Love Hina: Once Again

Chapter 28

"Well, Anthy, Utena and Tennyo took it pretty well," Kitsune noted as they relaxed out in the hot springs, steam flowing around them.

"Tho Anthy is hard to read," Shinobu noted, "she could be murderously angry and still have that pleasant smile on her face."

"Also true," Motoko agreed, the tall samurai relaxing nearby. She and Tennyo had had one of their most epic practice fights yet, bouncing all around the building and hot spring.

"And Su and Sara are keeping their heads down," Kitsune sighed. "Hope they learn a lesson from all this."

"They'd better," Rei noted as the black haired miko and her girlfriend Ami walked up to the pool in nothing but long towels.

"Now, Rei," Ami addressed her gently, "they ARE just young kids you know."

Rei grumbled something uncharitable as both girls settled into the water.

Motoko smiled wryly, "I'm sorry. We had kind of gotten used to how out of control Su and Sara could get, and we didn't think of how bad it might be for you."

"Well, we do stupid things as kids," Rei sighed. "Not that I ever did of course..."

Ami snorted at that, then Rei stuck her tounge out.

Kitsune snickered softly at that. "New room set up?" she asked curiously.

"We just finished moving," Rei agreed, "Kanako helped out."

"I have to admit, I changed my opinion on her," Motoko admitted, "she's a much nicer person than I thought."

In a moment of good timing Kanako emerged from the steam, looking amused. "She's just lulling you until she strikes," her cat, Kuro, commented impishly.

"Hush," Kanako bopped Kuro gently on the head even as she saw Motoko blush faintly. It was really kind of cute.

Kitsune was... faintly annoyed to see Kanako making Motoko blush. Why she wasn't quite sure, but it bothered her. She sipped her drink as she added, "No evil plots, please. I have enough oddness to deal with at Phantom Quest Corp."

"Having problems?" Ami asked curiously.

"Just a odd job request," Kitsune admitted, "I'm not sure we should take it."

"Tell me more?" Rei asked curiously.

"There's been some odd events over in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo," Kitsune said, "and a contact I have there has offered us a job hunting a Dullahan."

There was a beat of silence. "Okay, I'll confess my ignorance," Motoko said wryly, " and ask what's a Dullahan?"

Rei chuckled, "A headless horseman, actually. Though I thought they were European?"

"This one apparently ended up in Tokyo," Kitsune said. "Anyway, it's been running around awhile, but it appears to be at least somewhat beign."

"Somewhat," Rei echoed.

"Yeah. Anyway, the client wants us to engage the critter in battle but not defeat it," Kitsune noted, "and that bugs me."

"That is odd," Shinobu agreed.

"The client is trying to find out how powerful the Dullahan is," Ami guessed reasonably. "But why? What's their interest?"

"That's what bothers me," Kitsune agreed, "and my first instinct is not to take the job. On the other hand the client is also my contact in the area, and he's been very reliable to me. I don't want to spoil the relationship."

"Do you trust him?" Motoko asked.

"HELL no," Kitsune laughed, "but that's not the point."

Somewhere in the Ikebukuro district, Izaya Orihara sneezed suddenly.

Namie Yagiri, his assistant, frowned as she asked, "You're not getting a cold are you?"

Izaya waved that off, "Someone must be talking about me."

"Wouldn't you be sneezing all the time?" Namie snarked.

"No one likes a smart ass," Izaya noted dryly.

Back at the Hinata Inn, Tennyo Masaki was climbing the steps up to the inn, having returned from her own Tokyo trip then went out running errands. She was tired, cranky and was wondering if she shouldn't just run away to somewhere very remote and away from her relatives.

'Of course to achieve THAT I'd have to be half way across the galaxy,' Tennyo admitted to herself with a sigh.

"Tennyo-san!" a happy cry rang out then she was nearly bowled over by the other woman.

"Mutsumi." Tennyo smiled as she hugged her bouncy girlfriend. On the other hand. HERE was a good reason to stick around.

"Missed you," Mutsumi smiled as she kissed her enthusiastically.

"Eep," Ema had been coming around a corner before quickly turning around. Not that she had any issues about that sort of thing, but a kiss like that deserved some privacy.

"I think we shocked Ema," Tennyo kept a arm around Mutsumi as they headed towards the main building.

"She needs to get a date," Mutsumi shrugged slightly.

"She does give the impression of being just a bit repressed," Tennyo admitted.

"We could always hook her up with Shinobu," Mutsumi suggested after they ended up in Tennyo's room. The graceful white haired woman was changing out of her suit to some casual clothes, while Mutsumi was enjoying the view, so to speak.

Tennyo paled a bit, "No matchmaking, please."

"Bad experience?" Mutsumi had to ask.

"Actually, my Aunt wants to marry us off," Tennyo noted wryly, "if she had her way you and I would be on a plane to Hawaii right now."

"Aww. I think I like her," Mutsumi smiled impishly.

Tennyo smiled wryly, "Maybe, but... I'd like to get to know you before we get married. Old fashioned, I know..."

Mutsumi smiled back as she answered, "Fair enough. By the way, are you in a hurry to get down to the hot springs?"

"Why?" Tennyo paused with a t-shirt in her hand.

"Because I was thinking we could... do something else," Mutsumi purred, lying back on Tennyo's bed.

"Hot springs can wait," Tennyo agreed.

Outside, the women were reluctantly climbing out of the springs. Dinner had yet to be cooked, and while the cafe was closed for the day Kitsune felt a responsibility to check on it. Growing up, she decided, was a bitch.

"I really liked that story, by the way," Kitsune noted to Motoko once they were alone.

Motoko blushed again. "Thanks," she said, "uhm... the topic didn't bother you at all?"

"Nah," Kitsune waved that off, "I've been around the block a few times."

"Really?" Motoko gave her a look.

Kitsune shrugged slightly, "Admittedly it usually involved a few drinks, but I have made out with a few women." She looked thoughtful, "There was even a girl I knew who wanted to go steady, but..."

"You were a drunk and ran away?" Motoko guessed.

"Pretty much," Kitsune admitted willingly enough.

"Ha," Motoko smiled, surprised she'd so willingly admit it.

"I should look her up," Kitsune admitted, "last I heard she had gone into publishing. She could be a good contact for you."

"Really? I'd appreciate it," Motoko agreed as they headed back to the inn.

"Mikuriya Shizue," Kitsune recalled, "I might even still have her number somewhere..."

To be continued...

Notes: Yeah, I'm setting up a crossover with Durarara. Assuming I can figure out the mechanics of where and when to slot that in. Also, Kitsune's one night stand is also a crossover, from Ghosttalker's Daydream. I had featured them over in Arisugawa's, so I figured why not tie them in here.