I just got this idea for karasuba to break the bond or something, since I've hinted it's possible. But I don't know yet, anyone have an opinion? Or is that just stupid to do? This chapter may be slow by the way. Anybody who wanted fluff or whatever the term for mushy like stuff is, it's in this chapter. And with a certain sekirei that was really sad.

Ryu sighed tiredly as he watched the credits to the movie. His sekirei fell asleep towards the end. Yashima was snuggled under his arm a light snore escaping her lips. Uzume and toyotama were lying on the sides of his legs their hands resting on them as they snoozed ryu noted they were just above his waist. Lastly nanaha had his arm secured in her own as she slept peacefully.

He ate his food that miya saved for him. Apparently she went shopping so that just left him there for a about a half hour. It was quiet half hour, since his sekirei were taking a bath and getting changed. He missed having his body free, but he missed their embrace and basked in it. He was tired himself with a full stomach and wounds.

But he stayed awake watching his sekirei sleep. He could feel their affection and happiness while they were awake. They truly missed him, especially yashima she tried getting as close to him as possible but he gave her a warning about certain things. She looked like she was going to cry but held herself together, ryu didn't mind this. She was so peaceful when she was asleep.

Smiling softly he brushed a few stray hairs away from her forehead, yashima squinted slightly feeling her forehead tickle from the movement. She wiggled her nose trying to ignore it. He really wanted to talk to her. Alone. But he'd have to wait he guessed.

He was glad they were at peace. His bond was soothing and serene, and calmness flowed through him. Not like before when he felt a whirlwind of emotions. Before he knew it he was fast asleep with his sekirei he tried in vain to turn off the TV but his body simply quit. His mind wandered about matsu and her list, he shuddered slightly only kami knew what went on in that head of hers, he'd never guess, and honestly he didn't want to know. But a promise was a promise, he was just weary. He'd have to do the same with his other sekirei, and he knew just what uzume wanted to do from her talking about it, to him seeing it that one night. Toyotama was no better, if anything he was going to have to leave with them to a hotel or something.

Because he didn't doubt miya would beat him senseless if he did what they wanted to do under her roof.

But that was for another time, for now he just relaxed easing his mind away into numbness as he dozed off with his favorite girls.

A few minutes later miya peered into his room to see ryu asleep with his sekireis with the TV MBI had sent him still on. She started to head in to wake his sekirei, but before she could kagari put a hand on her shoulder.

"C'mon let them be. I mean, he has been gone a long time."

"That's true, I suppose he's had a long few months." She said to him, she quietly entered the room turning off the TV careful not to disturb them. She was kagari was here, aside from matsu he was the only one who knew, not in full detail what was going on.

"I'm gonna head to work, though I might be working late." Kagari said as he started to head downstairs.

"I think I'll turn in too." Miya said as she followed him downstairs. It had been a long day, a little rest would do everyone some good.

So, this is all still in the first stage... Minaka sure likes to take his time. Ryu thought sighing as he felt his entire body loosen under the steamy water. He muddled in his thoughts for a while, life sure changed for him. That much was certain, but he didn't like change, but this was a good change. They all chose me, and still want to be with me even after I was so cold towards them. Sekirei and ashikabi... What is the bond truly? Water streamed down his hair as he looked blankly at his hands. And those two that attacked me... How did they find out where I live? They were that higa guy's sekirei... He scrubbed his skin roughly looking at the ceiling. And that weird power, I never knew... But it makes sense. I won't use it again-

He was brought out of his musings by a quiet splash, he glanced to his side taking in a naked yashima. It was still early, the other four. Uzume especially would be asleep still, for whatever reason yashima always took a bath with him and wanted to sleep with him. She was a really fragile person, ryu couldn't understand why minaka would release her into this world, the thought of junichi beating her down flashed through his mind.

He sighed inwardly self realization taking over. Yashima would always have that fear of being thrown away, trapped, and when it came down to it ryu couldn't do anything about it. He felt that was her own battle, he came a long way since his defeat at the hands of karasuba.

But she was so different, hyper sensitive, when the game became serious... She may not be able to deal the finishing blow.

He had no intention of killing sekirei, but they'd do anything for their ashikabi. Good or bad, regardless, even attack you if the ashikabi commands it. For now things were peaceful...

As if reading his mind yashima spoke quietly. "Good morning, ryu-sama." She widened her eyes, she did it again! He remembered how he yelled before he left, and fear consumed her as she thought he'd just leave again. But he didn't.

"Good morning, yashima. Did you sleep well?" He asked.

