Yes, it's that time again! This story is now chugging along quite nicely, thank you.
To make up for my lack of an update last week, this chapter is a double-length one. This is all building up to something big, and next chapter, a lot of answers about what is going on behind the scenes will finally be revealed. And after that, there's even more to come.
Read on!
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LOVE HINA: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
By Doctor-T
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A little later on that afternoon, Toshio Chinen-sensei arrived at the Hinata Apartments for tonight's meeting. By then, Kanako had returned from sorting out the banking problem in Hinata City, and was once more back-on-duty at reception in the entrance hall of the main building.
Upon seeing the arrival of Toshio-sensei at the front counter, Kanako had at first been very nervous at his imposing presence. For she knew that he was almost certainly aware by now that she had deceived him into thinking that she was Haruka, on the occasion when Keitaro was in hospital after being hit by a car.
But to Kanako's surprise, that uncomfortable topic had not come up at all. Instead, after warmly greeting her, her aged and most-wise relative had told the wary Goth girl that he was aware of her medical condition. He had then asked to see her in private, after she had signed him in and given him his room key, with regards to a quick diagnosis, and maybe even a possible cure.
Even though she had already been totally cured of her previously-fatal condition by Sailor Saturn, Kanako had known better than to refuse his offer of help. So she had agreed to the doctor's request. After getting the new girl, Masao Kusakabe, to cover for her, Kanako had accompanied her aged relative to a side room for a quick scan of her ki.
Once the scan was complete, and then pronouncing her totally-cured of her ailment, Chinen-sensei had then asked of her just how this seeming-miracle had happened. Thinking fast, Kanako decided that she might as well tell him the truth about who had saved her – but not about where it had happened. So she told him that a friend had put her in touch with one of the Sailor senshi, Sailor Saturn, who had then come to the apartments and cured her.
Upon hearing her somewhat-hard-to-believe answer, to her great relief, Chinen-sensei had merely smiled and nodded at her, and then departed for his temporary lodgings without asking any more awkward questions.
And from that surprising episode, the extremely-relieved Kanako concluded that Chinen-sensei obviously knew far more about what was going on around here than she did, and that he was letting on.
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From her position behind the reception counter, an hour-or-so after relieving Kanako and commencing her afternoon shift, Kitsune scratched at the back of her head, and directed her puzzled gaze at a departing female guest, who was at that moment being escorted up to her room by one of the yukata-clad part-time employees. That was now the third young women who had asked her out on a date tonight. And Kit, despite knowing - because of her extreme good looks and figure – that she was attractive to both men and women, was beginning to wonder why just so many other good-looking girls were propositioning her today.
Heh? It is a bit strange, ain't it? Maybe it's this-here new perfume Ah've got on? It sure seems to do the trick – with women, anyway. Now if Ah could only get the damn thing to work on Kei, Ah'll be laughin' all of the way to the wedding chapel!
She, as-of-yet, had no knowledge at all of the incriminating picture of her and Mutsumi that had been posted for the world to see, on the sign beside the road at the foot of the huge main staircase. Not to mention the second copy of the picture on the sign in the Hinata Apartments car park, and the third one that was pasted to Haruka's signpost advertising the Hinata Tea Rooms.
But one other person had just noticed the soft-porn images, and wasn't too happy about them, either.
Hmm? So that's the reason for all of those women asking me out? And Kanako phoned to tell me that she's found another two of them on our other signs! Sarah McDougal is up to her tricks again, I see!
Heh! Well, I know just the way to turn the tables on that little brat. I'd best have a little chat to Sarah, soon, and see just what she's got to say for herself after I show her what I'm going to go and collect from Su, right now!
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A few minutes later, Vincent S made his way down the inside staircase of the Hinata Tea Rooms towards the dining room and bar. He had just been in contact with his base, and had received new orders to stay right where he was in Hinata Hot Springs, for the time being, anyway. He had also relayed on his request for further information about the Nadia girl, and also for them to investigate any possible historic link between the Maehara and Namo families. And he was at that very moment reflecting on that long-ago girl who had so mysteriously vanished off her island home.
'Nemo to Namo,' he thought, with a silent chuckle of amusement. When it came to changing her last name to avoid detection, Nadia sure didn't have much in the way of imagination.
And doing it didn't save her, either…
As the big man arrived at the foot of the staircase, he swept his gaze across the room, looking for his friend Haruka. Then Vincent S came to a sudden stop and a big smile came to his face as he spotted just who it was standing at the bar counter. The loungers in question were Granny Hina's two new bodyguards. They were easy enough to spot, as, for obvious reasons, the dozen-or-so other customers in the room were giving the intimidating-looking duo a wide berth. And, by yet another amazing coincidence, he just happened to know them both personally.
The brown-haired-and-bearded human standing on the right was an ex-special forces soldier, who now worked as a mercenary. He sported a grey headband and one black eye-patch, and was dressed in an olive-drab, stab-proof, low-visibility combat suit, with fingerless elbow-length black gloves, and black combat boots. He didn't look to be armed in any way, but Vincent S would have bet his bottom dollar that the lounging mercenary had at the very least, half-a-dozen hidden weapons of varying lethality on his person.
The armored and helmeted black figure on the left was something else entirely. His shape was humanoid, but he definitely was not. For this was the fearsome 'Mr. Red Eyes'.
'Mr. Red Eyes' wasn't even remotely human. Nor was he a robot or an android of human construction, although he was indeed artificial, and resembled one. Furthermore, 'Mr. Red Eyes' was capable of an amazing fluidity of motion, almost organic in its nature, moving just like a vocaloid could. But this artificial life form wasn't a vocaloid, either. He was alien tech - a war machine not of this world. Vincent S knew him quite well, for this extraterrestrial construct had spent years trying to kill him and totally destroy the organization that he worked for.
But all of that had happened in the increasingly-distant past. The long-ago attempt had failed, and now he, the sinister alien war machine and the mercenary were all good friends.
"I see that you pair of losers have somehow sponged a cushy berth off another unsuspecting old lady," he called out by way of greeting, striding across the room in their direction. "Why don't you both get honest jobs, like doing the dishes on the other side of that bar, instead of scaring off all of Haruka's customers?"
The black, helmeted head of the humanoid–shaped robot soldier swiveled around to fix its glowing red eyes upon the oncoming agent, and stated,
"Warning! Village Idiot approaching. Advise immediate termination."
The human mercenary also turned his head, scowled at who he saw, and then said in a loud aside to his metallic companion, "Waste of ammo. Maybe if we ignore him, he'll go away."
But, as Vincent S reached the mismatched pair, the way that the two now-grinning men clasped hands belied that statement. A fist-bump for the black armored robotic humanoid soldier followed, before the human half of the duo spoke up.
"Vincent S! Good to see you, buddy," David - code name 'Solid Snake' - greeted his most-surprising appearance. "But what in the hell are you doing here in this back-water town in Japan?"
