PROLOGUE
Keitaro Urashima frantically paced backwards and forwards along the bottom of the steps to the Hinata Tea House.
'Oh man, what am I gonna do?' he thought. 'Grandma Hina called me up to the Inn for some reason, but she didn't say why…I just have a feeling deep in my gut that if I go up there, something really bad will happen.'
Keitaro stopped his panicked pacings and sat down on a nearby bench. He sighed deeply.
'I wish I wasn't so indecisive. I'm such a loser…'
Keitaro sighed again and stretched out on the bench, gazing up at the clouds.
'I've failed the Tokyo U entrance exam twice now. I've never had a girlfriend. My parents are threatening to kick me out if I don't get a job…and I'm wasting my time here, visiting Granny Hina, the old bat!'
At the thought of his grandma, Keitaro jolted up again. He began pacing anew.
"If only I knew what she wanted, I wouldn't be so nervous! Arrrgh…"
As Keitaro continued pacing and mentally debating with himself, a young, slender man strolled along the path. Noticing the anguish that the youth was going through, he stopped and watched him pace.
'What's up with this kid?' the man mused. 'He's panicking like he's gotta make the biggest decision of his life. Hmm…'
The man moved over and put a hand on Keitaro's shoulder. Keitaro yelled in surprise and swung around.
"Hey, dude." said the man, smiling. "What's the problem?"
Keitaro stopped and looked at the stranger. He was about Keitaro's height, only ever-so-slightly more muscular. He had a thick mop of messy brown hair on his head, and he was wearing a plain black button-down shirt and jeans. He was smiling at Keitaro benignly.
'Why does this guy want to know? What a strange guy.' Keitaro mused. 'Well, he's about my age…maybe he can help me out!'
Keitaro spoke up. "Oh, I'm just worried about what I've got to do. You see, my grandma called me up to the inn on top of the hill-"
"Hinata Sou?" interjected the man.
"That's right." said Keitaro. "She runs the place, and she wants me to go there, but she didn't tell me what for!"
Keitaro's shoulders drooped. "And if you know my grandma, you'll know that going in unprepared can lead to a lot of trouble…especially if my Aunt Haruka was around, too."
The stranger crossed his arms and grinned devilishly. "So you're standing here, panicking, 'cause you're afraid of this old matriarch. Hmm."
"Well, it's not just that. My parents are also threatening to kick me out since they can't afford paying for my school costs. I've failed the Tokyo U entrance exam twice, and I'm in desparate need of a job…"
A frown appeared on the strangers face. He thought to himself for a few seconds as Keitaro looked on dumbly. As if reaching a decision, the man uncrossed his arms and snapped his fingers.
"Alright then!" the stranger said. "I think I can help you out. First things first…"
The stranger dug in his jeans pocket and withdrew a piece of newspaper. It advertised a job opening in an office in the inner regions of the town. Keitaro took it and studied it seriously.
"A friend of mine works there. Tell 'em I sent you and – as long as you're not totally incompetent – you should get the gig."
Keitaro stared at the man. "Um. Thank you."
The stranger waved off the compliment. "As for the rest…I'll go in your stead to Hinata Sou and see what's up. If it's something personally meant for you, I'll pass on the message. If not…well, don't worry about me. I can handle it."
"You'd…do that?" gaped Keitaro. "For a complete stranger?"
"Sure. Why not?" the stranger replied, flashing that grin again.
Keitaro babbled short protests for a few moments, until he relaxed and smiled at the stranger. He stuck the newspaper scrap in his pocket for safe keeping and beamed at the stranger.
"Alright then." Keitaro said. "Thank you very much, mister…um…"
"Kavanagh." replied the stranger. "Jack Kavanagh. So, just point me in the direction of the inn, and I can…"
"Oh! Wait!" called Keitaro. "You have to take this with you!"
Keitaro fumbled about in his pockets, seemingly looking for something. After a short while, he found what he was looking for; a slightly crumpled envelope. The ronin handed the letter to Jack.
"Here. I had to deliver this letter to Grandma Hina while I was there. I don't know what it's about either, so…watch out."
"You got it." replied Jack, taking the envelope. "I'll see you later."
With a wave of his hand, Jack turned and began his trek up the stairs to Hinata Sou. Keitaro stood and watched him go, smiling. When he was almost out of earshot, a thought occurred to Keitaro. He ran forward a few steps and shouted:
"Jack! You never answered my question! Why would you do something like this for a stranger?"
Jack turned around and flashed the grin again. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted:
"Look up the English phrase 'paying it forward'! You'll understand everything!"
With a chuckle, Jack turned again and disappeared up the stairs, leaving Keitaro to stand there dumbly, scratching his head.
'Pay it forward…okay, Jack.' Keitaro thought. 'I'll look it up next time I study.'
Keitaro turned and began walking back to the train station. He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked up at the sky, smiling at the warmth of the sun on his face. Things were starting to look up for the ronin.
'What a strange person…' Keitaro mused. 'I hope he does okay.'
By this time, Jack had reached the outside of the Hinata Sou. He surveyed the hotel with a faint smile on his face.
'Wow, what a nice place. I'd certainly like to live here.' he thought. 'Goddess knows I need one…maybe I can get some free lodging for awhile if this thing plays out right.'
