LOVE HINA FOREVER
PREVIOUSLY: Two years after the Urashima/Narusegawa wedding Konno Mitsune has finally decided to find the man of her dreams. Meanwhile a mysterious fighter comes to Hinata in order to destroy Motoko Aoyama.
Chapter 2: New Friends, New Residents
The city of Hinata was bathed in a pale golden light as the noonday sun rose higher overhead. Four days had past since Konno Mitsune spoke to Naru Narusegawa in the open air bath of Hinatasou. During that time things had gone back to normal within the oaken halls of Hinatasou, or as normal as things can get in the girls dorm. From her place behind the counter of the Café Hinata, Kitsune watched a small flock of birds peck away at a pile of stale rice she had cooked the day before. Sighing contentedly, Kitsune wondered whether or not to close earily. Despite the beautiful day, or perhaps because of it, business had been slow at best. She probably had more fingers on one hand then customers the entire day.
Kitsune's view was momentarily blocked as back lit form stepped into the open doorway. "I hate to disturb you, but I was hoping to get something to eat." As he stepped further inside, Kitsune was pleasantly surprised as an attractive man around her own are, maybe a little older, emerged from the shadowed form.
Shaking herself from her reverie, Kitsune smiled broadly, glad fro a little company.
"Of course," She answered as the stranger took a seat at the bar. "Come in.1"
"You wouldn't happen to make Okonomiyaki would you." The stranger asked, kis accent speaking of a Kansai background.
Smiling, Kitsune nodded. "Unfortunatly I don't exactly dispel the stereotypical Osakan.2"
"You're from Osaka?" He asked. "My family is from Kyoto. We run a small Karate Dojo."
"Really? I have a friend who is really into swords and stuff too." Kitsune replied as she began chopping the cabbage for the Okonomiyaki. "So what kinds of stuff do you like? I've got beef, chicken, pork…Think there's some squid around here somewhere. As for veggies, there's carrots and celery, onions…Oh! I have some fresh Daikon and some shitake mushrooms."
The stranger smiled broadly as Kitsune began digging around in the refrigerator for the various ingredients. "I'll take the beef with some carrots, onions and a little shitake."
"You got it! Oh, I'm Konno Mitsune, but everyone calls me kitsune." She told him Mixing the batter together. "Osakan style?3"
"Please. And my name is Senjuri Sagara, it is a pleasure to meet you Kitsune-san." Sagara replied.
A few minutes passed idly as the two chatted back and forth asking about the other while Sagara ate and generally enjoying one another's company.
"Mecha Tama-chan...Go!" Suddenly the pristine silence was shattered by the familiar cry that almost always preceded the catastrophic destruction that was the trademark of Hinatasou's resident princess and walking disaster area.
Kitsune and Sagara rushed outside amidst the furious array of small wings, just in time for the giant mechanized flying turtle to dive past her at speeds only one of Kaora Su's 'toys' could accomplish, it's creator and mistress straddling it's back and laughing maniacally as the pair circled around and came back towards the café once again.
"Su! What the hell are you doing?" Kitsune screamed as Mecha Tama-chan came past a third time. "Get down here right now."
"What the hell is that?" Sagara asked in a mixture of surprise and astonishment. There were few things in this would that were a match for his martial arts, but this mechanical behemoth might just be one of them.
"That would be Kaora Su; princess, inventor and all around menace to humanity." Kitsune replied as glared upwards at the giant metal turtle that was circling overhead. "Damnit Su I said get down!"
"Wait! You mean THE Kaora Su, founder of the Ban-ban Robotics group? And the single richest person in the world?" Sagara asked in pure amazement.
"Yeah…Wastes most of it on food though." Kitsune replied casually. "I'm waiting!"
"Ok!" The Molmol princess replied, leaping from atop the titanium turtle and landing like a feather with the grace and agility normally impossible for a human being. Kitsune had yet to get used to how beautiful Su looked now that she had grown into her adult form. If her long blonde hair and extremely trim figure were the things of fantasies, then her face was that of angel. Of all the girls in Hinatasou, Su's body had matured far past anything anyone could have anticipated. Her personality, however, was virtually unchanged. "Hey Kitsune! Wadda think of my newest creation? The Mecha Tama Model X-7. It's by far the most potent weapon I've ever created."
"Um...It's nice Su." Kitsune stuttered as the giant metal turtle landed just outside her café, sending dust and debris flying high into the air as the underlying jets belched out flames and hot air. "But did you have to take it out now?"
"Uh huh." Su replied nodding vigorously. "I want it to be perfect for Keitaro when he and Seta get back."
'Oh yeah...' Kitsune thought to herself. 'How'd I forget about that?' For the last month and a half the two Archaeologists had been over in the Pararakelese archipelago searching several, virtually undisturbed, ruins a recent quake had just unearthed. 'And today is the day they return.'
"When is their plane supposed to come in?" Kitsune asked.
"About three hours from now."
Snapping her fingers, Kitsune looked up at Su and smiled. "Well then...Begin phase one of 'Welcome Back' party prep!"
"Aye aye captain!" Su cheered as she saluted crisply before Mecha Tama jetted off back towards Su's room.
"Are you guys always like this?" Sagara asked as he watched the metal form vanish over the horizon.
"Pretty much." Turning towards Sagara Kitsune smiled. "You're welcome to stop by our party later on if you'd like."
"I would love to." He replied in the negative. "Unfortunatly I have to got to Tokyo for a bit and would be back here till much later."
Obviously dissaponted, Kitsune nodded. "Well then maybe you'll stop by here sometime tomorrow?" She asked.
"Definitely. I'll see you tomorrow."
