Out before Christmas, as promised.
Quality of the chapter might seemed a bit messy near the end, but sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles.
read, review, enjoy
Disclaimer: I do not own Sekirei; if I did, the situation with certain characters would've turned out very differently and we'd have more than two seasons of the anime. It belongs solely to Sakurako Gokurakuin.
"speech"
'thought'
"phone call"
"Norito"
SOUND EFFECT
"flash back"
Today was the day.
Preparations had been made, her armor set in place and her mind resolved.
Today nothing would get in the way of her true desire.
"Mitsuha… what do you want to order?"
Turning to her intended target, she flashed him a quick smile and answered, "A bit of everything."
There was a certain delight in watching just how rapidly her ashikabi's face paled at that response, as well as the cashier's.
"W-will that be for here or to go?" the poor sap uttered, aghast.
"Here; no way we can carry all of that…" Tamotsu grumbled, fishing out her MBI card to hand over. "Do I even want to know?"
"You don't," the cashier said, looking close to fainting.
Mitsuha beamed, licking her lips slowly at the thought of all that food.
A short minute later they were seated in the food court with Mitsuha shoveling fry after fry into her mouth, all while Tamotsu just stared in shock.
On her side she had at least three trays of burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries and practically everything on the menu while Tamotsu had settled for a one burger and fries.
"What?" she snapped after getting a sip of her soda.
"N-nothing it's just… where does it all go?"
"Where does what go?" she returned, eyes narrowing.
Tamotsu sweated a bit at that, eyes darting this way and that. He had to tread carefully; one wrong step and he might just set off the living landmine that was his sekirei. "I mean… aren't you worried about your figure?"
The fry that was halfway to her mouth paused, its recipient staring at him in surprise… before she broke into peals of laughter.
"What's so funny?!" he snapped, drawing the attention of a few other patrons nearby.
"Tamo-kun… oh you silly boy… You really don't get how different we are," she said between giggles, wiping some tears from her eyes.
Tamotsu's face soured, eyes darting away as he grumbled, "You don't have to remind me of that."
Erk. Mitsuha swallowed a bit nervously as the weight of his words finally registered, reaching over to take his hand, "Not that way, dummy," she chided, the sting of her words lessened by her squeezing his hand. "I meant how my body handles food. I'm not human so I need to eat way more than they do. Sekirei are high maintenance, got it?"
"Oh… right, yeah, of course," Tamotsu chuckled, scratching at his face.
Mitsuha watched him eat in silence, studying his profile as she found herself doing a lot of lately.
Her eyes hadn't been playing tricks on her; there were dark circles forming under her ashikabi's eyes, faint to most eyes but clear as day to her.
Tamotsu hadn't been sleeping well it seems, and what's more he hadn't thought to bring it up to her. Whatever it was that was bothering him was enough to keep him up late into the night, all the while he kept trying to be as he always was.
Her first thought had been of his progress in training. Not much had been gained, but yesterday he'd finally managed to land a hit on her. Granted it had been a lapse of concentration but to her, who had been worried about him being afraid to hit her, it was a major step forward.
Thus, she had decided to treat him to whatever he'd like, and his choice still annoyed and flattered her in equal measure.
"If it's not too much trouble... How about a date?"
Sipping at her drink, she mentally rolled her eyes at his silly request.
Idiot. They were already married practically, so what would purpose would dating be for?
Still, being out here with him was enjoyable in its own way though she had hoped he'd pick a more romantic venue for it.
A strip mall was hardly the best place for a date, especially at a burger joint.
'Not to mention the stares,' she groused, still feeling eyes on her.
It was clear that the Chairman had yet to get the ball rolling on the Sekirei Plan and thus Sekirei themselves were still an oddity, something that drew all kinds of attention.
Mostly from those she didn't care for nor want it from. The leers she received on their way here still made her shudder with revulsion, making her wish she could dig her heel into the nether regions of some of the more shameless savages.
That's not to say she didn't want to be admired; after all she was one of the most beautiful of the Sekirei, only surpassed by that of the single digits or those close to them.
But as fate would have it, the one she wanted to be admired by the most was too nervous to.
Tamotsu may've been a dork and a dense idiot at times, but each time he managed to gaze unabashedly at her made her want body want to sing!
If only he weren't so damn chivalrous.
After finishing their food – with Tamotsu left gaping at how she had devoured both hers and part of his, while still a bit peckish. They made their way into the mall proper, Mitsuha linking arms with Tamotsu even as he stiffened.
"Oh loosen up would you? It's not like I'm a cockroach," she grumbled.
"Sorry, just not used to this is all," Tamotsu replied, blushing slightly.
Mitsuha frowned at that. "Come on, it's not like you didn't have at least someone before me, right?"
Much as that little notion tore at her, it had to be the tr-
"Actually, not really."
Mitsuha froze, eyes widening in shock even as she gazed up at her date. "R-really?"
"Really. There's been nobody, not that I ever had the opportunity…"
"O-oh," Mitsuha mumbled, her own face growing warm.
She was his first then?
Pitiful as that was, she couldn't help but feel a bit happy that was the case.
'And only one, if I have any say about it,' she mused, gripping his arm tighter as they walked through the mall.
Still, she could see why nobody had been all that interested. Tamotsu lacked confidence, something that she simply would not stand for someone who she called "Master". It was in the way he carried himself, how he talked and most prominently in how he dressed – like now for instance.
It was a sheer force of will on her part to not have turned her nose up at his choice of clothes – a simple white button-down t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. One's look served as their best way of making a first impression and the sad fact of society was that if you didn't look the part, chances are you weren't.
Tamotsu wasn't; she was going to change that or die trying.
As they turned the corner, Mitsuha spied a men's clothing store just up ahead and grinned. "Tamo-kun, let's go!"
"Huh, what are you – whoa, hang on a sec!"
Leading him by the arm, she all but dragged him into the store even as he put up some token resistance. "Alright, now what do we have to work with?"
"Mitsuha, this place just screams money – what are we doing here?"
Whirling on him, she jabbed a finger into his chest, shouting, "That's the point!"
