**Five Weeks Earlier…**
Even though the day's practice exam for Tokyo U was grueling, Keitaro found himself with a smile on his face. The peaceful silence at the inn, the comfortable softness of the sofa, Narusegawa sitting right next to him and sharing his exhaustion … All of these factors came together to create an uncommonly pleasant, glowing feeling of contentment. The ronin didn't question it. He simply relaxed and continued to smile. It was just so nice and quiet!
… Too quiet, Keitaro mused.
That was about when Kaolla Su burst out from the ceiling, dangling on the chandelier. Sarah was hanging onto Su's leg with her right arm, clutching various maps and giant pens with the other.
"Huh, so it leads here!" Su looked around. "Most interesting."
"Finally!" Sarah gasped. "I thought we'd never get out of that tunnel!" She promptly dropped herself, bouncing on the couch and hitting Keitaro right on the head. "Oops!"
Keitaro saw stars. His vision went around and around, trying to recover from the blow to his skull. Unfortunately, his sight cleared up just as he realized he had buried himself in Naru's breasts. It was too late to even say "gomen". He could already hear her snarl, and draw back her fist.
*******
Chapter One: Quieter Times? Keitaro Makes Another Promise
*******
As he was unceremoniously launched into the stratosphere, Keitaro's mind began dwelling on his usual thoughts while in mid-air. Why was it always Naru's bosom? Why couldn't he find himself on her shoulder, or something equally non-humiliating or incriminating? Then, Keitaro wondered whether his life at the Hinata Inn was peaceful with lots of chaotic moments, or if it was pure chaos, with only a few moments of peace to keep him from going completely insane.
As he hung from the nape of his shirt from a tall tree, Keitaro tried to look back and count all the times that he had been physically abused by that girl Narusegawa. It was as much his fault as hers, he knew. If he just didn't freak out so much every time something remotely questionable happened, none of the girls would feel justified in hitting him. But no, he was always worried about what other people thought, always scared of punishment. Such was his lot in life.
"Oi, Keitaro-kun… Naru give you another one of her special lessons?" Kitsune walked up the steps to the inn. Her ever mirthful self clucked disapprovingly, shaking her head. "Naughty boy. I'd almost say you like it when she does that."
"Er, ah…" He chuckled nervously. "What're you talking about, Kitsune-san? Can you just give me a hand, please?"
"You know, I would… but I'm just carrying so much stuff, I don't know if I could summon the strength…" She feigned an air of exhaustion, holding up her multitude of bags, full of sake and various other, more poisonous beverages.
"You want me to buy even more sake for you?" It was more statement of fact than question, but Keitaro felt like pretending that she wasn't going to use him today. "Sorry Kitsune-san, but I'm kind of short on cash…"
"Oh?" Kitsune shrugged, continuing to go up the steps. "That's a pity. Well I'll just tell Motoko to come pick you up. I'm sure once you explain what happened, she'd be more than happy to bring you down herself..."
Motoko? "NO!" Keitaro almost squealed, images of certain—not to mention creative— doom flying through his head. "Okay, okay I'll get you some more sake! Just please, don't tell Motoko and help me down!"
"Now that's what I like to hear." Kitsune smiled, gently laying her bags down. With a swift and decisive kick to the trunk, the branch supporting Keitaro shook, then snapped, releasing its contents into a waiting Kitsune's arms. She cradled Keitaro like a baby, whispering in his ear, "Now go out there and get me my booze, lover boy…" Then she quickly dropped him, dusting her hands off and taking her bags again. "I'll expect you back soon, ne?"
"Yeah yeah…" Keitaro grumbled, slowly making his way down the steps to the market.
"Make sure it's the good kind! None of that cheap…" Kitsune said other things, but Keitaro screened her out. He already knew what kind to get her, down to the way the bar code on the label was supposed to look. Having to buy that kind of alcohol on a regular basis made Keitaro very familiar with the whole process.
That didn't stop him from feeling annoyed, though. The day started out difficultly, but damn it, it was just starting to become halfway decent before everything was shoved down his throat at once. He knew that this was just the way things were at Hinata, but at that moment he would've killed for some genuine peace. He shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked a rock as he walked… very, very slowly.
After fuming for a few minutes, Keitaro looked up at the sky. It was pretty cloudy that afternoon, and the humid air whispered a promise of rain. It wasn't very busy at the marketplace, either. People probably stayed away from the possibility of getting wet, or being caught in the cold air.
Keitaro kind of liked it. It was peaceful.
Picking up his step, he strolled down to the grocers.
