Next Part, GO.
=========================================================
Ikki walked out of her room, rubbing her arms up and down and repressed a cold shiver as she looked to and fro around the hallway as she walked past the kitchen. She saw Musubi and Minato at the engawa, talking to each other and thought about maybe seeing if Musubi-chan was up for a spar. Yeah, that's it! A good ole spar to get the mind off problems and-
She blinked as another figure came down into the hallway.
Uzume.
Uzume saw her and widened her eyes briefly at her in acknowledgment and went into the kitchen. Remembering that she went up to follow Ichigo after today's... interesting topic she thought biting her bottom lip... She decided to follow her into the kitchen. Seeing Uzume close the fridge with a canned soda the other Sekirei popped it open and took a swig before realizing she wasn't alone and turned around.
"Pah!" she squawked as she took the can away from her lips. "What's up?"
Ikki hemmed and hawwed a moment, looking around. As Uzume tilted her head to look at her with a raised eyebrow she spoke. "I-Ichigo-sama seemed really bothered by that ghost story, huh sis?"
"Yeah.. you could say that," Uzume answered, giving a soft sigh at what happened when she went up the stairs.
"He... he's just so silly, isn't he?" She got out before giggling loudly. And obnoxiously.
"Silly?" Uzume asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Y-yeah!" she nodded, looking around inconspicuosly as she puffed out her chest slightly. "Be-believing in ghosts and all that, how childish.... Ah ha... Ahahahahahahaha..."
"You don't belive in ghosts, huh?"
"N-no! Of course I wouldn't... Doyou?" she then blurted out in a low, deep voice, suddenly looking serious.
"I believe in things that can't be mentioned," she said, shuddering while unconsciously turning her head to look for a certain landlady. "I hope you never see them Ikki," she said solemnly.
"Thing...things that can't be mentioned...?" Ikki asked, the portion of her face above nose-line turning blue.
"Oh yes..." she then whispered, idly looking once more around to confirm no hannyas or masks were near by. "Make sure you're always a good girl Ikki. Never know what spirits might be around to punish the bad ones."
Ikki then squawked. "Y-yes! Uh-I-I-mean, really Uzume-san?" She said as she rapidly made her way to Uzume, almost looking to Uzume herself like someone had put Ikki on fastforward as she came and put an arm around her shoulder. "R-really, you're such a kidder, HAHAHAHAHA!"
Uzume gave her sister Sekirei an odd look, "Are... are you ok Ikki?"
"Jus-just fine, sis! Why do you ask? Haha haa~"
"Are... are you scared of ghosts maybe?"
"Me? Scared? Don't be silly... It's like I told th' kid, ghosts don't exist..." And with that she leaned back to look around, her head whipping left and right a few times before looking back at Uzume.
"Uh huh," Uzume sighed.
Ikki coffed into her hand before suddenly leanig into Uzume, a shy grin on her lips. "So... so... didja go up and give our Ashikabi a pep talk and cheer him up?"
"All I'll say is we had a nice talk and that's that," Uzume replied, a faint blush on her cheeks. Seeing Uzume blush Ikki stared at her, before her eyes narrowed and she mumbled and peered into Uzume's face well into the other Sekirei's comfort zone. "W-what?"
Ikki's half lidded stare then turned... sad? As Ikki's bottom lip puffed out and she said, "Did... did you do... something special to cheer him up?"
"N-no, we just talked is all."
"Just talked?"
"Yes, that's all," Uzume sighed. "Being married isn't all about making love y'know," she answered and took another swig.
Ikki's bottom lip began to tremble and her eyes watered. "You... you're such a good liar... Senseiiiiii~!!!" She then wailed and grabbed onto Uzume. "Teach meeee, pleeaasseee~"
Uzume spit out her drink and coughed. "Gaaah, gedoffmeh!" Uzume coughed out. "You're gonna wreck my shirt!" She shrieked when she realzied what was wet likely wasn't from Ikki's tears.
"Teach mee, pleeeeassee siissss~" Ikki pleaded as she pressed herself into Uzume further.
"Respect my personal space!"
