Welp, slowly but surely we beez making progress. At this point the chapter is about 65-75% done. Hopefully it will be done before the end next month, but heck no promises.
In the meantime, here's something to whet your appetites.
Enjoy.
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Bleach is created by Tite Kubo and distributed by Weekly Shonen Jump,
Shueisha, Studio Pierrot, TV Tokyo, Adult Swim, & Viz Media LLC.
Seikirei is created by Sakurako Gokurakuin and distributed by Young Gangan,
Square Enix, Seven Arcs & Funimation Entertainment
No permission has been obtained from any of the copyright holders for the use of the
characters and situations from this series. This work of fiction is not for profit and not
intended to infringe on copyrighted intellectual property in any significant or harmful
way.
Should they, or any of their affiliates, request it, this non-profit story will
be taken off line as quickly as possible.
Any original characters, however, are owned by me. If you steal them, I shall hunt you
down and skewer your nuts. You want to use them? Just ask me first as I'll probably say
yes.
Feedback is encouraged. That's why I write. Also for the cookies.
And The Root Beer. The sweet, nectar-of-the-gods root beer.
Flames are pointless, as the author is a flaming retard.
...hold up, that's not what I meant. Uh, let's just start the story.
=========
"Argh," a man muttered as the light came on and brought his hand up to his face, shielding his eyes. All too briefly though the too bright light intensified before dulling quickly before a crinkling noise came to fore and the room darkened further. The bulb flickered a few more times before finally dimming, leaving the semi dark room illuminated as well as it could be.
"You sure can pick them," another voice dryly said, looking around at the shoddy brown colored two bed motel room that had seen far better days.
"Shut up," the other replied, rubbing his eyes as he made his way to the closest bed. "It's not like I know the area."
"Your stomach found a good place to eat but it leaves a lot to be desired for sleeping arrangements. Again, tell me why we're sharing?"
A withered sigh came as the figure sat on the bed, springs creaking so loudly that a grimace crossed his face before moving slightly to bounce up and down, the increasing the noise. He sighed. "Last room, remember, or were you not listening?"
"No, I was busy trying to figure out what the hell are we doing here while trying to fight down a migraine."
"Oh, I don't know...," the first muttered before a puzzled look came across his face. 'Why are we here?', he thought again for what seemed like a millionth time that day. It was night, and they had been in this town,
Kataku- no, Katama-, Karakuru or something or other. No car, no supplies, just seemingly dropped off so far from MBI headquarters without any reason for why. Not to mention the headaches he and his partner had been having.
'What the hell did we do?' he thought irritably. He didn't feel drunk, and he never did drugs, so what the hell did he eat or something? He looked up to find his partner gone, a clicking sound causing him to turn to where this dump's bathroom was supposed to be. A few muffled grunts could be heard signaling a prayer to the porcelain gods and he mumbled to himself once more.
"Nice to see you're a devout worshiper," Kurokawa quipped at his partner.
The door opened and his partner walked out. "Shut up," he said as he walked to the other bed.
"What the hell did you eat anyways?" Kurokawa asked. "I mean, if you're gonna be makin' donations all night I should know if I need to get the gas mask out."
"If I feel nauseous again, you'll know. Believe me," his partner retorted. "Anyways, did you figure out what we're supposed to be doing here yet?"
"Kinda hard to think with you retching all over the place," Kurokara sniped. "I was about to call HQ, see if they could tell us."
"You sure that's wise?" his partner asked.
"No, I'm pretty sure that it's tantamount to career suicide," Kurosawa answered as he pulled out his cell phone. "But unless you start remembering why the fuck we're here I'm shit outta options!"
"Man do you have to curse so much?" his partner asked.
"If it helps me deal with stress then then fuck you and the dude you suck you fat motherfucker," Kurosawa replied as he dialed in.
"God you're an ass."
"That's what your boyfriend said I'll bet."
"Whatever," he grunted before sitting and rubbing his head. "Just call them so we can get this over with."
"Sure thing partner," Kurosawa sarcastically growled as he put the phone to his ear. "Yeah, Kurosawa reporting in. Pass-code one-zero-eight-sugar-carrot-lace."
After a moment a distorted voice responded, "Good evening Agent Kurosawa."
"Good evening HQ," Kurosawa responded.
"Report," the voice responded.
"Ah..." Kurosawa paused.
"Report," the voice beckoned again after a moment of silence.
"That's the thing..." Kurosawa paused. "I... I kind of need some clarification."
"Continue."
Kurosawa cleared his throat as his voice took a nervous tone, "I... I kind of need you to... to repeat our order."
Silence.
"Repeat."
"Yes," Kurosawa replied. "We... we seem to have forgotten our mission."
A pause before a deep breath. "All of it?"
Silence.
"Explain."
"Ah," Kurosawa paused again as more of his nerves entered his voice. "I don't know how, but we ended up in Karakura with no idea how we got there and my partner was pants-less."
Again with the silence.
"Come again?"
"I know," Kurosawa responded. "But we have no idea how we got there nor what our mission is. So I called for... for clarification on what we were supposed to be doing."
Pause.
"Ok," the voice responded. "This has been an amusing joke, but you can drop it now. *Report*."
"I... I'm not joking," Kurosawa answered. "We have no idea what our mission is supposed to be."
"Agent Kurosawa," the voice responded, unable to hide how hard it was to cover up their incredulity. "What is your current status?"
"I'm in a god-forsaken motel and my partner is looking green around the gills. And I have no idea where I am," Kurosawa answered. "My status is not well."
"Where is your vehicle?"
"My vehicle?" Kurosawa questioned.
"You don't know?"
"I. Don't. Know."
Silence.
"Tracking." A moment passed, the time before response seemingly an eternity until- "No signal. Agent, what have you been doing? Where is Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"Who?"
"Your target. To watch and maintain surveillance on Kurosaki Ichigo and his sekirei, Number Ten."
"That was our mission?," Kurosawa ventured.
"Yes. Your mission was to watch and, if necessary, call for backup in the event Kurosaki Ichigo exposes the true nature of his sekirei known to the outside public or if he should take his sekirei for use to a rival corporation. You are currently located in his home town of Karakura-cho, Hino, West Tokyo."
He grimaced as something came to fore from that info dump. "Wait, isn't that Izumi guy the owner of-"
"Izumi Higa has terms to not use his sekirei for that until if or when he is crowned the winner of the game."
Kurosawa sighed, "So we're supposed to track this Kurosaki brat and make sure he's not skipping town to sell Number Ten. Anything else?"
"He has already, as you've said, 'skipped town'. You are to ensure he does not do anything to expose the nature of his sekirei nor seek assistance for financial gain to a rival, among others. If so you are to contact MBI for backup to be able to deal with them."
"Right," Kurosawa paused for a moment before he asked, "Ummm... Did you find the van yet?"
"There is no signal available for your vehicle. You cannot recall how this occurred?"
"Like I said, me and my partner have no idea where we are or how we got here much less what happened to his pants or the van." He sighed. "Belive me I wish I was joking, but I'm not."
