Chapter 2

Strange New Land

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Flashback

"Magic"

Location / Date / Time Skip

Minato Sahashi was offically having the worst day of his life. First, he failed the entrance exam for the city's Storm Knight Academy for the second time. His mother was no source of compassion and his sister laughed at him. Then some strange girl crashed down onto him and dragged him away before he was forced into this Sekirei Plan.

Now, things had only gotten worse. They had just found a new place to live after being kicked out of the old flat, due to losing his status as an aspiring student. Musubi, his gorgeous Sekirei, was about to get into a fight with another Sekirei who literally walked in front of them. Given her immense strength, there might not be a maison to stay in after this fight.

A smile on her face, Musubi threw her fist forward ready to strike the red head, only for a metal lid to take the hit. Miya had somehow gotten between them with a ladle and lid in her hands. Raising the ladle, she brought it down and swatted Musubi on the forehead.

"What happened to your manners, young lady?" She wagged her ladle as Musubi rubbed her head. Miya turned back to the new pair and glared at them. "Did you two do something to them?"

"No, we just met! Honest!" The pink-haired Ashikabi replied. Minato could see that he'd already gotten a taste of Miya's death glare. If he could go the rest of his life without ever seeing it again…

"Let me make myself clear." Miya said. Minato's hope died as the entire group felt the demonic aura rise again. "Violence of any kind will not be permitted within the walls of Maison Izumo. Understood?"

"Yes!" All four nodded in fear.

"Good." Miya chuckled before turning away. "Now why don't you four get to know each other while I finish dinner?"

She left the main hall as the four stared in shock at the sudden change in attitude.

"She's like Erza times… a lot." The Ashikabi murmured before turning to Minato and Musubi. "Okay, let's not get her angry anymore. Name's Natsu Dragneel."

"I am Akitsu." The ice user said, flatly glaring at the girl who tried to punch her.

"I'm Minato Sahashi, and this is Musubi." The youth said while the girl nodded in excitement. "So, I guess you two are part of the Sekirei Plan, too?"

"Yeah…" Natsu growled, clenching his fist in frustration. "Bastard in white pretty much trapped me after I made friends with Akitsu. Even threatened to have me killed."

"You're from outside the city?" Minato asked. "What's it like?"

"Minato!" Musubi grasped his shoulders and spun him to face her. "What if someone hears you?" she whispered in concern.

"Hears him what?" Natsu asked.

Akitsu looked at Musubi, who returned her worried gaze. She then regarded her fiery friend. "News from the outside is censored. Minaka decreed that anyone spreading misinformation about-"

"Well I ain't got any 'misinfo', whatever that's supposed to mean different from 'lies'." Natsu scoffed. "As for the outside-"

Akitsu pounced and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to herself and cutting him off. As Natsu's muffled growls failed to escape her soft skin, Akitsu leaned close to his ear. "Please, watch what you say." She begged in a whisper. "The Chief Synchronizer has ears everywhere."

Natsu struggled as Akitsu dug in her heels and slowly, with a strength belied by her feminine frame, shoved and dragged her Ashikabi over to the nearby lounge room. She collapsed into the padded couch (meaning a wooden frame with pillows laid on the seat area) and only then deigned to let Natsu's mouth loose.

"Gah!" Natsu gasped. "So what?"

"Yeah, so what?" Minato said.

"He might not come after us." Akitsu explained. "But Minaka has other ways to punish you, and us."

Natsu shot a glare at the wall that could've eaten through bedrock. "This place sucks more by the minute." He huffed. "First the guy in white ruins my training, and now he's spying on me…"

"Training?" Minato repeated in curiosity.

"Yeah, I'm a wizard." Natsu answered, lighting his hand on fire for example.

"You can use magic? That's amazing." Minato replied. "And way better than what I can do. The most I can do is a mild physical boost."

"That sounds pretty cool." The pinkette said, killing his spell. "How about we spar?"

"Maybe not… you might actually hurt me." Minato nervously chuckled.

"Am I in the middle of something?" The four turned to the side to see a man with grayish hair leaning against the wall. Clad in black pants and a white shirt, the smell of cheap smoke reminded Natsu of Wakaba's cigars.

"Oh, sorry, Kagari." Minato apologized. "These are some guests for the night. Natsu and Akitsu."