Yashima nodded slightly sighing happily as she rested her head on his shoulder. She was happy to have him back, and he didn't yell at her. She was still hurt from before, but she'd recover. He knew that well, sometime during the movie yashima snuggled up right under his arm, being so short and petite, she was nuzzled perfectly. However his sekirei worked out an order to it he'd never know. Yashima and nanaha had developed a rivalry, while uzume and toyotama really didn't. Ryu thought it was because they both made constant advances, toyotama more so.

He recalled he'd ask them to make a list. And he had to see matsu's.

"Yashima."

Mm-hmm." She said basking in his warmth. How she missed it, she missed it so much. His presence made her feel safe, protected. She at first thought her life would be a painful one encountering junichi and then the beating proceeded, but now her life was so different. She was happy, she had an ashikabi that loved her back, that didn't harm her.

Ryu grabbed her by the hips lifting her up and over into his lap, placing her forward. Yashima began to blush and went to cover herself. "W-What are you doing?" She asked. He hugged her tightly pushing her breasts into his chest, yashima blushed more. She wanted to do it, but not at the inn. She would listen to ryu's warning, and she was terrified of miya.

"I missed you, yashima." He said quietly hugging her tighter. Yashima's eyes watered slightly, she didn't want to cry. But... She closed her eyes smiling brightly. "I missed you too." She said putting her hand over his. This is what she missed, what she wanted, the closeness, their bodies together, his warmth, her eyes widened when he kissed her gently on the lips, she closed her eyes melting with the kiss, an indescribable heat engulfed her as light blue wings flared out of her back growing in size rapidly. Yashima didn't care, she began to cry. Tears of joy, tears streamed down her face as she deepened this kiss.

She could feel his affection pulsing through the bond. Ryu parted his lips from hers looking at her with a little shock and surprise. She was crying, again... But he could feel it wasn't sadness, but joy. Yashima felt incredibly warm, a warmth spreading through her. He didn't know how to handle women crying. "There." Ryu said in a soft voice tenderly rubbing the top of her head. Yashima whipped her tears away resting her head on his chest.

"Yashima, can you do something for me?"

"Yes." Yashima said without hesitation, she wanted to be of service to her ashikabi anyway she could. The best she could.

"Tell the girls, I need to talk to them later." Ryu said getting out of the tub, taking a seat on a stoll he began to shampoo his hair.

"I can." She said with a small nod missing his body.

"Thanks." He said quietly dumping a pale of water over his head.

A nice bath always does a lot of good. Ryu said to himself mentally as he strolled down the hallway towards him room in shorts and a tank top. He roughly massaged his scalp with the towel as he dried his hair shaking his head for good measure. He stopped in front of the secret door about to knock on the door but matsu opened the door, as if she knew he was already there.

Wait she did.

"Ryu-tan." Matsu gave him a curious look. Out of all of his sekirei she had to say she was the most 'distant' not clamoring over him like the others. She attracted him in her own way, a grin creased on her face as she began to think of wonderful experiments to conduct. Ryu didn't miss that giggle he entered her room, so if she tried anything at least no one would see them. He plopped down on the futon running a hand through his hair.

"I need your help." Ryu said with a soft groan attached to the end. "You see, the entrance exams are in a few weeks, and I could use a study partner." Ryu said with a small blush, he didn't like to ask for help. But he would if he had to, he was a third year ronin he wasn't going to be a fourth by any means.

"Here you go." Matsu handed him a thick file of papers, ryu looked at it for a moment taking it into his hand skimming through it.

"What is it?"

"It's a collection of old entry tests with my modifications to make it more difficult." She explained swiftly going in front of her computer. "Bring it back to me when you're finished."

Ryu grinned slightly. "This won't take long." He assured.

"Oh ho." Matsu laughed quietly. "Ryu-tan is confident, that's good." She said with appreciation. She was glad he had self confidence.

"Piece of cake." Ryu said as he stood up and headed for the door, but turned on his heel rushing back to matsu and crashing his lips into hers. Matsu was surprised at first but quickly took action kissing him passionately. It lasted about a minute then ryu parted their kiss breathing heavily. "Do you have the list?" Matsu wanted to do more, a lot more, and now she knew ryu was more than willing. She'd have to enjoy this.

"Yes, it's all complete." She said calmly, strangely calm. Ryu raised an eyebrow in slight confusion he thought for sure matsu would be all over him rather then handing over the list with such... Sereneness. Was that the word? He took the piece of paper in hand glancing at it, his eyes widened and he fought off a blush from coming onto his face. He should've been used to this by now, he wasn't spineless, he had these beautiful woman that wanted to be intimate with him. He should be indulging not blushing, but...