Another round of silence.
"Tomorrow you and your partner are to resume surveillance on Kurosaki Ichigo. We will be forwarding all pertinent info to your cell phone and will be adjusting your cards limit to allow you to purchase what you need until we are able to send another surveillance vehicle in the morning, which should arrive from seven a.m. to two p.m. We will give you rendezvous coordinates in the info packet. Set your cell phones to secure and we will be updating in a few moments."
"Roger that," Kurosawa replied. "Will that be all HQ?"
"That will be all. Resume surveillance procedure tomorrow."
-CLICK-
"Yes sir," he muttered before sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. Setting his phone to secure, he ran his hand through his hair. "Dammit all, that could've gone better."
"So, are we fired?" a weary voice muttered.
"Thanks to whatever deity's looking over us, no," Kurosawa answered. "We're gonna be back on duty tomorrow. But I know we're on thin ice as it is."
"How thin?"
"Thin enough that your fat ass better get a life jacket," Kurosawa answered. He sighed again, "Think I'm gonna be hitting the hay early. That call just about drained me."
The other sighed in agreement before turning over.
"This is gonna be a long mission," Kurosawa sighed. "I just know it."
=========
Ghostface211 presents
In Association with Wheeljack...
A Bleach - Sekirei Crossover
Veiled Moon
Feather Three: Goodbye Rolling Days
Comments, Constructive Criticism, and MST 3000's can go to ghostface211@gmail.com
=========
The next day...
It was mid morning back at Teito. The sun beat down overhead as Minato sat in his room and numbly eyed the ceiling, his mind drifting towards the previous day and the surprising information Musubi had delivered to him. The fact that she had picked a fight with Uzume made a bit more sense now that he knew she was a Sekirei, yet at the same time it brought a heaviness to his heart as it reminded him of Musubi's words and the reality that these super-human girls were in some kind of grand battle-royal.
He sighed as his thoughts went back to Uzume and the strange orange-haired man she had draped herself all over mere moments after the impromptu fight had ended. From the way she acted when he was around him, and the fact that she was a Sekirei, it stood to reason that Minato's new neighbor was Uzume's Ashikabi. He took and breath in a and blew it out as he couldn't help but wonder how that man felt about this whole competition. He hoped he was against it as the fewer problems, the better it would be for him to deal with in the long run.
He also had to wonder where the pair had gone. He had barely been able to introduce himself and in mere moments it seemed, Miya had informed them that they had left for Karakura and wouldn't be back for a few days. A paranoid part of him idly wondered if that was the truth or if they were they plotting something against him and Musubi. He quickly squashed that part of him into mush, they had just met after all and it was no use in wondering about what ifs and things of that nature until he had a better inkling of what the heck was going on in the first place.
Besides, he still had his own mess of a dream to figure out.
=========
Elsewhere...
An hour earlier and miles away from Maizon Izumo, Ichigo's eyes slowly opened as he awoke, his mind knowing it was early but still in advance of his alarm clock settings. He mumbled and smacked his lips as he took a breath in through his nose and blinked a few times to overcome his still blurry eyesight. He started to roll over to confirm the time on his clock with what he thought it was before he was aware enough to realize that someone's head was resting on his shoulder, impeding his progress. He caught himself and stopped, but by then it was too late. Uzume moaned quietly as she readjusted and slid over him until most of her upper body lay across his chest, yawned, then relaxed and sighed as she became silent once more.
He managed to fight off a blush as his mind idly drifted back to the events that had brought her into his room in the first place. With a slip that some people proclaimed was a teddy and at that angle and position where she was resting her head there was no way for him to avoid catching the swell of her one of her impressive breasts on his chest in his line of vision. He sighed as he tilted his head towards his wall, somewhat reluctantly away from her feminine wiles as he continued to wake up. He gulped as he thought about those very same feminine wiles that he nearly succumbed to last night.
He finally admitted it to both Uzume and himself last night. He liked the girl who laid content on him and in his left arm. It surprised him, but at the same time he found that he really couldn't say that he was shocked.
All the weekends that he had spent in that boarding house with her had made their impact.
His eyes narrowed slightly as another thought penetrated his head and he sucked in a breath. This was *not* Maizon Izumo, and his usual alarm clock had yet to make *his* appearance. He rose slightly, more awake now and bringing the sekirei sleeping on his chest to stir slightly.
"Hm?" Uzume let out drowsily, her head lifting slightly. "Is it morning already?"
Ichigo smirked. "Ah. It's morning," he confirmed for her as his eyes then looked around his room as best he could from his angle.
"That's nice..." she said softly, smiling with her eyes still closed. "Now lay back down for me pillow man, I'm not ready for the world yet," she breathed as she snuggled back into his chest.
Ichigo briefly looked around again and sighed, almost completely awake now. He flicked his eyes to the window - shades closed, no draft, still a possibility of his old man using it for an entrance.
Not that that minor detail would stop him but...
"Look, I know you want to sleep in but its not a good idea right now."
"Don't be silly," she lazily got out. "It's a great idea. Now lay down."
"Uzume," Ichigo stressed her name. "I told you my pops is psycho, remember? He could be here any second, and I really, really do not want to give him any fodder to work with...."
"He's not crazy, he's awesome," Uzume commented. "Now go back to sleep."
"Uzume," he said again. "I've lived with that man for eighteen years. Trust me, he's crazy. Nearly everyday since I was fourteen has been started with some kind of crazy attack. I would rather us be out of sight all-together when that happens."
"You're so silly," Uzume yawned out as her eyes opened. She pouted cutely as she looked up at him. "But now I'm awake before I was ready. Thanks a lot."
"I'll make it up to you somehow," he said, moving his head back and forth and then suddenly turning up to monitor the ceiling. Renji and the others used that once...
"Here's a thought," Uzume began as she brought a hand to his face to tilt back down away from the ceiling, why she couldn't get, and back to her. Ichigo blinked as Uzume smirked slightly at him, "How's about you make it up to me right now?"
"How-," was all he got out until Uzume moved herself upward and kissed him tenderly.
For a few seconds Ichigo lost himself as his tongue played with hers, blinking as she pulled away, smiling at him. He was about to smile back when his mind registered the dimming lights from her wings, reminding him of what she was and were they were at as he suddenly went rigid as he sat up, looking around again far more intently this time now that he had the room to.
Her smile turned into a confused frown as she propped her head up on an elbow, watching him. "Ok, what's up with you really?"
"I'm not joking with you, Uzume. My old man is bound to show up sooner or later."
That was when her frown turned into a deadpan look and her eyes became half lidded as she gazed at him, "You can't be serious."
"The windows have been replaced four times, we've spackled the wall eight times and re-coated it six times," Ichigo mumbled as he began to list, scratching his head and looking around, remembering all those past instances and how they occurred.
Uzume sighed and closed her eyes. "Look if you don't wanna make out with me, you could've just said so."
"Making out with you is much more fun than having to...," Ichigo trailed off, his face turning a hard red as he realized what he said. "Come on," he said stiffly, now getting out from under the blanket and off the bed.
