A New Light
Chapter 21
Sara And Seta Pt. 4 Final
---------------------------------------
Keitaro was driving back to the Hinata-sou, in his trademark white van while Makie sat next to him, on the passenger seat. Asuna and Sakura were at the back, leaning on each other's side. Their heads connected by the forehead, as both of them slept soundly together during the bumpy car ride, snoring and twitching lightly.
Keitaro took a peek at his rear view mirror to see.
He smiled.
Something inside him got warm all of a sudden. Just by seeing that cute sight, he suddenly got warmer, and lost his breath for a second, just to regain it back, as he focused his attention back to the road.
Well they seem fine now. Thanks to you I bet.....
Seta's voice rung in his head, as he stopped at a red light.
Keitaro sighed and closed his eyes.
No matter how honest he could be, he couldn't deny that those two girls were now better mentally then they were a month ago. Both lost their parents and now he was taking care of them. He was their support, he was important to them, and that thought alone made him happy.
Well, Keitaro....when you adopted those two girls in that room, was it hard at first?
Seta's voice rung in his head once more....
The answer he gave Seta was the honest to god truth, but of course he left some things out. For example, how he was completley and utterly nervous when ever he was around them in the beginning. How he didn't want to mess up and be a bad father. Making their lives even more miserable thanthey already were. Or the fact that he was worried if both of the girls were actually faking their happiness and actually sad in the inside....
Keitaro shuddered.
He was still worried about the last one, but he was slowly convincing himself it was true happiness.
He looked back at the sleeping duo.
No......he was now certain, that they are happy. But he was still worried about being a bad father. Bringing back their miserable lives, and making them sad once more.
He frowned.
"Keitaro-san..?"
Then an image of Sara popped into his mind.
"Keitaro..!?!"
Keitaro snapped out of his thinking, to find Makie looking at him, pointing at the street light.
It was green.
"Oh sorry, Makie-chan. I spaced out for a second." He chuckled.
Makie chuckled back. "That's okay, Lets just try and get home so I can eat some dinner."
"Fine, Fine..." He replied, going back to driving.
Makie looked at Keitaro as he drove.
She saw a slight frown on his face. She cocked an eyebrow.
"Keitaro....what's wrong...?" She asked leaning more into her chair.
Keitaro glanced at Makie's comfortable position next to him, and sighed.
Then smiled...
"Im fine, just...I have alot of things in my mind....that's all..." He droned, switching lanes in the road as he refocused his attention back to the road.
Makie looked at Keitaro, and nodded.
Silence....
"Is it becuase of Sara..." She asked suddenly.
Keitaro almost swerved hard to the right.
He looked at Makie with wide eyes.
He saw her looking outside at the blurring houses passing them by.
"Eehh? H-how did you know..." He said shocked.
"............."
Makie didn't reply yet, causing an eerie silence in the van, as Makie continued to look out her window.
"............"
"It's because Uncle Seta told me...before hand." She finally said.
Keitaro tilted his head to the side.
"I know that he asked you to take custody of Sara, and I know he will be waiting for your answer tonight.....when he comes over.....and I also know you're stressed out about it.." She confessed.
"Heh...Am I really that easy to figure out...." Keitaro sighed.
"Unfortunately yes....I also suggest that you hide it better, when we reach home....You don't want anyone else finding it out......until you have made your decision...."
Keitaro only nodded as he pulled up and parallel parked near the steps of the Hinata-sou.
Makie got out of the van. Already running going up the steps towards the Hinata-sou. On the third step she looked back, she saw Keitaro reaching into the van, and pulling out the two twins. One in each of his arms, both of the twin's heads resting on each of his shoulders and both of their hands and legs unconciously hugging Keitaro from different angles.
Makie smiled and retreated up the stairs, with Keitaro soon following.
Rays of the sunset behind the dorm pierced through the air and gave an orangeglow to the dorm, while both climbed the stairs. Makie was thinking of what dinner would be like...Keitaro was thinking of something else...
He was thinking of Sara.
He was thinking of how sad she might be....Losing another loved one....and being handed to a person she barely even knew.....being thrown into a dorm full of girls.....into a different enviroment.....
Keitaro knew the reason for why Seta did this...Hereplayed that meeting they had a while back, inside his head....
As he slowly walked up the steps, with his daughters in eacharm sleeping.