=============
Several hours later...
The first sensation she registered was the pain that felt like it was centered right between her eyes. A throbbing pain would have made her want to close her eyes if they weren't already closed, and from the way she was now feeling whatever rest she wanted was slowly slipping away as full consciousness regained ahold on her. Groaning softly, her eyes opened and quickly closed, the light of whereever she was was still too much for her.
"Tsss-!", she hissed as she tried to raise an arm to bring to her face only for a sharp pain to stab her in her back. Or at least, that's how it felt.
'O...okay.... what happened?, she wondered.
After a moment she slowly raised her arm again and brought it to her face, ignoring the pain that she again felt travel up her body, albeit a bit less this time.
Suddenly, she froze.
'Karasuba', she realized as her eyes snapped open and her heart begin to race and panic began to set in.
Slowly the white light in her vision abated and was quickly replaced by her current surroundings, her quick breathing the loudest sound in what was a room of some sort.
Slowly her breathing began to calm as she again closed her eyes to try and cut off the pain that built up between them.
'I'm alive...', she realized before her eyes shot open again. 'Ikki-neechan!'
Without moving her head her eyes darted around the room, looking for her sister Sekirei. Not seeing her she brought her arms out and pushed before pausing, hissing. After a few more seconds she pressed against the ground and pushed herself up to a sitting position. Reaching the position her head dropped and her hair fell forward, covering much of her face as her palms rested on the floor while she squinted her eyes shut and grit her teeth.
Finally lifting her head she took a few deep breaths as she looked around the room in more detail. No, this wasn't the motel room that she and Ikki had been staying at for the last several days. For one thing that motel was as western flavored as you could get and this seemed much more... Japanese... she wondered, feeling slightly light headed as she looked around before blinking as her forearm caught her eye. No, forearms.
They had been bandaged. Blinking again she looked down and noticed her yukata. Brining her arms to her chest area she pulled the yukata open a bit, hissing slightly at the movement and from her back now completely supporting her. She had been bandaged pretty tightly, not really noticing that outside the bandages the yukata was the only thing she was wearing.
"Wha...what happened?" she whispered aloud before trying to backtrack. 'I remember the roof...', she then squinted her eyes. 'I... I was teasing Ikki-neechan, and then... Karasuba...', she trailed off, feeling the chill of her near death experience. "But what happened after... after that? And where am I?" 'And where's Ikki-neechan?'
She sat in silence for a few more minutes, contemplating her situation. The more she thought about it, the more calm she became. She was alive. And obviously, whoever rescued her wanted her healed. She didn't think she was winged, so whomever rescued her didn't take advantage of her, or so she thought. Spying the tall vanity mirror near the corner she made a mental memo to check later.
But first...
She grunted, twisting to try to get to a crouching position to stand. '...time to get some answers.'
After a few moments of hissing and pausing every so often she finally got to her feet. Looking forward she hesistantly took a step. Feeling only mind pain she took another. 'Okay. Walking seems to be a bit easier. ' After a few more steps and the door within reaching distance it opened, causing her to pause. As the person who opened it turned to look in there was a gasp.
"Na-na-Nanaha-chan?" Ikki whispered.
"Ikki-neechan? You... you're alive?" Nanaha whispered in relief.
"Na-Nanaha-chan," Ikki said again with her eyes beginning to brim with tears.
"Uh... I..Ikki-neechan," Nanaha said again, this time with a sick feeling in her stomach.
"Nanaha-chan! You're awake!" Ikki cried and launched herself at her friend.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
=========
"Ikki-neechan. Please. Please do not do that again..." Nanaha said as she looked at the ceiling with her hand at her forehead. She was currenlty sprawled on the floor not quite spread eagle.
"I'm sorry Nanaha-chan," Ikki said again while wiping tears from her eyes. "I... It's just that... I just saw you up, and didn't think..." she said as she brought her other hand up to join the other and hiccuped. She was sitting next to her friend, not quite seiza, with her legs somewhat opened and her hind legs spread slightly outwards.