"Hi, Snake," the big man said cheerfully in turn, having met the ex-special forces soldier, now mercenary before on several occasions. "So it was you two that I saw jumping in on parachutes earlier on this afternoon? I heard that Grandma Hina had hired on a couple of bodyguards, but I had no idea that it was you two slackers. And I could say the same about you and 'Mr. Red Eyes' being here. I thought that you were still hanging out in Gekido Town with the Vocaloids?"
"I was. But Granny Hina made me an offer too good to refuse."
"It must've been one heck of an offer to get you away from those hot artificial girls. I met a whole bunch of them a while back, not long after they first appeared here in Japan."
"You did? How come?"
"My organization sent me and one other agent to check them out, just to make sure that they weren't going to become a threat, them supposedly being from the future, and all. And, as you already know, we found out that the Vocaloids and their relations, the Utau's may be artificially created, but they're also fully-conscious, self-aware, bio-mechanical people that are to all-intents-and-purposes, both truly alive, and – well, human."
"And your lot still think that they may become a threat?"
"To tell you the truth, Snake, the jury is still out on that one. We're still keeping an eye on them, of course, but have come to the conclusion that they're mostly harmless. Luckily for us, none of the Vocaloids or Utau's are really malicious, considering the techno-magical futuristic firepower that they can utilize. For some strange reason, most of them seem to only want to become idols here in Japan. As you have no-doubt noticed, they'd much rather perform song-and-dance routines, than take over the world."
Snake nodded at what he was hearing. "Yeah. If it means anything to your group, I can vouch for them being truly human, too. I've been living in Gekido town for the last six months-or-so with Rusty here," he stated, elbowing the Black Death machine at his side. "And I've found out that the Vocaloids, the Utau's, various other – for want of a better word, 'things' – wandering around there, and even those freaky, pink, octopus-like 'Tako Luka' creatures are all pretty much the same as regular people, complete with all of their shortcomings, jealousies, and bad habits. Like a couple of them that I know really well, who drink far too much, nearly all of the time."
"I think that I know the pair you're referring to. So, Meiko is still as drunk as ever, then? She was tanked nearly the entire time I was first assigned to keep a watch on them."
"Yup."
"And is Haku still even drunker than Meiko is, most times?"
"Again, yup. As per usual."
"Great. And just how in the hell do bio-mechanical androids, supposedly from an alternate future, even get drunk, anyway?"
Snake laughed at the querulous look on his friend's face. "Damned if I know, Vincent. But those two sure are good to both look at, and party with. Did you know that they can do everything a real human girl can do, sometimes even better?"
"I heard. They sound like a real blast to be with. If you don't mind doing it with someone who can use nanotech to create guns out of thin air to blow you away with if you piss them off, that is?"
"Naw, I don't mind. What's life without a little risk to spice it up? Besides, the Vocaloids and I are tight. They quite often come to me to back them up in dodgy situations, and I help to get them out of their little – and big - scrapes in that damn freaky town of theirs."
"Yeah. I've never been there, but I hear that Gekido Town is not for the faint-hearted. But on the subject of back-up, what do you think is going down right here in Hinata Hot Springs, Dave?" Vincent S then asked, changing the subject back to the matter-at-hand. "I haven't had a chance to go talk to Granny Hina yet, but with you two here working for her, it's gotta be something pretty big."
"I'm not sure yet, either. Standard V.I.P. protection job, at the moment, anyway. But I'd best let Grandma Hinata fill you in on any further details, if she has a mind to, that is?"
"Yeah, fine." Vincent S then looked around the room, and asked, "So, before I forget, where's Haruka, the lady who's usually behind the bar in here?"
Snake gestured with his right-hand thumb in the general direction of the hill behind the Tea rooms. "She took off a couple of minutes ago. Said she was going to see some kid up at the apartments."
"Too bad. I had some info for her. Did Haruka say that she'd be gone for long?"
"Something about, 'as long as it takes'," Snake replied. "Tough lady, isn't she? And real good-looking, too. Do you know her well?"
"Yep. We're good friends from way back."
"Uh-huh?" Snake grinned, giving his big acquaintance a knowing wink with his un-patched eye. "I was wondering what you were doing here, and now I know. Haruka is Granny Hina's daughter, or granddaughter, or some-such, isn't she? From what I've seen of her just before, you could do a lot worse than to hook up with her."
"Heh! Romantic-wise, close, but no cigar. We aren't going out together. In explanation, do either of you know Noriyasu Seta? He's a tall, skinny dude with glasses and a white lab coat on him all of the time."
Snake nodded. "I heard of him, but haven't met him yet, though. Apparently he's a scientist of some sort, who's pretty good at unarmed combat."
"Affirmative," the mech soldier confirmed. "Noriyasu Seta is a Professor of Archaeology at the Tokyo University, also known by its pseudonym of 'Toudai'. He is also a ranked Jeet Kune Do practitioner."
"That's the one. Haruka and he used to be an item back when I first met them both – along with one other girl, this one from America, if I remember correctly. Not long after that, they had a major falling-out when Seta chose the other girl over Haruka. I don't know the full story of what happened next, but apparently the American girl died of some incurable disease, or whatnot, and Seta and Haruka have been trying – not very hard on her side - to make up and get back together ever since. Every once-in-a-while Seta will get up the courage to propose to her, usually in some totally-inappropriate way. When that happens, Haruka usually gets mad at him and decks him, because she doesn't think that he's being serious about it."
"But Haruka still likes him, right?" the mercenary asked.
"Yep," Vincent confirmed. "So I'm not going to try to come between them. Oh, yeah, there's one other thing that you should know about her. Haruka is also an expert in Jeet Kune Do, as well as her family's very effective style of Jujitsu, and just to make your day, has mastered Pa Ki Ken, as well. I've seen her punch a hole through a solid brick wall, once. Haruka's a match for anyone I've ever met, including you, so pissing her off is not a good idea."
"Point taken," Snake declared. "She's my type, alright. But, all-in-all, I think that I prefer my teeth in place, over a fling."
"After thorough analysis of the data I have just received, I have concluded that Haruka Urashima will give you a fling alright. Directly through a wall or window," the red-eyed alien robot stated dryly, being perfectly capable of human-like banter. "Please make your move on her so I can see that happen. That way, I can properly analyze her combat effectiveness on a real-live crash-test dummy."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, you toaster-faced, squeaky wheel," Snake told the alien construct, chuckling at the visual in his mind of that happening to him. "If you've got something to say, then make it an order for three beers. All of this talking is making me thirsty."
"I wouldn't say no to a drop-or-two," Vincent S agreed, leaning forward to rest his trench-coated forearms on the smooth wooden surface of the counter, having to slouch down considerably to do so. "And 'Red Eyes', make mine a beer, not the paraffin that you got me the last time we had a drink! I see that Haruka somehow managed to order in some Tokyo Dry Steinlager, right over there in the beer chiller, so that'll do me just fine."
"And I'll have a handle of Asahi Super Dry, on tap," Solid Snake declared. "Not shaken, not stirred."
"What am I, an Automated teller machine?" the robot asked, somehow managing to look both exasperated and grumpy at the same time. "Oh, very well. Shall I fire a shot into the air to attract the attention of a waitress?"
