James, Jasmine, Musubi, and Rei walked briskly down the cracked road. The faded light casted long shadows behind them.
"There was a lot of destruction back there," Rei murmured as she glanced over her shoulder at the distant smoke curling into the sky.
"It was violent," Jasmine agreed as she shook her head.
"But James was incredible," Musubi chimed in. Her eyes sparked. "He beat them all so easily," she added. She smiled proudly, practically bouncing with admiration.
"That he is," Jasmine said with a soft grin.
James glanced upward. The sky was quiet now. He thought Aladdin showed up which was unexpected, he thought. He then thought Reiner as the Armored Titan also showed up. He thought that does change things. James thought there were subtle differences in Reiner's form. There was something off. He thought whatever's coming next, he had to be ready. He thought maybe things will be normal.
"Well I would protect you all," James said.
Rei sighed, She felt her heart warming as she looked at James. "You," she commented. She thought he always had something cheesy.
"You better," Jasmine said as he nudged him playfully.
"I'll protect James too," Musubi declared as she pumped her fist.
Rei chuckled. She was filled with energy. "Where exactly are we going?" she asked.
"To the Shrine," James replied.
"Shrine?" Jasmine asked. "Is there something special there?" she asked.
"Yes," James said. "It's protected. We'll be safe there," he responded. He thought of the women there.
"Safe?" Rei echoed.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from ahead. "Danna-sama!" Saeko waved from the Shrine.
"You're finally here," Saya added as she crossed her arms.
Lois leaned casually against the rental van. "Good to see you back. And you found her," she said.
"Hello I am Musubi," Musubi introduced herself as she bowed her head.
"I am Saeko," Saeko responded, also bowing her head. "This is Saya and Lois," she added. Musubi nodded.
Rei raised an eyebrow. "Was someone getting worried?" she teased as she looked at Saya.
"Of course we were," Lois replied.
James approached them all. "Any problems, Lois?" he asked.
"No, nothing," she said. "We got here a while ago. Everything's quiet… for now," she responded.
"It was quiet over here," Saya said.
"We could see smoke rising from the distance," Saeko added. "There was a big fight there," she added.
"Big fight for sure, superpower humans, crazy lovers, large monsters and robots," Rei said.
Lois, Saeko and Saya looked shocked. "What happened there?" Saya questioned.
"I will explain everything soon," James said.
As he was about to say something, a woman approached them. She was a slender yet shapely fair-skinned woman with waist-length purple hair. She had brown eyes, a small mouth and a mature look. She had a large breast. She wore the traditional attire that was a purple hakama, a white haori with a sash-like belt, wooden sandals and a white ribbon to partially hold her hair in place. "Who might you be?" she asked.
"Hello, I am James, I am pleased to meet you," he responded. "That is Lois, Jasmine, Saya, Saeko, Rei and Musubi there," James responded. "Our van has got into a bit of trouble and it is getting late here," James added.
"Oh I am Miya, it is a pleasure to meet you," Miya responded.
"Our van is in trouble?" Musubi asked.
"Yes it is," Lois agreed as she tapped on the side of the van.
"You don't seem to be around here," Miya said as she looked at Jasmine and Lois. She thought Jasmine had an aura around her. She then looked at James. He was good looking. Her eyes went to his watch. She thought it was different. "You have a strange watch," she said.
"It is unique," James responded.
"It sure is loud here," said a person who was slender and tall. She had short ashen grey hair, and dark orange eyes. He wore a white shirt and grey pants. She walked towards them. She had seen the explosion and battles from a distance. He thought they were definitely different.
Jasmine looked around and thought the shrine must be important. "We would like to request for you to allow us to stay here," Jasmine said as she bowed down.
"Okay we can accommodate this request right Kagari," Miya responded as she looked towards her.
James knew Kagari and Homura were the same person. Homura nodded. "Thank you very much," Saya responded as she bowed down as well. Miya thought they were respectful. She looked at their hands and thought their hands were rough.
James and the girls entered the Shrine. "You must be all hungry," Miya said.
The girls followed Miya. "Yes we are, thank you," Saeko responded.
"It feels like a long day," Rei said as she stretched her arms.
James and Homura stood as they went inside. "So how did you end up here?" he asked.
"Just some van trouble," James responded. "Miya is very kind," he added.
"She is," Homura responded. She looked at James. "You seem to be popular," she remarked.
James smiled. "I'll try," he said. "Let's go and get dinner," he added. Homura nodded. They both headed to the dining table.
James saw Lois, Jasmine ,Saya, Saeko ,Rei, Musubi all sitting down around the table. Miya was also there. He saw another woman eating rice. She was a well-endowed young woman with long, dark brown hair, brown eyes and a well developed body. She wore a pink and purple belly top with a golden star on the front and a golden "10" on the back. She had jeans. "It is good to meet you, Uzume," Rei said. "I am Rei," she added.
"Pleasure is all mine," Uzume responded.
James looked at her. He thought of her mission. He thought he should get her as well. She had incredible powers.
"James, you can sit here," Musubi waved. She had a big smile on her face. Her large breasts jiggled.
"Next to me?" Saya groaned as she moved back slightly. Her breast moved up and down.
"I can sit there next to Danna-sama," Saeko offered as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"No, I am not moving," Saya responded. They all giggled.
"They are a lively bunch," Homura said as he sat down. He looked at Musubi who had a wide smile on her face.
James sat down between Musubi and Saya. He grabbed Saya`s waist. "James," Saya said.
James smiled and let go. He felt something coming off Miya.
Saya cleared her throat. "James said this place is a shrine?" Saya questioned.
"It can be however this place is a villa," Miya responded.
"Villa?" Jasmine asked.
"Like a boarding house?" Saeko responded. She saw a sign outside.
"Yes I am a landlord and rent rooms to tenants," Miya responded with a soft smile.
"However in a run down and broken place like this you will only find useless and lazy people," Uzume responded as she winked. "It will have empty rooms for eternity," she added.
"Broken down," Miya said as she looked at her. Uzume felt shivers down her spine.
James stepped forward. "Miya… I'd like to request permission for all of us to stay here," he said. "We're new to this place. We have nowhere else to go. Please, let us stay. We'll pay whatever's needed," he added. He thought Miya was the strongest Sekirei. She thought she would be perfect.
Miya gave a gentle nod. "Of course," she replied.
Rei exhaled, visibly relaxing. "We have a place to stay," she remarked.
From the side, Homura approached. "Are you sure it's okay for them to stay here?" he asked.
Miya turned to him. "If they arrived here by chance, then perhaps it wasn't by chance at all. Destiny guides strange paths. Whoever they are, they were meant to be here. And I see no reason to turn them away," she responded.
Homura considered her words, then nodded. "If that's your decision, I won't argue," she responded.
James looked at them. He thought Homura was going through a phase. He thought the power of fire would be useful to have. He will make a her.
Miya watched James for a moment longer. "He's… interesting," she murmured
Homura left the room. She heard a phone ring.
James smiled. "Miya, I need to go and out for a bit," James remarked.
"Okay, it is getting late," Miya responded.
"We are coming Danna-sama," Saeko said. Saya and Lois nodded.