Shinto Teito (Two months before Canon)
"Don't let her get away!"
The night sky of Shinto Teito was split by the sound of an angry voice, filled with authority and urgency. As a chase was taking place high above the streets.
Across the rooftops of the towering city, three figures moved at inhuman speeds, leaping from building to building with fluid, effortless grace.
The one being chased was a woman clad in flowing white veils, her face partially concealed, yet her beauty undeniable. Behind her, two equally stunning women pursued relentlessly, their sharp eyes locked onto their fleeing target.
Uzume gritted her teeth, her legs burning from constant movement, her chest rising and falling heavily as she pushed herself forward. "Haa… Haa… When will you leave me alone?!" She shouted in frustration, her voice carrying in the wind.
One of her pursuers sneered.
"Stop running. You will belong to our Master."
Her words were calm but absolute, filled with certainty—as if Uzume's fate had already been sealed.
Uzume bit her lip, her heart hammering in her chest. 'No… I won't be controlled. I won't let them take me!' But just as she braced herself for another escape—
The air itself began to twist.
A crack in space-time flickered above them, distorting the fabric of reality.
—-----------
Suddenly a part of space starts to distort a few twenty feet above. Which was soon to become a problem as below had no building to stop whatever came out to land and would fall to his death.
Out comes Issei in his school uniform and as he notices where he is and starts to scream.
"Ahhhhhhh, Damn it Sherri!"
Luckily the trio was heading in his direction, but the trio did not seem to notice the boy falling or him spontaneously coming out of nowhere.
Until a loud, panicked scream echoed from above.
Uzume and her pursuers snapped their heads up, just in time to see—
A brown-haired boy in a school uniform plummeting straight towards them.
"WATCH OUT!"
"""Huh?""" The three ladies looked up at the sudden screaming voice just as they were at mid jump.
Soon both Issei and the veiled woman collided. The impact sent both Uzume and Issei tumbling through the air, their bodies colliding mid-fall.
Their lips brushed against each other. A hard and rough unintended kiss.
When they collide their lips soon accidentally touch each other and a flash of white wings soon come out of the veiled woman.
"Spiritual and mental connection created." Sherri's voice comes out signaling that something happened.
Luckily the collision caused Issei and the woman in white to head in the direction of a nearby building.
When they hit the roof. Both started to groan at the sudden pain coursing through their bodies.
"Ow! Owwww… Damn it…" Issei hissed, slowly pushing himself up. His body throbbed from the fall, but as his eyes focused, he suddenly froze.
Lying beside him a busty, brown-haired beauty, dressed in a scandalously revealing white dress that draped over her body like silk.
Her toned midsection and long, slender legs were fully exposed, and the delicate veils extending from her outfit rested gently on the rooftop like fallen feathers.
And the most important thing, Oppai.
'Oh. My. GOD.'
Issei's brain short-circuited, his mind entering its default perversion mode.
The brown haired beauty then opens her eyes to see a brown haired youth with a perverted expression on his face. She sees that he wore a uniform not known to her and when she looks deeper, she's surprised by the amount of power the child has. Her first thoughts of him were that he was cute and perverted, but that he was a surprisingly powerful Ashikabi
"Damn it!" Their attention soon turns to the one cussing out their feelings. The veiled person sees that it was one of her pursuers with an annoyed and angry expression. It looks like they finally caught up to her.
Seeing one of them, the veiled woman gets up and prepares herself to fight. But for some reason her opponents just looked at them with an angry expression.
"How the hell did she get winged? The guy practically has no aura at all?" The other pursuer arrives at the roof.
'W-Wait… what?' Her mind raced, piecing together what just happened.
She had been running for so long, desperate to avoid being claimed and yet…
At the very end of it all… she had been winged. Without a choice. Her stomach twisted in shock and frustration.
Forever to never choose her true Ashikabi. But something else about her words made her confused.