"Not unless you want Haruka to turn you into a jigsaw puzzle when she finds out about it," the big enforcer emphasized. "And she can and will do it, too, if you blow the roof off her place with that particle-beam cannon built into your left arm."
"As you already know, I am also capable of automatic self-repair. But in this case, having to do so would cut into my drinking time. Very well, I shall merely sound my sonic disruptor to attract the attention of a female servitor, instead."
"You turn that thing on, and you'll also clear the room in record time, as well as shatter every bottle and window in the place! Then what in the hell will we drink?" Snake growled out in an aggrieved tone, his hands shooting upwards to cover his ears, as he knew full-well that his alien companion could actually be serious with what he/it was proposing. "Why can't you just stick your right arm in the air and call out for service like the rest of us?"
"Your valid point is noted, but there is now no need for me to do so. Observe, there is a young vocaloid or similar model of cybernetically-enhanced female, with twin antennae, now approaching our location. I am attempting to communicate via radio waves to inform her of our desire to order liquid refreshments. But her receiver must be off as I am unable to make contact."
"She's not a vocaloid, she's a human girl, you Wingnut," Snake told him, his exasperation growing by the second. "Those antennae are just part of her hairstyle! Use your vocal synthesizer to communicate with her, like you do with us!"
"Oh?" The war machine's shining red eyes blinked for a second. "Scan complete. You identification is correct. Subject is indeed fully biological. Species, mostly Earth-Human. But she is also part-!"
Before any more could be said, the girl-in-question arrived behind the counter, a friendly smile on her face.
"Welcome, gentlemen," Mutsumi Otohime cheerily greeted the odd trio in Japanese, cutting off Mr. Red Eyes in mid-sentence. "What can I – oh?"
"Hi, Mutsumi," Vincent S said, also in Japanese, to the startled Turtle girl, who had just that second gotten a good look at the faces of who she was about to serve. She had been unable to see them properly before, as she had come from the far side of the room, which they had their backs to.
"Good afternoon, Vincent S-san," the worried Turtle girl answered him in a very-relieved voice, relaxing somewhat as she at long-last recognized his imposing figure. "Thank goodness you're here! I'm sorry; but it seems that the pair of vagrants next to you must have made their way in from the street. I sincerely hope that they are not bothering you? Shall I call the police to help you evict them?"
"That sounds like a plan to me," he laughed. "But there's no need to do that, Mutsumi. As much as I'm embarrassed to admit it, these two Halloween-dressed winos are here with me. And don't worry about the way that they look. They're both as soft as two plates of custard, and are totally harmless to everyone except themselves."
"They are? Oh my goodness!" Mutsumi gasped out, having totally misread the situation. Then she turned her sweat-dropping face to the two bodyguards, neither of whom she had met yet, bowing frantically like a bobbing machine at her error.
"I'm so sorry, gentlemen! I didn't realize that you were important customers! How may I make it up to you both for my rudeness?"
Nice! I can think of an excellent way you can do that, Sweetie, Snake thought, eying up the very attractive girl's more-than-ample charms as they bounced up-and-down, along with her hair antennae, at her every apologetic bow. But you and my big buddy are obviously friends, so I'd best play it cool.
"No need," he replied, waving her anxious apologies away. "It was an honest mistake. After all, dressed like this, we do stand out a bit, don't we?"
"I'd best introduce you all," Vincent S declared in English, seeing the chance to have a bit more fun at the pair's expense, and knowing that Mutsumi also understood the language fluently. "Guys, this is Mutsumi Otohime. She's related to Granny Hina, so behave yourselves. Mutsumi, I'd like you to meet the town drunk, Dave 'Soft Snake'. He's the one dressed like a pile of discarded rags, and obviously not worthy of a surname."
"Hi, gal," that slandered non-worthy said, giving Mutsumi the peace sign, and booting Vincent S in his right ankle at the same time.
"Ano? I am pleased to meet you, Sir," the wide-eyed and sweating Mutsumi responded, also in English, quickly bowing again, and wondering if what she had just heard was indeed true.
"Now, the black metal scarecrow with the built-in helmet is the original Tin Man from 'The Wizard of Oz' movie, who hasn't bothered to clean himself since then. He goes by the name of 'Mr. Generous'. He's buying in the first round of drinks."
"Lies! I actually go by the pseudonym 'Mr. Red Eyes'," the construct informed her. "My real designation would be unpronounceable to you. I am not from this world. Nor do I usually order drinks for idiots; I am an autonomous hunter-killer unit, designed for the rigors of the battlefield. My specialty is targeted assassinations of aforementioned idiots."
"Oh, that's alright! We get all sorts in here. I'm pleased to meet you, too, Sir," Mutsumi said, regaining her composure and her smile as she realized that neither of the odd duo had taken any offense at her misjudgment of them. "I am here at your service! So what will all of you have to drink, Mr. Tin Man, Sir?"
Snake snorted with merriment at her blasé query, and nudged the robot in its armor-plated ribs with his elbow, grinning again as he tried to think of a suitable retort to Vincent S's less-than-flattering introduction of him and Red Eyes. "That's your cue to order, Tin-Ass. And make it quick, I'm parched!"
"It is? Affirmative! I will relay our order with all haste to this 'Mutsumi Otohime' female right now."
He turned to the expectantly-waiting Mutsumi, who was now holding a pad of paper and a pen that she had pulled out of nowhere. Mr. Red Eyes, using English in a dead-pan tone, but in a very high-pitched voice as his words were speeded up by a factor of ten, then said,
"OnebottleofSteinlagerTokyoDry,onehandleofAsahiSuperDry,andforme,abottleofredwine."
As he heard his companion's bizarre utterance, Snake slapped his right hand over his face as his eyes rose up towards the heavens in search of strength. It wasn't very often that Vincent S face-faulted, but he did on that occasion, his forehead bouncing off the edge of the wooden counter, leaving a curved dent in its polished hardwood surface. Mutsumi merely concentrated on his words as she wrote the order down, her hand a blur of motion.
"Real smooth, Rust-bucket!" Snake hissed in an aside to his clueless metal companion, still trying hard to hide his embarrassment behind his fingerless, black-gloved hands. "And people wonder why I drink heavily when you are around? That sounded like you just had a major brain malfunction! Try again. And slow it down to the speed of normal human speech this time!"
"Understood. My apologies. The order is as follows: one bottle of Steinlager Tokyo Dry, one handle of Asahi Super Dry, and for me, a bottle of red wine."
"OK. But I got your order correct the first time that you said it, Sir. Are you sure that you wouldn't prefer a can of oil to drink, instead?" the totally unfazed Mutsumi nonchalantly asked, looking askance at the scary-looking black robot.
What? She did? The wide-eyed Vincent S and Snake simultaneously thought, their jaws dropping open with surprise. How in the hell-?!
"No thank you. I am fully capable of processing wine into energy. Unlike my two cheapskate friends here, who process beer into fat."
"I see? I'd best change your order and make sure that they both get a healthy glass of water instead, then. I'll be back soon with your drinks. Excuse me, gentlemen!"
