AN: Alright, so this one is considerably longer, but I think I'm pleased with how it turned out. This chapter was tough to write, and went through a ton of revisions, but it's certainly better for it. A big thanks to Arvel for checking over it and willing to tell me 'Not good enough' and Cizzy for making it readable. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did writing it.


This was all cute in a very disgusting way. Kanako was... well, there was water running down his back, and it wasn't raining. He had his arms looped underneath her legs, and her arms looped lazily over his shoulders, her face mashed against the back of his neck in some sort of permanent kiss, complete with saliva dribbling down as she snored noisily.

Kanako and Keitaro were, admittedly, a strange sight most days. This day, at worst, they looked like they were homeless, at best escapees from a hospital armed with only gauze. Her feet were dressed in tightly wrapped gauze booties, he was wearing a hat of gauze, and his hands wrapped in the same way a boxer's might before putting on his boxing gloves.

Neither had washed since the incident, so they were both stained with some manner of blood and dirt.

And Kuro... The infuriating floppy eared being just followed him from a fair distance behind.

It was under the night sky that Keitaro carried Kanako to the train station, tickets intended for later in the week in hand. It was a particularly nice night out, with the moon shining brightly and the stars blanketing the sky. It was a nice juxtaposition to the rest of the day.

"Tickets, sir?"

He hadn't noticed that he'd arrived at the station. It was quiet like the rest of the city, sitting high on a hill and hidden well out of sight; a wooden platform overlooking the train tracks, lit only by the overhanging fluorescent lights that buzzed and sparked with age.

"Yeah, right here."

He had to release Kanako's leg to dig into his pocket for the tickets, and she instinctively squeezed tighter around his neck to keep from slipping off. He slipped the tickets under the ticket taker's window, and gave his best winning smile. There were more than a few rivulets of blood running through his teeth.

"What'd you do, get in a fight?"

Keitaro just snorted at that. "Something like that, yeah."

The ticket man, a black haired guy that was a little over Keitaro's age, gave a laugh, and tilted his head at the sleeping Kanako. "Look's like she kicked your ass." He glanced down at the tickets, furrowing his eyebrows at the date. "You're a bit early, ain't ya?"

Another nod. "Yeah, look, if it's not too much trouble--"

"Not at all, man." The ticket man winked, and punched the ticket. "Hope you find what yer' lookin' for in Kanagawa, man. Just soldier on, alright?"

"R-really?"

The guy gave another wink, and with a wave of his hand and some flourish, gestured past the booth towards the train that sat quietly under the night's sky.

"Really. Move the hell on."

Keitaro gave a quick thanks, and took the guy's advice. He carried Kanako all the way to the train, taking a moment to catch the silhouette of the city. It didn't seem fair for such an ugly place to look so gorgeous, with its flickering lights and over-passing airplanes. It glittered prettily against a full moon, like the surface of a diamond.

He snorted, and spat in the direction of his house. "God damn you." And then he climbed the steps to the train, and made his way to the very first car of the train. Because there was no way in hell he was looking back.

- - - - - - - - -

This is Kanagawa Station. Kanagawa Station is the last stop. Please make sure you take all of your baggage with you, and please, have a nice day.

Her eyes snapped open at the dulcet voice. She winced at first, and covered her eyes in an attempt to block the sun filtering from the window into them, her bangs shifting mercifully across her face.

The second thing she caught was her daddy's face. Sitting straight up, he still had his broken glasses on, while his eyes were squeezed tight. He had her all snuggled against up against him, and she relished in that feeling, pressing her head against his chest and smiling softly. She tried to match her breathing with his, slowly inhaling and exhaling.

Kanagawa Station, please make sure you take all your baggage with you. The voice boomed again, and finally, Keitaro's eyes opened, and met dark brown eyes.

"Hey."

"G'morning dad."

"M'not your dad." He mumbled, and she just giggled at that.

He rolled his drowsy eyes, and tilted his head at her. "You okay?"

"My feet still hurt."

