Hinata-Sou
Authers note: Just to let people know that that I'm on the lookout for Proofreaders, I have the second chapter almost finished and will post it up soon. I apologise for any grammar and/or spelling errors in advance. Like I said, any proofreaders would be appreciated. Now, I hate authors note's so if there is a need for one from now on they will be as brief as possible. Please Read and Review, but, to all flamers: STFU and GTFO. To those looking to help me improve my writing skills: I'll be grateful for any help I can get.
Enough with this, now, on with the story!!
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He sat at his Kotatsu, his head rested wearily on an open text book. No movement or sound came from him save the occasional twitch and moan. The small table itself was cluttered with papers; pencils; a small desk lamp which was the only source of light in the depressing room; a pack of bandages with a small panda printed on the box, and a roll of duct tape. The dark room he occupied was in no better condition, clothes and garbage littered the floor, it looked like it hadn't been cleaned for days.
He groaned again with tears appearing at the corners of his chocolate brown eyes, he gave a depressed sigh as he forced himself to sit up. He scratched his bandaged chin, winced, then stood and walked over to a book shelf. He returned with a small note book, the word "Diary" written across the front cover He looked towards his open window and smiled as a small, yellow skinned Turtle with a green shell glided In from the cold, starry night and landed atop his head. The man raised a hand and pet it like it was a normal everyday thing.
He sat back down achingly, the turtle shifted slightly but remained on his head. he placed the book down and hunted for through the debris on the table top. After a few painful moments of searching, he found a working pen. For several minuets he just sat there and stared at the blank page of the diary. His eyes glazed over. As if the lights were on and no one was home.
After several more minutes of silence, he repositioned his glasses, put the pen to the paper and wrote...
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Hi, Its me again. Its been a while since my last entry, but they way things are right now It can't be helped. Things around the Dorms are insane, more so than usual. The girls are all worked up over our new guest. Oh, that's right, I never told you about him. That's right, Him! It's a looong story, and I don't know all the details myself, only that he's the son of an old friend of aunt Haruka and Seta from the states.I don't even know how long he'll be staying, I hadn't been told a thing, he just showed up this morning without warning...
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He paced about at the base of a long set of stone steps, brush in hand, the sun glinted brightly of his large glasses as he swept away the numerous autumn leaves that littered the steps and path. He stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow, his brown hair and clothes were damp with sweat. He gazed up at the nearly cloudless sky and smiled gently.
He sighed and turned his attention back to his work, but froze, there was someone walking down the path towards him. A boy. His long black hair was tied back in a ponytail that trailed halfway down his back, his bangs cast a shadow over his eyes, shielding them from his view. He tilted his head to the side curiously and walked forward to meet the stranger with a friendly smile. He said something to which he received no reply.
He gave a small nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his neck He spoke again, but a little slower, this time though he was rewarded with a response, though a short one. He looked somewhat confused for a moment, before nodding and running up the steps towards a small building half way up.
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...At first I thought he was a little shy, he never talked except from when he needed to, and sometimes you can forget he's even in the same room. I guess he's the kind of guy you just don't notice unless your looking for him Its kinda creepy. Aunt Haruka seemed happy to see him, I wonder why I had never heard of him before now? Anyway, as much as I tried, I can't get him to have a proper conversation with me. It's a little frustrating, but things got even worse when aunt Haruka had the brilliant idea to introduce him to the girls...
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He stared at the spectacle in front of him, sweatdropping. The boy from before stood stock still as a brown haired woman enveloped him in a hug. His eyes didn't so much as twitch as she took his gloved hands in her own and talked at him, she looked happy, worried, and relieved all at the same time. She turned to him, she pointed at the boy and spoke. He nodded with a polite smile. She pointed at him and spoke to the boy.
The boy just stared at her with bored, blue eyes.
High cheek bones.
Thin lips.
Her smile faltered slightly, but returned almost as quick as she turned to him. She spoke again, pointing up the stairs. He nodded, then did a double take. He spoke while frantically waving his arms.
The boy watched quirking a thin black eyebrow.
The woman glared at him and he shut up instantly. She spoke again, more slowly this time. Menacingly. He gulped, nodded furiously, then thundered up the steps, past the small, shack-like building and disappeared over the top.
She turned back and placed a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder, she spoke and started to lead them up the steps.
He followed wordlessly.
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...When aunt Haruka suggested that we introduce him to the girls, I nearly had a heart attack! She knows what the girls are like with guys in the dorms, even if they are kids. I remember when Shinobu brought over some classmate's to work on a school project. They ended up being chased off of the roof by Motoko and Su because they had found them wandering the halls. I almost got sued! It was lucky they had landed in the hot springs, not so lucky that Naru and Kitsune had been in them at the time. At least it wasn't me for once. Heh...
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At the top of the hill, past the almost endless steps and trees, stood the majestic building of Hinata-Sou. The sun shined off of the sparklingly clean windows and wood work, almost blinding the boy as he stared up at the old, well maintained building.
The woman patted the boy's shoulder with a smile and walked forward, inside the building. He followed, his gaze raising higher and higher the closer he got to the building.
As he entered, his squinting eyes fell on six bodies standing in the atrium. The guy with glasses stood at the centre of an irritated group of females, three surrounded the male and glared while a younger girl with dark skin and in a sailor-type school uniform hung from his neck, upside-down. Another young girl stood next to the guy, seemingly trying to placate the three older girls while at the same time trying to convince the dark skinned one the rectify her less than modest position.
The brown haired woman walked towards the group of people and spoke, they calmed at first, listened, then turned to face the boy as one.
They stared.
He stared.
The group of girls suddenly exploded, each one acting differently to his presence. It was a mixture of laughter, shock, curiosity, amusement, and most prominently, anger.
