AN: This is probably going to come out late, so sorry in advance. I own nothing except for some OCs.

The figure stood there for a second as Akane and Seiko lay there, terrified. The figure laughed mockingly. Seiko clenched his fists, ready to fight or run.

"Jeez sis, could you at least try to be decent in the living room?" The shadow joked, stepping into the light. He was tall, about six feet tall. He had dyed blonde hair, and brown eyes. He was very skinny and pale, like a man surviving off scraps in a cave. He smiled as Akane scrambled to her feet and punched the man in the gut,

"Dammit Masahiro, you nearly gave me a heart attack! Can't you knock? What if I'd shot you?"She said, punching him again. Seiko simply let out a breath, happy that it wasn't an enemy. He stood up, trying not to get in their way.

"Why are you so jumpy? It's not like this is your first boyfriend. Or the first time I show up uninvited." Akane's brother defended, trying to ward off her punches and accusations.

"A-A-Akane, maybe you should let him inside. You're causing a scene." Seiko said, reluctant to be difficult, but also worried about any other Sekirei noticing him or Akane. Akane stopped and let her brother in. She closed and locked the door behind him.

"Thanks man." He said to Seiko. He extended his hand to him. "I'm Masahiro, and if you couldn't guess, I'm Akane's brother." Seiko looked at the floor and mumbled that his name was Seiko. Masahiro laughed, "Hey, has she broken you already? Wow sis, new record." Masahiro said to his sister.

"Shut up, he's just a bit shy." Akane shot back. Seiko started picking up all his bloody clothes from where he had dropped them.

"What's with the bloody clothes?" Masahiro asked, offhandedly. He then noticed Seiko's attire. "Hey, are those my old clothes?" He asked, interested this time. Seiko froze up, not knowing what to say.

"Um-I-uh…" Seiko stuttered. Akane came to his rescue.

"He cut himself with a knife and the blood went everywhere. So, I gave him some of your old stuff." Akane said, unconvincingly. Masahiro nodded, clearly not convinced.

"Yeah sure. So, how long you two been together." Masahiro asked, seating himself comfortably on the couch. He kicked off his shoes, and put his feet on the coffee table.

"We're not together." Akane said, knowing he wouldn't believe her.

"And yet he's cooking with you and he's wearing your brother's , makes total sense." Masahiro said, sarcastically. He picked up one of the mugs of tea that the pair had left and took a sip. He grimaced at the cold tea and set it down.

"I hate you." Akane said, also sitting down. Seiko sat down next to Akane, fidgeting with his bandages again.

"Love ya too, sis." He said, standing up from the couch. He brushed past Seiko, and went into the kitchen and out of sight. Seiko glanced up at Akane, and was shocked to see a smile on her face. Granted, the smile was not a happy smile, it was the kind of smile that says, "I wish I could say I didn't know or love this idiot."

Seiko stood as well, and went to find a place to drop his clothes off. As he walked down the hall to find a bedroom or something, an arm grabbed him around the neck , and he was yanked into the kitchen.

Without thinking, Seiko grabbed the arm around his neck and flipped whoever it was over his shoulder onto the ground. He stood over his attacker, ready to bash their face in with his fist.

"Dude chill! Holy hell!" Seiko stopped for long enough to recognize Masahiro.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" Seiko said, releasing Masahiro, straightening up, and bowing apologetically. Masahiro laughed, and sat up,

"Don't worry about it. That was amazing." Masahiro replied, rubbing his shoulder that had just hit the ground. Seiko heard running footsteps and looked around to see Akane standing in the doorway, taser at the ready.

"I heard a crash and shouting. What's going on?" She inquired, taking in the scene. Seiko opened his mouth to speak, although he didn't know what to say. But Masahiro beat him to the punch, saving the poor boy.

"Oh, your boyfriend is a badass, but otherwise nothing special. What's new with you?" He said, in an offhand tone that he knew would get under his sister's skin.

"He's not my…" Akane started, then stopped and sighed as she saw her brother's grin. "Nevermind, what do you mean he's a badass?" She inquired.

"Oh, I tried to drag him into the kitchen to talk to him, and next thing I know I'm flat on my back, and he's trying to break my face." Masahiro laughed again, standing up. Akane shot a quick, worried glance at Seiko, who misread it as a criticism and dropped his gaze.

"Well, I'm glad no one's hurt, even though Seiko really should knock some sense into you." Akane said, and Masahiro shrugged.