"Nice to meet you." Natsu waved as Akitsu nodded respectfully.

"Same." Kagari pushed away from the wall. "Well, smells like dinner's ready. Let's go."

Following the smoker, the four sat down at the small table for the grilled fish dinner. Drool escaped from Natsu's mouth before Akitsu elbowed him in the side.

"Right, sorry." He gave the fakest-sounding laugh he'd ever heard himself give before taking a small bite of the fish.

"…So GOOD!" Musubi and Natsu shouted at the same time before starting to shovel the food into their mouths.

Footsteps caught everyone's attention before a screen door was pushed aside. Minato almost choked on his food as a girl with brown hair walked out… in nothing but a pink bra and panties.

"Visitors? Hey there!"

"Uzume, don't you remember what I said last time you came out like that?" Kagari asked in annoyance.

"What's the big deal? I'm wearing panties this time." She smiled before glancing at Natsu. "Besides, the other guy doesn't seem to mind."

"Eh, I've seen worse." He replied, trying his best not to pig out.

Uzume crossed her arms and gave him a look that was half-playful housecat, half-angry tiger. "Worse how, exactly?"

Natsu started as he realized he'd accidentally swallowed a bone in his fish. "Last time a girl walked in on me, she was in a towel."

Uzume didn't say anything as she sat down, the wheels in her head visibly turning as she pondered the new arrival.

"Miss Miya?" Minato spoke up, catching the landlady's attention. "I hope this doesn't sound rude, but what kind of place is this? I mean, you all don't look like family."

"That's because it's the housing for our delivery guild." Miya explained, shocking Minato. "I'm the chief executive and landlady, and I see you've already met our newest employees as well."

Instantly, Minato was on the floor face first. "I ask you. We were kicked out of our apartment and don't have anywhere to go."

"You poor thing, please raise your head." Miya chuckled. "My husband believed in never turning anyone away. Welcome to your new home."

Minato raised his head, happily shocked. "R-Really?"

"You did it!" Musubi latched onto Minato and hugged him. "You found us a home!"

Kagari leaned over to Miya in concern. "Are you sure about these four? We don't know anything about them."

"It's fine." She replied with a smile. "The gods know what they're doing. They guide us all in the way we're supposed to be. And besides, they don't seem like bad people."

"I can tell your mind is made up." Kagari nodded before standing up and leaving the room.

The Next Day

Natsu and Akitsu stood outside the Inn waiting for Musubi and Minato. Sniffing the air, he turned to the side before dropping his jaw in shock. His Sekirei followed his glance and was surprised at the gigantic ball of stuff Musubi was carrying.

"Damn, you must be strong." he said.

"That's 'cause I'm a fist-type, silly." Musubi giggled back.

"Thanks for helping us with this, you guys." Minato said with a bow. "You didn't have to do this."

"It's not a problem." Natsu replied. "If we're gonna live together, might as well get along."

The four walked into the building, or at least tried to, before Musubi's ball of belongings got stuck. As Natsu and Akitsu braced on the outside and started to push, they remained unaware that someone was watching them. Lurking in the shadows across the street was a dark-skinned girl with jet black hair and violet eyes. Donned in all black, she wore a bikini top beneath a small hooded shawl, a buckled sarong, a choker, wrist bands, and leather knee-high, heeled boots to complete her black attire.

"Remember our deal, Minaka." The woman growled. Specifically, she growled into the bizarre silver disc covering her right ear. It was a small communicator, and non-magical at that. "I keep an eye on this wizard, and you make it so I don't need to be winged."

"Don't worry, Yahan. I'm a man of my word." The Game Master replied. "Just remember: if that wizard tries to break the rules, terminate him and all the Sekirei with him. I know you can handle that."

Yahan glanced down at her hip, a dagger clinging to her side. "That won't be a problem." She quietly declared, before literally sinking into the shadows.

Inside Izumo

"Okay, wiseguy…" Natsu ran at the large bag that trapped Musubi, knocking the girl free without breaking the door somehow. "There… See?" He panted out. "That wasn't so hard."

"My, aren't you two strong?" Miya chuckled. "Now, come along. Let's get you to your room."

Akitsu nodded and looked over just as Natsu pushed himself up. The landlady led them down the hall towards another stone room, a small closet in the corner. A small bed stand was the only thing that separated the pair of beds from each other as a window shined light in. "Once you finish settling in, come downstairs. I'll make you some tea."