The boy's eyes narrowed behind his bangs.
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...I gathered them all to the entrance just as Haruka had said. Shinobu and Su were no problem, but Naru, Motoko, and Kitsune were more than a little miffed. Good thing Haruka came when she did or else I would have ended up having to repair the roof again. Naru's been especially on edge lately, must be all the studying.
At first I thought they where gonna kill me! But then they noticed the kid, then I thought they were gonna kill Him! But even amongst the chaos the kid didn't move, I just thought he was scared, and to be honest I wouldn't have blamed him if he was. I too know what its like to be on the receiving end of a glare from both Naru AND Motoko...
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The spectacled boy winced as the shrill sound of metal grinding against metal sang through the hall, before anyone could pinpoint the source of the sound, the boy found the cold edge of a blade pressed against the soft flesh of his neck.
Everyone froze.
One flinched on instinct.
One smirked.
One grinned a foxy grin.
One trembled nervously.
One watched in confused curiosity.
One grit there teeth and yelled.
The boy stared up blankly.
His eye twitched.
He followed the length of the blade down to the wooden hilt, up the slender pale arm that disappeared under a white, baggy sleeve. He followed the sleeve to the shoulder, the shoulder to the neck, the neck to the scowling face and glaring green eyes. The swordswoman spoke down at the boy, calmly but forcibly.
The boy did not reply.
He grit his teeth behind tight lips.
His brow twitched again.
The spectacled boy took a tentative step forward, nervously stuttering something with a sweatdrop. The girl turned her head and yelled at the man, making her long black hair sway around her frame, he took a few steps back with his hands held up. He laughed nervously and spoke again. The girl ignored him and turned back to the boy. That's when...
WHAAM!!
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...I though that my heart would stop right then and there. While it was true that she was threatening him with a very long and pointy sword, (one that myself have been at the end off, many, many times...) I still felt angry that someone would do that to one of the girls under my care, after all Motoko was not only a tenant, but a friend also (sort of). At that moment I was too shocked to react, I think the girls where the same. He looked so small and harmless too. Sometimes, I wish I had a little more authority around here, being the landlord doesn't mean a thing if your list of tenants include a sword swinging samurai and an Short tempered brunet with an iron fist. Good thing Haruka was there, otherwise things could've been a lot worse...
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WHAAM!!
The sword girl's head jerked from the impact of the kids fist slamming against her soft, pale, cheek. Her eyes were wide in shock, her arm jerked on instinct leaving a red line across the boy neck which started to leek a small amount of blood. The impact itself was not that great, but she, and the others seamed paralysed with shock at the sheer audacity of the boy.
The boy stumbled back slightly holding a hand to his bleeding neck. He glared at the girl.
The dark haired girl glared back and grit her teeth, she barked something at him, a small trickle of crimson slid down from the corner of her mouth and off her chin. She tightened the grip on her sword and lunged at the boy in a blur.
Those on the sidelines gasped.
Suddenly, the sword-girl found herself in an arm lock. The woman with brown hair and eyes had her left arm pinned behind her back and her right held above her head, the sword clattered to the ground, her face was calm yet her eyes spoke more than enough of her anger. She spoke to the sword girl who in turn yelled back and attempted to break free. The woman spoke again, making the swordswoman wince and stop struggling. The woman released her and turned to the others. She spoke forcefully at them, glaring at anyone who seemed about to protest.
Another took a defiant step forward, she had long, light brown hair with two antenna-like cowlicks sprouting from the top of her head. She yelled and pointed at the boy. The woman raised a hand and silenced her, she spoke again, glaring intensely. The girl froze up, nodded, and turned to join the others who were leaving the room, though not before giving the spectacled boy a good kick in the shins. The swordswoman, after sheathing her weapon, gave the boy one last scathing glare before following the others, rubbing her slightly swollen cheek.
The woman turned to the boy, who was glaring at the girls disappearing backs, giving him a disapproving look. She spoke and pointed towards the entrance. The boy shrugged, turned, and left. The woman's shoulders slumped in a sigh. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lighter from the front pouch of her green apron, lit one and took a large drag of nicotine from the death stick. She stared at the door for a few minutes before turning and leaving through the same door as the others.
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...I don't think I've ever seen Haruka that angry before, and I thought she was scary before, she didn't yell or anything, but I swear that just being in the same room as her then took ten years off my life. I don't know what to think, on one hand he hit Motoko. I'm supposed to protect my tenants and prevent conflicts like this, and I can't help but feel somehow responsible. But on the other hand, Motoko threatened him with a sword, here, no one will look twice If they saw Motoko chasing me with her sword. But all the kid knew was that she was threatening him with a very dangerous weapon, so he had the right to defend himself, right?. Of course, Motoko won't admit to any of this, her pride never did allow her to just let things go...
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They all sat at a large dinning table, the five girls and the guy. The brown haired woman stood at the head of the table, cigarette in hand, glaring down all of them. She spoke, some listened, some tried to interrupt but were stopped with a glare.
She spoke forcefully, and at some points she yelled. She pointed a finger at each of them and spoke. Most nodded obediently while others argued back. The woman would simply reply with an air of finality that halted any further arguments. As she finished there was silence, two of the girls looked ready to kill while the fix eyed girl bore a grin full of mischief. The two youngest girls either nodded or grinned.
The sole male in the room stood hesitantly and spoke, he seamed a little nervous but determined to say his peace. The woman listened calmly and inhaled another drag of her coffin nail. Once he was done the other girls looked from him to the woman, and back again.
She smirked and dropped her cigarette and ground it into the floor with her foot.
She spoke a single sentence that made his shoulders heave in relief.
