Disclaimer at the first page.
A Different Start
Chapter 13
Naru stared at him for a minute. She just kept looking at him with her mouth threatening to drop on the floor. When a hand started waving in her face Naru's mind started to work again. Later will she bash the idiot for waving a hand in her face, a more pressing matter was at hand, and that was finding out what was the idiot was talking about.
"You…your wife?"
"Ah…I mean ah…how do I explain this… My mother just called me and she arranged an omiai for me with one of her friend's daughters. She's adamant in getting me married early." Keitaro said with a sigh
Ever since last year, Keitaro's mother has been setting him up with her friend's daughters or nieces. Because he just didn't have the courage to tell her no and it would be rude to the other party Keitaro had no chose but to attend. Thankfully the girls weren't bad looking. Actually they were mostly intelligent types or ones that looked like magazine cover girls. Some of them actually were cover girls to his surprise.
But even though he met many beautiful and talented ladies it would always be just the first meeting and he would not bother to have a second one to formalize or approved of the arrangement. Keitaro would always explain to the woman that he was already in love with someone from a long time ago and still can't forget about her. Some of the girls were relieved that he didn't liked them.
Not because he was not a ttractive or anything. It was just that the girls would like to marry someone they love already. Some were a bit diassapointed as they already fallen for his charms, even though he didn't know it.(clueless as ever)
"So you're not married?" Naru asked releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"No, why'd you say that" Keitaro asked.
"You just said you were meeting your wife." Nauru replied raising her voice.
"I did, heh… my mistake, I meant' my future wife…if she turns out to be my type." Keitaro smiled and joked.
A vein popped on Naru's forehead. An angry aura surrounded her body. Keitaro noticed right away the sudden changed in temperature and noticed Naru's hand trembling. You would think from all the time Keitaro was launched to the air by Naru that he would already know the signs of his impending doom.
But being oblivious sometimes he completely ignored the warnings and still approached Naru and asked her is something matter.
"You okay Narusegawa-san?" Keitaro asked and a swift uppercut caught him by surprise that knocked him back was the answer he got.
"OW!... what was that for?" Keitaro asked nursing his sore jaw.
"You pervert!" Naru yelled at him before turning around and exiting through the room's door.
"What did I do?" Keitaro asked himself as he watched Naru storm out his room slamming the door shut in her exit. Dimwit…
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"That little…making me worry like that… It's not like a I care if he would like someone else….wait why am I so concerned about the idiots love life it's not like a I like him…" Naru said stopping at the hallway near her room.
"Don't I?" Naru asked herself looking down at the floor.
Various images flashed in Naru's mind. Her first meeting with him, their ride to Todai, their trip at Kyoto with Mizuho and the Marriage disaster at Okinawa. She remembered the colorful adventures she had with Keitaro and a warm feeling crept into her chest.
The most important thing that she thought about was that she had discovered that they were actually childhood friends along with Mutsumi. In the back of her mind a small thought of her being the promised girl he had been searching was present. The possibilities of her being the girl he's been looking for almost all his life was…overwhelming, it felt like your long time crush was about to tell you that he or she actually liked you longer than you have.
A second hand waved in front of her face for the second time that day, this time it was Shinobu who shook her out of her reverie. Shinobu had a worried look on her small cute face. She just saw her senpai standing at the hallway and became worried about her.
"Natu-senpai, are you alright?" The blue haired resident cook asked.
"Oh, I'm alright Shinobu-chan, I just spaced out a little there don't worry." Naru replied blushing and made a perfect imitation of Keitaro's sheepish pose.
"Oh, I'm glad you're alright. Do you know where Keitaro-senpai is?" Shinobu asked.
"I think he went back to his parent's home already, why'd you asked?" Naru replied raising an inquiring brow.
Immediately the blue haired girl turned red and looked away while stuttering a reply "N-Nothing I-Important, I was just going to a-asked if he could repair the back screen door, Su-chan just tore through it earlier." Shinobu replied.
"Oh, is that so, we'll just call a repair man for that later. " Naru reaplied.
"Oh-OK… Ummm." Shinobu mumbled something under her breathe and Naru heard it.
"What was that?"
"Oh…ummm, do you know why Keitaro-senpai is going out again?" Shinobu asked timidly.
"He's going back home to attend an omiai his parents set up." Naru answered the girl. Shinobu hearing the word Omiai quickly had eyes the size of saucers. Her sempai was going to a marriage arrangement meeting.
