Thank you once again to my beta Ikrani

Blazes207: I'm glad you like the story so far and yes I do plan to add more of Minato and Miya as the story plays out.

Samantha S. Dracul: your wish has been granted.

without further ado chapter 7

Ding!

The sound of the elevator precedes the doors sliding open. One by one my Sekirei walk out of the elevator, but I just stand in the small room with conflicted emotions. Part of me wanting to come out and see my new home, and the other part said not to because I had gotten it so easily. I was-

"Saya, are you okay?" Matsu's voice comes, arousing me from my thoughts.

I look up to see all three of them standing just outside the door, staring back at me with a worried look on their faces.

"Yes, I'm fine," I reply, stepping out of the elevator.

The room I step into is a large living area with a 3-piece violet-colored sectional big enough to comfortably sit 8 people. On the wall is a big 2-meter wall-mounted television, too big for my taste but maybe the girls will like it. On either side of the TV are two sets of windowed double doors, which lead out to a large balcony overlooking the city.

The walls are a nice bright amethyst color, and the carpeting was royal purple. It compliments the sofa perfectly, but overall the room is very… purple. Minaka's resourcefulness always surprised me; he somehow knew my favorite color.

The purple theme continues into the kitchen which was only separated from the living room by a large island countertop. The tiling on the wall and floor of the kitchen are a black and purple checkered pattern. The wood of the cabinets is stained black as well. The countertops are dark colored granite. On either side of the countertops are two large archways, which lead to a grand dining room. I like the color purple but even I think all this purple is a bit excessive. Although the purple and black did go together quite nicely.

The walls and carpet of the dining room match that of the living room. In the center of the room is a table with enough chairs to easily fit 10 people. There's even a china cabinet, filled with what looks like antique pieces so priceless I'd never dare use them.

Behind the elevator is a large room with bookshelves that go from floor to ceiling. Each shelf is packed to the brim with books.

"Wow, look at all the books! I've never seen so many books in my entire life," Haruhime says, running around the room with excitement.

Akitsu just looks around the room with her typical blank expression, as she slowly walks around from shelf to shelf.

"With all of these books, I wonder if there's any erotica," Matsu comments. Her words scared me. She was already perverted enough; she didn't need any more perverted thoughts in her head.

In the center of the room is a few end tables next to a large violet-sectional just like the one from the living room.

Haruhime plops down onto the sectional. "Oh my god! This is so comfy."

I'm not much of a reader, but it might be good to start, considering I have a lot more free time on my hands now. "Come on, girls, we still have more to explore."

Haruhime springs from the chair, quickly following me and her sisters out of the room. We walk out of the library and back to the living room.

On the opposite end of the living room is a doorway which led to what appeared to be a bedroom, but not to just any bedroom. The walls seem to be the same color as Matsu's hair and eyes. On the left wall was what you would expect in a standard bedroom: a bed, a dresser, a nightstand, but it was the right side that caught my eye. The entirety of the right wall was filled with computer monitors.

"I guess it's obvious who this room is for, huh, Matsu?"

"Very, Saya, but I'm not using computers that Minaka gave me. I don't trust him and bugging them would be easy for someone as smart as he is."

To the left of that room was a large bathroom, with a color scheme that matched the kitchen. Not really much to say about it other than how overwhelmingly purple it was.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs, I find myself in a hallway. To the left are four doors and to the right is a single door. Considering the sixth bedroom on the first floor, Minaka had probably converted Matsu's bedroom from an office space.

Haruhime runs from room to room opening every door with energy I could never muster. "Saya! The bedrooms are far bigger than anything they ever gave me at MBI, a lot nicer, too. This place is AWESOME!"

Akitsu was just standing in the hallway behind me. "Akitsu, you're not gonna check the rooms?"

As if almost taking my cue, she slowly walks to one of the rooms. She stops and looks around the room, before walking into it.

I follow her into the room and look around myself. The walls are a beige color, but the carpet is purple. At least the walls weren't purple, but that thought got me thinking. How long had he been working on this apartment, because it seemed like an awful lot of work. I've only been an Ashikabi for like 4 days. Did Minaka somehow anticipate this?

"Saya! Let's check out the master bedroom!"

I turn to see my perverted redheaded Sekirei standing in the doorway.

"Are the other rooms pretty much the same, Matsu?

"Yeah, pretty much," she replies.

As she moves I slowly walk out the doorway and to the door on the opposite end of the hall, which I assumed was the master.

