Chapter 5 - New Tenants

As if he needed anymore of a premonition, the sky boomed and lightening appeared in the horizon, rain soon following in thick heavy drops. Keitaro shuddered as he led Seta up the stairs to Hinata Sou, throwing back occasional glances at the blonde American, who was at present fingering a rather heavy looking rock. Seta remained absolutely oblivious, from his still bleeding head, the the horrible weather, and even Sara taking close aim at Keitaro.

Keitaro sighed, realizing that he wasn't about to get any sleep for a long time. He had seen enough here at Hinata Sou to put him permanent shock therapy. Upon reaching the top Keitaro quickly entered the boarding house, expecting to find total chaos. What he found was Naru, Motoko, Su, and Kitsune sitting in the living room, delicious fragrances coming from the kitchen.

He was aboutto ask where Shinobu had run off too when he got his answer. "Um.dinner's ready!" came her distinct voice from the dining room. The girls, whom Sara had somehow joined bolted for the kitchen, leaving a disgruntled Keitaro and Seta. "Um.yeah. Anyways, I would rather get this over with before dinner, if you don't mind." Keitaro asked, any intent of refusing his guest gone, now replaced with a deep, deep hunger.

"Of course, It's fine with me. Why don't we discuss this in the landlords room." Came a jovial response. "Huh?.oh yeah, sure." Keitaro said, returning from his space voyage. Together they traversed the stairs and the ground to Keitaro's room, making small talk. "Nice weather, huh?" Seta said. "It's raining." Came a rather subdued response from Keitaro.

Once inside and seated on either side of Keitaro's desk, Sera began.

"Well, Mr. Urashima."

"Call me Keitaro."

"Well, Keitaro. I have favor to ask of you. But, before that what happened to Haruka Urashima?"

"Oh, my aunt, well Grandma Hina passed away and kinda left Hinata Sou to me. She still runs the small café down the hill, though."

"Great. I'll pay her a visit before I leave for Australia. Anyways, back to business. I'm going on an archeological dig to Australia, and can't take my . daughter with me. I was wondering if I could drop her off here for a few months. I have the fist payment here."

Inside his mind, red lights and sirens were going of and flashing. [Oh God no! Can't let that she-devil stay here! Must go, must go, Refuse Refuse.] "Oh, well you see, I'm not sure I can take her in. She just seems like so much of a nice girl that I'd hate to have to take her in and tell her that her daddy can't take her with him on a dig."

Seta looked confused for a minute, then continued. "My, I've never had anyone care for Sara so much. In fact, that's why I think you would be the best candidate. With others, I'd worry about her treatment. But you seem like a nice person. Plus, you're related to a close friend of mine. Who better?"

[Lucifer. I can arrange that too. Let her come with you. Oh no, Shinobu's cooking wearing down resistance. Abort all nose function. Damn, too late. God It feels like I'm making a deal with the devil.] "Alright. Why don't you stay for sin.I mean dinner." Seta handed him a wad of money and followed him around the door. "Sure thing part-timer."

Two staircases and 16 minutes later found Seta and Keitaro arrived in the dining room. Restraining himself from lunging at the feast before him, he introduced Seta, or was about to, "Everyone, we all have a guest today for ." "SETA!" Naru exclaimed before moving around the table and offering him a seat, Keitaro's seat. "Why thank you, it's sure is nice to be back here at Hinata Sou." Seta replied. Keitaro stared at the group for a long time, just soaking in to amazingly absurd situation he had found himself. He then realized that they had taken up all the seats, leaving him to fend for himself. "Wow, your generosity and concern really just astound me." He muttered sarcastically. Find a sizable gap, he grabbed a plate, got some food onto it and turned to leave. Before he could reach the door, however, "Where do you think you're going baka, you still have some explaining to do." Naru, definitely Naru. "About what?" Keitaro asked innocently. "You know darn well, what." "I really don't." "Well first there's the fact that you lured this sweet, innocent girl up here to try and put one of your pervert moves on her, then you leave our guest here!? Where are your manners?"

"Shinobu was here because I invited her here since she needed to give me my notebook back, because she looked like she was going to collapse any minute. Secondly, me and 'our guest' have already talked, and in fact, Sara is going to be staying with us. Now can I go, I really have to get something in my stomach." Then, without waiting for a response, Keitaro beat it out of the room, leaving an irritated Naru, a stoic Motoko, a slightly downcast Kitsune, a still eager and energetic Sara and Su, and a completely oblivious archeologist.

An hour and a half later, Keitaro made his way downstairs, having jus finished his dinner. The scene he found was something he wished he had had a camera for. Naru and Kitsune lay sprawled out on the sofa, Sara and Su were asleep on the rug, while Motoko had fallen asleep standing, and Seta was gone. Shinobu, however, was in the kitchen, finishing off the dishes. As she turned to put the dishes in the cabinet, she jumped in fright when Keitaro walked in the door. "Need any help, and don't worry about it, that kind of thing is bound to happed." He said when she dropped the dish she had been holding.