His expression softened, and he ran a hand through her ebony hair. "We're almost there, Kanako. You can soak your feet once we get there, okay?"

She nodded against him. "Are we playing the piggy back game again?"

God, he was sore. His joints ached, his head still throbbed, every shift and every movement she made against him stung in concert with the injuries that man gave him. Regardless, he pulled Kanako a tight hug, and pressed his lips against her forehead. With that same move, he held her so that she could see him eye to eye. "Yeah, lets play the piggy back game one last time."

- - - - - - - - -

And damned if he didn't forget about the obscene amount of stairs leading up to the Hinata House.

"Kuro!" Kanako chirped.

Yes. Little Kuro was back, and it seemed intent on tripping Keitaro by crossing between his legs over and over again with each step he took. He didn't know how the cat followed them on the train or where it hid or how it was sustaining himself, but this affirmed that the cat was the devil.

Keitaro stumbled up one step, nearly pitching forward as the cat leapt onto Kanako's bag, and hung there for dear life.

"I hate you." He hissed at the cat.

"What'd you say, daddy?"

He replied by releasing a sound that embodied his frustration thus far, a growl combined with a gurgle combined with a sneeze.

"You made a shmurfle!" Yes, Kanako named that particular noise, and though Keitaro didn't know it, she had him averaged to around three shmurfles a week. Except for the week when she ate all her snacks in one day. That week Keitaro managed seven shmurfles.

The second they reached the peak of that particular mountain, the two ended up staring at the mansion that was the Hinata House. "Woooow... it's so big!" Kanako gaped openly at the Hinata House. "It's a lot bigger than I remember!"

Keitaro nodded dumbly, from the cherry blossoms that fluttered across the sky, to the viridian trees, to the gaping archway that welcomed him onto the path towards the pitch white double doors, even to the massive Hinata household itself, which had to have seen renovation and expansion since the last time he'd seen it...

The place looked nothing like home...it felt nothing like he remembered, either. This was new, and in a way, exciting. In other ways? Completely and utterly terrifying.

"Daddy! Come on! Come on!" She kicked at his sides like a jockey, and he, with little thought, obeyed. He opened the doors, staring at a living room he very much remembered, only with far fewer people this time: just an empty room with polished plywood floors, a couch, a television screen, and a staircase. It was all rather rustic... and big.

Keitaro set the small girl down on the couch, and settled down onto his haunches in front of her. "Alright," he huffed, "let's get a good look at your feet, hm?"

She gave a giggle, and swung her gauze covered feet in his face, narrowly missing his somewhat swollen eye. Layer after layer, he peeled away the gauze padding off of her foot.

"Huh..." Holding her feet steady, he ran his fingers over them, noting the lack of protests from the girl. Thankfully, the cuts were entirely minute. "Okay, so the good news is that you're not dying, and you'll be good to go in a few days."

"You sure?"

He smirked at that.

"Yeah, I'm sure. You wanna give walking a shot?"

In response to that, she hopped off the couch, landing easily on the bottoms of her feet, wincing.

"Good." He stood to his full height and patted her head. "I'm gonna probably take a nap here for a second, give your feet a good soak at the hot springs, alright?"

Kanako just gave an eager nod. "I love hot springs!"

He sat back against the couch, and rested his head. "Don't go too far in, and--"

"--Make sure I don't splash. I remember dad!"

"I'm not your dad." He huffed, and she politely ignored him. For one reason or another, as he watched her tip-toe off, her reference to him didn't bother him as much as it usually did, probably because she mostly reminded him of a hurt puppy now.

Keitaro leaned back, and closed his eyes. For once in his life, sleep came easy. Although in hindsight, he'd have probably found this suspicious.

Nothing ever came easy.

- - - - - - - - -

Anyone will tell you, the worst part of getting into a hot spring is getting out of the hot spring, and it was for exactly this reason that Mitsune and Naru had spent the last hour in the hot spring just... sitting. Neither wanted to experience the extreme cold that came with climbing out of the onsen, so...