"Yeah, I noticed," Nanaha responded. After a couple minutes Ikki began to calm, and when Nanaha thought that she was done she asked. "Ikki-chan, what happened? Where are we?"
Ikki blinked. "You don't remember?"
"I remember Karasuba. Fighting her," she said and then sighed, the emotion of what was going to happen welling up in her again. "And nearly getting killed. After that... after that waking up here." When she saw Ikki nodded she continued. "Ikki, are you okay? Are we going to be alright?" She then looked at her hand and the bandages again. "Where you the one-"
"No, no," Ikki said, and to Nanaha's bewilderment broke out into a huge smile that almost lit up the room.
Nanaha blinked at her sister sekirei's expression, "Ikki-neechan?"
"We were saved by... by a wonderful man," Ikki began as her eyes closed. She placed a hand on her chest to steady her rapidly beating heart. "He... he saved us somehow. I don't know how, but he saved us and brought us here to heal our wounds. We... we owe him our lives."
"I... I see," Nanaha muttered. "Well that's good at least... but I'm guessing there's more to this story right?"
Ikki nodded, a faint blush growing on her cheeks. "While he was saving us I... I reacted to him."
Nanaha's eyes widened. "You mean?"
Ikki nodded and quickly turned around, bending her neck and lowering her dress straps low enough for Nanaha to see the familar Sekirei winging brand on the nape of her neck. "I... I don't belive it," Nanaha wispered in an awed tone. "What are the odds the man who saves up is your destined one?"
"Pretty good I'd say," Ikki replied as she brought the dress back up. She turned back to Nanaha and clasped her hands, "He's smart, brave, shy, and oh so handsome! It's been three days since I winged him, but it's been incredible so far!"
"Three days?" Nanaha gasped. "I was out for three days?!"
Ikki nodded, "Yeah. Karasuba... Karasuba really did a number on you." Ikki let out a small sniffle before she bowed deeply, "I'm so sorry Nanaha-chan!!"
"Ikki-neechan?" Nanaha gasped.
"If only..." she paused to let out a small sob. "If only I was stronger you... -hick- you wouldn't have suffered as much as you had! The worst part about that whole damned ordeal was that she was toying with us!! She almost killed us and she was just toying with us the whole time!!"
"Ikki-neechan..." Nanaha wispered in a stunned tone.
"I promise you!" Ikki nearly shouted. "I promise you right here and right now that I... I'll get stronger! Much, much, much, much stronger! Strong enough to protect you! Strong enough to defeat Karasuba! Strong enough to be Ichigo-sama's head wife! I swear it on my name and number... That Sekirei Number Ninteen, Ikki, will become strong enough to protect you all! So please..." Ikki looked up at Nanaha with tears streaming down her face. "Will you please forgive me for failing you?"
Nanaha put her hands up. "Yes, Ikki-neechan, I forgive you."
The tears continued to stream down Ikki's face. "Th-thank you Nanaha-chan!" And with that, pounced on the girl with a hug, completely missing Nanaha's wide eyes, pained face and twitching outstretched arms.
Slowly, those arms stilled and were brought around to loosely hug Ikki back and pat her as the girl hiccuped a few more times.
"Really Ikki-neechan," Nanaha wispered before gathering her sister in a hug. "There's nothing to forgive."
"Nanaha-chan?" Ikki wispered.
"So long as you're alive, I'm happy." Nanaha continued. "And so long as you get stronger, this won't be an issue again will it?"
"N-no."
"Good." Nanaha nodded. "Now then... tell me more about your... Ichigo-sama."
=============
It was well past midday and almost early evening when Ichigo stopped paused in the book he was reading and stared at the wall.
"Goddammit," he bit out and stood up, angered at remembering something he needed to do but slipped in the commotion that happened yesterday and what he had heard earlier. Ikki had come in a couple hours ago to try to talk to him, apparently asking about the ghost that Kuu saw and what he felt about.
Apparently she thought he was being somewhat of a big kid and attempted to try to assuage his fears by trying to be calm and tell him why such things did not exist. That she was stuttering through it didn't really seem to help her case, and while he knew what she was trying to do it had reminded him of what Uzume in that stunt of hers earlier helped him set aside for the moment. Being reminded of it frustrated, and he stewed a bit more when he realized how he must have looked like to Ikki who began stuttering more. So, he had tried to calm down and be truthful with her.