She left the room as Natsu sat on the right bed, looking out the window. "…Too soft." He mumbled. "I like my hammock better."

Akitsu hesitantly sat down on what she assumed was her bed. "Do you… Not like soft things?"

"Huh? Nah, that's not it." Natsu dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand. "It's just my hammock had some give, but was also kinda stiff."

"Firm, you mean?" Akitsu offered, clasping her hands in front of herself.

Natsu scratched his head as his eyes wandered to the ceiling. "Firm… Yeah, that's the right word!"

Akitsu looked down and blushed. "Do you…" She patted the spot next to her. "Do you think my bed is better?"

"Dunno. Lemme see." Natsu hopped over and sat down next to her, sinking into the white. "Nah, still too soft."

"Then…" Hesitantly, Akitsu reached over and took his hand. Her blush was so intense that she looked like she might cry. Then both of her hands sandwiched his. Then, she glided her hands up his arm and tilted, leaning herself on him. The exposed skin of her face and chest snuggled in against Natsu's arm and shoulder.

Natsu glanced at her as she said. "Is this… better?"

Natsu looked straight ahead for a moment, before his own hand snaked behind her back and clasped her far hip. "...Ya know, it actually is. Too bad you can't be my bed."

The two lingered a while, holding each other, Akitsu soaking in the warmth of Natsu's fire-imbued body. Natsu still wasn't used to this whole "romance" thing, but if Akitsu was happy, he wasn't going to ruin it.

Sometime later, the Sekirei/Ashikabi pairs came down the stairs. The four found Kagari at the front door slipping on some black shoes. "You going somewhere?" Natsu asked, catching his attention.

"Yeah, heading out to work." He replied as Miya came into view.

"Well, aren't you leaving early today." She chuckled. "And I just made you dinner."

"Sorry, I'll eat it as soon as I get back." He leaned down and kissed her hand before heading out the door.

"In case you're wondering, Kagari works nights at a host club," Miya explained. "Apparently, he's the most popular host over there. I think it's amazing."

"I'd bet you'd love it if a nice guy waited on you hand and foot." Minato chuckled to Musubi.

"Yeah, especially if it was you." She innocently replied. "I'd let you do anything to me."

The male suddenly gained a massive blush as blood started spurting out of his nose.

"Dude, you okay?" Natsu asked as Minato held his nose.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." He replied.

"Why don't you all get ready for dinner? We have a bath ready waiting just down the hall." Miya said to the girls before glancing over to the men. "I hope I don't need to tell you that it's one gender at a time, do I?" The demon mask appeared again, scaring the two men.

"Try and get along with her, Akitsu. For me?" Natsu asked, earning a reluctant nod from the ice user. "I'm going to look around, wanna tag along?" He asked Minato, pulling him away from the wall.

"Su-sure." He nodded before the two walked upstairs. "So, what are we looking for?"

"I've been smelling something weird ever since we got here." Natsu explained as they reached a small hatch on the ceiling of the top floor. "Almost like someone else is living here. We're gonna find them, even if we have to search this place from top to bottom."

Opening up the hatch, a small ladder popped down and the two men climbed up. They found themselves in the open garden at the top of the inn, most of the flowers around them white. Lilies and chrysanthemums were all around them as a stone path let people walk around without crushing the plants. The only non-budding plant there was the large tree growing into the building.

"Wow, the landlady really likes white." Natsu mumbled, squatting down to look at the plants. "So that's the tree you and Musubi landed in?"

"Yeah…" Minato answered, walking over to the timber. "I still don't know how we survived. Did the tree act like a cushion?"

He touched the bark and a green glow overtook his vision. The entire world turned green as a small girl in a white dress seemed to be floating in front of him.

'Please… help me…'

A single tear fell from her eye before the world returned to normal. "Minato, you okay?" Natsu put his hand on his shoulder, scaring the dark haired teen. "Sorry. But you had a thousand yard stare. Everything good?"

"A girl…" Minato mumbled, confusing Natsu.

Downstairs

Musubi gingerly put her foot into the water only to pull it back. "Hot!"

Akitsu walked in, as naked as Musubi and held out her hand. A cool mist escaped from her palms and the water cooled down. "How about now?"

