Duelity of a Name

By: MikeX713

The Dovahkiin of Skyrim, taken from Nirn and placed in a world at first
glance is devoid of the adventure he loves. His mind and body changed and
warped by the Daedra that had sent him to this new world. He now
struggles with his identity as a former hero now caged into a life without
adventure. But that looks to be changing… the world thought dull will show
excitement at last.

Status: ongoing

Published: 2017-07-25

Updated: 2017-08-14

Words: 64850

Chapters: 6

Rated: Fiction M - Language: English - Genre: Fantasy/Romance -

Characters: Dragonborn/Dovahkiin, Aela, Erik the Slayer, Serana -
Reviews: 31 - Favs: 57 - Follows: 54

Original source: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12587188/1/Duelity-of-a-

Name

Exported with the assistance of FicHub.net

Duelity of a Name
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 1
Author - MikeX713

Disclaimer - I don't; own Elder Scrolls or Sekirei. If their owners

would like to give me them… that's cool… but for right now… nope…
don't own anything but OCs.

Author's notes.

First off… to all of those who are fans of my other stories that have
not touched in some time… I am sorry. Really really sorry. I know… I
really should work on them but right now… really sorry but I just
have some issues with some of them and others simply not inspired.
I am working on fixing both issues. But for right now… sorry.

Second, currently I have about I think six chapters finished. After that
I don't know how long it might take to make more. I will be posting
new chapters weekly until I have no more chapters left to post. Then
who knows when I will post. Sorry.

Third. WARNING. If you like stories where the Dovahkiin is super

badass and op as fuck RIGHT AT THE START, then this is not the
story for you. I like progression in characters. The Dovahkiin in this
story is currently in full end game level of power and gear however is
in a mind set that limits him. He is not weak in terms of power but he
just has some personal issues that prevent him from using his full
power all the time. But as the story goes on he will begin to use more
and more.

"Talking"

" Thoughts "

" Thu'um "

"I have faced down dragons, Daedra, vampires, killer dwemer
robots, armies of men… so how… for the love of Nocturnal am I
beaten by a stupid entrance test?" Malistantius Caeraso grumbled to
himself as he stared at the sign stating the grades for the entrance
test. He was supposed to be the Dovahkiin, the Thieves Guild
Master, Harbinger of the Companions, Hero of the Stormcloaks,
Hero of all of all of Nirn. But this test… this had beaten him twice.
"Maybe I should just steal the answers." He grumbled as he turned
around and began his way back to his apartment.

He walked through the crowds of people most if not all happy with
their test results. He pushed down the feelings of jealousy toward
them, he had in another life done so much more. Or so he had been
told. His name was Malistantius, shortened for this world to be
Malist. He was the Dragon Born, but again he had been told this. He
couldn't remember much of his previous life. He knew how to do
certain things, skills and spells but very little from his life before this
world had stayed with him in travel. He remembered names, faces,
and small important things about a few people from back in Nirn, the
world he came from, but that was it.

He could remember Brynjolf and everyone from the Thieves Guild,

though him the most. He could remember all the times they taught
him to never play or fight fair, and the motto of the Thieves Guild,
Shut up and go steal something, we need the money . He
remembered the Companions, he was supposed to be their
Harbinger. Memories of laughing and drinking after a successfully
clearing a bandit camp could come back to him but then leave as
quickly as they came. There were other faces and names that every
now and then came, Ulfric Stormcloak, Delphine, Vavos Aren, and
many others. But there was only a small ember of recognition in his
mind.

But these memories were not the only thing from his former life he
retained. He still had the many skills that made him a hero and so
powerful that he could raze whole cities. He was a natural talent with
Magicka, he focused on Destruction and Conjuring but he held some
skill in the rest of the schools of magic from Nirn. He still could call
on these powers as easily as breathing. In all honesty, he would
have preferred a bit more of his memories to this. But his body also
retained much of the more sneaky skills that had been taught to him
by his friends in the Thieves Guild. And he was still the same expert
marksmen with a bow as always was back in his old life. The only
place he lacked was in close combat… where he was a Divines
awful mess. But he had something that fixed that. In the form of two
enchanted Daedric Daggers that both increased his speed and
ability in knife play. Along with those two Daggers he had still a
whole Inventory of equipment and gear form his previous life. Tools
and weapons that only the Dragon Born would ever have in number.

But all of this was useless in this world. This world was not Nirn but
Earth. And enchanted daggers and spells had no place here. This
was a world built on science and technology. And so he was very out
of place here. Even more so given what happened to him on the way
here. Not only had he been sent to a world unknown and had his
memories taken from him. But even his body had been taken as
well. The being that sent him and his three traveling companions
here thought it would be funny to also de-age him down to eighteen
years old. He had only done so to him… and only Malistantius'
memories had been taken. He had no idea why the Daedric Lord of
Madness and Chaos did this but given what that being was it was
impossible to ever know the why and even if he did… the reason
would be stupid. He just knew it.

So now Malistantius the Dovahkiin had been taken from the world he
had saved and placed in this world as Malist the Confused. Now a
nineteen year old young man with the powers of a world saving hero
and the knowledge that he carried the legacy of said world saving
hero. A legacy he was doing a very poor job of living up to.

Malist pulled out his phone and glared at the device for a moment.
He knew he had to call her, he didn't want to… she would make fun
of him. He had been her Harbinger and yet… things were very
different.

"You failed didn't you?" He heard Aela mocked without even waiting
to see if he had might have passed.

"Yup…" He said simply before holding the phone out as to not

shatter his eardrums.

"YOU COMPLETE DUMBASS! How in the name of Talos could you

be this stupid! You can discover the secrets of the inner workings of
magic and yet you fail a fucking math and science test! And you! The
man that can convince anyone of anything, fail two separate
language tests… how?!"

"I don't know… it just happened." He didn't even try to defend

himself. That would be pointless. He had tried, he really did… but
when it came down to taking the test… the paper in front of him… he
just buckled under the insane pressure of trying to do as good as the
Dragon Born would do. In his previous life he was considered a
genius in many regards… he rarely acted like it given that he was far
more at home with thieves and drunk warriors than academics and
scholars.

"Listen… here's what is going to happen… I'm going to provide you

some incentive… I'm cutting your funds in half." Malist stopped
walking at that, his face contorting into terror. "You get in to college
then you get your money back, got it?"

"Wait… Aela… please. I have saved you from countless dangers

back in Nirn, that has to count for something please." He said this
but the weak and fearful voice undercut the argument.

"That was back home… this is Earth, not Nirn. Here, you are a
nineteen year old brat that needs to go to school and get a job
afterward. Trust me… I'm not happy doing this."

"So all that time back home means nothing. Nothing at all?"
"Malist, you need to move on from Nirn… we all do." Aela said, her
voice turning a little more soft and saddened. And at that Malist
scowled, it was the same double standard that had developed for
him. On one hand he was supposed to live up to the man he was
before and yet at the same time move on from that life. "This isn't
having to do with anything from back there… we all need to learn to
live in this new world." She said before hanging up leaving Malist
alone in the moving crowds of people.

"But this world isn't the world I belong in… damn you Sheogorath."
Malist mumbled to himself before putting his phone away and
continuing toward the train station. It had been one year and two
months since Sheogorath had ambushed him and his companions
on their way to get rid of a dragon that had been threatening Riften.
He showed up out of now where and after annoying the group with
his nonsense sent them all through a portal landing them in this new
world. This Earth. Aela, Eirk, and Serana had all been dropped into
this new world relatively untouched, they had all their gear and
equipment with them and there was no change to their person.

But as said before, Malist had been changed both in mind and body.
He now stood a head lesser than what he had been, it was still
rather tall for most normal people but it was uncomfortable for him.
His face had lost many of the scars that he had once been proud of,
he still had the sharp features and dark hair of his Imperial heritage.
His body was quite fit but lacking the highly trained muscles that only
came in living a life filled in combat.

His mind had also been changed to that of teen, his memory fuzzy
with the his past life. Much of what he didn't recall had to be retold to
him, he believed it all as he had… something of a recognition of the
facts just no real connection to them. His mind had cleared
somewhat in time since then, he remembered the feeling of
excitement of killing a dragon, or burring a giant to ash, all those
fantastic things he had done in Nirn. And these things more than
anything created a sense of longing for Nirn and a growing
resentment to this new world.
In the year since coming to Earth, the four of the Nirn born
companions had tried their best to integrate into their new home with
varying success. Aela had been very successful in landing a high
paying job at a local mega company as part of their internal security.
She now helped the rest of them with any money problems. Not as
much for Malist as of now however it would seem. Eirk bounced
around, doing odd jobs and a bit of hard labor here and there. Out of
all of them he missed Nirn the least, he had said he missed life as a
adventuring mercenary but this world had TV and the Internet… Eirk
unlike the other three didn't need much out of life. Serana was a bit
of a mystery to the three, they knew she stuck around them in the
city they lived in but what she did… none of them knew. All they had
was a cell number and an address to a small apartment above a jazz
music club.

Malist himself lived in a small single apartment. He had no job and

he had very little social life. He didn't talk to people that much. He
still could if he wanted to charm anyone into giving him everything
they had on their person but he just didn't like talking to people in
this world. Everyone felt so bland and boring. Being told that he once
lived in a world filled with excitement and things like dragons and
magic made everything in this world boring. Lately it just felt like in
this world… he just didn't belong. That his very existence in this
world was wrong. He didn't belong anywhere here, here in this world
he failed time and time again to find a place. Back in Skyrim he did
have a place… he was the hero.

"Damn it… I really hope that Nocturnal is beating his ass for taking
her fav…" Malist continued to grumble his grievances toward the
Daedra that sent him here but then stopped as his ears picked up
the sound of an explosion. A small spark of hope of excitement run
through the veins of the Dovahkiin. His years of battle and
experience taking over his body as he heard the screams of a young
woman coming at him.

"AHHH! Get out of the way please! I can't stop!" He didn't need to
look as he readied himself to catch whoever this girl was that was
coming toward him. He was fully prepared to catch her out of the sky
like the hero he was supposed to be… only he didn't. He had
mistaken the speed at which she was heading toward him and she
quickly crashed into him sending him to the ground with her on top of
him.

"Great… once again… I just prove what I already know." He

grumbled as he opened his eyes only to find his view filled with the
girl's underwear. Now… Dovahkiin Malistantius Caeraso of Nirn had
seen many naked women and had long since lost his awkwardness
around such things as this… but Malist of Earth had a biologically
teenage body and lacked the solid memories needed to have a fully
mature mind on the subject. And so, the mighty Hero of Skyrim
blushed at the sight and quickly pulled back in embarrassment of the
rather attractive girl on top of him.

"Ow… I should have known that building was way too high to jump
off of." She mumbled to herself before turning around to Malist.
"Thank you very much, you must be the kind person who caught me
right?" Malist just stared at the girl, his brain needing a moment to
fully grasp the situation. The girl in front of him looked to be around
the same age as currently was, she was very pretty with a kind face
and trusting eyes and short brown hair. Her outfit was… strange…
and it did nothing to hide her figure… mostly her rather large bust.

"Well… it was more like a softened your fall… not that I didn't try to
catch you." He grumbled that last part, upset at himself for not doing
something a s simple as catching a falling girl. It looked like she was
about to say something but then both her and Malist felt the a attack
come to them.

"Look out!" She said before Malist could and rushed over to him to
push him out of the way of a incoming lightning attack. Much to his
surprise, teen joy, and warrior irritation in the process of pushing him
to safety he was given a face full of the girl's chest. The girl was
oblivious to it as she had more important things to worry about, or at
that was what Malist assumed.
"There's no use running." Malist looked up after the girl got off him
and he saw two twin women standing on top of a nearby building.
Both in what he assumed to be leather armor but he had to concede
that was unlikely given the design and how little the outfits covered.
He didn't care due to one, they looked good on them. But more
importantly, things were finally getting exciting for a change. This
was still his chance to prove to himself and everyone that was still a
great and mighty hero as he was back in Nirn. "We'll just find you
again, so hurry up and fight us!" One of the twins called down to the
girl.

"I can't fight! Well… at least not yet." She said a little weakly. Malist
wasn't in the same boat as this girl, he was fully ready for the first
real fight he was going to have in a year.

"You may not feel like fighting right now sweetie…" The other twin
said as they both gave off a display of their power. "… but we do!"
She said as the two of them jumped down toward Malist and the girl
they were clearly hunting.

"As do I-iiiii… hey!" Malist screamed as he was taken by the hand

and dragged away from the fight by the girl. " Whoa! She's strong! "
Malist thought as he was dragged away, the girl's strength high
enough to actually keep Malist off the ground the whole way out to
the side of a river on the edge of the city.

"We should be safe for a while…" The girl breathed out after coming
to a stop but then screamed at the sight of a motion sick Malist.
Something he would later swear here to never tall a single soul
about. "Please forgive me for this!' She screamed in worry as she
tried to help Malist back to full awareness. "I'm soooo sorry, sorry
sorry sorry…" She continued until Malist regained a bit of compose
and sat back getting ahold of his breath.

"By the love of Nocturnal… we stopped…" He said as he looked

around to try and get an idea for where he was.
"I'm sorry for getting you involved like this, I didn't mean to take your
hand. I just did for some reason." She said with an apologetic look
on her face as she kneeled down in front of Malist. "Oh! We haven't
been properly introduced… my name is Musubi, what's yours?"
Malist was… surprised at the friendly attitude this girl Musubi was
showing him, a complete stranger. It was a nice change of pace to
the normally either rude or superficial masks people of this world
normally held.

"Malistantius Caeraso, but just call me Malist." He said simply

deciding that this girl earned an honest answer.

"Malistantius Caeraso, that's a funny name." She giggled and for

once Malist didn't take offence at someone saying his name was
strange or funny or when back in Skyrim… too Imperial. It was one
of the few memories he had… because there were so many of them.
People in this country of Japan still found his name strange but just
assumed he came from Europe. "Well thank you Malistantius for
your bravery for saving me back there." That made a small vein pop
out of his forehead.

" I didn't save you… I was going to but you dragged me away before
I could! " He mentally raged as he finally found people that might
provide a chance at glory and vindication but he didn't say it out loud
because this seemed like a nice girl and he didn't want to upset her.
She was already feinting and he didn't want to add on to that. "
Wait… she's feinting? " Malist was taken out of his thoughts at the
sight of Musubi falling to the side with her eyes closed. Malist stared
at the girl for a moment thinking over the events of the last hour.

One… a cute girl crashed into him form the sky. Not that out of the
ordinary back in Nirn but here… yes… very unusual. Then two
women in… leather armor… appear and have some control over
lightning but it didn't look to be Magicka based. This world had the
flow of Magicka running through it, it was closed off from the humans
that lived in it. Their bodies simply lacked something that humans
and other beings in Nirn had that allowed them to use the energy.
But after seeing those two women, the girl pulled Malist away from
the fight and ran off to his current location. She also did so with
strength not normal to humans. She had been friendly and in a way
that Malist found refreshing and not fake at all. And then after
introducing herself and he to her, she feinted. He knew what he
wanted at this point, to figure out just what was going on and how he
could find those women again and perhaps others like them. This
world was starting to show its exciting side and he wasn't going to let
it go. But he had only one connection to it… this girl, Musubi.

So Malist picked the girl up and threw her over his shoulder and
casted over him and her the spell Invisibility. It would look strange
and rather shady if he was seen carrying an unconscious girl back to
his apartment. Not only that but his landlord was a total dick when it
came to girls at Malist apartment. Malist arrived at his apartment with
no issue and set Musubi down on his bed so that she may be
comfortable. His apartment was filled with various things either
brought with him in his Inventory or he made himself to try and give it
a sense of home for him. It ended up looking much like his first home
in Riften once he had filled it up with stuff. Aela and Serena both
agreed that it was probably unhealthy for him to do this but he didn't
care. It reminded him of what was his true home and that was
important to him. He waited nearby reading, Lord of the Rings, it was
one of the few stories that he had found to be of his interest in this
world. This world called it Fantasy but it was far more closer to reality
for him than the current world he was living in. At the sounds of
Musubi stirring awake he looked up from his reading of Aragon fight
the Nazgul.

"Are you okay… do you need something for your head?" Malist
asked as he put the book to the side.

"Food… so… hungry…" Musubi said weakly as she reached out for
something. Malist got up and took out a few premade sandwiches
from his fridge and handed them over to Musubi. She quickly began
to munch on them with great vigor. He walked back to his chair and
grabbed it and placed it closer to his bed so the two of them could
speak.
"When was the last time you ate?" Malist said clearly concerned over
the pace the girl was eating.

"I don't remember…" She slightly sobbed with a cutesy face full of
food. "Oh Malistantius I owe you everything, how am I ever going to
repay you. Not only did you save me but you gave me food too."

"It's fine… I have pliantly of food so eat all you want." He said
perfectly aware that if he ever needed to, he could just steal food.
Money wasn't that big of an issue, Aela won't ever let the man hat
had been her Harbinger starve. Or at least he hoped that she
wouldn't.

"Okay." Musubi sobbed before returning to her eating. But then soon
stopped as she looked around his apartment. "Wow… this place is
cool… it's like something from way back in time."

"Thank you… I think… most of this stuff holds a lot of meaning to

me. almost all the furs are from beasts I hunted and skinned myself."
He said with a proud smile on his face. That was not entirely true but
he liked to think it was. But then the sight of her tearing up wiped the
smile off his face.

"You mean you killed poor fluffy animals Malistantius?" She asked
with tears in her eyes.

"No! I only hunted down big bad beasts that threatened to hurt
people if they weren't taken care of. I have never hurt anything that
couldn't defend itself." He defended and it looked to be able to turn
around the girl's opinion of the subject. " Besides… the idea of
hunting small game in Skyrim is boring. " He added in his head while
smiling guiltily off to the side. "Like that one…" He said pointing to a
massive bear skin that draped off the side of the wall. "… I worked
for a group that was sometimes called to kill off bears and other big
beasts that could hurt people. I got that pelt of the bear that was my
first job all alone with them. It was a nasty bear that had killed two
children, but I stopped it." He had been told that story to by Aela, it
was one of his favorites as it was able to give him back a small
memory of Kodlak telling him he did a good job. The grandfatherly
man was someone that he knew was important to him.

"Wow… you're like a hero Malistantius." Musubi said with stars in her
eyes at hearing him be so heroic. That made Malist blush a bit, he
still didn't think of himself as a hero… even though that was his
dream. To be a hero once again like he had been back in Skyrim. So
hearing this girl call him that… it really meant a lot to the young
Dovahkiin.

"I told you… call me Malist. It's a lot easier." He sighed as he

brushed off the comment. He also really preferred people calling him
that nickname due to the fact no one had been able to pronounce it
correctly. They always said it Mal-ist-ant-ius when it was pronounced
Mal-ist-an-tius. It was just easier on his ears if people just said the
part they could get right.

"Okay, but umm… Malist… we need to talk. Could… uh… stay here
for the night? I don't really have anywhere else to go." She said
looking down at the floor not wanting to look at his face if he said no.
She didn't see the look of blank dramatic phase Malist was giving
her. He had already planned on keeping her here until either she had
given the information he needed to seek out this new powered
people. Or they came for her and he could protect her from danger
and thus prove his heroics.

"Sure… so long as your quiet and don't burn down the place it's fine
with me." At that she looked up in grateful happiness.

"Thanks so much, you've saved me once again." She said excitedly

causing Malist to smile a tad. This girl simply had a small effect on
him, she just had this air around her that just felt so vibrantly honest
he could help but relaxed by it.

"It's no issue, but I need to know why… hm…" He stopped as she

leaned in closer to him seemingly unaware of things like social
boundaries.
"You're so wonderful, kind and brave… I just wish someone like you
would be my Ashikabi.' That was a title for people of impotence in
some kind of exciting and not normal world. Malist could tell, she
said it with all the meaning that he would when speaking of him
being the Dragon Born. Although the level of importance might be a
little different.

"And… what is this… Ashikabi?" Malist was really interested now.

This could be his way back into a life where the bland and boring did
not belong. " A life that I need, if I have to spend another year being
so nobody I'm going to go insane. "

"The special one I'm supposed to find." She said before taking Malist
hand, bringing it closer to her. Malist just let her do as she wanted.
One part of his brain was looking for information and the other was
slightly freaking out over the fact a cute girl was so close and
touching him. He was a teenager after all "I've been looking so long
for mine. Even though we've never met our Ashikabi's are the ones
we were born to serve. It's our job to guide them… to the higher sky
above." She said as she brought Malist's hand to her breast. For
what reason he had no clue and at that moment he didn't really care.
His brain was working over time trying to keep him from looking like
a complete dumbass while the other side was going YAY! BOOB!

"Uh yeah… okay listen we should get to sleep soon so you can have
the bed while I sleep on the floor." Malist quickly said as he took his
hand away and walked over to one of the nearby cabinets and took
out a few blankets and pillows that he kept away for when Eirk
needed a place to stay for a night. Normally it was him that was on
the floor and not Malist but this wasn't that situation. "Good night."
Malist said quickly before wrapping himself in the blankets. " I touch
a girl's chest and I get all flustered and embarrassed! That's not how
the Dovahkiin should act, I never got embarrassed back in Nirn. I…
oh fuck… whatever… it happened you stupid moron. Damn you
Sheogorath! "
Serana entered the apartment of the de-aged Dovahkiin quietly. The
former Thieves Guild Master was a paranoid one and that had kept
true for the young Malist. But Serana was far superior in her ability
into gain entrée than his ability to try to keep people out of his home.
She had done this back when he had built traps into his homes and
wards that required the use of many Soul Gems, both of such things
he was not able to use now.

Her glowing red eyes scanned the small apartment, Malist was
sleeping on the floor and the girl he had brought with him was in his
bed. Just like Malist, Serana was intrigued by the strangeness that
surrounded the events of the day before. She was not as needful for
the excitement that Malist now craved to prove his legacy of being
the Dovahkiin, so her interest was far more objective.

" Even back in Nirn you were always driven. The idea of adventure
always brought a smile to your face ." Serana thought to herself as
she glided over to her companion. The two had known each other
the least in terms of time for the four that had come to this world from
Nirn, but the bond between them was in her opinion the strongest.

Aela and him were brother and sister in arms, both loving battle and
the celebration after. But the two were not nearly as close as they
used to be, it had started when Malistantius decided to rid himself of
the Werewolf curse and she kept it. They still were close friends and
companions but… they were no longer the packmates they had
been.

Eirk was a classic fanboy of the Dovahkiin. While he was a very

good warrior and had saved Malistantius' life many times, he still
held the man on a height that no one could ever touch. It was a
master student relationship without the teaching component. Given
that Malistantius and Malist alike preferred range combat above all
else. He was a master mage and one of the best bowmen in all of
Skyrim. Only ever using daggers in close combat. Eirk on the other
hand was all about heavy armor and great swords. Which worked
well when the two them fought together.
But Serana honestly thought she and him were the closest out of the
four. The only one that might be closer to the Dovahkiin would be
Ralof, and she knew why. The two had been though the whole civil
war together and survived Alduin attack on Helgen. But she and the
Dragon Born had been through much as well, maybe not as much
but it had been quite the ride. Fighting her own family and saving the
world from endless darkness. She then continued to follow the
Imperial, he at first was just an interest to her. What they had been
through with her family had brought her attention to him beyond just
a tool to finish her father off for good, and so she followed him on his
adventures. All the time being quiet and observant, and a silent bond
of understand and respect had formed between them.

And now they were in this new and bland world. Seemingly devoid of
the adventure that Malistantius lived off of. But now, something had
shown itself. These new powerful beings in the form of two twins
who commanded lightning and a girl with amazing strength. Serana
knew Malistantius, she knew that he was going to find his way to the
heart of this new development. And if his track record showed
anything… he was going to end up saving the world by the end of it.
Time would only tell if this rule held true for Malist as well.

Serana then moved from hovering above Malist to tip toeing over to
the girl alone in his bed. She was young, around Malist current age.
Malist had gotten sevreal tests done and everything showed that he
was both physically and surprisingly mentally in many regards. The
girl was soundly asleep and it would be so easy for Serana to cut her
throat and kill her. Serana smiled as she pulled back the blade she
had in hand, not leaving a mark on the girl's neck. Malist was all that
was left of her friend. He had retained much from his former self,
both in his skills and many of his personality. But he also carried a
few of scars that weren't so easily seen. Scars that had been caused
by loss, pain, and despair.

"Maybe you can finally fix the wound to the Dovahkiin's heart. Maybe
you can make him move forward and on to a life of true love and
happiness." It was strange for a vampire to be wishing for anyone to
have such a life, but the young man that used to be her greatest
friend was different to anyone else. And with that Serana
disappeared into shadow letting the two sleep for the night
undisturbed.

Malist was walking down the side walk trying to figure out just how
he was going to get some money. He told Musubi that he was going
to the bank to get money for dinner but he wasn't sure if he would
have the money. He thought about that plan he had for robbing it. It
was one of his various idea for proving that he was in fact the
Dovahkiin. The only reason why he didn't do it was not because he
couldn't, with his Nightingale gear and skills he could rob any bank in
the world. The only thing holding him back was the idea that he
would be stealing from normal innocents, and while he honestly had
no issue with steal from anyone he wanted to prove he was a hero.
That was what he wanted above all else, to be a hero. He wanted it
more than proving he was still as skilled and capable as the Dragon
Born of Nirn was.

"Oh Brynjolf… you would hate to see my coffers so dry." Malist

chuckled as he thought back to his friends in the Thieves Guild. That
was where things all started for him back in his old life. He had
moved from the core Imperial lands to Riften in hopes of getting
away from his over bearing family. He hadn't lived much of a life
before hand and was hoping to just have a quiet life away from it all
back home. How wrong was he in thinking he wanted the quiet life.
Brynjolf picked him out the day he arrived in Riften, and was able to
convince him to join up with the Thieves Guild. That was where
Malistantius found his love of anything but a quiet life. From joining
the Guild in full, to being betrayed by Mercer Frey, to joining the
Nightingales, to becoming Guild Master. Then things took a turn for
the worst when he got caught on the border of Skyrim coming home
from a meeting with a sister guild in Blackmarsh. But then that's
when the whole Dovahkiin thing got started and a whole new life of
adventures opened up to him.
But now he wasn't the Guild Master of the Thieves Guild, nor the
Dovahkiin… well… he was that last one still. Just he wasn't in a
world where that meant much. Other than being able to use Thu'um.
Which he didn't do much of these days given that he didn't want to
draw that much attention to himself. The idea of him being strapped
to a lab table had been a threat learned early on in coming to this
world. And now he was just some nobody, but not for long… he had
a small glimmer of hope. And as he was walking he heard something
that he knew would bring him closer to that hope.

"… having its grand reopening. And your all invited." Malist smiled at
the sight of the two lightning twins handing out flyers. It was funny to
him that they needed day jobs.

"Isn't this a nice surprise." He announced himself to the two women

he looked surprised to see him. "Love the outfits." He joked as he
scowled at him.

"Hey, you're that guy that ran off with that Sekirei." The twin in the
blue maid outfit said as they fully recognized him form yesterday.

" So… Musubi is a Sekirei… but are they the same or am I looking at
two separate races fighting each other ." Malist thought to himself as
he tried to gather as much information as he could on the situation.
Information was power after all, that held true in any world you were
in.

"Where's the Sekirei at pal?" The other twin asked with a slightly less
irritated but no less stern tone. Malist was about to give back a well
done lie about how he had no idea, but then…

"Hey Malist!" He turned back his head at the sound of Musubi calling
for him. He saw the girl running down the street toward him. "Silly me
I forgot to ask what you wanted to have for dinner tonight." She said
with a completely unaware smile on her face, clearly having no idea
that she was running toward people that wanted to do her harm.
"Oh damn… this is going to complicate things." Malist grumbled as
this new development showed itself. Musubi stopped once she did in
fact she the two twins begin to ready themselves with their lightning
sparking around them.

"This is the second day in a row you've run into us."

"This city is pretty small." Malist eyed the area around them as the
twins tried to intimidate Musubi. There were far too many bystanders
for his tastes. If he were to use anything to flashy it would cause him
problems later. But that line of thinking did make him wonder, this
two girls had no issue showing off their powers and did that mean
they had some kind of backing that protected them. Either way if
they did or didn't he and Musubi needed to get to a more secluded
area.

"It's you two again!" Musubi took a step back and tried to block the
incoming lightning strike but she fell back onto the ground at the
sudden flash of light. But then to her surprise the actual attack never
came. She looked up and saw that a dome of shadowy black and
red light was blocking the incoming lightning. She also saw Malist
holding his hand up to the center of the dome and in the palm of his
hand was a orb of flowing black and red light.

"You got to be kidding, this guy is a Sekirei too?!" The more

aggressive twin growled at the sight of the shielding dome.

"What, no." Malist answered for them. "I'm just a normal human with
a bit of mastery of the Conjuring Magicka." Malist chuckled as the
Shield Dome Spell dissipated. "I'm also the last in the line of Dragon
Born. Let me show you a bit of that. FUS RO DAH! " Malist Shouted
and a wave unrelenting force exploded outward toward the two twins
sending them back a few feet and staggered from the force of the
Shout. Musubi was speechless at Malist power and his willingness to
defend her.

"Something is happening… my body… it's feel strange…" Musubi

was having a hard time thinking straight as her own body began
sending her singles she didn't fully understand.

" There we go… they should be able to follow us. This is so fun! I'm
actually in a fight with powerful beings and using Thu'um like a Real
Dovahkiin would! " Malist thought as he looked down to Musubi who
looked pretty out of it for the moment. Malist ignored that as right
now she was in danger and he needed to get her out of harms way
for the time being. The best way he could do that was getting to
place where he could fight properly.

"Malist… what are… ah!" Musubi was interrupted by Malist picking

her up off the ground into his arms.

"We need to get away from here." He said as he watched the twins
start to recover from his Shout. "Hold on, this is going to get a little
fast." Before she could ask what that meant, Malist Shouted again. "
WULD NAH KEST! " She felt the two of them speed forward, as if
being pulled by some storm of force. They ended up at the end of
the street where Malist quickly turned down a unused alley. Musubi
still looked like she was having a hard time breathing for some
reason and her face was getting very red. The reason behind this
Malist had no idea what it could be. "Are you okay… you look like
you might be…" Malist was interrupted by Musubi pushing herself
onto his chest. She held on to his jacket for support.

"Help me… I don't know what's happening… my body is so hot and it

just keeps getting hotter." She said as she continued to push herself
closer to the increasingly confused and flustered Malist.

"If you're sick I can see what I…" At that moment the two of them fell
to the ground with Musubi on top of Malist, and with his hand on her
right breast. "… I'm so sorry, I did not…" He stopped his quick and
frantic apology her hand grabbing on to his and holding it where it
was.

"Malist… your touch…" Musubi breathed out as she began to inch

closer to Malist.
"This… is new for me." Malist was trying to figure out the chain of
events that had brought him to this point but his mind wasn't fully
active nor working at its finest.

"Aw… are we interrupting?" He looked back and saw that the twins
had caught up with them and each was now at both ends of the
alley. Blocking off any exit. Malist would be fine with this given that
he knew he could take both of them on but currently the young
Dovahkiin wasn't in a tactical mindset.

"Both of you are trapped like rats, so give up." The other twin said as
they both took a step forward toward Musubi and Malist. However,
Malist could tell that Musubi wasn't even aware of the danger she
and… mostly she was in. All of her focus seemed to be on him.

"Musubi… we need to…" He stopped at Musubi getting even closer

to him, her lips inches away from his. Some part of him heard the
twins panic but that part was deafened by the rest of him figuring out
what was about to happen. And then it did, Musubi leaned in and
kissed him. It was then followed by a burst of pink energy all around
them. Centered around ten wings of pink energy springing from
Musubi and her being enveloped in the light, which seemed to be
causing no small amount of almost sexual based pleasure.

"No way… of all the places she could have emerged it had to be
here."

"And we almost had her too." Malist wasn't really listening to the twin
complaining. The sheer amount of energy that was being given off
by Musubi actually was given him a large buzz. The energy was very
Magicka like and was effecting him more than it would a human
without the large connection to Magicka like Malist had. This caused
him to be unable to stop the twin in blue from pulling him back away
from Musubi and hold him back with a sparking finger aimed at his
face.

"Now that's she's emerged there's nothing we can do about it. But
we can do something about the guy cocky enough to get in our way.
So where's that fancy power now huh?" She mocked but Malist was
still a little drunk on the intense power Musubi had been giving off.

"Let Malist go!" Musubi called out as the light died away leaving her
standing and fully ready for battle.

"So you got tough all of a sudden?" The twin holding Malist said as
she looked back at Musubi.

"I said let him go." Musubi all but demanded.

"And if I don't… what are you going to do about it?" Musubi

responded by rushing forward at inhuman speed, pulling back her
fist ready to pummel the twin holding Malist. Said twin threw the
young man to the side and unleashed a torrent of lightning onto the
incoming Musubi. This resulted in a explosion and when the dust
settled Musubi was nowhere to be seen.

"Heads up Hikari." The other twin called to her sister. She looked up
and was able to form a shield of lightning to block the incoming fist
strike from Musubi. It soon because a battle of power with both sides
pushing back against the other.

"Not bad, you can really challenge my sister and I." Hikari said
before detonating her shield throwing Musubi back and temporarily
blinding her. When Musubi was able to see again the twin was gone
and had escaped with her sister to the top of the building at the end
of the alley. "But we don't fight those that already emerged."

"Well good luck guiding your guy to the higher sky above." The other
twin said in a slightly mocking tone before both flew off. Musubi
ignored them and looked back to Malist who was leaning back
against a wall, his head still swaying around as his mind was
currently rousted.

"Malist! Are you okay… what's wrong?" She cried a she looked him
over trying to understand just why he was acting like this.
"Calm down girl… he will be fine." Musubi turned around a saw a
woman with glowing red eyes under a heavy hood walking toward
them. Musubi stood to defend Malist but that just made the woman
chuckle. "Don't even think about it girl, I have fought beings far
greater than you. With him at my side I might add." The woman said
looking down at Malist. Hearing that she knew Malist on some level
Musubi wearily stepped aside.

"What are you going to do to him?" Musubi asked with clear worry in
her voice.

"Just sober him up… whatever you did seems to have affected him
in the same way a hard night of booze would. I'm actually impressed,
he's always been a very good drinker… or at least he was." The
woman said as she kneeled down next to Malist and… reached into
some kind of portal and pulled out a glass bottle filled with a brown
liquid.

"Wow… where did that come from?" Musubi asked as she stared at
the magically appeared bottle.

"It's a spell called Storage, makes for carrying around lot of

sometimes needless stuff easy." She explained as she opened
Malist jaw and poured the liquid in the bottle down his throat. She
emptied the whole thing before pulling away. It took a few second but
eventually Malist coughed a bit before looking better.

"Damn it Serana… you couldn't have just let me work off my buzz off
like a normal person could you… oh… wait…" Malist said as he
remembered that it wasn't a normal buzz he just sobered from.