-------------Toudai : A while back-------
Keitaro almost fainted.
"Whaaa?!" He said completely dumbfounded.
Seta kept staring at Keitaro.....then slowly nodded.
"But-but...Why me?!?!" He said stuttering. "I-I mean come on! I'm barely passing to be a father with Asuna and Sakura as it is! I can't be possibly be good enough to handle one more!"
Seta silently shook his head. "No Keitaro, I have absolute trust and confidence in you being able to take care of all three."
Seta turned back around to face the window.
"Please Keitaro.....I need you to do this for me.....a few days ago something happened.....Something terrible. A few friends of mine, and Sara were in a cave. We were suppose to just investigate what was there. But what we found.....we didn't like..."
Seta took a breath.
"With that said, all of my friends died that day, and Sara almost did to. She froze in her tracks and almost died that day. That has always been with Sara, her fear of the supernatural. She hates those kinds of thing. Like....ghosts....zombies....all of that."
Keitaro stood silently, listening.
"And well....I fear for her safety. She might die, like all my other friends did....I.....I hate just thinking about that. So...I've decided to leave her here....with you, Keitaro..in a dorm full of girls around her own age....safe...and secure! Not with me...where she might die from drowning..or a rock slide....I just can't take that risk....Not any more...."
Keitaro was in deep thought, his face in a frown.
"Well, have you talked this out with Sara.... Seta?" He said.
Seta sighed.
"No.....not until I've found a suitable replacement."
"That suitable replacement happens to be me...Right...?"
"Yes....and I see you still need some time....I'll give you til tonight. I will be coming over to Hinata-sou for dinner. I expect an answer by then..."
A million thoughts were going on inside Keitaro's confused head. None of them making any sense at all, as he continued to look at Seta's figure.
Seta retreated back into the doorway leading back to the archaeologist room.
Seta stopped for a second.
"Please...Keitaro...."
Keitaro was now left alone in the desolate hallway, the sounds of distant footsteps could be heard echoing through the silent passageway. The sun was still shining down from the window beside him.
He looked out the window, viewing the majestic courtyard of the university. The rays of the sunlight making him narrow his eyes.
Why is it that every time something bad happens to me.....it always has to be in this place....
Keitaro scratched the back of his head. Rustling his short black hair from side to side, before going back into the noisy room himself.
The door closed behind him
------------------------------------------
Keitaro was now passing the Hinata tea shop Haruka owned as he was climbing up the stairs, both girls still in his arms.
Haruka herself was outside sweeping dust out of her shop with her trusty broom.
She looked up and saw Keitaro, back from her friend's house. She was about to ask about it, but the look on Keitaro's face told her to keep quiet.
This...can't be good....
Keitaro didn't even look at Haruka as he passed her by, not even a glance.
Haruka cocked an eyebrow at this.
But Keitaro mumbled one phrase that rang into her ears and only her ears, as he passed her by.
"I'll talk to you later...."
Haruka froze in her sweeping, the tone in his voice was different then before. Making her believe he was depressed or angry. She couldn't tell, but she knew it was about Seta and Sara.
She sighed as Keitaro's figure entered the Hinata-sou.
She continued to sweep in front of her tea shop, the dust already swept away moments ago.
-------------------------------------------
Keitaro had now entered inside their bedroom.
Thankfully the only person in the dorm when Keitaro entered was Shinobu. She was busy making dinner in the kitchen and didn't even notice Keitaro and Makie walk in. Everyone else was either asleep or out. Keitaro also told Makie to make Shinobu prepare some more food becuase Seta and Sara were coming over
Slowly he laid down the two sleepyheads into their respective futons. Pulling up their blankets to cover them snuggly.
Keitaro smiled, knelt down and kissed both of them on the forehead, and started to leave the room.
He looked back.
Then continued to walk. Destination...the Tea Shop.
The door closed tight, leaving the two girls alone to sleep......
A pair of eyes opened.
The two sleepy eyes blinked before closing once again.
-------------------------------------------------
Haruka was sitting in one of her tables, quietly waiting for her nephew to come and have his chat with her.
She knew this chat would be about Seta and Sara, considering the fact that she was the one who suggested Seta to choose him as the replacement father. She suggested Keitaro becuase of his passion and caring personality. Which clearly showed itself greatly as he took care of the twins. So there wasn't a doubt in her mind that he was and will always be a great father.