He had never seen someone go so pale as she did when he told her ghosts were real.
"D-d-doyoudoyou mean l-like, Poltergeist?!" she had questioned.
Ichigo had closed his eyes and mumbled something intelligible about it and said, "Yeah, but worse".
Poor girl look liked she had wanted to faint on the spot.
He had grumbled, upset that he had made her upset, and being reminded at a possible time bomb over their heads. He had of course, told himself that perhaps the spirit was wondering around town, after all a few did that (or followed him home, god that was something he didn't miss...) so with some luck hopefully the spirit moved on.
And no way to tell was beginning to frustrate him the more.
He had looked up to see Ikki breathing a bit deeply and looking around and tried to help saying maybe it had moved on, as Kuu hadn't said she'd seen it before. That seemed to calm her down.
So he had asked about her friend to see get her mind off it.
That did seem to help as her jittery mood seemed to settle a bit more as she replied that she was still sleeping, and that she and Miya had been taking turns watching over her. But until the girl actually woke up, all they could do was wait.
Ichigo sighed again as he remembered when she left she seemed a bit more meloncholic, and that was only mildly better than the frightened looks she had.
Closing the door behind her he had attempted to clear his mind about it all by grabbing some of the books he had brought with him and began reviewing things for when University started. And it was then that he had remembered that he had books that he was waiting on due to it not arriving. Because he forgot to call yesterday like he wanted before things 'happened'.
Snorting ruefully he quickly made his way down the stairs, his feet making quick pounding noises with each step, he made his way through the hallway to the phone.
"Asama-san?" He called out. Hearing nothing he called out to Miya again. Not getting any response he shrugged, picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello?" A voice prodded.
"Karin."
"I-Ichi-nii?" He heard Karin gasp in surprise. "Ichi-nii, how are you? Are you ok-"
Ichigo pulled the phone away as he heard his sister go into a coughing fit.
"Karin?" He asked when it stopped.
"Yo, Ichi-ni," Karin said nonchalantly as if nothing had happened. "Everything okay?"
Ichigo blinked and shook his head deeming whatever that was unimportant. "Yeah. Hey, is goat-chin there?"
"He's busy with something," she said before chortling.
"Something up?"
"Not really, but dad's been walking funny for the past few days."
Ichigo stared, thinking why before it suddenly hit him and he caught himself from guffawing but it wasn't as quick as he'd like.
"Ichi-nii, you wouldn't know anything-"
"Don't worry, its unimportant," he deflected with a smirk on his face. "Hey, were you there when pops shipped my stuff?"
"Yeah, why?"
He gave her the short version and she stared at the phone before mumbling something about idiots when she excused herself. After a few moments she got back on the phone and gave him the proper number to call.
"Now that I think of it, Ichi-nii, they did come by twice."
"Twice? Why?"
"Something about the truck being almost full and your stuff being more than they could take so they sent another truck afterwards."
Ichigo grumbled when he noticed the address. They were local. Taking a quick look outside he thought about getting some air when he asked his sister if there were any other authorization numbers given. She had two that were from both pickups and he quickly wrote and double checked with her the correct numbers and he proceeded to say goodbye.
"Ichi-nii," Karin said and Ichigo paused at how different again she sounded, softer and somewhat unlike her. "How are things?"
"Busier than I thought right now," he said in all honesty. He then saw Ikki striding through the hallways. "A lot more complicated too," he sighed.
"Ichi-nii?"
"Nothing," he quickly said, cursing as he didn't want her to hear.
Oh shit, Ikki's in the hallway while he's on the phone with family...
"Hey Karin, gotta go now, okay?"
"Ichi-nii, wait-"
"I'll call later, promise."
"O-okay. I... We mis... Take care!" She blurted out before the phoneline went dead.
"Ichigo-sama!" Ikki cried out and he quickly hung up the phone. "There you are! Ichigo-sama, you need to see this!"