*******
Keitaro held one bottle of sake, the only amount he could afford. Kitsune never specified just how much she wanted from him. As long as it was halfway decent, she probably didn't care. He usually bought two bottles, partly out of kindness, and partly because he hoped it would last long enough that she wouldn't ask him again for a while. That part of it never seemed to come true, though: Kitsune had a stomach that measured in kiloliters, and a liver that seemed nigh indestructible.
He caught a glimpse of blue hair as he made his way to the register, and stopped to look at whoever it could be. Shinobu was in the produce aisle, picking out some vegetables. In her arms was a basket with only a box of Golden Curry inside.
Keitaro smiled. Shinobu's curry was the best.
"Good afternoon, Shinobu-chan," he said.
The blue-haired girl jumped about a foot into the air in shock, almost dropping her basket and smashing the onion that was in her hand. "Sempai?? W-W-What are you doing here?" He held up the bottle of sake, and she sighed. "Again, sempai?" He nodded sadly. "You shouldn't let her use you like that… ahh I'm sorry!" She bowed, prompting him to raise an eyebrow.
"Sorry… for what, Shinobu-chan?"
"Just that I shouldn't tell you what to do… You're much older than I am, after all, and it isn't right of me to…" She stopped when she heard Keitaro chuckle. "Urashima-sempai?"
"Don't worry about it, Shinobu-chan. You're right, too; I shouldn't." He sighed. "But I am anyway. Just goes to show what people think of me, I guess."
"What do they think of you, sempai?" She asked innocently.
He slumped. "Oh, you know. Spineless, incompetent Keitaro…" Keitaro touched his chin in thought. "At least, I think that's how Narusegawa put it on one of her less forgiving days…"
Shinobu started to say something, but hesitated. Seeing this, Keitaro pushed her on.
"What is it, Shinobu-chan?"
"That… That's wrong, Urashima-sempai…" Shinobu looked down at her feet. "You're not spineless, and I think you're a great manager!" She rolled the onion around in her hand, staring intently at the ground. "I think… I think that Narusegawa-sempai was just angry at you, and didn't mean what she said. She's usually very kind, wouldn't you agree, sempai?" Shinobu looked up after a moment, puzzled by the silence. Keitaro was smiling, but something was off about it. "Sempai? What's wrong?"
"Yeah… You're probably right." He took an onion from the pile, examining it in the florescent lights. "What do you think of this one, Shinobu? Is it a good one?" He tossed it to her, and she took it as carefully as a fine glass sculpture.
"Hai, sempai." She smiled cheerfully. "It's very nice."
"Great." He moved over to the potatoes, taking one idly and glancing at it as he had done with the onion. "But I never liked onions very much. Cutting them will always make you cry, you know…" He chuckled, chastising himself. "Well, of course you do. You cook for us every night." Keitaro turned to look at her. "So tell me, Shinobu… Have you ever cut an onion without crying?"
She looked at him in confusion. "Sure, I think so. Once or twice."
"Lucky." Keitaro sighed. "I don't think I've ever cut one without crying at least a little. I guess that's just the way onions are. Can't do much about that. But you know what, Shinobu-chan?" He didn't wait for her to respond. "I haven't had the opportunity to cut many in my life. Maybe I should've when I had the chance…" He sighed again, his gaze turning distant. "… Maybe it would have helped."
Shinobu was still incredibly confused by what he was saying, too confused to say anything in return. But one look at Keitaro's thousand-year stare told her everything she needed to know. "Sempai!" She almost shouted.
"Hm? What's wrong, Shinobu-chan?"
"I…" She met his gaze, clasping her hands together. "Please, Urashima-sempai, don't be sad! I don't know what you mean about cutting onions, but it doesn't sound very happy at all, and I don't want you to feel bad about anything if I can help it! If there's a way I could help you, please sempai, please let me know!"
Keitaro's expression was one of unhidden surprise as Shinobu said everything that was on her mind. He didn't know why he felt so shocked. It was as if he had never heard words like these before, the words of someone who was genuinely concerned for his well-being. It shocked him even more when Keitaro realized, like a heavy weight on his soul, that he really didn't remember the last time anybody else did that for him.
Shinobu stopped, realizing that perhaps she could have said that another way. Having already embarrassed herself, she opted for plan B. The change of tone was almost comical.
"Ano, I mean… Are you sad, sempai?"
That had to be wrong. Surely somebody else was there in his memories, just hidden by the passing of time. Someone else must have looked at him; someone else must have said they were scared for him. Someone else had to care like that.
But no.
It was always Shinobu. Kind-hearted, gentle Shinobu.
She was all he could remember.