"Ah'm not gettin' outta this thing." Mitsune Konno, completely naked and resting back against the flat rock of the hot spring. Her silver hair was matted to her head due to the steam. "Ah... its got me Naru... it's too nice... Ah should be inside writin', but it's too much."

Naru gave a bubbling sigh as she sank just beneath the surface, her eyes poking out from the top of the water. "Blllbbblblllbbbl." She gave a slow nod.

"Ah know. Sometimes ah think Granny Hina jus' makes this place feel too good sometimes."

Naru nodded and closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the sound of bamboo occasionally snapping against rock, and the pleasant tone of water dripping into the springs.

"Bllbbb..."

"Ah know, right?"

The sounds of another pair feet entering the pool interrupted their discussion, followed by the croon of high pitched humming.

"Kinda off pitch, ain't she?"

"You know the song?"

"Ah heard it before, once er' twice."

Naru popped out of the water, and began her backstroke towards the front of the pool, towards the sound of the music.

Kanako kept singing, paddling her little string bean legs against the water, back and forth. 'Daddy was right. This feels niiiice.' She thought to herself as she hummed, completely oblivious of the brunette haired shark making her way across the water.

To Naru's credit, all she saw through her blurred vision was a roughly Shinobu shaped blob that sounded a lot like Su's high pitched, carefree voice. It was a toss-up.

"What song is that?" Naru rose out of the water, smiling as wide as she could.

The smaller girl tilted her head, her singing hitched in her throat as the older girl popped in front of her face.

"Hmm? I dunno, just somethin' I learned at school." Kanako just shrugged, and kept kicking her feet. "Who're you?"

"Eh?" Naru, taken aback for only amount, smiled wide as soon she figured out what was happening. "Su! Don't play so much, we're supposed to be relaxing here!" She laughed, sidling up to the smaller girl and nudging Kanako's legs with her elbow.

"Who's Su?" Kanako shifted away from the brunette, and started kicking her legs like she once saw a pro swimmer do on television.

"Eh?" Naru leaned in close to the girl, uncomfortably close, with her eyes squinted; but all this did was agitate the not-Su, who was now leaning as far away as she could without losing ground to the invasive older girl.

"What?" Kanako asked, managing to sound as annoyed as she was frightened, and there was quite a bit of both in her voice.

"Hey Naru, who's this?"

Kanako's eyes snapped towards the silver haired, narrow eyed woman that'd began making her way across the onsen towards them.

"It's not Su?" For some reason, the realization caused Naru to lean in closer to Kanako.

The little girl leaned even further from Naru. "Stop it."

"S-sorry." She sat back up, and quickly pulled her glasses on... and as her fog on the world lifted, she found herself staring down at a little girl dressed in a black dress, ripped at shoulder, causing it to slink off in the most racy of ways. "What happened to your dress?"

"Nothing." Kanako snapped back, scooting as far away from the other girl as she could. Her feet remained still in the water. "Leave me alone."

"Geez, you don't have to be such a brat about it." Naru mumbled.

"Awww, come on sweetie." Mitsune tried, rising from the steaming water in all her rosy skinned glory, just in front of the perturbed girl. "Ah promise we don't mean no harm, jus' kinda curious where you popped up from is all!" Mitsune leaned forward, and gave her best smile.

Kanako took a deep breath, and her eyes shot open.

"Eh? What's wrong?" At first the girl had just looked annoyed; now she was suddenly shivering, her eyes dilated and her mouth agape, fixed in an expression that could have only been described as complete and utter horror.

"Jesus..." Naru muttered, standing over the frightened child, holding a towel across herself as she stood out of the water. It was as though she blinked, and in that time, something had gone terribly wrong. "Kitsune, does she know you or something?"

"N-n-no..." Kanako mumbled, her hands fumbling behind her, presumably searching for something to move her backwards faster.

"Ah never seen fore' in m'life, ah swear!" She held her hands up in a panic, before pulling herself out water and scrambling towards the miniscule child. "S'okay, ah ain't gonna hurt ya, ah swear!"

