Minato is in a bad spot these days.
First things first, he failed the entrance exams into University.
Twice.
Ouch, that's a very huge embarrassment for guy like him. He wouldn't say he's a genius or talented of sorts but his mother is one or rather both. Despite not being pressured or given a rough time due to his failures, Minato Sahashi knows how much it hurts to disappoint someone.
Now, he just disappointed his mom twice more.
Why didn't he inherit all of Mom's genius? Oh wait, Yukari hogged it all.
As such when he called and delivered the bad news to the matriarch of the Sahashi's, Minato is expecting the scolding and the disappointment in his mother's voice.
Instead, what he got is a woman who's hiding something.
Minato knows his Mom despite being distant from him and Yukari due to her own work as a scientist. He knows her tells and language like the back of his hand.
So why in God's green earth is she nervous, far more distant and quite honestly, frantic.
She's hiding something, he guessed for sure. It's not hard to tell. Takami is always like that whenever she's trying to hide something from Yukari, mostly secret gifts and etc.
But not at this extent.
Something big had happened. Something that shook his mom. Minato doesn't know what but he had a gut feeling. The last time Takami was like this was during his older brother's...
That's a bad thought right there. Better stay clear from that thought before Musubi finds out.
Speaking of Musubi, Minato finally got a girlfriend or something like that?
He doesn't know actually!
After that disappointing news of his failed entrance, he met the bear-like girl being chased by BDSM twins. Strange sight to see in the city, especially when they're chasing after someone dressed in a Miko outfit. Makes you think they're both trying to corrupt the pure maiden.
Not like said pure maiden is just as impure like them.
Minato doesn't know who or why but whoever gave Musubi the very lewd set of Miko outfit, he would shake their hands before choking them with his barehands.
What was MBI thinking!
Sending out aliens to find partners in a Battle Royal style tournament?
Is Minaka smoking something when the CEO called to celebrate his participation in the Sekirei Plan?
Minato has no answers at all.
And to add to his frustrations, he and Musubi got kicked out of his rented apartment. His landlord didn't appreciate he snucked in Musubi even though the girl has no where to crash in. Nonetheless, it's the rules.
Deep inside, that landlord is just jealous of him having Musubi.
Musubi is just the perfect ideal girlfriend.
Ideally that is.
Musubi is truly an alien at the end of day, Minato realized rather too late. She's just too forward, lacking common sense, decency and subtlety. Not to mention, she's very much in love with him that it's rather suffocating yet endearing.
Minato won't say he didn't like her, as a matter of fact, he loved her the way she is despite the setbacks.
Now if only he could find a new place to stay.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Growl*
"Augh... I'm hungry, Minato-sama." Cue to Musubi's stomach growling once more, demanding tribute to the man's poor wallet. The girl herself laughing lightly but with eyes begging for sustenance.
Minato folded like an omelette immediately.
His wallet let out a scream of a dying man as the last of it's meager capital was use to feed the bottomless pit known as Musubi's stomach. Minato prayed for his wallet's soul and for the future bills.
He might actually cry by the vision of endless food bills
"Hehehe, this is delicious, Minato-sama! Here!" Musubi giggles before pushing the crepe in front of the forlorn boy's face. Blinking, Minato absently took a bite, making the Sekirei happy. Seeing the girl happy, Minato can't help but smile.
Maybe it won't be so bad.
"Minato-sama, what are we doing today?" The girl asked, continuing her light meal. Said meal is various sweets and snacks she took interests in as they walk on the streets of ShinTokyo.
"We're just looking for a new place to rent, Musubi. Probably something that allows couples." Minato mutters the last part.
"Oh, I thought we're looking for other Sekirei to fight." Musubi pouted, disappointment in her voice. Minato can't help but raise an eyebrow.
With Musubi's attire and appearance, one would mistake her for a soft hearted Miko.
Not a battle maniac.
"You really love fighting? Is that normal for all Sekirei's?" He asks.
Musubi nodded enthusiastically in response, "It's because of the Sekirei plan! Fighting for our Ashikabi is the best!" She said with starry eyes.
Minato nervously laughed. He still can't wrap his head around the fact that he's know in an alien Battle Royal style tournament, this Sekirei plan.
He just can't see it, Musubi fighting.
"Really? Do you know how to fight, Musubi?" He asks this time for sure.