'I mean, obviously I wouldn't want to live here rent-free!' Jack thought, correcting himself. 'It's a hotel, for goodness sake. I just mean that I could get a few nights for free until I line up a new job for myself, after being so unceremoniously fired from the last one…'
"Yeah, yeah. We know what you meant, idiot." said a small, reasonable part of his brain.
Jack let out a small chuckle at his self-admonishment and shook himself out of the reverie. He strolled forward and entered the lobby of the Hinata Sou.
The place was empty.
"Hmm." said Jack. "That's odd. Very empty for a hotel."
Jack cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "HELLO! ANYONE AROUND?"
Almost on cue, a young, dark-skinned girl with blonde hair bounced down the stairs.
"Kaolla Su is here! Who are you?" said the girl.
"Uh…Jack. Jack Kavanagh." replied Jack, watching the girl bounce with a kangaroo's agility.
"Will you play with me?" the girl shouted.
"Uh, I suppo-" Jack's reply was cut off by Kaolla jumping on him and wrapping her legs around his neck, riding him like a horse.
"Yay! A new playmate! Go, Jack Horsie, go!" yelled Kaolla gleefully.
"H-hey!" said Jack, nearly toppling over from the force of Kaolla's swinging. "I've gotta find some lady called – quit that! – Grandma Hina first!"
Kaolla swung down and stared at Jack in the face, upside down.
"She's not here!" said Kaolla. "She went on a cruise!"
"A cruise?" said Jack.
Jack's eyes became lidded and his shoulders drooped. 'Man, this is turning out to be a lot more effort than I thought it would...'
"Well, can I talk to anyone else in cha-"
Jack was cut off yet again by Kaolla swinging around his head again and planting the front of her skirt squarely in Jack's face. Jack called out in surprise, but it was muffled by the fabric and Kaolla yelling "Reverse horsie! Reverse horsie!"
At this moment, another young girl – this one with long, black hair – came down the stairs. She was wearing a schoolgirl's uniform and held a wickedly sharp sword in her hand.
"Su, what are you making so much noise about down he-"
Upon seeing Kaolla's skirt wedged securely in Jack's face, the swordswoman's face contorted in fury.
"Vile man! How dare you take advantage of a middle school student? Face your demise!"
The swordswoman drew her sword and loosed off a powerful blast of wind. Kaolla bounced off of Jack's face, leaving him to boggle at the rapidly approaching attack.
"Oh, pickleberries!" Jack shouted. His brain firing into action, Jack dived to the side, hiding behind a couch. The attack screamed past him and flew out the door.
"Do not think you can hide, scum!" screamed the swordswoman, advancing on Jack's hidden form.
"Hey, hey, hold up a second! I didn't do anything wrong! The girl jumped onto me!" explained Jack as fast as he could.
"Lies! Foul male lies!" growled the swordswoman, reaching Jack and raising her sword above her head.
In a rush to get away, Jack spun around onto his back and faced the incoming blade. He frantically looked up at Kaolla, who was swinging off the banisters.
"Um…what was her name…Su! Back me up here! I didn't do anything, right?" Jack shouted.
Kaolla grinned and bounced onto a couch. "He's telling the truth, Motoko! He just came to play with me!"
The swordswoman was undeterred. "You have poisoned her mind with your lies, too? You shall not be forgiven!"
The sword's descent began. Jack closed his eyes and thanked the Gods that he had had a full and happy life before this.
Just as the blade was about to meet its mark, a sharp voice rang out from the doorway.
"Motoko! Stop that!" it said. Responding, the blade stopped mere inches from Jack's face. Everyone turned in the direction of the voice – Jack more discreetly than the others.
In the doorway stood a tall, nearly middle-aged woman. A cigarette hung loosely from her lips, and she had an unreadable expression on her face.
"Do you have the letter with you, kid?" asked the older lady.
"Oh. Yeah." said Jack. He quickly pulled the letter out of his pocket and held it in the older lady's direction. "Are you the owner of the hotel?"
The woman's expression remained blank. She walked towards Jack and slowly pushed Motoko's blade away from Jack's face.
"For now. Come into the kitchen and we can all hear your explanation."
Jack nodded in agreement. Seemingly satisfied, the older lady walked off to the kitchen, followed by the swordswoman – who seemed to be almost smoking with anger – and led by a bounding Kaolla Su.
Jack looked down at the letter in his hand.
'Oh, great Tenaris.' Jack thought, wide-eyed. 'What have I gotten myself into?'
--
AN: And that is the opening scene, everyone! Hope you enjoyed it. It may not be my first long piece of prose, but it is my first fan-fic. I'll be changing the storyline rather dramatically – as you can see, Keitaro doesn't even ARRIVE at the Hinata Sou to become manager – but things will stay surprisingly similar.
And a quick disclaimer for everyone. Yes, I know this is extremely self-indulgent. Yes, I know the 'insert yourself into an anime world' thing is grossly overdone. Yes, I know.
But this idea will just NOT. GO. AWAY. So I'm doing it anyway.
Hopefully it'll be good reading for everyone else. I know this chapter flowed like water for me.
Until the next chapter!