The scent of alcohol, sake, in fact, hit Kanako full force. The girl was instantly focused on Mitsune Konno. She never noticed how Mitsune had grabbed onto her forearms, or how concerned Mitsune was as she tried to calm the panicked girl down.

She could only smell that sickly sour scent that burned her nostrils, that familiar yet alien musk that, as of recent, she'd learned to fear. Weakly, she tried to shuffle backwards, no longer capable of recognizing that there was no backwards anymore, she idly kicked her legs as pressed as hard against the wall as she could.

"Sweetheart, I need you to calm down, okay?" Kitsune tried, leaning closer to the girl, running a hand through her hair while whispering promises of everything being okay.

Kanako yanked her arms out of Mitsune's grasp, staring at the silver haired woman as though she were a monster crawled from the black lagoon.

That look of complete and perfect terror gave Mitsune pause, the way the girl's eyes bugged out and her mouth suddenly locked in a silent scream... She felt as though she'd been dumped in ice water. It caused Mitsune's outstretched hand to fall limp to her side, and she couldn't bring herself to chase after the girl.

"Wh-what's that look for, huh, sweetheart?" Kitsune asked with what she had left of a smile. Her voice was half-hearted, and weak. "What's wrong, huh?"

"N-no!" Kanako yelled in response, and hobbled past Naru as quickly as she could, brushing past the longer haired girl and out the door before anyone could say anything else.

Naru and Mitsune, for the briefest of moments, stood silently, completely frozen as they attempted to process what they'd just experienced.

"Hey, Kitsune, you sure you haven't seen her before? Maybe you said something to her?" Naru shook her head, and began wrapping herself more properly in a towel. "Who was she, anyway?"

"Darlin', I didn't say nothin' I wouldna' said ta' Shinobu or Su."

Naru raised an eyebrow.

"I ain't that bad!"

The eyebrow raised yet further.

Mitsune raised a single finger in protest before pausing to think, and lowering it again. "Ain't we chasin' a kid?!"

The two nodded to each other, and made after the child, swinging open the door and dashing out into the lobby area... only to freeze stock still the moment they caught sight of the bandaged young man comforting the girl.

"He's gone now, okay, Kanako?" He rested his forehead against Kanako's, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "We got far, far away from that place."

"But..." Kanako shuddered, and shook her head. "The bad lady... she smelled just like he always did, and she tried to grab me, and...--"

"She tried to grab you?" His eyes narrowed, and nearly immediately, he tried to get onto his feet. However, Kanako made sure to keep her grasp on his shirt collar tight, effectively keeping him planted in his seat, and unwittingly giving him time to think.

'It probably wouldn't be a idea to start a fight here, anyway.' He gave a sigh, and patted his lap. "Fine. Come on, have a seat."

She gave a weak nod, and clambered into his lap, sitting so that she could lean sideways against his chest. "Like this, daddy?"

Keitaro rolled his eyes. "Kanako, I'm not your dad."

Naru and Kitsune remained standing at the door, completely shellshocked for two completely unrelated reasons: Naru, because there was some guy sitting on their couch in their dorm. "She was afraid o' me?" That thought unnerved Kitsune, and she stared blankly at the intruders.

"Kitsune, snap out of it!" Naru nudged the older girl, but Kitsune continued to stand there, her mind in far off places, fixated on the little girl. "Whatever." Naru mumbled, and approached the pair, leaving Kitsune to her own dazedness. "What do you think you're doing here?!" She yelled, her fists clenched at her side. "This is a girl's dorm!"

Keitaro's arms squeezed tighter around Kanako unconsciously, he could only wonder what he might have looked like to the angry brunette. "A girl's dorm? Is that so?" The words came out calmly as he leaned his head back, staring up to the ceiling in silent thought.

"H-hey! Don't zone out when I'm talking to you!" She stomped even closer. "You're not supposed to be here, and what kind of father are you? Bringing your kid here while you try to sneak a peek at a poor defenseless girl, huh?"