Then, as Mutsumi hurried off along the bar to fill their order, Snake and Vincent S turned to face their unabashed companion, who was now electronically smirking to himself at their discomfort.
"Thanks for nothing, Tank-Butt!" the mercenary growled out. "If I wanted to drink water, I wouldn't be in a bar, would I?!"
"She's actually serious about getting us water, too!" Vincent S told them both, alarm in his tone. He then raised his voice, and called out, "Hey, Mutsumi. Ignore that last bit! We both still want beer!"
"Oh? Are you sure, Vincent-san?" the Turtle girl replied, sounding worried at the prospect of her contributing to his weight-gain. "But what about your waistline? Water is much healthier for you to drink, you know?"
"I don't put on weight from alcohol! Honestly!"
"Ara, ara! Ok, then, if you say so?" Mutsumi dubiously replied. "Two beers coming right up!"
"Thank you!"
"'Whew!' That was a close shave," Snake breathed out with relief, wiping at the sweat-drop on his gray-head-banded brow. "Nicely handled, Big Guy. You seem pretty popular with the ladies here. And not just Haruka and Mutsumi, either. Check out the other two waitresses over there, scoping you out."
"Well, what can I say?" Vincent S modestly replied, giving the two whispering, giggling girls a wave of acknowledgement. "I'm still in the pink-cheeked flower of youth, and the very picture of health and vitality. Quite unlike you two decrepit old fogies."
"I do not wear out," Mr. Red Eyes pointed out to the grinning giant. "My self-repair mechanism automatically keeps me in pristine condition no matter what my age may be. I will look exactly the same as I do now – barring any upgrades that may alter my physical appearance – in one thousand years from now."
"Lucky you," Snake grunted. "As for me, if-and-when I die, I hope to be uploaded into a male vocaloid copy of my handsome, muscular, perfectly-toned original body that you see right here before you. Then I'll be around in a thousand years, too."
"With the vocaloid girls?" Vincent S smugly queried him.
"Yup! With the vocaloid girls!"
All three mirthful comrades bumped knuckles again. As they were all currently single, the trio was fully intent on enjoying their lives to the fullest. And the banter and mock insults that flew back-and-forth amongst the trio was all part of the game.
Right then, Mutsumi reappeared, carrying – to the relief of Vincent S and Solid Snake - their correct drink order. After thanking her, they waited until she was out of earshot once more. And then, after first gratefully sampling his beverage, Vincent S spoke up, having just remembered an interesting fact that he wished to share with his drinking companions.
"Oh, yeah, before I forget! Did you know that Motor Ed was here in Hinata Hot Springs, too?"
"Motor Ed?" Snake lowered his tankard and stared at his big friend with surprise. "Since when, Vincent? Last I heard of him, he was with his cousin Drew Lipski – Doctor Drakken - on a ship somewhere in the Western Pacific. My source told me that apparently they had been chased out of their Caribbean island hideout by the National Park Service, who had declared his island a sanctuary for the 'White-Faced Booby' seabird."
Vincent S grimaced. "Yeah, that sounds about par for the course with Drakken. Well, no prizes for guessing where that ship ended up. Next thing Ed, Drakken and their whole posse came rolling into Hinata Hot Springs, to meet up with Shego, who was already here. They were planning on staying up there at the inn for a week-or-two, until I chased them all of by showing up here, too."
"Surprising – not. You tend to have that effect on people, even ones that you know," Snake chuckled, looking thoughtful at the news he had just received. "But, seriously, I gotta catch up with Ed sometime. I haven't seen him in years. Do you think that they'll be coming back here?"
"Doubtful, but maybe? They left a lot of their gear behind when they took off. And Shego stole Seta's van for Drakken and his posse to escape in, so I dare say we'll be seeing more of them at some point."
"Great! I just hope that it's before the 'Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz' and I have to shoot the gap."
"So you're not going to be staying?"
"Just for a couple of days, max. Judging by what I've already seen, you have enough firepower here already, without us. Unless Granny Hinata hires us to stay on longer, of course."
"We can but hope. It'd be great if you could stick around a while longer," Vincent told them both, a puzzled frown appearing on his clean-shaven face as he remembered what he had been told to do only a few minutes before. "With regards to Shego, I was supposed to be arresting her and her accomplices and retrieving a dangerous piece of hardware that she had stolen. And Drakken, too, if I could find out where he was at. But for some strange reason, just before I came down here from my room and spotted you guys, base ordered me to let them all go! In fact, I'm supposed to be cooperating with them from now on."
"That is – odd," Red Eyes commented. "My analysis of the current state of affairs points to Grandmother Hinata as being the key to unlocking further understanding of these puzzling events. She is conducting a meeting tonight that may well give us further information as to just what is going on."
"Except that we haven't been invited to this meeting," Snake reminded him. "So even after it's done, we still won't know zip!"
"I have been invited," Vincent S informed them. "But what I find out may be classified as confidential?"
"If you're sworn to secrecy about anything that you hear, just tell us what you can, without breaking your word. And if what you find out is sufficiently bad, and even if Granny Hina doesn't end up extending our contracts, we'll find a way to hang out around here for a while longer."
"I will," the big agent agreed. "And I think, with regards to this whole situation, that we can all agree that something fishy is definitely going on. So it'd be good to have a couple of friends around who can handle themselves if things start to go pear-shaped."
Snake and Red Eyes both nodded, understanding the situation.
"That's cool, Snake declared. "And with regards to all of these 'Wizard of Oz' references, I'm not the 'Cowardly Lion'. The 'Tin Man' and I've got your back for as long as you need us."
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Chibiusa and Hotaru were in a quandary. For, despite Hotaru's best efforts, they had been unable to even locate the missing Doctor Drakken, let alone bring him back for tonight's meeting.
Hotaru had made her attempt to locate Shego, via the weak gamma radiation that the green woman was emitting, during her morning break from the annex reception counter. After transforming into her alter ego, Sailor Saturn, she had teleported straight up into the air, to a height of one kilometer above Hinata Hot Springs. From that lofty altitude, she had scanned the entire vista spread out below her, including all of Hinata Hot Springs Township and the adjoining Hinata City, as well, for the missing Shego, and by proxy, Doctor Drakken.
And she had drawn a blank. They were nowhere to be found anywhere on the vast patchwork landscape below her.
After a couple more minutes of fruitless scanning in every direction, right out to the edge of her sensing range, Sailor Saturn decided that she was wasting her time. If Shego was anywhere within thirty kilometers of the town, she would have located her by now.
Just as the dejected Sailor Senshi of Destruction was about to teleport back down into their room far below, she then received a huge, totally-unexpected surprise!
-:-:-:-:-:-
"The only explanation for my failure to locate Doctor Drakken and his gang is that Shego must no longer be within range of my ability to sense her," Hotaru told her now-despondent-looking girlfriend, once she had teleported back into the privacy of their room. "Either that, or she is still somewhere within range and something very large and solid is blocking my ability to find her gamma-ray signature, such as those mountains in the distance."