"Better to head out now and cut him off," he proclaimed, going to his closet to look for clothes.
"What was that?" Uzume asked, grinning at his expression and leering at his waistline.
"Nothing, let's go," he said quickly, ignoring her gaze and putting an arm through a shirt as he kept a ready air about him.
"Not until you finish what you were about to say!" Uzume pouted, sitting up now on his bed indian style, the blanket they had both been under now pulled halfway off the bed, and not bothering to pull up a strap that had fallen precariously low off her shoulder.
He quickly skimmed off his sweatpants and literally hopped into his jeans, zipping them up quickly. "I'll let you get changed and head off pops in case he's already waiting up here!" he finished and went for the door.
"Get back her you!" Uzume growled, reaching out to him before crossing her arms under her breasts as the door shut behind him. "Oh, that Ichigo..." she began as she glared at the door. "He is such a tease!"
And thus, another morning in the Kurosaki household came to a glorious beginning.
=========
Outside his room with his door behind him, Ichigo sighed in relief as he felt his heartbeat slowdown to a reasonable rate and the blood fade from his cheeks. Truly, it was a stroke of luck that he had managed to get out of that situation before his idiot pops managed to launch his usual sneak attack. Honestly the last thing he he needed was to give that man-child any more ammo to use against him in his war to completely embarrass him.
At that, he turned his head and looked across the hallway cautiously, making sure that the fool wasn't hiding out here waiting for him to be alone. It would figure he'd be trying to put on his best face for Uzume to make him look like a idiot. A feat that if going by the sekirei's reaction in his room was kind of successful. He frowned as he grabbed his jeans waistline and re-adjusted himself. There was something else she had proven successful in doing this morning as well.
After a few minutes of silence Ichigo slowly began to be fully convinced that his father was not about to jump out of one of the bedrooms and launch an idiotic attack before came down the stairs. The smells of a western breakfast wafted towards his nostrils as he made his way to and descended the stairwell. When he entered the living area, he was greeted with an odd sight.
Yuzu was in the kitchen, cooking yet another delicious meal. And Karin was sitting, waiting at her usual spot, that much he could see. Nothing out of the ordinary there. It was the other person sitting that was so damn disturbing.
Isshin was sitting at the table, reading a newspaper and wearing... were those reading glasses? And was that a pipe in his mouth? What the hell?!
Ichigo gave Karin a glance who shrugged helplessly before extending two fingers to her side nonchalantly and poking at the empty space.
"Ah!," Cried Isshin as he noticed Ichigo standing in the stairway. "Good morning, Ichigo! How are you this fine spring morning?"
Ichigo gave Isshin a flat look as his father folded up the newspaper, ."..Ok who are you and what have you done with my pops?"
Isshin simply chuckled, "Oh my son you are quite the comedian aren't you?"
Ichigo continued to stare at him as he cautiously took his seat. Idly wondering if he had stepped into a parallel universe and this was Evil Isshin or something. That would probably be an improvement... "Whatever," he grunted finally. "You mind telling me what you're up to with this getup?"
"This getup?" Isshin blinked in confusion. "Why whatever do you mean my son? This is my traditional morning attire. Was your night with Uzume-chan too rough son?"
At the stove, Yuzu ground her teeth and glared at the skillet in her hand at the mention of the new girl in her brother's life. "His room," she muttered quietly. ."..She was in his room... doing... doing..."
Karin looked at her twin sister muttering in the kitchen and palmed her face. Oh this was the promising start to a glorious day, that was certain.
Ichigo, naturally, did not notice as he looked at his father with suspicion clear in his eyes. "Y'know I'm not even gonna dignify that question with a response."
"And what is with this hostility my son?," Isshin gasped in saddened surprise. "And after all the trouble I went through to ensure you two were not to be disturbed this morning!"
At the stove Yuzu blinked.
Pause.
"What." Ichigo flatly responded.
Isshin shook his head sadly. "Yes, seeing as you two will soon be married and all, I thought it only right that you two got used to your regular routine in the morning. So I, as you honorable and loving father, decided to let you two newlyweds have a private morning. Honestly, I'm quite surprised to see you up as early as you are."
"What." Ichigo repeated.
"She was in his room...doing this and that... but my brother can't... he wouldn't... not with that... that..." Yuzu muttered angrily as her grip on the skillet grew all the tighter.
Karin poked another persistent spirit aside as she glanced at her seemingly shell shocked brother. Yep, this day was already off to a glorious start.
"Good morning!," chirped Uzume as she appeared down the stairs and into the kitchen. She was dressed in a long sleeve black top and a pair of blue jeans as she smiled sunnily at the Kurosaki clan.
Isshin smiled, "Good morning Uzume-chan!"
"What." Ichigo responded again as he continued to stare at this man who somewhat looked like his father, but was now officially his evil alter world counterpart. That was the only reasonable explanation to this madness.
Uzume blinked puzzled as she looked at her Ashikabi and then looked at Isshin, "Something wrong with Ichigo, papa?"
Ichigo gurked at Uzume's question. Isshin shrugged, "That I cannot say my daughter." Isshin brought a hand to his chin and tilted his head. "He has been acting rather peculiar this morning. Did you two do something to affect his memory last night?"
Unseen, Yuzu clenched her fists.
Uzume sighed as she hung her head sadly, "No. I still couldn't get Ichigo to ravish me, papa."
Karin pressed her lips together as Yuzu relaxed slightly at the sekirei's words of disappointment. Damn, it was tough being the sane one in this house. Isshin meanwhile, gave Ichigo a disseminated look as he rolled up his newspaper and bopped his son over his shell shocked head.
Ichigo blinked at the sensation, "What the hell was that for?"
"Oh my son!" Isshin sighed dramatically, "I cannot believe the shame and dishonor you have brought upon the Kurosaki name!!"
"Well I did learn from the best," He dryly replied.
"This is no time for such sarcasm, Ichigo!!" Isshin responded. "To leave your fiancee so... so unfulfilled... it is not just a stain of shame on our clan, but a stain of shame to men in general!!"
Ichigo groaned as he palmed his face, "You know what? Screw it, I give up trying to make sense of this situation."
"He's right you know," Uzume grinned coyly as she turned towards him. "It's not nice to leave me hanging like you did." She turned back to Isshin and gave the Kurosaki patriarch a mock look of hurt, "Did you know he tried to use you as an excuse to not stay in bed with me?"
Isshin gasped and turned on his son, "How... how horrible!!! What kind of a man uses his own father as a scapegoat for avoiding his woman?!"
Ichigo and Karin just gave their father a flat stare in response.
Uzume rose from her seat and patted the man's shoulder comfortingly, "There, there papa. It's not his fault, he's just shy."
Isshin clasped Uzume's hand and looked up at the Sekirei, a tearful look mixed with hope and anticipation. "Oh my daughter! You... you are far too good for my son." Clutching his forearm to his face, he futilely held back a stream of manly tears, "I knew I was right to entrust my foolish son to you!!"