Ichigo blinked. "See what?"
"It's my sister!" Ikki cried out. "You gotta see this!!"
"Did something happen?!," he suddenly exclaimed, concerned now.
"Did something happen?" Ikki repeated. "You bet something happend! Anyways just come with me!" And with that, he followed her to her room, heart beating rapidly and in thought of what could have happened. "Here we are! Go look," Ikki cried as they made it to the room.
Ichigo blinked as he all but ran in, ready for a possibly convulsing girl. Instead, he saw that the girl was sitting upright, in seiza position while rubbing her back as she turned to look at him and he paused midstep, nearly falling over before he straightened out and stood tall.
And felt as if his stomach had dropped out under him.
"So," Nanaha began as she gave an appreciative look over of the former shinigami. "This is the one, eh?"
Ikki's smile just grew at Nanaha's question, "Ichigo-sama, this is my little sister Nanaha-chan! Nanaha-chan, this is Ichigo-sama!"
With his mouth a thin line, he nodded his head before slowly edging back to leave the room.
"So!" Ikki cried out as she clasped Ichigo's hand again, halting his retreat. "Now that we're all together, we should get aquainted like a family should!" Saying that, she pulled Ichigo near her. Pulling him down beside Nanaha on the unwinged sekirei's left and Ikki on Ichigo's other side. The 2nd of Ichigo's sekirei released her Ashikabi's hand and pillowed them in her lap as she sat indian style. "So... let's get to knowing eh?"
Ichigo looked at Nanaha and repressed a gulp, knowing what could potentially happen and knowing he really didn't need another Sekirei. He nodded his head at her to acknowledge her and breifly looked her over. Much like Uzume and Ikki, she was beautiful, even in her current state. Her yukata was somewhat open, why he didn't know but he knew that it presented a rather erotic picture along with her tousled waist length hair. Her eyes, brown, showed a bit of discomfort as she started back at him but were still warm and caring.
And through it, he waited as his heart pounded and his stomach protested.
Nanaha smiled gently at Ichigo, "He he, Ikki-neechan said you were handsome but... she really didn't do the description justice."
A slight blush crossed his cheeks as he pulled back slightly as if to brace himself.
"I also hear that it was you and your first Sekirei that saved our lives, yes?" Nanaha gave a slight bow to Ichigo from her position. "I thank you Kurosaki-san. I owe you so much I don't know if I'll ever be able to repay it."
He blinked, not the reaction he had been bracing for but he recovered quickly, slightly bowing back. "Please, don't mention it." To his side, Ikki blinked as well. Her eyes now quickly darting back and forth between her sister and her Ashikabi.
"I just..." Nanaha paused as she caught Ikki's eyes darting back and forth between her and Ichigo but ignored it for the moment. "I just hope that Ikki-neechan hasn't been too much trouble for you."
"Uh," Ichigo mumbled, trying to come up with something to say that didn't align with his current concerns to allay the girl. "Uh, no... problem at all," he said with his head slightly shaking.
"Good," Nanaha nodded. "I know she can be a bit... impulsive. But she's my big sister, and I just want her to be happy."
And with that he felt his stomach tighten, another concern coming to fore.
Her smile grew, "It's good to know she's in trustworthy hands, Kurosaki-san."
He blinked a few times and his brow slightly furrowed and relaxed a few times before responding. "Thank you."
"You're welcome Kurosaki-san," she let out a soft giggle. "Or perhaps I should be calling you Kurosaki-niisan?"
"Um, whatever you want," he mentioned. "Uh, it's good to see you awake. Ikki here has been worried about ya," he said as he thumbed towards the girl. "And if you'll excuse me..." he trailed off as he started to stand.
"W-wait a second!" Ikki cried out suddenly.
"Ikki-neechan?" Nanaha asked in a curious tone.
"It... it's just that..." Ikki gave a nervous chuckle before turning back to Nanaha, "Ne, Nanaha-chan. Do you feel anything?"
Nanaha blinked, "Feel anything?"