But Haruka also knew one more fact about Keitaro. She knew HE wouldn't think that he was great father material. Heck, he would think he, himself was a horrible father for the twins and that's exactly what this chat is going to be like.
Haruka knew him all to well.
Haruka's ears perked when the silence around herbroke intoa pair of footsteps approaching her way.
She shifted her head to find Keitaro walking up to her from behind and taking a seat next to her.
"Tea, Keitaro?" She asked.
"Yes, please..."
Haruka stood up and went to the counter to make a cup of tea for the both if them.
A Pause...
"What should I do Haruka..." Keitaro finally said, putting a hand over his face while leaning on the table.
"Do what you think is right Keitaro..." Haruka responded, still pouring some tea.
"What I think is right?!?!" He said a little louder. "When I ever do something that involves Asuna or Sakura, I ask myself that! Am I doing what is best for them?! Am I making them happy if I do this?! Or am I making them sad becuase of this!?...... I always ask myself those things and it is really getting to me......And now, thanks to you I might have to ask myself that more freqently if I CHOOSE to take custody of Sara."
Haruka cocked an eyebrow.
"So you didn't choose yet Keitaro..."
"No...Seta gave me some time...but..I...I just don't know...I'm just so confused and worried..... I.....I know Sara will be devastated about hearing she will be turned over to my guardianship...I mean...how am I going to deal with that?! Make her feel loved again after being thrown away by Seta? I mean, come on! Seta is thinking that he is doing this for her own good...and I think that is honorable...but what about how Sara thinks? She might think she is being abandoned...left here like he doesn't like her at all...."
Haruka finished making the tea, and scurried to the table, sitting down and handed the cup of tea to her nephew.
Keitaro slowly took the cup with shaking hands, and took a sip.
Haruka just stared at Keitaro's stressed face.
"Now Keitaro, I wouldn't have told Seta that you were good father material, if I didn't think you were....Remember this Keitaro......those girls of yours will someday turn into lovers....who will then turn into mothers, and aunts........With you leading them step by step in this staircase we all call life.....I have full and utter confidence in you making them be the greatest they can ever be......Becuase you're Keitaro Urashima...my caring, selfless,passionate nephew. Who just worried over how Sara would think in this kind of situation and feel sorry for her for what she is about to go through. If that isn't father material....Then I'll never smoke again."
Keitaro smirked, but kept silent.
"Now go...I need to clean up...." Haruka said standing up. She scurried to the Kitchen while tying her apron tightly, to clean a couple of dishes that were left over in the sink.
She put her gloves on and started to clean the dishes.
Then a couple of arms hugged her around the neck, from behind. Taking her by complete surprise.
With wide eyes, she looked behind her shoulder to see Keitaro hugging her from behind, and his head resting on her left shoulder warming her up a tad bit.
"K-Keitaro?!" She remarked dumbly, a bit surprised.
"Th-thanks.....Haruka-obaa-san....Thanks alot....." With that said he released the hug, and kissed the back of Haruka's head. The smell of Haruka's smooth silky black hair calmed Keitaro down even more.
Not even a tiny crimson blush formed on her cheek, instead Haruka chuckled, and smiled warmly while going back to her dishes.
As silent as he came in, Keitaro left the tea house, Headind back up the stairs leaving Haruka to her chores.
"Your very welcome Keitaro......." Haruka whispered to herself.
Haruka kept that smile all thru washing the dishes. The only sound being the running tap water through her fingers.
Wait...he called me obaa-san...
I'll smack him later....
Haruka chuckled.
----------------------------------
Several hours past since that little meeting. Shinobu finished making dinner, making enough for ten. Enough for everyone including the two guests I talked about and excluding Motoko who was out on a training expedition.
Asuna and Sakura were now fully awake and waiting eagerly for Sara and Seta to come.
Mitsune and Naru were both shocked when I had told them that Seta and Sara were coming for dinner. Especially Naru.
I wasn't dumb anymore, nor was I blind. I had seen that picture Naru had. The one with both Naru and Mitsune in high school, with their mentor behind them. Their mentor being scrubbed out with black marker. Haruka had told me that Naru had a crush for that guy. Naru tried to hide it but Harukawas very wiseand keptsilent. It was obvious to her that Naru had a crush on her mentor.