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...And to top it all off, she just up and announces that he'll be moving in! Just like that! Of course the girls (mainly Naru and Motoko) wouldn't allow it. But my aunt said that none of us had a choice in the matter. Not even me, the supposed landlord, could get a word in. It's not that I want to go against Haruka, she obviously has her reasons, but it would have been nice to have been told before hand, you know?
But, at the very least: Haruka has and will accepted total responsibility for him for his duration at Hinata-Sou. And while this Is a great relief for me, the girls didn't seem pleased...
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The boy stood at the top of the steps. His long black hair shifted slightly in the breeze. His blue eyes gazed through his hair and out into the blue sky. He placed his hands into his blue jeans pockets. His grey long sleeved shirt shifted with his hair in the wind. His black and white shoes, worn and dirty with age, shifted in the dirt as he paced back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
His features hardened into a scowl as he kicked a nearby rock, only to wince and crouch down gripping his foot in pain.
His frown deepened as he sat back into the dirt. He faced towards the steps, gazing past the village bellow, the small countryside surrounding it. Beyond and beyond still. Lost in thought. He absent-mindedly stroked the wound on his neck.
His crystal blue eyes glazed over as he stared at nothing. He breathed in the rich clean air letting it work his way into his lungs. Cleansing him. Refreshing him.
Whatever thoughts he was having were cut off by a sharp whistle coming from behind him. He looked over his shoulder.
The woman stood there, deadpan. She motioned him to follow with her head, turned and disappeared back inside. He watched her disappear into the building and traced the cut on his neck gently once again. The bleeding had stopped, though a dry trail of blood led down to the now bloodstained collar of his shirt.
Slowly, he stood, dusted himself off, and walked after the woman. Squinting, he walked inside and waited for his eyes to adjust to the change in light.
He blinked.
The woman stood there, a smirk playing on her lips. Next to her stood the spectacled guy, he smiled nervously and offered a small wave. Just behind them in a line, were all the girls. They introduced themselves one at a time, some with enthusiasm, others with reluctance.
Mitsune "Kitsune" Konno.
Kaolla Su.
Shinobu Maehara.
Motoko Aoyama.
Naru Narusegawa.
The Den-Mother-
Haruka Urashima
And the Landlord-
Keitaro Urashima
He stared.
The woman coughed, she walked over and gently nudged the boy forward.
The boy glared at the woman, then with a look of reluctance, spoke.
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Alex. Alex Nicolas.
He can't speak Japanese quite yet, just enough to get by. Well, not really. Apparently he came to Japan on short notice so he didn't have much time to study. I've offered to teach him in my spare time but declined instantly, he can be a little rude sometimes but I think he'll warm up to us over time. I've asked Haruka how long he's expected to be here for; where his parents were, who's taking care of his rent that sort of thing, but I can never get a straight answer out of her.
After the introductions things calmed down a bit. Me and Haruka set him up in the room just down from mine, it was originally used as storage so its a bit cluttered. His luggage won't be arriving for a few days so he'll have to borrow some of my clothes for now, I'm only slightly taller than him so they should do for now.
After me and Haruka got him settled in, we gave him the grand tour. I thought the worst was over, so I let my guard down and tried to get to know him a little... Yeeesh! What was I thinking!?
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The boy, the spectacled man, and the woman stood at the entrance to the dusty room. The woman bit down on the end of her newly lit cigarette and glared at the spectacled boy. He shifted away from her and nervously stuttered something, he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
Haruka sighed and gave Alex an apologetic look. She rattled her knuckles on her relatives head and spoke, she gestured around her and took a drag from her cigarette. The boy shrugged absent-mindedly, he now had a bandage covering the wound on his neck.
Sighing, she slide the room door shut while speaking. Keitaro nodded, rubbing his aching head. All three started walking down the halls. As they circled the floor they were currently on, the woman would occasionally point and speak while the man would constantly try and engage the boy in conversation. The Alex would simply nod and give one word answers. After a while the man gave up, and the trio continued downstairs.
Next he was given a tour of the living room, the toilets and dining room. They circled the bottom floor and like last time the woman would point and talk and the boy would nod. The man would butt in once in a while but other than that, stayed silent. While passing the kitchen they encountered one of the girls from before, Shinobu. She had blue hair and large blue eyes, she wore a pink apron and a green dress that came to her knees underneath. Shinobu would blush crimson and stutter almost constantly as she spoke with Keitaro. The boy raised an eyebrow at her odd behaviour while the woman rolled her eyes and smirked. The girl gave the boy a nervous side glance before bowing and returning to the kitchen.
Things continued like this for the next hour as Alex was led around the great building by the two adults. Finally, they reached the roof. The sun had dulled slightly over the last hour but it still shone bright enough to keep the air warm. The wind had picked up quite a bit and blew against them and the laundry that was currently hanging up on the deck.
The trio turned to the steps leading to the roof to leave, only to spot the approaching figures of two girls. Naru and Motoko. Keitaro gulped as the two caught sight of them, the girls faces instantly hardened. Motoko's cheek had swollen slightly but seemed to be already healing, the hand with which she held her sword tensed. Alex tipped his head to the side curiously, his eye showing slight amusment while Haruka sighed and Keitaro stuttered gibberish before being kicked in the shin by his aunt.
Soon, silence ruled as the tension between the five grew to almost tangible levels. The girls glared at Alex as Haruka glared at them, daring them to do or say something. Keitaro would look between the two groups, opening his mouth to say something but, thinking of nothing to say, would close it again. Alex just stared. Alex rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak...