Sighing deeply, Kitsune watched Sagara walk away slowly before closing down the empty café and making her way up to Hinatasou to help with the party and to wait for Keitaro's return. She was looking forward to the retrun, yet somewhere deep inside she dreaded the event. 'Cest la vie.'
A few moments later, in the streets of Hinata, a Sagara stood looking up at the apex of the distant Hinatasou as it poked its way up above the tops of the trees. After a moment's hesitation, he began walking again his thoughts lingering on not only on his prey, but on one Konno Mitsune. He had come to Hinata for a reason, to hunt down and eliminate the head of the hated dshfldsj.
But now…something had changed, the fates had decided to place a chance meeting with Kitsune here and now, when he had to be at his peak. Nothing could come between him and his mission, but this…this could be a problem
"You know, reversed view much, much better."
The young female voice speaking with the stereotypical Chinese accent startled the young warrior, amazed that someone could actually surprise him. Turning around, he spotted a young girl of about 13 or 14, dressed in mandarin style robe with huge billowing sleeves standing no more the half a foot away. "E-excuse me?" He asked, somewhat disturbed by the strange foreign girl.
"You look at Hinata place yes?" The girl asked, her accent butchering the Japanese language.
"Well...um, yes. I was." He answered as he began to walk again, hoping the girl would take the hint and leave him alone. Unfortunately for him, the girl either didn't notice or didn't care as she grabbed his arm and ran off dragging him along with her.
"You come, see with me." She cried happily.
'Who the heck is this girl?' He thought to himself as the various shops and signs flashed past his vision. 'First she sneaks up on me, and then drags me along like I don't weigh a thing. This is definitely no ordinary girl.'
Before he knew it the two had made it all the way to the front entrance of Hinatasou.
"You wait here, back soon." The girl said before rushing off again to some hidden area.
Although surprised and confused by the recent events, he took the opportunity to get a feel for his surroundings. The room itself was very open, and elegantly furnished in a fashion that was very Japanese. Something about the room seemed to resonate an aura that felt very familiar and comfortable to him, despite the fact that he had never set foot on its grounds.
"May I help you?"
Turning to the face the newest arrival, a beautiful young woman of 20 with shoulder length hair, he brushed his hand through his short black hair and smiled. "Uh, sorry. This crazy little Chinese girl dragged me up here and..."
"Oh no!" The girl gasped. "I'm so sorry, are you hurt? She didn't break anything did she?"
"No, no. Just surprised me is all." He replied. "She didn't really give me too much warning."
"I'm so very sorry." She apologized, bowing deeply. "Ling knows better then to drag people around like that, but she is very obsessive."
"Ling? Is that her name?"
"Yes, her full name is Lingshen-shang." She answered, bowing again. "And I am Shinobu Maehara"
"Well Maehara-san, my name is Sagara Senjuri, and although I would love to stay for whatever is was that Ling-chan wanted to show me I have to catch a train to Tokyo." Sagara said as she tossed his bag back over his shoulder. "Please apologize for me and tell her I might be able to do it some other time."
"Of course." Shinobu replied quietly as he headed back to town. "What Shinobu do to man?" Ling's young voice cut though the quiet again as she entered back into the main hall.
"Lingshen, how many times do I have to tell you? You can't go dragging people around without warning." Shinobu chastised. "And he said he had train to catch to Tokyo so he had to leave."
"Oh...Okie!" Yuki replied before rushing off again.
"Li-Ling! Wait...Oh never mind." Shinobu grumbled as she walked back into the kitchen to finish Keitaro and Seta's welcome back feast.
"Hurry up! We don't have much time left!"
"Shinobu-chan, where do you want me to put this?" "Su, bring that end back around his way again." "Look! I brought enough watermelons for everyone." "Oh! Hi Mutsumi. Put them over there on the table. Motoko, take that and hang it over the stairs."
Two hours later, all of Hinatasou were working hurriedly as the time of Keitaro and Seta's impending return quickly approached. Banners and ribbons hung from every conceivable place and the smells of countless dishes filled the air. Each of the girls, from those who had lived within the halls of Hinatasou since before Keitaro came, to even Emi Maeda and the newest addition of Lingshen-Shang; waited eagerly for their return.
Chief amongst them was Naru. The pair had been married for over two years now, and she could not be any happier. Stepping over to the large window off to the right of the main door, Naru looked out over the steps leading up the hill and thought back to the days before she had married the love of her life.
Keitaro and Naru had first met 22 years ago right here in Hinatasou, were a promise to meet again at Todai soon became the single most important thing to either one. Then despite a long 15 year separation, the two met again when Keitaro inherited the Hinatasou building and land from his grandmother, as they both studied to pass the Todai entrance exams. Now seven years later, the two were wed and their lives were peaceful, they couldn't ask more anything else. Smiling happily, Naru hummed a little and rubbed her hand slowly and gently over her belly. 'I know something you don't know.'
A/N- Hey guys! That's the end of Chapter 2, I know it's a little shorter then the first but that ust seemed like a good place to end it. Chapter 3 will pick up were we left off and should be up soon. Anyone want to hazard a guess at what Naru is so happy about? Next chapter, 'Daytime Arrival, Midnight Attack'
4-11-05- Well the revisions to chapter 2 are finished, quite a bit has changed. From the opening scene to changing Yuki into Ling (She's Chinese so I'm not sure why I gave her Japanese name in the first place.) For the various little numbers around this chapter there are questions and notes under here. -points down- As per always any comments or questions send a message to me and I will gladly reply.
TK-
1. I can't remember the actual phrase in Japanese. It's the thing that a lot of Osakan shops and businesses say when you enter.
2. Also, right now I have Kitsu-chan being from Osaka. If this is wrong plz let me know.
3. For those of you who don't know much about Okonomiyaki, Osakan style has the cabbage mixed into the batter rather then underneath it.
