Disclaimer: I do not own School Rumble or any other properties mentioned in this story.

What you should know: This story begins during the events depicted on School Rumble Z 09. It is a Monkey Faction fic (Harem for those not used to the term). There will be some crossovers during the story but they are mainly cameos. It is not a sequel of my previous School Rumble Story (School Rumble: Final Rumble). Finally I would like to apologize if this story hurts your sensibilities.

School Rumble: Time Rumble

# 07

The Monkey and The Unexpected Visitors

Harima Kenji knew fear…

He knew the fear that allowed men to become stronger in order to overcome it.

He knew the fear of uncertainty, the fear to the unknown that only went away with time.

And he also knew the fear that acted as a protection. The one that was as a warning to some unknown danger that was close by.

He was having that kind of fear right now.

And the source of said fear was currently enjoying a cup of tea in front of him while watching TV.

"I hope you don't mind that I made myself comfortable Kenji-kun." Said Osakabe Itoko to her cousin. "But you took so long to comeback…"

"And may I ask Why in the name of hell are you here?" Said Harima affronting his fearsome opponent head front.

"What? Do I need a reason to come and visit my cousin?"

"Of course that you do! You never came to visit me originally!"

"Originally?"

"Ack!" Harima knew that he was screwed. Itoko was a smart woman, she would see right trough him, his identity as a time traveler would be out in the open!

"Then… that means…"

'Here it comes…' thought Harima. 'Goodbye secret! It was good knowing you.'

"That means that it is true. Some people can really become dumber if left alone."

"Uh?"

"Due to the time that you've been living alone you are beginning to forget the most basic things. Like communication skills."

"Communication skills?"

"You shouldn't have said 'You never came to visit me originally' what you should have said is 'you've never come to visit me before.' Really is sad to see you like that. If left alone your mind would most likely revert to a Neanderthal level."

Harima didn't really understand what Itoko was saying but he felt that his secret as a time traveler was safe. He also felt somewhat offended…

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing important." Said Itoko with a sight. "I just came to see how you were doing. That's all."

"Well, I'm perfectly fine as you can see. I've had no problems living on my own."

"I have my doubts."

"And may I ask why?" Said Harima confident in his skills.

"Well… There are all this bills here…"

"Uh?"

"And there was your landlord who came to ask for the overdue rent while you were away…"

"About that…"

"And then there is the fact that you had absolutely nothing edible in here besides some old tea bags. I don't know what you would offer to a girl in case you invited her to your apartment."

"Nothing to offer…" Harima got really angry at that last comment.

"At all. Why, those tea bags were barely able to make a cup of tea. For example what could you offer to me as your guest?"

"Oh, I know exactly what could offer to you…" Said Harima while opening the door to his apartment and point towards the opening. "THAT IS WHAT I CAN OFFER YOU!"

"Oh Kenji-kun! You are so forward!" Said a smiling Sasakura Youko carrying some grocery bags at the door. "I never knew that I was of your property. Wonder when that happened?"

"Yo-Youko!"

"Hello Kenji-kun! It's been a long time!" Said Youko while lowering the bags and giving a good look to Harima. "My god! You've become so big! Well, you always were a big boy but now you are practically a man!"

"Yo-you really think so?" Said Harima a little bit ashamed.

"Yes I do! I won't mind being the property of such a handsome young man!"

"Ah… Youko, about that…"

"Oh yes you are right…" Said Youko with a face of realization. "… You were offering me to Sempai. So what do you say sempai, do you accept me?"

"Youko… I think you misunderstood me. What I meant is…"

"Oh so you were thinking of sharing me with sempai? Wow Kenji-kun, I never thought that you were that kind of guy!"

"Youko, please, don't say things like that."

"I'm just kidding Kenji-kun…"

"Phew."

"Mostly…"

"Eh?"

"Stop it Youko. You're scaring him too much." Said Itoko while putting her tea cup on the sink.

"Have you asked him already Sempai?"

"No. I haven't."

"Ask what?" Said a dumb funded Harima.

"Go ahead Sempai."

"I'm getting to it."

"Ask WHAT?" Said Harima again after getting to the limit of his short patience.

"I wanted to know if you would like to live with me."

