Hello again.

Sorry for the incredibly long update time but I must've rewritten this chapter over 20 times and I'm still not fully happy with it, that and other reasons such as plot changes etc.

So here iss the fourth instalment of Enemies, enjoy.

Love Hina: Enemies

Chapter 4: Clandestine Greetings

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The snow was beginning to come down hard as Keitaro dragged himself up the Hinata steps for the second time that day. He rubbed his ribs where he'd landed on the ground, not so far this time, a mere 500ft down the steps.

''Great, twice in one day, I haven't managed to study at all, I'll never get into Tokyo U at this rate, look at me now, and I've even started talking to myself!!! Damn it!!'' he shouted and, in usual Keitaro fashion, began working himself into a whirling frenzy of hysteria.

Keitaro began to run round with his arms flailing wildly, until a kind lamppost decided it had a civic duty to perform and very helpfully stopped him. Eventually coming back to his senses, he slowly stood up again, leaning against the lamppost for support. From the open doors of the house his nose was greeted by the smell of Shinobu's cooking wafting from the kitchen. Hs stress evaporated as he lost himself in the gorgeous aromas. He started walking back to the door.

'At least I can rely on Shinobu-chan's cooking to calm me down.' He thought as he neared the porch, the beautiful aromas of Shinobus cooking filling his nostrils. Then he picked up another, and much more unwelcome, stench of cigar smoke.Keitaro began to cough violently as the acrid smoke filled his lungs.He moved out of the cloud of smoke and took in a great lungful of fresh air. Only after a couple of seconds did he finally realize he was being laughed at.

'HAHAHAHA!!''

It was a dry, coarse laugh. Keitaro turned to see a man leaning on the wall just inside the doorway. He seemed to be the same man Keitaro had seen earlier.

Only, he looked slightly different. He seemed shorter for one thing, but still quite tall. He wasn't as imposing either, and no longer wore the hat so Keitaro could see his face. He had a youngish but well worn face, and Keitaro could see that the man clearly hadn't shaved for several days. His hair was a thick nest of darkish brown, and looked in need of a trim.

The man was leaning against the lamppost looking at Keitaro in a quizzical fashion, with a kind of lopsided smirk on his face, cigar in the corner of his mouth. Kinda like Haruka Keitaro thought as he stood there. After about a couple of seconds Keitaro realized the man was waiting for him to say something.

'Who are you is generally a good starting point.' The man prompted.

'Er……Oh……Er…Oh me?' Keitaro stuttered.

'Seeing as you're the one I'm talking too, yes'

'Er..Okay..erm..Who are you?'

'Ah! Of course forgive me for not introducing myself, I am Akiro Sakesayu' the man gave a long theatrical bow 'We met before I believe'

The hippo of recollection finally dragged itself out of the mire of stupidity in Keitaros mind 'Yeah we did, you..you gave me a map of bloody Munich, I spent hours wandering round in circles because of you!!!!!!' Keitaro stated, beginning to get indignant.

The man took his cigar out of his mouth and motioned Keitaro to calm down.

'Hehe, easy mistake to make, easy mistake to make'

'Mistake!!! Oh that's a real great excuse! Because of that 'Mistake' of yours I ended up getting a free trip to the stratosphere!!!'

'Oh, so that explains the screaming…'

'Damn right! Do you have any idea how much landing on concrete from 200 feet hurts?'

Akiro didn't reply, he just took a long drag on the cigar he was holding. Looking up and seeing Keitaros anger, he pulled out a battered metal cigar case and held it out to him.

'Sorry, did you want one? You only have to ask ya know'

This comment derailed Keitaro from his train of thought, and he couls only say 'Er, no I er don't smoke….'

'Fair 'nough' Akiro said tucking the case back in his shirt pocket. Keitaro managed to marshall his sscattered thoughts once again.

'So what do you want? What are you doing here in the first place?!'

'Hmm… Well Mr Urashima'

'What! How'd you know my name?'

'Oh that, well everyone in the town was saying things like 'That Urashima did this' and 'That Urashimas a real pervert from what I heard'' Keitaro fell over at this point'' and also 'that Urashima boy is never going to get into Tokyo U' plus 'He's a real idiot that Urashima' coupled with the fact that I heard the cry of 'URASHIMA!!!' from the hill here, it didn't really take me long to find out who you were, erm, you okay?