"Yes, Malist… besides… it's not like you could legally get drunk
anyways." Serana chuckled before standing back up with Malist
following. "So… do you remember what happened with this girl?"
Serana asked look at Musubi who was just happy that Malist was
fine again.
"Yes… I do… what of it?" He said doing his best to hide his small
blush at the memory of the kiss.

"Only known her for less than a full two days and already hit first and
from what I saw second base… naughty naughty Dovahkiin." Serana
joked as she was greatly amused at this turn of events. " Yes… I do
think I was right in letting this one go ."

"Oh stop treating me like I'm nineteen… because I'm not." He said
like a spoiled brat being given a lecture. He was the Dovahkiin and
he had just started to prove that he was just as deserving of that tile
as he was back in Skyrim.

"No… you are Malist. In every way you have become Malist and are
no longer Malistantius Caeraso. That man has been lost to time and
space. His body given your youth, his mind forever sealed away
behind a fog of unknowing. All that is left of him is the stories we
know, the ideal you dream to gain again, and the skills he passed
down to you. You are more Malistantius Caeraso's son than the man
himself." Serana stated.

"You do know how insane that sounds right… I'm my own son?"
While on the surface Malist was angry at the insinuation that he
wasn't the man he used to be anymore. But deep down Serana had
hit his deepest fears right on the head. Even if she had done so in a
very bizarre metaphor.

"Given that this is the work of the Daedra of madness and chaos…
yes… I'd say it fits. The facts are as such… your body and mind can
no longer considered to be thirty three anymore… you are nineteen.
You must accept it." Serana said before focusing on Musubi who had
been thrown into a storm of confusion by what had been said. "And
you…" Serana said as she turned to Musubi. "… from what I was
able to gather from events and what was said. You have somehow
bonded with Malist in some way correct?"

"Yes, I'm now his Sekirei and he is my Ashikabi." Musubi said fully
happy with the turn of events. Malist had been so kind to her so for
him to be her Ashikabi was wonderful to her.

"I won't pretend like I understand the meaning behind those words.
But I do hope that you take care of Malist. He's all that's left of a
great man that I respected and admired."

"I really wish you wouldn't talk about me like that…" Malist grumbled
as an air of depression hung above him. "I'm the Dovahkiin damn
it… I'm supposed to be a hero."

"You keep telling yourself that Malist and it may one day come true."
Serana waved off as she started down the alley and flew away in a
burst of bats. Musubi's eyes went wide at the sight while Malist
continued to grumble about what Serana had said.

"Malist! How did she do that! One second she was walking and then
poof… she turned into a whole bunch of bats and flew away!"
Musubi asked her Ashikabi excitedly.

"She's a vampire." Malist said bluntly as he began to walk out of the

alley. His head still hurting from the sobering drought Serana had
given him.

"NO WAY!" Musubi yelled out as she flailed her arms in shock at that
information.

"Yes… now let's head home. My head is killing me and I need

something to fix that."

Malist was currently on the roof of his apartment building. It was a

little tricky to do so but he did it. He gripped in his hands his two
Daedric daggers, Grim and Despair, and eyed the Frost Atronach in
front of him. The summoned being made no move and that is what
Malist needed right now. He just needed it to remain still while Malist
did a bit of training.
Malist rushed the Atronach and made flurry of slashes at its frozen
body. He continued the attacks, each came one after the other.
Malist personal did not like to fight up close but he recognized the
fact he couldn't always avoid it. So he trained in daggers, Vex had
showed him how to fight dirty and other tricks… but by the end of it
she had given up. Malistantius had proven that the last Dragon Born
sucked at anything that involved with getting up close and personal
in a fight. That is where Grim and Despair came into the picture.
Malistantius had created these two Daedric Daggers with special
Enchantments and doubled his speed and talent with blades. With
hem he became decent at close combat fighting, without them he
sucked.

"Sixty seven cuts in under a minute… damn… I need to improve if

I'm going to be fighting Sekirei that can get in close really fast like
Musubi can." Malist grumbled as he stepped back from his work. He
noted every cut made to the walking and moving ice block. "No…
sixty eight… Divines… even my eyes need improving."

"WOW! That's so cool." He turned around and saw Musubi climbing

up onto the roof. "What is that… and you were moving so fast and
those daggers look so sharp and… evil looking." Musubi excitement
dipped at closer look at Grim and Despair . Malist chuckled at that
very apt description. They were after all Daedric weapons. The
blades still felt warm to the touch from the inclusion of the heart of a
Daedra in their making.

"Yeah, but they are some of the best tools for what they need to do."
He said ominously as he placed the two daggers back into his
Inventory with the Storage Spell. "Do you need something Musubi?"
Malist said turning to the Frost Atronach and banishing it. Causing
the being to melt into a puddle of water.

"I wanted to tell you that dinner is almost ready." She said as her
smile returned to her face. Malist had been watching her demeanor
since returning back to his home. And while on the surface t didn't
look like Musubi had changed much, she was still as happy and
peppy as before but now, there were clear undertones to her
behavior toward him that he was able to pick up. There was an air of
loyalty and even small waves of subservience toward him now.

" Is this how all Sekirei act toward their Ashikabi. That… could be
very dangerous. Blind loyalty toward someone just for… winging
them as she called it… that is a dangerous system. How easily could
Musubi ended up in the hands of some dumbass that would treat her
like dirt. The idea that someone as honest as her in that situation…
I'm going to be Shouting people to pieces aren't I. " Malist thought to
himself as he helped Musubi back down the apartment. They both
entered and Malist returned to the small table he had for eating and
Musubi went back to finishing up their meal. Malist played with a
knife in his hands as he continued to think about the bits of
information he had been able to gather. But he was irritated at the
fact he still had lots of holes in the bigger picture. And then, his
Nightingale luck showed itself again.

"TADA!" The small TV Malist kept around but rarely used turned on
and a silver haired man in a ridiculous white suit appeared on TV.
Both Malist and Musubi turned to the TV. "Hello my dear boy you've
just become partners with a Sekirei, congratulations."

"Professor!" Musubi said excitedly as she moved in front of the TV.

Malist meanwhile eyed the nearby dinner and was more concerned if
their meal was going to get burned. But noting the low temperature
of the stove he didn't worry too much.

"Musubi, I assume you know this guy?" Malist said as he returned

his attention to the scene in front of him.

"Of course, he's my professor and the company president." Musubi

cheerfully explained.

"If you don't know who I am…" Malist really didn't but he had an
idea. "… then you really should watch the news more often.
Malistantius Caeraso." At that Malist narrowed his eyes. The few
people outside of Aela, Eirk, and Serana that knew him knew him as
Malist. That meant that this man likely had access to databases
where Malist legal name was stored. "The Dovahkiin really should be
more observant." And now this man had his full attention.

"How. Do. You. Know. That. Word?" Malist growled out. There were
only four people… he guessed now five if you included Musubi, that
knew that word. It was not a word found in any language of this
planet and the odds of him learning it on the planet it did come from
was unlikely. Unless he was also form Nirn but then he would be far
more respectful to Malist. That suggested he got the information
from one of his companions.

"Ha… there's nothing that I don't know my dear boy." Malist snarled
at that not answer. It reeked of something a Daedra would say. And
certain Daedra at that, one that was far more annoying than most.
"The Sekirei plan… that's the name of the game of which you have
become a major player in as of today." The man said smiling as he
spoke. "You are a Ashikabi, the partner of your Sekirei. Sekirei are to
soon be engaging in a secret war between each other and will fight
one another until only one is left standing. Those are the basic rules
of the game, she fights and you make sure you or her don't die."

"I see… well… things I guess are finally getting interesting." Malist
said with a half angry and pleased smile. Things were indeed getting
more interesting but at the same time this man unnerved Malist in a
way that he didn't like.

"Yes my dear boy… your days of boredom and monotony are over.
You may now prove to world that you are indeed worthy to hold the
name you claim." Before Malist could remark at that the man
continued to speak. "But there is one last thing I must say… this
game is a highly confidential project. So keep your mouth shut about
it or else." A vain popped out of the Dovahkiin's forehead at the
threat. "Or perhaps there might be a few tanks showing up on your
doorstep ready to take you away to see if we can't figure out what
makes Magicka work. Now if you will excuse me I'm quite busy so
you will have to excuse me now. And take care of yourself number
eighty eight AKA Musubi."
"Yes professor." At that the TV turned off leaving Malist and Musubi
once again alone.

"That man… annoys me." Malist grumbled to himself.

"Malist… the Professor called you the Dovahkiin… what does that
mean?" Musubi said as she turned back to her Ashikabi.

"It means that I have the blood and soul of a dragon. I can speak the
tongue of the dragons called the Thu'um. Where I come from I am
called the last Dovahkiin, as I am the first one to be born in many
ages. But it worries me that this man even knows that word much
less its meaning."

"Whys that?"

"Because it's a word that doesn't belong to this world." Malist said as
he stood up from his chair and walked over to his bookshelf. He
pulled out a black book with a diamond shaped dragon symbol on
the front. "This is the Book of the Dragonborn. It tells the history of
my kind and ending the prophecy of the last dragonborn saving the
world of Nirn from the World-Eater Alduin. First son of Akatosh and
mightiest of the dragons. And it was me that killed him… or at least a
version of me." Malist said with a sad tone that Musubi instantly
picked up on. "I am the last Dragonborn and more importantly I am
not from this world. I come from a place called Nirn, more specifically
the continent known as Tamriel. It is a world of magic and what this
world would consider fantasy. Still in a very medieval age, with little
sign of advancement." He took a moment before looking back to
Musubi. "This all sounds crazy to you doesn't it?" He said fully
expecting Musubi to call him insane or react in some similar fashion.

"Not at all." That surprised him. "You are my Ashikabi, I have

complete trust in you." She said with sunny look in her eye that left
little doubt in Malist that she honestly believed him. He didn't know if
that was a good or bad thing considering what he had told her and
how crazy it sounded. But he chose for some reason to take on the
more positive side.
"Thank you, not many people would be so ready to believe me. Even
after seeing what I can do." Malist sighed and looked back to their
cooking dinner. "You should probably finish that before…" Malist was
interrupted by the sound of the door knocking. He narrowed his eyes
and glared at the door. " Laas…" Malist whispered and to his vision
came everyone around him as bright red spots even through the
walls of the apartment and any building. Outside there was a fairly
huge man holding something. Now that he knew it wasn't his land
lord Malist got up and went to open the door. There was indeed a
large man in a suit, and the second Malist opened the door he
dropped a large box in Malist hands and shut the door. "That was
rude." He said as he walked back to Musubi and dropped the box in
front of her. He pulled out a small steel dagger from his inventory
and opened the box.

"Oh yay… they sent more of my clothes." Musubi cheered as she

pulled out some spares of her standard outfit.

"They seem so… I guess am more used to something more

practical." Malist said as he looked over the outfits, if what Musubi
was wearing was what she planned on wearing into battle then he
was going to be a little worried.

"You don't think they look cute…" Musubi sobbed with tears in her
eyes.

"I didn't say that… it's just… when I think of combat attire I don't
think… well…" Malist said trying his best not to upset the Sekirei
more. "You are a close range fighter, but at the same time you can't
go in with anything too heavy because of the style of fighting you
use. But what you use is more in line with what a mage would
wear… here… I'll show you what I generally wear into combat." At
that Malist changed his clothes in a instant, gone were his red t-shirt,
black jacket, and jeans. Now he wore the Ebony Mail with
Dragonscale boots and armguards. Around his body was a
sleeveless black open robe made out of the hide of an elder dragon
and had been enchanted by some of the best mages in the College
of Winterhold to help with all kinds of casting. And then the Dragon
Priest Mask of Konahrik covered his face with the hood of his robe
over his head. "See, this is the armor I wear when I fought in battle. I
mostly stay back and use magic and my bow at range, but this armor
is special, it allows for the best amount of movement for the amount
of armor it provides. I have done my best to improve and enchant it
to the best my ability and money could buy."

"Wow, it looks so cool." Musubi said as she looked on in awe at the

battle form of her Ashikabi. Though she did not like the Mask, she
liked Malist's face and didn't want it covered up.

"It's actually very lucky that you are a close combat fighter, this way
we can both play to each other's strength. You keep anyone we fight
busy while rain down arrows and magic from a safe distance." At
that Musubi looked a little sad and look to the floor.

"Well… I'm happy you want to help but… Sekirei are supposed to
fight one on one battles."

"Is that an established rule that would get us kicked out?" Malist said
as he changed back into his casual clothes.

"No… it's just… something that is expected of us."

"Always play dirty." Malist said playfully as he leaned in to Musubi.

"You want to win right, then do what it takes to win."

"I will win. I promise… I will fight for you and win. And then you and I
will ascend into the higher sky above together." She said with
complete conviction and belief that she could make that come true.

" Already been there done that… but I wonder what this world's
Sovngarde is like?" Malist thoughts on the matter however
evaporated at the sound of his door opening.

"I knew it." Malist's face soured at the hearing of that gravely and
irritating voice. He turned around and saw his land lord standing
behind the opened door to his apartment. Malist's lease on his
apartment stated that he would not bring women back to his place
for any type of relations. It was a rule that quite honestly the
Dovahkiin found degrading to him, but it was common addition to
lease's in the city and this apartment was the best one for the price.
But then Malist thought about the new fact that Musubi would have
to live with him, and thus this opened up a fun little opportunity to
mess with the ugly bastard that was his land lord.

"This is exactly as it looks." Malist said throwing the older man off for
a moment. "I brought this girl back home with the full intention of
ravishing her body in all manners of amoral and kinky ways. To
cause her to scream my name to the heavens in orgasmic ecstasy."
Malist gave his little speech without the barest hint of shame or
doubt that he had planned anything but. And Malist's land lord…
looked like he was going to have a heart attack from the sheer
amount of anger building up.

"GET OUT! I WANT YOU AND YOUR FLOOSY WHORE OUT OF

THIS PLACE BY TOMARROW MORNING! AND IF I HEAR
ANYTHING HAPPENING TONIGHT I'M CALLING THE COPS!" He
raged before slamming the door in Malist smirking face.

"That was fun…" Malist chuckled before turning back to his Sekirei
who to his surprise wasn't the least bit embarrassed of affected by
his words.

"Malist, did you mean all those things you said?" She asked, Malist
was genuinely very confused at the tone. It was a normal Musubi
happy to it but also… expecting… no that wasn't it, it was as if what
he had said was completely within the expectations she had
concerning their relationship. But in way that was slightly indifferent,
like it didn't matter if sex was involved between the two or not. Her
feelings concerning him would remain the same regardless.

"Uh… not really…" He said in a unsure manner as her reaction had

thrown him off. He knew that as the Hero of Skyrim he had women
thrown themselves at him for a long time, the nineteen-year-old sorta
wished that some of those memories would come back to him, but
these women had been unlike Musubi. They had the intention of
getting into his bed while Musubi simply accepted anything that
came, it was strange to him. "… that old bastard is just a big prude
and I wanted to leave this place with a bang… heh… wrong choice
of words." He chuckled even harder at the unexpected joke. One
that Musubi didn't exactly get but from context had a pretty good
idea. "Anyways, I'm not going to force myself on you or make you do
anything you don't want you." He waved off before starting to go
through his apartment placing his things into his Inventory. But as he
did so… his mind wandered to the idea of actually going through with
his joke. Musubi was clearly on board with the idea and this seemed
to be a expected aspect of a Ashikabi and Sekirei relationship. But
that mare fact alone gave him pause, it felt too much like he would
be abusing the situation. So he for now he kept it as a joke… in
reality. His mind however was perfectly fine. But as he began to let
his imagination run a little wild… something hit him with all the force
of a Giant's club to the face.

A total unexpected wave of pure guilt and loss washed over him and
killed any thought about Musubi. Malist had no clue why he suddenly
felt this way… it didn't change how he felt about Musubi… just made
him unable to think about her in any sort of sexual way. It felt like
doing so was betraying something or to be more accurate as that felt
too active a word, it felt like he was crossing a line he knew shouldn't
be crossed. It didn't feel like it was because of the bond shared
between them, if anything that bond was actively making the counter
argument. This felt like it had to do with him, something about him
and his former life.

Malist had only felt this way one time before but it was slightly
different. It was when Serana and Aela had encouraged him to try
and find a girlfriend to help him move on from Nirn. It didn't work, he
was handsome and could talk to women just fine. He just found the
whole idea to be pointless. None of the women in this world that he
had seen met his idea of a good romantic partner. He was of the
opinion that the women of Skyrim were far superior given that many
of them knew hardship living in that tough and unforgiving land, it
built a kind of character that was lacking here. He was sure there
were probably women out there that did in fact meet that type of
character, this world did hold its share of hardship and tough living.
He just didn't find any women that lived through that in the places
that Serana and Aela had practically dragged him to. Musubi had
become something of an exception to his normal preferences, it was
mostly her honesty and seemingly unshakable faith in him. It…
helped to know that someone did in fact believe in him. Crazy
backstory and all.

He did eventually find one woman that caught his interest when
Serana and Aela forced him to date, she was a American that had
been transferred to one of the military bases in Japan. She had seen
war and lived through it and had an air of confidence one only gains
in life and death situations. They had hit it off a bit but once they had
started moving the prospect of a night together… just like now
something had hit him. And he couldn't find in himself to go through
with it. It had been a disappointment to himself but the event seemed
to have given Serana and Aela the message as they stopped all
speaking of the idea of dating and girlfriends after that. The
suddenness of their change in attitude was a little strange but he
didn't think much of it.

But now this whatever it was that was affecting him was interfering
with his bond with his Sekirei. And in the sort span of knowing
Musubi he had come to… care for her. How much was yet to be
seen but he did. He felt something for his Sekirei and it was strange
to him how solid that feeling was for him. He didn't feel that he
should immediately declare his love for her, no that would be too
sudden and he knew that doing so would do more harm than good.
His feelings on the matter were all jumbled up and he needed time
before doing, saying, or even admitting to himself anything of real
merit. So for now… he would go with denial and awkwardness on
this until he knew exactly what was going on in his head. But this
guilt and loss he was feeling was major problem down the line in his
relationship with her once Malist finally understood and accepted
what he was going through.
The next day Malist and Musubi spent all day looking for a place that
they could rent. But given that Malist had no job, no savings that he
could legally claim, and all the places that were dirt cheap enough
for him to afford without those two things all had the same singles
rule as his previous place, he wasn't having much luck.

"Nocturnal is having a fun time playing keep away with my good

luck." He grumbled as he sat down on a park bench. Musubi sitting
next to him didn't say anything to the reference she didn't
understand. "Maybe I should just steal something and get the cash
to actually buy a place."

"But isn't stealing wrong?" Musubi asked naively.

"I'm going to tell you the motto of the Thieves Guild… shut up and
steal something, we need the money." He said before hanging his
head forward. "I really am such a loser… I can't… I can't even find a
place to live. And yet once I did things only those in legends do."
And as if things couldn't get worse… because they always did… it
started to rain. "Thanks, Kynareth… great job there."

"Malist…" Musubi asked with a tone of concern.

"I used to be… thee hero. I used to be the one who saved everyone,
saved the world… and now… I've failed a stupid college entrance
exam twice and now I'm homeless. I don't think people can fall
further than I have." Musubi watched her Ashikabi with sadness in
her eyes. She didn't like to see him in this state. In the short time she
had known him he had always been so made sure to look so
confident and sure of himself. Musubi could tell that it was a act, that
he had this weight of expectation on his shoulders. But he always
made sure to put on a brave face for her. but now it looked like he
was starting to buckle under the weight.

"You can't tell… but there's supposed to be a beautiful moon out

tonight." She said looking up to the sky before looking back to the
young man sitting next to her. "I don't think you've fallen. I think
you're doing the best you can in a situation that you're still not used
to. And to me, you'll always be a hero." Malist stirred from his
depressing thoughts and was surprised by the kiss he received once
he looked up. As the two kissed, Musubi's Sekirei wings materialized
from her back as they had done when Malist emerged her. Though
this time it lacked the overwhelming flood of Magicka like energy that
would send Malist into a semi-drunken stupor. The wings faded away
as Musubi pulled away and stood up from the bench. "I swear… I'll
do anything for you, whatever you could possible wish for." She said
before turning to the sky and reaching up to the clouds. "I would
even break through those clouds to reach the moon. And someday…
to the higher sky above." And then Malist watched in stunned silence
as Musubi began glowing with pink energy. "By my fists of the
contract, my Ashikabi's perils will be shattered." Musubi gave her
prayer and then pulled Malist off the bench as a torrent of wind
began circling around them. "Well, shall we go?" Musubi smiled as
she and him began flying up into the air, riding on the wind circling
around them. After getting over the initial shock of what was
happening, Malist found himself laughing as he was being pulled up
into the sky by his Sekirei. They soon hit past the clouds that blotted
the sky and all they could see in the sky was the full moon in all its
glory. "See… it's a beautiful moon just like I said."

" She… really believes in me… " Malist couldn't help but feel better
by this feeling of complete support and trust he was getting from his
Sekirei. " If she does so in me… then… I will make sure to make that
belief isn't unfounded ."
Chapter 2
"Uh… Musubi?" Malist asked as the two of them hanged in the sky.
"Do you… have a plan for landing… safely?"

"Uh… not really… sorry." She said weakly before the two of them
began falling down toward the ground.

"Oh shit! Please work please work please work." Malist pleaded as
he prepared a Shout. " DUR NEH VIIR!… Damn it!" He cursed as
the undead dragon Durnehviir was not summoned like Malist so
desperately wished he would. The Ashikabi and Sekirei pair
continued to fall straight down. "Come on… someone… anyone…
help please!" Malist then saw something as they approached a tree
that he hoped would break their fall and not skewer them. He saw
what looked to be a ghost of same kind reaching out to him and then
disappearing. It had been one of a small child with long hair. Malist
wasn't able to think much on it as Malist and Musubi both crashed
into the tree. It had been to his luck, Nocturnal had decided to give
back his luck apparently, that it did not skewer them like he thought it
would but soften the fall. "Ow… okay… need… health… potion…
please…" Malist groaned before opening his eyes to see Musubi on
top of him. "How are you doing Musubi, anything broken?"

"I'm fine… sorry Malist." Musubi said not getting up from her spot on
top of him.

"Um, excuse me." Malist and Musubi both looked to the source and
saw a woman standing nearby. "Hello there, who are you." She
asked, her voice sounding more concerned than threatened by the
intrusion of the two on her property.

"I'm Ma… arg… that hurts…" Malist groaned as he tried to move but
found that his whole body had been bruised with the worst being a
small gash on his leg.
"Oh my, your hurt." The woman said as she saw his injury.

"Malist! Are you okay?" Malist turned his head to see that Musubi
had gotten off him but her clothes had been torn up by the fall
though the tree.

"Musubi, please try to cover yourself." Malist said as a small blush

formed across his face and he let his head hit back to the ground so
he faced the sky. The clouds had cleared a bit and the moon was still
a nice sight.

"Oh yeah… I think they got ripped a bit in the fall." She said without a
bit of the normal shame that went along with being half naked in
public.

"Why is it so noisy, what's going on out here?" Malist looked toward

the sliding door that lead into the building on this lot and saw a fairly
effeminate looking man standing in the door. "Oh… hello." He said
as he saw Malist laying on the ground injured and Musubi with her
clothes ripped to pieces.

"Kagari, can you please take this young man inside and fix him a bit.
I'll take this young lady to get a new change of clothes." The woman
said as she walked over to Musubi and helped her up. "Come on, I'm
sure that I have something that can fit you."

"Is Malist going to be okay?" Musubi said looking back to her

Ashikabi.

"Go… I'll be fine…" Malist said dismissively as he knew all he really

needed was a healing potion from his Inventory and he would be all
better. He LET himself be carried into the building by the man called
Kagari where he was dropped off in a small room. The man came
back with a first aid kit and quickly dressed the gash on Malist leg.
Well enough that the young Dovahkiin felt all he really need after
was a small potion of regeneration instead of the full health potion.
"Thanks, I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
"Hey, don't worry about it. Besides I'm just doing what Miya asked
me to do."

"So I have a name for my host now, thank you."

"By the way, what were the two of you doing out there and where did
you come from?" Malist smiled at that question and decided… to
give this man the truth.

"I come from a far away land." Malist said with a little over the top
drama. "A place shrouded in mystery… magic… and dragons. A
land of the bitters of colds and the hardest of men. I come from the
land of…"

"If you don't want to tell that's fine." The man chuckled thinking what
Malist was saying was a joke. "I guess there's no issue at leaving it
that way." He said before the sounds of the nearby door sliding open.

"Malist, I barrowed a kimono what do you think?" Musubi asked as

she entered the room wearing a bright but light red kimono. It did
look quite nice on her.

"Wow, what can I say, its like a human flower garden." Kagari said
before Malist spoke.

"It… looks good Musubi, and thank you for helping us." Malist said
turning to Miya. "I'm sorry to impose, helping me and giving us your
clothes."

"It's fine, I always like to help out where I can." She said with a sweat
smile. "My husband was the exact same way." Malist was able to
pick up on the past tense word and the same bit of sadness that was
in that statement.

"I'm still sorry to impose and sorry for your loss." He said with a slight
bow.
"Thank you but… it's been a long time. Oh I should introduce myself,
I'm Miya, Miya Asama." She said with a small bow. "It's nice to meet
you."

"I'm Malistantius Caeraso, it's nice to meet you. And please call me
Malist."

"I'm Musubi." The two of them said as they returned the bow.

"Good to meet you, I'm Kagari." The man at the other end of the
room said as he leaned against the nearby wall.

"Yes, and thank you once again for helping me." Malist said though
he knew he didn't need the help at all.

"Oh… what's that smell?" Musubi said excitedly after sniffing the air
and Malist also did catch something tasty in the air.

"I hope it's not terrible, because I'm cooking dinner. Would you two
like to join us?" Miya asked the two of them seeing nothing wrong
with inviting them.

"Are you sure, we just suddenly dropped on you and you've already
helped us enough." Malist said hiding his cation as in his experience
it was very rarely this easy in life. He had been told stories from both
Erik and Aela that in Skyrim that in this situation they would be
expecting this woman to be a vampire or a witch trying to draw them
in. But this was not Skyrim and then the sound of Musubi's stomach
growling decided things for the two anyways. And so soon they all
were sitting at the table with food in front of them. Musubi was
happily starting and enjoying the food as were the two residence of
the building. Meanwhile… Malist was glaring at the food.

"Is there something wrong?" Miya asked once she noticed that Malist
wasn't eating.

"Sorry… it's just… I'm… not the biggest fan of Japanese style of
cooking. I prefer more… hardy and rugged food." He said staring at
the plate of fish and rice. He really did prefer the more Skyrim style
of diet of whole meat and bread. Often with mead and cheese. The
stew that Musubi had made last night had been good though but it
was really hard to mess up stew.

"Aw, I worked hard to prepare this meal. I did hope that you would
enjoy the whole thing." Miya said sweetly but the aura of dreed and
terror that surrounded her said something else entirely. Malist glared
at her with beads of sweat rolling down his face as he tried his
hardest not to be intimidated. "In this house, you eat what is set
before you."

" Scar Lady !" Malist screamed in his mind. "Yes mam…" Malist said
as he picked up the chop sticks and began eating. They started
eating but stopped at the sound of someone coming down.

"Aww… I'm so hungry…" At that the owner of the voice opened the
door and to Malist conflicting joy and irritating it was a very attractive
girl in nothing but a bra and panties. "Oh… we have visitors.

"Uzume, how many times do I have tell you to not come out of your
room dressed like that." Kagari complained.

"Hey, at least I'm wearing panties this time." Malist watched the
interactions and was able to draw some conclusions about where it
seemed that Musubi and him had landed. He did so as he tried his
damn hardest to avoid looking at the half naked girl that had come
into the room.

"Excuse me…" Malist said as he turned his head to Miya. "… but I'm
I right, this is some kind of boarding house or hostel or something.
Because none of you look like family so… just wondering." Miya
chuckled a bit at Malist figuring it out.

"Yes, this is a boarding house and I'm the land lady. And you've
already met a few of our tenants.
"Hey, the only thing that sucks is that this place is kinda beat up and
wore down." The new girl to the dinner table Uzume said as she
paused from her dinner. "Which means that only crazies and weirdos
live here. So we're always looking for more normal tenants."

"Oh really…" Miya said as she turned to Uzume with that intense
aura of terror and dread once again making a appearance. Malist
had no idea where it was coming from as he knew that the humans
of this world could not use Magicka so that wasn't it.

"Uh… I mean because this place has so much character we need a

verity of types." Uzume said after buckling under the gaze of her
scary land lady.

"Oh Please Great and Mighty Land Lady!" Malist groveled as he

bowed his head to the floor. If there was one thing he knew, is that
you are never too important to be above begging when you really
needs something badly. Not that Malist counted as an important
person… yet… hopefully… he could dream. "Please let this destitute
wanderer lodging in your home, we have been kicked out of our
home yesterday and are in need of residence." Malist said with his
head to the floor.

"You poor thing, please raise your head." Malist smiled as he looked
up. Groveling always works. "My husband, he believed in never
turning anyone away."

"So the groveling was unneeded… but does that mean we can
stay?"

"Yes, welcome home. To the Izumo Inn."

"You did it!" Musubi cheered as she rushed over to hug Malist. Who
promptly raised his fist in the air in happiness.

"Yes I did, We will not be sleeping in a bus stop tonight!" He cheered

as he knew he would never live such a thing down.
"Yay, we have a place to live." Musubi happily cheered as she
continued to hug her Ashikabi.

"Here is your room." Miya opened the door for Malist and Musubi to
the empty room. "I hope that you can overlook the dust, you wanted
to move so quickly I wasn't able to have time to clean it."

"It's perfectly fine, we just really don't have anywhere to go so we

need it right away." Malist said with a slight apologetic tone as
Musubi ran in happy to have a place for them to live in.

"Don't you need to go back to your previous home and get your
belongings?"

"Aheh… pretty sure that my former land lord would chase us out if
we showed up again. But no, I was able to get all my stuff before he
kicked us out."

"Well don't you need to go and get it all?" Miya asked as she looked
around for any bags or suit cases.

"Don't you worry about that, you go do land lady stuff and I'll handle
my stuff." Malist said slyly as he walked thought the door to the room
and slowly closed it to a slightly confused Miya.

"Yay! Its decorating time!" Musubi cheered but then was silenced by
Malist covering her mouth with his hand.

"SHHH… we don't know who is listening and watching."

Meanwhile… in a secret room in that same building. A young woman

with long red hair surrounded by screens covering all sorts of things
watched the two new tenants. The Ashikabi Malist had intrigued her,
mainly by the mystery of him. There was only the barest of
information on him anywhere on the net. A year ago he just
materialized out of thin air. And he wasn't trying to forge some new
identity, from what she gathered… he simply didn't exist in any way
before a year ago. He was mystery that couldn't solve and that drew
her in greatly… and then he showed off such power. With just his
voice he blasted back two Sekirei and then ran off with such speed.
And now this man would be living not two doors down from her.

"But what is he doing now?" She pondered as she watched he

silence his Sekirei. "Paranoid much?" She joked but she admired his
caution. She watched as four large blue crystals appeared in his
hand. He then placed them at each of the four corners of the room
and then chatted a few things in a language that none of her
translation programs recognized. And then he returned to the middle
of the room and with a snap of his fingers the screen went black.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"

Back with Malist and Musubi.

"Um… Malist… what did you just do?"

"I just warded off this room to any outside detection and influence.
Think of this room as its own separate space where nothing can get
to us… unless it's people." Malist explained as Musubi walked over
to the grand soul gem that was fueling the ward.

"So what are these things… their really pretty."

"They're soul gems, inside of each of them has trapped a grand soul
of some beast or monster." Malist explained as he began dropping a
few things out of his Inventory.

"Souls… are there… people in there?" Musubi asked with tears in

her eyes at the thought of some person trapped in the gem.

"No… not in those." Malist looked off to the side before pulling out a
black soul gem. "It's the black ones that have sentient beings in
them."

"AYH… why do have that person's soul?!" Musubi cried as she was
worried that her Ashikabi had stolen someone's soul.
"I didn't do it, I just found this one in some Necromancer's cave. I try
to use the white souls as much as I can." He honestly didn't like the
Black Soul Gems, he had one memory of the Soul Carin and he
didn't make him feel any better about using the admittedly more
powerful yet morally dubious Black Soul Gems.

"You're a kind person and I know you would never try to take
someone's soul." Musubi said with complete confidence in the
character of her Ashikabi. "I know that you…" Musubi was
interrupted by the sound of Malist's bed falling on the floor.

"Ah… that felt good… that thing is heavy. Now help me push this
thing into the corner."

"Okay!" Musubi cheered as she pushed the bedframe easily leaving

Malist a little sadden by his own lack of strength compared to the girl.
The two continued to place has much as the room would allow with it
getting too cluttered. In the end only one of Malist's three
bookshelves were able to be put in favor for a second bed for
Musubi, she said that she would be perfectly fine with sleeping with
Malist but he had read the lease and while it was fine for a guy and
girl to live together, no sexual relations were allowed. And that
included just sleeping together. In the end the room was like his
previous apartment, Skyrim'ifed. "Yay! Everything looks so cool and
Malisty."

"Please don't say that… but yes… makes things feel more like
home." He said as he looked on the small bit of space that he would
be living in. Everything in it was a heartfelt reminder of the life had
lived before.

"As long as I'm with you, it always feels like home." Once again
Malist had surprised by Musubi and her naïve and yet encouraging
look on life.

"Well… thank you… but… uh… let's just go get some food, it should
be getting close to dinner time by now." He said before walking out
of the room with Musubi following him. As they walked down the
stairs to the main level of the boarding house they saw Kagari
starting to head out, dressed up in a classy western style suit.
"Where are you heading out dressed to the nines?" Malist joked as
he walked down the stairs.

"Just work, I got of lot to do so I need to head out a little early today."

"Aw, that's a shame." Miya said as she walked out of the dining
room. "And I just made you dinner."

"I'm sorry, I'll eat it as soon as I get home." Kagari apologized before
reaching down and kissing Miya's hand. "Take care." Kagari said his
goodbyes and headed out of the boarding house.

"In case you were wondering, Kagari works nights at a host club."
Miya answered the unasked question in the room after the door had
been closed behind Kagari. "He's apparently the most popular host
over there, I think it's amazing."

"He's a host?" Musubi asked naively not expecting that.

"Thinking about trying it out, sure you would appreciate all the stuff
they do for women." Malist half joked.

"Yeah, especially if it was you doing it, I'd let you do anything to me."
Malist deadpanned to this statement with a tiny bit of blood dripping
from his nose.

"Yes… of course you would say that." Malist grunted as the gears of
his mind grinded to a halt. "Excuse me… I need to hit my against
something hard…" Malist grumbled as he walked away.

"By the way, you must be exhausted from all that unpacking. Would
you like to take a nice long bath?" Miya asked Musubi as Malist
stood over some ways away trying to reboot his brain. It wasn't the
sexual nature of the statement that affected him… well… it had a big
part but to him it was the way she had said it. The complete and utter
trust along with the somehow innocent way she said that threw him
off.