... And the tension was broke by a rather large gust of wind, Alex blinked as he soon found himself blinded by a piece of white cloth. The two girls screamed in outrage as Keitaro face-faulted and Haruka ran a hand down her face. Alex picked the item off his face, and blinked again as he realised that he was holding a pair of girls cotton underwear.
Naru pointed and shrieked at him while Motoko drew her sword. Haruka stood to block their path as Keitaro snatched up the undergarment and ran up to the two, waving the item around franticly while trying to calm the two. They both screamed a single word and lunged at the manager, sword and fists raised.
Before he knew It, Alex was fallowing Keitaro's flailing body with wide eyes as he sailed into the distance.
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The girls didn't pull any punches today, It took me two hours to drag myself home this time only to find the place in ruins! If I had to guess from the damage alone, I'd say Su had went on another one of her spree's. I have to repair two walls in Shinobu's room, not to mention the damage In the hallways, I don't even know what caused It. Odd thing Is, when I got back, besides the cut on his neck he didn't have a scratch on him, he's been sleeping ever since which is understandable. After all, no one escapes the combined anger of both Naru and Motoko without a good pair of running legs and a lot of effort. Naru and Motoko had long since calmed down, their still mad at him but at least there not trying to kill him any more.
I don't dare ask them what happened, one trip into the stratosphere is enough for today thank you. I asked the other girls but, Kitsune wont say anything without some kind of payment (she keeps demanding I buy her some replacement Sake, I don't even know what happened to her original!) , Su just wouldn't give me a straight answer and I somehow ended up playing tag with her for over half an hour, and Shinobu also seems reluctant to speak so I didn't pressure her too hard. Haruka won't say anything, she just insists that every thing's been taken care of and that I should get to work on the repairs. I'm not gonna even try to get an answer out of Alex.
By the time I was done cleaning up the rubble everyone else had gone to bed. I dumped my spar futon in Alex's room since his room was pretty much empty besides a bunch of old furniture and boxes. I've grown used to hard labour since coming here, but even still after all that cleaning I can barely move, not to mention my unexpected flight and two our trek home.
I'm just gonna go to bed and hopefully not die in my sleep. Looks like I'm gonna have a lot to write about in here in the days to come.
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With a weary smile and a sigh, Keitaro closed the book and turned off the small lamp before standing and returning his diary back on it's shelf. He yawned and stretched his arms and back, regretting it as an audible crack resonated from his spine. He winced and dragged himself wearily to his futon before all but collapsing into it. The small amphibian that had been sitting on his head, glided off and back over to the small heated desk before landing on top and retracting fully into its shell. Barely three seconds passed before light snoring could be heard from the man's still figure.
Peace
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Outside was a calm and beautiful cloudless night. The wind had died down to an almost non-existent breeze. And the half moon shone brightly down on the earth within an endless sea of stars.
On the roof's deck, situated atop the dorms, a shadow appeared. It moved to the railing at the edge of the roof eating up any light in its path. Alex stopped, resting his hands atop the wooded railing. He was bare foot and gloveless, his hair was out off its usual pony tail and now fell down his shoulders and back. He still wore his grey shirt, even though there was a large clean cut down the back of the article which revealed his back, and the numerous scars that decorated it. His blue eyes stared blankly out at the village-scape of the small hot-springs village bellow him.
His eyes followed the two ant like forms of an old couple out for a late night walk. They held each other close while they walked, as if one were to let go for even a second then the other would fall apart. Maybe they had received some bad news, a medical check up found some form of cancer. Maybe one of them would be leaving the mortal coil sooner than either of them anticipated and it frightened them. Probably the guy, males had shorter life expectancies than females, more than a ten-even twenty year difference. Or so he had heard. Alex could imagine their faces as the dispassionate doctor gave them the news.
I'm sorry, but we found an inoperable tumour in your colon Mr. Old-guy-who-should-be-dead-by-now. You have no insurance so I don't even have to pretend to give a crap. Have fun dying in an extremely painful manner! But don't worry, you won't be completely clueless during your last days on earth. Here's a panflet!
Yup, sounds about right.
"..."
Wow, he sure was cynical today. They were probably just out for one of their nightly, relaxing walks that they go on every night and have done for years. It must be nice to have that kind of security in your life. Something about this place seemed to cry out and mock him every chance It got. When he was younger, he used to think god was testing him, throwing obstacle after obstacle at him to overcome, and when he did, things just got harder.
But, that's life.
Now though, he was sure god, or Buddha, or whoever was in charge was putting in the extra mile for him. Maybe he was being paranoid and all this was just one big series of unfortunate and unrelated events. Even so, he liked his first theory better. It gave him someone to blame.
As he stood in silent thought he absent-mindedly rubbed the bandage covering the shallow cut on his neck. He flinched and hissed as a small shock of pain ran through him. He lowered his eyes and traced the small scars that decorated his pale hands. Great, like he needed any more scars.
And that sword-bitch! What was with her? Who the hell would give a sword to someone that temperamental? He'd always known there were some special types of idiots out there, but he had thought, hoped, and prayed that they could at least be kept under control, such are the wonders of straight jackets. Or at the very least kept far away from swords.
Or giant mechanical turtles.
His eye twitched.
He closed his eyes and sighed. As much as he hated it, and he really did, he had no choice but to stay here. Sure he could run away, but he could barely speak the native language. There's no way he would survive out there for long, his fighting skills barely went beyond being able to throw a straight punch and not fall down. Plus he had no academic value, or to put it more bluntly: Saying he was as dumb as a box of rocks would be an understatement worthy of a bitch-slap!
Great, he was getting depressed. Sighing again he opened his eyes and stared into nothingness, memories of the day past flashed before his eyes like a live movie real...
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"WAAAAAAAAGH!!" Wailed Keitaro as he soared rather ungracefully through the air, disappearing into the distance.