He was far too tired to argue and simply gave a heaving sigh. Kanako wasn't. Like a prairie dog, she popped her head up, and stuck her tongue out at Naru. "Daddy's a good daddy and you're just stupid and ugly!"

"You little--"

"Kanako!" His voice cracked like a whip, and even Naru suddenly felt a shudder down her spine at the sound of the "daddy" voice. Even Kitsune snapped out of her reverie at the tone of his voice.

"But she said..." Kanako sputtered, but just as quickly fell silent at his voice.

"I heard her. What did I say about throwing those words around?" He asked testily, his lack of sleep and fatigue fueling his temper. She squeaked, and buried her head back in his chest before shaking her head. He gave a long yawn, and his eyes slowly came to a close.

"Hey, don't fall asleep. I'm still talking to you..." Naru muttered.

"Yes... yes you are." Keitaro sighed, and opened his eyes, still staring at the ceiling with tired, bloodshot eyes.

"So, what are ya doin' here then?" Kitsune asked. She made to take a step closer, but noticed the way Kanako cringed further against Keitaro's body, and chose to stay where she was.

Keitaro also noticed, and turned his head just so he could catch sight of the silver haired young woman.

"That's her, Kanako?" He turned his head again, and looked down at her.

A quick nod gave him his answer as she tried to shrink in further against him. He wouldn't be able to stand with her clinging against his chest like that. "Did you grab Kanako?" He asked, snapping his head back around at Kitsune. He felt his temper swelling in his chest in a white-hot heat as he looked at her.

"N-...yeah, but I was just--"

"Stay away from her." He stated the words firmly, resolutely, being sure to keep eye contact with her.

"But..." Kitsune soon found herself staring at the ground, uncharacteristically quiet and subdued. Finding no words, she merely turned around and slunk back into the hot springs, closing the door behind her.

"You... you all shouldn't be here in the first place!" Naru snapped, only to look back and forth from the onsen door, to the trespassers sitting so nonchalantly. "Don't move! I'll be back for you in a second, pervert!" Turning on her heels, she ran after Kitsune, disappearing into the hot springs after her best friend.

"I don't like them." Kanako mumbled into his chest.

"Really? I couldn't tell." Keitaro gave another shmurfle, and Kanako released a pleased squeal as Haruka walked in from the outside, her ever cigarette dangling precariously from her mouth.

"You guys look like you've been through a meat grinder." She exhaled smoke, and gave a hint of a smile as Kanako came bounding up to her. "Come on, let's get you all cleaned up."


Kitsune never acknowledged that Naru walked inside, nor that the younger girl sat down besides her. She simply continued to stare off into the misty nothing with her back against the old craggy wall, her knees held tight against her chest.

Naru said nothing, and knew better then to try and push for any answers from Mitsune. She opted to wrap an arm around the other girl's shoulders, and sit in companionable silence.

- - - - - -

"So that's how this happened?" Haruka asked calmly, and spoke with her common, deadpan drawl. However, this was much the same as the Japanese Fugu fish; unassuming and droll, until you put your hands on it.

Thats when you die.

Keitaro sat on the toilet, across from Kanako. Both staring quietly at each other as Haruka stood there, staring in the mirror, her face betraying tumultuous emotions that flickered in her chocolate eyes. Her jaw clenched and unclenched as she squeezed the sides of the sink with her hands.

Finally, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You okay, Kanako?"

The smaller girl gave a quick nod. "Uh huh! Daddy came and saved me and made me all better!" Kanako gave her biggest smile, and kicked out with her feet again, raising her arms in the air as though she were on a roller coaster. "And we're gonna live with you now, Haruka!"

Thwap! Haruka snapped a fan against Kanako's head like a pro, knocking the girl back into the bathtub, dazed and confused with a goofy smile on her face.

"That's Aunt Haruka to you, brat." She turned to Keitaro, and gave an odd smile. "Anyway, let's see what the damage is on that hard head of yours." She stared for a moment longer. "And take those glasses off. You look ridiculous."