"E-eh?"
Sighing, she took hold of her ashikabi's shirt and looked him over with a raised brow. "Tamo-kun, tell me your clothes aren't all like this."
"They weren't but they're gone now," her Ashikabi admitted, which might as well have been him burning her with a hot iron.
Leaping back in horror, she stared up at him at a loss. "Wait a second! Are you… are you telling me that this entire time we've been together, THIS is all you've had to wear?! What about the rest of your clothes?"
Tamotsu averted his eyes, rubbing the back of his neck with a strained smile. "I lost them in the city; I've had to wash this one every day, and the only spares I had were all from Sanada-san. This is actually his shirt right now, probably the only nice-looking one. The others all had grease stains."
Mitsuha stared in mounting horror at him, eyes growing as wide as dinner plates before grasping him by the arm and dragging him over to the changing rooms.
"No Ashikabi of mine is going to traipse about like this!" she muttered venomously. Storming past the rest of the stunned customers, she all but hurled him into a chair and brandished her index finger at him. "You stay right there! I'll be back."
"But-!"
Her eyes narrowed, leaning in towards him with her hands on her hips, one brow lifted daring him to utter another word.
"…I'm comfy right here."
"Thought so."
A monumental task lay ahead of her and for it to work, she needed complete focus.
'Where to even start? Shirts, pants, socks, shoes… Not to mention the styles, the color and how each one matches with the other… GAHHH! I'll have to start from square one, geez!'
Several minutes and a mountain of clothes later, she turned Tamotsu loose into a changing booth with but one of the many sets he'd picked out for him. She waited impatiently, tapping her foot rhythmically against the carpeted floor as rustling of clothes met her ears.
It was all she could do not to blush deeply at how she knew which piece was coming off of her Ashikabi, as well as the image it provoked.
'No, bad Mistuha! Dirty thoughts bad... Bad... Well, maybe it's good to be a little naughty with him hehe...'
The man that stepped out then was a cut above and beyond what her Ashikabi had been, almost throwing Mitsuha for a loop. He wasn't dressed to the nines, but now he looked like someone she'd be damn proud to be seen with in public. But the same shaggy hair, dopey smile and awkward stature were all what made him Tamotsu.
Her heart practically singed when his eyes landed on her, her cheeks furrowing with warmth with her knees turning shaky.
"Well… what do you think?" her Ashikabi ventured, fidgeting slightly.
"Ahem! As expected of my Master, you clean up well," she settled for, but it was all she could do not to squeal her head off.
And the relieved grin she got only made it that much harder for her.
"So, is that it?"
Unbidden, a giggle burst from her lips as she homed in on his form. Oh yes, he looked presentable now… But why stop there?
"…we're not done are we."
Mitsuha grinned like a shark, with teeth and all. "Not in the slightest."
Although he hadn't expected to turn into a mannequin for Mitsuha, Tamotsu still found it enjoyable if only for his date's reactions. Mitsuha tried her hardest not to leer at him, but her eyes ended up gravitating to him the second he looked elsewhere.
'I honestly thought that whole "undressing you with their eyes" was just a myth, but shows what I know,' he mused, as the two walked out of the store with their arms bundled with shopping bags.
Or rather, his arms.
"Is all this really necessary? It's not like I packed an entire closet when I came here," he asked his partner who huffed.
"Obviously. We would've gotten way more had that been the case."
He could feel his face lose all its color at that thought.
'My arms would fall off and decay right then…'
As they made their way towards the building exit, a familiar sound caught his ear and directed him to its source.
Game machines ranging from racing simulators, virtual reality booths and claw machines far as the eye could see filled his vision, augmented by the crowds of people at each one.
How long had it been since he'd gone to an arcade? Back when he was in high school, maybe, and his friends still were around… Those days had been simpler, more carefree despite what awaited him at home…
"Tamo-kun, what's the hold up!?" Mitsuha barked, ripping him from his thoughts.
"Ah uh… sorry, got distracted."
Her gaze narrowed at him, flicking over to where the arcade was… and the way her eyes widened slightly made his own heart race.
A smirk slowly curled his lips as he asked, "Never been to an arcade, I take it?"
"So what if I haven't?" she retorted, folding her arms like a petulant child.
Tamotsu couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him then.
Ever since he'd met this girl, he'd been led around by the nose about all the things he hadn't been able to experience. It hadn't been miserable to say the least, but it was definitely out of his comfort zone and the blonde had thoroughly enjoyed his plight. So now that they finally came across something she wasn't well-versed on?
Well, turnabout was fair play after all.
"Wanna go then?"
"I don't really care too," she said, but her eyes were screaming a different story.
His smirk widened as a devious thought took root.
"Oh, ok then. Wait here, I'll be back in a bit."
Her head snapped to him with such speed he feared she would dislocate it. "EHHHHHH?!"
He shrugged, trying his best to keep a straight face, "I haven't been for a bit, plus all that doll-playing was a real grind so I want to let loose a bit. Oh, looks like they got Tekken 9! Haven't had a chance to play that one yet."
"But… but-!"
"It's ok Mitsuha, I won't drag you along if you don't want to be," he assured her, even as he could tell she was waging a losing battle with herself.
Walking away from here he counted the steps in his mind between him and the arcade, waiting as seconds went by until-
"H-hold it!"
"Yes…?"
"Fine… I'll come, but only to make sure you don't blow it all on these things."
Jackpot.
"But of course," he said smoothly, holding out a hand to her, "shall we?"
She glared at him with all the ferocity of a puppy that just had its bone taken away, storming past him into the arcade.
'So, she can make that kind of face too,' he mused, chuckling as he scrambled to pick up their bags and follow her in.
The difference between the sounds outside and inside the place were like night and day. Loud outside, yes, but inside?
Damn-near deafening.
This place wasn't like the arcades he'd been to in Hikone; it was easily twice the size and far more expansive in terms of what it had.
It was all he could do not to gape at everything, if only so he could catch up to Mitsuha.
Finding the blonde wasn't difficult; she was standing in front of a racing game, glaring at the thing as though she wanted to set it ablaze.