The whole room was royal purple, as was the floor. The furniture was what stood out; it was… my furniture. Minaka had moved all the furniture from my old apartment into the room. I couldn't believe that he had invaded my personal space like that. It was completely unacceptable. It was… it was…

"Is everything all right, Saya?" Matsu's voice breaks me from my thoughts.

"Yeah, this furniture here it's… it's my furniture. All the furniture from my old apartment. Seeing it here without me moving it just caught me off-guard, that's all."

Ignoring the fact that Minaka and his men invaded my privacy, I peek my head into the master bath. It alone is the size of my old room, the walls match that of the bathroom downstairs, and the kitchen. The room is completed by a large walk-in closet. I don't even think I have enough clothes to fill even a third of the closet.

I turn back from the doorway and ask my Sekirei. "So girls what do you think of our new home?"

"I don't know what your old place looked like but, I love it. It is really, really awesome," Haruhime says with quite a bit of giddiness.

"I like it, definitely a change from living at Izumo inn, that being said I don't trust him. I'm going to go get my computers from the car."

Akitsu nods. "It's… nice, Mistress. I like it."

I head back down to the living room, and walk to the one place I haven't checked yet: the balcony. It had a hot tub which I could enjoy with the girls. Although a hot tub might be too intense for Akitsu, considering her natural temperature is about 21 degrees Celsius.

But the hot tub isn't the best part up the balcony. That has to be the view. It has the perfect overview of Shinjuku chūō kōen. I take a minute to stare out at Central Park. I had never really noticed how beautiful it was, especially considering I couldn't really see it from my old apartment.

"Lovely view, huh?"

The sound of an unfamiliar voice causes me to jump out of my skin. I reluctantly turn to the direction it came, to see a woman. She is sitting on the balcony railing, with a bottle of sake in her hands. Her gaze is firmly fixated on me.

She is a stunningly gorgeous woman. She has on a short violet colored Chinese style dress. It is cut in the front side so that it shows off her very large chest and flat stomach. It looks like the only thing holding it together are a couple strips of fabric crisscrossed in front of her chest.

I quickly tear my eyes away from her bust. Her long hair, a beautiful plum color, is tied up in a ponytail that goes down to her shapely ass. Her eyes, positively beautiful, are a slightly dark purple color. Combined with the shine, it makes them look like the midnight sky. I somehow knew this woman but I couldn't place why. The only thing that crosses my mind is that she's a Sekirei, though I can't remember her name or number.

She looks back out into the distance. "I love the view from here. It's one of the best in the city. The only ones that top it are the MBI buildings and construction sites." She takes a long swig of alcohol from her bottle.

I stare at the beautiful woman in front of me. "How did you get on my balcony?"

"Oh, this is your place? I thought nobody lived here." She takes another big gulp of alcohol.

"No, I live here but answer the question. How did you get on my balcony?"

"I think you already know that. I can sense you're an Ashikabi and lately, I've felt... drawn to this building."

"Maybe your Ashikabi is in this building and you're sensing your connection to them."

"You think so?" she says, but I could sense something off in her voice.

"What Sekirei are you?"

"The Sekirei of wind, Number Three, Kazehana."

"Number Three?!" I had only seen Number Three once or twice, she just usually wasn't around. She had left MBI shortly before the events with Matsu. There were many rumors about why she had left, but there was one that seemed to be told the most frequently. Apparently, she had fallen in love with Minaka and asked him to be her Ashikabi, but he rejected her saying he had no interest. Whatever the reason, she had disappeared, and now she's on my balcony.

I was about to say something to her when Haruhime yells."Saya!"

I turn towards the door as she appears inside of it. As she slides it open I reply, "Yes, Haru-chan?"

"Minaka's on our new TV! He said he wanted to talk to you. "

I let out a long sigh. "Tell him to give me a minute."

Haruhime nods as she goes back into the apartment. I turned to look back at Kazehana, but she was gone. 'So much for giving her words of encouragement', I think as I turn and follow Haruhime inside.

I come inside and sit down on the sectional. I lean back and put my arms up to rest on the back of my head. "Hello, Ms. Shirayuki! I take it you're enjoying your new apartment."

"It will take getting used to, but it's nice." I try to hold in a sarcastic remark.

"So glad you like it, my dear. Congratulations on winning your third Sekirei! You will get an additional 60,000 yen for winging Number Two."