Ichigo groaned as Uzume smiled at Isshin reassuringly, "I can't believe she's buying this." he muttered.
Karin sighed as she poked another stray spirit aside, "I can't believe how far goat-chin's willing to go for this deception. Especially since it's your graduation day and all."
Ichigo blinked and groaned anew as he looked for the clock, "Ah damn, I can't believe I almost forgot about that." He ran a hand through his hair as he confirmed the time. "Still got an hour and a half or so before the thing starts though."
Uzume and Isshin turned back to Ichigo, "An hour and a half?!," Uzume cried with a bright smile on her face.
Ichigo looked up at them and frowned deeply, ."..Get that look off your face right now."
"Papa." Uzume began, ignoring her Ashikabi.
"Yes, my daughter?" Isshin asked.
"How long would it take for all of us to get to Ichigo's school?"
"Long enough for you to make a man out of him and get a shower," Isshin answered. "I give you my blessing daughter!"
"Thank you papa!" Uzume chirped as she reached for Ichigo's arm.
-THWOCK-
The group at the table stared blankly at the spatula that had embedded itself vertically into the table inches from Uzume's hand. Slowly, the family turned to find Yuzu smiling pleasantly at the group, but with a tight grip upon the frying pan. "You shouldn't play at the table like that," Yuzu spoke as calmly as she could. Almost as if she was holding herself back for some reason. "Not on such an important day in Ichi-nii's life."
Isshin, Uzume and Karin just nodded dumbly while Ichigo just sat there in an almost catatonic state.
"Sorry," Uzume mewed, backing up.
Yuzu didn't acknowledge the apology as she briskly walked to the spatula. "Breakfast will be ready soon," she spat. "I would suggest that you all sit quietly and wait for it to be finished, ok?"
The assembled group nodded dumbly as Yuzu pulled out the spatula and went back to finishing the meal.
"Your little sister reminds me of Miya," Uzume whispered to Ichigo as she re-took her seat.
"I can see how," he answered as he continued to eye his little sister oddly, wondering when his youngest sibling had become so radically different. He sighed, "It's too early for this."
In the kitchen, Yuzu simply smiled as she continued to put the finishing touches on the pancakes in the skillet. There was nothing more satisfying than letting a rival know her place in the hierarchy after all.
=========
Back to Teito...
VA-WOOSH-
With that, Minato washed his hands and dried them as he exited the washroom and stretched, yawning as his right arm went out and his left curl up behind his head. Shuddering a bit he relaxed and shut the door behind him.
He blinked as thoughts of last nights dream came to fore once more. Again with that girl. Who was she? And why was she in trouble? He began to walk down the hall to the dining room to bid the landlady welcome when a thud and cry came forth.
'That sounded like..', he thought in realization as he rushed to the open engawa.
And his mouth dropped open as he stared at the scene before him.
Musubi was practicably invading his landlord's personal space, her eyes blazing with admiration and intensity as she clutched her hands into fists. "Landlady-san! That was amazing! Would you spar with me?!"
Spar?' Minato thought for a second before he paled as he remembered what sparing meant. 'Oh no!'
Miya simply giggled at Musubi's enthusiasm. "I don't see why not. It would make for a wonderful exercise before breakfast wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes!" Musubi nodded as she took up a stance. "Please take care of me!"
'Oh no' Minato thought. 'This is bad! Bad, bad, bad, baaaaaaaaaad! Miya-san's a normal human! Musubi-chan'll kill her by accident!'
"Yes," Miya said as she smiled pleasantly. "And I would ask the same of you."
'I have to do something!' Minato though as his mind raced in panic. 'I can't be an accessory to accidental homicide! I haven't even made it into a decent school yet!' Noting Musubi's feet as the planted firmly into the ground, his mind quickly reached a conclusion. 'No time! I gotta risk it!'
"I'm ready!," Musubi shouted.
"Come," Miya called, taking her stance.
And go forth Minato did. With a speed that surprised himself and the two who were about to spar both turned with surprised eyes to see him charging towards Musubi. "Minat-aah!," Musubi gasped as Minato tackled her from the side. Both landed with a thud, a small cloud of dust rising from the area of their impact.
Miya blinked, still in her stance as she looked at where the two had landed.
"Minato-sama~," Musubi mewled.
Minato blinked, thinking how much that fall didn't hurt, and that it was like he had been cushio.....oh no... He gulped, as he realized that yes, two soft mounds had indeed cushioned his fall, and that he was still 'buried' within them. "Uh..."
"Minato-san?," a chilly voice called out.
With a chill running up his back, he stiffly rose to a crouching position and turned, eyes wide at what he knew would be there. "Y-y-yes?"
"While I am fully aware of the fact that you are a new resident," Miya began in a sweet tone that could not mask the malice behind it. "Besides violence I will not tolerate lewd behavior out of my residents. Are we clear?"
"Y-Y-Yes ma'am!" Minato squeaked. "I'm sorry! I was just.. I was just..."
"Minato-sama," Musubi cut in. "Did you slip on something?"
Minato blinked and turned back to Musubi, "Huh?"
"Well I thought you might have wanted to spar with us too, but you slipped and fell on the grass or something."
"Uh, no." Minato shook his head negative. "I was trying to keep you and the landlady from fighting."
Musubi blinked in confusion, "Huh? But why?"
"Musubi," he whispered. "She's just a normal human, you could hurt her!"
"But she's so strong!" Musubi countered. "I bet she could take it!"
"Musubi, no," he whispered a bit firmly, eyes turning to see Miya watching them in confusion. He turned them back to Musubi. "Please Musubi, don't."
Musubi pouted but nodded as she relented, "Alright Minato-sama."
Minato let out a sigh of relief at her answer. "Are you two done having your private meeting?" Miya asked. "I would like to return to our spar please."
"Oh there's no need for that," Minato smiled pleasantly as he got up to his feet. "Musubi-chan's changed her mind, right?"
Musubi nodded as Minato offered up his hand to her, "Yes Landlady-san. I'm sorry."
"Oh," she asked, surprised. "Why-ever for?"
"Because Minato-sama asked me not to," she answered.
She turned to look at Minato, mystified. "Is there a problem?"
"Ah no," he lied. "It's just that... well... it would be bad to fight on an empty stomach right?"
And at that moment...
-BUURRrrrUUURRuuuRRR-
Both turned to look at Musubi.
"Ehehehe," Musubi blushed and bonked her head in an embarrassed gesture. "Well I haven't had breakfast yet."
And with that Miya brought a hand to her mouth and giggled. "Don't worry, I'll have breakfast ready shortly then." And with that, she changed the grip on her sword as she turned to head back into the inn. "If you'll excuse me, I'll get started on it," she said, walking in.
Minato sighed in relief as she waled away from them. 'Barely dodged that bullet.' he thought.
"And after breakfast, we can have that sparring match." Miya chirped before she disappeared.
"Really?" Musubi cried as her eyes sparkled in excitement.
'Oh crap,' Minato thought. 'Looks like someone had another barrel.'