Nobody paid this any mind, either because they had grown used to it or they were occupied with something else. Namely; hunting down the "perverted" newcomer (Naru and Motoko), trying to keep said newcomer alive (Haruka), Or just trying to avoid castration while questioning the collective sanity of Japan's female population (Alex.)
As soon as Keitaro was sent flying, Alex was already on the run, nd he was surprisingly fast. He dashed forward and squeezed between the frames of Naru and Motoko, who where just winding down from striking there landlord.
What the hell what the hellwhatthehellwhatthehell...
"Waah!?"
"Eh?"
His shoes pounded the wooden surface as he pumped his legs and leaped down the steps, turned, leaped down the rest and threw open the door at the bottom. He grunted a cussword in English as his shoulder slammed against the door frame as he launched himself inside.
"Don't think you can get away from us ya' little perv!" Naru barked running through the door a few seconds after him.
"Come back here you coward! Face your punishment!" Yelled Motoko coming right behind her friend.
"Dammit don't just ignore me you two! Get back here!" Called Haruka angrily, she came a little after two girls but was catching up fast.
"Damn! I should have known this would've happened!"
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"Ahhh! Nothin' like a dip in the springs with some expensive Sake. With that kid coming out of nowhere and moving in, life should get a lot more Hinataish 'round here. I best relax while I still can, hehe!" Came the lazy voice of the resident Fox Vixen, Kitsune, as she left her room. In her hand she held a towel, bathing basket, and a large bottle of alcohol.
Just as she stepped over the threshold from her room into the hall-
WHAM!
"ACK!"
-She was knocked to the ground by a blurring figure shooting past her and colliding with her shoulder. Soon after two more figures, then a third, barrelled past her. Her basket along with its contents where scattered across both the hall and room.
Kitsune blinked in confusion.
"Hey, wasn't that that kid? Naru, Motoko, and Haruka too!" She grinned, "Looks like not even ol'Haruka can't hold 'em back, poor kid, I almost feel sorry for him."
Kitsune giggled, then suddenly stopped. She frantically looked around her before turning slowly and gazing down the hall at the retreating figures.
A beat.
"Hey!! That kid stole my Sake!! Get back here ya lil' punk!" She yelled, already barrelling down the hall after them.
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Alex didn't know how it happened but he now he had three crazy girls chasing after him, and he was being weighed down by a ridiculously large bottle of Japanese alcohol. When he had knocked shoulders with the foxgirl, he had caught it on reflex. He couldn't pause to place it down as he valued his knee caps, and genitalia. And he couldn't risk dropping or throwing it since, although it might slow them down, he doubted Haruka would appreciate him turning there feet into glass coated strips of flesh.
Speaking of which, where did she vanish too?
He could hear the threats and angry calls of his pursuers getting closer and closer, if he didn't lose them soon he was done for!
He risked a glance behind him.
The Swordswoman was leading the pack, followed by the angry brunet and the scowling fox.
He locked eyes with the raven haired warrior for a fraction of a second. She scowled and picked up her pace, getting closer, closer, closer still.
Oh nonononono, he couldn't have that.
So, he ran, and ran and ran and ran. Getting faster, but unfortunately more fatigued. He wouldn't last much longer, it felt like his legs were about to fall off, as if his chest were on fire.
He ran.
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Ducking and turning, weaving in and out of the occasional room. They must've circled this floor at least five times by now and Alex was growing increasingly exhausted.
Turning a corner for the half a dozenth time, his eyes widened as he caught sight of two figures ahead. Getting closer he relaxed as he noted that none of them where the ones out for his blood.
Yet, stated one part of his mind.
He told it to get stuffed.
"... So, you think he'll play with us like Kietaro?" Asked the dark skinned inventor as she walked down the hall with her friend. " He looks tough, maybe he'll help me with my next experiment. Oh, and you think he'll like being a robot? The new laser-drill attachment I built can cut through 30x compressed Pressuresteel. Plus it would go well with his pretty hair!"
"I-I don't think that Naru-Sempai or Motoko-Sempai would like that." Replied the shy blue-haired cook, she still wore her pink apron as she walked along side her slightly older friend.
"Aww, why not?"
"Well, I just don't think they would. Besides, he doesn't seem like..." She turned her head at the sounds of rapid footsteps.
Thunkthunkthunkthunkthunkthunk!
ThwooooOOOSH!!
Alex's figure barrelled past the two middle school students in a sweaty blur, soon to be followed by the party of angry females.
The two girls watched them disappear around the corner, sweatdropping. Shinobu turned to her friend, and did a double take as she realised she was holding one of Kitsune's bottles of alcohol.
"H-huh?"
"Wow! That looks like fun!" Cheered Su as she ran after the group. "Wait for me!!"
"Ack! Su, d-don't just... awww!"
With a sigh, the blue haired cook placed the bottle on the ground and watched her friend disappear after the rest. As she did this she was ignorant to the person approaching her from behind until a hand was placed on her shoulder.
"AWAAH!!" The young girl shrieked spinning to face her assailant and tripping over her own feet in the process.
Haruka raises and eyebrow at the fallen girl, she inhales a lung full of nicotine before reaching a hand out to the girl.
"You okay there?"
"U-um, y-yes." She replies, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She reached out to accept the older woman's aid, "S-sorry."
"Don't apologise, it was my fault for sneaking up on you like that." Came her reply, she hoisted her to her feet. She looked behind her and spotted the Sake bottle, she gave the shy girl a questioning look.
"U-um, well, you see... we ,ah, I mean, um..." The girl hung her head, "...I don't know. But," She raised her head. "I think that Motoko- sempai, Naru-sempai, and Mitsune-san are after Alex-san."