That same gaze latched onto him once he came into view.
"Took you long enough," she spat.
"I'm the one still carrying the bags, remember?"
"So what now, then?" she snipped, ignoring his remark with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Glancing over at the machine, he noticed it had two motorcycle rigs set side by side. A two-players game then.
"We play, of course."
"With what money?" she argued.
Tamotsu fished out the MBI card, holding it up with a grin.
Mitsuha rolled her eyes with a scoff. "You're hopeless."
"And yet you call me master," he returned, leaving her spluttering as he smirked. Swiping the card, the screen flashed and waited for him to start it. Turning back to her, he raised an eyebrow, "Well, hop on."
Her eyes darted to the empty seat for a moment before back to him, glaring. "...I didn't say I'd play."
"More fun for me then."
"Ugh. How can playing pretend like this be considered fun for you? We can just as easily go out and get a real one if you want."
Tamotsu winced, not just at the idea of it but also of just how much such a thing would cost. MBI finances or not, it was also their only lifeline till he could find a decent job to support them. "Yeah, I'd rather shelve that idea for the now. Besides, what do you have to lose?"
Mitsuha opened her mouth to keep the argument going, only to snap it close with a groan. "…one ride. Got it? Then we go."
"Deal."
That agreement lasted for all of ten seconds.
"Tamo-kun! Out of my way!"
"That turn's mine!"
"GRRR, no fair!"
"Eat my vapor Mitsuha!"
The two of them rocked back and forth on their trusty steeds, each trying their damndest to get one over the other. His experience helped him greatly here; he'd spent hours upon hours on games like this back in the day after all.
But Mitsuha's sheer drive – no pun intended – stunned him. He knew she was a determined woman, but the tenacity she showed coming after him was shocking to say the absolute least. Each time she fell back, passed over by one of the AI racers, she'd find a way to not only catch back up but also come close to passing him!
He actually had to try to keep first place in his sights and even then, it was close.
"WINNER…!"
Breathing out, Tamotsu leaned back and smirked. "Close… very close," he muttered. "Nice job Mitsu-!"
"REMATCH!"
Who knew that Mitsuha was just as competitive in the digital sense as she was in the real world?
Certainly not he, even after seven rematches in which of those Mitsuha actually won on the fourth.
But the sheer happiness and excitement as she bounced around in her seat cheering more than made up for it all. Truly, it made the alien beauty more human in his eyes.
And it also made him want to press her more, to see more of what she could offer. "Care for another round? Bet that win of yours really was a fluke."
If looks had physical force behind them, the one she sent him would've sent him flying into the wall at mach-8, sonic boom and all. "Bring it, Tamo."
MBI had educated her properly for her insertion into society, and that also included social activities. But none of those stuffed shirts had ever expressed just how much… fun it all was.
Racing had just been the start of it. After thoroughly trouncing her master in a race that was clearly rigged against her, something had awoken inside of her. Where before she had walked into a place that seemed loud, obnoxious and way too flashy for her liking, now she saw a veritable wonderland of games that promised nothing short of an experience worth having.
And to top it all off, her Ashikabi had been the one to introduce her to it.
'I'll apologize to him later tonight, properly,' she thought a bit deviously as he let out a groan from beside her as his character died.
"You picked this one on purpose!"
Mitsuha chuckled, squeezing the trigger of her toy gun at the digital representations of zombies. Headshots aplenty, they fell before her trigger discipline as she sought to avenge her poor master's demise. "Don't fault me for aiming for my comfort zone, Tamo-kun," she uttered snidely, her gaze never leaving the screen.
"Host advantages," he grumbled under his breath.
"STAGE CLEARED…!"
"Please, give me a challenge!" she boasted.
"Heh, I doubt you'd be able to handle one blondie," a new voice sneered.
Mitsuha froze. That wasn't Tamo… hell it wasn't even one of the bystanders that had taken to following them around to see what they did next.
No, this voice was greasy and oozed arrogance, the kind that left a nasty feeling in her stomach.
Whirling around, she found two people standing there but it was the girl her eyes landed on. At first glance she wasn't anything impressive – orange hair styled in a short bob with a blue headband shielding her forehead, and gray eyes that seemed strangely morose. But her outfit was where things started to click for Mitsuha; a white gown with black and blue accents, black stockings, high-heeled boots, and long black gloves.
And if that wasn't the kicker, it was the aura she could pick up from this girl. She was by no means a human like the oaf next to her, but someone just like her – a Sekirei.
Speaking of which, the man that had called her out earned himself a big fat F in the looks deparment. In her humble opinion, one could dress up a trash can and it would look more appealing than this goon. His face alone set off alarm bells, coupled with his messy state of dress – a baggy green hoodie, jeans, and sneakers.
He was also an Ashikabi – the girl's, if the way she stuck close to him was any indication.
'Not what we needed to deal with today,' she groused, inching close to her own Ashikabi who just noticed the newcomers.
"You think you can do better then?" Tamotsu challenged, speaking up on her behalf.
While the sentiment was sweet of him, she could handle herself just fine thank you very much!
"I know I can. Step aside runt, let me show you how it's done." He practically bowled over Tamotsu to come up beside her, grasping the plastic gun as the game started again. He glanced over at her and smirked, "Make sure you're taking notes."
'Arrogant son of a-!'
"BEGIN!" the game announced before she could deliver her own retort.
Begrudgingly, she aided him moving through the level, displaying her skills from before even as the zombies grew more ferocious. Beads of sweat rolled down her face, her concentration narrowed to laser-like degrees as she mowed down more of the bastards.
But soon, she heard a tell-tale sound that caused her worries to skyrocket.
CLICK!
Her gun ran dry.
"I need more ammo!"
But her partner ignored her, even as the hordes closed in on her.
"Hey, didn't you hear me?"
"Oh I heard ya, and that's just fine with me," the guy said with a dark grin.
Mitsuha's eyes widened in shock as her character was besieged by the zombies and killed.
"YOU ARE DEAD."