=========
More 2 come soon...
In the meantime, here's something to whet your appetites.
Enjoy.
===================================================================================
Bleach is created by Tite Kubo and distributed by Weekly Shonen Jump,
Shueisha, Studio Pierrot, TV Tokyo, Adult Swim, & Viz Media LLC.
Seikirei is created by Sakurako Gokurakuin and distributed by Young Gangan,
Square Enix, Seven Arcs & Funimation Entertainment
No permission has been obtained from any of the copyright holders for the use of the
characters and situations from this series. This work of fiction is not for profit and not
intended to infringe on copyrighted intellectual property in any significant or harmful
way.
Should they, or any of their affiliates, request it, this non-profit story will
be taken off line as quickly as possible.
Any original characters, however, are owned by me. If you steal them, I shall hunt you
down and skewer your nuts. You want to use them? Just ask me first as I'll probably say
yes.
Feedback is encouraged. That's why I write. Also for the cookies.
And The Root Beer. The sweet, nectar-of-the-gods root beer.
Flames are pointless, as the author is a flaming retard.
...hold up, that's not what I meant. Uh, let's just start the story.
=========
"Argh," a man muttered as the light came on and brought his hand up to his face, shielding his eyes. All too briefly though the too bright light intensified before dulling quickly before a crinkling noise came to fore and the room darkened further. The bulb flickered a few more times before finally dimming, leaving the semi dark room illuminated as well as it could be.
"You sure can pick them," another voice dryly said, looking around at the shoddy brown colored two bed motel room that had seen far better days.
"Shut up," the other replied, rubbing his eyes as he made his way to the closest bed. "It's not like I know the area."
"Your stomach found a good place to eat but it leaves a lot to be desired for sleeping arrangements. Again, tell me why we're sharing?"
A withered sigh came as the figure sat on the bed, springs creaking so loudly that a grimace crossed his face before moving slightly to bounce up and down, the increasing the noise. He sighed. "Last room, remember, or were you not listening?"
"No, I was busy trying to figure out what the hell are we doing here while trying to fight down a migraine."
"Oh, I don't know...," the first muttered before a puzzled look came across his face. 'Why are we here?', he thought again for what seemed like a millionth time that day. It was night, and they had been in this town,
Kataku- no, Katama-, Karakuru or something or other. No car, no supplies, just seemingly dropped off so far from MBI headquarters without any reason for why. Not to mention the headaches he and his partner had been having.
'What the hell did we do?' he thought irritably. He didn't feel drunk, and he never did drugs, so what the hell did he eat or something? He looked up to find his partner gone, a clicking sound causing him to turn to where this dump's bathroom was supposed to be. A few muffled grunts could be heard signaling a prayer to the porcelain gods and he mumbled to himself once more.
"Nice to see you're a devout worshiper," Kurokawa quipped at his partner.
The door opened and his partner walked out. "Shut up," he said as he walked to the other bed.
"What the hell did you eat anyways?" Kurokawa asked. "I mean, if you're gonna be makin' donations all night I should know if I need to get the gas mask out."
"If I feel nauseous again, you'll know. Believe me," his partner retorted. "Anyways, did you figure out what we're supposed to be doing here yet?"
"Kinda hard to think with you retching all over the place," Kurokara sniped. "I was about to call HQ, see if they could tell us."
"You sure that's wise?" his partner asked.
"No, I'm pretty sure that it's tantamount to career suicide," Kurosawa answered as he pulled out his cell phone. "But unless you start remembering why the fuck we're here I'm shit outta options!"
"Man do you have to curse so much?" his partner asked.
"If it helps me deal with stress then then fuck you and the dude you suck you fat motherfucker," Kurosawa replied as he dialed in.
"God you're an ass."
"That's what your boyfriend said I'll bet."
"Whatever," he grunted before sitting and rubbing his head. "Just call them so we can get this over with."
"Sure thing partner," Kurosawa sarcastically growled as he put the phone to his ear. "Yeah, Kurosawa reporting in. Pass-code one-zero-eight-sugar-carrot-lace."
After a moment a distorted voice responded, "Good evening Agent Kurosawa."
"Good evening HQ," Kurosawa responded.
"Report," the voice responded.
"Ah..." Kurosawa paused.
"Report," the voice beckoned again after a moment of silence.
"That's the thing..." Kurosawa paused. "I... I kind of need some clarification."
"Continue."
Kurosawa cleared his throat as his voice took a nervous tone, "I... I kind of need you to... to repeat our order."
Silence.
"Repeat."
"Yes," Kurosawa replied. "We... we seem to have forgotten our mission."
A pause before a deep breath. "All of it?"
Silence.
"Explain."
"Ah," Kurosawa paused again as more of his nerves entered his voice. "I don't know how, but we ended up in Karakura with no idea how we got there and my partner was pants-less."
Again with the silence.
"Come again?"
"I know," Kurosawa responded. "But we have no idea how we got there nor what our mission is. So I called for... for clarification on what we were supposed to be doing."
Pause.
"Ok," the voice responded. "This has been an amusing joke, but you can drop it now. *Report*."
"I... I'm not joking," Kurosawa answered. "We have no idea what our mission is supposed to be."
"Agent Kurosawa," the voice responded, unable to hide how hard it was to cover up their incredulity. "What is your current status?"
"I'm in a god-forsaken motel and my partner is looking green around the gills. And I have no idea where I am," Kurosawa answered. "My status is not well."
"Where is your vehicle?"
"My vehicle?" Kurosawa questioned.
"You don't know?"
"I. Don't. Know."
Silence.
"Tracking." A moment passed, the time before response seemingly an eternity until- "No signal. Agent, what have you been doing? Where is Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"Who?"
"Your target. To watch and maintain surveillance on Kurosaki Ichigo and his sekirei, Number Ten."
"That was our mission?," Kurosawa ventured.
"Yes. Your mission was to watch and, if necessary, call for backup in the event Kurosaki Ichigo exposes the true nature of his sekirei known to the outside public or if he should take his sekirei for use to a rival corporation. You are currently located in his home town of Karakura-cho, Hino, West Tokyo."
He grimaced as something came to fore from that info dump. "Wait, isn't that Izumi guy the owner of-"
"Izumi Higa has terms to not use his sekirei for that until if or when he is crowned the winner of the game."
Kurosawa sighed, "So we're supposed to track this Kurosaki brat and make sure he's not skipping town to sell Number Ten. Anything else?"
"He has already, as you've said, 'skipped town'. You are to ensure he does not do anything to expose the nature of his sekirei nor seek assistance for financial gain to a rival, among others. If so you are to contact MBI for backup to be able to deal with them."
"Right," Kurosawa paused for a moment before he asked, "Ummm... Did you find the van yet?"
"There is no signal available for your vehicle. You cannot recall how this occurred?"
"Like I said, me and my partner have no idea where we are or how we got here much less what happened to his pants or the van." He sighed. "Belive me I wish I was joking, but I'm not."
Another round of silence.