Keitaro did as he was told, unwrapping his head and knuckles in a matter of moments, revealing a large brown patch hidden under his hair. His knuckles were much the same, with dried blood and brownish, ugly scabs where most of the violence occurred.

"Of course it's already mostly healed, because my nephew is a mutant." She sighed at that, and grabbed a nearby rag she had dousing in the sink. "You know, you could've at least taken some of the money Granny Hina offered you, Keitaro. Hand."

He held his hand out, and she began dabbing the rag against his knuckles.

"I could've, but I know better, Aunt--" Her grip on his hand tightened, and his voice raised an octave. "Haruka! I mean Haruka... uh...You've got the grip of an gorilla."

"And don't you ever forget it. Answer the damn question." She went back to dabbing at his knuckles. "She offered you money to help, so you didn't have to take the job... it would've been easier for you to just take the money and support yourself that way."

"Like I said, I knew better."

"Did you?" She let go of his wrist. "Other hand."

Holding up his other hand, she took it roughly, and began dabbing at it with the rag.

"The Hinata house was losing too much money. No way you all could've supported a family of... two and a half. Hell, that's why you all switched from being an inn to student housing, right?"

She snorted, and dropped his other hand. "We could have managed. Lean forward?"

He did so, wincing as she began cleaning the wound. "Kanako and the old man. They were my responsibilities. I don't regret it, Haruka."

Her hand stilled on his head, and she gave a long sigh. "That's what it was really about, wasn't it? You had no idea we were losing money until you found out Granny made this place a dorm... little liar."

He said nothing in response.

"Keitaro, we are family. That means Granny and me too. If you hadn't been so hard headed and told us what was really going on, then..."

"Then you woulda' come to get us, I know. If I hadn't been young and stupid, I would have done it, Haruka."

Haruka laughed, and tapped him on his head. "Well, well. You're learning." She stood up, hands on her hips. "That settles it then."

"Oh! Oh! Oh!"

Keitaro and Haruka both turned to see Kanako sitting in the tub, with her hand raised, a large smile on her face. "Can I ask a question?"

Haruka looked at Keitaro, and he shrugged.

"I'm hungry!"

Keitaro raised an eyebrow. "That... wasn't a question." Regardless, he looked over at Haruka. "We haven't really eaten since..."

He was silenced with a raise of Haruka's hand. "No problem. I'll kill two birds with one stone, then. Be in the kitchen as soon as you and Kanako get cleaned up, Ill try to have everything ready by then.

Keitaro raised an eyebrow at the mischievous glint in Haruka's eye. He didn't even know she could do that. "Everything?"

"Oh, you know Keitaro. Dinner with your new tenants, of course." She turned, and opened the door. "Towels are in the cabinet."

And then the door shut.

"Oh god."

"Dinner!"

- - - - - - - - - -

Granny Hina stood at the dining room door, a sedate smile on her face as she watched the girls... her girls gather around the table for the very last time. Taking the time to take in the view, and listen to their chattering as Shinobu set the food onto the table.

Everyone had his or her own job, some noticeably more important than the others.

Motoko, who was at the dinner table early every day like clock work, was given the most important job. Distracting Su from the main course.

"Why won't ya just gimme the banana?!"

Motoko continued dangling the banana just above Su's head, and moving it only when Su looked like she was going to reach for it.

"Because you...-" Su swiped for it, and Motoko raised it just out of her reach. "Because then you'll start focusing on something other than this banana. I've been given this duty, and I will not fail."

"Just... just gimme the...." Su's eyes narrowed. "I'll go and get some other bananas!" She slowly stood out of the chair, her eyes never leaving the banana.

"Then I'll destroy this banana."

Su froze in place, her eyes wide.

"Why... why would... you wouldn't."

Motoko remained stoic. "I hold no love for these fruits, Su." She squeezed the banana. "Now sit down."