"Thanks Minaka!" I reply as the ding of the elevator is heard. I turn to see the doors slide open. Matsu walks out of the elevator carrying a computer monitor. She doesn't even pay attention to the television, until Minaka's voice says, "It's been a heartbeat, Number Two."

Upon hearing Minaka's voice Matsu slowly turns her head. "M-Minaka!"

"How have you been faring, Number Two?"

"G-good!" There was a sense of nervousness in her voice, like she expected something bad. I couldn't blame her; you can never be too careful with Minaka and his intentions.

"Relax, Number Two, I do not have any intention of harming you. I merely want to congratulate you on finding your Ashikabi."

Matsu just stares at Minaka with a look of nonchalance, as if she didn't quite believe his words. "What do you want, Minaka?"

"As I said, I wanted to congratulate you and tell you I'm not worried about the incident a year ago. It only means that you and your Ashikabi will have an advantage when the real fun begins." He then turns towards my direction. "I also wanted to inform you, Ms. Shirayuki, that 80% of the little birds have gotten their wings. When that number reaches 90, Stage Two will commence." Minaka starts with his annoyingly maniacal laugh. "Do try to speed things along, Ms. Shirayuki!"

With that Minaka disappears from the TV screen and it goes back to the local news channel. The reporter gives a weather forecast for the next few days. According to the weather, it will be around 30 Celsius most of the week.

The news then goes back to the anchorman. "In other news, the convenience store bandit is still at large."

A clip of what looks like surveillance footage from a convenience store plays on the screen. "According to surveillance footage and eyewitness reports, the suspect is a dark-skinned woman with long black hair. She is considered armed and dangerous. If you see her, please advise caution. Police have so far been unsuccessful at apprehending her. If you have any information on this mysterious figure, please contact your local authorities."

I stare at the surveillance being shown. The angle the camera footage they were showing looks like it was from a camera behind the cash register. It gave a pretty good look at what the girl was wearing. She had on a black shaw that rested on her shoulders. Her midriff was exposed, and I can just make out a bikini top under the shaw. The lower half of her body was obscured by the register counter.

'That convenience store robber looks like Number 57. If it was her, maybe she's stealing for her Ashikabi.'

I got up and walked into the kitchen. I open the refrigerator and as expected Minaka had fully stocked it. I stare into the refrigerator trying to decide what to eat, but convenience store robbing Sekirei is still on my mind. If her Ashikabi was making her do it, then I don't blame her for her actions. Then a thought occurs to me, 'What if she didn't have an Ashikabi and she was stealing to survive? But then again, Minaka gave each Sekirei a small allowance until they found their Ashikabi. Did she somehow not have her allowance? Either way, I have to do something. There must be some reason she was stealing.'

I look over to the elevator as it dings once again. After the little talk with Minaka, Matsu had resumed the task of bringing up her computers. Haruhime had offered to help, saying it was a good bonding experience. I guess she was trying to prove she forgave Matsu for the netgun. "Akitsu-chan, Haru-chan, Matsu-chan!"

All three of my Sekirei look at me. "Yes?" Matsu and Haruhime say, while Akitsu just remains quiet.

"I can't stop thinking about that news report, about the convenience store robber. From the surveillance videos, it could be Number 57. She could be stealing because her Ashikabi is telling her to, or maybe doesn't have one and is stealing because she has no choice. I suspect she doesn't have her allowance and is struggling just to survive. If that's the case, I want to help her. Who's with me?"

Akitsu nods. "I will come with you, Mistress. She may need you to save her."

"It sounds like she's crying out for help. Maybe not physically, but her actions say otherwise," Haruhime replies.

Matsu looks at each of us, then gives a sheepish chuckle. "I'm more of a tactical support kind of girl, and I still need to finish setting up my computers."

"I understand. Akitsu-chan, Haru-chan, let's go." I point to the elevator and allow them to walk inside. I'm about to walk in myself when Matsu stops me.

Without warning Matsu kisses me. It was definitely an unexpected kiss, but hardly unpleasant. She pushes her tongue into my mouth as I give in to her advances. I try to fight back using my own tongue, but that's when Matsu pushes me away and into the elevator.

"To be continued when you return… " Her voice grows far more seductive. "... my sweet, sweet Ashikabi."

As the doors close I take one last look at the beautiful creature in front of me. By the way she licks her lips, I definitely want more of what she offers and already find myself anxious to return.