'We Fell in Love'
'Love Hina' is by Ken Akamatsu
Writer's notes: I will not rush the developing plot of this story too fast.
Time line: Mid-September 2013-everything for fall activities is moving right along.
Chapter 3: There is a time for everything
Kitsune gets her first glance of the man to whom her red string of enishi leads.
"Kit, do you have to work today?" asks Mariko. She is still lying on her bunk listening to her roomie getting dressed.
This has become a regular occurrence because Kitsune, no matter how few hours she sleeps, the ash-blonde is always running off to somewhere or another.
"Yeah, I've got a full day ahead of me Mari-chan because I'm the store manager today. Urashima-san is going to be checking his other stores," Kitsune says heading to the room's mirror behind the closet door, "don't expect me until at least 5:30."
The other woman chuckles.
"I'm not well off like you are," she adds teasing Mariko. Having a rich roommate means, she does not have to worry about her wanting to borrow cash.
"Wanna go out afterwards tonight then, my treat," says Mariko as Kitsune grabs her knapsack.
These two have become good friends since they started sharing a dorm room together. They go out when Kitsune is home at night or they have just finished their projects and need to blow off steam. This is something Kitsune enjoys about having Mariko around, free dinner somewhere a little bit more highbrow than usual.
"I'd like that, fast-food is getting kinda' lame right now," Kitsune says drawling a bit in her Kansai accent. She tells Mariko all the time that she is lucky having parents who have lots of money, but Mariko turns the tables on her by saying that she wishes she had a many friends as the Kitsune does.
Since Mariko does not need to work, she is going to try out some of her new anime concepts on her laptop.
"Ja ne, Kit," says Mariko watching Kitsune run out the door.
As always, when Kitsune leaves, Mariko rolls over and goes back to sleep. She actually thinks that her roomie is the lucky one.
A pretty sight, Kitsune is happy that the trams are empty today. The weekday trips across town are very tiresome sometimes. It is not that she minds the trip so much, it is that some of the people can be a little creepy in the late afternoon after she finishes work. She has mace and a short billyclub hidden in a special pocket that she can access quickly to use in case of molesters.
She has used that club only once to smash a molester's balls in when he had grabbed her butt. Struck as hard as he was, Kitsune clubbed his balls without mercy dropping him like a stone.
Not know that a man that she struck could scream in that high of a pitch, he sang beautifully just like a first soprano.
After getting off the tram, she sees the shop across the street and heads to the pedestrian overpass.
At this time of day, the car traffic is such that you take your life in your own hands if you try to use the crosswalk. There is even a sign posted stating this. Kitsune never likes to cross the main streets in downtown Tokyo during these times. She hates taking chances with anything that could affect her health, so at the light, up and over she goes.
The shop is flat out busy when she walks in.
"Geezus, this place never changes," says Kitsune smiling after greeting everyone.
The other employees smile when Kitsune comes through the front door. It seems like life returns to the place when she comes to work.
Stepping into the office to drop off her stuff off as usual, she sees what Urashima-san wants done today. Since it is her day to be the boss again, she makes sure everything is complete to his satisfaction, or she will know why.
Before heading out of the office, she spots a framed photograph of Kenichi and his family. Eyeing the young man standing next to her boss, she smiles. 'What a cutie' she thinks as she closes the office door behind her.
Someone once said that a first impression means everything.
Elsewhere, on a very beautiful day…
Sitting in the office of one of his auxiliary bakeshops, Kenichi and Keitaro enjoy bentos prepared by this shop.
Tells his Tou-san that he has nothing better to do since all of his assignments are finished, Keitaro says that he is far ahead on all of his other schoolwork. Having a good time carting his Tou-san around in the sidecar of his bike, Keitaro appreciated being with him since they have a lot of fun together.
Sometimes he, as does his Kaa-san, thinks that his 'old man' is more like an 'Onii-chan' to him than the one who helped conceive him a little over 21 years before. What a life, ne?
However, as to that question, we will soon see things about them as they spend time together.
"Son, I'm not trying to pry but are you seeing anyone right now?" asks Kenichi putting his bento aside.
"No, not right now Tou-san," says Keitaro slurping at his noodle and beef bowl, "Even though Kina-chan is still chasing me around when I see her. She is upset at me because I am not taking her bait. I just want her as a good friend, that's all."