Letting out a growl of pure frustration, she glared at her partner who continued taking out the zombies like nothing happened. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
He just scoffed at her. "Oh bitch about it later. We're going to win the level anyways."
"STAGE CLEAR…!"
The thug turned to her with a sneer, eyebrows raised. "See? No problem."
Mitsuha stomped her foot angrily. "You left me to die!"
His gaze turned mocking, a sneer firmly in place. "Why would I risk my ass to save yours when you can't even do it yourself."
"You-!"
"You did great as always, Junichi-sama," the orange-haired girl said softly, breaking in before Mitsuha could unload.
The punk, Junichi, smirked back at her. "Did you expect any less, Yashima?"
"Not at all."
Mitsuha whirled on the girl, nostrils flaring. "And you're fine with him acting like that?!"
Yashima merely shrugged.
Junichi rolled his eyes and shot a look over at Tamotsu who was staring hard at the pair. "Oi, how bout you make yourself useful and control your girl. She's a bit too mouthy for her own good."
'Oh I'll show you mouthy you rude little-!'
"I'm sorry about her," Tamotsu said to her shock, stepping in before she could boil over. "She's very competitive – I only found out today."
She opened her mouth to bark at him but caught a look from him, one she'd seen on him few times before.
Let me handle it, were what his eyes were saying.
So as much as it pained her to do so, she submitted and backed off so as to let her master handle the situation.
"Can't say I blame her though," she heard him say, as well as the edge to his words, "I'd be pretty pissed if my partner left me to die like that too."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, face flooding with warmth.
'Tamo…'
Junichi just snorted, chuckling under his breath. "Play to win kid. In a setting like that, can ya blame me for cutting off dead weight?"
Tamotsu gritted his teeth but ultimately let out a sigh. "Not really. It's the practical thing to do. Going back to save her would've killed you both. That is," Tamotsu continued, "if the game were designed like that. You could've saved her but chose not too."
Junichi's eyebrow raised dangerously at that remark. "Yeah… so what are you gonna do about it, kid?"
Tamotsu's smirk both thrilled and scared her on equal measure as he answered, "What else? Avenge her."
Tanigawa Junichi hadn't had the best of days, you see.
The day had started well enough; he'd woken up, ate and tried to shake down some poor sap only to get the police called on him. A lifetime of experience and some not-so subtle tutelage from some experts got him out of that.
Of course, the damn bitch he'd found himself stuck with tried to tell him what to do – again.
And again, he'd made sure to knew to keep her damn opinions to herself, unless told otherwise.
Reminding her always left him beat, so he'd prowled the food court and ordered some for himself – not even bothering to save any for Yashima since, as a Sekirei, she'd just eat it all anyways. She was an alien anyways; she could go a lot longer without food probably.
That sweet, sweet MBI unlimited card she had though? That was money and if there was one thing he considered sacred in this world it was money – lots of it.
And what better place to spend it than one of his old haunts? He practically owned the damned place; hell, he could probably buy it with the card and make it his own personal game room!
But then he'd never get to own the little bastards that actually thought they stood a chance against him.
Like this one for instance, whom was already being gawked at by that blonde bitch he'd had on his arm. And not just any blonde bitch either, but someone just like his Yashima.
'What a fucking joke of an Ashikabi!' he sneered to himself with a smirk. 'Could bench press him and the bitch at the same time; how he puts up with that mouth of hers I'll never understand. I'd much rather have her using more…creatively.'
Bitch or not, she wouldn't be the first one he'd have to break to have fun.
"That so?" Junichi sneered, glaring at the upstart who had the balls to glare back. "How bout this then? We have ourselves a little contest: we each choose a game to play and whoever loses first, gets to make one demand that can't be denied."
The blonde decided to open her trap then, barking at him, "How is that supposed to be fair? You're clearly familiar with most if not all the machines in here."
"I agree," the punk said, making Junichi's fists ball up slightly at his side – even more so when the kid smirked back at him. "So how about we make this more interesting?"
Curiosity reared its ugly-ass head, prompting one thinly shaved eyebrow to raise, "I'm listenin'."
"Same deal except here's the kicker: whoever loses at their chosen game first, loses for good. If they win their choice, they stay in but if they lose against something they didn't pick, they also stay in."
For some reason the little prick's words were a bit hard to follow, which only soured Junichi's impression of him. He was reminded too much of those geeks he used to pick on in school, namely the ones who thought they were better than him.
Arrogant asswipes. He'd show this brat just like he showed the rest like him, by beating him at his own little trap. "Fine, you're on."
"Tamo-kun!" the blonde yipped at her boytoy, making Junichi scowl. The fuck did she see in this wimp? "You don't have to do this! I can take care of myself just fine."
That Junichi couldn't help but scoff at.
'Bitch is just asking to be bent over a table at this point,' he thought a bit lecherously. 'Hell, if the wimp was gone that might be happenin'… Might still get the chance if I play my cards right.'
Said wimp turned back to her with a sappy smile. "Oh I'm well aware of that. This has nothing to do with that."
"Then why-?"
"Because I'm pissed."
The blonde's trap shut with an audible click.
Junichi snickered.
'Well, well, well. Pup's got some bark after all… Gonna be fun kicking him around too.'
"So what do ya say we get this shit on the road?"
"Master," Yashima opened her mouth, thoroughly crashing his improving mood, "is it really worth it? You don't have to prove anything. You didn't do anything wrong."
True and true, but he couldn't give two shits about all that.
"Shut yer trap, Yashima," he snapped, shooting a dark look at her. "If I want your opinion I'll damn well ask for it, got it?"
And, like always, Yashima winced and replied with, "Yes, Master…"
That never failed to get him going, especially with the kind of authority all that entailed by her calling him such.
It sounded especially good in the bedroom.
"… You choose first," Tanuki, or whatever the hell the kid's name was, insisted.
Junichi let a grin tug his lips upward. "Gonna regret that, kid."
But either this kid was stupid or just didn't give a damn, because all he did was smile back at him slightly. "We'll see."
Junichi led them over to his first pick: a simple free-throw game he'd scored big on numerous times over, usually humiliating some other snot-nosed brat till they whined at him.