"Yay! I love baths!" Musubi happily yelled before turning to Malist.

"Do you want to join me Malist?"

"No… I think I want to enjoy the sun while its out." He said not even
needing to see Miya to know that he had no choice but to say no in
this. It wasn't like he was going to anyways… nope. So Malist soon
found himself sitting outside on in between the sliding door to the
outside, in one hand a bottle of mead and a apple in the other as he
enjoyed the nice weather. The sun had yet to start deciding but it
was getting close. "Ah… Maven you may have been the queen of all
bitches but you do know how to make a good drink." Malist said after
taking a drink from the bottle. As he enjoyed the day and his drink he
looked over to the tree that he and Musubi had fallen into last night.
"That girl… I swear I saw something… a Spriggan? Nah… would
have shown itself and not have helped me… pluuus… this isn't
Skyrim." He giggled a bit before putting on a serious face and
walked over to the tree. He looked at it and for a moment inspected if
it held any Magicka. When he found nothing he reached out and
touched it, it glowed green for a moment and his mind instantly
sobered up.

"Please… help me…" His vision was filled with a forest and of a
floating girl with long blond hair. She was on the verge of tears and
clearly scared. And just as fast as the vision came it was gone.

"Hm… I'm going with Sekirei rather than Magicka." He theorized

before looking back to his bottle of mead. "It's already open and I
don't have an infinite supply." He said before putting the bottle to his
lips. He took a rather large drink but then the sound of something
breaking loudly stopped him from downing the whole . And then the
sound of breaking glass came. He turned and saw Uzume jumping
out of the second floor and then landing on the nearby fence. While
only wearing a bath towel. Which slightly fell off as she landed. "
Tck… Musubi's are better ." Malist thought to himself as he knew that
saying so out loud was a good way to get punched in the face. He
had seen it happen to several of the men of the Companions many
times before.

"Oh thank goodness…" Uzume sighed as she saw Malist standing

there. "… Aren't you that new girl's Ashikabi." Malist just eyed her
with a slight frown. "I really don't want to fight anyone…" She said
before jumping down and landing next to him. "And that includes her
so can you make her stop." She said as she leaned into him with her
arms around his upper body.

"Exactly what is going?" He asked with only a slight hint of coldness

as if what was happen was what he thought it was, he might be
sticking a dagger in her gut in the next five seconds. Malist had
already taken life before, not only that but Malistantius' cold
disregard of life when it threatened those he cared about was shared
by Malist.

"Hey! You get off Malist right now!" He heard Musubi yell out as she
jumped from the same window, she also was only in a bath towel. "I
told you to let go of him and I mean it." She said with as much
sternness as Malist thought Musubi was capable of.

"Musubi… I need an explain of events… so please calm down and

stop this."

"Yeah listen to him." Uzume said from behind Malist, still holding
onto his shoulder. Though he wished she wouldn't as her proximity
was the main issue for the moment. And it would seem that Musubi
was too focused on that closeness to be open to discussion.

"Get away from him right now!" Musubi yelled as she came at them
with a ready fist to hit Uzume though quite possibly hit Malist by
accident. But the hit never came as it was blocked by Miya with… a
pot lid? Malist had to remember that trick.

"Stop it." Miya said before knocking Musubi on the head with a soup
ladle. "Young ladies shouldn't run around barely dressed like that."
Miya admonished with a stern yet at the same time friendly tone.
"Right… I'm sorry." Musubi apologized, forgetting all her anger from
seconds before.

"Guess you got in trouble huh…" Uzume chuckled at Musubi.

"That goes for you too." Miya said turning around with her ladle
sword trained on Uzume.

"Key…" Uzume said but the only male in the yard felt like it wasn't
sincere.

"I won't dare ask what the reason is for all of this. But I will say that
there is to be no fighting in the house. Have I made myself clear?"
Miya said with the demonic aura of hers returning and once again
scaring everyone into submission.

"We understand perfectly. Thank you for stating it so clearly and

thank you for stopping the fight." Malist said as the two girls stared at
Miya.

"No problem, and it's always so nice to have such polite young man
here. Dinner will be ready soon." She said leaving the three while
chuckling to herself as she headed back inside.

"Creepy… don't you think Miya is scary when she's mad." Uzume
commented only once Miya was out of earshot.

"I've seen worse…" Malist said thinking back to his time as a

Nightingale and having to deal with Nocturnal.

He was asleep. He knew that. But he was able to open his eyes.
Everywhere around him was tinted a pale green. But there was more
green in the form of the many trees that surrounded him. He didn't
recognize the forest as any from Skyrim. He would sometimes
dream of that land that he had no active memory of. His conscious
memory only remembered anything in bits and pieces and then
everything… was lost in a fog. Only those small bits and pieces
remained and they were of the most important parts and even those
were more like he recognized them rather than really remembered.

He then heard something between the rustling of the leaves. It was

feint at first but soon he was able to hear it clearly. It was the sound
of a girl crying. He looked through the trees and soon saw a young
girl, the same one he saw when falling the other night. She was up in
a tree holding onto the trunk for dear life in fear of falling to the
ground.

"Hey, don't worry… just jump. I'll catch you." He said holding out his
arms. He something was going on and so helping this girl looked to
be something he needed to do. If anything it would get him some
answers though at the moment the sight of a cry girl but his logical
side on hold for the moment. The girl looked back and was
indecisive for a moment. "I'll catch you, trust me… I am a hero after
all saving people is what we do." The girl then jumped down and into
Malist arms. "See… that wasn't so bad." He said as he stared to put
the girl down but stopped at her gripping onto him. " Something else
is scaring her… now is it something personal… or are we not alone
here ." Malist thought as he eyed the tree line for anything that even
looked to be Daedric in nature. "Hey, you got a name?" He said
looking down to the girl in his arms, though his senses were still
trained on anything that might come near them. " Something is out
there… it feels familiar… not enough to be Daedric… I know that
feeling from Grim and Despair. This isn't it… feels… cleaner, but it
isn't very friendly ."

"Ku… Kusano.' She answered as she looked up to him.

"What a cute name, fitting for a cute girl like you. My name is
Malistantius… don't even bother trying to say it. Just call me Malist.
So… why are you sad Kusano?"

"It-it… was all my fault. I was being bad and selfish and wanted to go
outside." At that Kusano started to glow green and float out of Malist
arms, he couldn't feel any Daedric signs but still he reached for the
girl as the force took her away. "Please help me… brother…"
Kusano cried as she disappeared into the trees.

"Kusano…" Malist grumbled in his sleep as Musubi tried to shake

him awake after she heard him have some kind of nightmare. He
opened his eyes to see her leaning over him.

"Malist… are you okay… you've been moving around violently in

your sleep."

"That's not too out of the ordinary. I have night terrors regularly, my
memories decide to show up and not all of them nice… the Famler,
Nocturnal, and Harkon all are very good at creating nightmares.
Oddly enough Alduin is a fluffy bunny to me." He chuckled before
fully remembering his dream.

"So… are you okay?" She said worried about her Ashikabi.

"Yes… hand me that bottle…" He pointed to the bottle of mead on

his nightstand. Musubi nodded and handed him the bottle and
watched with her normal passive face as he began drinking the
whole bottle down. "Ah… now… now I'm good." He said with a
slightly drunken smile before falling back into his bed. "Ahrk wah fin
lok mu bo… neh oblaan un stin ko fin grame…" He happily said in
the Dragon's tongue as he began to drift to sleep.

Malist woke up the next morning with only a minor headache. He

pulled himself out of his bed and looked around to see that Musubi
was also already up and that she was polishing the two steel Nordic
swords that hung on the wall. Malist sighed as took the furs that
made his blankets off him, today would be the first day of a new job
that Aela had gotten him as he would not be going to college and so
could work. It was a construction job and that meant hard labor,
something he didn't like. He preferred to steal his funds thank you
very much.
"Oh, Malist, good morning." Musubi cheerfully said once she noticed
that her Ashikabi was awake. "Did you sleep well after your
nightmare?"

"It wasn't a nightmare… just something to keep in mind." He said as

he opened his closet. He picked out a few of his Earth clothes and
eyed his Nightingale armor. It would be so easy to ditch his job and
go off and rob someone. But if he did that… Aela would know… and
she would want to discuss it with him. He didn't want to discuss
things with Aela. Once he had gotten dressed for the day, he had a
spell handy for a quick and easy cleaning of his body, he was about
to leave the room with Musubi in tow when they heard something
outside. They both went to the small balcony their room had and
could see Miya practicing with a sword, by cutting falling leaves.
"Impressive… the Blades would train like that. And I think they would
often make fun of me when I couldn't do it." Malist grumbled that last
part before looking to his side and saw Musubi with stars in her eyes.

"Land Lady!" Musubi called out as she jumped off the balcony and
down to the ground. "Would you spar with me?" She asked fully
ready. Malist smiled at this and an idea formed in his head.

"Okay… but I won't go easy on you." Miya chuckled as she readied

her sword.

"That's what I want. Ready… here I come!" Musubi joyfully called out
before rushing toward Miya. She pulled back her fist and wen t for
the Land lady's face but Miya moved her head away from the
incoming punch with clear skill in doing so. As it happened Malist
had come down and was watching the whole thing from the nearby
door.

"Looks like Miya has some skill, enough to take on a Sekirei." Malist
observed as he watched Musubi try to punch Miya without success.

"Oh yeah big time, Miya certainly knows how to hold her own."
Uzume said as she walked over to Malist and leaned in on his right
arm casually. "Whoa… those look pretty nasty." Uzume said once
she noticed the daggers hanging at Malist's sides.

"Well they should… some pretty nasty things went into making
them." Malist said cryptically before the two went back to watching
the spar, though Uzume every once and while looked back at the two
Daedric daggers. They watched as the spar ended with Miya
knocking Musubi off to the side with a slight tap.

"Your side's open…" Miya commented as she did so. "… and you
know why, because your putting too much strength into your
shoulder. You need to relax a bit, let your strength flow through your
entire body instead of just one place.'

"Right, thanks."

"Okay! Musubi got her turn… now it's mine." Malist said as he began
walking toward the two of them. He wanted to see just how good this
land lady was, and maybe possibly seeing if she could be a better
sparring partner then a Atronach.

"Are you sure, I don't want you getting hurt before your first day of
work.' Miya said sweetly but noticed the demonic looking daggers at
his sides and knew that he had come prepared for this.

"Please… I'll never get better just training on dummies." He asked

knowing that he was limited in people willing to help him. Well…
people willing to let him use the only two daggers that made him
worth a damn in close combat. "Just one spar for today, winner is
whoever can disarm their opponent."

"Very well, as long as we understand that we must avoid harming

each other." She warned seriously before taking an equally serious
battle stance. One far more firm and real than the one she had been
using on Musubi. Unlike with the naïve Sekirei… Malist looked like
he had proper training beforehand. Plus Miya knew Musubi's
strength level and limitations, she did not know the same information
of Musubi's Ashikabi.
"Right…" He dragged out with a smile. And then in an instant steel
met Daedric infused ebony. The two became a rush of attacks and
blocks. The two Sekirei off to the side were awed by this.

"Hey Musubi… what exactly is your Ashikabi?' Uzume asked as she

watched Miya take this spar seriously. Something she had never
seen her do before.

"He's amazing! He's… the Dragon Born.' Musubi said giving the title
great awe but not exactly the reverence it deserved. "He can do lots
of stuff! I don't know everything but I know he's great at it all." She
said excitedly as they continued to watch.

"Oaky… starting to regret this…" Malist breathed out as he dropped

back a bit. "… but no pain no gain. That holds true anywhere." He
said before rushing in for another attack. He was blocked by Miya as
he had been since the beginning of the spar.

"That's a good attitude you have there…" Miya commented as she

pressed and attack on Malist right side. "… But your attacks have no
sureness in them. You aren't confident that you're going to actually
hit. Only your speed, which seems unnatural, is keeping me from
fully exploiting this. " Miya thought to herself as she continued to
watch Malist during their spar.

"This is tough… I've never been good at this sort of thing. But… I still
have to win, I can't lose even once." He said though Miya could hear
that it was more toward himself than to her. There was an also a
heaviness to his words, something about them was pushing Malist
but at the same time holding him to something. An ideal or purpose if
Miya had to guess.

"But as you said… you aren't very good at this. I would say you are
not half bad in my opinion, but it is true that you need a lot of work if
you want to beat me." Miya said with a encouraging smile. " Mostly
you need confidence, you need to believe that you can do this. "
"But I'm still going to win this." He said before locking her and him in
a block.

"And why's that?" She asked as she held her sword between the two
daggers.

"Because I play dirty and you don't… ZUN HAAL VIIK! " Malist
Shouted, he then pulled back expecting Miya to be disarmed from
his Shout but then he felt Grim leave his hand and then was followed
by Despair before he was able to react to the first loss. He then fell
back on to the ground.

"Where Musubi had a issue in technique… your problem lies in your

attitude.' Miya said as she stood over Malist. "Your too cocky in a
fight and yet at the same time you don't put everything into your
attacks. You for some reason seem to think that you are going to be
the victor in every fight. But you don't believe that you, you Malist are
the driving force behind that victory. You're not a dim boy so I don't
think you have no reason to think this way. And I don't know what
you tried just now but I'm assuming it's the source of that confidence
issue. You think that your assured victory will come from that power
and not you. But I hope you take from this spar that even if you have
a ace in the whole… you need to believe in your own skills." Miya
lectured before walking away leaving the Dovahkiin to continue look
down in ashamed self-doubt.

"Malist! Are you okay?" Musubi cried as she came to his side. Malist
just glared down at the ground pensively. He couldn't understand
what went wrong, was she really that strong, to be able to resist the
full spoken Disarm Shout. And what she said irritated and confused
him even more, he was supposed to be in all rights her better. Back
in Nirn he had done far more than anything she could have done. He
had saved the world of Nirn several times, killed beings thought
unkillable, done things that were said to be impossible. And yet…
now… as he was… he was just a loser that can't even do a single
thing right. A loser that could never live up to the legacy of himself.
Miya laced her sword in its normal spot. Her hands were still shaking
from whatever that vocal attack Malist had done. When he
shouted… it was like her whole body screamed at her to let go of her
sword. It was only through the sheer strength of will that she was
able to overcome it. She gripped her hand trying to steady it. She
had never seen a human hold so much power, it was almost like he
just wasn't human. But she knew he wasn't a Sekirei, there wasn't
one with a power like what he had shown.

And then there was his weapons. Those daggers… they felt so
wrong. Just plain wrong, there were no other words that could
describe them. Evil felt too bias, there was malice to them but it was
just there and not directed toward anything in particular. Wrong was
the best word to use.

And his skills were on par with Sekirei sure. He could hold his own
but if what he said was true and that was his best, then he won't last
very long against someone who really knew what they were doing. It
felt more like his skills with those blades were just a back up,
something to pull out just in case something in a plan goes wrong.
Which in of itself suggest a tactical mind and a keen understanding
of preparation.

But there was this over flowing of total confidence in that he would
win. But that confidence wasn't in himself. It was in that power he
used. His work with those blades were that of someone who wasn't
sure in his ability but the look on his face when he used that power.
He was sure in that. He was completely dumbstruck when he saw it
had failed. He had no belief in his own attacks and when they failed
it was like he expected them to fail. But he was just continuing with
the belief that he would be the winner for no other reason than he
had the best trump card. She could tell he felt that shouting ability
was his best trick but there had to be more otherwise he would have
led with that instead of saving it for last.

At the end of the day, he felt like an child that had yet to win after
being told that he was expected to win. Even after trying his hardest
it still had yet to be enough. And then he found one thing that proved
that it was possible to win. And he would hold onto that with all his
strength.

"He just needs someone to tell him he is enough on his own." She
sighed as she looked over to the picture of her husband.

"Even that won't be enough to dissuade him that just himself will
ever be comparable to what he is supposed to be in his mind." Miya
turned around and saw in the doorway to her room a woman with
glowing red eyes. She was dressed in similar ways to some of the
outfits that Malist had in his room though clearly made for a woman
in mind. "I'm not here to hurt anyone… I just wanted to speak with
the woman watching over what is left of my friend."

"So you're a friend of Malist are you, and what do you mean by what
is left ?"

"I'm saying that Malist isn't exactly Malistantius Caeraso." The

woman said as she entered the room and closed the door behind
her. "First off…" She looked up to a spot in the ceiling and held a ball
of glowing red energy in her hand. A small red Spark shot from her
hand to the spot in the ceiling. "Now we should be able to speak
freely." Miya was going to have to speak with Matsu later. "Now
introductions, I am Serana Volkihar."

"Miya Asama, so am I to assume that Malistantius has gone through

some sort of traumatic experience of some kind."

"Something like that… he has had his mind clouded. Memories of his
life locked away in a fog. But it is not even as simple as that. But
before we do that…" In an instant the two women crossed blades.
Miya had taken her own sword off from its stand and Serana had
drew her father's sword. Serana's blade began leeching off a red and
black cloud that began its way toward Miya but Serana pulled back
her weapon and with a wave of her had dispelled the hungry miasma
that had been encroaching toward Miya. "You are no normal Land
Lady."
"Just as you are no normal stranger in the night."

"Is there really such a thing. No… I am a pure blood Vampire, and
not just that but a Daughter of Coldharbour. You don't need to ask, it
is unpleasant to speak of." Serana gave the woman the same
warning and then nodded for her to say her piece.

"I am Sekirei number one. Former head of the MBI Discipline

Squad." Miya answered as she returned her sword once again back
to its place having decided that this woman didn't show any real
hostilely. "So… a Vampire."

"If you're wondering, I survive on blood banks." Serana said with a

small smile.

"I see, is Malist a Vampire as well?"

"He was once offered the chance to become one… he refused. But
he was once a Werewolf before curing himself. He still has the
disposition toward rather raw meat however." Serana chuckled at the
fact even to this day Malist always complained that no one knew
what rare meat really was.

"My, he's so young and yet it sounds like he has lived quite the life."

"That's because he hasn't. I guess I should clarify and tell you that I
was not speaking of Malist but of Malistantius. You see… as I said
before the two are hardly the same person. The share quite a few
similarities but at the same time are vastly different people."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"I will explain, a little over a year ago… myself, Malistantius, and two
others weren't even on this world. We were on a world called Nirn.
And we had been sent here by a god of madness who thought it
might be funny to send the greatest hero of Nirn and those traveling
with him to this world… one considerably less exciting and
fantastical than Nirn. And he thought it might be funny to turn the
clock back on said hero until he is eighteen years old again. With
only a vague idea of who he was." The woman said not stopping for
a moment to allow Myra to ask a question. But once she did, she
gave Myra a look that said if you call me crazy then I will prove you
wrong in a way that will hurt . And considering the skill and strength
of her attack just a moment ago, and her telling what she was, Miya
believed her.

"I see… and Malist is this hero. That would explain a few things
about him."

"Yes, I have now been referring to him more as the son of

Malistantius than the actual man himself. You see, he can only recall
a few things of his previous life, everything else becomes unclear to
him. When we arrived in this world… he still recognized us but he
lacks certain… behaviors that he had around us. For me, me and
Malistantius used to enjoy small fights of verbal jabs where I would
complain about the weather and he would always say that I could
never be happy with any whether. And then we would debate the
very idea of what could be a perfect type of whether for me. But
when we arrived and I made a comment on how the sun here is just
as unbearable for me as it was back in Nirn… nothing… he just
asked if I needed to inside for a while. He knows of me but there is a
difference in knowing someone and knowing of them. So, the man
that he once was has been turned into a young man in both body
and mind. And right now he suffers from the knowledge of what he
used to be. He dreams of the day he can be that man again. To be a
hero and live an exciting life again."

"Considering he used to be a hero of the highest regard, that is a

both a admirable and slightly unlikely goal to reach for. Not only that
but this world doesn't have the type of heroics that I think would be
the kind of validation he is looking for. He doesn't want to become a
firefighter or doctor, he wants to slay dragons doesn't he?" Miya also
chuckled as she knew the answer.

"Yes, and you have no idea how right you are in that example. Not
only that, but he wants more than anything to be just like the man he
was… but he not yet realized that he has already begun to develop
fundamental differences in personality to who he used to be. For one
thing, Malistantius would never had refused to eat your cooking just
because it was not his preferred method of cooking. Malistantius has
almost starved to death twice… he never turned down a meal even if
he knew it was poisoned."

"Exactly how long have you been watching him?" Miya said a little
concerned. The woman was silent for a moment and then looked
away.

"I don't have need of much in the way of mortal needs and… it's hard
to find people willing to overlook the fact of my vampirism. So I have
few friends. Even back in Nirn I had few. Malistantius was perhaps
the only true friend I had. He would always save one or two bandits
for me so I could feed… he always made sure that I never had the
blood of innocents on my hands. He was the only one that took me
into consideration like that."

"Well… I guess that's nice of him." Miya tried at that, but it was still a
little morally gray. "But just because you are what you are doesn't
mean you don't deserve friends and people to talk to." The vampire
just stared at Miya for a moment, no change in her face to what she
had said.

"It's fine, I'm used to living long times with contact with people. It may
not look like it but I've lived for at the very least a millennia. But we
are speaking of Malist, not me." Miya felt like she should push the
issue, she could feel that this woman was uncomfortable being made
the object of attention. For what reason Miya didn't know but she
was there was a reason. "Malist does have sevreal qualities that
Malistantius had, his over confidence in what he is good at was
something that around even back in Nirn… though it was tempered
by years of experience and good foresight. So it was more like a
reckless abandon than over confidence. He would always throw
himself head first into anything without real thought, if he was given a
hunting job it didn't matter to him if it was a simple bear or an elder
dragon. He would always go forward with a smile on his face
assured that he would come out alive in the end."

"Yes… I can certainly see that. But from your words I'm assuming its
different than the problem young Malist has."

"Yes, Malistantius would never go facing a enemy thinking that he

would win just because he had the skills, gear, and… well… the
destiny to win. He always gave each fight consideration. He always
made sure to take each fight seriously and made his own luck in a
matter of speaking. He didn't rely on the all the things that made him
so feared in battle, he always had a plan, and back up plan, and a
back up back up plan."

"He left nothing to chance. The problem with Malist wasn't over
confidence but a lack of it. He didn't believe in his moves and they
lagged behind and were quite sloppy."

"That is with close combat, something that he never was very good
at. But that does hit a point that is a great issue with him. His lack of
confidence in himself, but at the same time he has a great over
confidence in what Malistantius was good at. Malistantius was a
master at archery and Malist is just as good. But while he is still the
master of a bow he was before, he doesn't take the kill shot nearly
as fast as used to. He plays with his opponent, and I worry that with
that and his belief that he will win somehow with his own thoughts in
the mix… will result in him playing with someone that is looking for
that kill shot. When he gets into the mindset of He's Malistantius, he
gets cocky and thinks that any fight will be won just… because he's
got some sort of almighty plot armor. But the second, he is out of that
mindset… he falls apart. He thinks that Malist is a worthless loser
and can't do anything. It's why he's failed the college entrance exam
when he is very intelligent. And then there is his magicka…"

"Magicka? You mean that… shouting thing he did on me?" Miya

gripped her hand as it started shaking to the memory of those words.
"Zun Haal Viik…" She mumbled those words as they reverberated in
her mind.
"Weapon, Hand, Defeat. Those are what those words translate
into… or as best as a translation as we might ever get. What that
was, it was a Thu'um. A Shout in the tongue of the Dragons. Words
of Power. The one he used on you was meant to disarm you… and
he spoke all three words… you must have a will of steel because I
have seen great beings lose their weapon to that Shout."

"it was luck… I guess… I still can feel those words though."

"It should pass… should being the word here. Just try not to think
about the words and you should be fine. But your original question,
no… Thu'um are not Magicka. Magicka is the academic title to magic
in our world." The woman held out her hand and in it glowed a ball of
red light. "Back in Nirn, everyone has the ability to learn it but few
have the natural talent. Malistantius had a unexpected natural
talent… one that he had not ever expected to become something he
would soon grow to be his more favored combat style. Soon after
finding out that he was the Dragon Born, he became interested in
magical theory, likely wanting to find out more about magic in
general as so he could better understand Thu'um. He became very
proficient in both Conjuring and Destruction, two of the eight schools
of Magicka. However he does know a good deal in the others. He
was often called the True Arch-mage of Skyrim, he and the official
Arch-mage disagreed on several issues… money and where
Malistantius normally got his money." The woman chuckled and Miya
actually now worried exactly what she meant by that. "Malist now
uses magical like a toy… I fear what he might do now that he has
been given targets."

"That is the point of this Sekirei Plan… to kill until one is left
standing." Miya said in cold emotionless tone indicating what she
thought of this topic.

"You don't like it but if Malist hadn't found the excitement that he
craves he would have made it himself. I am sure that at some point
he would have summoned a army of magical constructs and would
try to take over the world."
"Really, that boy playing conqueror because he was bored?"

"It's another trait that he retained, his need for adventure and
distaste of normalcy. Malistantius simply couldn't stay still and
always rushed to find some new crisis to solve. And in this world, in
the form he is now… he is unlikely to find that adventure that he
desires. It was only a matter of time before he sought out to make
that adventure on his own."

"Could he do it? Does he really have that much power in him that he
could try to take on the whole world?"

"He doesn't at the moment. He has the skill and ability… maybe not
the wisdom and intellect. But he would need to grow a bit before his
Magicka reserves could be large enough to do anything to that
scale." Miya breathed a sigh of relief. "He could if he wanted, burn,
freeze, and electrocute the entire city in one day however."

"I see… well at least he's limited to just that." The sad sarcasm
dripped from her words.

"The Sekirei Plan looking a little more like a blessing huh?"

"Doesn't mean I have to like the fact it is a senseless slaughter and a

cruel game for some mad man's enjoyment."

"Oh don't worry, Malist wants to prove that he's the hero like
Malistantius was. I can see him taking on the whole of MBI once he
comes to care about the Sekirei. I just hope by the end of this whole
thing he will come out of it with some perspective and maturity and a
healthy dose of self-reliance."

"And how did Malistantius get that. You said that he had always been
reckless, so what taught the man he once was humility?"

"Almost dying many times." The woman said bluntly. "He did act like
nothing could beat him, but many times he almost was. And those
times gave him the very needed humility and sense of mortality."
"I would say that isn't what is needed for Malist. He needs to learn
that he doesn't need to live up to this impossible legacy he's be set
up for. He needs people to tell him that he's good enough all on his
own."

"His Sekirei is doing that but I'm not sure it will be enough… be we
will see won't we."

Reviews

Read too Much - Yo man… you follow me around. Anyways thank

you for your continued support in my projects. And yes… Malist is a
bit of a downer

Thatguy - thank you.

Priceless22 - thank you for actual feed back instead of just flames. I
understand where you might get that idea and it is true that Malist
does have some of that traits that we all hate so much. I hope that
you might be able to stick it through a few more chapters to see the
character develop a little bit more before drawing final conclusions
about it. Thank you for taking the time to review.
Chapter 3
Malist stared up at the sky. His mind a thousand leagues away from
his body. his entire morning after his spar with Miya had been done
on auto-pilot. He had gotten himself ready and feed for the day in
complete silence and with the same darkened blank look on his face.
Musubi had tried to get Malist to perk up or feel better but nothing
was able to heal the young Dovahkiin's wounded pride. He had then
spent the rest of the day at his new job and done so still in his quiet
thoughtful trance. He barely interacted with anyone and did his job in
total silence. It was a bit creepy to the rest of the construction
workers.

But now it was lunch and he was still in his self-imposed mental
exile. He had opened his box lunch that Miya had made for him, the
fact that she had done so only added onto his troubles, but he had
not touched it due to his thoughts on what happened in their spar.

He had used the full Shout, all three words of the Disarm Shout and
yet it failed. He had been beaten, even if it was just a friendly spar he
still lost even when he had used a Thu'um. To Malist that simply
shouldn't have happened. The Thu'um was the greatest weapon that
he had access to and yet it failed to work on Miya. She had been
able to hold onto her sword and disarm him in his moment of
supposed victory. To say that this challenged what he thought to be
the truth of this world would be understating what was happening to
Malist.

And what she said after. All that stuff about how he shouldn't think
that he was going to win just because he had his Thu'um to fall back
on. Why shouldn't he think that was the reason he was going to win,
it was a power that no one in this world knew about and only he
could do. It was the perfect surprise in any fight, and he had many
Shouts to choose from. Even if the Disarm Shout failed, he could
have used a Fire Breath and charred Miya to a crisp… but he
wouldn't. That's why he chose the Disarm and said that the spar was
just until someone lost their weapon.

It was a power that he had used in his previous life so why wouldn't
he be confident in it. It was a power that the Dovahkiin of Skyrim had
used to save the whole world of Nirn from Alduin and from a plot to
blot out the sun itself. He had used the Thu'um to save so many
people, he knew he should rely on it because it was a power that
had proved itself time and time again. Where as he… he was just
Malist and he hadn't even done a single thing that lived up to a shred
of the legacy of the man he once was.

"You gonna eat that?" Malist turned his head and to his surprise aw
his friend/bodyguard Erik sitting next to him staring at his lunch with
a bit of drool hanging from his lip.

"Erik… what are you doing here?" Malist asked, Erik had dropped off
the face of the earth about a month ago. Aela had not heard from
him and he had stopped taking cash from the Nirn based human's
joint account. Serana had dodged the question as to where Erik was
much to Aela's irritation. Erik looked up from the hungry look in his
eyes to see Malist and once he did a huge smile grew on his face.

"BOSS!" Erik called out before hugging the young Dovahkiin, much
to said young Dovahkiin's embarrassment. The sight of a huge burly
grown man hugging him was not a look that he wanted seen by his
coworkers. Though this action was good for him in that it distracted
him from his depressing mood. "OH BOSS I MISSED YOU SO
MUCH!"

"ERIK GET OFF! That's it… you earned his… FUS! " That pushed
Erik off of Malist and on his ass. "I've told you that I don't like the
bear hugs." Malist said as a small grin, he did still like the Nord's
antics. "And if you want my lunch take it, not really that hungry."

"WHAT?! But… but… what happened to our pledge! To never let

food go to waste." Back in Nirn the two of them had made a pledge
to each other after surviving a whole month up in the deep north of
Skyrim that two of them would never turn down food again. Not after
living through that bitter cold and nearly dying of starvation.

"I didn't remember that… another thing I don't remember from my

life." Malist said now getting depressed for a whole other reason. "I
can't even remember something that apparently is so important…"

"No no wait… it's not your fault boss! It's that fuckin' Daedra's fault. It
can't be helped that you can't remember, it's some Oblivion damn
Daedric shit magic goin' on in your head." Erik said trying to help
what was left of his number one idol. While he didn't have as solid of
opinion of Malist's current state as Serana did he still was able to
recognize that Malist had started becoming a fairly different person
than Malistantius. He didn't subscribe to the whole He's his own son
theory that Serana came up with though. Erik still saw enough of his
boss/friend in Malist to not think it had gone that far.

"I know… fucking Sheogorath… I know." Malist was able to calm

down a bit and then looked back at his lunch. "If you really want this
not to go to waste then have it." Malist said holding it out which Erik
happily took it.

"Thanks boss, I've been starvin'. I mean… I have someone dropping

me off lunch but I just have this bottomless pit I need to fill."

"Really, who's dropping you off food?" Malist asked curiously. Erik
had friends in this world, he was a social guy. But as far as Malist
knew no one close enough to something like that. Though that might
have changed in the last month that none of the humans from Nirn
had seen Erik.

"UH… UH…." Erik's face went pale just before he was about to take
a bite. "Uh… no one… no one special… this is some great whether
we have here huh…"

"Oh… did you find a woman to bring you lunch?" Malist asked with a
grin that said I Have You Now .
"NO! Nope! Not a woman in my life hahaha…"

"Erik…" Malist went completely serious for a moment. "… did you
find a nice man to bring you lunch?"

"FOR THE LOVE OF TALOS NO!" Malist laughed at the over

reaction. "I just… uh… got… uh… this food is good." Erik began to
dig into the lunch box with great fervor while Malist just looked at him
with continued amusement.

"THE HELL YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" Malist was getting tired
of all the yelling. But he watched as Erik was kicked off to the side
hard by… someone that Malist wasn't expecting. It was one of those
lightning twins from the other day. And they knew Erik… in what way
Malist could easily guess. "I'm so sorry sir, he just mooches off
people for… you… HEY you're that Ashikabi with crazy voice
power."

"Yup… Erik… explain please."

"Whoa… boss you become a Ashikabi too!" Erik said excitedly

before his face turned deathly pale as his mind worked in the
information provided to him. "PLEASE DON'T TAKE HIKARI AND
HIBIKI AWAY! I CAN'T GO BACK TO LIVING WITHOUT THEM!"
Erik said while on his hands and knees in front of Malist. Meanwhile
the Nord's Sekirei were conflicted by Erik's action, for one thing they
very much appreciated his words but also a very irritated that he was
begging this unassuming kid not to take them away. When they both
knew how strong they were and on top of that how unexpectedly
strong their Ashikabi was. In the month of knowing Erik they found
out about his proficiency in battle, none among the Sekirei' numbers
actually ever expected their future Ashikabi to be even remotely on
par with Sekirei in combat, the twine thought they hit the jackpot
when they found their Ashikabi was actually on a whole other level of
badass in a fight compared to some of the Sekirei they knew. On a
side note… they also found that the Adonis like muscles Erik were
also a very well received side effect of his training regiment.
" FUS !" Malist Shouted at the three causing them all to stumbled
back a bit. "Firstly… I am the only one allowed to shout now. And
secondly… Erik… don't worry…" Malist stared chuckling with a
unnerving dark madness to it. He stood up and put a foot on the
lumber he had been sitting on. "I WILL BURN MBI TO THE
GROUND! This whole Sekirei plan is a load of crap. I'm only waiting
for all Sekirei to find their Ashikabi and then… oh then… then I will
march on MBI and personally end the bullshit that is the Sekirei plan!
All Sekirei will be free to be with their Ashikabi for the rest of their
lives. None will be forced to abandon the one's they are destined to
love."

"Really boss… you're going to save everyone?" Erik asked with a

waterfall of tears running down his face.

"Yes. What else would a hero do…" Malist said very happy with the
hero light he was getting at the moment. "But first… give me your
lunch."

Aela was not happy at the moment. She was standing out in the
open on her employer's stupidly built clocktower like headquarters.
Why he liked to stand out here for no reason was anyone's guess. It
was way to open for tastes, way too many opportunities for a sniper
to just pick him and more importantly her off. She really didn't give
two shits about the man, it was simply a good paying job that kept
her from killing the bastard on principle.

Next to her was Sahashi Takami, who also equally detested their
boss. She was decent enough in Aela's opinion. A little hard on her
kids, but she had heard that both of them were in college so maybe
she had the right idea. It was why she had taken a tougher stance on
Malist in the last few days since hearing he flunked out of the
entrance exam.

