" "- Dialogue

( )- Thoughts

~ - Inflection

[ ]- Action

Minato was devastated. He had spent months studying non-stop. He actually stood up to his mother and sister for once. He moved to Tokyo in a huff, declaring that he would be accepted and prove that he could follow in his mother's footsteps. He had put everything on the line to get into Todai... and he failed.

It was freezing with a dark overcast sky, perfect conditions to have one's dreams crushed. That was the overall atmosphere in the courtyard as several students crowded the admissions board. A few students celebrated, but an overwhelming majority of once potential students now crumbled as the reality of being dreaded ronin set in. This was the same for a certain scruffy, brunet haired, Sahashi Minato, who was currently weighing his options in his head.

"I failed", Minato finally breathed out. He had a looming suspicion that this would be the case after he suffered a near melt down in the testing room. All the pressure got to him and shut him down for 2 of the alotted 5 hours, dooming him from the outset. Although this meltdown did give him one measly advantage over his now fellow ronin in that he knew ahead of time that he had failed. (Can't pass if I only did one of the three essay questions) Minato thought cynically as he chuckled dryly to himself.

With two weeks to accept the grim reality of his failure Minato had time to think of what he was going to do now that he had failed so spectacularly. (I can't stay in Tokyo, if I fail again I'll have wasted nearly two years of my life. I need to go somewhere more affordable and work for awhile. If I go back home now I'll just be mom and Yukari's punching bag forever. Not to mention if I keep taking mom's money then I'll be beholden to her will, a tight leash for sure.) With that Minato had his new plan of attack, and had to go home to do some research on cheap living situations and available jobs for first year ronin.

On his way to the train, to catch a ride to his apartment, Minato turned his phone off as to dodge the proverbial Takami bullet until after he had a solid plan to explain to her. Even though he knew she would just chew him out on the whole idea of failing the entrance exam and then running away again, he wanted to look at least a quarter way competent in his defeat. As he boarded, Minato saw from a newspaper that MBI was in the news again, making another brutal stock grab and taking over yet another one of its rivals. (Just disgusting, all they do is strong arm people into compliance and nobody will seriously do anything about it. If they keep going unchecked, soon enough they'll own all of Japan; if they don't already. Well at least now that I'm leaving I won't have to see that eyesore of a tower anymore.) Minato thought, not realizing how much he had just jinxed himself.

4 months later

After enduring his mother's vicious jabs and vehement disapproval, Minato had finally escaped her grip, for now, on the promise that he would take care of himself and contact his sister, Yukari, often. To tie up his final loose end, Minato got his deposit back from his landlord with some backhanded well wishes and the usual grumbles about envying youth. After that it was relative smooth sailing as Minato packed up what little he had and got a moving service to taxi him to his new destination: Narita. He had been offered a job out of the blue to work as hotel staff at Wakamatsu Honten Ryokan. Why a rather nice hotel such as the Wakamatsu would actually reach out to HIM was suspicious, but hey he couldn't look a gift horse in the mouth at a time like this. Not to mention working at such a nice hotel in a tourist hotspot like Narita would mean seeing lots of foreign beauties which was just the cherry on top for Minato to bite the bullet and go to Narita.

Now with 4 months of working as a lawn worker/maid/room attendant Minato has found his place.While very tiring the rewarding pay of ¥2100 an hour made it worth it. He was payed handsomely with a recent labor shortage and his willingness to learn multiple postions. Endurance to do the hard labor of landscaping and the customer service skills needed to take care of the guests made Minato the ideal employee. The only downside seemed to be the serious understaffing on the labor side of things, leading to him putting in 10 to 15 hours overtime each week. While rewarding thanks to Wakamatsu's double pay for overtime policy, it was taxing and troublesome. Minato was always extremely sore in the morning and recently had swelling in his hands that made them unusable for a few minutes when he woke up each day.

It's nearly midnight and Minato has just clocked out, three and a half hours later than he was scheduled for, and he is walking down the traditional halls of the hotel headed home finally. Minato stops in the bathroom to get a look in the mirror and looks to see his hair to be completely disheveled from some high winds earlier in the yard. He puts a few hands through it to make it sit a little better so that he can look like a normal human on his way home. While fiddling with the hair he checks his clothes. A seafoam green button up with little pineapple designs, an old pair of prussian blue jeans, and some light grey flats. Pretty good for a 100 yen shop. As he began to make his way out of the bathroom he started to think about what he was going to cook for dinner, weighing whether he should just heat up some left overs and get a big breakfast or conversely cook his dinner new and have the leftovers for breakfast.