The little girl always had some issues with her self esteem, which didn't help matters. She had developed feelings for Keitaro ever since she was saved by him. He was like her knight in shining armor that saved her from the dragon guarded tower, or any other fantasies a junior high girl would think up about their crush.
Every time she had wanted to tell Keitaro her feelings but she couldn't muster the courage to do so.
Now he was attending an Omiai where he would probably meet some beautiful girl that she has no chance of being compared with. Her heart sunk thinking about it. She was just too plain and ordinary she thought, the boys in her school wouldn't even notice her even though that isn't true. Many liked the demure, shy- type. There was even a fan club featuring her but she didn't know that. She would be better off not knowing anyways.
Now Shinobu was the one brought out of her reverie by Naru whose turn to be worried.
"Shinobu-chan is there anything else that you need?" Naru asked. Shinobu quickly looked up to her senpai and shook her head before replying.
"No, Nothing…thank you Naru-senpai." The girl replied somewhat a bit downhearted tone.
"Well if you need anything else I'll be in my room." Naru said and opened her rooms door. Even though she picked up the changed in the younger girls mood she didn't want to pry.
"Are you sure your alright?" Naru asked again. Shinobu just nodded mustering a small smile and nodded. Naru just gave up and went into her room.
Shinobu stood there at the closed door for a minute with a single thought in her mind.
"Keitaro….senpai…" she sighed before returning to her household chores.
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Three days later…
At the Omia Keitaro's parent picked out a fine western style restaurant. He was dressed in a fine black suit that fitted his frame nicely. His father was in an identical looking suit and his mother was dressed in a traditional formal Kimono. Even though at their age Keitaro's parents still looked like young couples when they go out.
Urashima Kyouske forty-eight years old, Owner of thirty branches of their family's bake shop was a talented artisan and a good man. Always supportive of his family and a respected individual, he never let his fame or fortune get to his head…much. But even with a little arrogance sometime he was still a good man especially when there's his wife to keep him in line.
Urashima Riyoko, Forty-five years old but still looked liked thirty-three or even younger. She was naturally beautiful, a trait that is shared in her family. The long haired Japanese beauty that is a producer at the JTV was respected for her talent and looks by everyone. Her husband still can't believe she still looks like the woman he married twenty-five years ago. A vision of beauty and grace that always enchants him.
But beneath the graceful goddess like beauty was a goddess of war when provoked. Riyoko easily becomes jealous and when she sees her husband getting too friendly with his business partners, she would always remind him of the consequences if he pissed her off. Meaning a quick beat down that you would not think a woman in her age could do. Also you would be able to see how much a man's body could be bent even in Kyouske's age.
Entering the finely furnished establishment the three were escorted by the concierge to their table where they would wait for the other party to to start some small talk and catch up with each other Riyoko started the conversation.
"So how are your studies dear?" Riyoko asked, taking a sip from the served green tea.
"Fine as always, we're planning on going on another out-of-country excavation sometime this year." Keitaro replied.
"Again? You know how I feel about these excavations of yours." Riyoko said looking at her son. She always worried about him when he goes off to god knows where, entering ancient buildings that might giveaway and bury him alive.
"I know mom, but don't worry we always take precautions, we won't get hurt." Keitaro replied trying to soothe his mother.
"Yes dear, our son has grown up to be a great man so we don't need to worry about him too much." Kyouske replied looking at his wife then at Keitaro with pride.
"Thanks dad."
Their family conversation was cut short when the concierge approached them with the other party. Three people where introduced and Keitaro's parents stood to greet them.
The Asakura family is well known for their Communications empire. Asakura Hiro, the father of the woman Keitaro would meet was the President and founder of Asakura Telecom. A well respected man with regal bearing. He is viewed as the telecom business king for expanding his empire within ten years time. He was very sharp in his trade which earned him the nick name of Murasame Hiro, for his teanacity and intelegence. His hair was already graying in some parts but still retained a look of vigor and power.
His wife a former actress and now a movie producer Asakura Rei was beautiful woman. Shoulder length brown hair and dressed in a red dress she didn't even look like a forty four year old much like her dear friend Riyoko. Truly she and Riyoko were gifted with beauty which were envied by many.
The two women's friendship started when they met years ago when they were still making the show Hinata LVE that Riyoko produced and Rei starred in.