The girl immediately planted her butt in the chair, her hands folded neatly on her lap. She might have been the very picture of innocence if she weren't drooling and pouting at a banana dangling above her.

"On your left." Naru said as she slipped her arm past Motoko's head, and set a plate in front of the girl. "I don't believe that pervert, talking to you that way, Kitsune..."

Kitsune followed up just as quickly, placing a glass and a set of silverware next to her. "Ah, jus' let it go, Naru. Ain't no way we'll be seein' that guy again, if he's smart anyway."

"Wh-what guy?" Shinbou muttered, bringing in the last tray of food.

"Yes, I'm also very curious." Motoko lifted the banana just a bit higher, and Su's eyes followed. "What guy?"

"Yup." Naru nodded. "This guy was so lazy that he tried to peek from the couch. He was kinda bad at it."

"That might have made an interesting stress reliever." Motoko muttered, unconsciously feeling for her sword at the thought of a pervert who would not get up, even when being throttled.

And so the table and the stage was set, nine large plates sitting next to a fork, a spoon, and a knife. The girls opted to sit on the end opposite of Granny Hina, who took her seat at the head of the table. The seats to her immediate left and right were empty, and Haruka sat at the opposite end, across from Hina.

"I leave tomorrow."

The room grew silent, and even Su turned to focus on the older woman.

"But... I thought you said you would leave at the end of the week?" Motoko asked, her voice appropriately soft. She found herself staring down at the plate, and was having trouble meeting the eyes of Granny Hina.

The old woman gave a laugh at Motoko's meek response. "The new manager came early... girls, lets face it, if I waited until this weekend, I would never go."

"But--!" Naru started, but the old woman's hand stopped her dead, Naru's voice suddenly stuck in her throat.

"You all will be fine. I would trust--"

"Granny?"

All but Granny Hina turned to the door, finding a young black haired girl with slicked back, wet twin tails. She was wearing one of the old Hinata Hotel robes, which hung loosely on her smallish form, all the way down past her feet.

Behind her, stood a young man wearing the very same robe, seeming decidedly nervous as he stood behind the girl, and clutched her shoulders tightly.

"Graneeee!"

Kanako dashed out of his grip, and hugged her granny from the side, while Keitaro followed closely, a slight grin on his face.

"Hey grandmom. It's... been a while."

The old woman gave a nod, and turned to the many girls.

"This is my grandson, and starting tomorrow, the household manager."

Motoko's eyes grew wide, and in an instant, she was on her feet, pointing aggressively at Keitaro. "This is highly inappropriate Grandma Hina! You can not expect us to tolerate something like this!"

Naru was just as quick to get to her feet. "Yeah! This is the same guy that was trying to peep at me and Kitsune earlier!"

"Ohhhh, a peep? Whats that, can I eat it?"

"That was him?!" Motoko snapped, and instantly went for her sword.

"Yup!" Kitsune chimed in.

Shinobu remained decidedly quiet through the whole thing, watching the way Granny seemed to sag in on herself, her eyes becoming downtrodden. Watching the way a threatened Keitaro pushed Kanako behind him, and had his fists clenched. If this thing went down, she would not be stuck in the middle.

Haruka poured herself more miso soup.

"You all don't trust me then." Granny Hina's voice, quiet as it was, sliced through the noise in a way that shouting never could. "I told you that I would find the best manager I could... I promised." The old woman gently clasped her granddaughter's hand. "But it appears that my best is not good enough for you all... will I really be unable to find my dream? Will I really have to send my only family away?"

"H-hey..." Motoko started, immediately putting her sword away at the sight of a teary Granny Hina.

"I still don't like this..." Naru also sat back down.

Kitsune followed the example of Shinobu, and simply opted to say nothing.

"So... can ya eat a peep, then?"

Haruka raised an eyebrow, and kept eating her soup, watching the events with all the curiosity of watching an umbrella catch rain.

Granny sniffled, and looked up at the rather tense Keitaro. "You... you all will keep him as manager then?"

