"Hello? I'm back!" Keitaro stepped across the threshold of the Hinata Inn, taking his shoes off in the entry way. Chris followed suit, though it took him a little while longer to unlace his old combat boots. Just as he stepped onto the hard wood floors, a painful jolt shot through Chris's chest.
"Damn it," Chris muttered, setting down his duffle bag. Clutching his chest with one hand, he reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a bottle of medication. He popped the lid with his thumb and shook two pills into his mouth, which he swallowed without assistance.
"Um, Chris, what was that about?"
Chris turned to see Keitaro looking back at him, a concerned look on his friend's face, "Just an injury acting up. It hasn't fully healed yet." The doctor said I'd be fine after a month or two.
"I see. If you need any help with anything, let me know," Keitaro said. The two men walked through the common area and over to what Chris saw was the dining room. At the kitchen sink was a young girl with azure hair.
"Welcome back, senpai. I was just starting...? Who is this?" The girl asked, turning to face Keitaro, but freezing when she saw Chris.
"Shinobu-chan, this is Christopher Moriarty, he'll be staying with us for a little while. Chris, this is Shinobu Maehara. Don't worry, Shinobu-chan, I already cleared it with Aunt Haruka and Granny Hina," Keitaro said, introducing Chris with a smile.
Chris bowed politely, "A pleasure to meet you Ms. Maehara."
"Ah, um, I'm s-sorry," Shinobu said timidly as she left the kitchen for parts unknown. Chris watched her leave, then glanced at Keitaro questioningly.
"She's nervous around men. She isn't the one you have to worry about," Keitaro said with a slight grin.
Chris frowned, "I have a feeling this is not going to end well."
"KEITARO! GET OVER HERE!"
Chris flinched at the sound of the screaming banshee, "I'm going to assume that is one of the people I will have to worry about."
Keitaro chuckled nervously, "Naru really isn't so bad once you get used to her." He made his way for the dining room door.
Chris sighed as he followed his fellow archaeologist, "I notice you said 'get used to her' rather than get to know her."
Keitaro laughed as they trudged back into the common room, where they had left their bags. In the room were several women, including the young Shinobu as well as Haruka.
"What is it, Naru?"
"You know exactly what 'it' is! What are you doing, bringing another man here? We've made an exception for you, since Granny Hina made you manager, but this is too much," A young woman with brown hair said, gesturing to Chris.
A younger woman with long black hair, wearing a traditional gi and hakama, held a sheathed sword in one hand as she frowned at him, "I agree. We cannot let another man stay here. This is supposed to be an all-girls dorm, with Urashima as the only exception to that policy. Who are you and what is your intention?"
"My name is Christopher Moriarty, and it was my intent to stay here temporarily until I find a place of my own," Chris said, examining the crowd before him.
"Listen, Granny Hina already said he could stay as long as he helping me with my duties here," Keitaro said in Chris's defense.
"Where did you meet this guy, Keitaro? He's an American! Who knows what he might do to one of the girls if he finds them alone!" Naru jabbed a finger in Chris's direction.
Chris's eyes narrowed when he heard Naru's comment, "You should not judge all for the acts of the few."
Naru turned to look at Chris, "How do we know you aren't like those 'few?' You could be worse!"
"You'll have to take my word on it, for now. Besides, Mr. Noriyasu didn't have a problem hiring me," Chris said coldly.
"Seta-san hired you?"
Keitaro stepped in, clearing his throat, "Yes, Naru. Chris the newest member of Seta-san's dig team. He helped us out on our last expedition."
"Oh. Well, I still don't like the idea of another guy living here," Naru said, crossing her arms.
"Aww, come on, Naru. We all know that Seta-san is a good judge of character, even if he is a little absent-minded sometimes," A fox-eyed girl said, elbowing Naru slightly.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Chris, this is Mistune Konno. The girl with the sword is Motoko Aoyama. You already met Shinobu-chan and Au-I mean, Haruka-san. This is Naru Narusegawa. The foreign girl there is Kaolla Su, and Seta-san already told you about Sarah," Keitaro said, introducing all of the girls present.
"A pleasure to meet all of you," Chris said politely, though he did not bow this time.
"Call me Kitsune, sugah," Mistune said with a grin.
"Careful around her, she'll blackmail you to get anything she wants. She is a good person despite that, though," Keitaro whispered so the rest couldn't hear.
"I still refuse to let another man live under this roof without a fight," Motoko said, glaring at Chris, "and because I feel this way, I challenge you to a duel."
"M-Motoko-san! We just got back from an expedition," Keitaro said loudly.
Naru glared at the spectacled archaeologist, "Then if he isn't strong enough to fight Motoko, then he doesn't deserve to stay here."
"Do you accept the terms?" Motoko watched Crhis carefully.
Chris sighed, "Time and place?"
Motoko seemed surprised that Chris accepted the challenge without fussing like Keitaro would have, "The tree line behind the Inn. Twenty minutes."
"I'll be there," Chris said, pulling Keitaro away from the girls, "how good is she with that sword?"
Keitaro scratched the back of his head, "She is next in line to inherit the Aoyama Family dojo in Kyoto, and is a disciple of the Shinmei Ryuu."
"So she is pretty good then?" Chris glanced back at Motoko, who was talking with Naru.
"One of the best, I'd say," Keitaro said with a nod.
Chris sighed as he walked over to his duffle bag, muttering to himself, "Didn't think I'd ever use this again." He opened the bag and fished around inside, finally pulling out a nine-inch combat knife with a compressed leather handle. The sheath, in which the blade was housed, was made from leather as well. Imprinted on the faded leather was the U.S. Army seal. Chris drew the blade, examining the edge. The blade itself was coated with a black finish, so only the edge gleamed like silver fire in the light of the room. Chris sheathed the blade, then made his way towards the back of the Inn with Keitaro.
The atmosphere of the Hinata-Sou grew thick as the two combatants prepared for their upcoming duel, which would either result in Chris's ejection from the premises or him earning a place to stay. It was hard to tell, at this point, which of the results would be better at the end of the day.
A/N: I know in Japenese you are supposed to say/write the last name first, but for the sake of my sanity, I have to write it first name first, so forgive me if I offend anyone while writing it this way. REMEMBER, four years have passed (ie Shinobu would be about seventeen years old). Keitaro and Naru are not together.