"Is it that you've not met the right girl just yet?" asks Kenichi. He is truly curious when he hears son tell him that Kina is still after him.
"But that's only part of it, Tou-san," answers Keitaro sitting back relaxing, "When I was a kid, I made a silly promise to Otohime Mutsumi-chan that I'd get into Tokyo U, we'd meet up again and live happily ever after. I do not want that, even if she is beautiful now. For some reason that sounds too shallow and somewhat creepy to me. I am also trying to get my friend Nobu to have the courage to take Kina off my hands. He probably the shyest person I know."
He puts aside his empty bowl.
"You're not giving up on romance are you?" asks Kenichi stunned that his son remembers such an old event, and that he wants to pawn off such a beautiful girl. He has seen Kina for himself a number of times and wonders about his son sometimes.
Hinata Obaa-san has said the same about him too.
"No, Tou-san. I want to find the right girl," says Keitaro starting to laugh, "Believe me, you'll know it when I can't take my eyes off of her and I start sounding like a gibbering baka. That's what I'm looking for."
Then, Kenichi thinks that he can arrange for this to happen by introducing him to Kitsune. Meeting the ash-blonde beauty will definitely rock his son's world and turn him into that gibbering baka he lets on about here. In getting to know the Osakan, Kenichi knows that he can trust that fact she will be a perfect match for him.
Therefore, now that he hears his son's confession, Kenichi is going to put into motion the plan that he and his wife have been hatching together for some time.
"So you want to have a girl that totally bowls you over, eh?" asks his Tou-san smiling.
"That's about the size of it, Tou-san," answers Keitaro.
The two men thank the crew at the shop for their lunch before they head out to the next store.
A private Academy meeting room…
Kanako also has an enishi issue of her own starting.
Moreover, with guess who?
The day has gone by great for Kanako. She never knew that meeting teen girls her own age could be so much fun. Mostly though, she likes being around her 'Onii-chan', but the girls here at the Academy are not too bad either as they treat her very well.
Her fellow students, as she is finding out, are a lot more serious minded about their grades than they are with their looks though some of her fellow classmates are breathtakingly beautiful.
Being both the class and first year representative to the student council, she appreciates seeing the inner workings of the Academy. Enjoying what she sees on a daily basis, her mindset is such that anything outside of her Onii-chan is boring. She is working on it though…
Knowing that she likes girls, Kanako recently told her 'Onii-chan' about her Yuri tendencies and asked him if they were strange.
A little surprised by her confession, Keitaro says it is up to her to make up her own mind. He will support her no matter what her decision is about her dating proclivities, and that he loves her no matter who she chooses.
Kanako is very happy that her 'Onii-chan' is standing by her after confiding in him. She kissed his cheek after thanking him.
Having time each day before Keitaro picks her up, she had joined the Student Council to give her something to kill time. Taking her position here extremely seriously now, she has planned their Founder's Day Festival without any extra input from the others.
This girl is so smart and organized that sometimes it is extremely scary.
"Mikagawa-Sensei, have the budgets been set for the Festival in December?" asks a student named Denbo Miki. She is the second year's class rep from class 2-2, which also makes her the grade's assistant rep.
"Onegai Sensei, I can answer that," answers Kanako abruptly. Standing up confidently, she continues, "I've done a study of all of the clubs that want to participate in the Founder's Day Festival this year. I then analyzed the budgets for each club to the Yen, and many of the clubs funds have been way out of balance for what they need. There was a lot of waste and overage last year with none of the unused portions coming back to the Council to be used for other purposes." A pause as she opens the folder she has there in front of her and passes out the copies of what she had done, "these are my proposals for all of the clubs, their budgets and what to do with all of the residuals."
Stunning the others, her fellow have difficulty believing that a first year student has just pre-planned the whole Festival so concisely and efficiently.
Looking over her paperwork the others are smiling at Kanako's work and after a moment's discussion, they adopt the document quickly and unanimously without a single change or amendment.
The Sensei looks at her watch and says that if there are no more items on the agenda, she calls the meeting to a close.
After the meeting adjourns, Kanako organizes all of her notes when she notices a beautiful brunette sitting with the other third year Student Council members.
This dark-haired girl just about has her breath taken away by the other young woman.