'I can already hear the bitching too,' Junichi chuckled to himself. 'Then we'll see how that piece of ass thinks of him then.'
Kill two birds with one stone, quite literally in the case of the Sekirei though not completely.
An ass like that shouldn't go to waste after all.
Each of them took their positions at the game, Junichi towering over the kid in a way that unnerved all his past "challengers". Just this alone sent some of the more spineless ones running, but it seemed the kid was made of stronger stuff.
'We'll fuckin' see alright,' he thought deviously as he hefted a basketball in his large hands.
BRAAANG
The klaxon sounded and the game began, with the timer slowly beginning to count down.
Time remaining:
1:59…1:55…1:51…
Games like this were almost as easy as swiping some dipshit's wallet; by the time the clock hit 1:29, he'd already scored 20 points. A grin twisted his face as the thoughts of pummeling this poor bastard's self-esteem into the ground raced. As the points totaled at 27 on his side, he glanced over at the kid's scoreboard, just for shits and giggles.
Player 2: 31 points
'THE FUCK?!'
Whipping a look over at the kid, he was astonished to find the kid was hefting and nailing baskets like a frigging pro. Each shot sailed through the air in a perfect arc, slotting itself through the net at the far end; each one never missed, bounced or hit the rim.
"Shit!" he cursed, remembering the game was still on and hurrying to catch up.
This was fine. He'd been playing on the streets for years. So what if this kid could nail a few – or more than a few lucky shots? It didn't mean shit to him!
Amping up his speed, he managed to start catch up to the bastard's score and surpassed him. But from then on, to his utter frustration, it was a struggle to keep ahead of the prodigy beside him.
BRAAAANG
The klaxon blared and the game came to an end, Junichi gritting his teeth at as he glared at the final count.
Player 1: 37 points
Player 2: 34 points
'Fucking shit…' Junichi swore, realizing just how close that had been. If he'd missed even one at the pace the kid had been playing, it would've been over for him…
But he still won.
"Good game," the kid remarked next to him.
Salvaging what remained of his ego which was still very much intact, he smirked, "Of course it was. I'm a bit of a pro at this."
"Shame you didn't go then."
Junichi gripped his hands around the ball he was still holding, feeling his nails dig into the material slightly. He liked to imagine it was the kid's throat.
"Well, guess I get to choose next."
Wait, what?
"Yeah right, I beat you fair and square kid so pay up!"
"Backing out on our deal so soon?" the kid asked with an irritating smirk.
"The fuck you talking about? We agreed on one loss!" Junichi barked at him, spittle flying from his lips.
"Actually Master," Yashima spoke up, which only made him want to beat her sorry ass into the ground for daring too, "you agreed to the terms of losing at your chosen game, not in general."
"Which means Tamotsu is still in this! Way to go, Tamo-kun!" the blonde gushed, hugging the wimp with a giggle.
"I was a little worried. I haven't played since high school…"
All this fell on deaf ears to Junichi who could only seethe as one single fact came to the fore.
He may've won this game, but not only did he fail to humiliate the kid, he'd still have to face him in another game. Worse, now he would run the risk of losing when it was his turn next.
'Mother fucker-!'
…
She knew that look all too well as it was a look prominently displayed on her master's face whenever he was irritated or even slightly upset.
That look promised pain, one that practically gnawed to get out but was forced to stay in.
Number 84 couldn't completely conceal the shudder that ran across her body, and only relaxed as her master stormed off after the other Sekirei's master.
Speaking of the twin-tailed blonde, the girl hadn't tried to strike up a conversation with her yet which Yashima found odd. It wasn't the first time she'd come across other Sekirei and some of them even had Ashikabi of their own. But the blonde seemed more than content to keep her at arm's length which both relieved and saddened Yashima.
Other than her Ashikabi, she had no one… No one to turn to when he got into a nasty mood and "reeducated" her. It was a lonely existence, but being Junichi's still filled her with hope that he might get better.
Or perhaps, as many had said, she'd made the wrong choice after all…
"Geez, I can't tell which one is worse," a voice sounded from her side, prompting her head to shoot over to the source. The blonde was now standing beside her at a respectful distance but still close enough in proximity to be reached.
"Are you… talking to me?" Yashima dared to ask, already preparing for the blonde to lash out.
The blonde's eyes shifted to her with an annoyed huff. "Is there anyone else here to talk to? Because those two are already lost in their own worlds."
"I'm sorry, I'm not used to socializing with others," Yashima apologized, a routine she had ingrained into memory.
"Considering your ashikabi I'm willing to bet that's not entirely your fault," the blonde remarked.
"Don't disrespect my master!" Yashima snapped, feeling defensive of her admittedly terrible master. But a Sekirei's bond with them was intimate, beyond that of mere lovers… even if there had been plenty of that happening as well.
"He's done a poor job of showing any kind of respect thus far, so I'm not inclined to give him any," the blonde shot back, much to Yashima's ire.
Even so, it was the truth.
Exhaling through her nose, she willed herself to calm down and face facts. Yes, Tanigawa Junichi was a poor excuse for a master; he was vile, often cruel and seemed to care little for her well-being as a Sekirei or even a living being. But he was still her Ashikabi and therefore she would defend him, if only because she herself still loved him… even if he clearly didn't return her feelings. "Forgive me. You're right, and therefore I apologize on his behalf instead."
The blonde eyed her critically for a long moment before she eventually sighed, rolling her eyes a bit. "It's fine… Yashima, was it?"
"Yes. I didn't catch your name though."
"Mitsuha's fine," the blonde replied, offering her a slight smirk.
"Mitsuha-san then," Yashima returned with a small smile. "I wasn't expecting to run into another Sekirei here of all places."
Mitsuha huffed, crossing her arms angrily. "Yeah, well I had to make sure that idiot of a master didn't forget about our date."
Yashima cocked her head to the side, her interest piqued. "Oh, you were on a date?"
"Yeah! …aren't you?"
"…Yes, we are," Yashima said, but she could tell by the blonde's look her lie had been seen through easily. "Being with my Ashikabi is enough for me."