"Tonight is the night, the first opening salvo in this story." Her boss
began as he started on another one of his rants. Both Aela and
Sahashi sighed in annoyance. "Now the hunters has their prey…
and they will come out in numbers and a the first battle the likes of
which never have seen before will commence!" He announced into
the sky. Though no one but the two captive women heard him given
the wind at this height would drown out any voice… well… except
one.

"Could he get any more annoying…" Sahashi grumbled as the two

them watched him make dramatic speeches.

"One of these days… we'll push him off that ledge…"

"I know… it's the dream…"

"The dream… but by the way… what is he going on about now."

"He sent an e-mail to all Ashikabi telling them that there is a un-
winged Sekirei in the middle of the arboretum and that the first one
to get to her is the winner. Basically starting a feeding frenzy for all
the scum willing to forcibly emerge a Sekirei." Sahashi spat out
clearly disgusted with the move.

"It's Kusano right, she's the one in the center…"

"Yes… I just hope that her real Ashikabi will sense what is going on
and come to her help. But that's just a hope." The stood in silence for
a moment as their boss continued on with senseless proclamations
and overtly grand speeches. "How have the Discipline Squad
adjusting since being emerged." Sahashi asked seeing that there
was no better time to bring this subject up.

"Ugh… Benitsubasa is… I'm going with willing ignorance on the fact
that it was more or less a forced emerging. She's fine… or as fine as
her normal personality is, but again… forced emerging isn't ever the
best thing for a Sekirei even if it was on orders. Haihane is in my
own opinion far more adjusted to the fact. She doesn't seem to mind
it too much other than a small bit of resentment for not being able to
find her true Ashikabi. But is far more stable than Benitsubasa."
"And Karasuba…"

"She's seen the wolf and likes it. Or more accurately she's gone full
hunter on me in some twisted manner." Aela shuddered at the
memory of her last full moon. "That look in her eye… I have no idea
if she wants to kill me or fuck me. Maybe both… I don't know."

"I'm sure that you can handle it. It's the reason why you were chosen
as their Ashikabi. You can handle them, no human has ever held
your level of skill before." Sahashi turned to find Aela laughing.

"You think so… that's funny."

Boom. The armored trucks surrounding the entrance into the

arboretum blew into the sky as the MBI soldiers all ran from the
explosions. Fire rained down and them followed by a torrent of
lightening, blue and purple.

" This is too easy ." Malist grimly thought as he continued his attack
supported by Erik's Sekirei. It wasn't that he thought that something
bad was going to happen due to the easy time they were having…
but because he had wanted this to be a little more challenging.

"Well… that's was boring. Add a few hundred Falmer or a few

Daedra and this might be fun." Erik groaned as he leaned on his
Dragonbone Great-sword, Due Diligence . He wasn't wearing any of
his armor though, Erik had only brought out his weapon. "Ya think
this would a little fun, guess we have to wait until some other Sekirei
come out." He said as he pulled his sword out of the ground and
began following the Dragon Born through the flames and wreaks into
the arboretum.

"Even then, not really sure how fun it would be. If they are all as
strong as ours, then it should be pretty decent compared to what we
are used to." Malist said as he walked through the flames, fully kitted
out with his standard battle attire that he had shown Musubi when
they had first met. And in his hand was the Staff of Magnus. The
most powerful magical staff in all of Nirn.

"Hey sis… I'm so glad that Erik and this guy are friends…
because…" Hibiki mumbled to her sister after watching the sheer
amount of destruction wrought by Malist like it was nothing to him.

"Yeah… we're really lucky that he's crazy enough to try and take
down MBI too." The two twins followed the men from Nirn carefully
keeping a few paces behind. The group began their way through the
over grown forest but then Malist stopped the group.

"Something is here with us…" Malist looked around from under the
eyes of the Konahrik mask. "… Laas Yah…" Malist whispered and
the forest around began growing small red spots all around them. "If
this was Nirn I'd say were surrounded by Spriggans… something is
very wrong here."

"Yeah… I'm getting that feeling I always get when you lead us into a
trap." Erik joked as he readied his Great-sword.

"This place is supposed to have been made by the Green Girl in the
message right, maybe she can control it better than we thought."
Hibiki offered as she and her sister also began feeling the bit of
uneasy pressure the surrounding trees began to give off.

"Nah… if that was the case… the Aura Whisper would have given off
this whole place as one being. But no, there's a few spots around us
and a ton moving towards us and one other point."

"The more we hang around here… the more it feels like there's some
seriously feral Spriggans circling us." Erik said as he began seriously
considering a change of armor. "Boss… you think that the Sekirei is
doing this… because if it is…"

"No, this isn't Kusano." Malist confirmed as he reached out into his
Inventory.
"You know the name of the Green Girl?"

"I met her in a dream last night… something pulled her away.
Something that really doesn't like us here." He said as he pulled a
Spriggan taproot. Malist threw the taproot in front of the group and
waited for a reaction. It was instant, five Spriggans roared in rage as
they broke off from the nearby trees. The tree women continued to
scream in bloody fury at the sight of what was a heart of a fallen
sister.

Kusano was crying among the growth that was all around her. She
hated being alone and now everyone was gone. She should have
just stay in the lab like she was supposed to. But she made the
mistake of going outside. It was fun at first, she got to see plants and
a river and a kitty. But then that girl with the scythe hurt her tuner and
then that blond boy tried to kiss her. Then everything went black.
And now she was here, alone in some strange forest.

All she wanted now was for her Ashikabi to come and save her. Her
tuner said that her Ashikabi was like a big brother and saving little
sisters was what big brothers did. She hoped that he would come
soon, this forest was scary and so quiet most of the time. No little
animals made sounds or the wind coming through the leaves. The
only time she didn't feel scared was last night when she had a dream
about her Ashikabi. He helped her, and he was so nice and strong.

"Please… save me big brother." Kusano sobbed as she held herself

together. She didn't even notice the sounds of the vines and roots
twisting and moving.

"You don't need him child." The voice came from everywhere at
once. It sounded like a woman's voice but lacked something
inherently human, it cracked in places but remained unnaturally fluid
like it was a well-made fake of a real voice. Kusano felt something
like smooth bark caress and hold her. The young Sekirei looked up
and saw a something that looked like woman made of wood and
glowing purple light underneath her body's surface.
"Who… who are you."

"Child of life… I am your mother. There is no need for here now that I
am here." As the tree woman spoke vines crept over the girl. Giving
her a feeling of unnatural warmth and safety. "You will never need to
fear again. I and your sisters are here now… rest child… rest and
grow with the earth." The tree woman closed the young girl's sleepy
eyes and held the girl tightly as the vines wrapped around the
intertwined Sekirei and Spriggan Earth Mother

"BURN BABY BURN!" Malist madly laughed as he charred the last

Spriggan to a pile of ash. "HAHA… ah… okay… that felt really
good." Malist said happily as he looked back at Erik who just in one
move chopped off the head of a wounded Spriggan.

"Oh I hear that, feels so good to be killing things side by side again."
The Nord chuckled at he swung his sword on to his now armored
shoulders. Erik now wearing his Nordic Carved Armor, it was a
specially made by Malistantius with many enchantments built to
lighten and reinforce it.

"You were amazing Erik! You were so badass with that sword and
took on those plant bitches like it was nothing." Hikari cheered in
awe of her and her sister's Ashikabi.

"You two weren't that bad either, a Spriggan nest like this would take
even experienced warriors trouble. But you two do great holding your
own, even with me and the boss here."

"Aw really… I mean… we could have done this without you. We are
Sekirei after all."

"I think putting on a brave face isn't the best move here sis…" Hibiki
groaned as she looked back at the piles of Spriggans that they had
to deal with.
"Stay focused everyone! We still have to deal with the rest of them…
and there was only two Matrons in that group." Malist said with a
clear commanding tone that didn't belong to the normally semi-
depressed young man. He was now in full gear and wielding powers
that only the famed Dovahkiin used, he was in his element… or at
least he was in the element of who he aspired to be. The line
between faking his courage and having real confidence in his ability
in battle was blurred with the threat that Kusano was in the clutches
of a sisterhood of Spriggans. Malist had a job to do and someone to
save, his mind was now running on pure instinct and buried
experience.

"Right boss." Erik cheered excitedly at the prospect that they weren't
out of deep shit yet. "Feels great to be back to adventuring again."
He grinned as he pulled out a few health potions and threw two to
his Sekirei. "Drink up, no sense going into battle a walking corpse."
He said before putting his potion to his lips.

"Make sure to watch the trees. They fell for the taproot trick once but
I doubt it will work again so we need to be careful for ambushes.
Laas Yah Nir ." Malist once again took in the red spots of life that
appeared in his vision. Most of them were focused on another
intruder in the forest. But it looked to be that the majority of those
Spriggan were breaking off from that fight and were now heading
toward their group. "Seems like the Earth Mother that is leading
these Spriggan is focused on us."

"Think it might be because we killed their sisters?" Erik said as he

walked up to Malist.

"Maybe… or maybe… she knows that I'm Kusano's Ashikabi. And it

doesn't want to give her up." Malist thought as he remembered the
dream he had last night. He knew he felt something watching them,
it had to be this Spriggan Earth Mother. "Kusano more than likely
has an affinity for plant life or maybe something else the Spriggan
would see that would make them mark Kusano as one of their own."
Malist watched the incoming numbers of Spriggan… there were a lot
of them. " I could burn down this whole forest, but that would risk
killing Kusano and any others in this forest. Fire Atronachs is also
out of the question, lightening Atronachs might also have the same
effect, less chance of it but possible. And Frost isn't going to do
much against Spriggans… maybe some back up would be good just
to make sure. " Malist thought as he pulled out his phone from
Inventory.

"Gonna call your Sekirei?" Erik said as he watched the trees for any
sign of danger.

"Yeah. You alone isn't going to be enough meat between me and

your Sekirei and the Spriggans. Musubi is good at close combat and
hopefully will be able to help you in keeping the tree women from
getting to us while we handle them at range." Malist said as he
waited for someone at Izumo Inn.

"Hello?" He heard Miya answer the call.

"Hi Miya… can you please put Musubi on… I need to speak with her
as quickly as possible." Malist said trying to hide his irritation at Miya,
he still was upset at the spar this morning.

"Malist, what's wrong, I thought you were at work?"

"I was… now I'm not… please hand the phone to Musubi." Malist
said flatly not wanting to speak with Miya any more than he had to.

"Did you get in to some kind of trouble and need Musubi to come get
you out of it."

"No… I just need to speak with her on the phone… so please… put
her on." There was a quiet before he heard Miya sigh. Then he
heard her hand over the phone to who he assumed to be Musubi.

"Malist! What's going on, are you hurt, did you…"

"Musubi… calm down… I can take care of myself."

"I know… I just want to help you if you got hurt." Malist was very
happy that he was wearing his Konahrik Mask otherwise Erik and his
Sekirei would no doubt be making fun of the small blush that was
coming over his face at Musubi's caring comment.

"T-thank you, but I just need you here at the arboretum. Just come to
the entrance and follow the trail of destruction we left behind. You
should be able to find us that way."

"You got it!" At that Malist hung up before Miya could have taken the
phone and questioned him on what was going on.

"Okay there, we should be getting reinforcements soon. She runs

pretty damn fast." Malist said before putting his phone away. He then
held a ball of freezing ice in his hand and held it out to the ground
next to them. "A little path for her to follow." He said as he begun
blasting the ground as he walked toward the center of the forest
leaving a trail of ice behind. The group moved through the forest with
little trouble after that first fight, Malist check twice again with Aura
Whisper and found that the horde of Spriggans were just circling
them. Gathering numbers likely for when they reach the center and
the Earth Mother.

"I'm really not liking this boss… these Spriggan seem way too smart
for the average tree lady." Malist didn't comment as he still had a
limited amount of knowledge on their enemy. He knew only basic
information and a few tricks from reading about Spriggans in the
books and journals he had brought with him to this world. In all
honestly he had no actual memories of them beyond them existing in
Nirn. "Think maybe that Earth Spriggans are just like this?"

"That brings up something that has been bugging me… how the fuck
are there Spriggans here? Because no, this world doesn't have any
population of Spriggans. That name only belongs to a legend based
in Corish Faery lore, and I highly doubt given their reaction to the
taproot that we are dealing with that."
"How do you know that and yet you failed the college entrance exam
twice?" Erik deadpanned causing Malist to throw a weakened Ice
Spike at him.

"As I was saying… these have to be Nirn Spriggans. But how did
they get here? Did Sheogorath send them here like he did us? Did
one of the other Daedra send them? And why send an entire
sisterhood of Spriggan to this world in nearly the same location and
time as us." Malist questioned as he looked up to a massive tree
blocking their path. " YOL TOOR! " A inferno of fire blasted from the
words spoken and hit the massive tree. The fire quickly ate away at
the bark and trunk until finally being put out by a casted Freeze onto
the burring tree. "There… looks like we have our way into where
Kusano is…" Malist said as he began his way into the cave the tree
had been blocking with Erik and his Sekirei behind him.

"Boss, you do realize that we left that horde of tree ladies out there
for your Sekirei to deal with right?"

"I'm not too worried. Most of the Spriggan seemed concerned with us
and should be coming in here through other passages they can only
use. Also, we're still not the only ones that are in this forest. Last I
check there were… four groups trying to get in here. Only one was
really getting close to us and might end up here with us. The other
three are still dealing with the Spriggans' numbers." Malist said as
they moved through he cave, vines covered the walls and it was
becoming clear that this wasn't a natural cave. The walls were
becoming more and more built by trees rather than stone. "Musubi
will be fine, she can handle the few that would be sent after her."
Malist smiled under his mask while he changed out his Staff of
Magnus for his Nightingale bow. He didn't want to risk his magic
accidently hitting Kusano.

The group soon came to a enormous cavern built out of a multitude

of intertwining trees and reinforced by chunks of stone and earth
brought out of the ground. Glowing vines coiled around everything
and small glowing plants lit the place up brightly. In the center was a
raised plateau of stone and roots, Malist could see sevreal Spriggan
sleeping in between the roots and from the sounds coming all
around him he was sure they were waking up now that they had
entered.

"Men of flesh and bone, leave! This is a place of home and root,
leave this home now for you are uninvited." Malist watched as the
Earth Mother came into view at the top of the plateau. "You! You
murderer!" The Earth Mother screamed once she saw Malist. "You
come here with the smell of sap and death, you shall not leave… you
shall feed the roots and buddings with your flesh." At that the
Spriggans began to pull themselves out of the woods and roots.
Their screams of shared rage echoing the ones they had heard from
the first group.

"Erik, ideas on how we might survive this?" Malist said as he began

to worry at the sight of so many Spriggans coming out and heading
toward them. The young Dovahkiin began to fire steel arrows into the
horde of encroaching Spriggan. Every shot was a headshot and they
needed to be given that Malist had a very limited number of higher
quality arrows. While normally a steel arrow even as a headshot
wouldn't take down a Spriggan but thanks to the enchantment on
Malist's Nightingale bow made up the difference. Those that survived
the arrow to the face were hit by both a cold snap freeze and a nasty
shock of electricity.

"Numbers… we need numbers." The Nord said with an equally

nervous voice as he readied Due Diligence for the incoming melee.
"Or something big to put between us and them." While Erik knew
that he could handle a great number of Spriggan, he knew he
couldn't do it alone. While he had the support of his Sekirei and
Malist, he still would be in the middle of an angry horde of tree
women all alone.

"Fire and Storm Atronachs are out of the question, and I can only
summon a few Frost… oh shit… I'm going to have to use that aren't
I?" Malist felt a feeling of bile and disgust at the thought of what he
was going to have to do.
"Yeah… don't; get me wrong boss… even on Spriggan the idea
sounds wrong to me." Erik said with a scowl on his face as he got
what they were needing right now.

"What are you talking about? If you got a plan then you need to use
it!" Hikari called out as she and her sister rained down a storm of
lighting trying to keep the horde at bay.

"Argh… move!" Malist said as he pushed the two Sekirei twins out of
the way as he moved up to the front of the group. The mass of
Spriggans didn't stop their rush toward them. "Still as stupid as
ever…" Malist waited a little bit waiting for them to get closer and
more tightly packed. " RII VAAZ ZOL! " A ripping storm of malevolent
energy came charging at the incoming horde of Spriggan. The purple
and black energy gave the nature based creatures pause as they felt
the incoming necromantic dread that was the vanguard of this power.
A few of them began turning back in an attempt to avoid the fate
coming toward them. It was pointless, the Soul Tear Shout ripped
and shredded through their front ranks only stopping until it was in
the very middle of the horde. The Spriggans caught in the Shout's
power were standing up right, their bodies mangled and decaying,
their faces contorting into ones of pure pain and agony. And then
some of them started moving again. Fell energies circled their limbs
and bodies as they began to creep toward their still living sisters.

"W-what… what did you do?" Hibiki asked as she and her sister
watched the Spriggans come back to life and start rampaging
against their living sisters. Only about one for every five Spriggans
killed by that attack actually began moving again but it was enough
to level the playing field for the Ashikabi and Sekirei side. Both in the
loss of the enemy's numbers and the gain in new undead allies.

"You just brought those things back from the… oh… are you okay?"
Hikari asked as the twins turned to see Malist throwing up a few feet
away. He had removed his mask and hood and now was vomiting
everything in his body.
"NO! I am… fuck… I am not!" Malist snapped in between expelling
what was in his stomach.

"This happened when you were first using this Shout back in Nirn
too. Forgot about that." Erik mumbled to himself before retuning his
attention to the fight. The undead Spriggans, while it repulsed Erik to
see them as a necessary tool, were already starting to lose ground
and he knew that they had a limited amount of time to use them.
"Come on, we need to move quickly before those zombies are
nothing but dust!" Erik called out as before he jumped down off the
ledge they had been holding and started running to the fight. His
Sekirei quickly followed and began firing down more lightening onto
the tree women still alive after Malist attack.

"AUH! Okay… I think… nope…" Malist spent a few more moments

throwing up. "Uah… I am never using that Shout again…"

"Malist!" Said Dovahkiin looked up and saw Musubi running down

the cave toward them, she had clearly been in battle due the poor
condition of her clothes. "Malist… oh are you okay! You look sick?"

"I'm fine… I'm not sick okay. By the way, I'm making you some armor
or something because this…" He motioned to the ripped and torn up
clothes Musubi was wearing. "… is getting a little old. Every time you
fight now I'm going to worry that you're going get hurt because you
don't wear enough proactive gear."

"Really? You would make something for because your worried about
me?"

"Uh… yes… we don't have time for this. Musubi, there is a Sekirei
being held captive by those Spriggan and we have to save her."
Malist said pointing the stone plateau in the center of the cavern.
"Down there is my friend Erik, help him fight off the tree ladies."

"You got it, I will do my best." She cheered before heading off into
the massive melee.
"Heh… good thing she didn't question the zombies… or the fact
those two Sekirei down there were attacking us the other day." Malist
said as he felt a bit better. He put his mask back on and prepared
another arrow.

"Murderer!" Malist reflexively activated his magical shield to the

incoming wood claw that came for him. His vision was met with the
angry face of the Earth Mother. "You will pay for your evil. You come
here seeking to take and burn. But you commit even worse acts,
crossing rivers never meant to be crossed, bringing forth powers
long since forbidden!" She screamed as she pushed against the
shield of Magicka.

"How are you here in this world, you belong back in Nirn." That
seemed to stop her, the Spriggan Earth Mother stopped in her tracks
and seemed to be placed in a daze of some kind.

"Nirn… Nirn… home roots… where we budded…" Malist watched as

the confused and dazed Earth Mother mumbled to herself. "Nirn…
where… where are we if not Nirn… this soil… it… lacks to touch of
home…"

"Who sent you here, who took you away from your home?" Malist
carefully asked as he placed his bow on his back and moved to Grim
and Despair .

"Eyes… eyes of evil… roots and branches of blackened darkness…

it came… and promised things… how… how to find something.
Something so… so important at the time… home… a safe home."
The Spriggan seemed to begin to delve deeper into her daze. And
then after a brief second the Earth Mother snapped out of her trance
and attacked Malist. The young Dovahkiin blocked the incoming
attack with Grim in one hand and Despair in the other.

"Well… it looks like you're no longer helpful in this." Malist said as he

parried the attack and stepped to the side of the next. He knew that
his luck wouldn't last for very long given that he was terrible at this
range. He needed to end this as fast as he could. So now he was
going to cheat. " GAAN LAH HAAS! " Malist Shouted at the Earth
Mother and once the ethereal power of the Shout washed over her,
the Spriggan's movements slowed and become more tiring on her.
She gave back a few more attacked but as the fight went on she
eventually slumped over completely drained of energy.

"I cannot… I cannot rot here… she needs her mother. The buddling
needs me…" The Earth Mother breathed out as she tried to crawl
her way to the next attack. "You will take her… and burn our home. I
cannot let you…"

"Who said anything about me burning this place? All I want is to

keep Kusano safe, and trust me that she is safest with me." Malist
said as he dropped down next to the Spriggan.

"You lie… she… is safe here. She will grow with the sisterhood…
she will be safe from you men of flesh and bone."

"Really, because considering the fact that every Ashikabi is coming

right here with the intent of winging Kusano whether she wants it or
not, and that you are now down to what looks like less than half
strength… sorry about that by the way… I don't think you are in the
position to protect her anymore.

"You caused this! You burned and defiled! And you have the gull to
claim you can protect her!"

"Yes, because I'm her Ashikabi. I know it might sound like a poor
reason for someone that doesn't hold any real respect or knowledge
for that title, but she does. Just let me speak to her, and if she wants
to stay, then I'll go and even help you rebuild the losses I caused."

"How do I know your words are the truth?"

"Because I could just kill you right here and now. But instead I'm
offering you to stay in your home and the safety of someone you for
some reason care about." Malist offered bluntly before setting down
a potion of stamina in front of the Earth Mother, though he kept a
finger on it as he waited for her answer.

"Very well man of flesh and bone, you may see her." At that Malist
stood up and the Spriggan grabbed the potion and broke it between
her fingers. Her wooden hand soaking up the liquid and bringing it
though out her body. The Spriggan stood up and called out to her
sisters who stopped their fighting. The cavern was now filled with the
broken dead bodies of their fellow Spriggans and the ashes of those
that had been raised as undead. The Spriggans all began to step
back from the intruders as the Earth Mother and Malist walked down
to the lower area of the carven. Malist gave a small nod to Erik as he
passed the rest of the invading party and he was given a small nod
of understanding. Malist followed the Earth Mother up to the top of
the plateau. It was a small clearing of grass and small pound. In the
back was a single tree with a sleeping Kusano under it. "There… the
buddling sleeps. Now we will see if you being her… Ashikabi… will
matter." With a wave of her hand the vines covering Kusano receded
and the young girl began to awake.

"Did you really have to put her under a magically induced sleep
coma?" Malist questioned but it looked like the Earth Mother didn't
understand the negative insinuations behind his words.

"I am watching for your truth man of flesh and bone." She said
expectantly with clear condescension in her voice.

"Tsk… you need to understand that if it's not me, it could very much
be someone that would abuse her. So be careful." He warned as he
took off his mask and hood. He then looked back to Kusano who
was getting up off the patch of grass she had been sleeping on. As
he approached she looked up and there was a bit of fear in her eyes.
Malist worried that the Spriggan would just make a snap judgment of
that being all the evidence she needed. But nothing came from the
nearby Spriggan. "Hey Kusano… it's nice to see you for real this
time." There seemed to be a flash of recognition in her eyes at that.
"Big brother…" The young girl said softly before running over to
Malist. "Big brother!" Kusano cried as she hugged Malist who was
doing his best to not look back to the Earth Mother with a grin that
said you lose I win .

"Don't worry, I'm here to help." He said as he picked Kusano up as

she was still fairly weak from the effects of the Spriggan sleeping
vines. "I'm going to make sure that no bad man comes and takes
you away."

"It would seem that this thing you are to her… this Ashikabi… is
indeed something to consider." The Earth Mother said as Malist
turned to face her. "Young buddling… is this what you want? To go
with this man?"

"Uhuh… he's my big brother." She said as she held onto him even
tighter. Malist didn't know who told her that but he was glad that they
did otherwise… the normal relationship between Sekirei and
Ashikabi would set off several red flags for the Spriggan. And also, it
just made dealing with the idea of having a Sekirei this young around
so much easier.

"Then I will not act against you anymore. But, you said you would
give back to the sisterhood for your burring and defiling of us." She
said as she shot a glare to Malist.

"I will return later once Kusano is safe and will ward off this place
against normal humans and the effects of the outside world. You will
be completely isolated from the world and can regrow in peace."

"That is…" The Earth Mother stopped speaking at a massive

explosion at the cavern's entrance. "… what new folly is this." The
Spriggan groaned as she had thought her sisterhood's problems
were finished. The Spriggan and Dovahkiin carrying Kusano walked
over to the edge of the plateau to see three two women standing in
the entrance to the cavern. Both looked to be Sekirei by first glance.
The first on the right was slim and rather average in Malist's mind…
he was comparing her to Musubi and Erik's Sekirei. Although that
was a pretty high bar the young Dovahkiin had to admit. She had
long brown hair and a face that gave away her bloodlust away in an
instant… what also gave it away was the way she was cradling her
scythe like a baby.

The second one however… intrigued Malist. She had a much

more… shapely figure than her companion. Her bust only slightly
smaller than Musubi's considerable chest. But taller than both the
scythe user and Malist's own Sekirei. Though Malist only gave a
small thought to her physical appearance, the look of perfect passive
blankness on her face is what gave the young Dovahkiin pause. He
had one, single memory of someone who had a face like that…
slaves. Beaten and broken slaves at that. Those that would do
anything for a feeling of freedom and acceptance.

"Oh dear… looks like the Frost Rune I placed didn't do much." Malist
observed. He looked down and saw that the Sekirei on the right
seemed to be responsible for that, the ice around them seemed to
cling to her protectively. "Kusano, hold on tight…" Malist warned and
the young Sekirei did as requested. "… WULD NAH! " In a flash and
gust of wind Malist burst down to the lower level of the carven next to
Erik and the Sekirei.

"Good, you got the girl. And looks like the Spriggans have got the
idea who's the boss around here." Erik smiled as he turned to the
Dragon Born. "But it looks like that competition you warned us about
has caught up."

"What should we do Malist?" Musubi asked her Ashikabi perfectly

ready to fight their way out of this place.

"Let's see if they can't be either convinced or intimidated into letting

us pass." Malist said as he stepped forward in front of the group. "Yo!
Looks like you're a bit late, but I not so sorry to say that you and your
Ashikabi has lost." Malist called out as he held Kusano closely in
case of attack.
"That's what you think, our master has had his eye on that Sekirei for
a long time so as long as you haven't emerged her than she's free
game." The one on the right grinned as she scanned her opponents.
"And it really doesn't look like it will be that hard to get her back. All
we have to do is go though some wimpy cosplaying moron and his
whore of a Sekirei…" A small vein popped out of Malist's forehead in
anger at those two comments. He did not like people mistaking his
armor for fucking cosplay. The blood and effort that went into making
and earning the pieces of his attire were more than anything this girl
had ever or will ever go through. And also… she insulted Musubi,
there was only one action that could be done to this girl now… and it
involved a lot of pain. "… and looks like Hikari and Hibiki and their
idiot of Ashikabi."

"Shut up! Our Erik is a billion times better than that spoiled brat of
Ashikabi of yours. Erik actually gives a shit about us unlike your
harem having Ashikabi. And look at him…" Hikari pointed to Erik. "…
he beats your little boy Ashikabi in looks a thousand times over."

"Is this really necessary?" Malist asked with the urge to rub his face
in annoyance but was unable to do so as he was still carrying
Kusano.

"Be quite boss, it isn't polite to interrupt women."

"Since when are Nords concerned about things like politeness?"

Malist sighed and then looked back to the two Sekirei blocking their
path. The one on the right was looking like she was about to jump
into the fight over Hikari's comments. The other was just holding the
same blank stone face that she had held the entire time. "Erik, you
and Musubi take the one on the right.'

"What about the one on the left?"

"No." They heard as the Earth Mother walked in front of them with
her sisters filing behind her. "You all leave through one of the side
passages while we handle these two."
"Are you sure, with the number you have…"

"Leave man of flesh and bone. If we become part of the soil then so
be it. We will never hear the song of the Nirn Root again. This
world… it was not what we were promised. We know what we must
do regardless, even if you return to ward and seal, and we are still
here… we will return to a dreamless sleep and grow with the root
and leaves. This is what we desire. How it comes about, does not
matter in the end."

"I see… then if its what you want. Okay everyone! We're running
away like little children." Malist said as he turned and began walking
toward the only other passage that they could fit through. This
proclamation shocked and upset the group, the Sekirei the most as
they were now running away from the very fight they were sent out
into the world to fight. But with a single word Shout of Unrelenting
Force they grumbled but followed the Dovahkiin.

"Where do you think you're going cowards!" The loud Sekirei called
out as she jumped down from the ledge only to be met with a wall of
tree women.

"Woman of flesh and bone, you will not pass here to take and steal.
You will not pass us this day."

"That was amazing! It was just like home." Erik cheered as the group
of Ashikabi and Sekirei walked through the city towards Malist and
Musubi's home. "Fighting endless hordes of monsters, the thrill of
battle and adventure… I missed it so much." Erik cried tears running
down his face.

"I'm terrified of this place you guys come from if you think that was
fun." Hibiki sighed as she personally felt more tired than she ever
had felt in her life.

"You're kidding right, that was so awesome… until the zombies

came." Hikari said still feeling a rush of adrenalin from the battle.
"WHAT?! There were zombies?!" Musubi asked as she had just
missed that part of the fight.

"Yeah, your Ashikabi did one of his shouting things and turned a
bunch of those tree ladies into zombie tree ladies. Then he started
throwing up." Hikari snickered as Malist sighed in slight
embarrassment at that.

"This is the thanks I get for saving everyone… I thought it would

involve a lot more praise and parades." Malist grumbled to himself
before stopping as they had reached Izumo Inn. "Thanks Erik and
terrible twosome…"

"Hey!"

"… for helping me with saving Kusano. Erik, if you see Aela… you
know what to do."

"Act all smug and stuff because we did exactly what she told us was
impossible in this world." Both men nodded in agreement over this.
"You got it boss! Now… I think it's time to head home and fall into the
floor from the sheer exhaustion I'm feeling." Erik laughed as he
started his way away from Malist, Musubi and Kusano with his
Sekirei behind him.

" They are going to have sex aren't they ?" Malist deadpanned in the
safety of his mind as currently there was an impressionable child
riding on his back. "Well, home sweet home I guess…" Malist said
as he turned to the boarding house that was his current home.

"Yeah, I wonder what Miya made for dinner?" Musubi wondered as

they approached the front door. "What do you think Malist?"

"I don't know… I think I'm still feeling a little sick from before so I'm
just going to put Kusano to bed… oh… we only have two beds…
huh…" Malist was trying to readjust his bedroom in his mind while
Musubi lead him inside.
"We're home!" Musubi called out much to Malist's dismay as he just
wanted to sneak up to his room and hide from Miya.

"Welcome home you two… oh Musubi, why the change of clothes?"

Miya said as she walked up to the three. Musubi had been given
some of Malist spare clothes he kept around in his Inventory, they
were a little big on Musubi and were in the common style of
someone from Skyrim. Not exactly something one might find in
modern japan. "And who's this?" Miya asked as she looked to
Kusano.

"Musubi is trying out a new look we found while out shopping." Malist
lied perfectly and if Miya didn't already have the knowledge of he
was and what he was actually doing she would have bought it. "And
this is Kusano, she's a relative of mine and her parents… well… I
should say such things out in the open like this." Once again perfect
lies by Malist, the uncomfortable unsaid topic of what might be either
death, prison, or abandonment meant that someone was unlikely to
push further. Miya of course knew exactly who Kusano was but
played along for Malist benefit.

"Yup, that's who she is…" Musubi tried to lie but wasn't nearly as
good as Malist. Thankfully the two were saved by Kusano cutely
waking up and yawning.

"Where are we, I'm hungry." Kusano said as she looked up from
Malist shoulder.

"Oh you poor thing, I'll go fix you something to eat right away." Miya
said before hurrying off to do just that. Malist eyed the stairs to the
upper floor and seriously weighed his options here. On one hand, he
could run up and bar himself, Musubi and Kusano in his room and
wait until morning where he could leave early to go to work and
avoid Miya for another day. On the other hand… he could go to the
dining room and have an awkward dinner in which every second he
had to suffer being in the same room as the woman that had beaten
him and lectured him. As well as the longer that they spent with Miya
the greater the chance that she would figure out his lie about Kusano
became.

"That's really not necessary Miya, I have… ayh…" Malist soon found
himself being dragged to the dining room by Musubi..

"Come on Malist, lets get something to eat." Musubi said gleefully

ignorant of her Ashikabi's troubles

"Oh I am glad that's over… I don't think I've ever been as terrified in
my… current… life." Malist said as he looked up at the stars with
Kusano next to him. Dinner had been just as awkward and
uncomfortable as he expected it to be. But to his irritation he was the
only one that found it uncomfortable. Musubi was completely
unaware of his issues with being around Miya now and Kusano was
too wrapped up in her first home cooked meal in who knows how
long. And Miya was acting as if nothing had even happened. Like the
spar meant nothing and continued to be the same scary yet friendly
land lady she had been before.

The adventure to save Kusano didn't change anything in Malist's

mind. Miya's words still rung true. All though the battle with the
Spriggans all he really contributed to the fight was his Shouts. He
relied on them to figure out that they had been surrounded when
they first entered the forest. Then to find their way into the cavern
that Kusano was in. Then to help stop the horde of Spriggans and
then win him his fight with the Earth Mother. He himself didn't do
much. Just shoot some arrows and burn some Spriggans.

"Big brother… are you okay?" Kusano's question brought him out of
his depressing thoughts.

"Oh… it's nothing… I just was thinking about today. What happened
and how it might have gone differently." He bent the truth a tiny bit as
he didn't want her to see him questioning himself.
"I think it went great. You came and found me like I knew you would."
She said looking down at her fingers.

"Yeah… just like a hero would." Malist said as he looked back up to

the stars. " And yet it still feels hallow. I saved Kusano didn't I?
Well… kinda… from whoever that jerk was that trying to force
himself onto Kusano. But… I didn't really save her from the
Spriggans. They wanted to protect her just as much as I do, why I
don't know but they did. " He thought before looking back down to
Kusano. "Hey… would you… like to go back to the Spriggans? Now
that the rest of the Ashikabi aren't…" He stopped at the hug Kusano
gave him.

"I don't want to go back, I want to stay with my big brother." She said
as she held onto him tightly. Malist didn't respond, his mind trying to
figure out just why would she act this way. He wasn't anything really
special, not anymore and he had yet to really earn the legacy set for
him. He had a hard time understand why Kusano or Musubi would
want anything to do with him. "Big brother will you do me a favor…"
Kusano said as she leaned up to Malist's face. "will you be my
Ashikabi?" And at that Kusano kissed Malist and a bright green light
enveloped the two as Kusano's wings spread out. All around them
flowers sprouted and bloomed as the light died out… not that Malist
was sober enough to enjoy the sight. Because just as before with
Musubi, the enormous amount of energy released sent him into a
high like state much to Kusano's worry and confusion.