Musubi tested the waters again and smiled before slowly sinking into the circular bath. "That feels so good." She sighed and practically melted, she was so relaxed. "Thanks, Akitsu."

"Hello? Is someone in there?" The two turned towards the door as the panty girl from last night opened it. "Oh, the new tenants. I'm Uzume. I live in 203."

"Hi, I'm Musubi." The fist-type said with a smile.

"Akitsu." The ice-user plainly nodded. "I live with Natsu."

"No need to sound so excited." Uzume chuckled as she slid into the water. "Ah... perfect. Miya usually sets it super hot."

Musubi smiled. "Thank Akitsu. She's the one who got the water just right."

"It was nothing." Akitsu commented, washing her arm.

"Now this is a sight… Three Sekirei with different Ashikabi all sharing a bath." Uzume chuckled, showing off her mark.

Musubi moved to fight, only for ice to trap her in place. "Don't forget what Miya said." Akitsu said, sinking into the water. "We can't fight here."

"Oh, right. Sorry." Musubi chuckled, the ice melting away. "I was just really excited for my first Sekirei battle."

"I'm not really much of a fighter." Uzume confessed.

"So, is Natsu your Ashikabi, too?" Musubi asked.

Akitsu's eyes blazed at that, though Uzume didn't notice. "My Ashikabi doesn't live here." The brunette simply said.

Night

Clad in a black cloak and a face mask, Kagari stared out over the city and the massive wall of trees in the center. Minaka had no Plant Mages that he knew of, but even if the Chief Synchronizer did, no one would've authorized a massive growth like this, not in what was meant to be an orchard. So, unless a Plant Mage got past the boat screening somehow, there was only one person Kagari knew that-

"Yo, Homura!"

Kagari turned around and found the Lightning Twins staring at him, sparks arching off the one in purple. "Don't tell me you came all the way here to look at that."

"If it isn't the pair of hypocrites, Hibaki and Hikari." He held up his hand and a small fireball formed over it. "Sekirei who only attack Sekirei without Ashikabi… You guys don't get tired of losing, do you?"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?" Hikari shouted, forcing her sister to hold her back. "You're the one who keeps butting into our business!"

"Hikari, stop." Hibiki pleaded. "I don't want second-degree burns again."

"The way he talks pisses me off!" Her sister growled out.

"I'm the Guardian Sekirei." Kagari declared. "I don't mind fighting, but there are too many observers out tonight." The twins looked out and saw soldiers pulling on rope, trying to rip down the trees. "Minaka is determined to tear that wall down. I won't let that happen."

Minato found himself walking in a glowing forest extremely confused. 'Is someone crying?'

He pushed his way through the trees and found the source up in one. It was the same girl he saw in the garden after he touched the trees. "Are you stuck? It's okay. I'll catch you."

The girl looked at his arms with tears in her eyes before she jumped off the branch. Momentum won over and both hit the ground, the child landing on top of him. "Are you okay? What's your name?"

"K-Kusano…" she mumbled.

"Kusano? That's a cute name." He chuckled, making the girl smile. "Aw, you're so cute when you smile. Why were you crying?"

"It's my fault it happened…" Kusano whispered. "She got hurt because of me. Now they want to take me away."

"Who wants to take you away?" Minato asked. Before he could get an answer, the wind picked up and started pushing Kusano away.

"Please help me…" The two reached out for each other only for their hands to just miss.

"KUSANO!"

Minato sat from his mat, panting from his strange dream.

"Minato, are you okay?" He turned to the side and found Musubi crouching over him. "You sounded like you were having a bad dream."

"A dream…?" Minato mumbled. He caught a glimpse at Musubi, or more accurately, her clothing. Musubi wore a slitted gray miniskirt and a sarashi that didn't seem to bind her breasts at all. "Hey, Musubi. About those clothes…"

"Oh, do you like them?" She asked, a slight jiggle causing her breasts to bounce. "It was in the bag your sister gave me."

"Why did she give me her old running clothes?" He asked himself, surprised a teenage girl's sarashi was able to contain Musubi's assets. A grunting noise caught their attention and they both turned to Natsu's room. Minato gained a blush as Musubi looked at the wall in confusion. 'He's insane! Miya will kill him.'

Akitsu suddenly opened the door. "Have the two of you seen Natsu? He wasn't in bed when I woke up."