"Tomorrow you and your partner are to resume surveillance on Kurosaki Ichigo. We will be forwarding all pertinent info to your cell phone and will be adjusting your cards limit to allow you to purchase what you need until we are able to send another surveillance vehicle in the morning, which should arrive from seven a.m. to two p.m. We will give you rendezvous coordinates in the info packet. Set your cell phones to secure and we will be updating in a few moments."
"Roger that," Kurosawa replied. "Will that be all HQ?"
"That will be all. Resume surveillance procedure tomorrow."
-CLICK-
"Yes sir," he muttered before sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. Setting his phone to secure, he ran his hand through his hair. "Dammit all, that could've gone better."
"So, are we fired?" a weary voice muttered.
"Thanks to whatever deity's looking over us, no," Kurosawa answered. "We're gonna be back on duty tomorrow. But I know we're on thin ice as it is."
"How thin?"
"Thin enough that your fat ass better get a life jacket," Kurosawa answered. He sighed again, "Think I'm gonna be hitting the hay early. That call just about drained me."
The other sighed in agreement before turning over.
"This is gonna be a long mission," Kurosawa sighed. "I just know it."
=========
Ghostface211 presents
In Association with Wheeljack...
A Bleach - Sekirei Crossover
Veiled Moon
Feather Three: Goodbye Rolling Days
Comments, Constructive Criticism, and MST 3000's can go to ghostface211@gmail.com
=========
The next day...
It was mid morning back at Teito. The sun beat down overhead as Minato sat in his room and numbly eyed the ceiling, his mind drifting towards the previous day and the surprising information Musubi had delivered to him. The fact that she had picked a fight with Uzume made a bit more sense now that he knew she was a Sekirei, yet at the same time it brought a heaviness to his heart as it reminded him of Musubi's words and the reality that these super-human girls were in some kind of grand battle-royal.
He sighed as his thoughts went back to Uzume and the strange orange-haired man she had draped herself all over mere moments after the impromptu fight had ended. From the way she acted when he was around him, and the fact that she was a Sekirei, it stood to reason that Minato's new neighbor was Uzume's Ashikabi. He took and breath in a and blew it out as he couldn't help but wonder how that man felt about this whole competition. He hoped he was against it as the fewer problems, the better it would be for him to deal with in the long run.
He also had to wonder where the pair had gone. He had barely been able to introduce himself and in mere moments it seemed, Miya had informed them that they had left for Karakura and wouldn't be back for a few days. A paranoid part of him idly wondered if that was the truth or if they were they plotting something against him and Musubi. He quickly squashed that part of him into mush, they had just met after all and it was no use in wondering about what ifs and things of that nature until he had a better inkling of what the heck was going on in the first place.
Besides, he still had his own mess of a dream to figure out.
=========
Elsewhere...
An hour earlier and miles away from Maizon Izumo, Ichigo's eyes slowly opened as he awoke, his mind knowing it was early but still in advance of his alarm clock settings. He mumbled and smacked his lips as he took a breath in through his nose and blinked a few times to overcome his still blurry eyesight. He started to roll over to confirm the time on his clock with what he thought it was before he was aware enough to realize that someone's head was resting on his shoulder, impeding his progress. He caught himself and stopped, but by then it was too late. Uzume moaned quietly as she readjusted and slid over him until most of her upper body lay across his chest, yawned, then relaxed and sighed as she became silent once more.
He managed to fight off a blush as his mind idly drifted back to the events that had brought her into his room in the first place. With a slip that some people proclaimed was a teddy and at that angle and position where she was resting her head there was no way for him to avoid catching the swell of her one of her impressive breasts on his chest in his line of vision. He sighed as he tilted his head towards his wall, somewhat reluctantly away from her feminine wiles as he continued to wake up. He gulped as he thought about those very same feminine wiles that he nearly succumbed to last night.
He finally admitted it to both Uzume and himself last night. He liked the girl who laid content on him and in his left arm. It surprised him, but at the same time he found that he really couldn't say that he was shocked.
All the weekends that he had spent in that boarding house with her had made their impact.
His eyes narrowed slightly as another thought penetrated his head and he sucked in a breath. This was *not* Maizon Izumo, and his usual alarm clock had yet to make *his* appearance. He rose slightly, more awake now and bringing the sekirei sleeping on his chest to stir slightly.
"Hm?" Uzume let out drowsily, her head lifting slightly. "Is it morning already?"
Ichigo smirked. "Ah. It's morning," he confirmed for her as his eyes then looked around his room as best he could from his angle.
"That's nice..." she said softly, smiling with her eyes still closed. "Now lay back down for me pillow man, I'm not ready for the world yet," she breathed as she snuggled back into his chest.
Ichigo briefly looked around again and sighed, almost completely awake now. He flicked his eyes to the window - shades closed, no draft, still a possibility of his old man using it for an entrance.
Not that that minor detail would stop him but...
"Look, I know you want to sleep in but its not a good idea right now."
"Don't be silly," she lazily got out. "It's a great idea. Now lay down."
"Uzume," Ichigo stressed her name. "I told you my pops is psycho, remember? He could be here any second, and I really, really do not want to give him any fodder to work with...."
"He's not crazy, he's awesome," Uzume commented. "Now go back to sleep."
"Uzume," he said again. "I've lived with that man for eighteen years. Trust me, he's crazy. Nearly everyday since I was fourteen has been started with some kind of crazy attack. I would rather us be out of sight all-together when that happens."
"You're so silly," Uzume yawned out as her eyes opened. She pouted cutely as she looked up at him. "But now I'm awake before I was ready. Thanks a lot."
"I'll make it up to you somehow," he said, moving his head back and forth and then suddenly turning up to monitor the ceiling. Renji and the others used that once...
"Here's a thought," Uzume began as she brought a hand to his face to tilt back down away from the ceiling, why she couldn't get, and back to her. Ichigo blinked as Uzume smirked slightly at him, "How's about you make it up to me right now?"
"How-," was all he got out until Uzume moved herself upward and kissed him tenderly.
For a few seconds Ichigo lost himself as his tongue played with hers, blinking as she pulled away, smiling at him. He was about to smile back when his mind registered the dimming lights from her wings, reminding him of what she was and were they were at as he suddenly went rigid as he sat up, looking around again far more intently this time now that he had the room to.
Her smile turned into a confused frown as she propped her head up on an elbow, watching him. "Ok, what's up with you really?"
"I'm not joking with you, Uzume. My old man is bound to show up sooner or later."
That was when her frown turned into a deadpan look and her eyes became half lidded as she gazed at him, "You can't be serious."
"The windows have been replaced four times, we've spackled the wall eight times and re-coated it six times," Ichigo mumbled as he began to list, scratching his head and looking around, remembering all those past instances and how they occurred.
Uzume sighed and closed her eyes. "Look if you don't wanna make out with me, you could've just said so."
"Making out with you is much more fun than having to...," Ichigo trailed off, his face turning a hard red as he realized what he said. "Come on," he said stiffly, now getting out from under the blanket and off the bed.