"That's not good at all," Chibiusa said, looking and sounding worried at her girlfriend's failure to trace their elusive quarry. "Sailor Pluto told us that Doctor Drakken at least, has to be here for these meetings. Hotaru-chan, what are we going to do now?"
"Actually, on the subject of Sailor Pluto, she contacted me when I was floating above the town just before."
"What? Seriously? Sailor Pluto contacted you from the future?"
"Yes, she did, and when her image appeared in front of me, it gave me quite a surprise, I can tell you!"
"Wow! So what did she have to say? We aren't in trouble for letting Doctor Drakken and his men get away, are we?"
Hotaru smiled at her partner's angst. "No we're not. And she told us not to worry if we can't find Doctor Drakken and Shego today, as a number of other very important attendees for tonight's meeting aren't going to be able to make it here, either. Including Sailor Moon and the other two Senshi, unfortunately. So Doctor Drakken's presence isn't required at this first meeting, after all. However, Sailor Pluto emphasized to me that he has to be at the next meeting this Saturday night. So that still gives us a couple more days to find him."
"Thank goodness," the pink-haired girl gasped out, feeling as if the weight of the world had suddenly been lifted from her slender shoulders. "I was worried that we'd really screwed everything up!"
"Me, too," Hotaru admitted, a look of relief now on her face, as well. "Oh, yes. And guess what, Chibiusa-chan? Sailor Pluto also sent us some help!"
"Sent us some help?" Chibiusa incredulously repeated, her eyes expanding with astonishment at what she had just heard. "What, back through time to here?! Just who is it?"
"Not 'who'," Hotaru chuckled, relishing the surprise that her girlfriend was about to receive. "It's actually, 'what'. Here, see for yourself."
A moment later, a floating black ball flew through the open outside window into their room, to hover in the air in front of the very surprised Chibiusa. A ball shaped like a cat's head, complete with a crescent-shaped yellow moon symbol on its forehead, two triangular-shaped ears and a single antenna protruding vertically upwards from its curved apex. And the bizarre black object bore more than just a passing resemblance to Luna, Sailor Moon's guardian cat. Chibiusa recognized who it was straight away, of course, and her startled look instantly changed from disbelief to delight.
"Wha?! Luna-P?! What are you doing here?"
The hovering Cat-head's previously fixed mouth then moved, and it said to her, "Hello Chibiusa-chan," its voice a sweet blend of that of a human girl crossed with the electronic tones of a synthesizer. "It is good to be with you again. I have been sent back into the past by Sailor Pluto to help you in this time period. At last we are together again."
The now-tearful Chibiusa jumped forward to embrace her old toy, hugging it tightly against her slender body.
"You can speak now! And thank you, Luna-P! I've missed you so much, too!"
"This is the original Luna-P that we knew back when we were children, but she's been upgraded," Hotaru continued, a tear-or-two in her own eyes at the joyful reunion she was witnessing. "This version can fly much faster than it could before, has a built-in Time Key, and, as you've just found out, the ability to talk. It also has a few offensive and defensive modifications as well, but Sailor Pluto didn't have time to explain to me just what they are."
"This is great," Chibiusa laughed. "Now there are three of us here, on-site, to look for Doctor Drakken and Shego!"
"And that's my plan, too," Hotaru stated. "Three of us can cover a lot more ground than just two."
"So where exactly do we start looking," the pink-bun girl wanted to know. "We already know from the news reports that both Motor Ed and then Doctor Drakken drove to the western edge of Hinata Hot Springs, but then they could have gone off in any direction after that! And we can't spend too much time away from the inn because we both have to work today, remember?"
"I know. My best guess is that Motor Ed and his monster truck headed off towards and then into the inland mountain range. Doctor Drakken and Shego in Noriyasu Seta's stolen van would have followed them. Since Luna-P has an unlimited search range now, we'll send her off in that direction to look for them. At a close enough distance, her sensors should be able to pick up Shego's distinctive signature and track it to its source. Then Luna-P will contact us, and I can sailor-teleport us both directly to their location."
"Good plan, Hotaru-chan. What do you think, Luna-P?"
"I can fly to and cover the entire mountain range area with a thorough scan in approximately three days searching time," her old toy companion answered. "If you wish, I can leave immediately."
"Not just yet, Luna-P," Chibiusa objected, reluctant to let her long-missed companion go just yet. "We've got some catching up to do first! I wanna hear about everything that has happened back home in New Tokyo since Hotaru-chan and I came here to the Hinata Apartments! And don't skimp on the details!"
-:-:-:-:-:-
It was now almost 7:15 pm. Down in the still-busy Tea rooms, Haruka, having left her hostess duties in the capable hands of the most senior girl of her night-shift staff, now sat at a privately located side-table, away from the crowd of dining, drinking guests, waiting for Tsuruko to show up. They would both be leaving from there to attend the big family meeting up at the Hinata Apartments and Inn, together.
She didn't have to wait for long. The Kyoto woman strolled into her establishment only a minute later – earlier than the agreed-on time as usual, as it was polite to be. As the very tall, graceful woman arrived though the front doorway, Haruka saw that for this special occasion, Tsuruko was dressed rather more formally than her usual gi and hakama, but was still wearing her nodachi katana.
After cheerfully greeting each other, Tsuruko first sat down on her proffered chair, and then glanced expectantly around the Tea rooms. Returning her gaze to Haruka, she asked with a slight frown, "Where is Seta-san? And Vincent S-san? Are they both not accompanying us up to the meeting tonight?"
"Seta has gone to see Sarah, to warn her against trying to spy on the meeting," Haruka explained. "As if doing that is going to stop her! And as for Vincent S, he's already gone up to the apartments to see Granny and the others. Once Granny found out that he was here, she wanted to have a quick chat to him in private before the big meeting started, apparently."
"Oh? Why would that be so?" Tsuruko queried, a puzzled expression on her face. "Do you think that they may have met before on some occasion, prior to his arrival yesterday at Hinata Hot Springs?"
"I'm not sure," Haruka admitted. "But, judging by what Vincent S told me this morning, I'm pretty sure that they have. But he never actually confirmed that to me. And nor has Granny mentioned anything about him to me, before, either."
"Hmm? From what you have just told me, Haruka-san, it sure sounds to me like they both, at the very least, know of each other."
"Yeah. Granny doesn't schedule private meetings with just anybody from off the street. She hasn't even found time to talk to me yet, since she arrived. But I have seen her two new bodyguards, and judging by just who they are, and also by the other people who are going to be attending this meeting, it sure looks like to me that Granny is putting together a task force! Something's definitely up."
"I am sure of that, as well," Tsuruko confirmed. "Especially with two undercover Sailor senshi, Toshio Chinen-sensei and Vincent S-san also here. I am now sure that the arrival of your big friend here the day before the meeting was no coincidence."
"I think that you're right. But what about these 'Doctor Drakken', 'Shego' and 'Motor Ed' people? I asked this question to Seta the other day, but I also want your opinion on it, too. Could they be a part of all of this, do you think?"
Tsuruko looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "Very probably," she finally stated. "I believe that Hinata Obā-sama has somehow manipulated this situation to ensure that all of these most-unusual people are in Hinata Hot Springs at the same time. And, no-doubt, we will be finding out the reason why at tonight's meeting."