I was able to find out it was Seta in that picture because Haruka had mentioned Naru's mentor to be her first and only archeologist partner some while ago. I had just met her archeoligist partner and friend, Seta, just a couple of hours ago when Haruka told me to meet him for a job.
This would have made me deeply depressed, knowing Naru loved someone else.......if it was a couple of months ago.
At first I loved Naru to the point where I would worship the ground she walked on. But now my attention shifted, from Naru.....to my new daughters. Of course my vision love for Naru slowly faded. Until I looked at Naru as only...a friend.
I might still have a little bit of love for her...
..I don't know....
But I'm sure it's not big enough to make me stumble or trip on invisible banana peels when ever I'm around her...or get depressed when someone she has a crush on is coming over to discuss a custody matter with her male Kannrin. That male kannrin just so happens to be me.....
Well....now....the custody matter part is making me a tad bit depressed as of late....but not the part where her crush is coming over....I'm totally fine with that....
Well.....Seta and Sara came after Shinobu finished the dinner.
Asuna and Sakura were of course thrilled to see Sara. Suu and Shinobu were also kind of excited. They all rushed into the dining room so fast, they were practicly a blur when I saw them with my eyes.
I happily gave up my seat at the dinner table to let Sara sit inbetween Asuna and Sakura as the three of them, including Suu and Shinobu, talked with each other.
Instead I was sitting beside Seta who only smiled when ever I gazed at his direction. This made me tense up a tad bit.
I could also tell that Makie knew I was tense, considering she knew the situation I was in.
Of course Naru was practicly drooling at the sight of Seta, but like I said, it didn't bother me one bit. It just made me laugh when ever she stumbled or slipped as she was remotely near Seta, or when ever she accidently dropped a whole bowl of rice over my head and apoligize deeply.
Which bringsup the question: Did I always look so ridiculous when ever I was like that around Naru a couple of months ago?
Well anyways...There was one more thing that surprised me...Mitsune always had a blush whenever I notice her look at Seta...does she have a crush on him as well...?
After that wonderful, yet awkward dinner, we had all thanked Shinobu for the meal, and went to the living room to hang out. Sakura, Suu, and Sara, all were playing with the new game I had bought for them while Shinobu and Asuna watched on. I think it was called Halo 2. I had to stay up in a huge line at Midnight to get that game for Sakura and Su, I was worried for a while becuase it had a Mature rating.....but it couldn't have been worse then what Suu always does to me in one of her experiments.....so I bought it for them...
Okie..now while everyone was watching the three girls play Halo 2...Seta secretly told me to meet him out in the courtyard after everything had settled down, to discuss....it...
Well, it's exactly midnight right about now.....Everyone had calmed down, and went to their respected bedrooms..except for Sara who is currently sleeping on my futon with Sakura and Asuna!
So now...I'm just waiting....For Seta....
--------------------------------------------
Keitaro opened his eyes, as his train ofthought was interrupted with the sound of a door creaking open...
Keitaro narrowed his eyes to see better in the dark.
Seta came into his view as he passed a tree, walking over to his position in the dark.
"Well, Keitaro, let's say we walk inside...shall we...?" Seta said heading back inside.
Keitaro only nodded and followed Seta.
"So Keitaro...Have you decided yet?"
Keitaro remained silent.
"Remember....I'll be paying you....... giving you money to support both Sara and the twins.."
Keitaro looked at Seta. "I agree..."
"Eh!?"
"I said...I agree....."
Seta's eyes widened.
"Thank you Keitaro...Thank you very much....." Seta reached down and shook Keitaro's hand furiously, while bowing.
"Hehe, it's nothing really, please...."
Seta calmed down. "Hehe Sorry, but could you do me one last favor.."
"What is it?"
Seta reached down into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, all crumpled and wrinkled in his hand. He held it out for Keitaro to grasp it.
"Give this to Sara when she wakes up...please...."
Keitaro's eyes widened immensly.
"What!?! Why don't you give it to her yourself when you say goodbye tommorow?"
Seta looked down on the floor, not looking directly at Keitaro.
Keitaro double-taked.
"Because...your not going to say goodbye...are you?!?" Keitaro said answering his own question.
Seta only nodded and started to head to the front door.
"Seta!!" Keitaro yelled, marching up to the retreating man.
Seta unhooked his coat from the caot rack, and started to put it on.