Ichigo watched as he paused when he stood, unsure of what they were talking about but felt that undercurrent of unease again. Ikki nodded, placing a hand over Nanaha's forehead. "Yeah! Y'know... do you feel... funny?"
"Do I feel fu-" Nanaha paused as her eyes widened in understanding and repressed a sigh and gave Ikki a half-lidded stare before easing it and turning to Ichigo. "Kurosaki-san. Could you leave us for a moment please?"
"S-sure," he said and made his way to the door, doing his best to make it look like he didn't want to rush out.
"Wait!" Ikki cried out clasping his hand once more. The pair paused, Ichigo giving Ikki a slightly nervous glance while Ikki... Ikki looked down at where their hands intertwined and looked up at her Ashikabi's face. "Ah," she muttered as her face flushed beet red. She quickly released her Ashikabi's hand as her blush extended from her face down the rest of her body and she collapsed to her knees.
"Ikki-neechan?" Nanaha asked in sudden concern. This was a new reaction for her big sister, and an odd one to say the least.
"Um..." Ichigo paused as his second sekirei collapsed to her knees. "Is... is she ok?"
"I... I don't know," Nanaha hesitantly answered. "I've never seen her react this way."
"Should... should I go or...?" Ichigo trailed off.
"Go ahead Kurosaki-san," Nanaha replied as she eased her way over to Ikki who had a glazed look in her eyes. "But... but stay close please. Just in case."
"R-right," Ichigo muttered as he bravely made a quick escape out of the room.
Nanaha let out a small sigh as Ichigo left, turning to look at her sister Sekirei, who now seemed to have steam pouring out of her ears as her skin continued to redden. "Well... this is a new reaction."
After a minute, Ikki seemed to slowly come out of her embarrassed trance. "I... I..." She muttered as she regained her barings. "Ichigo... -sama?"
"He's gone," Nanaha answered as Ikki turned to face her sister. "He stepped out to get some water for you," she lied. "After all, you've never reacted like that to someone before."
"I know," Ikki muttered. "But he's so.... so.... amazing...."
"Uh huh," Nanaha muttered. "So amazing that you wanted to share the love with me right?"
Ikki flinched slightly, "But... but Nanaha-chan..."
Nanaha sighed, "I know what you planned Ikki-neechan. I was there when you made that promise remember? But..."
"But nothing," Ikki interrupted. "Ichigo-sama is our destined Ashikabi. I know it. What I don't know is... is why you didn't react to him?"
Nanaha frowned, "I don't know Ikki-neechan, I don't know." Left unsaid was the possiblity that Ichigo was not her destined Ashikabi as Ikki feared.
"Maybe," Ikki said suddenly. "Maybe it's just becasue you're still injured?"
Nanaha shrugged uncertainly, "Maybe..."
Ikki nodded, "Yeah... yeah that's it probably." She turned to Nanaha, placing her hands on her shoulders. "We'll just wait untill you're better and then we can try it again, ok?"
"O-ok Ikki-neechan," Nanaha muttered.
"Good," Ikki nodded as she gave Nanaha a quick hug. "Now you get some rest ok? The sooner you're better, the sooner Ichigo-sama can make you his. And the sooner we can win this game one and for good! Get it?"
"Got it," Nanaha replied as she smiled softly at Ikki.
"Good," Ikki nodded as she stood up and helped Nanaha back to her futon. Tucking her sister in, she gave Nanaha a quick peck on her forehead and left the room, a notable bounce in her step.
Nanaha sighed as she heard the door close, her eyes drawn up towards the ceiling. "If only it could be so easy Ikki-neechan..."
=============
Ichigo sighed, wondering once again when his life had become so difficult. He was once again answerless as he walked out of the sister Sekireis' room, and closed the door behind him. The former Shinigami made his way to his room and grabbed a jacket and looked for a shirt to change into. He quickly looked through his things the girls went through yesterday and then reached for his duffle bag. Opening it he found the shirt it wanted and pulled.
-CLINKCLINK-
He paused at the sound and turned and his eyes widened. Bending down he picked it up and examined it.
It was his Soul Reaper badge.