'No aura?' That was wrong. The moment their lips had met, Uzume had felt it. The power radiating off this boy—it was like a geyser, suppressed but overwhelmingly present. It sent chills down her spine, its dominating presence akin to a King's. 'They… they can't sense it?'
The pursuers, still cursing their failure, turned away.
"Tch. All that work for nothing?"
"Hope you're happy, girl. You just made an enemy of the Ashikabi of the South."
Meanwhile Issei was surprised and bewildered by the entrance of more beautiful women. He was also surprised when he finally noticed that he was a hundred feet in the air on top of a building. He was also confused on what the hell the girls were talking about.
"Tch, all that work for nothing?"
"Hope you're happy? You just made an enemy of the Ashikabi of the south." With that, they leaped away, vanishing into the city.
Issei blinked, still processing. 'Winged? Ashikabi? What the hell is going on?' Issei wondered what that was all about and the veiled woman was in shock, alone. Issei, figuring out that he wouldn't get any answers sitting there, gets up and goes to the veiled woman.
Shaking his head, he turned toward Uzume, offering a hand. "Hey… uh, thanks for saving me."
She didn't move. Her face was blank, eyes wide in a silent daze. "...." The woman just stood there as if she didn't hear him with a blank stare.
Issei frowned. "What's your name? Mines Issei."
"...." Again Issei tries to start a conversation but the girl continues to have that dazed look. This quickly gets his undivided attention, as he notices her feelings filled with sadness and defeat. Issei hurriedly got to her personal space to see if he could help her.
Something was wrong. Despite not knowing her, something about the defeated, lost look in her eyes struck him.
She looked… devastated.
He moved closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay? You look like you're about to break." Issei says this with much worry in his voice not wanting somebody to be in pain. His hand lands on her shoulder and lightly squeezes to snap her out of it. Luckily that was what was needed to bring her out of it.
Uzume flinched, her golden-brown eyes flickering toward him.
"Are you… really worried about me?" she asked quietly, almost as if she couldn't believe it.
Issei raised an eyebrow. "Of course I am. What kind of guy wouldn't be worried when a beautiful woman looks that sad?" Somehow these honest but perverse words were enough to bring a bit of hope that things will be okay.
Uzume's lips parted slightly in shock.
A small, shaky laugh escaped her.
"I… I see."
She exhaled, rubbing her eyes. "I'm sorry for making you worry." Straightening, she placed a hand on her chest. "My name is #10, Uzume—the Veil Sekirei."
Issei tilted his head confused. "#10? Wagtail?" Either way he smiled. "I'm Issei Hyoudou. Nice to meet you."
Uzume chuckled, shaking her head. "Nice to meet you too." Her heart still ached. She had lost her freedom.
But somehow, looking at this idiot's earnest grin, she felt… a little less hopeless.
"There's a lot to explain. Can you hear me out?"
Issei nodded. "Sure."
"Great, let's go somewhere more private." She said with a bit of excitement returning to her.
"Okay, but question. How are we-" Issei was cut off as before he knew it he was falling through the air and Uzume scooped him up bridal style—then leaped off the building.
Issei's screams echoed into the night.
—- —- —- —- —-
MBI Headquarters
The sterile white halls of MBI Headquarters buzzed with quiet efficiency. Inside the command center, screens flickered with live feeds of Shinto Teito, tracking Sekirei movements, Ashikabi activity, and general city surveillance.
But today—
A new anomaly had surfaced.
Standing rigid in front of a massive executive desk, an MBI operative cleared his throat.
"Sir, I'm here to report the winging of Sekirei Number 10, Uzume."
Across from him, sitting lazily in a lavish, high-backed chair, was a man dressed entirely in white.
A smug, flamboyant smile played across his lips, his wild white hair slightly disheveled, and his thin-rimmed glasses glinted under the artificial light.
This was Hiroto Minaka—Chairman of MBI and mastermind of the Sekirei Plan.