"Yup, thought it was something like that." Replied the stoic woman as she picked the bottle up.
"U-um, so, just what's happening anyway?"
"Hmm, I wonder..." She hummed, carrying the bottle by it's neck. "Listen, Shinobu, I need a favour."
"H-huh?"
The older woman smirked.
-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-
Huff
Puff
Huff
Puff
Huff
Puff
Alex panted. His pace had slowed. His pursuers where now almost arms length away from him, namely Motoko. She was so close he could feel her breath. He could smell her perfume. Lavender. Weird, she didn't look like the type to wear that sorta stuff. A radical feminist with a big sharp sword. Not a friendly combination.
He shook his head and continued to run. The corner was coming up, a T-junction actually.
He glanced over his shoulder again. The rest of the girls were just behind Motoko, including the dark skinned girl. What he do to piss her off? Didn't matter, he had to get rid of them all.
His stony frown formed a smirk as an idea came to mind. It disappeared as he faced forward.
He slowed his pace, allowing his pursuers to get even closer. Bating them. Then at the junction, turned left...
The girls turned and followed-
- Only to be knocked off there feet by Alex as he swung himself around and charged through the four shoulder first.
The girls eye's widened as they gasped as one.
W-W-WHAM!
Motoko's exceptional warrior instincts came into play as she felt Alex brush against her shoulder and shot a blurring arm out towards his neck-
DUCK!
-Only to grab air.
Her eyes widened.
"H-how!?"
Th-thunk!
Crash!
Bang!
The girls landed in a dog pile in the middle of the hall, all except Motoko who gracefully caught her balance, pivoted, and landed in a crouch facing Alex's retreating back.
Alex continued running. Down the right hall and around the corner.
"O-owwies!"
"Dammit, that kids a slippery one!"
"Grrrr! When I get my hands on that punk I'm gonna... Hey Motoko, what's wrong!"
"..."
Motoko stared after the retreating form of Alex until he vanished around the corner. Her eyes narrowed in thought.
"M-Motoko?"
"What's with that look on y'all's face?"
"Yeah, did you hit your head Toko-yan?"
The three girls stared at their friend. Suddenly, she leaped to her feet startling the three other fems. Before they could blink, she was already halfway down the hall, chasing their guest with renewed vigour.
"..." "..." "..."
They blinked.
"Well, isn't she eager?"
"Hmm, hey, you think he did something to her when he ran past?" Naru narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"What? You mean cop a feel?" Kitsune asked with a grin.
"Exactly!"
"Yeah, sure. What else would explain her sudden enthusiasm?" The fox shrugged.
"Maybe Toko-Yan wants a new playmate since Keitaro Is always playing with Naru-Yan?"Asked Su innocently.
"Yeah!" Grinned Kitsune, "Maybe she just wants someone else to play Tonsil-Hockey with?"
"Oh, get real Kitsune! Motoko-Chan isn't like that!"
"Maybe, maybe not. But can the same be said about Keitaro?"
"..."
"Hehehehehe!" The vixen giggled. "Awww, what's wrong? Is little Naru jealous?"
"E-EH!? W-what are you on about n-now!?"
"Hehehe! Your too easy" Sang Kitsune.
"Grrr, whatever! A-at any rate, shouldn't we follow them or something?" Said Naru, blushing.
"Heh, good point!"
With that, two of the three stood up and resumed the chase. Su sat there for a few seconds, blinking. She grinned, stood up, and ran down the opposite side of the hall.
Laughing.
-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-
Alex almost tripped as he felt a huge chill run up his spine. He caught himself and continued running.
His head twitched to the side.
Alex contemplated the likelihood of his survival. Sword swinging chicks on the rag, ominous chills mid-escape. He was pretty sure the guy with the glasses was dead. A shame really. The fact that he could still scream after taking a blow strong enough to knock him over fifty feet into the air was enough to impress him, even If the the likelihood of him surviving the landing was about zero-to-none.
Either way. He was pretty sure that a single blow from one of those girls alone would send his lower jaw up to visit his brain. Funzies!
His eye twitched.
Turn and face them
Its just like then
History will repeat itself
You can
You have
He continued running.
-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-
She stood in the room.
She hid nervously behind the screen door.
Listening.
Waiting.
Her blue eyes focused through the crack between the door. She chewed on her bottom lip nervously, while smoothing out the non-existent ruffles and wrinkles on her apron. She rung her fingers together, twisted her toes in and out of her slippers.
Listening.
Waiting.
Her ears perked. She leaned in closer to the door and opened it a tad more. Heavy breaths. Running. He was here! She stood back slightly and took a few deep breaths. She breathed in and out as the footsteps grew louder and louder.
"..."
Thumpthump!
"..."
ThumpthumpThumpthump!
"..."
ThumpthumpThumpthumpThumpthumpThumpthump!
She took one last deep breath then marched forward and pried the sliding doors open. She stuck her head out and looked down the hall. She spotted the quickly approaching newcomer, Alex. From that distance, they made eye contact.
A glare and a timid glance.
She almost looked like she was about to slink back inside the room and close the door. But with a look of determination she called out!
"Q-Quick in here!"
-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-
"Quick in here!"
Alex stared at the blue haired girl. A sudden turn of events had now presented him with two options. One: He could trust the girl he barely knew and dive Into the room as he passed it, thus either saving himself or trapping himself. Two: he could keep running until his lungs, which already felt like he had inhaled acidic fumes, exploded in a cloud of grey and pink matter.
Decisions, decisions.