Reviews

Reads Too Much - Well thank you, I hope you are enjoying my latest
story

blazingpheonix123 - thank you.

Fantasy Science - yes… but… no… right now Malist is limited to

Earth and when in Skyrim it wasn't really magically summoning the
dragons but calling for them. so since they aren't on earth, no
dragons. But eventuall as the story goes on the dragons will return.

The Question - minus Homura, yes. And one of those will join Malist.
It will happen in the next chapter. As for anyone else… not sure.
unlikely though as I am not a fan of large harems.
Chapter 4
Shiina was confused by the feeling the air. It was so… unexplainably
tense. The air in this forest felt like it just wanted him to go away.
That he didn't belong here. He ignored the feeling as he searched for
Kusano. He had heard that she had been here and considering the
abnormal level of growth in this arboretum it was looking more and
more like it was true.

The young male Sekirei moved toward the center of the forest
hoping to find something of an idea of where she was, maybe she
was still here and his search would be over. But something told him
that wasn't true. He followed a trail in the ground that led to the
forest's center, it was strange just like the air, when he had went
down to touch it, it was cold as ice. Another thing that felt off was the
number of body like plants all around the trail. They were shaped
almost like women but made of bark and wood. The forest already
was growing around then and it was doing so quickly, almost to the
point where Shiina could actually see the plants grow on to them.

"Man of flesh and bone, leave!" Shiina shivered at the voice that
came all around him. He then watched as women made of wood and
glowing insides climbed out of the trees, literally out of them. "We
have no more tolerance for your kind invading our home. Leave!"
The center one, it was different than the other five that had
appeared. She was larger and more tree like growths coming out
from her body but she was missing a left arm but a new one looked
to be growing back to replace it, and instead of a orange glow she
had a purple one.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude but… I was just looking for my
friend." Shiina apologized as he didn't realize he had done these
things he had been accused of.

"Are you… one of these Sekirei boy of fear and uncertainty? I feel
the same strange air around you as the buddling had."
"U-uh yes… wait, was Kusano here?" At that the other tree woman
retreated back into the trees from where they came. Leaving Shiina
with the purple glowing one.

"Sekirei… your kind is strange to us… the buddling was one of your
kind… but you… you are marked of death and entropy. Of rot and
decay, so why… do you seek the girl that is your opposite? A
buddling of life and growth."

"She's my friend. And I just want to make sure she's safe." Shiina
answered with a bit more conviction. The tree woman regarded his
words and stared at him with the same unblinking glowing eyes.

"She left with what you call Ashikabi. Hers, and one that I know of to
be a safe place for her to grow and sprout. She is protected by a
man of flesh and bone with the soul of the beasts of wings and
scales."

"What? I don't really understand that last part but do you know who
took her. I just want to know for myself tha… ack!" Shiina exclaimed
as his throat was held tightly by the tree woman's right hand.

"You dare question my judgement? I left the buddling in the hands of

the Dovahkiin, a being capable of killing beasts that have torched
entire cities of you meat things. She will be safe so calm yourself."
She said before dropping Shiina to the ground. "His companions
called him Malist, that is all I know of his identity. And if you truly
wish to meet him then remain with us and you shall meet when he
comes to ward our home against you meat things forever more."

Malist was soaking in the bath before heading to bed. The aches and
pains of the day of fighting melting away. The water was boiling, he
liked it that way as his body was able to handle to higher heat. A side
effect of being the Dragon Born. Only the top half of his head
showed as he joyfully drifted around the rather big tub, just high
enough out of the water for his ears to be out so he could listen to
the music he had set up nearby. One thing of the few things Malist
enjoyed about this would, though that list was slowly growing, was
this world's expansive range of music. Back in Nirn there was a very
limited amount of the type of music around. There was bard music,
classical music that only appeared at the parties nobility threw…
and… maybe a few camp fire songs. Malist enjoyed American
classic rock, ranging from Elvis to Johnny Cash. Thought recently he
had been given a taste for jazz from Serana who enjoyed that area
of music greatly. Erik was expectedly into more heavy metal and a
bit of rap. Aela had ignored the whole thing… but Serana had
mentioned that Aela had gone to one or two concerts.

"But she wouldn't say what band… or even genre… but that smile…
it had to be embarrassing." Malist mused out loud. The water
distorting his voice. Malist continued to float there with a satisfied
look in his eyes. His mind just enjoying the peace and boiling
temperature. He really did like it this hot, and it was the main
deterrent for certain people from joining him. Which was good given
Miya's rules on such things. Musubi when she first saw his bathing
habits worried about his safety. But after watching him take his
boiling bath and come out perfectly fine she calmed down. "I've got
dragon scale skin… hehe… sorry Musubi but I'm not sorry." The
intense heat also kept out the girl that constantly spied on him. It
only took one Aura Whisper to know just how many people were
actually in the boarding house. And just one Ethereal Shout to spy
on her unnoticed. The act of passing through the wall of screens did
sent them into static like many thought a ghost would. "Oh I wonder
if there is a woman alive that would be able to handle the heat… not
likely. Hehehe… Yol! " Malist shouts and sent a breath of fire into the
water heating up even further to the point that if Malist was a normal
human being he would begin to cook himself.

"I feel a little insulted now." Malist opened his eyes and looked over
to see Serana sitting nearby… completely naked. It wasn't like Malist
didn't have any idea what she looked like naked, the Vampire was
very open with her body around him. Disturbingly so, Malist
personally didn't find it funny or amusing.
"You are not a woman… you are a Dark Lady of the Night and
Queen of all that is badass."

"Nice save…" She said with a slightly friendly smile and not so
friendly tone saying I'll remember that. "… I see that you have found
another Sekirei to emerge as they call it."

"Yes… but I have no interest in her like that so get that idea out of
your sick and twisted mind."

"I have found memories of using my sick and twisted mind for our
mutual benefit. But as for the girl… you may not feel that way
currently… however that does not mean she might. She's young but
from what I've been able to gather, the bond between Sekirei and
Ashikabi is built of love. Sekirei are not in any way an off shout of
humans or even a cousin species, it would be comparing Man with
Beastfolk. Their strange connection with humans seems to be one of
a symbiotic relationship with an outside species, the fact they look
exactly like humans is purely chance."

"You raided MBI didn't you?" Serana merely chuckled at that. Yes
she did but she also did something better in a way, a way that was
more like going right to the source in the form of Miya.

"Sekirei and Ashikabi are bonded to each other, in what appears to

be a very deep manner. Built on mutual and current genetic
compatibility. Your bodies reacted in some way that MBI does not yet
understand that simply knows that the two are perfect for each other.
The best way I guess I could explain it would be… is that you and
Musubi would develop feelings…" At that Malist began to mutter a
failing defense at that. "… for each other, the Sekirei and Ashikabi
bond simply… speeds up this quite rapidly. Malist… are you denying
that you feel something for the girl?" Serana said as she noticed that
the young Dovahkiin was still muttering in the bath.

"I… I will admit that something about her is different and… I feel
something when I'm around her." He said looking up to the ceiling as
he recalled that night that they were looking for apartments and how
Musubi cheered him up by believing in him. "So does this mean that
I'm going to start feeling things for Kusano because that I have an
issue with."

"No, unlikely… for now. Kusano is still a child. And will need time to
grow. The research on this is very limited but the prevailing theory is
that around fifteen or sixteen years of age Sekirei start to develop
that side of the Ashikabi bond. On a side note… Musubi seems to
have something a little wrong with her because at her age she
should be much more aggressive in her pursuit of a sexual
relationship with her Ashikabi."

"I don't think she would be oppose to it… but currently under my
lease… nope." Malist said as he shook his head.

"That's not what I meant, according to the data MBI states that
Musubi should be actively looking for that side of your relationship.
Not passively agreeable to the idea. The Ashikabi bond is like a
biological marriage…" At that Malist fell back into the water in shock.
Serana waited for him to come back up to finish her sentence. "… for
the Sekirei. One a lot stronger than normal human emotion. As I said
before, a symbiotic relationship. One built on emotional love. Not
only that MBI for some reason seems to have indoctrinated the
Sekirei even further into this mindset." That last part Serana
mumbled to herself quietly enough for Malist not to ear. She turned
her glowing red eyes back to Malist who was looking down at his
reflection in the water. 'I'm not sure how this thing will all end, I'm
guessing you're not going to go along with MBI's plans right?"

"No fucking way." Malist growled out. "There is no way I am letting

this shit go on with the idea that people out there are being given
something as amazing as true love only for it to be taken in some
game for the amusement of some asshat." There was a small
salience hat followed Malist declaration heard by three women in the
building. Before Serana broke the quiet with a smile and a few
words.

"Did you just admit that you love your Sekirei Malist?"
"NO! I didn't… that isn't… I just… fuck!" Malist grumbled as his head
began to hurt.

Malist sat up in his bed with only a small candle to light his reading.
Musubi was currently asleep in her bed on the other side of the small
room they shared. He was at the moment reading the Wolf Queen
Vol.3. He had already read through the entire series but it was still
something to take his mind off the day's events. Kusano was
sleeping in Miya's room as it had been decided that was the best
course of action.

As he continued to read about the infamous Wolf Queen his mind

irritatingly continued to return to the thoughts on just why would
Musubi and Kusano pick him. The conversation in the bath had
brought this topic to his attention much to his irritation. Yes, he had
skills and powers that made the choice have logical sense but that
wasn't what they were choosing him on. They generally liked to be
around him and lately Malist was having a harder and harder time
denying the idea of it being more than that. The information Serana
gave him only making it harder. The idea scared him, mostly that if
that was true than what was his dream? If he himself was good
enough for them, than what did that make of his dream to be better,
to be who he truly was supposed to be. This crisis of identity made it
a little difficult to go to sleep. So Malist spent it reading as he did
when sleep wouldn't come.

Unknown to him however, someone had been able to pierce his

warding. He was now being watched by a certain someone in the
nearby secret room. As it would seem that all the paranoia and
sneakiness that came with having the skills of a Thieves Guild
Master was pointless in the face of a determined and slightly
unhinged Sekirei.

"Hehehe… I got passed that thingy you set up. I have no idea how
you managed to keep all cameras and audio recorders from
functioning but I figured it out." Matsu chuckled as she stared at the
rather fuzzy feed she was getting from the small camera she placed
above the ceiling tiles. "Only cameras that are IN the room go on the
fritz, but if I put one just a little outside… I knew it would work. And
this challenge is only the tip of the iceberg for one Malistantius
Caeraso. How did he cut me off from his room, if be temporally?
What is this special power he seems to possess? Who was that
chick with the glowing red eyes? And how, with at first seemingly
only being a loser that failed the college entrance exam twice gain
two Sekirei. The mysteries surrounding this man are so utterly
fascinating. It's no wonder I'm working so hard to keep my eyes on
him."

"Big brother… wake up." Kusano said as she tried to push Malist
awake. It was early in the morning but he still had to go to work.
Something that Kusano didn't like nor understand why her big
brother had to do. But the nice land lady said that he needed to go to
work or they couldn't live here anymore. So Kusano was now trying
to wake him up so he wouldn't be late. "Big brother… wake up."

"Raaga…" Malist grumbled incoherently as he pushed Kusano's face

away from his bed.

"Big Brother you need to get up." The young girl said taking the hand
and trying to pull him out from his3 bed. Malist just grumbled some
more and pulled back. It soon become a tug of war between the
sleepy Dovahkiin and young Sekirei. Eventually the adult in this won
and was able to huddle back up in his bed. It was at that point that
Kusano decided to get serious. She turned back to Musubi who was
also still asleep. Kusano walked over to the other Sekirei and
whispered into her ear that they were going to miss breakfast. The
effect was immediate, Musubi shot out of her bed and grabbed
Malist out of his and ran down stairs leaving a slightly bewildered
Kusano satisfied with her good job. The young Sekirei walked
downstairs to find a happily eating Musubi and a grumbling only half
awake Malist.

"Good job Kusano in getting these two out of bed." Miya

complemented from her own spot at the table. Kusano smiled and
quickly took her spot next to her Ashikabi who was busy glaring at
his breakfast and mumbling something about fire roasted fish and
apples. "So Malist nothing new today but work I assume?" Miya
asked clearly either not reading his mood or having some other plan
in mind.

"Just work and then to bed, not feeling very good today." Malist
grumbled, keeping his answer quick with only a small amount of
venom to it. Miya internally sighed at this, his pride it seemed had
not healed from saving Kusano. The reason for that Miya could
easily guessed that something had happened that only compounded
on what she had told him yesterday morning.

"And you Musubi, any plans for the day?"

"I was hoping that you could train me some more. I had no idea that
our landlady would be so strong."

"I'd be happy to help… would you like to once again join us before
you off to work Malist?" Miya said with a completely straight face as
if not knowing what range of reactions that might bring from him.
Thankfully all Malist did was what she assumed was begin to mutter
curses under his breath in a language she didn't know. Though if by
the number of words he used was anything to go by, there were a lot
of curses this young man knew. "What was that Malist, I afired I
didn't understand you?"

"No thank you…" Malist grinded out before standing up and walking
out of the room, continuing his mutterings.

"Is something wrong with Malist?" Musubi asked clearly not

understanding what was going on between him and their landlady.

"Malist is not the kind of boy that handles losing well. He also has a
lot on his mind concerning who he thinks he should be and part of
that is being the best and winning. So, when I beat him yesterday…
it seems to have clashed with what he thought to what is true in this
world." Miya explained while at the same time not giving away too
much. Some things she wasn't supposed to know as far as Malist
was aware. " It was how I beat him, or more accurately the fact I beat
his Shout. That has shaken him. Before our little spar he must have
thought it to be his ultimate trump card and from how he's acting…
last night must have proved that to him more so than is comfortable
with him. " Miya thought as she sipped some tea. This was going to
have to be discussed with her new Vampire friend, they needed to
speak about exactly what needed to be done in order to move Malist
in a better direction.

Malist had a normal day at work. And for some strange irritating
reason that he would curse forever… it felt good to have something
so boring and normal happen. He was the Dovahkiin and that meant
he should strive for excitement and valor in battle worthy of
admittance into Sovngarde. But the boring and tedious work was a
breath of fresh air to him. Erik was there as he was yesterday and
Hibiki and Hikari showed up to give Erik his lunch so the reminder of
the Sekirei was still in his mind.

Mostly he thought about tactics and strategies while his body was on
a form of working mode auto-pilot. He thought about the various
plans and ideas that he could use in the upcoming battles. Not with
Sekirei but with MBI, he had no interest in fighting with people that
he considered to be victims in all of this. Those Ashikabi that forced
themselves on their Sekirei didn't count as he would be putting
arrows in their heads. That was his plan for the scum if it turned out
that Sekirei could find their true Ashikabi after their fake ones died. If
not… then Malist was going to have to… teach… those pitiable
Ashikabi how to treat their Sekirei right.

For MBI itself however… that was a tough one for him. He would
need resources and allies. His fellow Ashikabi and their Sekirei could
certainly help but they lacked the numbers to take on the mega-
corporation. If Malist really worked at it he could summon around ten
Atronachs that would stay in the material world permanently. If he
gave a Grand Soul Gem to power each Atronach, he could keep
more or less three hundred that would last for about a year before
they would need replacement Gems. Zombies could be used as they
required far less fuel to maintain. But Zombies were… morally
dubious at best. He would either need to commit entirely to guerrilla
style warfare or find an outside source of soldiers for a more
conventual means of fighting MBI.

The idea of contacting an Earthling government had crossed his

mind… once. He dismissed it as he knew that it would land in him,
and the Sekirei in some black site lab. No government on this planet
was beholden to the name of Dragon Born or any of the other titles
he carried. To this world, on the surface he was some failure who
couldn't get into college and if they found out the truth… lab table
and dissection for the rest of his life.

The idea of the Spriggans had also been on his mind. They could be
a effective fighting force and their numbers could be brought up if
given adequate time and resources. Resources that amounted to
water and sunlight. The problem was in convincing them that this
war was something they needed or even wanted to be a part of.
Kusano was a one time thing, her powers of life and plants gave her
a connection to the Spriggan which is why they even bothered with
her in the first place. So they were a avenue that was all but
hopeless to pan out.

But their very presence raised possibilities… ones that spawned

even greater ones. Of possibly returning to Nirn. Something had sent
the Spriggan here. And if had been Sheogorath, why… but the
answer to that was like asking why a insane man babbles on and on
about nonsense. You would get no logical answer and any answer
you do get would make your head hurt. But the Spriggan sent were
to… well placed. Not only had they been sent to the same relative
time as Malist and his friends, but also same city. And even more
strangely right when Kusano was all alone and needed them. It was
unlikely that they were in the Arboretum before Kusano showed up,
that theory was even more impossible given the number the
Spriggan had. There were reasons behind these events. What they
were Malist had no idea but it suggested that something, likely the
Daedra, were planning something. Sheogorath was a likely tool of
use for the puppet master… maybe Molag Bal or Clavicus Vile.
Those were the two Malist thought might try to pull something off, his
personal pick was the latter. But if this was all some plot by the
Daedra, that meant they had to be coming here at some point either
to enjoy the fruits of their meddling or finish whatever plan they had
set in motion. Either way, it meant that they would want to return to
Nirn… or Oblivion which was in some way connected to Nirn. It was
a long shot, but one that could be theorized to be possible.

And while all of these theories and possibilities were hopeful, they
were not relevant for the time being. Malist drew upon the Skyrim
civil war to better understand what was going to be needed. One, he
would need a base of operations. His current home could not be this,
he needed a secure location that could house many people, troops
and the Ashikabi and Sekirei that would or could not fight.

Second, he would need money… and a lot of it. One of the few
memories he had of Skyrim was a funny one of Ulfric pounding his
head on a table as he and several of his advisers going over the
financial side of the war. Malist remembered that part of the saving
grace of the Stormcloak rebellion was that their soldiers were far
more willing to fight for very little actual pay than when you
compared them to the Empire's Legions. Fighting for their homeland
was more than enough for many.

Third, he would need information. He needed to find out as much as

he could about Sekirei and MBI. This could be done with a bit of
infiltrating into MBI's headquarters, a place that Malist had already
decided on burring to the ground at some point.

And lastly as said before he would need numbers. Enough to the

point he could occupy the city. Just long enough for him dismantle
the Sekirei plan and take of MBI. He would then use the company to
look into that hopeful idea of one day returning to Nirn. This time with
his Sekirei… and things like the internet, cars, electricity and guns.
Ulfric would be happy to have such things in his plans to reconquer
the entire Empire as Tiber Septim once did. The Empire had clearly
lost its way following the war with the Elves and so it would need a
Nord to once again fix things.

"Should I go for a fully above ground compound… or should I have

the entire thing under with only a few small buildings as access
points…" Malist mused on his plans as he walked through the
arboretum. The place still held the massive forest that Kusano had
created, he could feel a bit of the Spriggan magic pulsing through the
woods. But it was feint, and slowly lessening. Not dying, no… it
wasn't dying but the power was receding. Malist could tell that it was
likely from the Spriggans pulling all of their power with the idea of
growing more sisters. "While a underground base would give us the
privacy we would need… building it… oh that would be tough."
Malist walked through the cave leading into the heart of the forest.
"Maybe a bunker built under a above ground campus." Malist
stepped into the chamber and found exactly what he was expecting,
the Spriggans were all huddling around several small growing plants
that would eventually become full Spriggans. But there was
something among the tree women that he was not expecting… a
small human… Malist wanted to say girl. "Haven't we been through
this already?" He said as he approached the sisterhood. Most of the
Spriggans only gave a small look of notice to the Dovahkiin and then
returned to their watching of their growing sisters. But the group
surrounding the boy which included the Earth Mother fully faced
Malist.

"Man with soul of beast of wings and scales… you have returned as
you said you would. Now you will ward this place from this world of
cold metal and soulless machines."

"I got a new deal for you… which we will get to after you tell me why
you have a little… kid… with you." Malist said as he looked down to
the silver haired young child.

"This Sekirei came to us looking for the buddling, he wishes to see

her and thus we let him wait for your return with us." The Earth
Mother said before pushing the now confirmed boy toward Malist.
"Please remove him from our home, he sinks of rot and decay."

"Are you Kusano's Ashikabi?" The young Sekirei asked as he rubbed

his shoulder after the Earth Mother pushed him.

"Yes, why do you want to see her?" Malist said a little careful about
this boy. The Earth Mother had said he sunk of rot and decay, that
could give a hint at his powers given how they reacted to Kusano's
powers.

"She's my friend, I just… I want to make sure she is safe." He said

with a steely conviction in his eyes that spoke of a bond between the
two Sekirei. Malist scanned the boy for a moment and then looked
up to the Earth Mother.

"That is what he told us when he came. Now remove him from our
home and do as you promised… and no speak of new deal."

"Nope, you will listen to this new deal because it will give you so
much more than the one we have." Malist said as he pushed the boy
behind him and stepped forward. "Because at this very moment the
city around this forest is planning on chopping it down. I doubt they
will do so to the entire forest but… you need as much nature as you
can get. Not only that but if they stumble upon this place they will
question they can't get in, and they will search for answers."

"Speak of this new deal, you offer but you also want. So speak."

"First off… I want your word that should I need your aid in battle you
will answer… this obligation will only be asked of you once reach
your former numbers. Second, please for the love of Nocturnal stay
away from the outside world. I know I shouldn't have to ask you
people this but I just want to put in on the record. Third, and I am
surprised by having to say this…" Malist said before pulling the
young Sekirei back and holding for the Spriggans to see. "… if you
find any kids… just… contact me and I will call the police."
"You are jesting with us, refrain from doing so man of flesh and meat.
You seek alliance with me and my sisters, for what purpose would
we want one with the Dovahkiin in this world?"

"Well for starters, not only would I ward this place but the entire
forest." That caught the Earth Mother's attention. "This would be one
of Illusion Magicka, tripping people up and getting them lost if they
delve too deep into the forest. The ward would also help with growth
and strengthen the woods, I won't be able to maintain it though, you
would have to provide the power. This might mean you won't be able
to regrow your numbers as fast but it is a better long term plan."

"We of the earth and root always understand the need for time. We
will take this deal, safety and isolation are needed here in this world
above numbers. But our side of this bargain you understand will be
minimal."

"I know, I just want to make sure I can put you in as allies rather than
a neutral faction that might turn enemy."

"Wise Dovahkiin… wise. Very well… leave this place with that child
and Ward our dominion." Malist gave a small nodded and began
pulling the young Sekirei with as he left.

"Best to leave while they still are on our side." He whispered to the
young boy and the Sekirei understood and walked quickly with the
Ashikabi out of the chamber. Malist made quick work of setting the
needed Grand Soul Gems in the proper places around the
arboretum. It would Ward of the deepest part of the forest to the
point where anyone not guided by a Spriggan would get lost and turn
around and back to the more public areas of the arboretum. The
forest would also grow denser with only a few paths into the deep
heart of the Spriggans' territory. Shiina, the young Sekirei, had
watched Malist do all of this with a curious eye as Magicka was
something he had never seen before. The young boy also loved the
ride from spot to spot on the back of Malist skeletal steed Arvak. "…
and then I leaned over a told him… the only reason I even ruined
your plot was because I made the mistake getting drunk with the
Daedra of debauchery. The look on his face… utterly priceless."
Malist said as he recounted the story of the time he had foiled a plot
of a magic cult that planned to some evil of some kind, exactly what
the Dovahkiin even back with his full memories did not care to
remember. And it was true, the only reason why he even stumbled
upon the plot was because the Daedra Lord Sanguine got
Malistantius drunk and the next morning Malistantius had to do
damage control over everything that had happen the night before
and it ended up in some old fort that housed the cult.

"Wow, that is funny." Shiina chuckled as the two of them rode

through the Spriggans' forest on the Arvak. The skeletal horse
enjoyed the presence of the Sekirei as it could feel the connection of
death between them. The two were currently on their way out of the
forest now that Malist had finished preparing the warding for his end
of the deal.

"It was not at the time I will tell you that… that night I trashed a
temple, got married to a hag, and…" Malist stopped talking as he
noticed something. "… cold… something is cold." He felt something
nearby, something he had felt before. He couldn't place where or
what but it was something familiar. And it this strange feeling felt
almost wrong to the Dovahkiin, almost like it was more of echo than
a full… whatever it was.

"I don't feel anything…" Shiina said as he looked around. Malist

wasn't listening as he stared at the source of the chilling air and
strange feeling. There wasn't anything there but that was the
direction of the source.

"Kid, hold on." As he said this Arvak began moving off the already
limited path they had been treading and began moving through the
woods until Arvak needed to be dispelled. The two males then began
moving through the forest with Malist leading the way. Eventually
even Shiina began to feel the growing cold but this only confirmed
something or more accurately someone for Malist. The final
confirmation came at the sight of one of the Sekirei from last night
that come to claim Kusano. She was injured and looked to be on the
verge of unconsciousness and possibly death. Her body and clothes
had been ripped and scared by the Spriggans' attacks. She was still
aware enough to notice Malist nearing her and moved a hand to
send an attack of ice towards him. Malist just used a small Calming
Spell on the injured woman before looking back to Shiina and
wordless telling him to stay back. "I'm not going to hurt you, so let
just keep this peaceful."

"I need… I need to… return to my master…" She tried to move but
her body would barely respond. "I can not… be…"

"Shh… not right now you can." Malist said as he kneeled down next
to the woman. He held a small ball of Magicka in his hand and let it
wash over her, it healed most of her more dire wounds. They weren't
entirely gone, just softened to the point where she was no longer in
immediate danger. Malist then went to work actually healing her
though it would take a while before she could properly move. While
he did that with one hand of magic the other he used to perform a
diagnostic of her injuries. But what he found in her body sickened
him far more than the injuries. Those she had earned in fighting the
Spriggans, but what was going on IN her body was what disgusted
him. There was clear evidence of invasive experimentation and
medical abuses. " Was this done by her Ashikabi… no… no… she
never even had a chance for that. MBI has moved up from me
burning them down to me hunting them down with summoned
Daedra… if I can summon them. If not… feeding them to a horde of
Zombies. " Malist raged as he learned more and more about the
extent of internal disfigurement.

"W-what are you doing?" She said as she regained a bit more
awareness of her surroundings. Malist also took note of the
emotionless tone she had, her face a pure blank to everything.

"Healing you… with magic. But no seriously I am healing you." Malist

said as he worked on the gash on her leg. She looked down and saw
it begin to stich itself up and heal as naturally as possible but at a
rate that clearly was anything but natural.
"Why… why would you help me? We were enemies not too long
ago."

"None of the Sekirei are my enemy. You all deserve to find your
Ashikabi and live happy lives. And I will see that you all do. Even
you." He said as he expected how she would respond to that.

"I am discarded, I am unable to find my Ashikabi. But I will continued

to serve the one that…"

"Your wrong… I can fix you up." Malist interrupted and there was a
sudden flash of true emotion on her face, shock and then anger.

"Do not taught me with the impossible." Her voice was what he
assumed was the equivalent of screaming for her. It was actually a
little cute to him given that it wasn't impossible and he was already
doing just that.

"This magic I'm using is called Restoration, and its core is in its
name. To restore, to bring things back to how they should be. And in
this case, Magic is going to make science its bitch." Malist kicked the
power level of the spell a bit higher at that as he moved from using
just one hand for the spell to both. The Sekirei could feel the warmth
of the healing Magicka wash over her, everything inside of her that
felt missing, wrong, or ever hurt now suddenly began feeling right.
Whole and right. "Your master… I know he's not your Ashikabi. So
why do you follow him?" Malist asked as he wanted to confirm a few
things.

"He found me… he took me in when I had been discarded."

"Uhuh… and where is he now?"

"I… do not know." Behind the face of cold impassiveness that was
this woman's face Malist could feel immense hurt.

"After your fight with the Spriggans… you retreated. And your fellow
Sekirei left you to die… on his orders right?" Malist growled
conveying his disgust with this action.

"She said… this mission had been to be to prove if I was worth the
trouble. I failed… I failed and now I have once again been discarded.
But I need to return… I need to…"

"You will not be any such thing. Once you are all healed, you will go
out and find the person that you are meant for." Malist said as he
gave a stern look to the woman. He would make sure that each and
every one of the Sekirei would be as happy and whole as Musubi
and Kusano. The look of pure joy and contentment they had in their
faces when they were with him were all the reason for him to fight for
the Sekirei cause. Malist was so caught up in his internal storm of
anger and dedication that he didn't notice the look of awe and
longing the Ice Sekirei was giving him.

" He came to me even though we were enemies… and he healed

me with no reason to do so. And… he's giving me back what was
taken… " Something within her mind soon clicked and only one thing
came to her mind. " I cannot lose him. He is the one I am destined
for even though I have yet to feel it… I already know it. " Malist then
looked her over with one last wave of the diagnostic spell before
looking toward her face.

"One last piece and you should be all healed…" He said before
turning his right hand into a glowing green ball of Magicka. He
reached out to her forehead and with one touch the Sekirei yelled
out in shock as she felt her Sekirei mark fade off from her forehead
and reappear at the base of the back of her neck like every other
Sekirei. "There… and with that… uph?!" Malist was surprised by the
woman he had just healed grabbed on to his waist and knock him on
his back with her following. " Oh no no no no… I know what's
coming! "

"I'm sorry but I can't lose you too." She said before leaning in and
kissing Malist. The light from her winging enveloping both of them
and the part of the forest they were in. As the light died down the Ice
Sekirei Akitsu was holding on to her Ashikabi with a very rare smile
of perfect contentment on her lips. Having no idea that Malist was no
longer of sound and sober mind.

"Malist!" Akitsu reacted quickly and formed several ice spears ready
to hit the person that was intruding on their moment. "Wait, I'm not
here to fight!" Shiina said as he held up his hands in an attempt to
show that he didn't mean any threat. Akitsu scanned the young
Sekirei but didn't lower her guard, any Sekirei could hold some
dangerous power. "Uh… I think you should look down… something
is wrong with Malist." It took her a moment to recognize that was the
name of her Ashikabi… the fact she had kissed a man that she didn't
even have the name of didn't cross her mind as strange at all. He
was her Ashikabi after all. But when she did indeed look down she
found Malist completely out of it, he was unresponsive and his head
swayed slightly in a intoxicated manner.

"Is… is this normal for a Ashikabi after a winging?" She asked the
younger Sekirei as she had never seen this happen before.

"I don't think so… and… I don't know how to fix him… or where he
lives." Shiina said as he realized that they were now in a forest
owned by not so friendly tree ladies with a incapacitated Malist who
is the only one able of keeping the Spriggan docile. And now he was
with a woman that was not so long ago was fighting the tree women.
And they had no idea of how to get out of the forest of angry tree
women who really didn't like them.

"Musubi… Malist should have returned from work by, now right?"
Miya asked as she set the table with Musubi helping while Kusano
watched. She needed to learn how so she could help later.

"Uh… yeah… but he said he needed to do something after work so

he might be a little late hehehe…" Musubi chuckled shakily. She
knew about his plan to go back to the forest with the Spriggans but
she knew he should have returned a while ago. And she was starting
to get worried.
"Musubi… you know you can tell me anything right?" Miya said with
her standard friendly yet demonic mask of dread inducing voice.

"Ah… yeah… but… but…" Musubi tried fight the fear that was
coming over her. "Uh… Malist said that if he ever was in trouble I
need to call his friend Erik." Musubi nervously stated and quickly left
the room to do just that. Twenty minutes later there was a ring at the
door.

"Yo little bear cub!" Erik said as he gave a friendly bear hug to
Musubi after she opened the door for him.

"Crushing… me…" Musubi was shocked to find that Erik was able to
exert such strength for being just a human.

"Oh you can take it…" He chuckled as he released her. "… so did
something happened to the boss? What happened?" He said as he
and his Sekirei entered the boarding house.

"He was supposed to go back to the forest after work and handle
things with the tree women but… he should have been back a long
time ago. Do you think they might have turned on him?"

"Possibly, then again… Spriggans aren't known for being

backstabbers… but they rarely make deals to begin with. Tough to
say." Erik said as he scratched his short beard. "But the boss is the
boss. He can handle the tree women. It's not like they have the
numbers anymore to be a real threat."

"I know Malist is strong but… I'm worried. I don't like the idea of him
being out there alone fighting when I know I could be helping." Erik
smiled as he watched the Sekirei pensively look down at the ground.

"We can go into the forest to look for him. I'm sure he's fine but I'm
also sure he'd like the gesture." Erik said before sniffing the air. He
then leaned to the side with his eyes trained on the dining room.
"But…" Both of his Sekirei facepalmed as they knew what was
coming. "… we'll go after we eat, shame to waste a home cooked
meal."

"Could you stop thinking with your stomach for once. Your friend
might be in trouble and all you can think about is stuffing your face?!"
Hikari scolded as she started sparking lightning in her hand. Her
sister resigning herself to a small sigh.

"Musubi invited here and there is food… it would be rude of us not to

eat. Besides… the boss can handle himself. He's the last person I'd
worry about."

Akitsu was having a hard time understanding just what was wrong
with her Ashikabi. Ever since she had been winged by him he
remained in the strange state he was currently in. He was
unresponsive and could barely stand on his own. Every now and
then he would mumble something in some language that neither her
or Shiina understood. And sometimes he would reach out and his
hand would disappear only to return with some item of no real
purpose. When he had first done so Akitsu worried but Shiina had
told her that he had seen him do this before and that it was fine. It
was more of Malist's magic, a spell that stored various things for him.
She wished that he could tell her what he was needing but as he
was barely able to articulate anything of real merit that wasn't going
to happen.

To make matters worse, they were completely and utterly lost. Shiina
had tried to return to the minimal path that him and Malist had been
on before leaving it to find Akitsu but to no success. Now they
wandered the woods hoping to find some path or maybe the edge.
But it no matter where they went they never seemed to find any
landmarks they could use to find their way out. Shiina had said that
Malist had made a deal with the tree women to set up some sort of
barrier that would do just that. Shiina had been surprised that they
had already turned it on. So now they were trying to get the attention
of the Spriggan as Akitsu found out they were called. Shiina had
tried to kill some of the trees but found that his power no longer
worked on them, likely due to the secondary effect of the warding
Malist had set up. So right now all they could do was set up a fire
and hope that would do it.

Akitsu was standing guard over her incapacitated Ashikabi as he

slept by the fire. He had fallen asleep as they were setting up their
camp and Akitsu hoped that he would be returned to normal once he
awakened. Shiina was poking at the fire trying to keep it going. The
forest was quiet, only a brief wind through the leaves and the sound
of the fire were heard. Akitsu didn't mind, she was used to the quiet
and so long as her Ashikabi was safe she was content.

"Uh… I'm not sure that…" Shiina didn't get to finish his sentence as
a hunting spear pierced the ground inches from his body. Akitsu
instantly reacted to the threat and moved to defend Malist while
Shiina just huddled behind the older and unconscious male.

