Chieko Sannaomiya sat at her desk, reviewing her papers and going over the budget for the current and next semester. Shifting thru the Misc. envelopes and files, she came accross a blue one titled 'Hibiki-onna plan'. Thinking back over the months since Ruru Sohnjo first brought this forward to her. Wishing there was some other way to ease her mind over the whole affair, and after several meetings with both Ruru and the Chairman, she finally decided that Ruru's plan was the best option. 'I really hope this is for the best' Chieko once more thinks to herself.
Just then she realized how much she had come to respect Hibiki Amawa. The younmg teacher had shown much honor and respect, even if she, he , was a bit boisterus and forward. So much like Rusuko had been all those, what ws it now ,aahhh 40 years now. How much had changed since then. Reaching over to her private line, She place a call to Ruru Sohnjo...
After making sure everything was in place in her lab, Ruru looked down at her erstwile assistant, Kura-ge. "You know this is for the best, right" looking at the dog. With a yip growl that was followed by a nervous wagging tail, Ruru picked up the bottle and she and Kura-ge went back upstairs to await Hibiki's return home...
Walking up the hill to the boarding houseHibiki couldn't help feeling nastalgic again. He was comming home to where his heart belonged. 'I had almost forgotten the beauty of this village. I'm glad I have come back.' He thought. Approaching the front gate, he saw Kura-ge come bounding out of the building. 'So much for suprizing Baa-chan' he thought as the yips and barks of the dog brought forth a bigger smile to his face. Upon entering the front gate, the dog knocked him over and started licking and playing with Hibiki and all he could think of was a old American cartoon about Fred Flinstone and his dog Dino.
"As much as it warms my heart to see happy reunions, I believe we have some buisness to discuss. " the voice of Ruru broke thru the happy play between Kura-ge and Hibiki, but the smile on her face told him he was not in any trouble. "Now come on in and sit down while I make us some tea and we can discuss your travels and jobs" and with that, Baa-chan re-entered the boarding house with Hibiki and Kura-ge behind her.
Hibiki looked arround the place as they entered and noticed it was a bit cleaner now then it was when hew first came. Before he could stop himself he spoke aloud "Wow, Baa-chan must have hired a cleaner since I left." and only realized too late he had spoken outloud."I appologize Baa-chan, I spoke without thinking again..." and turning redder as he spoke.
"It's quite alright Hibiki." Ruru spoke without turning back. " And it is true, I did not keep the house quite as clean as it is now, but I did not hire anyone. The state you see the house in now is due mostly to young Kuzuha and her sometimes helpers from the school. She started a campaign within the school saying that they should help with the cleaning, since they use the house as a shortcut. Many agreed and now she is the president of the student councel."
That brought Hibiki up short. "So she comes here every day?" he asked.
"But of course, She is growing into a fine young woman. Now sit down while I prepare the tea." and she heads into the kitchen.