Neither idea seamed to appeal to him. For one he honestly didn't like the girl. Everything about her annoyed him; her unusual hair colour, the timid and shy nature, her supposedly cute and innocent personality. Just from the five minuets he wasted watching her talk to her 'Sempai' he could tell she liked him. She was terrible at hiding It, yet he didn't think her crush was aware of her feelings for him.
She was too nice.
He hated nice people.
But on the other hand he was about to blackout from exhaustion. The last thing he wanted to end up right now as is an easy target.
So, he dived head first into the room straight past the girl. He didn't even register her shutting the door behind him as he collapsed, the full weight of his exhaustion finally catching up with him.
Another set of foot steps could be heard thundering past the door, they were more rapid than Alex's but not nearly as loud. Shinobu flinched. Alex wheezed.
He. Was. Exhausted.
God, kill him now. Why was he here? What did he do to deserve this? Did god take some sort of perverted pleasure in throwing him into hellish situations?
"U-um are y-you okay?" Asked Shinobu timidly as she watched his heaving body struggle for oxygen.
Ah, the stuttering. No matter what the language, It was always annoying. Another factor that played a part in his contempt for the young girl. But she had saved him, well maybe, this could still be a trap. But right now he couldn't care less. Either way she had shown slight concern for his well being, he at the very least should respond. He still had manners.
Alex opened his mouth to speak, which sent him into a coughing fit as he struggled for air. He gave up on verbal communication. He settles for giving her a half-assed thumbs up.
He coughed and wheezed.
"U-um, Haruka-san told me to hide you until she can get N-Naru-sempai and the others to c-calm down. It should be safe to leave s-soon..." She trailed off in her explanation as she noticed Alex staring at her blankly.
"... Y-you don't understand me, do you?"
"..."
Oh, that's right, he couldn't speak Japanese. The only thing he understood from that sentence was: Haruka. Last time he checked he could just barely pass English, expecting him to learn Japanese was too much, no matter what the time frame. He was dumb, he knew this more than anyone else.
Shinobu walked over to a chair, daintily lifting a stuffed animal off and placing it one the ground before sitting down (Alex could swear she gave it a hug before letting go.)
Silence
A few minutes of silence passed as Shinobu thought and Alex regained his breath. As soon as he was able to move he sat up and probed his back against the wall. He watched the small girl for a few seconds, he noted absently that he was only slightly taller than her. He had always been short for his age. Malnourishment's a bitch. As an after thought, he decided to figure out just where he was. He let his eyes wander the room; there was a writing desk with a bunch of study material, fluffy ended pens, and a pink Neko-Girl bobble head doll.
He quirked an eyebrow.
His eyes continued to wander; a clothes chest, laundry basket, a stuffed animal, a book bag, stuffed animal, a western style bed with girly sheets, and on top, lots of stuffed animals.
...
He suddenly felt uncomfortable.
He looked back over towards Shinobu. She had an unusually serious expression that didn't quite fit her small face. Like she was trying really hard to remember something.
Suddenly the girl stood up, she looked calm, focused. Alex thought she was about to attack him, but dismissed the thought. He could take her... probably.
She looked over at him, took a deep breath, and spoke... in English.
"I am Shinobu. It is happy to meet you!" She spoke in badly accented English. But it was understandable at least, which is more than what could probably be said about his Japanese.
Maybe at least he could find out where the hell that old bat Haruka vanished too!
He stood slowly, achingly, and spoke.
"Right, so you can speak English. Don't know why you never mentioned this before but whatever, It hardy matters now. So ,like, what's the deal with this place? Last time I checked this place was Hinata-Dormitories, not, Hinata-Aylum! And, yet, here I am, on the run from the crazies. But enough of that, where's Haruka? One second she's behind me, the next she's gone! Leaving me to the wolfs! She was supposed to keep those dogs out there at bay, good job so far, don't you think? And, uh, not to scare you or anything, but I think your manage-sorry-former manager Is dead.
After that, he found himself panting again.
It was then that he realised he hadn't had anything to drink Since that morning when he got off the plane.
After receiving no reply, he looked up.
Shinobu was leaning back slightly, trembling, tears in the corner of her eyes. Alex realised that he had been shouting. He should probably apologise. Maybe later
"U-um, c-can you be r-repeat that? P-please?" She stuttered nervously.
Alex facefaulted.
-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-
In a dark forest. With thick grass and cold, clear rivers. On top of a finely furnished wooden floor. A green light pulsed eerily in the dark. Whirring and clicking could be heard in the deep jungle. The birds screeched in protest and the beasts roared in anger.
Leaves would part.
Crash!!
Crash!!
Branches would be snapped.
Crash!!
Crash!!
Trees would be sent crashing.
Crash!!
Crash!!
And In that frightening dark, two strobing red lights would appear. And a childish laugh would echo In the deep.
-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-
Haruka stood at the entrance hall, glaring out into the outside world. She stood and she glared, inhaled a lungful of her cigarette, and glared.
Glaring.
Waiting.
And for a single moment, her lips twitched into a smirk, they were here.
Suddenly Naru and kitsune came running into the room. They all but collapsed on there hands and knees as they struggled for breath. An amused look could be seen in her eyes as she stared at there exhausted forms.
"Wh-when... I... get... my... hands on... that little..." Panted Konno, a little blue in the face.
"Not... If... I... catch... him... first!!" Gasped Naru, trying to satisfy her oxygen depraved body.
"Wh-whats... with you... girl?" Asked Kitsune, "A few years ago... this wouldn't have been... a... thing for you!"
"It's 'cause I'm... always... studying... and never... ex-exercise!" She snapped.
Just then, Motoko calmly enters the room. Compared to the other two she looks fine, not even breathing heavily. She gave a quick look in Haruka's direction before turning her gaze to her two exhausted friends.