"Step away from him and you might get out of this alive." Akitsu
watched as hulking man in finely crafted silver steel armor, intricately
covered in Viking like runes. His face was covered in the helmet that
matched his armor, built to resemble a wolf's head. And in his hands
a great sword made out of what looked to be bone.

"I will not." Akitsu stated as the ground and air around grew
increasingly cold to the point of freezing. "By the bond we share I will
never abandon my Ashikabi."

"Wait what…" He seemed confused by that and in that moment

Akitsu made her move. Paying no mind to the possible reasons for
his confusion as he had threatened them and she was not going to
let anything happen to Malist. She formed several icicles in the air
and sent them flying towards the armored man. She was impressed
that he was able to move out of the way of most of them and even
able to cut the two that he could not avoid. She formed more and
was prepared to send them toward him but instead reformed them
into a shield to block the incoming lightning attack. Through the
newly formed holes in her ice shield Akitsu was able to see the two
lightning Sekirei Hikari and Hibiki. "Hold off! I think we might be
misunderstanding something here." The armored man said as he
planted his sword in the ground. "Did you just say that he's your
Ashikabi?" Akitsu lowered the ice wall and nodded giving
confirmation. "By the love of Talos… how… what… when…" The
man grumbled and then looked over to Malist. "Just wake him up so
we can just get a explanation."

"We've been trying to but he's out of it pretty bad." Shiina called out
as he stood up. But the armored man didn't respond for a moment
and then started chuckling.

"Boy… did he… with you to?" The man chuckled in a way that Akitsu
found slightly irksome but she didn't show it as normal.

"No, I just am following him because he's Kusano's Ashikabi and I

want to see her." Shiina said defensively.

"Alright alright, just joking here." He said as he finished his chuckling

and then took off his helmet showing his ruggedly handsome face.
Though Akitsu didn't even have that thought cross her mind as no
one could ever even compare to Malist to her. "And why is the boss
out of it?"

"When he winged Musubi he was pretty out of it too. Maybe the

same thing happened when she was winged." Hibiki pointed to
Akitsu as she remembered that Malist seemed pretty passive after
emerging Musubi.

"That is correct, after he winged me my Ashikabi went into the state

he currently is in." Akitsu said stepping over the fact it was mostly
her who ambushed kissed Malist. More than likely because she
didn't see it that way.

"Okay, I get it." The armored man said as he reached into the same
storage spell Akitsu had seen Malist use. He pulled out a small flask
of brown liquid and held it up to the sky. "Oh great sobering drought,
savior of mornings and vanquisher of hangovers… please… I call to
your name to heal my friend."
"Get on with it already. I want to go back home and out of this
forest." Hikari complained with her sister nodding next to her.

"Fine…" The man said as he walked over to Malist and handed the
flask to Shiina who got the message. The young Sekirei opened
Malist mouth and poured the liquid in. Five seconds later Malist was
coughing and clenching his throat.

"Oh fuck! That… that… is some nasty shit." Malist coughed as he

huddled in the fetal position. "I hate that stuff… just give me some
hash and gravy and any hangover is gone." Malist grumbled before
pushing himself off the ground and leaning on the armored man for a
moment to get his balance. "Okay… I think… I'm okay."

"Good, now can we please leave this Divines damned forest

already?"

"Erik… yeah. Sure, I've already done everything I needed to do…"

He then looked over to Akitsu who continued to remain the bastion of
passive blankness as she had been. "… and a little bit more
apparently." Malist said before pushing of his friend and beginning to
walk forward not giving Akitsu another glance. Internally the Ice
Sekirei was confused as to the behavior of her Ashikabi but
continued to not show it beyond a small look of worry in her eyes.

Eventually the group made it out of the forest with Malist guiding
them. As he was the one who set up the warding he knew how it
worked and was able to move through it with ease. At the moment it
was just Malist, Erik, Akitsu, and Shiina heading back to Izumo Inn.
The twin Sekirei had been sent to their and Erik's home once they
had left the forest as their job had been finished but Erik still wanted
to discuss a few things with Malist.

"So… what's her story?" Eirk asked in the tongue of Tamriel as to

keep the conversation private. Erik gave a small look back to Akitsu
who was walking back a bit with Shiina as she had felt that Malist
wanted just to be with his friend for right now. Erik knew that Malist
didn't mean to give the Ice Sekirei the cold shoulder, no pun
intended as Erik was not a very big fan of them. But the Nord didn't
really know the details.

"She is a Sekirei and she had been experimented on before the

Sekirei Plan had begun. From what had been done to her… I'd say
they were trying to see if it was possible to kill off her and possibly
any Sekirei ability to bond with a Ashikabi. After doing so… they just
left here out in the cold with no one to help her. I'm also fairly sure
she had been abused both physically and sexually. Though the latter
might have happened after MBI threw her out given the timeline of
injuries she sustained." Malist could hear the growl of anger from
Erik and he agreed with the sentiment. "In the very short time I've
known her and from the way she acts, I can already tell she suffering
from the whole thing mentally, and very severally at that."

"Yeah… she's differently a quiet one. And that look on her face… I've
never seen someone have such a permanent poker face like that."

"It's possible that might be part of her normal personality. Only

amplified by what she went through. Sekirei are by their nature hold
a completely different mindset than humans do. The whole never
being able to have Ashikabi and being thrown out by MBI probably
had more of an effect on her than any… abuse that happened after."
Malist still felt sick at the thought of what happened to her after being
sent to live on the street. "In any case, I had healed her and she was
able to have a Ashikabi again afterward. Honestly I really should
have seen what happened next coming. I had just given her back
something so integral and important to all Sekirei, the idea that she
would have taken this as a sign that I am her Ashikabi isn't hard to
believe. Not only that… but what she said before kissing me also
gives me a small clue as to the other reason why she did it."

"What'd she say?"

"I can't lose you too. She was abandoned by the Ashikabi that had
found her once she had failed in bring in Kusano. Bastard is going to
be getting a arrow to the nuts for that. But, he was the one who
found her on the street and likely quote unquote saved her. So when
she was abandoned by this person that saved her, I think she was
afraid that I as the second person to do so would also abandon her.
Maybe not in the same deliberate way but still that didn't matter. I
had showed up and saved her, and she didn't want to have the same
thing happen again… what are you smiling about?"

"Oh nothing…" Erik chuckled as he turned his head back to face

forward. "… it's just that you're just being you." He said causing
Malist to go wide eyed. He understood to what Erik was referring to.
That he was acting more like Malistantius. "These Sekirei are doing
a lot for you, your acting more and more like yourself every time I
see you with them. And then at the same time you're doing things
that you would never do. Honestly it's all very confusing and it just
makes Serana sound a lot more right in her idea that your more your
own son than yourself."

"That is just crazy. I'm me. Not my own son… because that's crazy."

"And yet you act like your old self only half the time… what does that
sound like?"

"Shut up, it's a stupid analogy and that is it." Malist pouted and than
began walking faster leaving Erik behind a bit. Erik felt that Malist
was only proving the theory even more so by acting like an irritable
teenager. The four kept this distance from each other as they walked
to Malist's boarding home. Once they had reached said boarding
house Erik gave one last bear hug to Malist, who did protest, and
then left in a hurry back to his apartment. "Now before we go in,
you…" Malist pointed to Shiina. "… are just a friend of Kusano and
nothing more. The Sekirei Plan is a secret and while I give no shits
to its rules, I rather not have MBI make a fuss this early in the
opening stages. And then you…" Malist pointed to Akitsu. "… are…
huh… let's just go with my other Sekirei Musubi's sister that needs a
place to stay. I really need to move along with my plans to find my
own place." Malist sighed before turning back and walking up to the
door. The second he opened it a crack it swung open and he was hit
by a train named Musubi.
"Malist! I'm so happy you're okay!" Musubi cried happily as she clung
on to the downed Dovahkiin. Pulling his face into her generous bust
as she did so. Malist tried to say something but his voice had been
muffled to quite the degree. Standing nearby, Akitsu felt something
new in her chest that she would later recognize as jealousy. "I was
so worried that something had happened to you."

"Well as you can see…" Malist said as he was able to push himself
out of Musubi's grip. "… I'm fine. But thank you for sending Erik to
fetch me." He said as he stood up and dusted himself off. "Where is
Kusano, I found someone that has been looking for her."

"I think she's finishing up the last of her homework before heading off
to bed." Musubi said as she followed Malist inside, not giving much
thought to the other two people with him. Although she did notice the
very attractive woman that was giving her the lightest of looks.
Though to be fair to Akitsu it was her equivalent of a very hard glare,
not that Musubi knew this.

"Please take Shiina here to her, apparently these two were friends
and he wants to make sure she's fine." Malist said nodding to the
young Sekirei behind him.

"Okay, come on…" Musubi happily said as she escorted Shiina

further into the boarding house. Leaving Malist and Akitsu behind to
handle Miya who was coming out of the kitchen to see that Malist
had returned safely.

"I see that you okay Malist, and you've brought home some
company." Miya said as she approached the two, Malist already
forming a small scowl and Akitsu taking a step closer to her Ashikabi
as she had felt the level of difference between her and the landlady.

"The kid is a friend of Kusano, he has nothing to do with me other

than that." Malist quickly stated before looking over to Akitsu… he
knew his lie on this was a bad one. "And this is Akitsu, she's
Musubi's sister and recently she got kicked out of her living
arraignments." There was silence and Malist could swear that a
tumbleweed passed between them. The entire scene screamed that
was a terrible lie and no one is buying it.

"Oh… I see… well then we would have to go over your lease. Now
that you have another adult with you." Miya said trying her best not
to give away the fact she knew this was total BS.

"Yes I know." Malist sighed and the three walked off to the small
office space that Miya kept for business. Malist once again used all
his Thieves Guild training to bargain and swindle his way into a lease
that highly favored him. Miya had to give it to him that his skills in
negotiating were disturbingly good. It ended up being that Akitsu and
Musubi would move into the unused room while Malist would stay in
his room. This had been where Malist had to give ground to Miya in
the negotiation. It wasn't his first choice to have the two very
beautiful who were in some strange Sekirei way his wives move out
of his room but he needed something to give Miya. Not only that but
there was very little room for three beds and Miya's absolute rule on
no sleeping together still stood. So while Musubi and Akitsu didn't
like being so far from their Ashikabi, although the latter was not
nearly as vocal about it in the normal sense, the sight of Miya's
demon mask trick made all argument on the subject vanish.

Malist was leaning over his newly placed Alchemy Table. He had
placed it where Musubi's bed had been, it had taken a bit of work to
get her to move into her new room. While Malist appreciated her
wanting to stay with him, Miya was just too scary to ignore her rules.
And he had signed the new lease and he would not go back on an
agreement he signed. He would lie, steal, and backstab his way
through life but one thing he would not do is go back on a written
deal he had agreed to. He had to draw a line somewhere.

"Can't do that… Giant's Toe is something I can't afford to waste. Until

I find a good substitute I can't risk any waste…" Malist mumbled as
he went over his various recipes that he had been working on since
coming to this new world. Some of the plants he had brought with
him were growing just fine in Earth but other types of ingredients
weren't so easy to reproduce. "Ah… if I… no… no no no… that
would not be good if after three days in a flask the potion would go
boom." Malist grumbled as he continued to get more and more
irritated at his lack of progress. The young Dovahkiin pushed himself
away from the table and back into a waiting chair. "I only have a
limited number of health potions. I can make highly diluted versions
of them but their effects are fucking downgraded from the real thing.
And what's worse… I only have five Cures on me. If one of us gets
sick… damn. I need to be able to replace my stores quickly if I'm
going to be thinking of war with MBI. I can heal and fix people up but
I'm just one man. If I can figure out how to reproduce health and cure
potions then that would be a major advantage I'll have." Malist
mused out loud as he grabbed an apple from the nearby nightstand.
"Maybe I'm going about…" He wasn't able to finish his thought as he
turned his head to the door to his room opening. To his surprise it
wasn't Musubi or Akitsu but Kusano who quickly rushed into the
room and behind Malist with a frightened look on her face.

"Scary… scary ghost." Kusano sobbed as she held onto Malist arm
like a lifeline.

"Aw… don't worry Kusano. If there any ghost in this house then…
we'll hunt them down." Malist said with a dark chuckle that would
scare the shit out of any normal person. To Kusano it was just Malist
protecting her. Malist didn't really think there was a spirt of any kind
in the building. He would have found one the night he moved in. But
he was playing the part he needed to play. Malist stepped outside his
room with the Staff of Magnus in one and Grim in the other. Kusano
stayed right by his side all while being still very scared. The two of
them made a few rounds of the building and when nothing came
about from their search. Malist gave Kusano a Petty Soul Gem and
told her it would keep any ghost away and to return to bed. The
young Sekirei took the Soul Gem and smiled at her Ashikabi for
doing what he could to alleviate her fears before going back to her
and Miya's room. Malist watched as she returned to her room before
turning back to the upper floor but stopped at the fake wall to the
right of the top of the stairs. " So… I'm going to guess your next huh
." Malist thought to himself before returning to his room for the night.
Chapter 5
Malist was sitting down for breakfast with the rest of the residences
of the Izumo Inn. Minus one, but Malist had an idea that he would be
finally meeting the one that was hiding from the rest of them. He had
known about her since moving in but assumed there was a perfectly
good reason for her being her seclusion. One at least good enough
for Miya who despite Malist grumbling was in fact a good landlady.
Though it had been a few days since that incident where Kusano
had seen the girl and thought she was a ghost, Malist could feel
something was about to happen with her.

Next to Malist on his right was Musubi who was just as cheerful and
hungry as normal. Next to her was a slightly mad Akitsu who would
very much rather be sitting next to her Ashikabi. But for their cover
story was sitting next to Musubi. Thankfully when they had first
introduced Akitsu no one seemed to interested into going down the
rabbit hole that was her cover.

The last few days Malist had been… trying to understand and handle
the situation with Akitsu. He was entirely unprepared for the idea of
another Sekirei joining him, he had some warning when it came to
Kusano but none with Ice Sekirei. He had done his best to try and
help Akitsu get settled in their home and was pleasantly surprised to
find her fairly easy to the transition. But this had disappeared once it
became clear as to why this was, Akitsu lacked very much in
independent motivation and desire. Malist had found the mental
scars done to her by MBI ran even deeper than he first thought.
Which added another month of torture to the damned scientists at
the company. So Malist had been trying to help Akitsu come out of
her shell by encouraging her to learn and read, to expand her mind
beyond what she already knew. Part of that was that he was
teaching her the various languages of Nirn, an activity she found
greatly enjoyable as it was something she was able to share with her
Ashikabi. It was a good experience for the two of them as it allowed
for some interaction between the two that wasn't hampered by either
of their own inner turmoil and scars.

Then back with breakfast, to Malist's left was Kusano also very
happy in that she was chatting with her friend Shiina who had been
coming over every morning to see Kusano since that first night.
Malist already confirmed that he was not reacting to him and thus
alleviated that worry and so the young Dovahkiin didn't care if the
death Sekirei showed up around his Sekirei.

Uzume and Kagari were also in attendance. Malist was actually

enjoying the peace and strange feeling of content that was shared by
the table. However this was soon broken by loud groan and the
sound of the front door being opened. The group at the table looked
to the door leading to the hall and soon it opened to show Hikari and
Hibiki carrying a moaning Erik.

"You! Erik says you can fix him. Please hurry up so he can quit
complaining." Hikari said as she and her sister dumped Erik in front
of the boarding house residences.

"Boss… it hurts… it hurts so bad." Erik said as he held onto his

stomach. "I need it bad boss. Please give it to me."

"Uh… first off… never say those words to me again." Malist said as
he found that they could be taken all the wrong ways. "Second, no. I
only have five left and I can't waste one just because you have a
tummy ache."

"BUT BOSS! It hurts." Erik whined as he rolled over on his back.

"Please give me something!"

"Exactly what did he do?" Malist asked turning to Erik's Sekirei.

"Gas station sushi. He got it on his way home from last night's pub
crawl and it was only this morning that it hit him. Can you please just
give him what he wants."
"I'm not giving him a Cure Potion…" At the mention of that one of the
Sekirei perked up. "But outside there's a few plants that will ease the
pain. Pick a handful of the purple and yellow flowers with a heart
shape and smell like honey. And a handful of the green and black
ones but only the ones with a red tip at their leaves, the ones without
will just make it worse. Chop them up in a blender and force feed it
to him… you're going to need to as it won't taste pleasant." He
instructed and the Lightning Sekirei nodded before picking up their
moaning Ashikabi. "Sorry about that." Malist said before returning to
his meal, not that he enjoyed it much.

"What exactly did he want from you. You said he wanted a Cure
Potion, it can't be what I think it is right?" Kagari asked not believing
what was implied.

"He wanted a what? I didn't hear what you said… could you repeat
that?" Malist said as he gave a tone of warning of things that are
better left unsaid. It wasn't nearly as effective as Miya's friendly
vailed threats but it got the job done.

"I see, well then I guess I didn't say anything." Kagari smiled as he
decided to play along, understanding that people had their secrets.
But sitting next to him was someone that heard exactly what Malist
said and the implications of it were far too great for her to ignore.

"I think I'm done for the day, I'm going to go get ready for work."
Malist said as he stood up and walked out of the room. Malist's
Sekirei felt joining him in the bath but one look at Miya deterred them
to do otherwise. But while they were being stared down to sit no one
notice Uzume leave the room following Malist.

"Give me that cure you were talking about." Uzume demanded as

she caught Malist before he in from the hall to the changing room.
Malist looked back with a slightly warning look.

"I don't know…" He stopped at the sharpened blade of cloth to his

neck. "… that is some speed you have. And… I'm going go with
interesting power you have." He commented as he looked down and
then back to the look of sheer determination on Uzume's face. "I'm
assuming your Ashikabi is sick with no chance of treatment if your
being like this…" He said as he reached into his Inventory. The sight
of him using the spell shocked Uzume and provided a brief window
of opportunity for Malist. " Tiid… " Time slowed as Malist spoke. "…
Klo… Ul ." Malist moved around the blade of cloth Uzume held to
him and pulled the needed flask out of his Inventory. Before the
Shout ran out of power he stepped back a few steps and placed a
Frost rune between them.

"W-what… what did you just do…" Uzume questioned as time

regained its normal speed. To her perspective everything around her
felt so heavy and Malist was like a blur in her eyes. And now he was
standing a bit away and the ground between them was glowing
white.

"Better not come any closer, I just set a magical landmine between
us. Now… this is what you want right?" He said holding out the flask
of red liquid between his fingers. "A Cure Potion. And yes… it can
cure anything. It's the reason why my homeland has not suffered
something like the Black Plague."

"Are you going to give it to me or just taught me with it?" Uzume

growled as he held her Ashikabi's one chance and her only way from
getting out of from under Higa's thumb.

"I'm going to give it to you. You are something of a friend after all.
You've been nice and helpful since me and Musubi moved here.
But… and remember there will always be a but… giving you this is a
deal between us."

"And what is my side of the deal?" Uzume said calming down a bit. It
couldn't be worse than doing Higa's dirty work and she knew Malist
wouldn't demand anything creepy.

"When I start beating the drums of war… I expect you to answer

them." He said gravely, with the most serious of faces Uzume had
ever seen on him.
"You mean against the other Ashikabi… sure… until we're the
only…"

"No." He said flatly and with final word on the matter. "I am talking
about when I look to burn MBI to the ground. I will dismantle the
Sekirei plan and create a future were all Sekirei and their true
Ashikabi live in peace. That is my plan."

"You can't be serious… taking on MBI is crazy."

"I could do it right now if I wanted." Malist said holding a ball of fire in
his hand and then began alternating with lightning and ice. "I was
once the Arch-Mage of my homeland. I could burn, fry, and freeze
this entire city and then raise an army of elemental constructs to
march on MBI. The only reason why I don't is because I want to
make sure that all the Sekirei find their Ashikabi first. Then I will
gather them and we will march together. As one." He finished his
little speech before dispelling the magic in his hand then the Frost
Rune. Malist then held out the Cure Potion. "So when I'm saying I'm
going to be beating the drums of war… it will be a true and just war
of freedom from cruel fate of mutual destruction."

"You really are going to do it aren't you… for all of us." Uzume said
as tears rolled down her eyes at the idea of every one of the Sekirei
finding what they longed for and never having to lose it.

"That is what a hero would." Malist said as he set the potion on the
floor. "I hope she can get better." Malist said before walking into the
bath changing room, closing the door behind him. The young
Dovahkiin let his breath out and slid down to the ground with his
back to the door. " By Nocturnal… I was so cool! " Malist internally
geeked out over his actions for the past five minutes. " I was all
like… I was so cool. I just came up with that drums of war thing on
the spot. That was good… I need to remember that one. " Malist
excitedly thought before sighing. "Oh… okay… Laas. " Malist looked
back and saw that Uzume had left, likely to deliver the Cure Potion to
her Ashikabi. "I hope that she gets there safely… I only have so
many of those."
Matsu replayed the video feed of the confrontation between Malist
and Uzume. The power he had used slowed time itself. And he had
pulled a flask of something that could cure anything out from
nowhere. Then he held fire, lightning, and ice in his hand like it was
nothing. All of this intrigued Matsu to no end. How and where did a
human learn to do these things. Even Sekirei were limited in the
scope of powers they could use. But this man continued to pull new
powers out left and right.

And then his speech. His declaration that he would destroy MBI and
create a future for all Sekirei and their Ashikabi. The word True
before Ashikabi suggested that he didn't consider all current
Ashikabi to be real ones, that made sense to a degree. Not all of the
Sekirei currently winged were with people they found naturally. But
what he was saying would be to imply he would be changing that.
Matsu didn't know what think about that. So the issue was tabled for
now.

Matsu was more focused on the fact he was willing and seemingly
capable of destroying MBI and ending the Sekirei plan. A prospect
she was certainly in favor of. But the idea that some nineteen-year-
old nobody that failed the college entrance exam twice could do such
a thing. Matsu did have to give that he was more than the official and
even unofficial data on him suggested.

"Everything… just everything about him is a mystery to me. A

mystery that it seems that I can't solve from the safety of my room."
Matsu said to herself as her screens lit up with various video she had
of her target. "Malistantius Caeraso, a mystery that must be solved…
but how…" She mused but then her eyes moved over to a video she
had taken of him and his Sekirei having a quiet dinner together. Just
the four of them… alone. "It makes me so mad when they're like
that… all cute and rubbing it my face that… oh… could this mean…"
Matsu began putting together the various behaviors she displayed
when thinking or looking at Malist. "It seems that the mystery of
Malistantius has now included the mystery of the bond between
Sekirei and Ashikabi as well… a mystery I can solve with my own
body." She said before starting to leave to go to the bath to ambush
her target… only to glace at the internal temperature of the room and
stop dead in her tracks. "How can he keep doing that and survive?
Oh well it's not like he can hide from me forever."

"What are you so smug about?" Erik complained as he put down a

another few boards of wood. Things had been a decently good day
for the Nord, but Malist's smug grin on his face had started to tempt
that statement.

"Oh nothing… just was pretty badass this morning. After you had
whined like a weak little milk drinker I was able to save the life of a
sick dying Ashikabi and secure the alliance of another Ashikabi and
Sekirei pair." Malist said with his eyes closed as he leaned on his
shovel.

"Quit talking with your eyes closed you smug ass Imperial." Erik
continued to complain before accidently knocking the shovel Malist
was leaning on with a piece of lumber. Causing Malist to fall face first
into the dirt. "Oops… sorry." Erik really didn't mean it.

"Okay fine I get it…" Malist grumbled before as he stood up and

began dusting himself off. The sound of the lunch bell taking their
minds off the event. "Your Sekirei bringing you food again?"

"Yup, Talos bless them and their food." Erik said as manly food
based tears rolled down his face. "What about you, you normally
bring your lunch. Does that mean you're having…" Erik stopped
talking at the dangerous look on Malist face as they both heard
something that Erik knew to be the prelude to many… many deaths.
The sounds of construction workers cat calling Malist's Sekirei. They
both turned to the Akitsu approaching them with Malist lunch ready,
she had offered this morning to do so and Malist had initially asked
her not to given he knew this exact thing would happen. The idea
and reality of this situation simply pissed him off, it pissed Erik off
too. They both held the Nordic idea of I'm the only one allowed to
make a complete ass of myself over how hot my woman is . On
Akitsu's side of the issue, she barely even noticed that there even
other men around her. She could tell that people were around but the
fact that they were male and hooting and making suggestive
comments… might as well be wind to her ears. Only one man's
opinion on her appearance will ever matter to her. And all those
noises she was hearing were meaningless to her.

"Thank you Akitsu, I'm sure that I will enjoy it." Malist said as he took
the boxed lunch she had made for him. He was very happy that she
took the effort to make anything for him, even more so since he
knew that she knew what he liked. He opened the small box and
found a very simple prepared sandwich with a side of diced fruit and
cheese. Even though it was all very simple, it was still prepared well
and looked good.

"Hm" Akitsu wasn't the best when it came to public speaking. And
Malist had no issue with that, she was quiet and rarely showed much
emotion. But the bond between Ashikabi and Sekirei was deep and
to Malist it was easy to tell she appreciated his words. Akitsu then
followed her Ashikabi's hard glare and found that he was looking at
his fellow work men. Who were also glaring at her love rather
harshly. Enough to make her eyes ever so slightly narrow in what
looked to be insignificant irritation.

"It's fine Akitsu, they are just jealous. They don't like the fact
someone as… young as me has a woman as beautiful as you
coming to drop off lunch for me." There was the barest hint of a
blush on the Ice Sekirei at the complement but then it disappeared
as the rest of her Ashikabi's statement came to form in her mind.
She then shot a ice cold glare to the rest of the men that froze their
very souls.

" How dare they insinuate that he is not worthy of me. it is me that
counts my blessing to be with my Ashikabi when that had been but a
dream for me not long ago ." Both Ashikabi couldn't hear her
thoughts but could feel the air growing colder and thus knew that the
situation was getting dangerous. All it took to calm the irritated
Sekirei was for Malist to hold her hand for a moment to give a
wordless message of confidence and value.

"There is nothing to prove to anyone. Thank you Akitsu." He said

with a real smile and with his hand on hers it was enough to make
her once again forget that those men even existed. She gave a slight
nod and then began to walk back home.

"Damn… she was really close to freezing their balls off." Erik said as
he ignored the glares his friend was getting. "You think that ya
should stay at this job… you kinda just painted your name on
everyone's shit list."

"I meant what I said…" Malist said before ripping off a bite of his
hearty sandwich. "… they are just jealous."

"Yeah… jealous that you get to touch what they can only stare at."
Erik joked before looking down and seeing… that face… on Malist
made Erik's day. And probably ruined Malist's given the amount of
teasing he was about to get. "You haven't… have you?"

"There is no illicit activity allowed where I'm living. You haven't seen
Miya's demon mask trick. It's like that feeling Ulfric could give you…
were you could swear there was a huge bear behind him staring you
down." Erik nodded in remembering that look Ulfric gave to anyone
that particularly annoyed him. Malistantius had been on the receiving
end of that look quite a few times. The two of them were still brothers
made in the fires of war… but that didn't mean that the older brother
in that relationship didn't get any headaches from the thieving,
meddling, and all around partier that was the younger brother. But
just because Malist's landlady had a similar terror inducing ability
didn't mean Erik was going to let Malist off easy.

"Motels… there are even motels for just this purpose. I recommend
one that has waterbeds. I saw on TV once that those are the best to
fuck on." Erik ginned at the uncomfortable sigh Malist gave at this
comment.
"It's not that I don't find Akitsu and Musubi sexy and attractive. It's
just… I don't know… something is keeping me from taking that next
step… or at least looking into taking that step. Something is hovering
over me every time I start thinking about them that way. Sometimes
Musubi will do something that makes me forget about whatever it is
that is keeping me from thinking about them in a sexual way. But if
it's just me and I'm thinking about moving forward in this weird
Sekirei marriage toward a more physical manner. Nope… something
hits me over the head with guilt, sadness, and lots of pain in my gut."
Erik had stopped any thought of teasing Malist for this. He knew
exactly what… or more accurately who was causing this. The
memory of someone, someone that Malist only remembered in bits
and pieces. It was one of the few things Erik, Serana, and Aela all
agreed was best that he just not remember in whole. But now it was
looking like those repressed memories are now acting on him in a
way that was interfering with the bond between Ashikabi and Sekirei.

" I'm going to need to talk with Serana on this… no… wait… I can't.
The Sekirei plan is secret and if I… but this is really important…
Hmm… " Erik thought to himself before refocusing on Malist. "Don't
worry boss… I'm sure that you'll be fine in no time." He chuckled with
zero confidence in his words. Something that Malist instantly picked
up on thought knew it was better to let Erik have his simple secrets.

Malist was walking home from work still a little confused and irritated
by Erik's sudden aloofness concerning his stagnant relationship with
his Sekirei. It was a issue that currently he didn't have much of an
active problem given that Musubi was naïve to the idea of more
physical relationship. She knew about it and given that she was in
love with Malist would be in favor with such a thing, she didn't pursue
it for some reason. Malist held the theory that is was because
Musubi like Kusano wasn't entirely grown up in Sekirei terms. Clearly
Musubi was closer to maturity than Kusano but was likely in the very
later stages of development. How long would this last Malist didn't
know.
Akitsu being his other Sekirei who he might have a more physical
relationship was too insular to outright pursue such a relationship.
She did make various moves toward it in her own subtle ways, she
always clung to him when she had the chance, she spent more time
with him than anyone else, and every night when they would start
moving toward their rooms there was a look of clear longing in her
eyes to want to follow Malist to his room. A look that held a lot
more… carnal feelings than simply the want to be close like Musubi
had.

What Malist said to Erik was true, it wasn't at all that he didn't find his
Sekirei desirable. Quite the opposite. Musubi was one of the cutest
and attractive women Malist had ever seen. Akitsu held a beauty and
grace that was a unmatched. Though he couldn't really find himself
being able to number his Sekirei in terms of a top and bottom
standing. He did know if he ever did do something like that he would
have to place Nocturnal at the top given his commitment to the
Daedric Lord of the Night, Shadow, and Luck. Such was his bonds
as a Nightingale. But to him his Sekirei would always outshine any
competing women for his attention. He didn't know if the bond
between Sekirei and Ashikabi caused this or amplified it, he would
go with what Serana had told him and believe it was the latter rather
than the questionable former.

But even though he did in fact find Musubi and Akitsu very
attractive… he couldn't bring himself to think of moving forward with
them. Something was pulling him back and away from that path. It
was something from his previous life as he couldn't think of one thing
in his new life that would cause this. It wasn't any kind of curse or
something Magicka related. And he knew it wasn't because he was a
human from Nirn and not Earth, Erik and his Sekirei were having no
issue in this area. So he knew it had to be something in his past that
he couldn't remember that was causing this. And Erik knew what it
was, but Erik wouldn't tell him. No if Erik was ever going to then he
or Serana or Aela would have already told him.

"Maybe I should…"
"Malist!" Said young Dovahkiin turned his head once he heard his
name being called but found that his face was soon enveloped by a
woman's large chest. "How about that for a reward." Uzume joked
before letting Malist go.

"Uzume… why did you do that?" Malist grumbled as he tried to

lessen the blush that had formed across his face. Only for it to
redden even further at another girl kissing him on the cheek. "Uhh…"

"Thank you so much." The new girl who Malist was assuming to be
Uzume's Ashikabi said as she returned to Uzume's side. "Uzume
told me how you're the one that gave me my cure. She didn't tell me
exactly how you found it though." She said with a slight look toward
her Sekirei. "But that doesn't matter, I'm feeling better than I felt even
before I was admitted to the hospital."

"Gees Chiho… laying it a bit think aren't you."

"Oh and smashing me into your chest was the better of your two
thanks?" Malist deadpanned at Uzume's comment. "I mean your…"
Malist stopped as he heard something. Where Uzume had snuck up
to him due to her being in all respects… a normal girl. And thus
didn't set off any warning bells in Malist mind as she approached
him, plus he was a little distracted. But now Malist was hearing
something that he really shouldn't be, the clinking of plate based
armor. " Laas Yah ." Malist whispered and then looked around. They
had been surrounded, about fifteen men and all of them reeked of
Daedric influence. "So… more have come."

"Malist… is something wrong." Uzume said as she stood guard in

front of Chiho noticing the change in attitude of her friend. Malist
didn't respond right away, instead he pulled out a neckless out from
his Inventory.

"Chiho… wear this. It has a decent barrier enchantment on it and

should protect you from most elemental attacks." He said as he
handed over the small neckless over to the girl. "Uzume, you are
going to need to watch for them moving in. They will have daggers
and they will come for her once they realize she is the weaker
target." Malist explained as his hand lit up, one with frosty ice and
the other with sparking lightning.

"Who are they, Sekirei?" Uzume said as she pulled out a roll of his
weaponized cloth.

"Nah… they have this stink around them." He sneered as the first of
the men began making their way out of the shadows. They had
chosen their location well, the Ashikabi and Sekirei were in a rarely
used street with few used buildings actually on it. Mostly empty lots
and parking structures. The ambushers were all wearing the same
thing, long brown robes with bone scale armguards and gloves, and
a strange looking bone mask.

"False Dovahkiin… you shall pay for your crimes." The lead
ambusher called out raising his sword to Malist. "You have been
deemed unworthy of bearing the same title as lord Miraak. He had
begun his work in Nirn and this world will to soon bear witness to his
glory. None shall stand to oppose him!" At that nine of the fifteen
men charged in to begin their task of killing Malist and the witnesses.
Malist didn't even blink as he chained lighting between the front most
five. They stood still as the bolts of lightning coursed through their
bodies, frying them from the inside. Those four that didn't get caught
in the attack flanks around and tried to go for the two girls thinking
they would be easy prey. Nope, they found that Uzume was more
than capable of taking them down. The Veil Sekirei was able to
entangle the right two and pull them into the incoming left two. The
entangled four began trying their way to get back up but when they
looked forward they saw a body of frozen ice looking down at them.
The Frost Atronach wasted no time in smashing the ambushers.

"Fight again my brothers!" One of the mages called out and with that
those that Malist and to a lesser extent Uzume had killed were
enveloped in fell energies and once again rose to their feet.

"D-did… he just bring them back to life." Uzume said completely

shocked at what she was seeing. Meanwhile Malist knew that if he
didn't end things quickly, the Zombies would be the worst of their
problems. The two Frost Atronachs he had just summoned could
handle them but what concerned him was the five mages that were
now lined up to start raining down Destruction Spells onto them. He
could feel the smirk on the leader of this little ambush as he stood
behind his wall of Magicka users

"Shit… okay then." Malist knew that right now with Chiho at risk he
needed to get out. The longer they stayed in combat the more likely
it became that she would get hurt. "She just got out of the hospital."
Malist chuckled before turning toward the line of mages. " FAAS RU
MAAR !" Malist shouted at the mages and has the power of the
words hit them within seconds one of them punched another, and
then another sent a fire ball into the face of another. "Come on!"
Malist said as he summoned Arvak and pulled Chiho on to the
undead horse with him. "Uzume think you can keep up?" He smirked
as he readied his skeletal steed. It took a small moment for the
Sekirei to compute, the enemy was in a fist fight with each other,
Malist summoned a undead horse, and now her Ashikabi was
holding on to his waist for dear life.