"Wait, then, what's making that noise?" Minato asked as he pushed himself up.

"Oh, it's probably Natsu downstairs." Miya spoke up from behind the Ice Sekirei. "I was just about to head down there to let him know breakfast was ready. Would you care to get him for me?"

"Of course." Akitsu nodded as Minato and Musubi followed her. The trio walked into the food cellar to find Natsu throwing punches and kicks in a trained fashion.

"Wow, he's good." Minato said, impressed. "Maybe that's how he got all those scars, huh?" He turned to his Sekirei, only to find her with stars in her eyes.

"NATSU!" Musubi suddenly rushed forward and slid in front of the Dragon Slayer. "Would you please spar with me?!"

"Sure. Why not?" He wiped some sweat off his head. "I'm sure she won't mind if we don't break anything."

"Akitsu, shouldn't we stop this?" Minato asked in a panic.

"I don't know. They seem like they're having fun." Uzume said, having snuck up from behind. Musubi charged at Natsu who moved to the side and threw a punch that stopped just before her head. He then kicked her only for Musubi to catch the foot and push him back. "So what's up with the sportswear? Is that what you're into?"

"No, it's just something my sister gave us. Musubi really likes it." He explained.

The three watched the fight continue before both threw a punch, fists hitting faces.

"Breakfast is ready!" Miya shouted, ending the sparring match as the five walked up the stairs.

"If we don't do something soon, those guys are going to get in." Kagari mumbled. "Don't worry. I'll get on it." He closed his personal communication lacrima and walked into the inn, finding a sweaty Natsu and Musubi. "What were you two doing?"

"Just a little exercise." Natsu chuckled, drinking a cup of water. "So were you out all night long?"

"It's part of the job." Kagari explained as he saw Minato running down the hall.

"Sorry, Miya. I have to go." He said. "I have to get going towards my job."

"Then just wait three minutes." Miya said.

"What kind of job is it?" Kagari asked.

"A runner for construction work." He explained. "It's all someone like me can do."

"Miya, when's my first delivery job?" Natsu asked down the hall.

"Eat breakfast first, then you can worry about that." The landlady replied.

Natsu huffed in annoyance before noticing Kagari had swiped Minato's hand away, a single leaf falling to the floor. "Sorry. I don't like other people touching me."

He walked down the hall and passed Miya, who was carrying a wrapped parcel. "Did you wait long?" She handed the bag over to Minato, who looked at it reverently. "I could only prepare some simple things. Eat it during your breaks."

"Thank you…" He said before rushing out the door.

"Now you two change your clothes and let's enjoy breakfast." She told Natsu and Musubi, both of whom nodded before rushing to their rooms.

Minato hurried the empty wheelbarrow along the arid ground before skidding to a stop, almost hitting a man. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it." He was a fairly tall and lean-built man with brown hair, grey eyes, and a gruff, wild look about him, emphasized by his unkempt hair and stubble. Instead of a work tunic, he had on a white undershirt and a, surprisingly, pair of blue jeans, a rare sight within the walls. "Oh, you must be the new part-timer."

"Y-yeah…" Minato felt a little insecure around this more masculine specimen, and a little intimidated. The man looked far from the model citizen.

"Looking forward to working with you." With that, the thuggish man walked away.

'Who is he?' Minato wondered.

"Aaaannnndddd, there." Natsu placed the large crate of fish on the ground in front of the butcher shop. "Told ya it wasn't too heavy."

"Thank you so much, young man," the elderly woman said with a smile. "So happy that Miya got some more help. A dainty lady like her shouldn't have to carry something so heavy."

"Miya carried these by herself?" Akitsu asked. 'Somehow that doesn't surprise me.'

"Why doesn't she just use a Magic Mobile?" Natsu wondered aloud. "Seems like it would make the job easier."

"Oh, ordinary people aren't allowed to have cars." The client replied. "Only the city guards and council workers are authorized to use them. Please, give Miya my thanks and tell that young man he's more than welcome back here."

"This place just gets weirder and weirder…" Natsu mumbled as the pair walked away from the shop. The pair walked down the street, heading back for another delivery.

"You hear the rumors about the arboretum?" Natsu's ears picked up the conversation as he passed nearby a communal water bar. "They say Minaka has something to do with all those trees."

