… At night. I wait for… Hidaka-san outside the Izumo Inn. That's what we agreed. I'm so nervous. I've never been this nervous before. Why? Why am I getting so nervous? This is just friends going out together. I've… made that clear. At least I think I did.
"K...Kagari-san… I..."
I heard a small voice behind me. I turned… and saw him. Dammit, even dressed in a white dress shirt and blue jeans, he makes my heart beat a little faster, but I wish it wouldn't.
"Hidaka-san… hey. You look..."
"Hehe, Uzume-san said that this kind of attire would be the most appropriate for… our… erm… night out together."
Uzume. I should've known. At least she didn't go so far.
"Y-Yeah, you look good."
"Hehe, thank you! You, also look very nice!"
Flashing me a smile, I chuckled deeply.
"Hah, thanks. So, shall we?"
"Okay! So, like. Where are we going anyway Kagari-san? Are we going to… go eat something?"
"Actually, I was thinking about going towards the place that I work. They have good food, and since I work there, we'll get it for free."
"Okay! Lets go then!"
I chuckled and nodded, so we set off towards the place that I work. Well, it's the only way I could think of getting us going together. Even if it is a club, I'm sure they'll let him in if he's with me. Even if he does look like… well, he looks young.
After ten minutes of walking and talking, he speaks to me in a voice that sounds one of wonder.
"Kagari-san, why did you want to go out together anyway?"
"A-Ah, I erm… as housemates, I thought we should get to know one another."
"Oh… is that so? Then, maybe we could all go out together next time! Me, you, Uzume-san, Miya-san, Akitsu-san, Nanami-san and Kuno-san. We could all go out to a big restaurant and bring Onee-chan..."
When bringing up his sister, he seemed to get depressed. I wouldn't know about it, because I don't really have a sister.
"Is, something wrong?"
"Nope, nothing is wrong with me. I just thought about Onee-chan. It usually makes me feel sad because… there's nothing I can do for her. You know… she's going to die and there's… nothing I can do. B-But, don't worry! I am going to be fine! So, Kagari-san. Tell me about yourself."
He wants to know about me huh. Y-Yeah, I guess that's fair after all.
"Eh… what do you want to know exactly?"
"Well, whatever you want to tell me. I'm sure there's things that you want to keep secret like I do. Everyone has secrets you know? Even I do. But, it isn't like its life threatening secrets or anything. So… Kagari-san..."
"Hmmmm, things about me. I work at a club as a hostess I suppose is the technical term."
His face suddenly becomes bright red and he looks at me cutely while poking his fingers together.
"S-So, you are 'that' type of hostess then?"
What does he… oooh! He thinks that I am! He thinks that I am a...!
"N-No! Don't misunderstand! I don't do things like that! I wouldn't… not yet anyway."
"O-Oh~ Sorry Kagari-san~ When I hear hostess when together with club I just jumped to conclusions. Sorry Kagari-san."
"No. It's the natural conclusion when those words are put together. I refuse to do things like that with people."
"W-Well, that's a good thing. I'm sure people out there would but to not do it unless you wanted to with all your heart then..."
I suddenly got a vibe. Someone is… coming here. And if I'm right, then it's someone that he knows all too well. Hmph, I see. Since his Sekirei aren't around, she thinks that he is vulnerable huh.
"Hidaka-san… I'm sorry about this."
"Hmm? About what Kagari-san?"
"About this."
BANG!
I karate-chopped the back of his neck, and knocked him out. He fell towards the floor but I caught him and carried him under my arm. He's very light. I couldn't let him see me use my powers, not yet.
"Hey small Ashikabi… eh? W-What the hell?"
Yes, No. 16 has arrived. She jumped down in front of me, and smirked. But then seeing the knocked out boy under my arm, she became suspicious.
"No. 16, what are you doing here? If you're after this Ashikabi then you're out of luck."
"Hm… you. If I'm not mistaken then… you're No. 06, the Sekirei Guardian. Am I wrong?"
I summoned some flames into my hand and pointed it at her.
"No, you're not. But, what do you have against this Ashikabi? He, hasn't done anything to you, so leave him alone or I will have to terminate you."
"Hahahahaha! You really care for that bastard huh!?"
Care for him… I care for him...
"I won't let you touch him. I will beat you No. 16. This fixation on this particular Ashikabi has to stop. I am the guardian of Sekireis, and that's what I like being. But if I have to, then I will terminate a Sekirei for this… boy."
"Hmph, sounds funny. Now, it's time to hand over the boy, so I can kill him or I will terminate you."
I shot flames at her which she dodged to the side. Well at least she's skilled enough to move to the side.
"I'm not playing Toyotama! Leave, now!"
"No!"
She lunged at me so I created a wall of fire between us. I can't fight with him in my arms, and I can't leave him alone, as there might be other Sekirei nearby. So, I need to get away from her. I'm sure she'll get what's coming to her in the future.
"Sorry I can't accommodate you No. 16, but I've got plans tonight. And they don't include you."
"Damn little bitch!"
I shot out three fire balls from my hand. One at Toyotama which she was able to cut in half, and two beside her. The two beside her are so I can create a ring of fire around her.
I moved my hand in a circular motion, which made the fire spin around her in profusion. The large flames surround her, she tries to cut the flames but I start jumping away. I can't take the chance that he gets hurt. Takami-san wishes to study him and I… don't wish for him to get hurt.
I was able to get away without having to fight. I couldn't take the risk that my powers would run out of control. If they did then, I could've burned Hidaka-san away with me.
I got us all the way to the club, and got inside without raising too many questions. I got us into a private booth and sat him on the seat, waiting for him to wake up. He's going to have a headache, isn't he?
But what the hell am I going to say? Sorry Hidaka-san, I knocked you out because I don't want you to know that I'm a Sekirei. Yeah, I can't say that now.
"... Mmmmmm..."
He's waking up. He wriggled around, then cracked open his eyes.
"Owww… my neck. Kagari-san… what happened?"
"A-Ah, you fainted. Yes, you fainted and I guess you hurt your neck. I brought you here so, you could..."
"I-I fainted? Ooh… how strange~ I must've frightened you huh~? Kagari-san, I am sorry~"
"No, don't worry about it."
I waved off his concern. But then I felt hot in my chest again. Whenever he looks at me, whenever he smiles at me. Whenever he's close to me. I can't help it. My chest gets hot, which runs throughout my body. My Sekirei symbol hurts. This reaction...to this boy...