He grinned, steepling his fingers. "Wonderful! Who is our lucky Ashikabi chosen to play the Game of the Gods?"
The operative hesitated.
Minaka's grin faltered slightly. "Well? What's the problem?"
The operative shifted uncomfortably. "That's… where we have an issue, sir."
Minaka's brow arched. "A problem? In my perfect game?"
The operative nodded stiffly. "Yes. As you know, every resident of Shin Tokyo is registered in our systems. IDs, backgrounds, family histories, medical records—we have access to everything."
Minaka leaned forward, intrigued. "Go on."
The operative adjusted his earpiece. "But… for this Ashikabi, there is nothing. No identity. No background. No medical records. No trace of existence. It's as if he appeared out of thin air."
For a moment, silence hung in the room.
Then—
"Oho~?" Minaka's grin stretched wider, his fingers tapping together excitedly. "A mystery player, is it? How fascinating!" He suddenly stood, his long coat swishing dramatically. "Do we at least have an image of this ghost?"
The operative nodded. "I'll bring it up now."
A large screen descended from the ceiling, flickering to life.
The image popped up.
A plain, average-looking teenage boy with short brown hair and a common Japanese face stood in the picture. The only notable feature was his unfamiliar school uniform.
Minaka's grin turned into a frown. "This… is him?" He adjusted his glasses, squinting at the screen. "He looks painfully average."
The operative remained professional. "We thought the same, sir. But there is one more thing."
Minaka waved a hand. "Spit it out."
"We attempted to trace his school uniform, thinking it might give us a lead."
Minaka's frown deepened. "And?"
The operative exhaled. "Nothing. No records of that uniform existing anywhere in Japan."
Silence.
Minaka slowly sat back down.
Then—
A wild laugh erupted from his lips. "AHAHAAHAHAHAHA!"
The operative flinched, but the Chairman kept laughing, standing up once more and spinning around dramatically.
"An unknown Ashikabi? A ghost in my game? How absolutely thrilling!" Minaka turned, his glasses flashing ominously. "Make sure we track his movements. The next chance we get—I want to speak with him personally."
The operative bowed. "Understood, sir."
As the screen flickered off, Minaka grinned to himself, tapping his chin. "Now, let's see what kind of storm you bring into my beautiful game, unknown Ashikabi."
— — — — — —-------
Shinto Teito, City Park
A gentle breeze rustled through the autumn-colored trees, carrying the sound of distant traffic and chirping birds.
Beneath the shade of an old oak tree, a teenage boy and a veiled woman sat together on a wooden bench.
"You're part of an alien race that crashed on Earth with 108 others of your kind. But unfortunately, the first person to discover your ship was some crazy madman, which gave him full authority over you all."
Uzume nodded, playing with the hem of her veil. "Yep, that's about right."
"And after years of experiments, this lunatic is now forcing you all into some kind of death tournament for the sake of a 'mysterious grand prize?'"
Uzume sighed, crossing her legs. "Mhm."
Issei rubbed his temples. "What the hell kind of Isekai plot did I just land in…?"
Uzume raised an eyebrow. "Isekai?"
Issei waved her off. "Never mind. More importantly, what's an Ashikabi? And what was that weird flash of light when we—uh—kissed?"
Uzume fidgeted slightly, her cheeks tinted pink. "Sekirei are beings that live for love, Issei. We are destined to find one special person to bond with, someone who completes us and we will forever search for that one special person that will give us that feeling and then bond with them in marriage.. An Ashikabi is what you are. The one we devote ourselves to for life, a person that has formed that bond with a Sekirei through DNA. That white light shows that you've winged me. A winging is when a Sekirei and an Ashikabi make a bond."
Issei stiffened. "Wait. Life?!"
Uzume nodded. "Yes. The moment we form that bond, it's as sacred as marriage."
"W-Wait, MARRIAGE?!"
Uzume blinked. "Y-Yes? Is there a problem?"