"Yeah. That'd be just like her to do that. And, as for tonight's meeting, I intend to get some answers from Granny as to just what the hell is going on around here."
Both attractive women were silent for a moment as they reflected on just what hidden machinations might be taking place behind their backs. Then the suddenly-frowning Tsuruko abruptly brought up a different topic that had been troubling her.
"Haruka-san, I am concerned about Motoko-chan. Her relationship with Kaolla Su-san seems to be going well, but with Keitaro-san, somewhat less-so."
"Is it all that surprising?" Haruka told her with a grimace. Her eyebrows rose as she added in a pointed tone, "Motoko's got competition from damn-near every other girl in the entire town for his affections! And with all of these girls' chasing after him, I'm surprised that Kei-kun even has time to eat and sleep, let alone go to his cram school and study."
"Things are that bad for him then?"
"I wouldn't exactly say bad for him. Kei-kun's getting some now, nearly every night! But the sexual tension up at the apartments is so thick, you could almost cut it with a knife. And because of this super-charged atmosphere, even though they're all still after Kei-kun, the girls have all pared off with each other. In that kind of way."
"I had noticed," Tsuruko replied, non-committedly. "But when did it all originally begin? This type of 'girls-love' behavior, I mean."
"Quite some time ago. As you already know, Su and Motoko were the first to hook up," Haruka informed her. "And you have no-doubt seen by now that Kitsune and Mutsumi have also done the same, with each other. Not too surprising in Kitsune's case, I already knew that she had dated other girls on occasion before. But Mutsumi getting into a relationship with a girl was a bit of a surprise."
"Yes," Tsuruko agreed. "I know just how much she likes Keitaro-san. So, they have both given up on pursuing him?"
Haruka sighed with resignation. "No. Despite being an item, they're both still after Kei-kun, too. And how that'll work out for all three of them is anyone's guess."
"I see. And what about the other girls, then? Is everyone here, now that way inclined?"
"Not everyone, but its close! Believe-it-or-not, I've found out that the two secret Sailor girls, Chibiusa and Hotaru, are both into each other, too. Maybe that's part of the reason that they were sent here, because they'd fit in well with the other couples?" Haruka speculated. "And we both know that Kanako goes both ways. But she's still too much into Kei-kun to get romantically involved with another girl at the moment. So, out of all of the female residents living here, teen-age-and-up, Shinobu and Nyamo are the only two that are strictly straight."
"I see. And you are also saying that the two Sailor senshi are the only two permanent residents at the apartments not already after Keitaro-san?"
"Pretty much. Believe-it-or-not, even Sarah secretly likes Kei-kun now, too. But she's far too young to even think about doing anything improper with him, anyway. And she would probably die before admitting to liking him to anybody. As for the new girl that Kanako hired just yesterday, Masao Kusakabe? Well, I don't have a clue as to what her preferences are. I haven't even had time to meet her yet."
Haruka threw a glance at the clock on the far wall, and then let out a deep breath. "Ah, well, on the subject of time, I guess that we'd best be getting up to the meeting right about now," she declared, rising up off her chair. "Nice and early is good. That'll give us time to have a quick chat to Granny before the meeting starts. And we'd both best get some long-overdue answers from her!"
"Yes," Tsuruko stated, also standing up with a determined look on her face. "I am looking forward to that, too!"
-:-:-:-:-:-
Masao Kusakabe may not have personally met Haruka Urashima or many of the other residents and staff of the Hinata Apartments yet. But, upon being hired the previous day, receiving her work yukata from Kanako, and then commencing her first shift at the reception counter in the lobby of the main building, she had quickly begun to notice a certain type of behavior that seemed to be prevalent amongst several of the female permanent residents of the apartments. Behavior that had clued her in, real quick, on just what the sexual preference of a fair few of the girls' staying here was.
It was now half-past-seven on the second day of her employment at the Hinata Apartments and Inn. At eight that night, Masao was due to be relieved at her post by another of the part-time shift workers, and she was looking forward to getting back to her family, and access to the land-line at her relatives' house where they were all staying.
The reason for her hurry to get back to the house was simple. That being - her cell-phone hadn't been working properly ever since she had arrived at Hinata Hot Springs. Even worse, the frustrated girl had absolutely no idea as to just why this was so.
In Hinata City, just over the river, her cell-phone worked fine. In Hinata Hot Springs, it did not. It didn't matter what location around the Hinata Apartments that she tried to make a call to the outside world, her phone still couldn't pick up a signal. And that was too bad, for she sure had a lot to talk about to her friends back in Saitama, concerning the goings-on at her new place of employment.
A very good example of this had happened earlier on that afternoon. Masao had been outside on her break, when a large plane had suddenly flown at a very low altitude overhead, nearly scaring her out of her skin. Then to her utter surprise, she saw what appeared to be an extremely old lady, a soldier and a black robot thing coming down out of the sky on parachutes! The trio had landed somewhere behind the main building, so she hadn't been able to get a closer look at them. But after the fright Masao had just received, she wasn't sure that she had wanted to!
And just before dinner, she had also received further evidence that her suspicions about certain of the other girls living here were indeed correct.
First of all, an obviously-foreign girl with yellow hair and a tan that was even deeper than hers, and a very tall girl with long black hair, wearing a hardwood bokken and dressed like a shrine-maiden, had walked past her and up the stairs. What made that event even more remarkable than it already would have been was the fact that the pair were passionately kissing each other as they went. And so engrossed were the two strange girls with what they were doing, that neither of the duo had even noticed the wide-eyed newcomer watching them from behind the reception counter.
A few moments later, the Assistant manager of the Inn, an older girl named Kitsune, who she was at that moment working behind the counter with, had informed her that she was making a quick trip down to the Hinata Tea Rooms to see her girlfriend. Apparently, Kitsune was going to ask this mystery girl to come up to the apartments later on, to stay in the night in her room.
Not boyfriend. Kitsune had definitely said 'girlfriend'.
And the fact that so many of the other girls staying there had paired up with each other wasn't the only unusual thing about this huge old place, either. Far from it, in fact.
On her very first day here, there were the jet engines, explosions and police sirens she had heard that afternoon while behind this very reception counter. All of this unexpected action sounded like it had been in very close proximity to the building, and had been followed by a wave of cops swarming the site, obviously searching for person or persons unknown.
And, quite apart from all of this unsettling police activity, there were the other residents, visitors and guests, various assorted animals, and – for want of a better word – things – on site, to consider, as well.
Like her being buzzed by a small, green-and-yellow flying turtle, about the size of a rice bowl, but as swift as a swallow, which had whizzed past her head not long after commencing this afternoon's shift.
And, for yet another example, just a few seconds ago, a giant westerner had strolled in through the main doors, given her a friendly wink, and disappeared up the stairs that led to the upper floors. Such was his size; the shocked girl couldn't help wondering whether the stairs were sturdy enough to take his weight without buckling under him.