"Better to head out now and cut him off," he proclaimed, going to his closet to look for clothes.
"What was that?" Uzume asked, grinning at his expression and leering at his waistline.
"Nothing, let's go," he said quickly, ignoring her gaze and putting an arm through a shirt as he kept a ready air about him.
"Not until you finish what you were about to say!" Uzume pouted, sitting up now on his bed indian style, the blanket they had both been under now pulled halfway off the bed, and not bothering to pull up a strap that had fallen precariously low off her shoulder.
He quickly skimmed off his sweatpants and literally hopped into his jeans, zipping them up quickly. "I'll let you get changed and head off pops in case he's already waiting up here!" he finished and went for the door.
"Get back her you!" Uzume growled, reaching out to him before crossing her arms under her breasts as the door shut behind him. "Oh, that Ichigo..." she began as she glared at the door. "He is such a tease!"
And thus, another morning in the Kurosaki household came to a glorious beginning.
=========
Outside his room with his door behind him, Ichigo sighed in relief as he felt his heartbeat slowdown to a reasonable rate and the blood fade from his cheeks. Truly, it was a stroke of luck that he had managed to get out of that situation before his idiot pops managed to launch his usual sneak attack. Honestly the last thing he he needed was to give that man-child any more ammo to use against him in his war to completely embarrass him.
At that, he turned his head and looked across the hallway cautiously, making sure that the fool wasn't hiding out here waiting for him to be alone. It would figure he'd be trying to put on his best face for Uzume to make him look like a idiot. A feat that if going by the sekirei's reaction in his room was kind of successful. He frowned as he grabbed his jeans waistline and re-adjusted himself. There was something else she had proven successful in doing this morning as well.
After a few minutes of silence Ichigo slowly began to be fully convinced that his father was not about to jump out of one of the bedrooms and launch an idiotic attack before came down the stairs. The smells of a western breakfast wafted towards his nostrils as he made his way to and descended the stairwell. When he entered the living area, he was greeted with an odd sight.
Yuzu was in the kitchen, cooking yet another delicious meal. And Karin was sitting, waiting at her usual spot, that much he could see. Nothing out of the ordinary there. It was the other person sitting that was so damn disturbing.
Isshin was sitting at the table, reading a newspaper and wearing... were those reading glasses? And was that a pipe in his mouth? What the hell?!
Ichigo gave Karin a glance who shrugged helplessly before extending two fingers to her side nonchalantly and poking at the empty space.
"Ah!," Cried Isshin as he noticed Ichigo standing in the stairway. "Good morning, Ichigo! How are you this fine spring morning?"
Ichigo gave Isshin a flat look as his father folded up the newspaper, ."..Ok who are you and what have you done with my pops?"
Isshin simply chuckled, "Oh my son you are quite the comedian aren't you?"
Ichigo continued to stare at him as he cautiously took his seat. Idly wondering if he had stepped into a parallel universe and this was Evil Isshin or something. That would probably be an improvement... "Whatever," he grunted finally. "You mind telling me what you're up to with this getup?"
"This getup?" Isshin blinked in confusion. "Why whatever do you mean my son? This is my traditional morning attire. Was your night with Uzume-chan too rough son?"
At the stove, Yuzu ground her teeth and glared at the skillet in her hand at the mention of the new girl in her brother's life. "His room," she muttered quietly. ."..She was in his room... doing... doing..."
Karin looked at her twin sister muttering in the kitchen and palmed her face. Oh this was the promising start to a glorious day, that was certain.
Ichigo, naturally, did not notice as he looked at his father with suspicion clear in his eyes. "Y'know I'm not even gonna dignify that question with a response."
"And what is with this hostility my son?," Isshin gasped in saddened surprise. "And after all the trouble I went through to ensure you two were not to be disturbed this morning!"
At the stove Yuzu blinked.
Pause.
"What." Ichigo flatly responded.
Isshin shook his head sadly. "Yes, seeing as you two will soon be married and all, I thought it only right that you two got used to your regular routine in the morning. So I, as you honorable and loving father, decided to let you two newlyweds have a private morning. Honestly, I'm quite surprised to see you up as early as you are."
"What." Ichigo repeated.
"She was in his room...doing this and that... but my brother can't... he wouldn't... not with that... that..." Yuzu muttered angrily as her grip on the skillet grew all the tighter.
Karin poked another persistent spirit aside as she glanced at her seemingly shell shocked brother. Yep, this day was already off to a glorious start.
"Good morning!," chirped Uzume as she appeared down the stairs and into the kitchen. She was dressed in a long sleeve black top and a pair of blue jeans as she smiled sunnily at the Kurosaki clan.
Isshin smiled, "Good morning Uzume-chan!"
"What." Ichigo responded again as he continued to stare at this man who somewhat looked like his father, but was now officially his evil alter world counterpart. That was the only reasonable explanation to this madness.
Uzume blinked puzzled as she looked at her Ashikabi and then looked at Isshin, "Something wrong with Ichigo, papa?"
Ichigo gurked at Uzume's question. Isshin shrugged, "That I cannot say my daughter." Isshin brought a hand to his chin and tilted his head. "He has been acting rather peculiar this morning. Did you two do something to affect his memory last night?"
Unseen, Yuzu clenched her fists.
Uzume sighed as she hung her head sadly, "No. I still couldn't get Ichigo to ravish me, papa."
Karin pressed her lips together as Yuzu relaxed slightly at the sekirei's words of disappointment. Damn, it was tough being the sane one in this house. Isshin meanwhile, gave Ichigo a disseminated look as he rolled up his newspaper and bopped his son over his shell shocked head.
Ichigo blinked at the sensation, "What the hell was that for?"
"Oh my son!" Isshin sighed dramatically, "I cannot believe the shame and dishonor you have brought upon the Kurosaki name!!"
"Well I did learn from the best," He dryly replied.
"This is no time for such sarcasm, Ichigo!!" Isshin responded. "To leave your fiancee so... so unfulfilled... it is not just a stain of shame on our clan, but a stain of shame to men in general!!"
Ichigo groaned as he palmed his face, "You know what? Screw it, I give up trying to make sense of this situation."
"He's right you know," Uzume grinned coyly as she turned towards him. "It's not nice to leave me hanging like you did." She turned back to Isshin and gave the Kurosaki patriarch a mock look of hurt, "Did you know he tried to use you as an excuse to not stay in bed with me?"
Isshin gasped and turned on his son, "How... how horrible!!! What kind of a man uses his own father as a scapegoat for avoiding his woman?!"
Ichigo and Karin just gave their father a flat stare in response.
Uzume rose from her seat and patted the man's shoulder comfortingly, "There, there papa. It's not his fault, he's just shy."
Isshin clasped Uzume's hand and looked up at the Sekirei, a tearful look mixed with hope and anticipation. "Oh my daughter! You... you are far too good for my son." Clutching his forearm to his face, he futilely held back a stream of manly tears, "I knew I was right to entrust my foolish son to you!!"
