The Snow Ashikabi

The Blue Bird

"What is this place Mistress?" Akitsu asks in her soft monotone.

"This Akitsu-chan..." I reach into my pocket, and fiddle around till I find my keys. I pull the key from my pocket and stick it into the door. After I turn it, a low click is heard and I slowly push open the door. " ... is my home, and now it's yours as well."

Akitsu doesn't say anything as she follows me through the door. She looks around the room before gently shouldering past me, her eyes sweeping the post-sunset darkness of the interior.
Though I find the gesture touching, and a little sweet, I nevertheless reach for the lightswitch. "So do you want the tour Akitsu-chan?"

She stands there as she turns to me and silently nods."Very well Akitsu-chan."

I live in a small one-bedroom apartment, which is literally just three rooms. The bathroom, my bedroom, and the rest is a glorified disproportionate room. As I finish showing my new roommate around, I notice her gaze is locked on the desk in the corner.

"What are you looking at Akitsu-chan?"

"The picture," she says, staring intensely at a picture frame on the desk. "Who are the people in the picture?"

I walk over and grab the picture from the desk, and I stare at it almost as intensely as Akitsu. I tear up as the picture brings back old memories. "This is a picture from my birthday 10 years ago, the last picture my parents and I took together before they died. I really miss them. They were the only family I had."

"What is family?" Akitsu looks at me with a slightly curious look on her face.

I return her look with a bewildered one of my own. "You don't know what family means?"

"I know it means people related by blood," Akitsu replies tranquilly. "Is that all it is?"

"Family is… is someone who you love. It can be your parents, your children, your lover, it can mean by blood but it doesn't always have to be that way. Family can be anyone, Akitsu-chan."

"Are we family?"

Akitsu's question took me aback for a second. Since I had winged her no more than a couple hours ago, the thought hadn't crossed my mind. Sure, a Sekirei bond is like that of a lover, but her being my family I hadn't thought of. Family is something I have not had in years.

"Yes Akitsu-chan, I suppose we are a family. " I hesitate for a moment, then I bring Akitsu close and hug her. "I still don't know why you chose me, but thank you. I’ll try my best to be the Ashikabi you deserve." I let go of Akitsu and, walk towards the the couch. "Now, it's getting a bit late, Akitsu-chan. I'm going to bed. The couch pulls out pulls out into a bed; you're welcome to sleep there."

I take the couch cushions off the sofa and unfold the bed from within. It makes a creaking noise as the metal frame slowly unfolds revealing a large double bed. "Look Akitsu-chan, I know it's not much…."

"It's fine mistress as long I'm with you."

After a quick shower, I rap a towel around my body and go to my bedroom. I look into my dresser and pull out a purple bra, matching panties and white t shirt. The bra feels a little more snug than usual, but nevertheless I quickly get dressed for bed, lie down and fall asleep.

[0000000000000000000000000000000000]

Once again I find myself in middle of the capital city, Sekirei fighting all around me, but this time things are different. Akitsu is now on my left side wearing a beautiful white kimono, one that practically falls off her shoulders. The kimono is cut low enough that it shows a ton of cleavage. A chain is wrapped around her neck which goes down between her breasts, another one secured across her chest keeping the kimono from sliding off. On my right is Uzume, also wearing her battle gear, but standing in front of me is a new figure.