After a minute, someone sees Kanako looking over at the other girl and acts…
"Urashima Kanako-san, I'd like to introduce you to Narusegawa Naru-san."
Hinata Tea Shoppe…
An event is about to happen that bring some sunshine back into Haruka's life.
"Sarah-chan, do you remember Urashima Haruka-san?" asks a caseworker from the Prefecture child protection agency in unaccented English, "She was a good friend of your Kaa-san's and wanted to see you again."
The woman stands there in the foyer of the Hinata behind a beautiful nine-year-old blonde-haired blue-eyed American girl.
Haruka has a tear in her eye because she is the spitting image of her Kaa-san, Julia.
"Sorry about that, Sarah-chan. You look so much like her," says Haruka also in unaccented English.
Julia was four years older than she was, but the two women had become best friends after a very short time.
Bowing, and in perfect Japanese Sarah says, "Konnichiwa, Urashima-san. O-genki desu-ka? I speak Japanese. My Kaa-san's letters told me that you two were very close."
Haruka smiles at her command of the language, her politeness and then she returns the bow saying, "Genki desu. I hope we can see a lot more of each other and that you can live here with me Sarah-chan".
The girl then looks up at the woman she is with and nods.
The woman smiles and then nods in return giving Sarah the clue that she can go over to where Haruka is sitting.
The caseworker steps outside to allow her charge to get to know the woman who will become her Kaa-san today. She does not go too far away in case the re-introduction goes awry in any way.
Seeing how beautiful the grounds are, the caseworker has even heard second-hand about how rich and powerful the Urashima are. In her professional estimation though, Urashima Haruka seem very friendly, personable and forthright.
Along with that, she knows about their clan's bakeries located in both Tokyo and Chibe. Not normally working in those two cities or their Prefectures, she has enjoyed the pastries from those shops on many occasions.
"Some of the best pastries in Japan," she whispers offhandedly. This is something different for her being a liberal leaning political supporter, that is, to see many members of a very rich family work harder than what their upper class status would require of them.
However, she is not here to evaluate the whole family, just Haruka's fitness to raise a non-Japanese child.
So far, all of the signs look very positive.
'I guess you can't judge a book by its cover,' she thinks while looking at some very pretty red maple trees.
Twenty minutes later inside the common room of the Hinata all three sit waiting the inevitable question, "Well Sarah-chan, what do you think? Would you like to live with Urashima-san?"
Sarah looks as though she is enjoying her meeting with Haruka.
Haruka, looking hopeful, is nervous at the same time too.
"Yes, ma'am," says Sarah smiling, "I would very much like to live here with Haruka-san here at the Hinata. She does not smoke as does Seta-san, and lives in one place. Plus, she's told me all about the girls who live here, the hot springs just outside the door back there (Sarah points at the onsen door) and the big hill that is out back to play on."
"Well Sarah-chan, it looks like you'll get your wish," announces the caseworker smiling at Sarah and Haruka.
A pause…
Then the caseworker says something that surprises Haruka, "The court appointed administrator for Sarah's case has already decided in favor of her living here with you. First, there will be a 90-day probationary period just to see how the two of you are adjusting to each other. After that, it will be another 90-day period before I only checkup once a year until she is sixteen. We just have some final paper work here to fill out and sign, before I release her into your good hands."
Sarah smiles at Haruka, and watches her sign the documents.
Using her Hanko, the legal stamp signifies that Haruka is now a new Kaa-san.
"Urashima-san, can I call you Kaa-san from now on?" asks the now beaming young girl in her flawless Japanese.
"Of course you can, Sarah-chan," answers Haruka opening her arms.
Sarah runs into them.
Hugging, the two cry tears of joy together.
Haruka is in high spirits right now that she never smoked as Seta does, as she has always liked Junpei much better anyway and not for that reason alone.
After getting her few belongings from the social worker's car the two have lunch together.
She tells Sarah all about her Tea Shoppe as they eat.
Then, she meets some of Haruka's employees.
"May I help here sometimes, Kaa-san?" asks Sarah turning on her natural charm.
Some of the waitresses flock around wanting to get to know their bosses' new daughter.
"Sure, why not," answers Haruka smiling, "I'd be proud to show off my new daughter to everyone."