"Seta! What are you doing! Why aren't you saying good bye to her?!?!"
Seta turned to look at Keitaro, which made him jump. Seta had no emotion being emitted out from his eyes. Keitaro couldn't tell if he was sad, mad, or depressed...he was just....existing right at that spot.
"Seta?"
"Keitaro....It's just too hard...I don't think I would be up to it..."
Keitaro's anger started to rise, the thought of him leaving without saying a single good bye made his blood boil down to the very core.
"So your just going to be a coward and upright leave!!" Keitaro half yelled as to not wake up anyone else in the dorm.
Seta didn't make any eye contact, he was just staring straight down at the floor.
Keitaro clenched a fist.
"Do you know how she will feel if you just left without a word! Wake up tommorow with you not by her side! To be left here, with me instead! She would feel abandoned, left for dead, like as if she was nothing!........ So if I were you I would stay here, have a formal goodbye and reassure her that everything will be ok! Then leave!"
Seta just continued to stare with those non-emotional eyes, deadlocked with Keitaro's enraged ones.
"Your right......but I am not you Keitaro.....And that's the reason why I'm leaving her in your hands...Becuase your worthy...and I'm not...I only endanger her life....while your passionate and caring personality is what Sara needs to get through life........I just can't face her Keitaro.....I just can't face her after knowing I've failed her..."
Keitaro gritted his teeth, as he tried to calm himself down.
"Thats not what I am saying Seta! You have to atle-"
Keitaro was cut off when Seta threw the piece of paper at him. Causing Keitaro to instinctively catch it.
Keitaro looked at it.
He looked back at Seta.
-Click-
The front door was shut closed, with no sign of Seta anywhere near it.
Keitaro rushed to the front door, and opened it harshly.
He ran outside into the dark cold night. The moon shun above him like a halo of dark light as he looked franticly around himself and down the huge flight of stairs to spot Seta.
He was no where to be seen.
GOD DAMN IT!
Keitaro's anger dropped dramatically, as his body started to feel the cold dead air around himself. He relieved a sigh while he hugged himself in a futile attempt to warm up just a bit.
He looked at his right hand....
There was the piece of paper, all folded up and was tightly gripped in his right hand.
A pause.
Keitaro closed his eyes, as he started to walk back into the dorm, in this dead spring night.
-----------------------------------------------
In the shadows, a pair of eyes opened and looked at Keitaro's figure heading back to the dorm.
It watched him walk into the dorm....
It watched him close the door......
A single tear escaped it's right eye as it returned back into the darkness.
A black figure suddenly blurred out of a treetop, and jumped over the tea shop. The trees all around the lonely tea shop swayed back and forth as it jumped past the dark shop. All the leaves started to fall like floating rain, down unto the top of it's bare rooftop.
The trees stopped swaying, as the black figure disappeared into the dark streets in the Hinata province.
The halo of leaves dissipated.
The last Sakura leaf fell down from the last swaying tree above Haruka's shop. Slowly floated down to the porch.
Floated down....
and down.......
A hand caught it in mid-float.
Haruka gently observed the sakura leaf and dropped it to continue it's journey to the porch she was now standing on.
It was then joined by Haruka's cigeratte, as she dropped it onto the floor.
She stepped on it to put out the cigeratte for good and looked at the direction where the black figure ran off too.
Seta.....You can't run forever.....
Haruka, quickly turned around, disappearing into the depths of her dark shop.
-----------------------------------------
The door to Keitaro's room slowly opened.
Keitaro stepped in quietly, as to not make any noise what so ever at the three sleeping soundly in their futon.
He tip-toed over to his desk and laid the piece of paper down gently.
He sighed and looked at the three sleeping girls.
Sara was shivering and turning in between the sleeping forms of Asuna and Sakura. Her blanket away from her body.
Keitaro sighed, and started to walk over to Sara.
He pulled the blanket over her shivering body.
Sara stopped shivering and snuggled deeper into the warm inviting embrace of her blanket.
Keitaro shook his head and retreated back towards the hallway.
Guess I'm going to sleep on the couch tonight....
Keitaro looked back at the sleeping threesome, and slowly closed the door once again.
Sara turned inside her blanket.
"Papa...." She mumbled in her sleep, which echoed inside the misty, pitch black room, for no one to hear.....
-----------End of Chapter 21-------------
Proof-read by : Jerails. "Yo."