This exciting, internal dialogue was interrupted when Minato spots the single most beautiful woman he's ever seen stumbling down the hall.

A tall figure that would put most hour glasses to shame. Dark brunette hair tied in the top flowing to just past her elbows with two long strands framing her face perfectly. Her yukata was that of a special guest. A blooming sakura tree design with branches that snake around the arms and down the waste with petals falling down the legs. The wooden branch-like design of the obi signifying the roots of the tree itself. As this sexy brunette seemingly bounced from wall to wall, she maintained eye contact with Minato as her brown eyes bore into his own. Somehow remaining on her feet, she seemed to take an interest in him. A small smile gracing her lips as she attempted to sashe Minato's way.

A massive bottle of sake in one hand and her room key in another. Her sakura petal yukata barely hanging onto her body. The right side hanging onto her lower bicep for dear life, barely hiding her right breast. Her long, flowing brunette hair swinging like a pendulum from her constant direction changes. Her obi seemed to be in a jerryrigged state as it was tied in a way Minato had never seen before; a tie that was proving to not be working as he could see dangerous amounts of thigh. There was just an air to her that screamed sensual and loving. Even in this drunken state she was simply angelic. Yes angelic because with those hips, and that spectacular pair of breasts there was no way this girl could say she was from Earth. Not in Minato's eyes. He felt drawn to her, his heart rate quickening the longer he looked at her and the closer she got to him. Then it happened.

"Say sweety could you help me find my rooooo...", and with that she had seemed to reach her limit balance-wise. As she propositioned him, she slowly swayed forward until she was halfway to the wood before Minato caught her.

"Jeez, the most drop dead gorgeous lady I've ever seen and she's three sheets to the wind and passing out mid-sentence." Minato said slowly pulling her closer to him as he lifted her off the ground.

After he pulled the room key and sake bottle from her hands Minato made his way back to the stairs as she was in the honeymoon suite.

"Of course she's a newly wed, but how any man could willingly leave her alone in this condition is beyond me. Probably some scumbag playboy who just sees her as an accessory and only is with her for her body." Minato practically spits out.

Minato then looked at her face, her gentle smile as she rested in his arms. Out of nowhere Minato suddenly felt the need to say this to her, "You deserve better." As he looked back up, wondering where that even came from, he didn't notice the smile and blush that now graced the onee-sama's face.

As they climbed the stairs Minato was vexed by the fact that she was left unattended when she was that drunk; the sake bottle was empty. He stopped to dump it in a trash can before continuing.

Now on the third floor Minato started to think about what he was going to say to the husband when he carried her unconscious form through the door. 'Nothing can ever be simple. I'll have to be quick on the part where she was knocked out and how no one was there. Play on any sense of guilt he might have.'

As Minato thought of what he was going to say he reached the honeymoon suite in no time. After he formulated a plan of attack he swiftly unlocked the door and cracked it open.

'Wait I was supposed to knock DAMMIT.'

"Pardon the intrusion, but I found this lady knocked out near the lobby with this roomkey in her hand!"

Nothing

"Um, hello?"

Still nothing

(Well looks like I actually got lucky for once.) Minato thought as he carried the sleeping onee-sama into the dark suite. It was quite spacious, like a traditional home sanctioned off in the hotel. The entryway opening up to a hallway which had two doors down the left side and one more on the right with a dark room at the end that one could only assume to be the sitting area.

"So now what do I do with y-YAAA", Minato was startled to see the onee-sama was awake again and smiling at him.

"Geez that's no way to greet 'the most drop dead gorgeous lady you've ever seen' at allll!" The onee-sama cutely pouted.

"Y-Y-You heard that?"

"Of course I did, and who said I needed to be married to enjoy the honeymoon suite hmm?" She said hopping out of his arms. Adeptly landing on a single foot and fixing her yukata, the onee-sama then turned to give Minato a pointed look.

"I...I'm very sorry, I d-didn't mean to offend you or anything I was j-jjj-just afraid that you were being used by some...No wait I mean I don't want you to be with... ARGGHHH...*sigh* just please forget that I exist and all of the embarrassing things I said to you." Minato said in a deflated manner. He could kiss his job goodbye if he actually offended someone staying in the rather exorbitant honeymoon suite.