And he was just the latest in a procession of odd people, some of whom were very elderly and distinguished-looking, who, for the last quarter-of-an-hour-or-so, had preceded him up the stairway.
Quite understandably, the excited Masao was bubbling over with things to say, but had no-one to talk them over with, to!
After futilely trying yet again to call her friend, Ayano Minegishi, back in Saitama, Masao discovered to her annoyance that her cell-phone still wasn't working. So she resolved to try to call Ayano later, on the landline at her relative's house, to inform her best friend of the latest developments concerning the most-unusual situation here.
And especially about one particular aspect of it, that she had already discovered.
Masao grinned, exposing the small fang on one side of her mouth, as she thought of a couple of other people that she knew of, who would definitely be interested in this most-unusual Inn.
Hehe! Kagami and Konata would sure fit in well here at this place! Maybe I'll get Ayano to tell both of them for me? Then, if 'Chibikko' and Kagami ever elope, they'll have some place safe to run off to.
A place to stay where most of the girls are just like they are!
Little did the chuckling girl know at this present moment in time, but she was actually a pretty accurate prophet.
-:-:-:-:-:-
It was now just after eight o'clock on Thursday night. Dinner had been over for some time now, the used plates, utensils, pots, pans and serving trays all washed, dried and put away in their rightful places. Earlier on that day, the newly arrived Granny Hina had quite rightfully realized that the second-floor common room would not be private enough for the upcoming family conference. And since Keitaro's manager's room would not be big enough to comfortably hold all of the family representatives and guests who would be attending, Granny had arranged for the dining hall furniture to be rearranged straight after dinner so that this much more spacious room could serve as the venue.
As planned, the family conference had commenced at eight o'clock on the dot. And right at this very minute, Keitaro, Kanako, Kaolla and Motoko were waiting in the hallway just outside the closed side door to the dining hall. They were seated on chairs that had been placed there for that very purpose, the nervous quartet separated from their elders inside the room by the solid, closed door.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Inside the spacious dining hall, Vincent S had first been introduced to those attendees who did not yet know him. He had also renewed his acquaintance with Amalla Su, whom he had previously met, along with Kaolla and the rest of the Royal Family, on his previous visits to the Kingdom of Molmol.
Then Haruka, Seta, Tsuruko and Vincent S were briefed by Granny Hina on the reason for her sudden return to Japan - Doctor Chinen and Amalla having already been brought up to speed on what would soon be coming to pass by the old lady, earlier on that day. Then, with all seven current participants now looking suitably grim, more news about the sudden attack on the city of Kyoto had come through.
Granny Hina was at that very moment addressing the current participants. And the subject she was talking about right now was the apologies from those not present.
"Because of the continuing paranormal attack on Kyoto that Tsuruko-san received word of and informed us about just before this meeting started; none of the Aoyama family senior representatives will be able to attend our conference tonight," the matriarch was at that very moment saying. "However, Tsuruko-san has been sent written instructions by fax machine, and will be speaking with the full authority of the clan behind her, so that will not be a problem."
"As for the battle itself, I have just received word that the Aoyama Clan, with the aid of the local police, airborne elements of the Self-Defense Force, and supported by precision airstrikes from jet fighters only where necessary, have successfully driven the demonic excursion back to the immediate area of its origin. It will be over soon, so its final outcome should now be of no further concern to this assembly."
"So there will be no need for us to personally intervene, then?" Doctor Chinen asked, sitting up straighter in his chair. "Remember, if necessary, I can be on site in Kyoto in less than one minute."
"At present, no," Granny told him. "As I just mentioned to you all, this latest report I received said that the attackers have been soundly defeated, and are now in full retreat. So unless they suddenly receive overwhelming reinforcements out of thin air, there are only mopping-up operations to now conclude."
The oldster nodded with satisfaction, and leaned back in his seat again. "Fine, then. Carry on, Hinata."
"Thank you, Chinen-sensei. Now where was I? Oh, yes..."
"'Ahem!' Now, as well as the Aoyama delegation, Grandpa Hino will also be absent tonight. He is still in Azabu-Juuban in Tokyo, helping the police with their enquiries into the partial destruction of the Hikawa Shrine during the Sailor senshi/yakuza war. However, he has assured me that he will be at the second meeting, this Saturday night."
"None of the Sailor senshi representatives are here, and neither is Doctor Drakken, the blue-skinned western scientist who we need to convince to help Kaolla Su-san design and test new weapons and other hardware for our use. Doctor Drakken was actually here on site yesterday morning, but he and his companions fled Hinata Hot Springs upon the arrival of Vincent S, that very afternoon."
"Ah, yes. Sorry about that, Granny," that worthy spoke up from where he was standing off to one side, being there not only to participate in the meeting, but also to provide extra security for the venue - even if such was actually needed with so many other esteemed fighters in attendance. "I had no idea that he was vital to your plans, whatever they may be?"
"That is quite alright, Vincent S-san. We shall have Doctor Drakken back here in due course, by the time of our next meeting on this Saturday, anyway. And with Kaolla-san here, we will then have two of the 'whispered' working for us. And we cannot discuss strategy without all of the other aforementioned absentees here, anyway."
"Now, back to the topic at hand. The coming threat that we are going to be facing is dire, indeed. But we still have time to adequately prepare for it. So, since all of these most-important attendees are unable to be here for tonight's meeting, I am rescheduling the most-significant topics for discussion to the Saturday night one. At tonight's conference, we shall be discussing a number of other important matters, mostly pertaining to individual family members, and other boarders at this establishment."
"Now, do I have your agreement on this unavoidable alteration to our agenda? Does anyone have any objections?"
All of the others present nodded, giving their approval to her course of action.
"Good. Now, as most of you already know, we all possess different pieces of this multi-layered, elaborate puzzle," Granny Hina declared. "And the Saturday night meeting is when we will start putting them all together, to form the coherent whole."
"But tonight is now for a few home truths, and explanations. So, with that in mind, Tsuruko Aoyama-san, would you please ask Kaolla Su-san to enter the room? We need to have a quick talk with her, before summoning in the other three."
Tsuruko stood up from her seat, and gave the matriarch a quick bow.
"Yes, Hinata Obā-sama."
-:-:-:-:-:-
Submerged off the coast of Kanagawa, the Mithril submarine still lurked, its sensors now linked to a satellite that was currently keeping watch on one particular cluster of buildings on the plateau behind the town of Hinata Hot Springs. Where over the last two days, they had registered several very interesting arrivals, and one violent altercation.
The Submarine was also monitoring one other location in Japan, as well, where a dangerous situation had unexpectedly developed. About which the Commander of the submarine 'Tuatha de Danaan' now had updated news to report to his young captain.
Damn! Doesn't Tessa ever sleep? He thought as he strode towards the captain's chair, adjusting his 'HMS Turbulent' cap as he went, to appropriately tidy his appearance. She's been on the bridge for nearly twenty-four hours now, monitoring the situation personally. She won't be at her best unless she gets some sleep soon...!
"Madam Captain, our agents in Kyoto have reported that the city has come under a sustained paranormal attack. We have satellite recon on the city right now, and have confirmed that the enemy is non-human. The fighting is still ongoing as we speak."