"Uh… yeah! The better question is who can get back to Izumo Inn
first?" Uzume challenged before jumping off toward the direction of
their shared boarding house home.

"Did you hear that Arvak… she challenged us. Hold on Chiho and
blame your Sekirei for what is about to happen!" Malist called out as
he sent his steed the signal to go full speed. Chiho would be later
having a few words with Uzume but they would not be that harsh as
riding Arvak had been quite fun in fact.

Serana finished tying down the leader of the ambushers to the chair
she had set up. She had removed all of his clothing so he was now
as stark naked as the day he was born. He was a Dunmer, his ash
black skin and sharp features gave that away. Serana guessed that
he must be in his late thirties, his hair was well kept and his body
was in fine condition so she knew that he lived fairly well prior to
coming to this world. The Vampire's glowing red eyes scanned the
various tattoos. That covered his body, she recognized a few as
Daedric in origin but that was normal for the Dunmer, seeing how
they worshiped the few Daedra Lords that could be considered good.
But the markings on this man were not focused on Azura, Boethiah,
or Mephala. No, they more entirely focused on Hermaeus Mora.
Daedric Lord of knowledge.

"What does that octopus want with this world?" Serana said to
herself as she took a few smelling salts from her Inventory and held
it up to the man's nose. The man reacted quickly and tried to move
away from the foul smell.

"Gods! What… what… where I'm I? Who… oh no…" The Dunmer

paled at the sight of red glowing eyes but without the skin of his own
people. "Vampire." He mumbled in fear under his breath.

"Yes… but don't worry, you're not a meal today." Serana said as she
sat down in the chair across from the Dunmer was tied down in. "Do
you have a name?"

"Modyn Veleth… where I'm I? T-the last thing I remember… it was…

it was a farm. And then… the Ash Spawn and then…" The man
began but it was clear that he was very confused. Serana had
expected him to begin rambling on about the glory of either
Hermaeus Mora maybe Miraak like before. But this man seemed to
be completely oblivious to everything that had happened.

"Calm down, where are you from?"

"Raven Rock… Solstheim. Where are we… can you just answer that
vampire." The man growled as he felt a bit of his courage return to
him.

"We are currently in Tokyo Japan." That caused a bit of dead air to
form in the room. Exactly what Serana expected. Now she never
expected people from Nirn to know everything and everywhere about
their own world given that it lacked the internet or even a system of
standardized education to teach people about the whole of the world.
But the people of Tamriel had a general basic idea of regions and
nations, Skyrim, Blackmarsh, Cyrodiil, High Rock, and several other
were places that people just knew. They may not know the names of
the cities or towns outside their own lands but they could recognize a
name based on how it sounded. Tokyo and Japan were just not
names found in Tamriel.

"Uh… I am not… could you repeat that?" He was truly and honestly
confused.

"You heard me, now you have your answer. You should be a little
more comforted by the knowledge of where you are." Serana said
clearly playing with the fact he still in fact had no clue where he was.
"Why did you attack my friend and those two girls?" The Dunmer's
face turned from angry irritation to shock and fear.

"I did what? What are you talking about?"

"Are you just playing dumb? You led a party of fifteen men and
attacked my friend and the two girls with him. With the full intention
of killing them."

"Lies! I would never do something… wait… you're a Vampire.

Perhaps I did do what you say, but I know that I would only do so if
these so called friends of yours were just more bloodsuckers." He
said finishing with a righteous grin.

"No, my friend was the Dovahkiin Malistantius and the two girls were
innocent bystanders."

"Hpm… lies. Like someone like the hero of Skyrim would associate
with vampire scum like you."

"True, he did help bring back the Dawnguard. So, it is right to

assume that. But be that as it may the facts are what they are. You
led a group of strangers to this land with the intention of killing the
Dragon Born for the simple fact you believed that he was unworthy
of sharing the title with Miraak…" At that the Dunmer's red eyes
widened in recognition. "… in my opinion a silly reason. But you
seem…"

"I… I know that name. Miraak, I remember it being important for

some reason. But… I don't know why…" Serana watched as the
man tried to remember. It was clear to her that something had been
meddling with his mind, given the fact Hermaeus Mora was involved
meant that theory wasn't that surprising. The question is why was it
that he was no longer under the control. She looked back to the pile
of robes and armor that he had been wearing. On a side note she
was surprised that he hadn't reacted to being naked. She stood up
and walked back over to the pile, she picked up the most likely of
culprit, the mask. She walked back to the man and held the mask in
front of him, he slightly winced at it being so close. "I remember that
thing alright. A few times people wearing those masks came to
Raven Rock and attacked the people."

"You were wearing it before I stripped you." Serana informed the

Dunmer who upon hearing that looked down and finally realized that
he was in fact naked.

"So you did… wait… I was wearing one of those? I was a part of that
insane cult? I don't remember anything about that."

"You seemed to have glossed over the fact you are exposed to the
world."

"I have little shame in my body. I have no need to feel self-conscious

about it."

"Well good for you and the woman you love." Serana picked out
causing the man to glare at her. "Or… man you love?"

"My personal life is none of your interest bloodsucker. Besides, my

life will likely not last long so I have resigned myself to Oblivion
anyways." He said hanging his head forward a bit, taking the time to
remember a few memories of him and the woman he loved. What
broke him out of his thoughts was the binds holding him to the chair
being cut.

"You were not you when you attacked my friend. You were under the
influence of a Daedric power. And you are a long way from home
Dunmer, but so am I. And with Miraak, the First Dragon Born,
suddenly appearing to have an interest in Malist I am going to need
all the help I can get." She said as she handed him a change of
clothes. Strange garments he had never seen before, put they were
his size and fairly light compared to what he was used to.

"You're letting me free? Why?" She just gave him a come and follow
look before walking out of the room. He looked down at the clothes
and soon changed into them. It was a simple white t0shirt and jeans.
He soon followed the vampire out of the room and what he saw
greatly confused him. The Dunmer was shocked by the avenge
sized studio apartment Serana had, the modern décor something not
found in Tamriel. But it was the sight outside that shocked him the
most, the look of the modern city of Tokyo, skyscrapers, neon signs,
roads and cars. "A long way from home indeed."

Malist was currently drinking a bottle of Mead out on the lawn of his
boarding house home. Most of everyone already went to bed. There
had been a small welcome party for Uzume's Ashikabi. Everyone
was so happy that she had gotten well and was finally able to be with
her Sekirei. The scene of Miya giving them the warning of no illicit
activity was fun for Malist but it had just brought back the previous
issue of what to do about his strange relationship with his own
Sekirei. Hence… mead. He didn't want to think about his problems
right now. And he had a lot of them.

The increasing evidence in Miya's words about how he relied on his

Thu'um like a crutch. That he wasn't doing anything for himself and
just relying on the powers and abilities he had as Malistantius. That
he would never get out of the shadow of his former self like this.
Then the feeling of being held back by unknown guilt preventing him
from moving forward with his Sekirei. Kusano was too young for this
to be a issue so there was no problem with her. Musubi was a ticking
time bomb, once she either grew up into Sekirei maturity or found
out about sex from likely Uzume she would begin to pester Malist
about it nonstop. Akitsu was thankfully reserved enough to not make
a big deal about… at least on the surface it was like that. With her it
was clear that she knew and wanted a more physical relationship,
she just wasn't a vocal person by nature. It actually made Malist feel
a little bad for lack of commitment in all of this.

And now he had this whole mess with people from Nirn coming to try
and kill him. People trying to kill him wasn't new to Malistantius but
this was a real first for Malist. The Spriggans had been one thing,
they were defending Kusano and their home, but these men were
looking for Malist specially. They were under orders from Miraak, a
name Malist only barely recognized as the first Dragon Born. He
wasn't in the Dragon Born book much, just a small section on him as
the first of them. But the idea that he sent these people raised so
many questions. How was Miraak still alive after all this time and
after being supposedly killed by the Dragons that he once worked for
before betraying them. Why did Miraak have a problem with
Malistantius, the idea that the Last Dragon Born wasn't worthy of the
tile was stupid, he killed Alduin for Talos' sake. How did these cultists
get to Earth, Malist knew that travel between the world had to be
possible now, while it was still possible that it was still one way as
cults tend to treat their members with a bit of a disposable mindset.
They could have been sent with no idea how to return. But they had
claimed that Miraak was soon coming for Earth. That suggested they
did in fact have a means of travel between both world that went both
ways.

But what they had said before that piece of information was worrying
the most. That Miraak had already begun his actions on the world of
Nirn. It had been a whole year and a half since Malist and his friends
had been sent to Earth. What happened in that time back in Nirn
they had no idea. The Spriggans weren't any help in this matter as
they cared little for outside world of Men and Mer. They had said he
had begun his actions, but that could mean a lot of things. It could
mean that he had just returned and was now building his base. Or it
could mean he had just begun his campaign against the world of
Nirn.

Malist simply didn't have enough information. He had gone back to

the place of ambush after dropping off Chiho but found the dead
bodies had already been burned. He suspected it to have been done
by Serana given her habit of stalking him. But it could have also
have been done by MBI given the level of surveillance they had in
the city. Malist knew they had some idea of Nirn but he found the
idea of them burning and covering it all up to be unlikely. They would
take everything and use it for study.

"Ah… I wonder what… so many friends to name… can't really pick

one." Malist chuckled as the booze worked his brain. He wasn't
really thinking about these problems right now. But instead his mind
had focused on a fairly sad topic still. Much to his irritation. "I hope
Ulfric is wearing that cool crown by now. Man… that thing was cool…
I should have stolen it when I had a chance." Malist laughed a bit
before bringing the bottle of mead to his lips and taking a drink.
"Wonder if Delphine finally got over the fact I didn't kill Paarthurnax…
and then lying about it… and then tricking all the Blades into thinking
I did kill him… huh… but I rebuilt the Blades! Even if they don't talk
to me anymore…" Malist sighed as he stopped talking and just
stared up to the night sky. Just enjoying the stars for a few minutes.

"Malist… I thought we discussed that I have no drinking policy."

Malist turned his head to see Miya looking down at him with her aura
of terror already in effect. He just turned around and huddled around
his bottle of mead.

"I'm sad… I have so many problems and I need to just forget them."
Malist grumbled though given his drunkenness he didn't sound very
convincing. Miya meanwhile wasn't having that excuse and soon
began dragging Malist inside. "Zu'u fin Dovahkiin… faas dii Suleyk!"
Malist drunkenly called out, Miya not understanding the language of
the Dragons ignored the rants.

"So… this Earth… it is a completely different world than Tamriel?"

Modyn Veleth asked as he stared at the glass of Bourbon. He had
taken a small drink of it, it certainly wasn't wine, nor was it Nord
mead. It burned a bit going down but he was already feeling the
effects of the alcoholic beverage. "Where people have no use of
Magicka and instead use science and cold machines. My people are
nothing more than fantasy to the humans that dominate the world.
And the Daedra and Gods are nothing more than tales told to the
masses." He finished the basics of what Serana had told him before
grabbing the glass in front of him and downing the whole thing. "By
Azura that is a shitstorm I did not ever expect in my life.

"There are some good things about this world I have found." Serana
said as she took her glass and walked over to the old record player
she had in her apartment. She like many found the old sound of it
more… real than electronic speakers. She traced a finger along the
many records she had collected over the time since coming here.
She finally stopped and placed the vinyl on the record player. Modyn
wasn't sure what she was doing but as the music began to fill the
room he understood what that device was. He didn't recognize the
style and assumed it was something from this world.

"Interesting sound, what is it called?" He said as he leaned back and

let the music and booze relax his worries.

"Jazz, this world has a great many of different kinds of music but this
I have found be my favorite. The song is Whisper Not and was
composed by a man called Benny Golson. It is one of my personal
favorites." She said as she let the record continue as she returned to
the sitting area Modyn was sitting at. She sat down back on the
couch facing the Dunmer and poured him another glass from the
bottle on the table between them
"Not that I don't enjoy the music, but… I still have the issue of being
stuck in a world I know very little about." He said as he looked down
into the newly refilled glass of Bourbon. " And there's the fact I am
sharing drinks with a Vampire ."

"I and my friends experienced the same thing. The Daedra Lord
Sheogorath sent us here a little over a year and a half ago without
warning." The Dunmer scowled at the mention of that Daedra.

"One of the trouble makers… I have no problem seeing him doing

something so irksome." Modyn growled before taking a sip from his
glass. "The four of House of Troubles are nothing but their name…
trouble. But… I do not recall meeting any of them so how could I be
here?"

"All we have is two names… Miraak and Hermaeus Mora."

"What, what does he have to do with this?"

"Those tattoos all over your body. They are not dedicated to any of
the Daedra the Dunmer favor." She said tipping her glass to his
body. His eyes widened at that and he quickly looked down. He then
stood up and walked over to a nearby mirror and took off his shirt.

"How dare they! What happened after that battle at the farm, what…
what has my body been a part of while my mind was not my own?!"
He raged as he stared at the various tattoos that crossed his body.
"How long… how long have I not been myself? Doesn't matter… too
long to be sure… I wonder if Dreyla is still alive…"

"It is best not to dwell on thought of what might be." Serana said still
sitting back in her couch. "Doing so will only keep you from moving
forward and possibly finding the answers to those very questions
you're asking yourself." Modyn took a breath, he didn't know if it was
the booze or some vampire magic but her words made sense.

"You're… you're right. I cannot lose myself to grief until I know for
sure of things. Is… there any possible way of getting back to Nirn?"
He said as he put his shirt back on.

"Originally I thought no… but you are not the first to come after us."
She said as she watched him return to his chair. "Before you there
was a colony of Spriggans. I think they might have be the test
subjects for whatever means have been used to transport people
from Nirn to Earth. Myself and the other three who came a year ago
more than likely weren't apart of the plan Miraak and Hermaeus
Mora had. Likely Sheogorath was just being his mad self and sent us
here because it might be funny. Or some other such nonsense. Or
maybe Sheogorath sent us here to disrupt Miraak and Hermaeus
Mora's plans… Malistantius did say he had met the mad Daedra
once and said the two had reached some sort of… friendship might
be pushing it but Sheogorath has little reason to be against
Malistantius."

"This is the Daedra Lord of madness we are speaking of. What goes
on in his mind is not meant for any sane being." Modyn grunted in
annoyance.

"Very true. We likely will never know the reason. But we know that
Miraak and Hermaeus Mora have plans for Earth, and that means
that they need some kind of two way connection. Or what reason
would they have for even bothering with Earth in the first place."

"I see your point. So the possibility does exist… and we know that
other Daedra are capable of sending people here… so maybe…"

"I highly doubt any of the ones your thinking of will come to our
rescue. The ones that might possible come to our rescue would be
Nocturnal at the top of the list. Malistantius is a pretty faithful follower
of hers, and was one of her top agents as a Nightingale. And…
well… I certain that she had a plan to turn him into her royal consort
in Evergloom when he died."

"Really… that… I'm not sure what to think about that."

"I only ever was allowed in her temple that the Nightingales guard
once. And during that time… it seemed to me that she favored him
greatly she bragged about how she had the Last Dragon Born as her
own." Serana shivered as she thought back to that meeting, very few
things scared her… Nocturnal became one of them that day. " The
way she looked at me… Malistantius never understood just how
possessive Nocturnal was toward him ."

"And… you said there are others that might come for us?"

"Yes, Malistantius had several interactions with the Daedric Lords.

Nocturnal being the most constant. Sanguine might also be
possibility… if nothing for he might miss his favored drinking partner."
Serana said as she stared into her glass of booze somehow
expecting the Daedra Lord of Debauchery to suddenly appear in the
liquid. "Then there is Malacath."

"What?! Him… you expect him to come to our rescue?" Modyn

demanded as he never expected that idea to come about.

"Malistantius and Malacath are apparently good friends. There was

this tribe of Orcs and Malistantius did what he does and meddled in
their affairs. It ended with their chief dead and a whole tribe of Giants
slaughtered. But in the end Malistantius had some how saved the
tribe from… poor leadership I guess… and earned the favor of the
Daedric Lord. Malistantius spoke a few more times with the Daedra
concerning a few things and so they are generally on good terms. I
know you might have issues with that so maybe the idea of Boethiah
coming to save us would be more appealing?"

"And what kind of history does the Dragon Born have with
Boethiah?"

"He killed the last champion of Boethiah. The Daedra gave him the
Ebony Mail. But they haven't had much interaction beyond that. And
all of these we are talking about very long shots. These are Daedra
we are speaking of. I truly think that Nocturnal will actively try to
reclaim Malist given how attached she is to him… disturbingly so…
to the point I'm now a little afraid of what she might do to him when
she finally does show up."

"But you think she will come for him? And when she does… she
might take us back to Nirn? Don't you think it will be more likely that
she will simply take the Dragon Born and leave us here." Modyn said
not finding this idea to be very good.

"There… holds the possibility that Malist might be able… take

charge in a sense with Nocturnal. I say this because… the
relationship between them was something only he could ever pull off.
It was something only thee Dragon Born of Skyrim could ever in a
million ages do. He somehow… I have very little idea of just how he
did it… but from what I gathered is that he somehow caused the
Daedra Lord of Night and Shadow to fall in love with him."

"That… that makes no sense at all." Modyn groaned as he rubbed

the bridge of his nose. "How does one make a Daedra… a god of
Oblivion fall in love with a mortal. I get that he is Dragon Born and so
he is inherently going to be a person of great renown and destiny…
but to do something like that… that pushes things a bit far."

"Listen… I wouldn't ever believe it if I didn't see the way Nocturnal

acted around him. Now it wasn't like she was some love stuck girl
with zero control over herself. Not at all, but the way she would let
him get away with things was very telling. The best example was
when he became a Werewolf and thus under the domain of Hircine.
She hated that, demanded that he be cured by any means possible.
But Malistantius refused, stating that being Part of the Pack had
become important to him. This caused a rift to form between him and
the other Nightingales but for Nocturnal… well… she is a Daedra so
you would normally expect them to kill such a defiant follower on the
spot. She didn't. She let him go, she took away her blessing and
casted him out of the Nightingales but she let him live."

"That is unusual behavior for a Daedra like her. But I'm assuming
that Malistantius eventually returned to her given he presently a
follower of her."
"Oh yes, you see Malistantius became a Werewolf not because he
was a follower of Hircine and in fact didn't know about that part of the
deal when he took it. He did it because he had joined the Whiterun
Companions and had grown very close with them. So her joined their
inner Circle, which included becoming a Werewolf. The story with the
Companions is a long one and we would get off track, in the end he
and the rest of the Circle minus one decided that it wasn't worth
being Werewolves. The Companions because they would be barred
from Sovngarde and Malistantius found that Hircine was a very
absent Daedra when compared to Nocturnal. He never realized it but
that was because of the interest she had in him. Which at the time
was likely because he was the Dragon Born. So after curing himself
and the rest of the Circle, minus one again, he knew that he needed
to do something for Nocturnal in order to get back in her good
graces… so… he stole something."

"I have to guess it was something of great value to get back on the
good side of a spurned Daedra."

"Oh yes, so he stole something that… well… you're not going to like
this… he stole the Ring of Azura."

"What?!" Modyn shouted as he rose to his feet. "But… but that is

impossible! The Ring of Azura is still in the… it's a fake isn't it?" To
his surprise Serana shook her head. "But then… how?"

"Nocturnal returned her sister's ring. But she found the whole thing to
be amusing enough to accept Malistantius back into the
Nightingales. The two other Nightingales weren't all that pleased at
the clear favoritism but seeing as the two were some of Malistantius'
oldest friends they eventually returned to how thing were."

"So… you see this as evidence of… oh shit it is hard for me to even
say it out loud."

"That was just an example of how Malistantius was able to get away
with far more than anyone else would have with Nocturnal. That with
the way she fawned over her favorite toy and how Malistantius was
the only one able to talk back and hold a argument and win…
yeah… any other idea just does add up to the facts."

"And once Nocturnal comes for her favored follower… what? I still
am worried that she will simply leave the rest of us here with no way
home as she takes the Dagon Born."

"No… well… there is a situation surrounding Malistantius that makes

this plan shaky. But if it works… then Malist could ask Nocturnal to
take us with them… and she'll agree. I've seen him enter her temple
with the intention of asking for far more and come out smiling and
with what he wanted."

"I had heard of the Hero of Skyrim's sliver tongue… but to think he
could charm a Daedra Lord into… it just doesn't seem possible."

"Would rather have Malacath come and save us?" Serana said after
grimacing at the thought of what Nocturnal probably wants out of
Malistantius' tongue.

"Don't even joke about that. To be saved by one of the corners of the
House of Troubles… ugh… feels dirty just thinking about it." The
Dunmer grumbled before finishing off his drink.

Author's Notes

So… this story has not gotten the attention I expected. Oh well, I
never expected this to get much but whatever. Never did this stories
for that reason anyways. Please review and tell me what you think.

Reviews

Blazingpheonix123 - thank you and it was just Akitsu, Shiina is not

Malist's Sekirei. I honestly don't know what I am going to do with
him. Maybe stick to canon though not sure how. And… I don't think
so, I could but none have caught my eye like Akitsu.
Guest - yeah… when you mentioned it I looked back and… yeah I
kinda did make Malist a dick in that way. So yes, you are right in that
he made a poor choice in just ignoring her so soon.
Chapter 6
Matsu couldn't take it anymore. It had been four days since figuring
out that Malist was her Ashikabi and he had not given her one
opportunity to ambush him. She wanted to sneak up on him,
preferably naked, and freak him out before kissing him. But nope, in
the last four days she had no chance. Her first plan of ambushing
him in the bath was out given the insane temperatures he kept the
room during said baths. Then there was ambushing him in his room.
But he had taken to recently barring his door close to anyone. Why
he was doing this Matsu had no clue. She thought about doing
something outside of Izumo Inn but… she was still hiding from MBI.
She did have this great idea for a disguise but she really wanted to
surprise Malist with her birthday suit.

But that was her thinking yesterday. Last night her Sekirei symbol
had begun to burn so hot and send waves of longing and need that
she just could no long take any more. She needed to be with her
Ashikabi, more than anything she just needed some type of release.
And to her preference more than one meaning of that statement. So
the Sekirei had to do something that she felt went against everything
she stood for… she went with the direct approach. Five since
understanding that Malist was her destined Ashikabi… she knocked
on his door and wait for him to open it. The small sounds of chains
and levers opening only made her more excited. He was just as
paranoid as she could be. The door opened a tiny bit and then fully
opened with Malist looking at her with a slightly blank face with only
there barest hint of a smug smile tugging at his lips.

"I win." He said as the smile fully formed. "You came to me." He said
as he walked back into his room and sat down in one of his rustic
chairs. Matsu took a small bit of time to take a glance around his
room as she entered. She had only seen it from a top down
perspective and honestly it was a stark contrast to her screen
covered room. It was something out of the European middle ages.
And as afar she could tell… the furs were completely real and way
too big for normal bears and wolves… and… a few beasts she didn't
recognize.

"You knew I was here? For how long?"

" Laas ." There was a small wave of pressure that extended from his
whisper. "Miya is currently in the kitchen. Akitsu is in her room
reading. Musubi, Chiho and Uzume are taking a bath together.
Kusano is down in the garden." Malist said after a brief look around.
"Not only that…" He said before pointing in the direction of the house
to the right of the boarding home. "The husband of your right
neighbor house is on the can and his wife is taking a nap while their
son is huddled in his room." He then pointed to the left side of the
boarding home. "Those two are in the bed room and given their
placement… you know." Matsu was completely shocked, she knew
that the positions of the residence of Izumo Inn were right as that
had been where they were when she check before coming here, but
to know the neighbors… that was unexpected. "With a word I can…"

"PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU DID THAT!" Matsu cried as she

rushed over and threw herself on to Malist. "There are so many
mysteries surrounding you I just have to know how you do it." She
said as she pressed up against him. Everything about him just drove
her wild on the inside, the mystery, his rugged good looks, the way
he matched her paranoia to a tee and everything in between.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He said looking off to the side
slyly. Clearly knowing exactly who, what, and why this woman on top
of him was and doing. While Malist at first didn't know that she was a
Sekirei, Aura Whisper is limited in telling what kind of people the life
signatures are. The various colors that represent those signatures
vary but Men, Mer, and beastfolk all had the same red color and
Sekirei followed this trend as well. All he knew was there was a
person hiding and they were at least a sapient humanoid. Only after
checking in on her after turning ethereal did he get more information.
And she didn't really hide her Sekirei mark. So with all that
information and how she was acting toward him it wasn't that hard to
put the pieces together.
"But that is part of the mystery… the unbelievable powers and feats
you bring. It has to be true. And you're not crazy, I know because
you have way to much going for you. Like plot armor… you have
way too much of that to be crazy." Malist narrowed his eyes a that.
He didn't like it when people imposed that he was distended to great
things because… well because. He knew he WAS distended to do
great things but he would do them because of hard work and skill…
an ideal he actually believed or just told himself was a matter of
debate "So tell me everything."

"Get off first… Miya might come by and misunderstand." He pointed

out. Though he mostly just wanted her off before his body really
began to react to her presence on top of him. She pouted for a
moment and soon stepped off and sat down in the nearby chair. "I
am a wizard… FEAR ME!" He called out in mock dramatic effect.
Matsu just giggled and began listening as he explained everything
from his time in Skyrim, to Magicka, to being the Dovahkiin, and then
the Daedra and Divines which led to him on how he got here.

"So… you can kill massive fire breathing dragon… just by shouting
at it?" Matsu asked as she imagined Malist berating a dragon into
the ground.

"You are smart enough to know that isn't what I meant. But yes… I
can kill people with just a few words of power." He said before
picking up his third bottle of mead that he had brought out during the
explaining. He had being drinking them a decent pace but not fast
enough to get him drunk. Just buzz enough to spill everything to
Matsu. "But besides that… your taking this fairly well."

"It makes sense in certain ways. Would explain why you didn't even
exist anywhere in the system before a year ago. I trust me… I looked
everywhere." She said before taking a small look at the bottle in
Malist hand. She had seen him get drunk a few times, mostly outside
at night. She knew that the drink wasn't local sake but had always
been curious as to what it was. Never would she had guessed it was
mead. "But it feels kinda weird that you're stuck in a nineteen year
old's body when your actually in your late thirties, I mean… you're an
older man and yet you've got Musubi and Kusano as your Sekirei…
creepy." She was clearly joking but the idea did strike a nerve.

"Yeah… well… I can't really fight that." Malist said with mild
depression before starting to down more of his drink.

"I'm joking, you are clearly not some lecherous old man preying on
those girls… the fact you find it creepy is a good sign."

"Agh… the idea actually makes me want to believe Serana's crazy

I'm my own son theory." He grumbled as he pushed the bottle in his
hand by the others and then pulled out another bottle from his
Inventory. " I really shouldn't given how few I have of these… "

"Serana… is that the name of the woman with the glowing eyes?"

"Yeah… wait… when did you see Serana? Was it that time in the
bath?"

"You took a bath with her? Wow Malist, and here I thought it would
be harder to get you into things like that." Matsu giggled with not so
slight perverted over tones. But in the back of her mind she was
barring all forms of carnal activity in the bath room given how
insanely hot he made it.

"Nothing happened, but if you didn't see her then… when? She's
one of the best at stealth." Malist did have to give it to his vampire
friend, she was very sneaky to the point where outside of his
Nightingale armor she could easily beat him.

"She showed up when you went to work on that first day. She talked
to Miya for a while and then left. I didn't hear what she had said
because she casted some kind of magic… though I didn't really
know it at the time." Malist was quiet for a few moments. Not really
acknowledging that Matsu was even in the room. He really didn't
know what to do with this information, on one hand he didn't like
Serana going behind his back and speaking with Miya. It felt to much
like she mother hen'ing him and she felt the need to make sure he
was safe. He could take care of himself. But he knew Serana and
knew that whatever she had was in his best interest. That at least he
knew about her.

"I… will need to speak with her later." He mumbled to himself before
looking back to Matsu. "Tabling her for right now, so now that you
know everything and the mystery is gone. Is there something else
you wanted?" He had a feeling as to what else there might be.

"Oh the mystery is far from over." She said as she moved out of the
chair she had been sitting in and back to the door. She checked to
see if anyone was waiting in the hall and once she confirmed that no
one was in fact there she closed the door and began with great
speed locking it with Malist many locks. She then looked back at him
with a gleam in her eye that Malist couldn't decide if he found it good
or bad. "Even though I now have answers there are still so many
questions that have spawned from them. Many of them can only be
answer through personal experience." She said as she stepped
closer to him. "You… are my Ashikabi. There can be no question,
this fire boring in my heart can only be caused by the man I am
destined to be with."

"You sure about that… than who am I to stop you from getting what
you need." He said without too much an emotion that made Matsu
pause for a moment.

"What's wrong… you… don't want me to be your Sekirei?" The idea

that her Ashikabi might not like her sobered all thoughts Matsu had.
It was the dread and fear for all Sekirei, to be rejected by the one
they were supposed to be with.

"I didn't say that. But I want you to know that anything beyond a
kiss… I am unable to give you at this time." He said with clear
disappointment in his voice. "Something is… holding me back. I don't
know what but there is guilt I feel when thinking about moving any
further than that line." Matsu could hear what that was in his voice.
"You have… someone back in Nirn don't you?" She said as sadness
filled her eyes as she looked away.

"If that is true… then I would feel even worse. Because I don't
remember them. I could blame the Daedra that took that memory but
in the end I didn't hold on to it like I did with so many others. But I
feel something, something that tells me that it is important. I don't
know what it is that keeps me from moving forward… however. I will
say that I care about all of you, that I know is not in doubt." Matsu
smiled at his inclusion of her in his statement. That alone made her
know that it was true. "I'm sorry that…" He quickly interrupted by
Matsu kissing him. His room quickly filling with the glow of her wings.

"You never have to be… Malist? Damn it… I forgot what happened
when you winged Kusano. And I had this whole speech I thought up
of on the spot too." Matsu pouted as Malist was once again knocked
out by the intense power of Sekirei emerging.

"Okay… now just click on that." Serana pointed to the link on the
screen. She had been trying to bring Modyn up to speed on the
modern world. She had been able to teach him how to use basic
appliances such as the modern features of a kitchen and bathroom.
She had been able to get him to have basic understanding of
electricity as magicless magic. Cars had been the easiest for him to
understand, they were metal boxes that moved. He had been able to
learn basic Japanese and English. And Serana had explained what
he would need to know about human society in this world.

"I think… like that?" Now she was teaching him the bare bones
about the internet and later phones. Modyn clicked on the link to a
government run site. Something that would be very unlikely to have
a link to a site that might give Serana's computer virus.

"Yes, just try to get the hang of it and we'll move on to for tools you
can use." Serana said as she stepped away and headed for her
kitchen for a small bag of blood. The last four days had been quiet,
she kept a eye on Malist and he seemed to be planning something.
He had been busy, he went to public libraries several times leaving
with books and documents concerning various topics. He was going
into full on research mode that she had seen him do so back in his
previous life. He did it during the Staff of Magus ordeal when he had
first joined the College of Winterhold. He then also did it before the
Dawnguard's assault on her father's castle. As well as before they
trapped Odahviing. He was planning something big but he lacked the
resources needed to do… anything. So Serana just watched for now,
focusing on helping their new Dunmer friend. "He's going to be
needing a ID of some kind. But we'll need to hide his face under
some Illusion… hmm…" She hummed as she sipped a tea cup of
warmed blood. "Maybe…"

"Serana!" She turned as she heard Erik's voice and his fist banging
on her door. "We need to talk!" She sighed and set her cup down
and walked out of her kitchen. She sent a small look to Modyn telling
him it's fine. She opened the door but kept it chained only giving a
small crack for her to speak with the Nord. "Serana… open the
door." He said with a look of complete seriousness on his face.

"I have company… this better be important." She growled with fake
irritation as if he had just interrupted something.

"Malist is remembering Lydia." Serana stared at Erik for a moment

and then unhooked the chain and let him in. "Thanks, now kick
whoever unlucky so of a troll out so… why the fuck is a Dunmer
here?!" Erik shouted as he saw Modyn. "Does this mean we can go
home?" He said turning to Serana.

"Possibly… right now the how is up in the air but it seems like we
might be able to return with the help of a Daedra Lord." Serana said
as she closed the door behind Erik.

"Oh… that's all." Erik grumbled before eyeing the Dunmer. The two
sized each other up as the circled Serana's living room furniture.

"Nord." Modyn spat as he began thinking of the various ways he

could take the man. Both were of similar stature and clearly both had
the strength for a truly destructive fist fight.

"Elf… so how did he get here and why is he here in your

apartment?" Erik asked not taking his eyes off Modyn.

"He was sent with a group of cultist to kill Malist. They had been
brainwashed so he was not of sane mind while doing so." Serana
said as she stepped between the two, her eyes glowing brighter in a
threat to both. The men took the threat from the Pure Blood Vampire
and grumbled a bit before focusing in on her. "It had been Hermaeus
Mora's power that had sent him and his former comrades, I have
been questioning him. He had been taken and placed under the
power of the Daedra a few months prior to us being sent here. I
believe we can trust him, so play nice." She said giving him one last
glare. He backed down and soon sat down in one of the chairs
opposite of the couch. Serana nodded to Modyn and he also nodded
and returned to his learning of the modern world. "Now… what do
you mean Malist is remembering Lydia?" Serana said as she sat
down on the couch.

"I'm saying he was talking about how he felt guilty when he thought
about moving forward with his… oh… uh…" Erik suddenly realized
that he couldn't tell Serana because the Sekirei plan was supposed
to be a secret.

"So Malist is having issues with his little harem of Sekirei huh. This is
sounding like what happened a few months ago." Serana mused as
she thought back to her and Aela's attempts to help Malist by getting
him a girlfriend. He needed something on this world that he cared
about, and he had yet to find work or a cause to put himself into. So
she and Aela had thought he could with a relationship. That had hit a
big problem in the form of Malistantius' heartbreak being passed on
to Malist.

"You… you know about…"

"Nice job getting twins. Really didn't think you had it in you." She
joked as he then began shouting at her about what did she mean by
that. She could hear Modyn muttering about Nords not being able to
handle any small slight to their ego. She ignored both. " I had hoped
that some good would come from the mad Daedra's meddling. I had
hoped him taking Malistantius' memory would mean he could move
on from Lydia's murder. It would seem those feelings of guilt and
sorrow have remained. " Serana thought before returning her eyes to
Erik. "Does he remember her… or what is the exact situation with
him?"

"He says that something hits him with guilt and sadness when he
thinks about his Sekirei in any sexual way. When he begins thinking
about trying to take that next step…" Erik said with air quotes. "… his
mind gets overloaded with hurt and loss. It has to be Lydia. That
describes the way he acted after she was killed. He would just…
shut down when I or Brynjolf or Farkas or Ralof tried to get him to get
in the bed of some woman he met at a tavern. He'd just disappear
and we wouldn't see him until the next morning where he wouldn't
even acknowledge the night before." Erik recalled as he leaned on
his hands in thinking of memories of those times.