"Of course he does." Came a female-sounding response. "Nothing happens in the city without the Chief Synchronizer's hand in it."

The rest of the conversation faded as they walked away, the noise of the city drowning them out. No booze here, either, Natsu thought. Cana's worst nightmare.

"Hey, Akitsu." He asked. "How many more deliveries do we have?"

His Sekirei looked in the bag as quickly as possible. "Two or three. Why?"

Natsu turned to her with a shit-eating grin. "Cause we're gonna mess with Minaka after we drop them off."

Kagari sat in his room, the small communication Lacrima held to his ear. On the simple dresser table before him, a large cube-shaped Telecommunication Lacrima displayed Minaka's psychotically smiling face, the glare from his glasses obscuring his eyes.

"I'm watching the broadcast." The Guardian said. "What's Minaka trying to do?"

"Sorry, I couldn't stop that idiot." Takami spoke from the other side. "I was hoping you would take care of things on your end."

"Wait, what do you mean by that?" The Guardian asked, getting an itch in his black attire.

"Ashikabi are going to head there." The woman explained. "Minaka is going let them know somehow. 'There's a Sekirei in that place. First come, first serve'. Something like that. The arboretum is going to become a war zone."

…

"Kagari? Kagari, are you still there?"

"I've kept watch everyday." He groaned in annoyance as he fell to his hands and knees. "All of that effort has just gone to waste, and now I'll have to miss work. Guess I can kiss my number one spot goodbye."

"Don't worry. I'll stop by and call for you." Takami's voice assured him like only hers could. "Just protect her."

Content with compromise, Kagari sat down on his bed. "I'll do my best. But give Minaka this warning: he'll pay his debt to the gods in fire."

"There seems to be a line forming for that task." Takami chuckled before ending the connection.

Evening

Natsu and Akitsu rounded a corner and found themselves staring up at a towering wall of trees. "I think we're at the harbor-reach-em." Natsu butchered the word badly.

Before Akitsu could correct him, an explosion rocked the trees, knocking leaves off the giant logs. "What was that?" Akitsu asked. Natsu didn't answer him as he raced towards the source of the blast, forcing her to follow after him.

Metal shards littered the ground as fire raged at the freak woodland's edge. Armored guards ran as lightning crashed down in front of him. "Seo, wait! He's a friend!"

Natsu turned to see Minato hiding behind a stone street lamp. In front of him were the two leather-clad women he saw when he first entered the city, plus a shifty-looking guy.

Akitsu reached him and glared at the twins before Natsu held out his hand in front of her. "What's going on, Minato?"

"Apparently, there's a Sekirei in the arboretum." He answered. "Seo wants to go looking for her."

"Sounds good, let's get going. Too much work makes Natsu a restless boy." The Fire Mage chuckled before turning to his Sekirei. "Akitsu, don't let anyone you don't know come in."

"…understood." She huffed out, standing at the gate.

"Heh, I like this guy." Seo said with a smirk before turning back to Minato. "You done hiding back there?"

"Uh, yeah… just about." Minato chuckled nervously. 'Mom, remember when I was little and you used to warn me about falling in with a bad crowd? I think I just did…'

The group walked to the charred gap in the trees when a wall of ice blocked the non-Fairy Tail four.

"If you even THINK of attacking him while I'm not there…" Akitsu warned dangerously, before the ice in front of them exploded into powder.

"She's… scary." Minato confessed.

"Oh, man up." Hikari said before pushing him past the ice user.

Izumo Inn

Standing in the kitchen, Miya was slicing some smoked fish for dinner, planning to roll it with the rice and dried seaweed for a dish her husband had shown her. She had just finished making the meat strips when Musubi came bounding in.

"Miya, have you seen Minato?!" The Sekirei was practically hyperventilating. "I called and I called and he hasn't come in!"

"I thought he would have been home from work by now." Miya confessed. "And Natsu and Akitsu should have been back hours ago. Although, now that you mention it, I remember Akitsu saying something about the arboretum."

"I'll go look for them!" Musubi raced out the door. Through the window, Miya saw her zoom down the street, her feet leaving hairline cracks in the stone surface.

"Okay, we're in." Natsu huffed in excitement. "Now… what are we looking for?"

"You seriously came all the way here and don't know about the Green Girl?" Seo asked in amazement. "What kind of idiot does that?"