"Okay, so maybe it'll be a day when we're just... Uh alone, and not here." He said uneasily he felt himself get light headed at the fantasies that went through his mind, he knew he was going to be one of two things after his day with matsu. Refreshed, or exhausted.

"Matsu-tan can't wait!" She said with a certain perverseness that made ryu feel like a piece of meat. "Your hot sticky DNA!" Matsu almost cheered. She knew there was more than one way to emerge, and she wanted her emergence to be more intimate than just a kiss, but now she'd get to make up for that.

Ryu sweat dropped. "Okay, DNA. Yeah." Ryu said uneasily not liking the sound of that one bit. He got up to his feet and left the room, matsu just eying him and making comments that flustered him. He needed to get out of there before he did something he'd regret, and by that he meant giving into his desires with matsu. He also had this book of tests to complete, he was sure it'd be easy he always scored at least a C on tests. He wasn't the best test taker but he wasn't the worse. "Alright, time to get dressed." Ryu said to himself sliding open the door to his room he felt a strong pair of hands grab him by his tank top and pull him into the room effortlessly. Before he could even yelp in shock he was in the room looking at forest green hair.

"Toyotama, what are you doing?" Ryu asked carefully, cautiously he didn't like the look in her eyes. It reminded him of the first day he brought her to the inn and tried to seduce him only to get chided by miya.

"Nothing, just making up for lost time." She said like it was plainly obvious she held a smirk on her face as she walked towards him. She could feel when someone got the better of her, she knew she had to share ryu with them. But that certainly didn't mean she was going to let them outdo her.

"I-I don't think this is a good idea... Did yashima tell you I wanted to talk to you girls today?" He asked hoping to change the focus of this situation so he didn't get punished.

Toyotama gained a thoughtful look on her face. "She did, what do you want to talk about?" She asked with a hint of curiosity.

Ryu smiled lightly. "It's a secret, just don't forget okay?" He asked standing up to his feet and moving towards his closet. Toyotama looked at him with a slight blush she wondered what it was, she could feel through the bond that ryu was indeed keeping it a secret no matter how much she pryed.

"I won't." She said narrowing her eyes in on ryu. How could he ask that.

"Great, now I have to go." Ryu said with a hint of urgency sliding on his hakama and tabi. Quickly throwing a kimono on he walked towards the door passing toyotama by. She was surprised he was leaving, but where to?

"Hey where are you going?"

Ryu stopped as he slid the door open looking back at her with a blank expression. "I'm signing up for the entrance exams."

Toyotama's eyes bugged before she smirked struggling not to snicker, about to fail miserably. "You, college?" She covered her mouth before she broke out laughing at the prospect of it. Ryu and school was the last thing she would put together. Ryu scowled lightly at her narrowing his eyes.

"That wasn't nice toyotama." He said in mock hurt. He crossed his arms over his chest staring at her. "I'll have you know I graduated 12th out of 350 students." He said with a hint of anger, his face a deep red. Yeah, he didn't like school, but he was practical. And a degree in something was good, more than one thing was great.

Toyotama looked genuinely shocked. "Ryu, I had no idea." She said looking at him understandingly. She wanted to sorry, just when she was about to ryu wrapped his strong arms around her waist crashing his lips into hers. Her eyes widened in shock, she felt heat course through her, she moaned quietly as she deepened the kiss her red wings flaring out of her back expanding in size. Ryu didn't miss the breathtaking sight watching them slowly fade away.

"I'll be back soon okay?" Ryu asked breaking the kiss breathing heavily. Toyotama's face was flushed and her breathing short. "Wow..." She said her entire body tingled and her lips, her nether regions, it all tingled. She wanted ryu now. Ryu seen the look in her eyes, she'd tears his off clothes right now if she could. But he had a feeling she'd get her chance. "And when I come back we'll talk okay." Toyotama silently watching him leave the room. A small smile creased her lips.

Ryu walked down the stairs looking out the open door to see miya outside in the yard practicing movements with her wooden sword, with skills that his master and friend would be proud of. Ever since the snow had melted miya had been practicing everyday. Whether it was because she had a lot on her mind or the fact she told him she liked to keep her sword skills sharp even after leaving MBI. He wasn't sure but he knew with all of his battle experience he could never hope to have a form such as hers. He was told at her peak she could cut a battleship in two from just the shock wave of her sword.

Now that was scary. He had a long way to go until he got to that level.