"Yes!" Musubi replied eagerly, raising her fists to her chest, having finished her snacks. Her lips even had bits and pieces of said snacks. Minato sighs before producing a handkerchief to clean up the girl. Said girl happily giggles as her Ashikabi pampers her.
With her answer, Minato's curiosity is tickled. How does a Sekirei fight? How does Musubi fight? Fighting is not really something Minato had indulge himself in his life, he actively avoided such situations at all costs. His no coward but he simply lacks the ability for violence.
"Can you show me, Musubi? How you and other Sekirei fights?"
Minato almost regretted asking as the girl practically beamed like the sun.
He might have made a mistake.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MISTAKES ARE MADE!!!
After that small innocent question, Musubi practically dragged Minato to an abandoned lot to show off her ability. Of course, the young boy tried to have the battle maniac explain the relevant questions about Sekirei fights. This is how he learned about Sekirei types.
Three types.
Power
Element
Mind
It's rather confusing but Minato managed to get some information from the battle maniac Miko. Musubi herself is a power type, but she prefers a fist type. The Power types among Sekirei are the most physically gifted and durable among them. It's a surreal experience to see the girl punch through walls of solid concrete and pillars as her demonstration.
As the for the other type, not so much information.
The Elemental types are the ones capable of manipulating elements based on the description but how?
Then there's the Mind type. All Musubi can say is they are smart.
Minato loved the girl but it's rather frustrating how clueless she is.
Then he made the biggest in his life.
He allowed Musubi to do her Norito.
In hindsight, the girl described it as a power up of sorts among winged Sekirei. A boosts in power to fight and protect their Ashikabi. Minato thought it was a simple boost.
How fucking wrong he was.
With some embarrassment after learning that Norito can only be activated by a kiss, Musubi recited her prayer and launched her Norito.
All he remembered was a bright flash, Musubi punching concrete and then they far up in the sky! Musubi punched them both up to the sky!
How!?
If one would stay still and listen, they could hear the girlish shrieks up in the sky of ShinTokyo.
For Shirou, he followed the falling pair with his sharp eyes before pulling out his phone to check Miya.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miya had the inn for herself today. Everyone except Matsu, who's still secluded in her room, are all out.
Shirou's on another trip for a job, something about broken doors on apartments due to some break-ins.
Homura or Kagari is on his day job as a host. She felt bad for the male Sekirei. The young feather has been working hard for months to find his Ashikabi but no such luck. Instead, he took the mantle of protecting all unwinged Sekirei.
If he thinks he could hide the fact he's working with Matsu to protect the other feathers, then the boy's still green.
Then there's Uzume, the local problem chil of Izumo Inn. Before, the girl would just laze around the inn and do nothing all day unless she's helping around the house chores. But now? The girl finally found something she could do instead of drying out in the inn. The girl had found a job as private tailor and is now meeting a client for a commission.
Miya almost felt proud. Almost.
Uzume is still a problem child, with or without her new found job.
That leaves her all alone in the Inn, a peaceful and quiet Inn.
Fortunately, she's not that alone.
"Oh my, trying to escape are we." Miya said as she picked up the naughty infant that destroyed her small pillow fort to crawl away. Alas Sakura's efforts are moot against her caretaker today. The infant is currently wearing one of Uzume's work.
"Bored are we?" Miya raised the infant girl, giggling as the infant tried to reach her for her again. She doesn't know why but Sakura-chan loved playing with her hair.
Miya doesn't mind but the baby always leaves it a mess afterwards. Fixing it is time consuming for the widow.
"Alright, let's go get you some sun and sightsee for now." Miya gave Sakura a smile before cradling the infant and her arms as she walk towards the veranda of the house. Taking a seat, she placed the baby in her lap seated as she made some small talk to the child.
Miya began pointing at various points of the garden, telling the infant stories at each point.
The tree she and her husband had fond memories with.
The garden they both cultivated.
The fences that Takehito and Seo built, the former needing the latter's help, much to Miya's annoyance.
So many memories to be told in such a small place.
All the while, baby Sakura happily sat and giggled at the woman's words.
To be honest, Miya is simply venting.
The reason why she continued the Takehito's plan to turn the house into an Inn is not because out of respect for the late husband. In truth, the house only magnified the pain of her lost in those days. The real reason is because she doesn't want to be lonely.
For to be alone is to be alone with her thoughts.
And to be alone in her thoughts is to think about her lost.
She doesn't want that. Miya can't.