Issei froze.
His brain slammed on the brakes.
'Marriage? No, no, no—Tamamo and Yuuka are going to kill me!'
His face paled.
Uzume tilted her head. "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Issei gulped. "Because I just broke a promise to my girlfriends."
Uzume choked. "G-Girlfriends?! As in more than one?!"
Issei sighed. "Yeah. I promised them that if I ever added another girl to my harem, they'd be the first to know and would have to approve of her. And I just broke it. Damn it."
Uzume blinked rapidly. "Wait, wait, wait. So you already have a harem?"
Issei scratched his cheek. "Uh… kind of?"
Uzume stared at him.
This average-looking pervert had multiple women fighting for him?
'Was this boy really good in bed?'
Uzume let out a small sigh. "Sorry."
Issei raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Why?"
Uzume shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to… well, mess up your life. I know this whole thing was an accident."
Issei shook his head. "No, it's not your fault."
Then, his eyes narrowed in thought.
"Wait. How did I even become your Ashikabi in the first place?"
Uzume glanced away, a faint blush on her face. "When we collided… our lips touched. The moment that happened, our DNA mixed through saliva, which completed the bond."
Issei processed this. He kissed a hot girl.And now they were… married? On one hand—Score. On the other hand—Yuuka and Tamamo were going to kill him. Then it hit him.
This was an arranged marriage Uzume never asked for.
His stomach twisted. "Wait… does that mean I forced you into this?"
Uzume's eyes widened. "What? No! I mean—technically, yes, but it wasn't your fault! It was an accident!"
Issei stood up suddenly, his fists clenched. "That doesn't make it okay!"
Uzume blinked in surprise.
Issei's expression was serious. "To me, it was just a kiss. But to you… it was a lifelong bond. That's a huge deal. How can that be fine?" His voice was filled with guilt.
Uzume's lips parted slightly. 'He… really cared?'
She had never met an Ashikabi who actually worried about the feelings of their Sekirei.
And yet—this perverted idiot did.
His determined brown eyes locked onto hers. "I swear, I'll make it up to you."
Uzume felt her chest tighten. A warm feeling bloomed in her heart.
Maybe… Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing after all. This truly brought comfort to Uzume that the mistake would not be bad. And maybe it was destiny that brought them together. Making her now care for her Ashikabi, like it should be.
Uzume soon fidgeted, then took a deep breath. "Then… can I make a request?"
Issei nodded immediately. "Sure. Anything you want."
Uzume's cheeks flushed pink. "I… want a proper kiss."
Issei froze. "Eh?"
Uzume looked up at him, her golden-brown eyes filled with emotion. "Please."
Then—She pulled out the ultimate weapon. Puppy dog eyes.
Issei groaned internally. 'Dammit, that's not fair.'
After a moment, his face heated up. "S-Sure."
They leaned closer, their breath mingling. And finally their lips met.
A radiant white light flared behind Uzume, her veils rising like angelic wings.
The kiss deepened unexpectedly when Uzume, liking the taste, decided to add tongue.
The innocent kiss quickly turned heated as Uzume pressed closer, deepening it with a slow slide of her tongue.
Issei groaned into the kiss, gripping her waist as she pressed against him.
After a full minute of heated kissing, they finally parted for air.
Uzume's confidence returned as she purred softly.
"Sekirei No. 10, Uzume—the Veil Sekirei. By the veil of my pledge, let my veil protect you from nightmares, my beloved Ashikabi."
Her words felt sacred, like a vow never to be broken.
Issei, still dazed from the light show and passionate kiss, could only nod dumbly.
'Guess I'll have to talk to Yuuka and Tamamo when I get back. Hope they can forgive me.'
(Partner you sure do get lucky. Never met a species that lived for an emotion called love. Then again we dragons live by our pride. So guess we aren't so different.)
'Ddraig where were you when I was falling?!'
(Sleeping.)
