Love Hina: Once Again
Sixteen
Kanako Urashima walked around the site of the proposed Hinata Inn, feeling a surge of impatience as she checked out the now cleared location. Hauling out the wreckage of the old annex had taken a lot of time, as had getting clearances from the town to build here. Unlike updating the dorms it had taken a great deal of paperwork and consultations, but at last it was nearly time to begun.
The architect Nobuyuki Masaki pushed up his protective work hat, his black hair falling into his eyes a bit. Tennyo had recommended him to her and so far she was quite impressed with his work. "As requested," he smiled as he unrolled the plans onto a old picnic table left up there, "I've stuck with a fairly simple design."
"Hmm," Kanako murmured as she looked over the design. As requested he stuck with a simple 'u' shaped design, with the offices and entrance in the middle. Each 'wing' would have both standard and larger rooms, intended for singles, doubles and 'honeymoon suites. "It looks very good," she smiled, "thank you."
"You're welcome," Nobuyuki smiled.
Rea Masaki, his secretary/assistant and now wife, poured them all tea from a thermos, her glasses gleaming in the sun. She had slapped her husband upside the head when he tried to get fresh with Kitsune, bu other than that he had stayed on his best behavior. "I hope things are going well?" Rea asked politely.
"Quite well," Kanako smiled, "thank you for the tea."
"You're welcome," Rea smiled. She gave her husband a fond look, "Typical man, he forgets things like this when rushing to work."
"Yes, well," Nobuyuki smiled bashfully.
Kanako was still trying to figure out how he was related to Tennyo, too. They said that he was her uncle, but somehow they seemed to have a closer relationship than that. Tennyo scolded him like a daughter at times, or maybe a sister. It was all very strange.
Finishing walking out the site the three headed down the hill towards the old Inn, talking quietly. "Uhm, I was wondering," Nobuyuki smiled shyly as he asked her, "how is Tennyo doing? Is she settling in well?"
"I think so," Kanako answered him honestly, "she's made several friends among the residents, and personally I rather like her."
"Good, good," Nobuyuki nodded, "she had been living abroad so long, I wasn't sure how well she'd fit in around regular Japanese."
Almost on cue there was a loud boom from the upper floor of the Inn, loud enough to draw all their eyes to the building. All three gazed in shock as what appeared to be a giant turtle mecha launched, engines blazing as it shot up into the blue sky.
"Wha...," Rea blinked.
Kanako laughed, "We're not exactly regular."
Meanwhile back at the Inn Ema Maeda was typing away at her ever present laptop, working on a update to the Phantom Quest Corp web-page that she had designed. In addition to a report on their stopping a ogre in a nearby district, she was writing up a series of agent biographies to add to the site. They were pretty much just name, nickname if applicable, background and special skills, but it was interesting to do.
"Kitsune," Ema stuck her head into the cafe even as she was writing the listing on Mitsune Konno, "how would you describe yourself in one sentence?"
"Small business woman and freelance writer," Kitsune answered as she helped deal with the morning rush at Cafe Hinata.
"Got it," Ema typed that in. She looked up and impishly asked, "Do you want me to put your measurements on the site?"
"Hell no," Kitsune laughed, "a woman has to have some secrets."
Ema laughed as she walked out, not mentioning she was using a bikini clad pic of Kitsune for the site. 'I'll let it be a surprise,' she mused, 'besides, it'll increase my site hits.' Leaving them to their work she went looking for the other members of the group.
Motoko Aoyama was off at school today, studying at Tokyo U. The tall black haired woman was
a imposing figure at the best of times, even more so carrying her sword. Deciding to be safe she put a more modest photo of her up, along with the description, 'student and practitioner of ancient sword fighting style.'
Also absent was Anthy Himemiya, a woman that Ema still couldn't quite get a grip on. With violet hair and dusky skin Anthy was clearly a foreigner, yet she spoke Japanese with no accent. Sometimes she seemed to need the glasses she wore, and sometimes she casually discarded them. And there was a odd feeling of power about her, along with a lingering sorrow.
For simplicity Ema just posted a picture taken from Anthy's ad on a esper website, adding on to it the description, 'resident psychic of the company.' It was nowhere near a accurate summation of the young woman, but it was the best Ema could manage so far, sitting on the steps leading up to the inn as she typed away
"What are you working on?" a voice asked as someone looked over her shoulder curiously, the shadow falling over her keyboard.