"That's…"
Up ahead, the sound of one of the machines going off drew their attention to the commotion of their two masters.
"Aw what the fuck?! You were behind me a second ago!" Junichi snarled from he was sat on the driver's seat next to Mitsuha's master.
"You were distracted; can't blame me for taking advantage of an easy win. So, what's next?"
"I'm gonna get you this time you little bastard! Just you watch!"
To Yashima, Mitsuha sniffed disdainfully. "If you say so…"
"Your Ashikabi is quite gallant on his own," Yashima remarked with a finger to her lips.
Mitsuha's cheeks flared as she spluttered, mouth opening and closing several times before she found the words to retort. "G-gallant?! Him?! Hardly! I have to hold his hand practically when it comes to our time together, and whenever we're not, I'm banging my head against the wall trying to figure him out! Seriously, I thought being with an Ashikabi meant that their hearts were open books to us!"
"Huh, so I'm your master now? Guess that means you have to do whatever I say… We're gonna have a lot of fun together, hehe."
Even now, that first meeting she'd had with her Ashikabi still made her shudder and tremble slightly.
'There's good in him, there has to be,' she recited to herself. 'Even darkness can't thrive without light.'
Aloud, she muttered, "You would think." Schooling her features into a mask she'd grown accustomed to wearing, she offered a tender smile to her fellow Sekirei, "He cares deeply for you… I'm a bit jealous."
The blonde muttered something under her breath but even for her senses, it was too quiet for her to perceive.
Still, she could guess.
'She cares for him just as much. Is this what an Ashikabi and Sekirei are supposed to be? Why… why aren't we like that?'
The more she thought on it, the more depressed she felt.
But in the end, it didn't matter because like it or not, Junichi was her Ashikabi and as her master, what he said went.
And thus, she wouldn't breathe a word of the truth lest there be more reeducation later on.
Her bruises from this morning may've healed but the scars of the act remained.
Junichi was about the last person he had wanted to deal with. The man was rude, insensitive, and just a total asshole – just like a few others Tamotsu had encountered back in school. Always superior, thinking himself better despite only being able to dole out pain and misery to those weaker than him.
And, given what he'd done to Mitsuha, Tamotsu was convinced that this guy would sooner save his own skin than anybody else.
If he wasn't so pissed, he might've laughed at how predictable his behavior was.
Which was why he had all but jumped at the chance to get this bastard back any way he could.
Now he was paying for it, and only hanging on by the skin of his teeth… Literally in this case, considering how Tamotsu could practically hear the thug's teeth grinding each time he got one over on him.
But it wouldn't be long now. Junichi was getting more and more agitated with each game they did, which meant he'd start making mistakes.
'And when he does, I'll crush him and make him apologize to her.'
He really didn't know what had gotten into him. Maybe it was due to the fact that he and Mitsuha were having such a good time before, or that Tamotsu just wanted to put that smug bastard in his place.
…or maybe it was because he had gone and hurt his girl.
Either way, Junichi was going to answer for his bullshit one way or the other.
"Goddamn it," Junichi growled next to him, as they finished their round on a pinball machine. The win had been Junichi's since his score was higher but since it wasn't his chosen game, Tamotsu was still in the fight. "You're really making me work for this, kid."
Tamotsu had to fight to keep the shit-eating grin off his face, and only just barely succeeded. "A little exercise isn't all that bad, Junichi-san. Maybe you oughta try it sometime."
The thug's eyes darkened with fury, glaring at him. "Got something you wanna say, punk?"
Tamotsu just shrugged. He'd long since gotten over the fear of goons like him. "Nothing useful, don't worry," he remarked, ignoring how the older man's fists clenched tightly. "So, my turn now?"
"Yeah, get on with it. Let me guess: Skeeball or Tekken?"
Both were interesting choices, but the problem was how easily one could cheat at either of them. If they were playing side by side, Junichi could easily use one of his shots to knock his off course with the excuse of messing up his own throws. With any fighting game like Tekken, all that was needed was for one of them to spam combos until they won, and Tamotsu had long since pegged his opponent for one such spammer.
Fortunately, there was one card he had yet to play…
"How about that one?" Tamotsu said, pointing over at a certain table near the entrance.
All eyes followed, with Junichi giving off a scoff followed by a sharp bark of laughter.
"Hah! Are you fucking kidding!? Air hockey? What are we, eleven?"
"Oh? So, you think you're going to lose at a child's game? Well then we can-"
"Hold the fuck up!" Junichi snapped, glaring at him. "Never said I'd lose at it."
"Then what's the worry? Surely you're not worried about getting shown up at it, are you?" Tamotsu stated with a growing smile.
Junichi leaned down towards him, his face stormy and his eyes practically ablaze with hate. "That cocky attitude is pissing me off, kid."
'Right back at ya, jackass…'
"Not much of an answer on your part, now is it?"
The brute shouldered his way past him, grumbling all the way even as Tamotsu just rolled his eyes.
All too easy. To think he'd once been afraid of jerks like him…
Shaking his head, a bit to clear his thoughts, Tamotsu glanced over towards where the girls were and found Mitsuha standing next to Junichi's girlfriend. Both smiled and waved, with the blonde letting out a cheer for his victory.
That alone boosted his spirits immensely, so he gave Mitsuha a wink that left her blushing and strode over confidently to the air hockey table.
Junichi was pounding the mallet into his palm, giving a nasty smirk all the while as Tamotsu took his place. "What's the score this time?"
"Let's say ten to be safe. I don't think we need anything more than that."
"In such a hurry to lose, eh? Your loss, kid," Junichi sneered, giving a chuckle. "Since you're the host, hope you don't mind if I go first."
"Knock yourself out," Tamotsu replied.
"And ust so you know, I already got my demand lined up. Can't wait..." the sleazeball uttered, with a lecherous look at Mitsuha.
'Please. Do the world a favor and shut up for a bit.'
Junichi smacked the mallet down onto the chilled surface of the table, grabbing the puck and slapping his mallet into it. The puck shot off like a bullet, bouncing to and fro across the lane…
CLICK-CLACK!