"Eh?" Harima was confused... Again. Something very common in his life, and time travel only made it worse. "You want… me… to live… with you?"

"Sempai has come here several times already but could never find you." Said Youko with an innocent smile. "In the end she decided to wait until you came back. Isn't right sempai?"

"Only because I think it would be better for you to live with a responsible adult. That's all." Said Itoko while looking away and sporting a light blush on her cheeks.

Meanwhile Harima's mind was in a stump.

'Itoko wants me to live with her. Why? She never came looking for me originally. The first time I was the one asking her for help. Could she have memories of the past? No, I don't think so; she would have come here demanding an explanation if that was the case… I think.'

Harima began to rub his forehead.

'Damn it! All this thinking if producing me a headache! Wait a minute… That bastard skull faced god said that people would keep their feelings from the future so that means that Itoko has come here because her feelings have made her to do so. And that means that she wants me back home… So she can enjoy torturing me all day long again as it happened originally!'

Harima turned serious at that.

"Thanks for the offer Itoko but I have decided to live alone so I will keep it like that."

"Are you sure about it? It would make your life a lot easier." Answered Itoko, a little bit disappointed.

'That's it! That was what Itoko wanted! He, He, He. I am so smart!

"That's my decision." Said Harima with his arms crossed.

"I see… Well then, I guess this is the goodbye then." Harima felt a pang inside of him when he heard that. "Youko. We're leaving."

"Goodbye Kenji-kun…" Said a slightly saddened Youko.

"Good bye… And thanks… for the offer..." Said Harima who had that inner pain suddenly increase in intensity.

"You don't have to thank me…" Said Itoko while closing the door of the small apartment.

Alone, in the middle of his apartment located on the second floor of an old building, Harima was alone with his thoughts.

'Why I am feeling so bad? This is Itoko! The woman who sent me to Angola during my best chance to win over Tenma-chan! Although I kind of asked her for it the night before… But she is also the same woman who left me out of the apartment during winter! But that also helped me to live under the same roof as Tenma-chan… And she always charged me rent and meal expenses! However, she always allowed me to pay her at the end of the month and never asked for a cent more than what I could pay…'

Harima turned to the door and saw at the side of it the bags of groceries that Youko had brought over.

"Could they have bought this… for me?"

Rivers of tears began to flow from his eyes.

"I'm sorry Itoko, Youko I was too rude in rejecting your offer. But it is better this way. Even when you tried to aid me you were more problems than help and caused too many misunderstandings. So, in order to get closer to Tenma-chan, I have to live alone…"

KNOCK

KNOCK

The somewhat clumsy knock on the door brought Harima out of his mental reverie.

'They are back? So maybe the groceries weren't for me after all. Doesn't matter. I was too rude to them and I have to apologize.'

"Sorry about my rudeness girls." Said Harima while opening the door and offering the bags. "Here are your groceries… huh?"

Instead of itoko's face Harima found another one… a familiar face.

"Pyotr?"

And he was not alone…

OINK

"Napoleon?"

RIBBIT

"Alexander?"

WOOF

MEOW

WHINE

"Guys?"

A zoo was outside of Harima's door…

CREAK

And threatening to destroy the walkway with their combined weight.

"But… how? Oh crap, who cares? All of you are back!" Said Harima who joined his animal friends in the walkway.

CRACK

"AHHH!"

And with that extra weight the walkway finally broke.

CRASH

"Cough, Cough… Guys, I'm glad to see all of you again…" Said Harima once the dust settled. "… But could whoever of you who landed on me please move away… I can't feel my legs…"

Tsukamoto Yakumo was confused.

While confusion is not unnatural in a young girl like her the reasons that had her confused were not the common ones for girls of her age.

The first and foremost one was the mysterious boy named Harima Kenji.

Since that day when she found him in the side street and save her from those thugs he has been a prominent thought in her mind.

She had asked some people around (mainly teachers and store owners) about this 'Harima Kenji' and the information that she got from them was… not that flattering.

A known delinquent, famous for his violent ways, the source of fear (and wounds) for the local delinquents… Definitely not the type of guy that she thought he was.