'You useless dragon! Sherri, what do you think about this world?'
"Issei. Are you okay?" Uzume interrupted their mental conversation by gently poking his cheek bringing Issei's attention to her.
He snapped back to reality. "Ah! Yeah, sorry. Just… processing."
Uzume smirked. "Processing how good I taste?"
Issei blushed. "W-Well—?!"
Uzume giggled. "Hm hmm. Glad you liked it." Uzume cockily said before something came to mind.
"Issei, what were you doing free falling in the air? You weren't skydiving right? Plus there wasn't a plane in sight. It was almost like you appeared out of thin air." She says with a grin at how unbelievable it sounded.
But then she noticed Issei sweating at being reminded of how he appeared.
"Uhhh." Issei was about to open his mouth when his stomach soon voiced its complaints. "Sorry, guess I'm hungry?"
"Heee. That's fine, I know a place we can go and eat. I'm sure they'd like to meet you too."
Issei perked up. "Wait, you know people?"
Uzume nodded. "It's the place I'm staying at."
"Ahh. That's right, I also don't have a place to live since I just arrived here."
"By falling in the air. You're going to have to tell me about that, you know?"
"I will. Just let's get some food and I'll tell you everything."
"Alright." Uzume said as she was about to grab him and take off.
"Wait. Uzume, let's walk there okay." Issei says with embarrassment about being carried by a girl.
"Aww, is my Ashikabi too proud to be carried by a girl?" Uzume chuckles knowing the reason.
"Oh right I kind of forgot to ask what's with the veil. It keeps moving even without the wind."
"Oh it's my power. I can control cloth and so can control and move it. It's kind of my main weapon. I can also use it to shrink and enlarge it or make it durable as stone. But I guess I'm screwed if I fight someone who controls water or fire or sharp weapons." She says with a shrug on her shoulders.
"Well I think it's pretty cool."
"Aww. You're just saying that. But, thanks." With that Uzume leans on Issei's arm happily.
With that both Ashikabi and Sekirei walk out of the park.
—-----------------------------------------------
Izumo Inn, Kitchen
The warm aroma of miso soup and grilled fish filled the air, mixing with the faint scent of old tatami mats and polished wood. The kitchen of Izumo Inn had an old-fashioned charm, reflecting the traditional elegance of the mansion itself.
Yet, despite its serene atmosphere—
A certain purple-haired landlady was anything but serene.
"Thanks, Miya, for the food!" Uzume grinned, cheerfully stuffing her face with rice.
Across from her, Issei Hyoudou sat awkwardly at the low dining table, shoveling food into his mouth at a pace just shy of indecent.
Standing nearby, Asama Miya, the landlady of Izumo Inn, watched them with a blank stare.
"Oh no, it's fine," She said, her tone pleasant but dangerously neutral. Then, her violet eyes narrowed slightly. "Just come in, take a plate, and eat my food without any courtesy. Explanations are not necessary on why you brought a teenager into my home. Or why said teenager is eating like a starving animal."
Issei froze mid-bite.
Uzume flinched.
A heavy silence settled over the room.
"Sorry Ma'am. Thank you. You're a lifesaver."
The two newly formed couples are now seen in an old Japanese mansion eating food being served by the owner of the residence. Said Owner is currently annoyed at the rude arrival of Uzume as she just opened the door and came in dragging in a reluctant boy by his arm. The boy had an average face that you'd find everywhere and a white school uniform with a red shirt.
They then sat down and started chowing down on the food she just made.
Across the table, another tenant, a white-haired, handsome man with delicate features, sweatdropped at the situation.
"You two have guts." The man, Kagari, muttered under his breath, sipping his tea as he observed the unfolding disaster.
Meanwhile, inside Issei's mind—
(Partner, be careful with this woman.) Ddraig's deep voice rumbled with an uncharacteristic amount of caution.
Issei's stomach dropped. 'Wait, why? She's just a landlady, right?'