Keitaro was lying on the floor his glasses glazed over mumbling 'Why me.. why me….' Before shaking his head and getting back up. He was about to reply, when he was cut off.

'Hey Kei-Kun!!' said a sing song voice.

Te two men turned to see a young woman with dark brown hair running towards them from the steps.

'Hey Kei- Kun!! Who's that your with?' the woman repeated. Akiro could only mutter one word while staring at the woman.

'…melons…' the woman was carrying four large watermelons in a bag slung over her shoulder.

'Mutsumi-Chan be careful, you'll slip on the ice!!!' Keitaro shouted.

'What was that' said Mutsumi still running towards them.

What happened next would remain in Akiros memory for all time as one of the strangest things he had ever witnessed. The melon lady got only a few more steps towards them before she tripped up, on what to Akiro looked like thin air, before skidding forwards and tripping up further on the watermelons. Keitaro then ran forward to stop her fall but as he did so he too skidded on a patch of air which put him on a direct collision course with one of the rouge melons. This then tripped him up sending him flying towards the woman. There was a loud and distinct CLUNK sound as their heads collided and they both collapsed on top of one another in a mangled heap, their eyes spiralling wildly.

Akiro sweat dropped while gawking at the two figures in front of him. Finally shaking his head he went over to the two. Figuring that getting them inside out of the snow would be the best course of action he easily picked up one idiot in each arm and walked into the Hinata-Sou.

'What the hell have I got myself into this time'

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Meanwhile in Nevada, an old woman drank her tea. She was reading a newspaper and gave a little chuckle as she read one of the articles.

A knock at the door made her look up from where she was sitting by a fireplace.

'Come in' she said in a voice that belied her true age.

The door opened to reveal a young woman with black hair tied back in two ponytails dressed in a dark gothic dress. Behind her there was a man wearing a black overcoat and black sunglasses. The old woman smiled.

'Ah Kanako-chan, what is it you have there?' the old woman asked in a very old-woman like voice.

'Granny, this is Mr Schalt, he said he needed to see you on a matter of great importance' said the young woman gesturing to the man behind her.

'Ah yes of course, do let him in, and Kanako, while your there can you nip down to the kitchen and fetch an old woman a hot drink?' this time the voice was so granny like it practically knitted its own sweater for your Christmas present.

The woman nodded and ushered the man inside before closing the door behind her. The man stood awkwardly in the middle of the floor.

'Well, what does Raphael want this time' the one known as 'Granny' said to the man, all trace of graniness gone from her voice, instead being replaced by a harsh firmness.

The man was shocked 'How…How did you….Who told you I was.' He withered under the old woman's stare.

'Anyone who wears sunglasses after 7pm either needs their head examined or is performing an act of a clandestine nature, Raphael always sends the new guy to give me information so its easy for me to deduce'

'Er…erm' the man fumbled with his glasses, finally taking them off altogether.

'Well what is it you want, my time is precious you know'

'Er..ahem..the boss said to give you this letter' the man took a envelope from the pocket of his coat and handed it to her. He stood there expectantly for a few more seconds before the old woman looked up.

'Still here?'

'Er –gulp- the boss said you sometimes pay for information……..' his voice trailed off under another withering stare from Granny.

'He did, did he? Oh well you'll find him mistaken on that one, please don't hesitate to leave' she motioned to the door. The man scurried back out, and Kanako walked back in with a tray of tea.

Granny read through the letter and gave a small chuckle before throwing it in the fire.

Kanako looked up at the old woman. 'What is it granny'

'Hehe…he…oh nothing child, nothing for your concern, buts lets just say that your Onii-chan will be having some fun very soon if that letter was correct, a lot of fun indeed.'

Kanako simply nodded before adding 'I noticed your other cup of tea by the way'

The older woman merely sighed and said 'Indeed, well, there is always time for tea, have a seat child, just watch wear you walk, I think that young man left his glasses here somewhere'

To be continued

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Well there it is, hope you liked it, if you did, or even if you didn't please leave a review……please?

Next update: lies lies lies (that about covers it)