And then there was her sister warning her against a dangerous stalker that was picking up girls on the street. Although she could not be sure if she was talking about Harima since every time that Tenma would try to tell her the story she would end up talking incessantly about this Karasuma Ooji boy who helped her against the stalker.

But even after hearing all of that… she couldn't avoid thinking… that he was actually a good person.

She didn't know why, but she was sure of it.

The second thing was her powers.

In the past she could see the thoughts of any male that liked her but now… she could even read the thought of females, that also liked her.

She was still not used to the though of boys and now she had to deal with those of girls too.

At least now she knew that some girls actually thought good things about her. While others… would put the thoughts of the dirtiest of boys to shame.

And last, but not least, was that mysterious black cat…

She had never been that good with animals so she found curious that this small black cat was following her.

But, it didn't matter what Yakumo tried, the black cat would run away as soon as she got closer to him.

But, even then, Yakumo found him interesting. Once in a while she would leave a small fish on a box lunch outside her house or in the nearby temple but the cat never ate it when she was close by.

The closest that the cat got was when waking her up after she had fallen asleep on a bench.

But as soon as Yakumo woke up the cat would run away.

It was at this moment that she wished that she could understand animals…

She was lost on these thought when walking through the street after school when she heard a familiar voice…

"HOW MUCH? DO I HAVE THE FACE OF A MILLIONAIRE?"

Yakumo turned around and, in a grocery store, saw the face of the person that has been occupying most of her thoughts recently.

"So will you buy it or not?" Said an obviously annoyed store owner.

"Forget it! At these prices it would destroy my budget for the whole month." Said Harima Kenji while walking away from the store.

Yakumo was glued to her spot. A million of thoughts going over her mind.

´There he is! I finally found him again! But… What should I do? I would like to talk to him but I don't know how!'

"Damn it! Isn't there a single place where I can get cheap vegetables?"

'Uh? He is looking for cheap vegetables… Maybe…'

"Uhm… Excuse me…" Said Yakumo softly to Harima who hadn't even noticed her.

"What the hell do you… IMOUTO-SAN!"

"H-Hi… ni-nice to see you again…" Said the young girl shyly.

"What are you doing here Imouto-san? Shouldn't you be going home at this time? Where is your sister?" Said Harima while nervously looking around.

"Nee-san… went home already… but… I had to… buy… some groceries…"

"Oh, I see. You are a very responsible person Imouto-san."

Yakumo blushed.

"Uhm… Is Harima-san… also buying groceries?"

"Just some vegetables. But the prices are ridiculous! I don't think I'll be able to buy all that I need."

"There is… a store… close by… that's having a sale… Maybe… Harima-san could buy there… what he needs…"

"REALLY!" Screamed Harima while holding Yakumo from her shoulders. "You're a life saver Imouto-san!"

Yakumo din't know why but… seeing Harima with that happy face… and knowing that it was because of her help… filled her with joy.

"So, Where is this store located Imouto-san?"

"Thank you Imouto-san! You really know about this stuff!" Said Harima while carrying several bags full of vegetables on his back and arms.

"I-It's nothing…" Answered the junior high student while blushing.

"I bet that you also know how to cook delicious food too. Am I right?"

Yakumo didn't answer but her blush increased.

"I knew it!" Said Harima with a laugh. He knew about Yakumo's cooking first hand having lived in the same house for quite a while before traveling to the past.

"Man! Good at cooking and knows how to spend her money! And my instinct tells me that you must be very good at school too. The guy who dates you is surely happy!"

Yakumo felt so embarrassed that couldn't see Harima to the eyes.

"I-I am not dating… anybody…"

"Eh? It's that so?" Said Harima while thinking. 'Crap! I forgot that Imouto-san doesn't date any guys. I think I touched a sore spot… Maybe I was right in thinking that she only likes girls…'

The rest of the walk was in silence. Harima ashamed of saying something inappropriate again and Yakumo just plainly not finding any topic to talk about.

But it didn't matter that much, at least not for Yakumo. She enjoyed the walk. And, somehow, inside of her, she felt very happy of just being next to him.

"Well… I will say goodbye here Imouto-san. It's getting late and you already helped me too much." Said Harima once he noticed he was close to the Yagami Shrine.