"That is – concerning. Who are the attackers, and where are they from? Do we need to mobilize?"
"No. There is no need for us to show our hand. Apparently a special clan of highly-trained martial artists are currently engaging the enemy, who are of unknown origin. And they are apparently winning, aided by precision strikes by Japanese F15J Eagles out of Hyakuri Air Force base in Ibaraki Prefecture, which are active over the city."
"I see." Tessa Testarossa thought for a moment-or-two, weighing up her options in her keen mind. Then she came to her decision, and gave her orders.
"So the Japanese forces will win this battle without our aid. That is good news, then. I see no need for us to take any action at this point. Mr. Mardukas, please keep me informed as to the situation. If it changes for the worse, then please inform me immediately."
"Yes, Madam Captain."
-:-:-:-:-:-
As they waited to be summoned into the meeting, the nervous trio of Keitaro, Kanako, and Motoko were all now anxiously speculating on just what would be required of them from the panel of senior family members waiting for them behind that self-same closed door. Kaolla Su, however, was not, for she secretly already had a fair idea what some of the conference was going to be about.
All that Keitaro, Kanako and Motoko knew was that it had to be something very important. Important enough for two of them to have had to stay home from school for the last two days. And, as Kanako was just at that moment reminding them all, this was an occasion that they had been ordered not to miss.
"Auntie Haruka got you to tell me to stay around the apartments yesterday, and today as well, Oniichan. Apparently something big is happening here tonight, and she didn't want either of us to go away, in case we somehow missed this meeting."
We both disobeyed her instructions yesterday, though, when we separately went to find Naru, Kanako thought, a slight chill racing up her back. Thank god that we got back here before she realized that we were missing! I'm on really thin ice with Auntie Haruka, as it is. And if I had somehow missed this meeting tonight, Auntie would have used my ass as a bongo-drum!
"Yes, and I had to stay here for both days as well, Kanako. And Tsuruko-san asked Motoko to remain here, yesterday and today, as well! So does anyone have any idea of just what it is that's going to happen tonight? All that I know is that Granny arrived here today, and that it's got something to do with her."
"Not me, Urashima," Motoko replied. "I know no more that you do, at present. I did ask my Oneesan, but she refused to tell me anything at all about what is about to transpire here tonight."
"I think that I know what's going on. Well, some of it, at least," Su then spoke up with a grin. "And it's big, all right!"
"What, you do? So fill us in-!" Keitaro began to ask, his eyes lighting up behind his glasses. But before he could finish his query, or the Molmol girl could expand on her most-welcome pronouncement, the sliding door opened and Tsuruko appeared.
"Kaolla Su-san, welcome. Please follow me," she stated simply.
"Yep! I'm up! I'll see you guys soon!" Su jumped to her feet, and then jogged through the doorway, Tsuruko closing it shut behind them both.
"Darn it! There goes our only lead as to what is happening," Motoko grumbled. "I wish that I had known beforehand that Su had inside knowledge of this event. I am sure that she would have told me about what was going to happen, had I asked her."
"Let me think about this for a minute, and sum up what little we do know, as of right now," Keitaro mused. "All right, we know for a fact that Granny, Aunt Haruka, Tsuruko-san, Amalla Su-san, that Vincent S. guy, Seta, and Chinen-sensei are all here. Along with a few other people who I haven't yet met, like those two bodyguards, as well. So this is obviously much more than just an important family meeting of some sort."
"That much is self-evident," Motoko agreed. "And even the fact that senior members of both of our extended families, plus Su's family as well, are present makes it very unusual. But, why are they all here?"
"And they wanted us three, plus Su here," Kanako pointed out. "It obviously has something to do with the four of us, and only us. Could this be some sort of – disciplinary tribunal?"
"A disciplinary tribunal?" Keitaro exclaimed, alarm now on his face. "But I don't recall doing anything that would warrant a rebuke from the family! What did I do?"
"What did Oniichan do? You slept with everyone in a dress – or gi and hakama – for a radius of a mile," Kanako told him, with a pointed glance at the Kendo girl. "That's what."
Everyone except me, she silently added, a trace of bitterness in her thoughts. But then she cheered up again as she remembered what he had said to her in the cave in the mountains after Sailor Saturn had saved her from death. But that is about to change! Now that I know that you love me, no-one in this world is going to keep us apart ever again!
Motoko colored and ducked her head at Kanako's words, while Keitaro jumped in his seat, his face registering his alarm. "Oh, shit! Kanako, maybe you're right about that! Maybe Granny found out about what I have been doing, disapproves of my behavior, and is going to disinherit me and send me back home to my parents' house again!"
"And what if the same holds true for me, too?" Motoko gasped, now thinking of what she had been doing with both Keitaro and Su – sometimes at the same time. "Tsuruko-Oneesan said that she approved of my relationships, but what if the heads of our clan over-ruled her judgement? Oh, Kami-sama, no!" Her face went as white as a sheet. "Is my family now planning to take me back home to Kyoto in disgrace?"
As her two companions freaked, Kanako kept her silence for the moment, for she now had her own very real worries to contend with.
Damn! Maybe I really was actually correct with what I just said? Maybe we are here to be punished! And if Auntie Haruka has told Granny about me impersonating her and Naru, then Oniichan and Motoko's punishments will be only a mere shadow of what is in store for me!
And I never got to tell Motoko what I know about her – no, about the two of us. I've just been too busy over the last few days to even find time to talk to her, what with managing the inn, and this business with Naru and all. And now, if we really are all to be separated, I may never even be able to-!
"W-wait a minute, Urashima, Kanako," Motoko then said, her frightened look slowly changing to one of cautious optimism. "Su said that she knew what was going on, yet she went into the room with my sister without any fear or worry in her demeanor at all. If we and her were about to be punished in some way, or separated from each other, then there is no-way that Su would be so calm about it! Am I correct?"
"Yeah...? Yeah! That's true!" Keitaro agreed, his mood miraculously rebounding at Motoko's very valid point. "Good spotting, Motoko!"
"Yes, after hearing your reasoning, I feel much better about our situation now, too," the Goth girl said, relief washing through her as well, as she realized the truth in the other girl's words. "Su would not possess the self-control to take bad news like her imminent separation from either of you two in her stride, Oniichan, Motoko. And she almost certainly would have informed me if I was about to be punished in some manner, as well. We would have heard all about it from her much earlier on today, with-or-without us having to ask her what was going on."
"'Whew!' I can breathe again," the relieved ronin sighed, sinking back down onto his chair, the sweat-drop on his forehead now fading from view. "I feel like a man reprieved from hanging!"
"So, if this meeting is not for the express purpose of punishing us for our real-or-imagined sins, then just what is it for?" Motoko asked, her puzzled frown reappearing. "We are back to square one again."
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Keitaro said. "I just hope it's not for too much longer. My nerves won't be able to stand it!"
About ten minutes later, Tsuruko reappeared at the door, holding it wide open.
"The three of you may now enter."
And so the trio, not without a trace of apprehension, stood up and then trooped in.