As such, she tolerated Matsu's little rebellion in MBI, allowed Uzume sanctuary in assisting Matsu's rebellion and providing Homura a home till he found his Ashikabi.
They alleviate the pain.
Yet some days, when she's in her lonesome like this day, she found herself thinking. Naturally, she would go visit her husband's grave in such days to calm herself in his presence.
Today is different.
She had Sakura-chan.
The Emiyas arrival in the Inn are both a blessing and a curse for Miya.
A blessing as the young man is a responsible man, burdened by life and responsibilities as a father and yet still a good man. His presence with Sakura-chan's had changed the Inn's atmosphere.
Homura now have a shoulder to complain and have fun with. Having a friend of the same gender did wonders in an Inn filled with women.
Uzume have changed into a somewhat respectable girl, cutting her antics in the presence of a baby and finding a job in a bout of inspiration.
For Miya, Sakura-chan's presence are a double edged sword. Miya adored the infant, loved her like as if she was hers.
The bad part is that Sakura-chan is not hers. Sakura-chan is a reminder of what could be hers.
What if she didn't take it slow?
What if she pushed harder?
What if she just let her love take the lead?
Miya hate such thoughts yet it can't be helped.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miya sensed them coming from a mile away. The screaming also helped. Too bad it was far too late for her to move and not to mention, Sakura-chan fell asleep in her lap.
They came from above, crashing in the backyard like the artillery she onced danced on it's edges, a memory of blood and a mountain of bodies she cut down surfacing in her mind.
Despite that, Miya is still a fighter, the strongest among her ilk. As such, she managed to turn her body in time to shield the baby in her arms with her back as smoke and debris flung at the crashsite.
Then Sakura-chan started crying, startled awake from the sudden crash and loud noise.
Then came anger.
No, calling it anger wouldn't suffice.
Miya's livid.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Minato groaned from his spot on the crashsite. His body still in shock from the sudden flight and crash. Fortunately, he felt no injury. Musubi had cushioned his fall, using her body and two soft pillows to soften the crash for him while taking the blunt force of the crash.
"Minato-sama, are you alright?" Musubi asks, unharmed and still peppy as ever.
"Hhhmhmng." Minato replied, face buried to Musubi's chest as he lay on top of her.
Then a chill pass through their bodies. As if their very own instincts and bodies warning them of the upcoming danger. Finally, they noticed light footsteps and the sound of an infant crying.
Looking up, they both see a woman carrying a crying infant. The woman rocked the baby to calm them down yet her eyes we're trained on them. Her stare burrowed deep into their core, staring into their soul as if they have affronted her.
Then it appeared.
A Hanya mask stuck in a expression of absolute hatred. Lips snarled, showing bloody sharp teeth. It's eyes staring at them, tears of blood dripping down on its face. Accompanying the appearance of the Hanya is the loud and chaotic sound of chirping and buzzing insects. So loud it's deafening.
Then it disappeared.
"You both have one sentence to explain yourselves before I made you two suffer the consequences of displaying illicit activities and disturbing the peace in Izumo Inn."
Minato is really having a bad day today.
Meanwhile, Sakura giggles as she played with Miya's hair. She gets to see the demon again!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ring
"Hello, Miya-san? Did something happen in the Inn?" Shirou asked in the phonecall.
"No, nothing of sorts. Why you ask, Shirou-kun? Sakura's been behaving."
"I know. Just concerned. I saw something fly by the inn so I called." He replied, picking a screwdriver and tucking the phone in his ear and shoulder. Now where is that screw?
"Ah, you noticed that? It was nothing to be concerned of. I sorted it out."
"Good to know. Call me if something happens, I'll come home immediately." Screwing the screw in it's place, Shirou shook the door to test it's grip.
"No need. Just focus on the job. Sakura-chan is safe in my hands."
"Okay. Goodbye then and see you later at dinner." Shirou ended the call not because it's done but because a certain someone entered in his range.
Karasuba.
Even from across the building, the smell of blood still oozed around the bloodthirsty Sekirei. Said Sekirei is now approaching him.
"Oh, Sahashi-kun!"
"That's not my name." Shirou grunted, not looking at the woman emerging from the apartment stairs. When is she gonna stop calling him with a fake name?
Behind her, a curios pair trailing behind her. Both are similar to what manner creature Karasuba is.
The first one is short red haired girl in twin tails. The second one has a short grey hair, covered in bandages and scratches. Not to mention, her arms are covered in a gauntlet with poorly designed claws.