"No", she politely answered.

"Ah, then please kill me", Minato polietly requested.

"Oh sweety you need to settle down I'm just playin with you." The onee-sama said breaking the tension in a beat with a cool, even voice.

An awkward silence hangs in the air.

"So you're good to go? Since you're sober and all I think I'll just take my shame and wish you a good night" Minato said with an awkward laugh and a hand scratching the back of his head. He wanted nothing more than to get as far away from this awkward situation as possible.

"Can I at least get your name sweety?" She said in that same cool voice, now juxtaposed to a rather mischievous smile.

"Oh right, I'm Sahashi Minato...and you are?"

She didn't answer, just staring at him for a second with a neutral expression. After the longest few seconds of Minato's awkward life that mischievous smile returned to the mysterious lady's face as she quickly struck a dramatic pose with her head leaning back facing the ceiling with her hand covering her eyes in a faux grieving manner. This swift movement also gave Minato the pleasure of seeing the one-sama's massive chest bounce, putting him right where she wanted him.

(Fufu he seems to be enjoying my company, why not give him a reason to stay?)

"My name isn't important as I am but a washed up alcoholic. Thank you Minato-kun for your help, kind words, and cute inability to discreetly check me out.You make even a useless, unsavoury woman like me feel happiness, but you must leave while you still can before my indecency and undesirability rub off on you." She said in a wail as she mourned her life choices.

With a fresh blush from being called out, Minato seems to be put off by this sudden mood swing and starts to pity the onee-sama, and then he finds some strange resolve to help her.

"Look I don't know if you've been rejected or how you've been treated, but I do know that this mentality of yours won't do you any favors. You need to pick yourself up and move past it. You're easily the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, but you're hurting yourself with your poor self-worth and drinking. Even if you don't want to do it for yourself, then do it for your family and loved ones..." A sudden realization of his preaching brought Minato back down to earth as he became a blushing stuttery mess.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to grand stand or a-aa-anything and I'm sure yyy-you've heard stuff like this b-before, but I couldn't l-llet someone like you d-devalue yourself like that..."

(Calm down Minato), he breaks to compose himself.

[Inhales]

Silence

[Exhales]

Minato looks up with a normal calm expression this time before continuing. "I used to be like that from the way my family treated me, but I've been reading up on some somewhat corny, yet helpful self help books in order to better myself. If you want I can loan you some Miss?"

Now the ball was in her court and it was her turn to be surprised.

"K-Kazehana...My name is Kazehana. Your family really treated you so poorly?" Kazehana asked half-heartedly, hoping it was false. After a confirming nod and solemn look from Minato her face went neutral again save for a small almost unnoticeable blush.

(DAMN YOU TAKAMI, HOW CAN YOU TREAT YOUR OWN CHILD THIS WAY)

"I'm sorry for acting in such an ungrateful way, it seems we have both seen the more vicious side of people we loved." Kazehana said in a serious tone for once.

"Well I still love my family all the same, but what about you, what about your family?" Minato implores.

"I have no one who would care for me" Kazehana said in an almost undetectable whisper.

Without thinking Minato's mind takes a leap and he says it out of instinct.

"Then I'll worry about you." He almost yells.

"...You will? You'll care for me?" Kazehana asks in a shocked tone. After a slight pause followed by a nod from Minato to confirm, her personality does a full 180 again as a she smiles brightly and moves for Minato.

(So manly, he's it no doubt about it, I've finally found my mannn~)

With that she quickly had Minato's arm firmly held between her breasts as she marched him to the back of the still dark suite. When they got to there supposed destination Kazehana launched Minato forward over what seemed to be a bed as she locked the door and opened the blinds to let what little moonlight that could come from a crescent moon faintly illuminate the master bedroom.

"K-K-Kazehana-san what are you doing, I thought we had a good heart-to-heart back t-there, we don't need to..."

"Shhhhhhh, Minato-kun just relax" She said in voice that was oozing sensuality and care.

"I'm gonna thank you for caring for me tonight, so just relax and let the love guide us." Kazehana whispered as she slowly peeled back Minatos shirt with a suprising amount of strength.

Suddenly he rolls out of her grasp and grabs her by the shoulders in an attempt to get her to understand.

