathable air.
That being said, there was a different issue to worry about.
Setting the picnic basket down, Akitsu looked Minato in the eyes and said "I did fall asleep."
Minato, who had just stood up and offered his hand, stopped moving.
"... Only my legs though."
"... They haven't woken up yet, have they?"
Akitsu gave an embarrassed little shake of her head.
"Well, I guess there's no helping it." Master sighed, and something about that sound reminded Akitsu of Kazehana, in a worrying way.
A barely audible shriek escaped as Akitsu abruptly found herself swept up off the ground, and cradled in her Master's arms.
"W-w-w-!"
"Sorry Akitsu, you'll have to speak up." Minato blandly replied, his dark eyes twinkling.
"W-what about the blanket?" A thoroughly flustered Akitsu tried.
After checking to make sure that the coast was clear, Minato stepped off the blanket and began to nonchalantly fold up the blanket with his two hands.
… Without putting Akitsu down.
Well if he could change his shape then it didn't seem strange he could add to it, Akitsu supposed.
Truthfully, she was more concerned about how mortifyingly wonderful being cradled in his arms was.
This felt much more embarrassing and much more special than being carried on his back- Akitsu would later learn to further embarrassment that she was currently being held in a 'princess carry'.
"Ah… y-you don't have to… I will be fine in a moment." As if just that could hide her, Akitsu covered her face with both hands.
"I see, I see." Minato nodded, surreptitiously 'storing' the basket and making no move to put his cute ice maiden down.
An accusing blue eye peaked out from between slender fingers.
"... Master, could it be that you're secretly a bully?" Akitsu demanded in a low, huffy murmur.
"No," Minato promptly denied. "I don't remember anything about it being a secret."
There was one more surprise waiting, at the end of their first date.
Just for Minato, though- Akitsu had dozed off in his arms, a tiny, blissful smile on her lips as she slumbered.
Miya was there, on the porch as she often was when someone returned home.
A flicker of worry quickly faded away as she took note of Akitsu's expression.
Instead, after a quiet welcome, Miya gazed warmly down at the slumbering Sekirei, and then lifted her gaze to meet his own.
Miya didn't say a word, but she didn't need to.
Instead, she deftly struck one of Minato's weak points by smiling at him the way Mother did when he made her proud.
As Minato practically fled past her into the house (still holding Akitsu carefully), Miya hid a smile that was a good deal more mischievous.
The other Sekirei had offered to let Akitsu have Minato and the bed to herself, but she had declined, this time.
"I like having everyone together." Was what she'd said.
He was perfectly fine with whatever she preferred, so as per the norm, Minato ended up buried under warm bodies.
Thus it was perhaps a little strange that the dream he had that night had nothing to do with anything that had happened that day.
How truly mysterious.
… That poor woman was going to be destroyed by this, wasn't she?
Actually, he'd be pretty lucky if he survived being the messenger, but that didn't seem so bad, right now.
Maybe if he'd been more on top of things, his best friend wouldn't be dead.
… The best friend, who Seo was just realizing now had saved his life not once, but twice.
He'd been tinkered with just a little, just enough to allow him to sense (REDACTED), but (REDACTED) had urged him to wait before they tried the more 'comprehensive' modification, the one that would allow him to disable the (REDACTED) of (REDACTED) with just physical contact.
That damn rock had already made his insides jump around like a damn circus clown, who knew what would have happened if-
Seo swore loudly and wrenched on the steering wheel with all his might as a small figure was illuminated in the steering wheel.
He missed the kid, and then missed the road-
… Must have passed out for a second, the next thing he knew he was upside down, seatbelt keeping him from falling onto the ceiling.
Crawling from the wreckage would have been much easier if he could see straight, but at least he hadn't hit the kid- what the hell was some brat doing in the middle of nowhere?
….
Where was the kid, anyways?
"I am sorry," a dull, slightly high-pitched voice said. "I had not intended to let you suffer."
Standing in the dim moonlight not fifteen feet away, body partially obscured by the shadows of the trees, was the kid he'd crashed to avoid hitting.