MBI has zero ideas in weapon making.
"A civilian?" The red haired girl said before addressing him, "Leave now, this is an investigation site!"
Shirou frowned. Is that why he smelled blood inside the apartment room? If so, where's the police and why the area is not covered in tape already. He was hired by the landlord to fix the broken door and the old man looked pretty shaky but kept quiet of it.
MBI again?
Instead of looking for answers, Shirou gave Karasuba a questioning look while continuing his work.
Karasuba shrugged, "Murder scene. A Sekirei is a suspect so MBI took over from the police." She said with a wry grin.
"Karasuba-sama! His a civilian!" The redhead hissed while the other one tilted her head.
"Aren't we supposed to investigate this one in priva-Ouch!" She asks, scratching her head lightly but forgot about her claws.
"Oh, this is one's are Haihaine and Benitsuba respectively. My coworkers in the Disciplinary squad." Karasuba said, pointing a thumb at the said coworkers and ignoring the two of them trying to stop her from talking more.
Not like they can stop her.
"Disciplinary squad?" Shirou raised an eyebrow, looking at the grey haired Sekirei up and down as if in disbelief at Karasuba's position.
A tick mark appeared on the woman's forehead. Insulted and rather peeved at the look. Just because she likes fighting doesn't mean she's not responsible enough to hold a position.
"I didn't know MBI police your kind." He continues to fix the door instead.
"It's unavoidable. Sekirei and MBI are under partnership." Karasuba sighs with a shrug. Meanwhile, her two coworkers just gave up.
"Oi, aren't you two too casual with one another?" Benitsuba complains, eyeing both of them with displeasure and suspicion.
"We're still have to investigate the crime scene, look for evidence and find our perp." She added.
Shirou hums, "How bad was it? All I can tell is that they had to clean up the room by a lot of bleach. I can smell if from here." He said.
That piqued Karasuba's interests.
"You can smell that from here? I don't." She says.
"Ah, like a dog?" Hahaine comments, this time avoiding in cutting herself as she stopped her sharp fingers from scratching her cheeks by an inch.
"This is a waste of time." Benitsuba mutters to herself. Shirou ignored her.
"Yeah I can smell it. Whatever mess left from the scene, they had to use a ton of bleach clean it up." Shirou said with a cringe. The smell can be ignored but the aftermath of the murder can only be surmised as messy if they needed much bleach to clean up.
"I'll be honest. It was a mess." Karasuba crossed her arms, "The murder was reported last night. Autopsy says time of death at late evening before the body is discovered not long after due to the disturbance. Wanna see the crime scene? We're still looking for our supposed suspect and checking the room today for some clues." She offered to Shirou.
"I'd rather not. I'm still working here." Shirou rejects the offer almost immediately. He already knows what she wants.
His opinion.
"Karasuba-sama, just leave him behind and let's get inside. The faster we end this, the faster we could get back to Natsuo." Benitsuba complains once more.
This time, Karasuba listened. She surrenders in annoying the young man this time. "Aw and here I thought we could bond on something." Shaking her head, she gave him a predatory look.
Shirou didn't like the look and was immediately guarded. What he didn't expect is for Karasuba to lean to his face, pushing her face close to his. The smell of sweet apples flooded his nose as her breath touched his face. Before he could react, a light peck landed on his lips before she pulled away with impish smile. She then strode inside the room with a happy mood.
Behind her, Hahaine and Benitsuba had their jaws hanging open. Eyes wide in shock and disbelief, brains not processing what they just witnessed.
"Aren't the two of you gonna join her?" Shirou asks, jolting the two of them back to the living world. Wordlessly, the two rushed inside.
Shirou shook his head.
Sekirei, what a curious bunch.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"What was that?!" Benitsuba hissed at her superior once inside.
"Hmm, what was what?" Karasuba hummed, rummaging the cabinets for anything.
"Don't screw with us! That! Outside! That guy!" Benitsuba gestured at the door where Shirou worked.
"Oh, Shirou-kun? He's a friend and dare I say it, future lover." Karasuba responded with a shy expression but the smirk only confounded the two.
"...Your unwinged. Yet you kissed him but no reaction." Haihaine said, eyes laser focused at her leader.
"Ho?" Noticing her stare, Karasuba stared back at the normally absent-minded Sekirei. Gone is the airheaded girl but a cold calculating girl that is normally reserved in battles.