"Hey, there you are!" Yelled Kitsune, "Please tell me you caught him!?"
"I'm afraid not, It would seam he has succeeded in eluding all of us. He is much more versatile than I gave him credit for." She stated calmly.
"Actually..."
All three girls looked over.
Haruka looked back with bored eyes, she shrugged and gestured behind her. "I passed him just as I came in. Said something about 'Waiting In the tea house for the old lady's to catch up'. I doubt he'll even be able to move with the state he was in, you girls better leave him alone to rest while I go wait for Keitaro! " She finished with a glare, though it lacked any of her usual fire, she then nonchalantly walked past them and began to scale the stairs towards the first floor.
Before she even reached the top step, she smirked as she felt the unmistakable aura of blood-lust from the three younger females and heard them scamper out the door.
She couldn't help but chuckle.
"Now then!" She said. "Time to find a more suitable hiding spot for that k..."
RuuuummmMMMBBLE!!
BOOOOOOM!!
Haruka stumbled as she felt the whole building shake, debris and dust fell from the ceiling and walls. The floor boards vibrated beneath her feet. She barely caught her balance as she stared wide eyed down the hall.
"W-what the...?"
Her eyes widened even more at a sudden realisation. She sprinted down the hall at a athletes speed, heading for the place she had thought Alex would be safe.
"Dammit, SU!!"
-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-LH-
RuuuummmMMMBBLE!!
BOOOOOOM!!
"W-Whoa!!"
"W-w-what w-was that, an E-Earth Quake!?"
Alex and Shinobu staggered and struggled to regain balance, they both stared wide eyed at each other in mutual confusion. The vibrations had kicked up some dusk from the rafters and beams on the ceiling and several books had fallen from the shelf's.
Alex let go of the wall he had used to support himself and shook the dust from his hair. That was no Earth Quake. What about that explosion? Unless it had damaged the gas mains or something, and the explosion had felt pretty close by, possibly even the same building.
His blue eyes narrowed.
He didn't like this one bit, something was up.
"H-hehe, probably nothing," Shinobu laughed it off. " That sort of thing is actually p-pretty common around here. It's u-usualy one of S-Su's experiments..." She froze, her eyes slowly widened. "Oh no!"
Before Alex could even attempt to decipher what she had said, the wall behind him exploded in a cloud of wood chips and dust.
CRRAASH!!
Thunk!
Alex was sent sprawling forward and banged his head against the opposite wall. Shinobu had stumbled back and landed on her fanny with a gasp, but escaped harm.
As Alex tried to rub his concussion away, Shinobu stared up at the 9 foot tall metallic creature before her. It's whole body was a reflective silver of metal scales and armour, wires and pipes extended to six limbs from the main body, the 'legs' were four thick reflective plates bound together with hydraulics and pressure sensory engines. With each step the joints hissed steam. The 'arms' where two large, three digit, mechanic claws, they hissed and spun rapidly as they planted themselves on the fractured ground to maintain balance. From the beast shoulders two metal, wing-like, extremities with what seemed to be two mini-rocket silos mounted atop, and if that wasn't enough, two high powered, fusion, laser turrets. On its back lay two large jet engines that hummed and vibrated silently, between which rested a small windowed container that pulsed green, like a heart beat. The creatures chest was covered in large armoured plating, two exhaust grates whirred and hummed. And at the head, two red eyes glared at the two, but this only acted as a helmet, for beneath this was another pair glowing red eyes, except these where on the goggles of the dark skinned pilot, who's entire body was concealed and protected inside the machine. Blond hair dangled down and framed a grinning face. The pilot spoke into a mouth peace that hung from her helmet.
"I found youuu!" Sang Su, her voice was amplified by speakers that were integrated into and hidden on the main body. "How do like my newest Mecha-Tama!"
Alex, who had recovered from his injury, now stared wide-eyed up at the towering monstrosity that stood in the gaping hole that was once a wall.
He suddenly felt Very uncomfortable.
His eye twitched.
"SU!!" Shinobu cried with teary eyes as she struggled to her feet. "L-L-Look at what you did to my room!"
"Aww, don't worry Shinobu! Keitaro will fix It up good as new!"
"B-b-b-b-b-b-but...!"
By now, Alex had been able to jump start his cognitive process enough to stop flapping his jaw up and down and actually stand up. With his back pressed against the wall, he spoke the only words that he, or anyone, could muster at that time.
"What. The. Fuck!?"
Unfortunately for Alex, this caught both girls attention. Shinobu gave him an apologetic look while attempting to stutter an explanation. Su just giggled.
"Ohhh, you said a bad word! Hehehehe!
"W-what!? What did he say?"
"Hehehe, Not telling!"
"Suuuu!"
Alex blinked.
"H-Hey, wait! You understand me?"
Su smiled childishly down at him. "Of course silly. English Is really really easy compared to Japanese!"
"... Good to know..."
Su giggled and laughed. "Okay! Now that the cut scenes over, let the boss battle begin!!" As she spoke, her Mecha seemed to come to life and stand as tall as the ceiling (which the majority of littered the floor) would allow.
"W-Wait! What!?"
"What are you two taking about? Awww."
As Alex pressed himself further back against the wall, he was painfully aware of every little detail of his surroundings, the smell of smoke and fumes, how his own body involuntarily tensed with each sound that came from the Mech, the feel of debris under his feet. This was bad, very bad, his feeling of dread increased as the metal monstrosity hissed, pulsed and clicked, then suddenly pounced in a straight line towards his defenceless body.
Shinobu shrieked and clenched her eyes shut.
Alex flinched and covered his head, he pressed his body into the wall hoping to fall through it and avoid his impending doom.
"Lets play!!"