Seo took a moment to get a better look and steady his spinning head.
The boy (probably) was a thin, pale brat of maybe ten years of age, clothing, eyes and hair all dull and dark. Something about him looked vaguely familiar, but Seo would ponder that when his brain decided to stay still.
"... Agh, dammit kid, didn't your parents ever tell you not to play on the road?" Seo complained, only partially in earnest. "Where are your folks, anyways? A brat like you shouldn't be out here all alone."
"Mother did tell me that roads were dangerous," the child nodded. "I don't think I'm a brat, though, Mother says I'm too well behaved at times."
"'Causing an accident' doesn't sound like good behavior to me, you know."
"I suppose, but I wasn't sure how else to stop your truck."
… Okay, that didn't raise any red flags or nothing…
"You could have just stuck your thumb out?"
The boy looked at his own thumb in curiosity.
"... I do not see how that would have accomplished the task, but I don't believe you're lying to me, either… how truly mysterious."
"... Whose kid are you, anyways?" An adult probably wouldn't answer, but-
"Sahashi Takami." The boy answered with no hesitation.
Seo would have believed the kid, because he could see the resemblance now (hair and eyes were way off, though), if it weren't for the fact that he'd taken Takami out and got her roaring drunk so the damn fool would finally let herself cry over her dead son.
"You're Takami's son, huh? Well you do kind of look like a little male version of her, don't ya?"
The boy smiled, and it was an eerie thing.
"Yes, I look just like a 'male' version of Mother because I am Mother's 'son'."
"But that's not all you are, is it?"
The boy slowly tilted his head to one side.
"What, Minaka wake up another (REDACTED) in secret?"
"... I do not know what a (REDACTED) is, so I could not tell you."
"Then what are you?"
"I do not know, so I could not tell you."
Whatever It was had probably been lab-raised, poor brat.
"Well…? why'd he send you, huh?"
"You are something called a… 'loose end'. I do not quite understand it, but the Director says that you know secrets that could cause harm for Mother, should they be revealed to the wrong person."
"... So a brat like you thinks he's going to take me down, huh?" Seo sneered, pushing himself off the truck and rolling one brawny shoulder. "Hope you don't think I'm gonna lay down and die."
… Seo was bluffing, that bastard was nuts but he wasn't sloppy- if he sent a kid, it's because the kid could deal with the 'problem'.
"It would perhaps make things easier for you." The boy said. "I have erred in causing you unnecessary injury, and would prefer not to do so again."
"Real nice of you."
" Is it? ... Oh, that was… 'sarcasm', I believe?"
"Pfft! Where the hell'd they find you, kid?"
"They found me in a dark place."
The sky seemed the same deep, midnight blue as ever, but Seo noticed too late that the moonlight was gone.
"Why don't I s̷h̸o̷w̴ ̷y̷o̴u̶?"
…
… Hmm? Oh, so that was what (REDACTED) (REDACTED) was referring to- (REDACTED) had mistaken him for one of the (FURTHER RECOLLECTION PROHIBITED).
Strange, to think he was not the only (MEMORY RESTRICTED) out there.
(LETHE PROTOCOL INITIATED)
(ROLLBACK OF RECOLLECTION PROCEEDING IN 3… 2… 1).
(… RESET COMPLETE… REST WELL, MYRIAD 1)
Surrounded by loved ones on every side, Minato had a pleasant, dreamless sleep, interrupted only briefly by the sound of distant thunder.
Told ya there was a lot of foreshadowing, and now you know what Seo's been up to.
Minato is slowly growing more open with the girls over what sort of thing he really is, but there's also plenty of reason why he's a little cagey and not just dumping exposition.
Aside from the fact that exposition dumps are usually a little boring.
While you'll notice that the first dates weren't all that long, that will change as the character's plotlines progress- the winging process kind of skips a lot of steps, so even if they're perfectly happy together, it doesn't change that Minato and the flock don't know each other very well, yet.
PS- it was more for fun than it was a hint (though it could be counted as one), but every chapter to date has contained the title of one of a certain writer's stories somewhere within.