Ichigo groaned as Uzume smiled at Isshin reassuringly, "I can't believe she's buying this." he muttered.
Karin sighed as she poked another stray spirit aside, "I can't believe how far goat-chin's willing to go for this deception. Especially since it's your graduation day and all."
Ichigo blinked and groaned anew as he looked for the clock, "Ah damn, I can't believe I almost forgot about that." He ran a hand through his hair as he confirmed the time. "Still got an hour and a half or so before the thing starts though."
Uzume and Isshin turned back to Ichigo, "An hour and a half?!," Uzume cried with a bright smile on her face.
Ichigo looked up at them and frowned deeply, ."..Get that look off your face right now."
"Papa." Uzume began, ignoring her Ashikabi.
"Yes, my daughter?" Isshin asked.
"How long would it take for all of us to get to Ichigo's school?"
"Long enough for you to make a man out of him and get a shower," Isshin answered. "I give you my blessing daughter!"
"Thank you papa!" Uzume chirped as she reached for Ichigo's arm.
-THWOCK-
The group at the table stared blankly at the spatula that had embedded itself vertically into the table inches from Uzume's hand. Slowly, the family turned to find Yuzu smiling pleasantly at the group, but with a tight grip upon the frying pan. "You shouldn't play at the table like that," Yuzu spoke as calmly as she could. Almost as if she was holding herself back for some reason. "Not on such an important day in Ichi-nii's life."
Isshin, Uzume and Karin just nodded dumbly while Ichigo just sat there in an almost catatonic state.
"Sorry," Uzume mewed, backing up.
Yuzu didn't acknowledge the apology as she briskly walked to the spatula. "Breakfast will be ready soon," she spat. "I would suggest that you all sit quietly and wait for it to be finished, ok?"
The assembled group nodded dumbly as Yuzu pulled out the spatula and went back to finishing the meal.
"Your little sister reminds me of Miya," Uzume whispered to Ichigo as she re-took her seat.
"I can see how," he answered as he continued to eye his little sister oddly, wondering when his youngest sibling had become so radically different. He sighed, "It's too early for this."
In the kitchen, Yuzu simply smiled as she continued to put the finishing touches on the pancakes in the skillet. There was nothing more satisfying than letting a rival know her place in the hierarchy after all.
=========
Back to Teito...
VA-WOOSH-
With that, Minato washed his hands and dried them as he exited the washroom and stretched, yawning as his right arm went out and his left curl up behind his head. Shuddering a bit he relaxed and shut the door behind him.
He blinked as thoughts of last nights dream came to fore once more. Again with that girl. Who was she? And why was she in trouble? He began to walk down the hall to the dining room to bid the landlady welcome when a thud and cry came forth.
'That sounded like..', he thought in realization as he rushed to the open engawa.
And his mouth dropped open as he stared at the scene before him.
Musubi was practicably invading his landlord's personal space, her eyes blazing with admiration and intensity as she clutched her hands into fists. "Landlady-san! That was amazing! Would you spar with me?!"
Spar?' Minato thought for a second before he paled as he remembered what sparing meant. 'Oh no!'
Miya simply giggled at Musubi's enthusiasm. "I don't see why not. It would make for a wonderful exercise before breakfast wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes!" Musubi nodded as she took up a stance. "Please take care of me!"
'Oh no' Minato thought. 'This is bad! Bad, bad, bad, baaaaaaaaaad! Miya-san's a normal human! Musubi-chan'll kill her by accident!'
"Yes," Miya said as she smiled pleasantly. "And I would ask the same of you."
'I have to do something!' Minato though as his mind raced in panic. 'I can't be an accessory to accidental homicide! I haven't even made it into a decent school yet!' Noting Musubi's feet as the planted firmly into the ground, his mind quickly reached a conclusion. 'No time! I gotta risk it!'
"I'm ready!," Musubi shouted.
"Come," Miya called, taking her stance.
And go forth Minato did. With a speed that surprised himself and the two who were about to spar both turned with surprised eyes to see him charging towards Musubi. "Minat-aah!," Musubi gasped as Minato tackled her from the side. Both landed with a thud, a small cloud of dust rising from the area of their impact.
Miya blinked, still in her stance as she looked at where the two had landed.
"Minato-sama~," Musubi mewled.
Minato blinked, thinking how much that fall didn't hurt, and that it was like he had been cushio.....oh no... He gulped, as he realized that yes, two soft mounds had indeed cushioned his fall, and that he was still 'buried' within them. "Uh..."
"Minato-san?," a chilly voice called out.
With a chill running up his back, he stiffly rose to a crouching position and turned, eyes wide at what he knew would be there. "Y-y-yes?"
"While I am fully aware of the fact that you are a new resident," Miya began in a sweet tone that could not mask the malice behind it. "Besides violence I will not tolerate lewd behavior out of my residents. Are we clear?"
"Y-Y-Yes ma'am!" Minato squeaked. "I'm sorry! I was just.. I was just..."
"Minato-sama," Musubi cut in. "Did you slip on something?"
Minato blinked and turned back to Musubi, "Huh?"
"Well I thought you might have wanted to spar with us too, but you slipped and fell on the grass or something."
"Uh, no." Minato shook his head negative. "I was trying to keep you and the landlady from fighting."
Musubi blinked in confusion, "Huh? But why?"
"Musubi," he whispered. "She's just a normal human, you could hurt her!"
"But she's so strong!" Musubi countered. "I bet she could take it!"
"Musubi, no," he whispered a bit firmly, eyes turning to see Miya watching them in confusion. He turned them back to Musubi. "Please Musubi, don't."
Musubi pouted but nodded as she relented, "Alright Minato-sama."
Minato let out a sigh of relief at her answer. "Are you two done having your private meeting?" Miya asked. "I would like to return to our spar please."
"Oh there's no need for that," Minato smiled pleasantly as he got up to his feet. "Musubi-chan's changed her mind, right?"
Musubi nodded as Minato offered up his hand to her, "Yes Landlady-san. I'm sorry."
"Oh," she asked, surprised. "Why-ever for?"
"Because Minato-sama asked me not to," she answered.
She turned to look at Minato, mystified. "Is there a problem?"
"Ah no," he lied. "It's just that... well... it would be bad to fight on an empty stomach right?"
And at that moment...
-BUURRrrrUUURRuuuRRR-
Both turned to look at Musubi.
"Ehehehe," Musubi blushed and bonked her head in an embarrassed gesture. "Well I haven't had breakfast yet."
And with that Miya brought a hand to her mouth and giggled. "Don't worry, I'll have breakfast ready shortly then." And with that, she changed the grip on her sword as she turned to head back into the inn. "If you'll excuse me, I'll get started on it," she said, walking in.
Minato sighed in relief as she waled away from them. 'Barely dodged that bullet.' he thought.
"And after breakfast, we can have that sparring match." Miya chirped before she disappeared.
"Really?" Musubi cried as her eyes sparkled in excitement.
'Oh crap,' Minato thought. 'Looks like someone had another barrel.'
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More 2 come soon...