It might be a good idea to ask miya to spar with me. It would increase my strength, but I don't know if she'd allow me to at the moment. He thought with a hint of sadness he did enjoy sparring against miya alone or with his sekirei. But he was still recovering from his wounds, the bruises were all nearly gone and his eyes and ears were about to back to even, it'd be three days tops until he was completely unscathed. He walked passed the door, and continued into the main room where uzume was, sitting at the table, spoon in her mouth munching on cereal, barely dressed in a pair of white panties and what remained of a shirt since she had torn the cloth above her stomach leaving little to the imagination. "Morning, uzume. Ryu greeted taking a seat across from her.

"Morning ry ry!" She cheered pulling the spoon out of her mouth. "Miya's out in the yard practicing."

"Yeah, I just saw her." Ryu told her.

"Today's the registration right? It's for your entrance exam?" She asked him.

"Yeah, we go today and don't go back for a couple of months." Ryu said, resting his chin on his hand as he looked uzume over.

"What college did you apply for again?" She asked shoving another spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

"Shinto university." Ryu said. Uzume nodded understandingly tapping the spoon she was holding on chin before smiling. "Best of luck!" She cheered, ryu smiled, she was always so optimistic.

"Hey." Ryu rose an eyebrow as she leaned forward across the table towards him.

"When are you going to kiss me, huh?" She purred seductively with a smirk on her face. Ryu was taken a back by the display, he knew uzume was... Open, but this was a whole new level.

"Uzume." Ryu said sternly. "Uzume, you know the rules." Ryu growled at her making her smirk and lean over winking a few times, folding her arms under her breasts forcing them up more. Ryu's eyes darted to her cleavage for an instant making him blush, he darted his eyes quickly back up to her face to see her licking her lips with a smirk on her face.

"You already kissed your two sekirei, what's one more?" She winked at him moving even closer. "Wasn't it you that said, you need to talk to us today." She purred out, she stopped instantly as a shadow covered her. The color drained from her face making her look pale, she looked over her shoulder to see miya with her boken resting on her shoulder as she looked down at her with a calm look. "H-Hey... M-Miya." Uzume greeted nervously looking up at the sekirei.

"Uzume." Miya said firmly. "What have I told you about appropriate dress?"

"A-At least I'm wearing panties this time." She squeaked. A demon visage flared to life around miya bringing several of its friends, all glaring at her with burning red eyes. Uzume squealed in fright and ran for her room. Miya sighed watching the younger sekirei run off then turned to ryu with a gentle smile.

"Sorry that she has been bothering you so much." Miya said apologetically.

"It's no problem." Ryu smiled back. "I'm actually used to this type of thing of by now." He said scratching the back of his awkwardly , remembering the times he seen uzume naked before him or toyotama smothering him between her breasts. Either way, he should be used to these things by now, but there was the occasion he was surprised, especially with what uzume just did. He didn't mind kissing them, it was just miya.

"Are you heading out?" Miya asked slightly curious making ryu nod.

"Yeah, I'm going to register for the exams this year." Miya smiled slightly at that. "I know the saying is third time's the charm but let's just hope it's true." Miya continued to smile as she knelt down at the table. They barely got anytime to talk since he came back, and she couldn't fully explain either before he left. So it did feel... Weird.

"You'll do fine I know you will." Miya said quietly.

"Thanks miya, I'll be back before dinner." Ryu informed her rising up from his seat about to head out. He turned around as miya called out to him.

"Has kagari been up yet?" Miya asked.

"Not that I know of." Ryu said nodding his head slightly before leaving. He knew he had to patch things up with miya, as weird and as awkward as it'd be he needed to. But he didn't give her the chance to explain fully, he flipped out with good reason and left before she could finish. Then takami told him certain things and that made him resentful, but if there was one person he wanted to talk to it was miya, since takehito is dead. But how would he go about it?

I'll run there today. He thought darting forward into an alley, flipping into the air and landing swiftly on the rooftop with another jump he cleared it landing on the cement taking off at high speeds. A good run would help clear his head of all of this.

He really screwed up, now it was time to fix it all.

And my question from above, should karasuba someway sever the bond. Say that he's too soft or something? Or is it just stupid to do. And as you can see it's going to be focusing on the canon soon since the exams are soon. I'd like to say this now. I KNOW I made a lot of mistakes so far. Spelling, etc. I don't have a beta. Anyways Ryu's last name is Sasashi, I forget when I type but I have it on a notepad now so no worries. Secondly I know the kuu part was WAY TOO early I got mixed up in the midst of my ideas. I don't want to say overlook it, but kuu is still at MBI. And should ryu get his own place, with his sekirei. Don't worry he's not leaving them, don't need yashima crying again.