"The guy got lucky, caught me off guard." Seiko nodded, desperately trying to hide his strength from his Ashikabi's brother. If he got it into his head that Seiko was stronger than he looked, that could lead to questions. Questions that Seiko couldn't answer, or even say why he couldn't answer.

"So, Seiko," Number 41 jolted back to himself, and looked at Masahiro again. "Before all that, I meant to ask you something." He looked at Akane, and nodded to her to leave. Akane shrugged and obliged.

"Seiko," Masahiro started again, leaning his back up against the wall, looking at his fingernails. "When did you and Aki meet?" Seiko paused, then saw no problem in being honest.

"Today." Seiko replied, quietly. Masahiro's head snapped up, sure he had misheard.

"What?" Masahiro laughed, "Did you say today?" Seiko nodded, suspicious of the question. Masahiro was silent, then started laughing. Not the mocking laughter of earlier, but genuine laughter that ended quickly.

"Really? Ha! Aki sure doesn't waste time. I remember when she'd take a year to choose a guy. Now it's less than a day? Ha! That's perfect!" He was nearly hysterical with laughter, tears streaming down his face, and Seiko stood there uncomfortably, then picked up his clothes and started inching towards the door. Masahiro didn't seem to notice, so the 41st Sekirei slipped out of the room, continuing down the hallway to find a place to drop his clothes. He opened a door, finding a closet with a laundry basket labeled, 'dirty'. Seiko dropped them in, and started walking back to the kitchen. He but just as he was about to go in, Akane stepped in front of him.

"So, now you've met my brother." Akane stated. Seiko nodded to agree that he had. "And he's given you the whole spiel about me and my ex-boyfriends." Seiko nodded again.

"Not yet I haven't." Masahiro shouted from the kitchen, "I have to tell him all about how you're a heartbreaking tease!" The redhead rolled her eyes, but Seiko noticed a light blush on her cheeks. Masahiro walked in, a goofy grin on his face.

"So Seiko, here's the deal." Akane rolled her eyes and pretended be merely irritated. Seiko's face was clearly uneasy, but if Masahiro noticed, he ignored it. "Akane here is going to start by playing all hard to get, claiming that you two are merely friends, despite doing things that friends don't do. Like living together." Akane opened her mouth to argue, and Masahiro grinned,

"It's not like that, I'm just very close with friends." Masahiro said the words with her as Akane protested. Akane's eyes widened, confused.

"You always say that, and yet…" Masahiro chuckled, "Anyway, Akane will make any excuse to explain why she says you're not a couple. That circumstances or mutual benefit is the only reason why the two of you are like this."
"That's such bullshit!" Akane cried out, and Masahiro rolled his eyes,

"It isn't and you know it. I've seen it happen before. I'm just warning this poor sap what he's gotten himself into." The pale man continued, "Right, so that's Akane's pattern with boys." The Sekirei blinked twice, and looked towards Akane. She was visibly angry with her brother, and this made Seiko nervous. He thought she would yell or shout at Masahiro, but she didn't. She was quiet, fuming silently and staring her brother in the eyes. He looked back, seemingly unfazed.

Seiko was very uncomfortable, not knowing what to say or do. He inched his way back down the hallway, trying to leave the situation. Akane's arm snatched him back before he'd even gone an inch. She pulled him close and kissed him on the cheek. Seiko's eyes widened, and he felt blood rush to his cheeks. She then walked off down the hallway to her room without another word. Masahiro whistled lowly, clapping his hands,

"So, I guess either she really likes you or she's really determined to spite me, because she has never kissed anyone in front of me before." Seiko tried to respond, but all he could do was stare after Akane as she walked away. Masahiro put a hand on Seiko's shoulder. The Sekirei turned to him and saw Masahiro smiling once again.

"Seiko, I don't know who you are or what your deal with Akane is. But she seems to like you, and that's all that I need. Take care of her, huh?" Seiko nodded, unable to through the shock of Akane's kiss. Masahiro could tell he was flustered, and so the man laughed.

"Well, good to meet you, Seiko. Bye Akane!" He called over Seiko's shoulder to his sister. No response. "Ouch, she is spiteful today." Masahiro joked. Seiko smiled lightly as Masahiro turned to leave. He was gone in seconds and Seiko closed the door after him.

AN: Howdy! Sorry for the long ass delay. I had taken a break from FanFiction as a whole for over a year. Anyway, I'm back, at least for now. I can't promise how long that will last. But enough about me, let's see what happens with Akane and Seiko next time! Thank you for reading this little story of mine. And if you enjoy, leave a review. Means the world to me, makes my day.

Khuda Hafiz, friends! And remember to Doodl always.