"And this… is affecting him and his Sekirei?"

"Not now… I don't think so. But it will." He said before looking up at
Serana. "You're not a Ashikabi… you don't understand that this bond
we have with our Sekirei. It feels deeper than anything I've ever felt
before. And the idea of it being anything less than what it is… I can't
stand it."

"It's more than just sex… the memory of Lydia is keeping Malist from
experiencing a level of intimacy needed for the bond to feel right."

"Sure… what you said." Erik said not feeling like using those exact
words. "So… how do we fix this?" Erik said sitting back hoping that
Serana had answers that he lacked.

"We don't." She replied bluntly shocking Erik. "You see, the thing
Malistantius needed was to move on and find something or better yet
someone to help him. He was unwilling to do so and avoided
anything that even remotely seemed like that out of guilt for Lydia's
loss and because she had been taken from him. He still felt like
being with a another woman was the same thing as cheating. But
now Malist has his Sekirei… they will force him to break through this.
As much as I hate to say it… this is a problem that she needs to
come to an explosive end."

"Do any of you know which one of these is the sobering potion?"
Matsu asked the assembled Sekirei of Malist. It had taken a bit of
talking and convincing but she had been able to get the rest Malist's
Sekirei to help her. Mostly her, they were happy to help Malist. So
now Musubi, Kusano, and Akitsu were all in Malist room trying to
figure out how to fix him back up from Matsu's winging.

"Maybe this one?" Musubi guessed as she pulled out a large bottle
of dark green liquid. It was actually a bottle of frostbite venom.
Musubi had been easy to convince to help, and she didn't care that
much if Matsu was now Malist's Sekirei too.

"The bottle Erik had given Malist had a brown color to it." Akitsu said
from sitting at the end of Malist's bed where they had put him for the
moment. She had taken the spot in jealous protection from Matsu.
Akitsu had accepted Musubi to a degree as she had seen how she
made Malist feel better about himself and that was good. Kusano
was far too young to make Akitsu feel even remotely threatened. But
Matsu, Akitsu knew exactly who she was and the number two Sekirei
was a big threat in the mind of the seventh Sekirei. And so far Akitsu
had yet to hear the confirmation from Malist that Matsu was indeed a
true Sekirei to him.

"This one!" Kusano called out as she held up a small bottle of brown
liquid.

"Are you sure… a lot of these potions are giving me the creeps."
Matsu said as she took the bottle from Kusano. "It looks like the one
used when he winged Kusano… but… we have very little idea of
exactly what any of these things do." Matsu said unsure and worried
that it might turn out to be some kind of poison. "Has his friend Erik
called back yet?"

"No, his number only goes to voice mail." Akitsu answered as she
held up Malist phone. Matsu had remembered that Erik was from
Nirn and likely had the needed potion and went for Malist's phone to
call him, but Akitsu swiped the phone away knowing that Matsu
might do other things with the device.

"And Serana?"

"Same thing." Matsu sighed at that answer and looked down at the
potion in her hand. She really didn't want to do anything without the
needed information. She had tried looking through the journals and
various books Malist had stacked on his Alchemy Table but they
were all written in languages native to Tamriel. "If we are unsure of
the effects of the potion, we should let Malist naturally sleep this off."
Akitsu said looking back to Malist who was quietly sleeping in his
bed.

"You're right… we might do something horrible to him. Like maybe

turn his skin green or make him grow a second head." Musubi
offered completely convinced that Malist's potions were capable of
such things. Standing next Musubi Kusano was nodding her head
vigorously, scared of the idea of Malist turning into some kind of
monster because they give him the wrong potion.

"Fine… I guess I have to wait a little bit before I get more answers to
my questions." Matsu groaned before putting the sobering potion
back where Kusano found it.

Malist was dreaming. He knew that much. The last thing he

remembered was being kissed by Matsu. That explained why he was
asleep, he was drunk on the energy and now was sleeping it off. Like
he wanted too instead of taking a sobering potion.
"But this doesn't feel like a normal dream… maybe caused by the
energy Matsu released from her emerging." All around him felt… off.
It wasn't Oblivion, he had felt the power of the Shivering Isles and
Evergloom this place lacked something inherent in both places. The
landscape around him was of downtown Tokyo, but random parts of
it were crumbling and rotting away. "This… is not a normal dream."
Malist could feel something invading the state of space his mind was
currently occupying. The pieces of rot and ruin around him began
growing out toward him. Malist watched as the dark influence grew
closer until Malist had enough and began burring the rot away with a
casted flamethrower spell. Magicka was inherited to a person's very
soul so it was as natural to use it in a dream as in the real world.
"This might not be Oblivion but there is a Daedric influence here.
Vaermina… what are you doing here on Earth?" He questioned as
he began walking through the streets.

The lack of people and movement was disconcerting but that was
probably the point. Vaermina was Daedric Lord of nightmares and
terror, so making the dream as disturbing and scary was the norm for
her. The cityscape around Malist was also without any real
landmarks or clues to where he was. All he could do was walk
forward and hopefully find whatever Vaermina wanted him to find
and then he would kill it. He was unsure as to what it might be,
maybe Nocturnal back when she was super pissed at him. Harkon
was also a possibility as the Vampire Lord was one of the few beings
that put up a real match to him.

" I am your sword and your shield ." Malist looked back the source of
the voice. There was nothing but he had heard the quote.

"So that's her game… trying to remind me of those who I left behind.
But… which one of the housecarls was that. I recognize the voice
but… I just can't quite place it." Malist said to himself as he
continued on with moving through this nightmare. "OH Vaermina…
come out and play you old hag." Malist growled as he was starting to
get fairly annoyed at the lack of… anything.
" In these times… it's people you know and fought beside with you
must rely on. "

"Lydia… that kinda pisses me off." Malist fists gripped tightly at him
now recognizing the voice that had been following him. That had
been what Lydia had told him when he had asked her if she wanted
to leave his company after Jarl Balgruuf had refused Ulfric's
demands. She had stayed by his side instead of following her Jarl.
"I'm going to make this just that more painful for you stupid Daedra."
Malist grinded as he shot a fireball on to the nearby building setting it
on fire. As he walked forward he continued to send flames all around
him trying to destroy the world built around him. It did nothing, the
buildings around him fell and crumbled but the world showed no sign
that this mattered in the slightest.

" That was not fun my Thane… next time you want to do something
that stupid I might not follow ."

"But you always did… I am going to Shout you into tiny little pieces
when I get my hands on you!" Malist roared as his anger was
growing at the sullying of one of his most treasured friends' memory.
" LAAS YAH NIR !" Malist shouted the normally whispered Thu'um
and soon his vision was given a glimpse of a crowd life signs
surrounding one. "There you are." Malist savagely grinned as he
took a step toward the mass of Daedric life signs. But the second he
changed directions a nearby building fell forward and blocked his
path. "You don't want me to head that huh… FUS RO DAH !" Malist
blasted the building with his booming voice. The concrete not even
giving the force of the power a fight as the fallen building as crushed
and demolished into pieces. "I'm coming for you." Malist began
running toward the mass of life signs now fading from his vision but
as he got closer he began hearing the sounds battle. Roars of
Daedra eager for battle and the chanting of battle calls began filling
the air. Malist slowed and looked around the corner to where the
source of the battle was and found that it was indeed a horde of
Daedra in battle… with a single woman. Malist watched as she
commanded a mass of water and used it to kill several incoming
Daedra.

"Vile demons! I will not be beaten by such lowly beasts such as you!"
Tsukiumi, Sekirei number nine, called out to the monsters that
surrounded her. She had no earthly idea where she was or how she
got here but she was not going to be beaten by anyone. The last
thing she remembered was feeling tired for no apparent reason and
falling asleep on the roof of some building. If this was all some
horrible dream then she at least didn't worry about some vile man
coming and… doing unspeakable things to her. "Come! If it is a
challenge you desire then hurry and come at me!" Many of the
demonic beings smiled and flashed their fangs in joy at her taunts as
several of them looked to take her up on it. But then just as the next
wave of demons were about to move two massive explosive crashes
were heard. Tsukiumi looked up and saw two goliath sized beings
made of stone and lightning itself smash their way in the back lines
of the horde. Then she watched as a third began to form by some
magic pulling apart a nearby building. The pieces of ruble smashed
together and formed the spheres that made up the beings' bodies.
Bright blue lightning curved around the stone pieces and a new titan
was formed. "What could this…" Tsukiumi stopped when she heard
the screech of an another demon lunge at her. The sight of the stone
goliaths had distracted her enough to where the demon was now in
close enough range to land a hit with those nasty looking swords of
theirs. She tried to form an attack to counter but everything seemed
to slow as she knew it was already too late… but then three ethereal
arrows pierced the demon's head and sent him falling back.

"Enough gawking and more fighting!" She looked forward and saw a
man with a strange see through blue bow in one and in the other a
glowing hand of frost in the other. "They aren't waiting so you
shouldn't either." He said before pulling back on his bow and firing off
several more arrows into the crowd of demons. That had knocked
the Sekirei out of her confusion as he had a point, questions could
be answered later. Right now they were in a fight and that meant
there could be no hesitation. So the two fought the horde, the
sounds of the Storm Atronachs slamming their arms into the lines of
Daedra filled the air, along with Shouts from Malist as he continued
to kill the Daedra in droves, Tsukiumi followed right along with equal
devastation on the enemy's numbers. The battle raged on for a little
over an hour though no one was really keeping track of the time. The
hordes of Daedra soon began thinning against the combined power
of the number nine Sekirei and the Dovahkiin. And soon the
remaining Daedra began vanishing from the dream not wanting to
die a meaningless death.

"Cowards! Come and fight like true warriors!" Tsukiumi cursed at the
disappearing forms of the Daedra. "Hmp… more like locusts than
warriors."

"No truer words have been said about the Daedra hordes." Malist he
dispelled his conjured bow and turned to the Storm Atronachs.
"Damn… they are big boys… shame I can't bring they out this big in
the real world." He chuckled as dispelled them as well… causing the
lightning surrounding to stop and the stone to fall to the ground a
deafening crash. Malist just chuckled a bit more and then turned to
the sky. "IS THAT ALL YOU GOT VAERMINA?!" Malist mocked the
Daedra Lord of torture and nightmares.

"Excuse me… but just who are you and what is this place we are
in?" Tsukiumi asked the possibly insane man. But as she finished
her question, she felt something in her chest. A warmth that had
been plaguing her for the past few days. " This feeling… could this
mean that this warrior is… "

"Malistantius Caeraso, and the place we are in is likely a shared

dream brought by our connection as Sekirei and Ashikabi." He said
confirming what she had been thinking. "But it seems to have been
perverted by the Daedra Lord of Nightmares and Terror." Malist
explained but when he looked back at the woman he was surprised
to see the look of rage on her face.

"You… you are the one…" Streams of water flowed at a insanely

rapid pace around Tsukiumi as he anger built up inside of her. "I
know exactly what you plan of me… but I will not allow such a
terrible thing to pass. I shall only allow for your end!" She said before
sending the streams of water shooting towards Malist only for them
to be hastily blocked by a wall of ice.

"Oh fuck that was close…" Malist sighed as he held up the wall with
his Magicka. "… what… the absolute… fuck… was that?" Malist
questioned as he never expected a Sekirei to do something like that.
He was able to understand that this was something like the time he
shared a Dream with Kusano meaning that she had to be one his
Sekirei. Which also begged the question of just how many more
Sekirei he was going to get. But that thought wasn't on his mind at
the moment. "Hey listen! Whatever problem you have with me I'm
sure we can talk it out."

"Not on your life, I will never listen to your lies and falsehoods!"
Tsukiumi responded before sending an even stronger attack that
blasted through the wall of ice.

" WULD! " Malist shouted and dashed away from the attack.
"Listen… I am not going to do anything to you that you don't want.
And plus this place really isn't the place to get divided." He tried to
warn only for another attack to nearly hit him. " WULD! Vaermina is
not the kind of hag to just wait while we deal with an our issues."

"You wound me with such insinuation…" A grumbled elderly voice

surrounded the two. The direction and source of the voice neither
Malist nor Tsukiumi could place. "Little Dovahkiin… it would seem
that Sheogorath really did do more than send you to this world. To
see you in such a state… oh I must thank him before I kill that
traitorous madman of course."

"Are the Princes fighting among themselves again… oh you poor

Daedra you." Malist mocked while Tsukiumi was silent. Completely
confused to what was going on between the disembodied voice and
her apparent Ashikabi. "Mind telling me just how you got to this
world?"
"As if I would do something as stupid as leave Quagmire for this
boring world." The voice scoffed. "I am merely taking a opportunity
presented to eliminate a future problem. And that is what I shall
do…" At that the building surrounding Malist and Tsukiumi crumbled
away into a forming swamp. All around them the city sank deep into
the murky waters and soon were replaced by massive weeping
willows and moss covered ruins jutting out of the swamp.

"This place is truly a foul and disgusting place." Tsukiumi said as she
covered her nose to the smell.

"It could be worse… we could be in the real thing. This is just an

imitation of one of the many forms of Quagmire." Malist said as he
looked around for any hint of movement Before looking back at
Tsukiumi. "Listen, I'm not sure what you have against me but right
now… we really need to work together. We are dealing with the force
of terror itself, and if we don't get out of this then all we will know is
horror and fear until our bodies wither and die in the real world."
Malist warned with a look of total seriousness on his face. Tsukiumi
could feel the despair and evil intent in the very air around her so
she reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"Very well, we have an agreement between us, but be warned I will

watch your actions like a hawk and if I see anything ill intention
towards myself I will respond in kind." Malist just sighed knowing that
any distrust between them would come to hurt them later.

"Fine. First off… where is your body in the real world?"

"It is on the roof of a building, I doubt anyone would find it."

"That's not good… waking up is our best chance of getting out of this
and doing so from the inside is limited." Malist explained. "I should
be home and by now I'm sure Matsu has gotten everyone to try and
find a Sobering potion to wake me. But if they haven't already then…
why haven't they woken me up?"
"What are you taking about…" Tsukiumi asked with narrowed eyes
as she was getting a pretty good idea.

"You could be woken up by someone just poking you with a stick. I

am currently passed out due to a overloud of energy from winging
Sekirei number two Matsu." He said with a small smirk as he knew
how she would react.

"What?! You already have a Sekirei, and you dare to say that I am
also yours."

"Yup, in fact I currently have four. You would make five." He said
slightly dismissively. He didn't it to be of much issue given that he
had never once had a say in it.

"You… you swine… you…" She was about to off on another rant but
he interrupted her.

"They all chose me. I never forced any of them into it. They chose
me… something that I will never be able to show enough gratitude
for." At that Tsukiumi felt her anger for this man drop like a stone in
water. "Am just some husk of a great man and yet they chose to be
with me. Some loser that can't do anything but rely on the talents
and powers of the man he once was. I don't think I will ever
understand why I deserved them… but I'm not going to question or
deny it. Because that would be an insult to them and that is
something I cannot do." He finished and the air between the two
grew a tiny bit less filled with tension.

" This man… he really cares for those he has bonded with. He
doesn't seen them a toys and things to be used. He speaks of them
with such love and gratefulness. " Tsukiumi couldn't help but feel that
maybe he was different than what she had thought a Ashikabi to be.
"When you say are but the husk of a once great man… what do you
mean by that?" The way he spoke had by now made her think he
was already a great man, at least in the back of her mind that is.
"That is a story for a time when we aren't in mortal danger." He said
as he conjured a mage light and began to walk along the dirt path
through the swamp. "Right now we have three options, one we can
wait until my friends come and wake me up. Doing so we likely wake
up as well. But the problem with that plan is that the longer we are
here the harder it will be for anyone to wake us up. We've been here
for about a little over an hour so for you it would need a hard shove
or for me a few gulps of a sobering potion." He explained as the two
walked through the swamp. "If we stay too long you could get
stabbed and nothing would happen." Tsukiumi frowned at that
example.

"So what could we do here in this world to save ourselves."

"We have two options… we find the nightmare that is tying us to this
place, either yours or mine, kill it and be done with this. Or we find
whatever anchor Vaermina is using in this realm and break it.
Problem with that is I only have a vague idea of what she might use
for an anchor."

"And what would that be?"

"Normally it's a human skull." Malist said casually not responding to

the disgusted look on Tsukiumi's face. "And considering this is a
Daedra we are facing… human skulls are to be expected."

"This is starting to become ridiculous." Serana said as she looked

over Malist sleeping form. She had finally finished with Erik and was
able to check her phone and saw that she had several calls from
Malist. To her surprise it wasn't Malist actually calling but his Sekirei.
She was made aware of the situation and hurried over to Izumo Inn
to find Malist currently passed out in his bed.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot about what happened after he emerged

Kusano. I should have seen this coming." Matsu apologized
profusely to the vampire who only gave a small uncaring glance to
the Sekirei.
"He knows you kissed him, right?" She asked with a bit of warning to
her tone.

"Uh yes… yes yes he did." Matsu confirmed quickly.

"Very well hand me that bottle over there." Serana pointed to the
exact same bottle that they had been thinking about giving Malist an
hour ago.

"I told you that was the right one!" Kusano declared loudly.

"You agreed with them that we should give it to him." Matsu

countered as she pointed to Akitsu and Musubi.

"Enough… just hand the potion over." Serana said with the same
tone of dread and terror the women were used to hearing from Miya.
Only lacking thee normal sweet delivery Miya used. Matsu quickly
handed the vampire the requested bottle and Serana moved to put it
to Malist mouth. Only for the bottle to crack and shatter once it got
near Malist. Serana's eyes widened at the event and knew instantly
what was going on. "Damn… so this is their next move."

"What happened? Why did it shatter like that?" Matsu asked as the
rest of the Sekirei were now worrying for their Ashikabi.

"It means that someone doesn't want Malist waking up any time
soon." Serana said as she pulled one of Malist's chairs over to his
bedside. "We are going to have watch and wait to see if he can get
through this trap.' She said as she sat next to Malist.

"What is this place?" Tsukiumi asked as they moved from the swamp
they started in to a strange ruins built of stone and bronze like metal.

"I think this is a Dwemer ruin of some kind. I'm not sure which one."
Malist explained as they continued forward. He was unsure of what it
was that Vaermina was trying to do here, clearly it was focused on
Malist rather than Tsukiumi. Malist had noticed that Vaermina didn't
even acknowledge Tsukiumi back when they were speaking, but he
knew that she had cared enough to send a horde of Daedra to try
and get rid of her. Malist was pretty sure that Vaermina planned on
Malist but it was becoming clear that she had not for the Sekirei.

"And just what is this Dwemer you are speaking of, I have never
heard of such a name."

"I'd be concerned if you had heard of them." Malist chuckled a bit.

"They were a people that built underground cities and were a highly
advanced people, able to combined magic and machine. But they
reached for too much and tried to use the heart of a dead god to
make themselves into immortal divine beings… so they all turned to
dust when it backfired."

"An entire people… you can speak so casually about their

destruction?" She wasn't accusing, as any that could be so arrogant
as to mess with something like the heart of a god deserved the fate
the built for themselves.

"They were awful people… really awful people. They enslaved many
and were total assholes to everyone else." Malist put it bluntly and
little to Tsukiumi's irritation. "But as to this ruin we are in right now…
not sure. Which worries me… because if Vaermina has us coming in
here that means something happened here that is painful for me. But
if I don't remember it… we're going in blind." Malist said trying to
steel himself for whatever he might be heading toward.

" Are you sure we should be coming here? " A gruff male voice
sounded around the two. " That madwoman down by the docks kept
ranting on and on about how dangerous this place is."

"That's Lob… he's still alive as far as I know." Malist said as he

stopped, waiting to see if there was more to listen to.

" Are you scared Lob, just some metal spiders and a walking death
machines to worry about. " That voice sounded like Malist but older
and slightly deeper. " Come on, it smells of loot and good fights. "
" This is going to end badly my thane, it always does in these ruins ."
The memory of Lydia groaned but didn't sound actually that put off
by the whole thing.

" He had me at loot, let's get moving ." At that a ethereal ghost
moved through Malist and Tsukiumi. It had the basic outline of a man
with light armor and a large sword on his back. Then two more
shapes moved through the young Dovahkiin and Sekirei. One of a
man in robes with a staff and a woman in heavy ebony armor with a
sword and shield. The man in front of the two continued further into
the ruin before disappearing leaving the man and woman.

" Are we sure we should be out adventuring, things have been

strange lately. I have this feeling that something is hovering above
us." Lydia said as she stopped and turned to Malistantius.

" Something is always after us, that's just life for me and everyone
around me ." Malistantius said before waving a hand passed his face
and thus sending the Dragon Priest mask he had on away to his
Inventory. " Don't tell me that I bit of worry is going to scare you off
now? " Malistantius smirked and Lydia smiled lightly at his boasting.

" Yes, that is what will drive me away. I can deal with dragons, trolls,
vampires, Daedra, and all manner of beasts but a strange unease is
what is to cause me to leave you." She japed back before stabbing
the floor with her sword and placing her shield on the hilt. She then
surprised both Malistantius, Malist, and Tsukiumi by swiftly wrapping
her arms around Malistantius neck and kissing him.

"I… I don't remember that." Malist struggled to get out as he was

completely in shock at what he was seeing.

"And why would you have a memory of this, there is not a sign that
you are here to witness this moment between lovers." Tsukiumi
pointed confused as to why Malist would be so shocked.

" It will take more than Alduin and all the Daedra Lords combined to
drive me from your arms Malistantius ." Lydia answered Tsukiumi's
confusion but then changed the focus of it.

"That is the name you introduced yourself under, does this mean you
are his son and the two of you share a name?" That caused Malist to
hold his face in mixed annoyance and awkwardness.

"No… no no no no… no… well… I say that now but others might say
yes in a metaphorical sense." Malist sighed as the former version of
himself and Lydia parted and continued their way on into the ruins.
"That was me… or was me… but it still is… it is so complicated that
it hurts my head to think about. Okay… I come from another world
entirely. It is called Nirn, this ruin we are in is in a land in Nirn called
Skyrim. Back then I was a hero, the greatest hero of that age. I had
saved the world from the dragon Alduin the World Eater, I also saved
it from other threats but that was the biggest one. And then a few
years after that I was ambushed by the Daedra Lord of Madness
Sheogorath. For some reason he sent me and three others to Earth
and on top of that he decided for seemingly no other reason than
funny to turn me into a eighteen year old. Both in body and mind. I
can barely remember anything from my previous life so this!" He
pointed to where Malistantius and Lydia had disappeared off into. "Is
news to me." He said before taking a deep breath and then exhaling.
"You think I'm nuts don't you…"

"No, truly I do not." Tsukiumi wasn't sure why she believed the man,
on some level she had to believe parts of his story given what she
had seen. But that was only part of the reason why she did so.

" Once again they surprise me and believe me when so many other
would wave me off… then again we are trapped in a magic
dreamscape by a Dadra Lord so… maybe there is a bit more
evidence for her ." Malist thought as he looked up to Tsukiumi.

"What are you staring, cease doing so at once." The tone was harsh
and she still held the same frown as she had been but there was a
small blush that detracted from the hostility she was trying to
maintain.
"We need to find the center of the nightmare… and I'm starting to get
an idea of what it might be." Malist said as he turned to the hallway
that led deeper into the ruins. His mind had begun putting together
the pieces of the puzzle. The mad woman by the docks, a Dwemer
ruin, Lob and Lydia. All of these were hints as to the time and place
they were at. It was before he had met Serana but after Erik and
Aela. However it was during the time him and Aela weren't speaking
to each other after he had cured himself of Lycanthropy. Before he
had killed Alduin as Lob had lost an arm three months prior to that
happening and became Malistantius' steward in his Dawnstar home.
All of these things weren't entirely known by memory to Malist but by
what Aela, Erik, and Serana had told him. That gave him the time at
which this adventure had to have happened. But where was still a
trick. The madwoman by the docks was a clue to that, he vaguely
recalled an annoying Argonian by the Riften docks that could fit that
profile. So that might place the ruins somewhere around there.
"Avanchnzel… that was near Riften. But… they never told me I ever
went here." Malist mumbled to himself as he and Tsukiumi moved
through the Dwemer ruins. Tsukiumi was too focused on the
surrounding ruins to really hear what Malist had said. She had never
seen architecture such as this.

" Never before have I seen so many of those damn Dwemer

Spiders… at least there ain't any fuckin' Falmer. " The two heard the
voice of Lob complain as the three ghost of the past appeared again.

" Maybe we should double back and bring in some reinforcements.

We have yet to see a Centurion and considering the amount of
lesser automatons we can expect to see quite a few of those
bastards ." Lydia warned as the ghost kicked the remains of a
bronze mechanical spider.

" We will be fine, I've gotten back into Nocturnal's good graces… we
have luck itself on our side ." The other two snorted in irritation at
that.

" You should never rely on luck… but I guess it isn't worth much
saying that to a damn thief. " Lob grumbled.
" Best damn thief in Skyrim you mean. Besides, it's my luck that get's
us the big payout. Remember that troll cave that ended up having a
treasure chest filled with gold?"

" Malistantius… we need to be on our guard ." Lydia warned with air
of finality that seemed to slightly irritate the overly cocky Dovahkiin.

" Let us move on with this ." The ghost said before moving forward
deeper into the ruins brushing past his lover.

"Okay… now I'm a dick…" Malist said still not remembering any of
this. "If we were facing overwhelming numbers with just one tank…
we should have turned back and gotten reinforcements. Lydia was
right… why didn't I listen?" Malist wondered while Tsukiumi stayed
silent… she could where this was heading based on what was being
shown. And she could see that Malist currently was unable to see
what was coming, either from being in denial or his head was too
clouded in confusion to see it. They soon came to a large chamber
where they found the ghost of the past standing on a freshly made
inactive Dwemer Centurion.

" Yeah! I told you we could do it ." Malistantius cheered as he

hopped of the giant robot. " There's nothing we can't handle, I
thought you two would learn that by now ." The ghost said we but the
look on his face told Malist and Tsukiumi he really meant there was
nothing he could not handle.

" How expected… arrogance from the mouth of the foolish so called
Dovahkiin ." At that five more ghosts appeared from the entrance
Malist and Tsukiumi had just walked though.

" And just who are you all ?" Lydia demanded as her and Lob moved
to Malistantius flanks.

" Just some hired hands… well I shouldn't say that. We aren't the
hands in this little ambush. " The lead ambusher said with a clear
smirk on his face. The three adventurers all knew exactly who he
was referring to but before anyone could take a step… the air was
broken by the sound of a bow launching an arrow. Malist and
Tsukiumi watched in horror as in the span in one second from the
sound of the arrow flying through the air… it hit its mark in Lydia's
throat. " That would be the black hand of the Dark Brotherhood. Now
Guild Master Malistantius… it's time for a change in leadership more
favorable to those your better. " Neither Malistantius or the current
version of Malist were listening to the ambusher. Malistantius was
now holding the quickly dying body of his lover in his arms, Malist
silently standing over the scene unable to form a coherent thought.

" Lydia! Hold still… I'll he… " He his glowing hand was stopped by
unresponsive body in his hands. " LAAS !" He shouted and quickly
eyed the archer that he been the killer of the woman he loved. He
raised a hand fired an ice spear that hit its mark and pinned the
assassin to the wall. He then turned to the ambushers and
summoned five Dremora. " Have fun with them ." Malistantius coldly
ordered and the summoned Daedra all grinned savagely at the
prospect of playing with the men. The ambushers quickly began
running for their lives with the Dremora chasing after them.
Meanwhile Lob had dragged the assassin down to the floor and in
front of Malistantius and the now dead Lydia. Lob pulled the hood
back to reveal a green scaled Argonian. " Who hired you ?"

" If you know who I am then you know I cannot answer that. "

" KRLL LUN !" Malistantius Shouted at the assassin and once the
black and purple wave of power washed over the Argonian small
purple flames began burring his body. The man screamed as he felt
his very life force get ripped and torn off piece by piece.

" What?! What have you done to me ?!" He cried out in agony.

" Marked you for death… now tell me who hired you and I will end
this ." The assassin struggled to try and hold back the intense
amount of pain he currently was feeling.

" You already know… why torture me for it and cause me to break
my oath to Sithis. "
" Because you killed the woman I loved! I will make sure you leave
this world as broken as you can be!"

"But was he really the one who killed your love?" The voice of
Vaermina echoed around them as the ghost of the past disappeared
leaving a completely life like body of Lydia laying on the floor. "Was it
really the arrow from the bow of the assassin that killed her? Or
could have been the person that led them down into the ambush, the
person that did not heed the warnings?"

"Shut up… shut up…" Malist mumbled as he fell to Lydia's side. "All I
need to do to leave this place is finish this…" He said as a conjured
dagger formed in his hand. That same hand shook as he moved it
over above Lydia's heart. "I… I need… I…" Malist's voice cracked as
tears began forming in his mind of all the happy memories that he
had lost began flooding back.

"Are you really going to kill me a second time?" Lydia's voice asked
him as the corpse's hand grabbed his forearm. Only Tsukiumi could
hear the second layer of Vaermina's voice under the dead woman's.

"Mali…" Tsukiumi began as she reached out but then a wall of

shadow blocked her. She prepared to dispatch this obstacle but
stopped as something came out of it. Tsukiumi stepped back in
horror as the form of her tuner Miyajima.

"Why are you helping him… he's just some man that will ruin you.
They think nothing of what is best for you, no one does but yourself.
Have you forgotten the lessons I have taught you?" The vision
scolded with a cold and clearly hostile tone. The double voice of the
image was lost on Tsukiumi who was now paralyzed with fear.

"You should have listened to me." Lydia said as she rose above
Malist. "I would have survived another day if you had just listened to
me. we would have been happy and together. But your arrogance
cost us everything." Malist froze under the gaze of the woman his
previous self had loved. Memories of his former life bombarding his
mind and blurring the line between him and who he had been.
"I… I was strong… I thought I could protect you from anything."
Malist tried his best to defend himself from her words and
accusations.

"But you didn't! I was killed because you thought yourself

unbeatable. That very may well have been the case but for us
mortals we still are very much killable. You may be the great
Dovahkiin, savor of Nirn but those around you are but mare people
who you just grace with the chance to be around." She mocked as
Malist shivered in fear as the memories continued only now
changing from one of happiness to dread and loss. "You were
everything to me! I trusted you to always make it through anything
we faced, but apparently, that trust didn't go both ways."

"No… no I did trust you… I trusted you above everyone else. Make
this stop… I can't… I can't…"

"If you had really trusted me then you would have listened to me! We
would have gone back and found those men following us. You would
have checked our surroundings and found the assassin. I would
have survived and we would be happy!"

"That… that wasn't me… I… I'm diff…" Malist stopped as the vision
of Lydia stepped on his neck.

"Don't even try to make that argument. You are you, you are
Malistantius Caeraso. Just because you have a new face and a
ruined memory doesn't make it any different. You are still the same
person that led us into this Oblivion damned ruin where I met my
death!" Malist tried to say anything but could only choke as Lydia's
boot pressed against his neck. "That's all that ever happens to the
people around you, death. Those that haven't died will because you
will continue to make the same mistakes because of your inflated
ego and over confidence. You will be the cause of everyone's death
because you made the mistake of thinking you could piss off a
Daedra Lord and not think there would be consequences." It was at
this point Lydia's voice was becoming more Vaermina's own rather
than Lydia's. "Dawnstar was mine you little nothing… all that fear…
all that terror… it was delicious. And then you came with that
traitor… I even offered you my piece in Mundus, the Skull of
Corruption… and yet you refused! You gladly accepted that whore
Nocturnal's gifts and yet you spur me!" The vision of Lydia stopped
as she felt Malist's fear being replaced with anger. And then the
specter took a moment to recomposed herself. "You… will forever be
a failure Malistantius." Her voice returned to how it was, only Lydia's
to Malist ears. "You will continue to make the mistakes you always
do… but now… it will be at the cost of those you have found. Those
women that have placed their complete trust in you like I had once
ago you will betray… you will cause their deaths just as you caused
mine. The will die by the hands of others but the fault will be solely
y…" There was a sharp thud that stopped her from speaking. She
looked down at Malist who was burring at her with eyes of bitter
hate, then down to the conjured dagger stabbed into her chest.

"I will never… betray the trust they have given me." He growled as
the specter of Lydia dripped away to reveal Vaermina. The Daedric
Lord of terror and nightmares just chuckled at the statement.

"Believe what you want Dovahkiin." The Daedra mocked before

sighing. "It would seem I bit off more than I could chew as it were. No
matter… you will be dealt with in due time. I let rage cloud my
judgment and was too eager to exact my revenge for your slight
against me. A mistake the others will learn from." At that cryptic
warning and threat Vaermina vanished in pillar of smoke. The world
around Malist and Tsukiumi began to drain of all color and amination.
Malist didn't really notice. He was too drained mentally and
emotionally.

"Is it over… are we free?" Tsukiumi asked as she stood up, the
image of her tuner had faded and she felt clearer in thought. Malist
didn't respond, Tsukiumi looked over and found him kneeling at the
place Lydia had been lying dead.

"I never even knew… I forgot about her. I forgot what she really
meant to me." He said to no one in particular. Just thinking his
thoughts out loud. "And… I can't help but feel nothing. Now that
Vaermina is gone and the memories have stopped pounding me… I
can't feel for her loss. I is her as a friend and sister in battle but…
now that I remember and know. I feel nothing. Am I really such a
awful person as to feel nothing for the loss of someone I once
loved." As Malist spoke the walls and floor of the dreamscape began
growing darker, as if to represent to despair growing in Malist.

"No you are not Malistantius." Tsukiumi said as she approached him.
"Your anger for her loss was shown back in a life now lost. I may not
fully understand the details of your circumstance, but you are not the
man you once were. You have been given a fresh start, a new
chance, to live beyond the mistakes of the past and folly of what you
had been."

"I'm sorry to say but the man I once was is the greatest person I
could be. He was the hero of an entire world, how can I not want to
be like that? To aspire to be just like how I used to be. And yet that
same man who saved the world was the cause of the death of
woman he loved. I can't… I can't follow that path because the idea of
causing any death of the women who have placed so much faith in
me hurts more than anything. I feel so conflicted… I don't know
what…" Malist stopped as Tsukiumi kissed him. The energy of the
winging exploding around them, mirroring what was happening in the
real world. "Wh.. why?" He asked as she parted from him.

"Because you are a better man than any I have seen before. Only a
good and just man would feel such sorrow over his own morality. To
worry so much if he is taking the correct path in life, and to want to
fiercely to do right by those he cares about." Tsukiumi said with the
first smile Malist had seen on her face. Malist was about to respond
but the energy of Tsukiumi's winging had accelerated the
dreamscape's destruction. Cracks in reality began forming as the
two felt themselves wake up. And before either could say anything
more to each other they woke up from the dream/nightmare