Natsu was in his face, fire emanating off him. "Who you calling an idiot?!"

"Natsu, calm down! We don't wanna start a forest fire!" Minato shouted, killing Natsu's fiery temper. The girl from his dreams suddenly appeared, making him tumble forward towards Seo.

"What? You got a crush on me or something?" He teased.

Minato jumped back in fear of what Seo could do to him if he got the wrong idea. "No, I don't! It was just-"

"A girl in a white dress, right?" Seo finished, surprising the other two.

"Wait, like that one you saw in the garden?" Natsu asked, earning a nod from his flatmate.

"Did you…?" Hibiki asked Hikari, only for her sister to shake her head.

"Is she the one we're looking for?" Seo asked, looking at his Sekirei.

"I don't know…" Minato confessed. "But still, I have to find her. She's just a kid and right now, she's scared and alone. I have to help her."

Seo chuckled as he turned back to the boy. "I knew there was a reason I liked you. This whole thing seemed suspicious, but you've convinced me. Come on, let's go find the Green Girl."

"Alright, here we go!" Natsu declared, marching through the trees.

"Is he always like this?" Hikari asked.

Minato shrugged. "We just met, but so far, yeah."

Broken vehicles littered the ground and fires burned around as Kagari stared at the entrance to the arboretum. "Talk about a flashy way in… Who's responsible?"

Ice shot forward along the ground and trapped him in place. "Who are you? Why are you here?" Akitsu asked, cold anger in her eyes.

"Calm down, I'm not here to fight you." Kagari declared as he melted the ice. "I'm here to keep the Green Girl safe."

"I don't believe you." She launched a large chunk of ice at him. In return, Homura sent a fireball back. The two elements hit and created a massive amount of steam, blocking both their sight.

A blur jumped over the two before landing on the other side of the gate. "Thanks for the distraction, jackass!" The jumper, revealed to be a girl holding a scythe shouted. "Now the Green Girl's all mine!" She rushed into the plant sanctuary, carving through the plants with her blade.

"Akitsu!"

The ice user glanced over to see Musubi rushing over. "What's going on? Why are you fighting this masked weirdo?"

'WEIRDO?' Kagari felt a bit of his pride die with that one word.

"No time to explain. Just head inside!" Akitsu shouted, a wall of ice blocking another fireball. "Minato and Natsu are in there, and another Sekirei is, too, one who doesn't seem like the type to follow the rules."

Musubi nodded, jumping into the plant sanctuary. "All right! Good luck!"

"Wait, just listen to me, damn it!" Kagari shouted in annoyance, only for a shard of ice to fly past him, cutting his cheek.

"I won't… I cannot fail my master!" Akitsu declared, sending more shards flying at him.

The Lightning Twins led the way as the three Ashikabis followed behind them. "Tell me, how much do you two know about Sekirei?" Seo asked. "I assume you both at least know how to make them emerge…"

"Emerge?" Minato repeated, a massive blush growing on his face.

"Yeah, it's mucosal contact, or kissing." Seo explained, using small words, much to Natsu's relief. "A Sekirei's body reacts to an Ashikabi's magical resonance, and that's what makes them emerge. Now normally, a Sekirei chooses their Ashikabi by herself."

"'Normally'?" Natsu repeated, worried about where this was going.

"There's more than a few Ashikabi out there who force Sekirei to emerge, regardless of they want to or not." Seo finished.

"Who?" Minato asked, disgusted by the idea. "Who would do that?"

"Major creeps and scumbags, just so they have more Sekirei." Seo answered.

"Wait, you two didn't…" Minato started.

"Do those two seem like the 'easily forced' type?" The older guy asked back, confusing the girls. "And I can answer for him, as well." Seo said on behalf of Natsu. "That Sekirei he has is a special case. Most likely, she's following him because she wants to."

He regarded Minato again. "But if you're the one who's supposed to be this girl's Ashikabi, you need to make those morons realize something… She's a person. Not some damn prize in a game."

Probably a weird place to stop, but I'm happy with it. We met Seo, Miya and co., explored the city and learn the rules, and set up for a big battle in the next chapter. I really need to thank my Beta Reader for helping me with some of the harder parts of this. Next chapter is gonna have some fun additions to this story, so I'll see ya then.

Beta read/Co-Written by Ikrani