Not shooing the others away because of the momentary lull in business, she wants them to get to know one another.
More staff gathers around the pair.
"I have to a question for you, Sarah-chan," says Haruka wanting to dote on her, "Would you like to go to a really good school and make new friends?"
"Yes, Kaa-san. Although I'm a little shy sometimes," responds Sarah looking demure and blushing.
Her honesty surprises Haruka quite a bit.
The waitresses collectively say, "Aw".
"Okay then, before we do that," says Haruka with a grin, "I am going to spoil you a little today my new daughter and get you things that any girl your age would want or need. First, I am going to wait for the residents to come home. I want you to meet them before we go shopping together, okay?"
Now that she has Sarah, she is wondering where they will go first. She has a million and one new details running through her head. Haruka has in her care what seems to her to be a very intelligent nine-year-old girl.
To say that Haruka has been looking forward to this since she filed for custody after her best friend's death is a huge understatement.
Now she will taste the honey along with the vinegar.
Urashima residence at dinnertime…
Hina Obaa-san opens a door for her grandson, but he is not going to go down the road that she has paved for him. Moreover, in time he is going to shake things up.
At least that is what he thinks…
"Kei-kun, this came for you from Haruka's Tea Shoppe," says Kenichi handing a legal-looking packet to his son, "She gave it to Taishi-san when he made his delivery there earlier today."
He recognizes the Hanko of the families' solicitors and sees the Urashima crest in the upper left-hand corner of the large envelope.
Opening up the envelope in front of his family, Keitaro takes out all of the contents and lays them on the table.
Reading them while eating dinner, Keitaro stares at the legal papers then stops chewing in mid-bite. Handing some to his father, he keeps reading from the stack.
"You've got to be kidding me, I knew my Kaa-san was going to will you the Hinata son, but this…," says Kenichi incredulously.
Keitaro hands some to Kanako to look over as well.
"There must be something that she's not telling you son, because she doesn't do anything without a reason," he adds.
"Yeah, Haruka-chan is definitely going to hear from me after I finish this," says Keitaro brusquely, "I know from what she's been texting me lately that Obaa-san has been doing some strange things at our ancient family home."
He does not like what he sees in the pages before him.
Usually, Keitaro is one who always takes everything in stride, as he does want the Hinata. However, he had expected his Obaa-san to hand it over to him personally. Never did he expect her to be this cold and just give him all of that property through some second party or a solicitor.
"So, she's done it again," said Kasumi who cares about how her son is treated his relatives. Her family at least treats Keitaro with love and kindness. Not like some piece on a Go board.
"Do you still want it son?" asks Kenichi who questions his Kaa-san's motives in not passing the families' ancestral home the traditional way. He thinks that something is very odd here, and he will back up his son to the nth degree if he comes to a loggerhead with one Hina Urashima.
"Yeah, I do want it, very much so," says Keitaro looking intently at his Tou-san.
A pause for the right words…
"But, I am going to take it over on my schedule and not hers Tou-san," declares Keitaro who gets nods of approval from the other three sitting here.
Kitsune's dorm room…
To quote Shakespeare, "the die is cast."
Writing in her new blog for the evening, Kitsune cannot help but think about the young man whom she saw in her bosses' family photo. He has such beautiful eyes and is a real cutie. If the son is anything like his Tou-san, he will be someone she would love to get to know better and be with him.
Nevertheless, she is only dreaming. On the other hand, is she really?
Mariko is out for a while so that leaves Kitsune alone their room, and in her own little world. These times are rare with her hectic schedule, so she goes back to thinking of the cutie in the picture.
Bzzzz! Bzzzz!
Her smart phone goes off bringing Kitsune back into the real world.
"Moshi! Moshi! Kitsune here," says the ash-blonde.
She listens.
"Oh hi, Urashima-san. What's up?"
Then she listens and scribbles down some notes on her desk pad.
"Dinner, Sunday, your place, noon. Sure, I will be there. See ya then," says Kitsune before hitting the disconnect icon. Her curiosity is now starting to peak as it sets her thought process a-whirl. She hopes that she will see the cute young man in the photo there and that he will be like the ideal she has set for him.
Smiling, she goes back to her blog.
Little does Kitsune suspect all of the big changes that are about to happen in her life?
End of Chapter