(Don't underestimate her. She's dangerous.)
A cold sweat ran down Issei's spine. His eyes subtly flickered toward Miya, who was still smiling… but it wasn't reassuring in the slightest. 'Is she like Uzume?'
(Not sure. But if she is… she's a whole different beast. She could kill you in an instant.)
Gulp.
'Noted.' That brought a bit of nervousness to his face as he looked at the beautiful landlady wearing traditional clothing.
Miya, still watching them, tilted her head slightly. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
Issei immediately looked away. "N-No reason!"
Uzume, sensing the tension, quickly spoke up. "So! Miya! Let me introduce my hubby!"
Miya's eyes narrowed slightly. "Your… hubby?"
Uzume grinned. "Yup! He's my Ashikabi!"
Miya blinked.
Then, in a perfectly calm and pleasant tone—
"I see. Never thought you'd go for younger men."
Uzume shrugged. "Never really had a preference. Love is love, you know?"
Miya's expression didn't change.
Instead, she turned her gaze toward Issei. "Introduce yourself."
Issei scratched the back of his head, forcing a nervous smile. "Uh, right. My name is Hyoudou Issei. Nice to meet you."
"Good day. My name is Asama Miya."
Across from them, Kagari gave a lazy wave. "Name's Kagari."
Issei nodded. "Nice to meet you as well." For some strange reason even if the man beside him was a handsome bastard he just couldn't get angry at him, weird.
Uzume suddenly spoke up. "Oh! And he also needs a place to stay for a while!"
Miya's eyes flickered to Issei. "Is that so?"
Issei bowed slightly. "If it's not too much trouble, can I stay here for a month? After that, I'll leave."
"Huh?!" Uzume gaped at him.
Miya's lips curled into a small, knowing smile.
'Ah. So she didn't tell him he can't leave because of the Sekirei Plan.' Miya saw this and guessed it was news to Uzume and that she did not tell him that he couldn't leave because of now being part of the Sekirei Plan. Well that was Uzume's problem trying to convince him to stay.
Miya took a moment to think before nodding. "Very well. This is an inn, after all."
"Yes!" Uzume cheered, clenching her fists.
But before she could celebrate too much—
"However."
The room went silent.
Miya's expression turned slightly more serious. "I have three conditions if you want to stay here."
Issei sat up straighter. "I'm listening."
"First." Miya's gaze sharpened slightly. "You two are not married. If you intend on sleeping in the same room, you must refrain from performing any lewd acts under my roof. No exceptions. If you sleep together, full-body clothes on. No fondling. No misconduct."
""Awww!""
Both Issei and Uzume groaned in perfect synchronization.
Kagari snorted into his tea.
Miya simply smiled serenely. At the Sekirei and Ashikabi at how similar they are in this subject.
"The second condition is that you have to pay rent. Of course since you're a student I will expect the payment to be lower than the other tenants. That is if you are still in school."
'Sherri, how long do I have to stay in this world?'
'One month.'
'What?!'
With this Issei gets nervous and puts on a sheepish smile.
Issei winced. "Uh… yeah… about that."
Miya raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
Issei rubbed his neck. "I'm kind of… on vacation at the moment."
Miya's violet eyes studied him. "Vacation?"
Issei chuckled nervously. "Yeah. But after the month is over, I'll go home and be back in school."
She could tell he wasn't lying, but there was something strange about his wording.
Uzume, meanwhile, was starting to sweat. 'Crap. I still have to tell him he can't leave. How the hell do I even start that conversation…?'
Uzume was then downhearted at having to explain to him why he couldn't leave and go home. That's going to be tough for her. Miya went ahead with her rules.
"The third rule is that I expect you to help me out in keeping the house neat and tidy. Can you follow these rules?"
"Of course. Really thank you for letting me stay."
"It's fine. My husband has a saying to never turned down anybody that needed help."
"Thank you so much."