Naru and Kitsune gave a quick, if unsure nod. Motoko gave a grudging sigh, which was as close to a nod as they were going to get. Su gave a non-committal shrug, and Shinobu, who decided that staying quiet had worked out pretty well for her, remained silent.

"Thank you... thank you so much..." The older woman slowly rose from the table, and gently took Keitaro by the hand. "In that case, I just need to speak with my grandson for a moment..."

Keitaro turned to look at Kitsune and Naru, a cursory, but decidedly scathing glance. Hina caught it, as well. "Oh... Haruka, if you don't mind, could you watch Kanako for us?"

"Yay! Haru--" Kanako started to dash towards her Aunt Haruka, only to stop cold at the sight of the fan. "Auntie... Haruka?" Then fan vanished from Haruka's hand, and before she knew it, her lap had been claimed by the hyperactive nine year old.

"Good thing you're light, brat." Haruka muttered, purposely ignoring the way Kanako had taken to eating her food so that she could watch Granny Hina and Keitaro leave the room together.

- - - - - - - - - -

"So..." Keitaro sat down on the couch, and rested his elbows on his knees. "You were just screwing with them, right?"

There was a pause for only a moment, before Hina began laughing hysterically. It was the sound of rain tinkling against glass. "Of course I was, you think I'm gonna spend all night arguin' with a bunch o' students?" She waved the idea off. "I am well aware of who owns the Hinata Household." She looked down and away from Keitaro, licking her lips in thought.

"Keitaro, Haruka told me what happened between you and your fat--"

"--Don't call him that, Granny. He isn't. He never was." He snapped, and found himself leaning his head on his hands, decidedly looking away from her.

"Keitaro, there are days when I can't help but feel sad for you... for what you've been going through, and what you're going to have to go through with that girl. A part of me is still very, very sorry...--"

He gave a sigh. "Granny--

"Don't interrupt me again, boy."

His mouth snapped shut.

"Sometimes, I get mad at you for lying to me. For telling me that everything was all right when it wasn't. I also know how silly it is to be mad at a grown man for doing what he thought he had to..."

"I was only 16, Granny."

"Age doesn't dictate maturity, Keitaro." She gave a sigh, and leaned back against the couch. "I'm asking more of you now, Keitaro. You've done too good of a job raising Kanako, and now, for better or worse..." She trailed off, her voice becoming lost somewhere in the air.

Suddenly, she leaned forward, her eyes locking onto his. "She thinks you can do anything... so do I, really. This is my home, and those girls are my daughters. They are my treasure, just as you and little Kanako are." A weak laugh. "I'm probably not going to make it back, Keitaro... so I need you to promise me that you'll take care of them as well as you take care of our Kanako."

He felt his blood run cold, and opened his mouth to speak, only force his voice to hitch in his throat as she held up a hand.

"Don't do that." She said, calmly. "I'm leaving my family to you now, Keitaro. That, and all it entails... I love you, but even more than that, I trust you." An old smile crossed her face, one that reminded Keitaro of just how aged she really was. "The House keys are in your new room, and everything is in order. Give an old woman a hug, Keitaro?"

Tears streaming down his face, Keitaro felt his body move before his brain had time to give the order. He dropped to his knees and hid his face under her neck, and for the first time in many, many years, cried uncontrollable. For him, it was hard to tell why... for the insurmountable burden being placed on his back? For the loss of a loved one? Perhaps, because he felt like he was already speaking to a ghost.

Regardless, he squeezed her tightly, and sobbed quietly, relishing every time she patted his back, or ran a hand through his hair. For the first in many years, he felt like a child again, being comforted for things now out of his control. He felt like a child... having to be comforted at all.

And all to soon, she gave a lingering kiss to the top of his head, and smiled against him. "Go now. You have a new family to meet."


AN: So this was probably the hardest chapter I've ever had to write, and one possible ending that nearly came to be was Kanako being sent away... I really couldn't justify that, though. Anywho, I'll try to keep the ball rolling, so please leave a review on your way out.