"I don't mind… But… If is not much impertinence… I would like to know…"

"Yeah? What do you want to know?"

"Why… Why did you buy so much?"

"Oh? You mean this? Ummm…" Harima thought for a moment. "Oh well. If it's you I guess I can trust you with my secret."

"Your secret?"

"Yes. Follow me." Said Harima while climbing the steps and walking deep in the woods of the small mountain were the shrine was located.

"In there?"

"Yeah. Are you coming or not?"

Yakumo doubted for a moment about Harima's intentions…

"Yes… I am coming."

But only for a moment.

If Harima really had bad intentions then she would be able to see his thoughts. Besides, for some unknown reason, Yakumo could not imagine Harima doing anything bad to her.

"Here we are Imouto-san."

Yakumo was without words. In front of her was…

BAA

ROAR

HISS

A virtual zoo with several types of animals reunited. Even some that had no business in being in Japan!

"Sorry about the delay guys. Here is dinner."

But what surprised her the most was how Harima was able to communicate with them.

"The food… was for them?"

"Uh? Yes. It's making a hole in my pockets but I just couldn't leave them hungry you know."

Yakumo was surprised. She knew, deep inside her, that Harima was a kind person but she never expected it to be at this level.

"Hey guys show some manners and eat properly. We have a visit today. That goes double for you Napoleon! Don't pig out!"

OINK

"So, What do you think about it Imouto-san?" Asked Harima to Yakumo while leaving the Yagami Shrine.

"It's… amazing…"

"Glad that you liked it. But remember that you must keep it a secret from everybody."

"I will."

While walking towards the steps a shadow came to their encounter.

MEOW

'It's him! The black cat! He followed me here.' Thought Yakumo.

"Iori? You were here too?"

"Iori? Do you know him Harima-san?"

"Ah! Uh…" While Harima was showing his usual eloquence Yakumo looked at him with interest. "… you could say that… Um… we have met around… a couple of times…"

"Is he one of your animals too?"

"Well, I wouldn't call them 'my animals' or anything like that…" Said Harima while crouching down and extending his hand to Iori. "… I consider them more like guys with whom I get along."

At seeing Harima's hand extended Iori began to walk towards him.

"He! Long time not seeing you Iori. How have you being doing?" Said Harima while picking the cat up and petting him.

"Amazing…" Yakumo was amazed at how easily Harima bonded with the animals. Maybe he had a power similar to her? No. Somehow she was sure that that wasn't the case.

"Here." Said Harima offering Iori to her.

"Huh? No I can't."

"Why not?"

"He doesn't… trust me…"

"What are you talking about?"

"I tried… to call him before… but he never came to me…"

"Maybe he just needs to warm up to you." Said Harima while putting Iori on the ground. "Try it again."

"Eh!... But…"

"If you don't keep trying you'll never get what you want. So keep trying and trying and, whatever is your ideal, never let it go."

"You sure?"

"Come on. Call him."

"Uhm… Iori?..." Said Yakumo while extending her hand to the black cat. "Here… Iori…"

The cat just looked at her.

"It's no use…"

"Don't give up Imouto-san. Remember, if you want something don't let it go, just keep trying! No matter how long it takes."

"Ok…" Yakumo extended her hand again. "Here… Iori…"

Iori looked at her with intensity but this time she did not yield to her insecurities.

"Iori… come…"

MEOW

The cat began to walk towards Yakumo who picked him up without any resistance.

"He came… he came to me…"

"Of course he did. Iori knows that Imouto-san is a good person!"

Yakumo blushed at that comment.

She felt so at ease now. With Harima and Iori. It was like this was what she had been looking for in the last few days.

However she still felt that something was missing…

"Japan. It's different at how I have imagined it. But, at the same time, I feel like I've been here before..." Said Sarah Adiemus while getting out of the airport.

"Head Sister Mary really was in a hurry to send me here afterwards… that incident… But she could have waited until the school year was over."

Sarah picked up her bag and put a determined face.

"Doesn't matter. I'll give my best to my life here in Japan. And somehow I feel like there is something or somebody waiting for me here… In any case, I bet that it's going to be interesting living here!"

# 7 ... Fin