"But Kazehana-san this isn't needed, I don't want to have empty sex with you just because I carried you up the stairs and had a conversation with you for a bit. If you really are hurt from some heart break then this could only be worse for you." Minato protests.

Kazehana had stopped moving as her bangs covered her eyes. Then she looked up with heart break in her eyes. A single tear forcing its way down her cheek.

"So commanding...just like him", she whispered while staring almost through Minato with a vacant look.

(What is she talking about?) Minato questions before his train of thought is interrupted.

"I haven't had someone worry about me in a long time Minato-kun. I have a few old friends, but they're all preoccupied with their own lives. I have no family to speak of. Now you're telling me you don't want to make love, that you don't want to be with me just like he..."

She pauses, her eyes get frantic and she grabs Minato by the arms firmly. She's shanking.

"...I thought I deserved better." She parroted.

Minato froze.

"That's what you said, that I deserved better." Kazehana almost argues

Minato couldn't formulate a response.

"And just now you said you would worry about me didn't you?"

Her heart was aching and Minato could see it.

"I loved him so much too, but he was stolen away. Why do you not want me?"

Kazehana was on the verge of sobbing, squeezing Minato with each question as her eyes began to look hollow. Minato had to step in even if he didn't know what all to say. He had to go off of these newfound instincts that have had him saying these weird things to begin with.

"I don't want to do anything extreme because we just met." Minato says in a firm voice as he moves to take Kazehana's hands into his own.

Kazehana stops.

"You truly are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Earlier down stairs when we first met, even in your drunken state you were like an angel." Minato says squeezing Kazehana's hands tight.

Kazehana's eyes widen as she starts to breath normally again.

"I've only just met you and already you've made me say things I'd be too embarrassed to ever say to anyone else on instinct." He confesses as his gaze begins to soften.

The tears are faded and Kazehana begins to blush, which is matched by Minato.

"I'm not sure what to do here because I've never been in a real relationship before. What I do know is that I'm feeling something that I've never felt before looking at you right now."

Kazehana's blush intensifies as Minato continues, not even giving her a chance to interject.

"Whether it's love or not I'm not quite sure, but I do know that I don't want to see you in pain."

"I don't want to see you feeling sorry for yourself."

"I don't want to see you crying."

They just stare into each other's eyes, slowly inching forward.

"I only want to see the sexy, mischievous onee-sama when I see Kazehana, and if I don't see her...then I'll do everything in my power to bring her back out." Minato says with newfound conviction.

They're only inches away from each other now.

"So yeah, I guess I am in love with you."

With that Kazehana closed the gap as they finally kissed and let out these intense feelings.

To Minato's surprise something else came out besides a moan from Kazehana. A pair of cherry blossom pink wings of light exploded out of Kazehana's back and encircled the two of them as Kazehana took over the kiss and began to probe Minato's mouth with her tongue. Meanwhile Minato noticed in this haze of warmth and light that at the base of wings was a symbol of a bird holding a yin-yang sign.

(What is all this?)

As Minato's mind reeled from everything that was happening, Kazehana left the kiss and begins to whisper something.

"Wind of my pledge, blow away the dark clouds that befall my Ashikabi", Kazehana murmurs before collapsing onto Minato.

"Your what, what was that just n-" Minato begins to frantically question, only to be quieted by a finger on his lip from Kazehana.

And with that the wings dissipate. The room is silent as Kazehana rests her head on Minato's right shoulder, looking up at him with a content smile. She pulls her hand away from his mouth as an invitation for him to speak.

"So...are you gonna tell me what just happened?" Minato asked cautiously.

"I finally found a man to love...now and forever." Kazehana said in an content sigh.

"Wait like getting married?!" Minato voiced in bewilderment.

With that Kazehana tackled him to the sheets and began to caress his face while undoing the obi to her pesky yukata.

"Mhmm~But don't worry Minato-kun I'll explain everything after we consummate this marriage." Kazehana purred as she shed her yukata and began to slowly trail kisses down Minato's body.

(Whatever this is it can't be good, nothing this great can be free.) Minato thought as he started to undo his fly and join Kazehana in celebrating their new union like any sane man would.

A bit hamfisted, but I gotta start somewhere.Tell me what yall think in the reviews.

Update: Alright I've gone through two rolls of Flextape with this patchwork, so do reread and tell if it works better or not. 3