"The hell?! How the fuck'd you do that?!" Junichi hollered, glaring at both him and the scoreboard in turn.
Tamotsu finally allowed himself a smirk, tossing the mallet back and forth in his hands. "Not to brag or anything but back when I'd go to hang out at the arcade after classes for the day, a couple people challenged me to a game of this once a week. After all that time, let's say I'm a bit of a pro at this."
Furious at having his own words thrust back at him, Junichi slammed a fist into the table. "Asshole! You tricked me into this shit!"
"I'd like to say I'm experienced at this, and you assumed I was just some stupid kid who got in over his head. That said," Tamotsu retrieved and tossed the puck back on the table, grinning, "it's your shot. I'm host after all."
What followed then was Junichi learning just how badly he'd fucked up letting Tamotsu choose this game. No matter what way Junichi tried to hit the puck – how hard, how fast, or in what manner – Tamotsu blocked and returned each shot with finesse.
Before long, one point became three and soon he was already at seven points while Junichi had managed to score around four after the first five minutes.
After ten minutes, Junichi was spitting death and curses as he struggled to keep up a steady defense, slamming the table with his fist each time Tamotsu scored – or in some cases, just sent Junichi's shot right back to his goal pocket.
"You can do it Tamo-kun!" Mitsuha cheered, secretly delighting in Junichi getting his ass kicked.
"Junichi-sama, I believe in you," Yashima said softly, her voice more or less lost over the loud CLICK-CLACK of the puck going back and forth.
CUH-THUNK!
Player 1: 8
Player 2: 6
"FUCK…!" Junichi roared, banging his fist on the table. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
"Junichi-sama-"
"Shut your fucking mouth Yashima!" Junichi snarled, whirling on the brunette who flinched. "I don't need your bullshit right now so shut the hell up."
Yashima's eyes darkened, her gaze going to the floor as she muttered, "Yes, Junichi-sama…"
"Was that really necessary?" Tamotsu questioned, his eyes narrowing at the jackass. "She's your girlfriend isn't she?"
"Yeah, what's it to ya you little prick? Mind your own fucking business and play!"
Tamotsu felt a wave of fury flood through him hearing that, but he managed to control it. He hated that word more than any others. He'd been called everything under the sun but that… That he wouldn't let slide.
He was going to destroy whatever was left of this guy's pride.
"Your move then. Don't keep me waiting."
Growling a bit, Junichi snatched the puck from across the table and slammed it down to make his shot. But then, he stilled. Junichi held up his mallet, glancing at the puck briefly… then he gave a smirk that made Tamotsu's stomach turn slightly. "Oh, I won't. In fact, I think things are about to turn in my favor."
Tamotsu forced back this uneasy feeling and got ready for his counter shot. Whatever Junichi did wouldn't matter in the long run. This game was his; all he needed to do was follow through.
Junichi shoved his arm forward to launch the puck like all the other times, but it did so in a way that made Tamotsu have to trade hands for a moment. More importantly, he had to place his dominant hand on the table.
And Junichi had been waiting for that.
The very next second, Tamotsu felt something smash into his hand at high speed, forcing him to yank his hand back with a hiss of pain. "Gah, dammit!"
"Tamo-kun!?" Mitsuha exclaimed, rushing over to him as he grasped his hand. She took it and held it, letting out a gasp. "You're bleeding!"
"It's nothing, I'll be fine," Tamotsu assured, grimacing. His hand throbbed and a trickle of blood seeped from where the skin had been split.
"Oh, my bad, guess I put too much power behind it," Junichi's voice slithered over to them, prompting Tamotsu to glare at the man.
He didn't look in any way remorseful – in fact he looked a bit proud of himself.
"That was dirty."
Junichi just shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but come on we still got a game to play. Unless… you wanna forfeit?"
Tamotsu gritted his teeth and tore his hand from Mitsuha despite her protests, taking hold of the mallet again. But he couldn't get a good enough grip on it like before, which would obviously mess with his ability to play. "Fine. Your move."
He could do this. All he had to do was track the puck, move to block it and-!
CUH-THUNK!
…what?
He must've missed the shot; the pain in his hand was making it really hard to keep hold of the mallet. But he wouldn't let another one-!
CLICK-CLACK!
CUH-THUNK!
"All tied up," Junichi said smugly, grinning at Tamotsu. "Seems the odds are finally shifting in my favor."
"I'm not done yet!" Tamotsu shouted, losing his cool.
Junichi just smirked, already lining up his next shot. Tamotsu positioned his puck, waiting for the shot to come and managing to counter it.
"Gotcha!" he crowed, smacking his puck, and managing to get through Junichi's defense.
CUH-THUNK!
"Come on Tamo-kun!"
Mitsuha's cheers buffered him, giving him the strength to keep going despite the pain.
Junichi's reaction was quick and decisive, all but smashing the puck with enough force to knock out some teeth. Tamotsu blocked it once more, knocking it back but this time, Junichi countered and sent it flying back right into Tamotsu's goal pocket.
They were neck and neck now, with the next shot deciding who would win this bout. But the throbbing in his hand had gotten to the point where he couldn't hold it anymore, so he switched to his left hand.
'Risky, but I can do this. I will do this.'
"You're gonna regret that kid," Junichi sneered as she sent the puck hurtling towards Tamotsu. His opponent blocked however, so Junichi was forced to scramble to block the return shot, "Shit!"
"Come on, come on…" Tamotsu muttered, waiting for the shot to come back. His foe sent the puck rocketing back at dangerous speeds, Tamotsu just barely managing to keep it from entering his goal pocket.
But his return had little power behind it, and thus Junichi capitalized.
Click-CLACK!
CUH-THUNK!
BRAAANG!
"Fuck yeah, got it!" Junichi cheered, tossing the mallet onto the table as he threw up his hands.
"Congratulations Junichi-sama!" Yashima applauded, joining him as Mitsuha fumed.
Tamotsu just stared at the table, blinking a bit. Cold fury settled in his chest, slamming a palm down on the table loud enough to get their attention, "You cheated!"