"No, Shinobu-chan. I'm not sad."
"No, sempai?" Shinobu looked a little skeptical, but she didn't lose the air of concern.
"Not one bit." He smiled, ruffling her hair a little. "After all, you're here, Shinobu-chan. How could I ever be sad about that?"
Shinobu's eyes filled with tears, and she smiled.
"Shinobu-chan? Are you okay?"
She sniffled, looking down at the ground. "Hai… It's just… these onions…"
*******
"Aw, man…" Keitaro looked outside the store. "It's raining."
"Don't worry, sempai!" Shinobu took out a yellow umbrella from her backpack, opening it up and struggling with the grocery bags at the same time. Keitaro noticed this, and quickly took everything from her hands. "Ahh—sempai, isn't that too much? I could hold a bag for you!"
"Don't worry, Shinobu-chan. It's fine, really." He held the umbrella over her head. "Shall we?"
She blushed. "H… Hai…"
"Okay, let's go!" They stepped out together, into the rain.
After walking together in silence for a little while, Keitaro asked, "So how was your day at school?"
"Why do you want to know?" Shinobu asked in return. She immediately kicked herself for it, and wished that she had said something a little more demure and womanly. Keitaro would've liked that.
"Oh, no reason. I'm just curious." That was Keitaro: always kind, never taking offense at the clumsy things she said. Shinobu blushed.
"Well… I had a test today…"
"Oh? What subject?"
"Math."
"Ah. I always liked math. Makes sense to me."
Oh no! Shinobu thought, what is he going to say if I tell him that I failed that test miserably? He might hate me, or think I'm stupid! Mou… Horrible, twisted fate!
Unfortunately, Keitaro asked the dreaded question: "So how did you do on that test?"
"I… er…" Shinobu looked down at her feet in shame. "… I failed."
"Mm." Keitaro was quiet. She panicked.
"I didn't study yesterday and I know I should've been more prepared but math is just so hard and I don't get most of it and…"
"Well then." Well then? What was that supposed to mean?! Shinobu panicked again, but held her tongue and resigned herself quietly to her fate.
"You know, you don't have to do it all alone. I could help you study, or something. And then you'll get good grades for sure." He smiled. "Ne, Shinobu-chan?"
She looked up at him, beaming so brightly that the raindrops around her seemed to glow. "Hai, sempai! Arigato!"
"So what subjects *do* you like?"
"Hmm, well…" Shinobu thought for a moment, biting her lip cutely. "I guess… Home Economics is nice, I'm pretty good with that… History is okay too."
"Ugh, history…" Keitaro groaned. "You know, I took a test on that today."
"Oh? How did you do?"
"I failed." He smiled.
"I don't understand. Is that good?"
"Nah… I'm just… glad I could share my misery, I guess?" Keitaro laughed. "I don't know."
Shinobu giggled. "Well then I'm glad too."
About a block from the Hinata Inn, both of them suddenly stopped.
"Hey, Shinobu-chan… do you hear that dripping noise?"
"Hai… what is that?"
"I don't know…" He looked at the grocery bags. "I think it's—GAH!"
The bag with the curry ingredients was filling up with rainwater thanks to the design of the umbrella, and the other one was undoubtedly dripping sake. Both looked dangerously close to tearing open at the bottom. "How the heck…" Thinking quickly, Keitaro grabbed Shinobu by the arm and began running. "Come on, Shinobu-chan! We have to save the groceries!"
Shinobu looked confused for a moment, then she nodded curtly. "Hai!"
They dashed down the sidewalk.
"Ahh, Shinobu-chan the bag's ripping!"
An onion flew out from a tear in the bag, and Shinobu expertly caught it with her free hand, stuffing it back inside.
"Nice save, Shinobu-chan!"
"A… Arigato!" She gasped when she saw another tear, and then another. "Ahhh! Hurry, sempai!"
"I'm going as fast as I can!"
In one sudden, fluid moment, Keitaro shoved the bags into Shinobu's arms and picked her up, grabbing the handle of the umbrella with his teeth and charging up the stairs to the Hinata Inn two at a time.
Shinobu was silent, looking up at Keitaro. His eyes blazed with determination, and he breathed heavily. She did the only thing she could think to do, making a fist with both hands.
"Urashima-sempai, fight!"
She heard him mumble "Yosh!" through the umbrella, and suddenly they went even faster.
"Fight! Fight!"
Keitaro burst through the doors of the Hinata Inn, dropping Shinobu, the umbrella, and the groceries, and collapsing in utter exhaustion. Right then, both of the grocery bags fell apart, spilling their contents onto the floor.