"How?" Haihaine asks.
The why is silent in the question.
"Honestly, I don't know." Karasuba shrugged before her smile grew wider, "But I loved it that way! I liked him not because of something I can't control. Finding an Ashikabi? Who decides I need one. I'd rather not when there's a perfectly good specimen right outside."
"But he can't wing you with the lack of reaction. Minaka-sama had already arranged for Natsuo-sama as your Ashikabi, Karasuba-sama." Benitsuba hissed but was immediately silenced by Karasuba's glare.
"Does it look like I care."
Karasuba had already decided from the moment she met Shirou. She wouldn't be tied by an Ashikabi. She wouldn't listen to anyone otherwise. She might not get her wings, that's fine but she wouldn't look for an Ashikabi.
She already found him.
Not to mention, this arrangement doesn't affect her promises.
"Is it fine? Not to be winged but having a lover?" Haihaine asks out of the blue. Karasuba blinked before looking away with a small blush.
"I don't know yet." She didn't elaborate further before continuing her search.
Realizing they won't get anymore answers, both Sekirei went to work. Benitsuba kept on glancing at Karasuba with worry. Her heart in turmoil and fear. Natsuo-sama is supposed to be Karasuba-sama's Ashikabi. She didn't like it but it was arranged by he director, Minaka. Despite her displeasure, Karasuba's presence will keep Natsuo-sama's safety in the Sekirei plan. Afterall, Karasuba is the strongest Sekirei.
Yet now, they discovered said woman is Head over heels for some nobody. She needs to report this back to the director after this.
Meanwhile, Haihaine pondered what she just realized today. Sekirei can fall in love not just to their destined Ashikabi but to someone else too. With that kiss alone, Karasuba cemented that Shirou-san is not her Ashikabi. Karasuba is still registered as unwinged afterall.
Yet she pondered more. Why didn't she follow Karasuba's example and stayed unwinged till she found someone? Was she too impatient and just simply accepted MBI arrangements with Natsuo-sama?
On the other side, Karasuba simply smiled. Oh this will give headaches later down the line. She already knew that Benitsuba is gonna tattle to the director and report this incident. Naturally, MBI will look deep into Shirou to find out what lured her into his charms.
All part of her plans.
Right now, Takami is the only one investigating Shirou and using scarce MBI resources to find out what she needed to get back her lost son. The woman herself is getting impatient at the lack of results. As for Karasuba, she's loving the show if the woman slowly descending into a spiral of madness at the thought of her son being out of reach.
But in reality, Karasuba is becoming impatient herself.
She wants to know what Shirou did. She wants to know how he did what he did. She wants to learn the hidden secret the young man is hiding beneath his facade.
She wants to see the true monster hidden beneath his polite smile.
Between the two of them, Shirou Emiya is the true monster and have captivated Karasuba ever since they fought the first time. The first time she bled. The first time she got scarred. The first time she really felt someone like her.
Someone who is truly a monster and accepted it.
The following days, will be surely interesting.
~~~~~~~~~~~
In an alleyway, a figure lay on a flattened cardboard. They look dirty, courtesy of lack of sleep and lack of sustenance.
Which her stomach once reminded her.
Yashima grunted, pulling herself up to seat as she tuck her body in a ball. She had escaped MBI last night in desperation. In her haste, she didn't get to eat or acquire an MBI card. Not like the latter would be useful as her last Ashikabi abused it for illegal activities and got it suspended.
Speaking of her last Ashikabi, she felt nothing. She got the front row seat of seeing her Ashikabi get ripped and devoured violently, despite that she felt nothing. Not anguish, not fear, and certainly not guilt.
All she felt was relief.
It's wrong. It's feels wrong to find relief in someone's death but Junichi's? Yashima felt like a burden was lifted off her shoulders. Like a birdcage opened for her, letting finally fly freely without anything tying her down.
All because of that man.
Her cheeks heated up at the memory of that man. She doesn't know if he was Sekirei or not but she knows they are strong, stonger than her. Yet, he somehow gave her freedom, an impossible task. She remembered being terminated as Junichi's cries grew silent and then nothing. Then she found herself waking up in a capsule, panicking and very much alive.
She was not terminated.
As such, she has to find him. She must! And maybe, just a probability deep within her heart...
He might be her True Ashikabi.
~~~~~~~~
A/N
Health is still too poor.