'I forgot Kon put this in here,' he idly chided himself. It would be a minute later when he realized he had been staring at it. Mouth a thin line he gripped it a bit harder and brought it to his chest.
Nothing.
'What the hell I am doing?' he thought shaking his head with a frown and a sigh before putting it down and began to change his shirt. Yeah, a walk sounds like great right now. As he pulled off his current shirt his door opened.
"Yo, Ichigo."
Ichigo blinked and turned to find Uzume leaning on the door frame with a concerned look on her face. "Oh hey Uzume. 'Sup?"
"Just seein' if you're ok," she replied as she stepped into the room.
"If I'm ok?"
She nodded, "Yeah. You were lookin' a bit distracted commin' up here again. Kinda spaced out."
"Ah." His mind wondered back to what Ikki reminded him off... her friend in their room finally waking up and what Ikki seemed to have in mind... Not to mention going out to ask about his stuff and he sighed. "I jus' got alot of stuff on my mind is all."
"I figured," she replied as she walked up to him while he was still turned away from her before pausing. "Want me to help again?" She grinned at him and grabbed the bottom of her shirt. He gave her a flat stare and she shook her head, sighed and walked up to him; her arms embracing his waist and she leaned into his back, "Talk to me...?"
He paused and brought his own hand resting atop Uzume's closed hands. "I... I think Ikki just tried to get me to wing her sister."
She blinked, her head rising from her Ashikabi's slightly. "She did?"
"Yeah...," he groaned as he rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Good thing she didn't act like you and Ikki did otherwise...," he shrugged with a frown on his face.
"Yeah, I know. I was there," she sighed. "So what do you want to do?"
"Well since she didn't get all hot and glowly, I think we're cool." Ichigo replied as he then turned to face Uzume who let him go and took a step back. "I'm just gonna pretend that never happened. I think it'll be the best in the long term."
Uzume gave a slight chuckle, 'If only it could be that easy...' she thought. She then saw Ichigo reach for his jacket and put it on. "Going somewhere?"
He nodded absently scraching his chin, "Yeah, I called home a little while ago and got the info about my stuff. There's a local place nearby where I can ask."
"Couldn't you just give them a call?"
He shrugged, "Yeah but...," he trailed off as he shook his head, the business with this spirit, dealing with Ikki and almost dealing with another Sekirei coming to him. "I think I could use a good walk."
"Ichigo?"
"Yeah," he said and began to walk to the door.
Uzume caught the look on his face and then realized that it was the same one he made when he had been talking about Ikki the other day and repressed a sigh. Aloud she then said, "So you don't wanna talk to Ikki about this?"
Ichigo slowed on the way to the door, a part of him now just wanting to rush out the door before Ikki could come up and try again. "Nope," He got out and stepped through as Uzume followed him, closing the door to his room behind her. Outside in the hallway Ichigo looked around before continuing in a bit of a hushed voice. "She didn't react so ain't no point in tryin' now is there? What I'm gonna do is go out for a bit and let off some steam at these guys who lost my stuff."
"Sounds like a plan," Uzume nodded as she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Be careful now, 'kay?"
Ichigo paused, a look of surprise on his face. "You're not coming? I- I mean..."
Uzume's face brightened. Her Ashikabi had expected her to go with him and actually looked sad that she wasn't! The urge to join him began to pull at her greatly but she resisted as much as she could. There were other things she needed to take care of. And it involved her Ashikabi and his peace of mind. That was enough to give her the strength.
"Next time," she stated and then quickly stood on her toes to kiss him, her eyes opening when he quickly returned it before they pulled apart, both their hearts beating rapidly.
"Uh... I'll be back," he said softly as he turned to then go down the stairs.
If Uzume hadn't been so dazed as her wings disappeared she would have noted that he practically ran them down and was snapped out of her stupor when she heard a muffled sound of the front door shutting. She hugged herself tightly, the top of her hands brushing against her breasts and an erect nipple. "Soon... soon," she promised and smiled. After a moment she calmed down and glanced at Ichigo's room and what he had said. Nodding to herself she made her way downstairs with a strong look in her eyes.
It was time to have a little talk.
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