"We… made it…" he gasped.
"Hai, sempai…"
It wasn't clear who started, but soon they were both laughing like little kids.
"Thanks for the encouragement, Shinobu-chan. It really helped."
"You're welcome, sempai. You're very strong!"
"Aw, well it wasn't much…"
"Oh, but it was!" She insisted. "You're incredible, Urashima-sempai!"
"Ara ara, what a mess…" Mutsumi stepped out from Naru's room, glancing at the pile of groceries and the two people sitting on the floor. Tama-chan was, as usual, perched comfortably on her head.
"Mutsumi-san?" Keitaro asked, "What're you doing here?"
"Naru-chan invited me for dinner, and I thought it might be nice for us to all get together, especially after those practice exams…" She giggled. "Oh my, Keitaro-san, I see you're being bold again!"
"What're you talking…" Keitaro paused to reflect on where his left hand was resting. "… About. Oh."
If he didn't look, he thought, then maybe it wouldn't really be true. Maybe his hand wouldn't really be resting right on Shinobu's bottom. It was a very philosophically charged argument, he knew, and one that relied a very Buddhist or Hindu way of thinking, or perhaps Descartesian. So which was the illusion? His hand? Shinobu's bottom? Both? Was the perception dependent on Keitaro, who was touching, Shinobu, who was being touched, or Mutsumi, who was watching the entire thing with an oblivious kind of pleasantness? Questions, questions… all of which suddenly seemed unimportant as a dark shadow descended like the shroud of Death over Keitaro's figure.
"Keitaro…" The voice of a demon growled.
"I uh… this isn't…" Keitaro meekly protested, which was unfortunately—as always—in vain.
"You PERVERT!"
Naru gave him a choice uppercut to the jaw, and he went flying.
Shinobu blinked. What just happened? Where was sempai?
She shrugged, and began picking up the groceries so she could cook dinner. The sake bottle was half empty, its cork having an enormous hole poked in it.
*******
"Mmm! Smells fantastic, Shinobu-chan!"
"Arigato, Urashima-sempai. It will be done soon."
"Mind if I watch you cook?" Keitaro sat down on the kitchen stool.
"… Not at all." Shinobu blushed and stirred a little faster. She dropped her spoon into the curry when she saw out of the corner of her eye that Keitaro was holding an ice pack to his forehead. "Sempai! What happened to you??"
"Naru hit me…" Shinobu gasped. How brutal! How cruel! "… And I hit this really big rock on the way down. Left a bit of a mark." Oh.
"I'm sorry…"
"Hm?" He looked up at her. "For what, Shinobu-chan?"
"If I caused any trouble between you and Naru-sempai…"
"Oh, don't worry. It's nothing new, and it's not your fault anyway." He grimaced, rubbing the big purple bruise that raged on his head.
Shinobu smiled, and let out a little chuckle.
"What's so funny, Shinobu-chan?"
"Oh, nothing…" She picked out the spoon from the curry and washed it in the sink. "You just reminded me of something, that's all."
Keitaro prodded her on. "Go ahead. I don't mind."
"Well… You know Shichigosan, the holiday on November 15th?" Keitaro nodded. "It's also my birthday on that day. So when I was seven years old, my parents took me out to the annual Shichigosan festival, and I saw a bunch of other children my age, all wearing kimonos and holding bags of candy. And I remember thinking…" Shinobu giggled. "I remember thinking, 'Everyone in Japan is having a big birthday party for me!' I felt so special… I didn't realize until later that I was mistaken." She tasted the curry. "It's almost ready, I think… Sempai?"
Keitaro smiled. "That's a good story, Shinobu-chan. I would think that too, if everybody did that."
Shinobu sighed. "Yes, too bad it wasn't true… But I liked it while it lasted. Just like I liked today." She smiled.
"Oh, um… you're very welcome." Keitaro blushed. "Hey, how about this?" He stood up, patting Shinobu on the shoulder. "Since your birthday's in a few weeks, we can plan for it, and make a really big party for you. I think it would be fun. How does that sound, Shinobu-chan?"
"H… Hai…" Shinobu blushed again, hiding her face as best as she could with Keitaro so close. "I'd like that. Very much."
"Good. I won't forget, then." He turned around and began to walk off. "Tell me when dinner's ready, okay?"
"Hai!" Shinobu beamed.
A birthday party. For her. Shinobu sighed. And it was a promise from Keitaro. She knew how much he valued promises.
She added a little salt and pepper to the curry with a flourish, humming a happy pop song from the radio. This was going to be the best dinner Keitaro ever had. She would make sure of it.