Junichi shot a look at him and scoffed. "Yeah, and how do you figure that? I played fair and beat you, as per the rules. What have you got to bitch about?"
Was he seriously playing this game?!
"You aimed for my hand!" Tamotsu shouted, storming up to the pair, idly noting how Yashima moved as though to defend him.
"What a load of bull. It was an accident, ok? Don't get bent outta shape about it like your girl. Speaking of which, about that demand... I think I'll borrow her for a bit."
Tamotsu's eyes widened slightly, clenching his fists at his sides, "What the hell did you just say…?"
Suddenly, Mitsuha appeared in front of him and pushed him back, "Tamotsu, enough! Don't. He's not worth it. And I'm not honoring anything to cheaters."
"The fuck you say about me, bitch?" Junichi growled, now being held back Yashima as well. "Say that to my face then, you blonde whore."
"Don't you dare call her that!" Tamotsu snapped, making Mitsuha struggle a bit to hold him back.
"Eat shit you little prick! Let your slut fight her own damn battles! That's what she's for, ain't she?!"
"YOU-!"
"ENOUGH!" Mitsuha screamed, shoving Tamotsu back harshly. "Tamo-kun, so help me if you don't behave right now I'll wrap you up and drag you home! Don't think I won't!"
"Junichi-sama, we should go," Yashima suggested, grabbing her boyfriend's shoulder who shook it off angrily.
"Who the fuck you talking to, Yashima?! Fuck this shit. Keep the bitch, I'm outta of here." Giving Tamotsu one last glare, Junichi scoffed and stormed out, with Yashima giving a quick bow and apology before following after.
What a complete cretin.
Junichi should count himself extremely lucky he had a Sekirei ready to fight to the death for him, because Mitsuha would've liked nothing more than to string the arrogant bastard up his balls for what he'd done.
Forget damaging her pride – though that admittedly did sting. She wasn't blind; she knew exactly what that asshole pulled to win against her master, hurting him to get a petty victory.
She wouldn't be forgetting that little tidbit any time soon.
'How does someone like that even wing a Sekirei like her,' she thought, appalled.
The two were polar opposites; Junichi was arrogant and foul-mouthed, while Yashima had been reserved but not unkind. While the same was true for her and her own master, they were at least trying to work on understanding each other – conversely, Yashima seemed content with taking abuse from Junichi.
But that wasn't her business. Her master was, and speaking of which…
"Come on Tamo," she barked, dragging her as of yet silent companion out of the arcade wishing things hadn't ended as they had.
'We were having such a good time till that jerk showed up,' she groused.
"Mitsuha-?"
"Don't."
"Mitsuha, please-!"
"I said I don't want to hear it!"
"I'm sorry!"
"For what?!" she shouted, whirling on him and doing her best to ignore the stares they were getting. "For making a fool out of yourself back there? I can handle myself just fine, Master! I didn't need you to stand up for me like that to a cretin like him! Why go that far anyways? I've never seen you like that… Even with the twins' Ashikabi."
Tamotsu clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth as she forced out the words. "I… I just couldn't sit back and let him talk to you like that. I was pissed, and I wanted to make him sorry for doing that to you."
Mitsuha rolled her eyes with a sigh, "And I told you I-!"
"You've done so much for me already!" he shouted, silencing her. "I just… I wanted to do something for you, protect you like you've protected me. You did say we were practically married, so why shouldn't I stand up for you… I don't want my wife to get hurt if I can do something about it."
Mitsuha stared at him, eyes wide and feeling her heart tumble about in her chest. How was it that her master could be so irritating one minute then unbelievably thoughtful the next? It was annoying, maddening, frustrating-!
-but he called her his wife. It was probably the first time he had actually done so, and so she really couldn't think of anything else to say to him. Nothing except-
"Idiot."
She strode up to him, palmed his cheek and reached up to kiss him there, making him stiffen.
"M-Mitsuha?"
"Idiot," she repeated softly, averting her eyes with a blush. "You don't have to protect me; you only need to do one thing for me and one thing only."
"What?"
"Live with me, and love me as I do you."
Tamotsu reached out and hugged her close, squeezing her to him tightly, "I can do that," he murmured, breathlessly.
What it was she had done in a past life to deserve this person would likely be a mystery she'd never solve… But that was fine.
She squeezed him back, relishing in his warmth and of the feeling she could sense surging through their bond.
Sekirei were simple creatures; they lived, they laughed and loved. Being with her ashikabi was enough for her.
That's all that ever would.
A much, much easier chapter to write this time around. Now we're finally getting to the stuff I've been itching to write for some time. Granted, Kujou didn't show up like I said she would - again - but next chapter I promise we'll meet the next member of Tamotsu's flock. Scout's honor.
And here we have Junichi, also known as dipshit numero uno of the Sekirei universe. Forget Mikogami and forget Higa - this piece of shit only cared about himself and only himself, content to abuse his sekirei all because he could. Never mind the fact that Yashima could fold him like a pretzel and use his ass as a foot stool...
Ahem. Anyways, writing him was nasty to say the least. On an intrinsic level, I get why people like him are in a story and since this is an AU, certain characters should be present in their own ways. Some will be different, some will be the same - Junichi will be the one who stays the same since I require him for Tamotsu's development. I've got plans for Junichi and Yashima; buckle up because before all is said and done, shit is going to go down.
We got to see Tamotsu and Mitsuha going on an actual date this time, and I really hope it didn't come across as too cheesy. I wanted to revisit some instances I had going earlier in the story like Tamotsu losing all of his luggage during the first day. Giving Mitsuha a conniption about all of that was fun... Also, we got to see her more childish side play out here in the form of enjoying arcade games with her ashikabi. The arcade scenes were about as basic as you could get, and I'm fine with that. I may've been pressing the realm of believability in terms of how Junichi hurts Tamotsu at air hockey, but I could see it happening. That puck is one dangerous weapon if used correctly.
Anyways, the next chapter should be out before Christmas. I have a good idea what I want to happen next time, but I'll need to revisit some other stories to figure out how to write it properly.
Till then,
Take care.