Chapter 1 A New Face
Within the city of Hinata the cars buzzed around, people chatted as they walked along the busy sidewalks...and the Hinata Inn...was crazy and loud as usual. All seemed normal within the city...except for the presence of a new somebody.
A man, carrying many bags, sighed walking around the streets aimlessly. He was a bit above average height, he had a cleanly toned build, spiky black hair, dark brown eyes and looked to be about 17.
He sighed, "Why did you have to kick me out mother? I needed ONE more year, just one MEASLY year! But how am I going to find a place to stay around here? All it is around here are shops, and restaurants from what I can tell. Face it...there's no way I'll be able to finish."
He sat down on bench just right by a bridge looking tired and hopeless from his travels.
"Just great," Right then Keitaro Urashima turned around the corner holding a few bags. He slowly began to near the bridge. "Right in the middle of my studies, I get tosssed out of my room and forced to retrieve more sake for Kitsune! I swear, sometimes I think that with the money she's spent on sake we could..."
Just then Keitaro spotted the man sitting on the bench, looking rather hopless.
"Huh? Hey. Are you alright?"
"Whah'? Oh, yea I'll be fine...it's just that i got kicked out of my own home by my mother. And I really don't have a place to stay now. I need to stay around Hinata so I can...finish up something."
"Really? I think i can help, I happen to own an Inn quite near by. I could give you a room if you'd like...well, that is if that's alright with the girls."
"That'd be great!"
"Ok then! It's settled. Come on! We'll go to the Hinata Inn right now!"
"Right!"
The man stood up and picked up his bags. "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Akitomo Shyoji."
"I'm Keitaro Urashima"
The two started to walk towards the Hinata Inn. Climbing the many stairs and passing many people. Soon they approached the front of the Inn. A woman stood in one of the windows looking down at Keitaro in particular.
"Keitaro! What took you so long to get my sake?" Kitsune asked,
"Well you could have gotten it yourself rather than interrupt my studies you know!" Keitaro retorted,
Kitsune commented to herself, "But where would the fun in that be?" she yelled back into the courtyard, "By the way Keitaro! Who's that with you?"
"I'll explain later. But could you gather everyone in the kitchen please?"
"Fine!" Kitsune closed the window and walked off to gather the rest of the girls
Akitomo blinked a few times and turned to Keitaro, "Who was that?"
"Oh, that was Mitsune, but everyone calls her Kitsune. She usually just spends her time drinking, partying and butting in on other people's business. I'd be careful around her with personal stuff if I were you. I'll introduce you to everyone in the Kitchen."
"Okay, sounds good."
The pair walked into the house headed for the kitchen. Akitomo looked down, in deep thought, following Keitaro sub-conciously.
'It's weird...I feel as if I have been here before. The place is just...familiar...'
Everyone was waiting in the kitchen, looking mildly curious as to why they were all summoned there. Keitaro walked in and heaved the bags on the table. He took a deep breath before beginning to explain.
"Okay, you all may be wondering why I have summoned you all here. Well, you see, this," He motioned towards the man by him, "is Akitomo Shyoji. I met him on my way back here." Akitomo waved to everyone upon hearing this.
Keitaro continued, "He just recently left his home and has no where to go. I offered him a place to stay here at the Hinata Inn, but I didn't want to gurantee it until I ran the idea by you guys."
Motoko was the first to speak up, "Keitaro, have you forgotten that this is an "All Girl's Dorm"? The only reason you stay here is because you are the Manager!"
Su promptly jumped on Motoko's back, "Come on Motoko! He has no where to go! Besides he looks like he'd be fun to play with!"
Akitomo spoke up, "I understand that this is an "All Girls Dorm", but I really have no where to go. I promise, I'll earn my keep and pay rent just as you all do. And I won't get in the way."
Naru stood up "Well, you seem honest enough, I vouch for a yes"
Shinobu spoke up, "He seem's really nice so I say yes"
Kitsune said, "Well, I like him, he's a cutie. I vote yes"
Su said, "Of course my vote is a yes!"
Motoko could not stand this and pointed at Akitomo angrily "Why should he get to stay here! It's bad enough we have ONE guy around here!"
Akitomo replied "I'm sorry you feel this way Miss...um..."
"Motoko! Just stay out of my way!" And with that Motoko stormed out of the room towards the roof, obviously to release her stress through some katas.
Keitaro blinked a few times at the spectacle that had just occured, "Ooooooook then. Well, I guess due to the votes of 4 yay and 1 nay, that Akitomo get's to stay."
Akitomo bowed deeply to everyone, "Thank you, all of you. You don't know how much this means to me."
Everyone smiled warmly and and welcomed him to the Hinata Inn.
"Okay then, I'll go ahead and show you to your room." Keitaro offered,
"Sounds good, and thank you all again." Akitomo answered.
Akitomo followed Keitaro. As they walked towards Akitomo's room, they past the roof seeing Motoko perform an intricate kata. Akitomo looked at Motoko quite surprised seeing her perform the kata. From the way she was dressed earlier, in more feminine clothing, she didn't look as if she knew kendo. They turned down a hall and stopped in front of a room.
"Okay then, this will be your room from here on out. Just let me or any of the other tenants know if you need anything." Keitaro said before leaving him.
Akitomo dropped his bags and started to unload them. Unpacking clothes, numerous books and finally a set of samurai armor and what looked like a katana but shorter. It was too long to be a dagger, but too short to be a Katana. He set the armor in the middle with the blade in front of it on a stand. He plopped down on his futon clearly tired. It was a bit early, but he had been travelling for so long.
'This is great! I have a place to stay, I get to complete my training and I get to finish that one...'
He drifted off to sleep unable to finish that thought, unknowing of what was in store for him tomorrow.
