Love Hina: Once Again
Chapter 39
"Pull the Utena videos?" Ema blinked, the young woman sitting on the steps leading up to the inn itself.
"Yeah," Kitsune nodded. She added quietly, "And no, I don't know why. Some government secrets thing."
Ema didn't look terribly pleased about it, but still nodded. "Okay, I shouldn't have any problems," she said.
Koala Su jumped in, "We could digitally edit her out! Easy peasy!"
Ema shook her head as she explained, "I don't want anyone thinking we edited content on my site. People won't trust my content otherwise."
"Aww," Su noted.
"Where have you been the past few days?" Kitsune asked her.
Su shrugged casually, "Working in my lab."
"Please don't blow up the inn or something," Kitsune reminded her.
"Yes ma'am," Su mock saluted.
"Is that a serious concern?" Ema asked as Su scampered off.
"I don't want to take the chance," Kitsune shrugged.
Ema blinked, "Ah."
As they were talking, they saw a smiling Rei Hino and Ami Mizuno coming up the steps, holding hands romantically.
"Hey," Kitsune waved, "back from Tokyo?"
"Hello," Ami said, "yes, it's good to be back."
"How did the mother-in-law visit go?" Kitsune teased.
Rei rolled her eyes. "Dr Mizuno is as scary as ever," she said wryly.
"Rei," Ami scolded.
Kitsune just chuckled.
Up in the inn itself, Kanako was doing the accounts. Everyone had paid their rent, and the books were ballanced. Construction was continuing over where the old annex, and progress was being made. Everything was well in hand.
'I'm bored,' Kanako found herself thinking.
With a sigh Kanako got up from her desk, straightening her black dress. "Going to snoop around?" her cat asked.
Kanako just ignored that.
The halls were neat and tidy, and everything seemed fine, Kanako walked into the common area, and saw Motoko fidgeting as she tried to relax on the couch. That degree of nervousness was out of character for her.
"Afternoon, Motoko," Kanako smiled faintly.
"Ah," Motoko seemed startled a little. "Hello," she answered.
"Is something wrong?" Kanako asked directly.
Motoko hesitated then smiled in a wry sort of way. "I submitted a new story, and am waiting to hear back from the editor," she admitted.
"Wildrose?" Kanako asked.
Motoko blushed faintly, "Actually an adult magazine named Honey Chop."
"If it helps, I read the story you published in Wildrose. I thought it was well done." Kanako offered calmly.
"The... subject matter didn't bother you?" Motoko asked.
"We have three lesbian couples in residence," Kanako noted dryly.
"Ha! Point...," Motoko smiled.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The car arrived in the nearby city, where a slim woman with boyishly short hair emerged. She looked around thoughtfully, taking in the foggy, hot springs town, while dressed in a stylish woman's business suit.
Looking a little nervous Chiho Tenjou flipped open her phone, calling up the private investigator that she hired.
"Rin Asogi investigations," the cheerful voice answered.
"This is Chiho," she answered. "Are you sure she's here?" she asked.
"She is," Rin reassured her, "we confirmed she is staying at the Hinata Inn. Though gods knows it was hard to do."
Chiho nodded. According to Rin, someone had gone to unusual lengths to remove information about Utena from the internet. The only reason Rin had found out that Utena was here was from her appearing in a series of online videos. And interestingly, those videos had disappeared from the site in the past few days.
Rin asked, "Have you determined how you want to approach her?"
"I'm still thinking about it," Chiho admitted. "Is that ... strange women still hanging around her?" she asked frostily.
"Anthy Himemiya, yes," Rin confirmed. "I still haven't fully figured out her background yet." she added seriously.
"Oh?" Chiho asked.
Rin continued, "Her background just literally appears at one point. My computer expert thinks it's hacking..."
Something in her tone made Chiho ask, "But you think?"
"I have seen some very weird shit over the years," Rin said calmly. "I think it was magic... and you should me extremely careful."
"I'll take that under advisement," Chiho said. "Thank you for your help."
The Hinata Inn was on top of a VERY large hill. Chiho was thankful she had kept in shape, but even then she was panting slightly as she reached the top.
"Argh," Chiho took a drink from a bottle of water.
A woman with startling white hair was doing sword drills in front of the Inn. She saw Chiho and gave her a sympathetic look, "That hill is a doozy. Are you all right?" she asked.
"Yes, thank you," Chiho smiled. "Is there a main office for the Inn?" she asked.
The woman nodded, "Go in the front door, down the hall, it'll be on your left."
"Thank you," Chiho nodded.
Chiho went inside, and easily found the office. A black haired and clothed young woman looked up and smiled, "Welcome to the Hinata Inn. I'm Kanako."
"Actually, I'm here looking for one of your residents. Utena Tenjou?" Chiho asked.
Kanako frowned at her, "I do not usually give out such information to strangers."
"I'm not exactly a stranger," Chiho smiled wryly, "I'm her aunt."
Kanako's expression didn't twitch as she said, "Excuse me a moment." She left, and Chiho held her breath nervously a few minutes.
There was the sound of running feet, then Utena ran down the hall towards her. "Auntie?!"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Well, that was a surprise," Tennyo noted, several of the residents sitting in the common room.
"What, you expected that Utena had just appeared out of nowhere?" Kitsune teased.
"You know what I mean," Tennyo shrugged.
"I get it," Kitsune conceded.
"Utena's never mentioned any relatives," Shinobu mused, "I had just thought she was on bad terms with them."
"She's said she was an orphan," Kitsune nodded.
"I felt it was rude to pry," Motoko offered. "Now I wonder if that was a good decision."
"Anyway, it's not our business unless Utena, for whatever reason, chooses to ask us," Shinobu told them seriously.
"You've got a point," Tennyo admitted.
Not that long afterwards Utena and Chiho descended the stairs. Both women looked uncomfortable, but Utena had a tentative smile on her face.
"I hope we'll stay in touch," Chiho said. She sighed, "You have no idea how frightened I was by your disappearing after joining that Academy."
"I didn't know," Utena said. She smiled, "I promise to call."
"Thank you," Chiho hugged her awkwardly.
"Safe travels," Utena murmured, hugging her back, then watching her go. She turned, then realized several Inn residents had been watching.
"Everything okay?" Kitsuna asked.
"It went fine," Utena had an odd look on her face. "I just found out that... after a certain point in my life, to everyone I know I apparently completely disappeared."
To be continued...
Notes: In the manga version of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Utena canonly has a aunt who took her in after her parents' death. As I can't remember her name, I decided to name her Chiho after the manga creator Chiho Saito.