The two women respected each others strengths. With Riyoko's high quality and authoritative yet reasonable personality and Rei's natural charisma and level headedness, they worked in the show perfectly. Through the time they became close friends.
"Riyoko-chan!" Rei called out excitedly quickly wrapping her friend in a tight embrace.
"Rei-chan, nice to see you again too." Riyoko said returning the hug.
"Nice to meet you Asakura-san." Kyouske said extending his hand. The other man accepted the gesture.
"Same with me." He replied. "So you're Riyoko-san's son eh…" Hiro stated looking at Keitaro.
Keitaro stood up and shook the man's hand. They say that man's characteristics could be told by the way he shakes your hand, if too light he maybe shy, or intimidated. If the handshake is tight and powerful, the guy would likely be aggressive, proud or confident in himself.
But with Keitaro it wasn't too powerful yet not too light. He was confident but not overbearing; he was intimidated but was not too afraid. Even though Keitaro knew the guy's position he didn't need to impress him nor did he need to fear him. Keitaro viewed him not as an owner of a multimillion dollar company but as a regular guy and a father here to meet him if he was up to standard for his daughter.
"Nice to meet you sir." Kietaro greeted politely. Hiro appraised the young man looking Keitaro up and down.
"Nice to meet you too." Hiro replied releasing the handshake.
"Oh Keitaro-kun, I'd like you to meet my darling daughter, Yuu-chan" Rei said in a voice that sounded like from a teenager.
A woman, wearing a dark blue kimono with intricate designs of a crane which has its wings spread, stepped forward. Her blue dyed hair held up by a beautiful swallow shaped hairpin was an attention getter. The woman's face was like a perfect oval pointed at the end, and a flawless skin that Keitaro thought he was looking at a dream. Keitaro caught a glimpse of her brown eyes and the admiration he felt quickly turned into shock and confusion. IT WAS HER! The woman that tried to play baseball with his head a few months ago! And the one that approached him on his date with Sara.
He tried to conceal his surprise from everyone, and from the looks of it the blue haired girl was also surprised in seeing him. Quickly, Keitaro addressed Yuu politely willing his voice not to waver.
"Nice to meet you Yuu-san." He said bowing at her direction. The woman fumbled a bit and returned the gesture with her own small bow.
"N-Nice to meet you too, Keitaro-san" She said her cheeks slowly turning pink.
"This is just…with all the people in the world it had to be him! Why!? Is this my punishment!" Yuu wailed inside her head.
"What to do? What to do? Why did it have to be her? With all of the people mom's friend's daughter had to be her!...I'm dead.." Keitaro sighed internally.
In the parents mind however were different thoughts.
"Wow look at them, I was right that they would hit it off nicely." Both mothers thought looking at each other with a knowing smile on their lips.
"Alright Kei-kun! I knew my son was a ladies man look at her, I bet she's already fallen for my son. I'm SO PROUD!" Kyouske beamed inside his head a chibi of him doing a victory dance there.
"BETTER WATCH WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT GAKI! I'LL RIP YOUR LITTLE DEVILS OFF AND FEED THEM TO MY KOI, IF YOU HURT MY LITTLE PRINCESS!" Hiro wailed internally a black aura filling him.
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Back at the Hinta-sou
A woman with long black hair tied into a ponytail, dressed in a black dress top over by a white vest stood in front of the Hinata-sou. Beside her was a large suitcase and a black cat with long ears and a very long tail that has a two bells tied to it.
"I'm not letting my mother marry off onii-chan" Kanako hissed. Kanako the younger sister of Keitaro had recently came back to Japan after hearing word of her mother trying to get her onii-chan married for quite some time now. Even though she was supposed to look after their Grandmother while going around the world the old woman didn't need much help. With all the security guys she had with her she didn't' needed Kanako to worry about her. So Hina let her granddaughter go back to Japan to 'help' her parents pick a suitable wife for her favorite grandson.
So in flash Kanako was in a first class flight to Japan and now stood in front of the place where the promise from a long time ago would be fulfilled. Armed with the love for her brother and with burning passion of driving off and inflicting pain on whoever thought of getting funky with her onii-chan. Kanako entered the Hinata-sou.
Only problem is…Keitaro's not there.
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A/N: Yippee finally I put in Kana-chan. Hope you enjoyed this!