"Miss Tennyo," Ema smiled up at the older woman. It was hard to guess the white haired woman's age, it could be anywhere from twenty to forty, and her face was unlined. Her eyes twinkled with amusement but also could seem very wise and knowing, too.
"Well?" Tennyo Masaki smiled.
"Kitsune asked me to update the website with short bios of her crew," Ema smiled, "I'm just working on those now."
"Interesting," Tennyo noted as she pushed her white hair back, "better add me in there. Kitsune talked me into being a spare sword, somehow."
"Kitsune is really good at talking people into things," Ema noted wryly.
"I've noticed," Tennyo laughed as she swept her hair back and sat down comfortably beside her on the steps, being careful not to wrinkle her dress pants too badly. She wore a suit jacket and carried a briefcase, indicating she was getting back from a office visit.
Respectfully Ema asked the older woman, "What would you like me to put down about you?"
Tennyo scratched her head thoughtfully then offered, "Part time office lady, trained in the Misaki style of swordsmanship?"
"I'm sure you're more than just a office lady," Ema protested, having peeked in on Tennyo working in her home office. She was some kind of industrial architect, Ema thought, or similar job.
"True," Tennyo laughed, "but your website doesn't need to know that."
Ema's future librarian side felt a pang at that, but she drove it down strongly. Besides, Tennyo had every right to say what would be said about her on the site. "Uhm, Tennyo?" she smiled shyly, "Can I ask you something?"
"You just did," Tennyo leaned back, enjoying the sunlight, "but go ahead, ask another."
"I saw you and Mutsumi kissing," Ema blushed sweetly, "are you two...?"
Tennyo actually blushed too, the fair skinned woman looking a touch embarrassed. "I'm not sure what we are yet," she admitted.
"Huh?" Ema blinked.
"I like Mutsumi a great deal, and she seems to like me," Tennyo elaborated, "but she's a bit young for me. I'm taking it slow, just in case."
Ema blinked at her, "You're not that much older."
Tennyo gave her a mysterious little smile as she told her, "You'd be surprised." Before Ema could form a reply Tennyo got up, dusting off the seat of her pants. "See you later," she smiled, walking up to the inn.
"Bye," Ema waved, wondering if she offended the other woman, somehow.
Deciding to worry about it later Ema went back to the biographies. Rei Hino was fairly easy to add, as she was a part time student and shrine maiden. Sadly Ema didn't have a good photo of her yet, so she put up one of her with the rest of the group.
For good measure Ema added a listing on Su, since she provided their technology, not to mention going out on missions with her ghost-busters equipment. The idea of walking around with a nuclear device on your back gave Ema the willies, but Su seemed perfectly fine with it.
"I guess it takes all kinds," Ema murmured.
Kanako smiled as she escorted her guests back to the car, bowing slightly to both of them. "Thank you for your efforts," she said politely.
Nobuyuki bowed back and stood up. "I'll work in the modifications you suggested and fax back the designs," he said.
"I appreciate it," Kanako said.
"You have a lovely location," Rea added as they left, "once you've finished building, I'll try to get us booked there."
Kanako waved goodbye, "I'll appreciate that."
AS they drove off a familiar bus pulled up at a nearby stop, and a tall, dark haired figure walked out. Seeing her Kanako waited, and in a few moments Motoko Aoyama had joined her by the steps. "Morning," Motoko nodded politely, her ever present wooden sword slung over her shoulder, a school bag at her side.
"Welcome home," Kanako said as they went up the steps.
"Thank you," Motoko said as they walked, the woman a model of serenity and grace.
Looking at her Kanako thought of her recent shopping expedition, and the magazines she had bought. One of them, a romance title, had featured a story with Motoko's name attached, a beautiful modern romance about two office ladies. Kanako had been deeply touched by it, and found it almost impossible to imagine the stoic woman beside her writing it.
Motoko gave her a thoughtful look, "Is something wrong?"
"Uhm," Kanako hesitated then asked, "have you heard of a magazine called WildRose?"
Motoko went bone pale. "How did you...?" she yelped, looking at Kanako with surprise.
Kanako put a reassuring hand on Motoko's arm, "I bought a copy when I was in Otome Road." Gently she added, "You're a very good writer."
Motoko blushed, looking away, "Thank you."
"Where did you get the idea?" Kanako asked as they walked along together.
Motoko looked sheepish, "From books I've read, that sort of thing." She blushed as she admitted, "I haven't had much experience, personally."
Kanako chuckled, "Me too."
To be continued....