"THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!" Naru shouted as Haruka had given her one of the most devastating if not shocking news she has ever received. The man who beat her up just earlier… who peeked on her earlier was now the new manager of the dorm. "Totally UNACCETABLE."
Keitaro raised his eyebrow, and wanted to speak, but he still had to review the whole situation. From what he had gotten so far, his grandma has been gone for almost a year, traveling around the world, looking for hotsprings which inadvertently was supposed to prolong her life… "And she said she had a couple of more years ahead of her," Keitaro whispered, grinning a bit.
Naru glared at the male who had one day humiliated her to the core. "Whatcha mumbling about?"
Keitaro just ignored her, opting to listen more to his young aunt explain more about the situation. "But, eh, Auntie, is this…"
Keitaro ducked as Haruka almost hit him with that paper fan she had. The woman gave him an angry look, and mumbled, "Stop calling me aunt…"
"Hehe, a little sensitive, aren't you?" Keitaro gave her a wink. "I remember when we were little kids, you kept pinning me on the ground, and trying to remove my scalp, and told me to always to respectfully call you auntie."
Haruka's hand twitched. She had that grin which she always usually reserved on Seta every time he did something annoying and irritating. "Keitaro… if you want your stay to be pleasant here…"
Keitaro just laughed, and waved his hand. "Alright, alright, won't call you aunt."
"EXCUSE ME!" Naru exclaimed, slamming her fist down the table. "STOP IGNORING ME!"
Keitaro looked at her, eye brow raised again. He took a moment before he actually spoke something directly to her… "Hey, is it that time of month?"
Almost every girl froze at that statement. "E… EXCUSE ME?" Naru demanded.
"No insult to all women here, but you're quite cranky… seem to have more issues than the daily newspaper…" Keitaro raised two fingers. "One, you're absolutely mad… we could cook an egg over your head. Two, you seem to want to have another go at me, for absolutely no reason. Why?"
"No… REASON?" Naru exploded again. "How about coming in here, at an all girl's dorm…"
"I apologized for that… I didn't read the sign," Keitaro shrugged. "Sue me."
"And you peeked on me!" Naru declared, pointing a finger at Keitaro. "PERVERT!"
"Hey, you touched me where no girl should ever touch a guy," Keitaro pointed back at her. "If there is anyone perverted here, its you!"
"NANI?" Naru now went to her feet and got her hand ready to punish the insolent guy who dared invade their territory. She was about to give him the haymaker when she looked at Shinobu's face…
"Naru-sempai… is it true?" the timid girl asked.
Naru waved her hands up and down on her side, full panic mode. "No! No! Don't listen to him!" She then glared at Keitaro. "It's not over yet!"
The guy just smiled. "You know what… I got something to help us settle this…"
HWE: Hina Wrestling Entertainment
Naru and Motoko: The Anti-Perv Squad
"Laharl…" Keitaro greeted when he heard the phone answered.
"Oh, Taro… what's up?" Laharl sounded sleepy. Well, it was after dinner already. And to Laharl, it was either food, wrestling, or gaming. And since Laharl had no new games, and the Potentials are still out of it, he reserved after dinner time for sleeping.
"I found a few new bloods… powerful for the age and sex," Keitaro smirked as he re-counted what had happened to him in the past few hours. After what seemed like hours of story telling, Laharl sounded more awake and excited.
"Whoa… girls at what age…? Wow… young eh? Found a girlfriend potential in any of them?" Laharl smirked. "Hey, got the names of these new blood? I might have news on them."
"Naru Narusegawa, and Motoko Aoyama," Keitaro replied.
"Aoyama… oh my God Keitaro… you actually met an Aoyama?" Laharl seemed like he was jumping up and down. "Do you know that their names are reputed all over the kendo world?"
"No… really?" Keitaro listened in.
After a few keyboard taps, Laharl's voice came back. "Its here on the net. Seems the Aoyama family has been there for generations. They were one of the most prominent Samurai clans in all of Japan. It's been said that they are also one of the few societies that are responsible for exterminating demons."
"Demons… heh… didn't know that Aoyama had such a big name," Keitaro muttered.
"Well, now there aren't much left of them. Just a few hundred and decreasing ever since 'civilization' took place. In the world today, there are no such things as demons, or need for the samurai," Laharl explained.
"Alright, how about Narusegawa, Naru?" Keitaro asked.
"Wait a moment…" a few taps again in the heyboard, and Laharl came back on. "Not much here… but there is a slight piece in a free-style martial arts tournament here… Quote, 'Narusegawa Naru won the 89th free style martial arts tournament for fifth time in a row. Her victory was made when she cleanly punched and knocked her opponent, 4 years her senior. Her age is 14'. Wow… that's a frigging strong punch."
"Yeah, I know she has a strong punch. I almost got hit by it… have you ever seen water being split?" Keitaro paused. "Well, see this girl in action and you will."
"So… you want to admit these two to the Big C?" Laharl asked. "You think they would do well?"
"Well… I think they can perform if properly motivated…" Keitaro smirked.
In the living room of Hinata-sou, Keitaro stood among them with the papers given to him by his grandma. He looked directly at Naru and Motoko. He gave them a slight small smile. "Glad you girls could come," he greeted. "Are you wondering why you are all here?"
"Yes…" most of them answered, though only Naru's tone seemed to give a bit of an acid feel to it.
"Good. Now… I shall ask you guys this question, and I want an honest answer," Keitaro smirks. "Who among you can find the… well, heart, to accept me as your manager? Answer please, one by one. Shinobu… you first."
Shinobu looked at the smiling Keitaro, and blushed suddenly. Touching her two fingers together, she muttered in a low and shy tone… "I… don't mind you staying here, Urashima-sempai…"
Kitsune put her finger on her chin… "Well… I don't know yet…" she gave a foxy smile. "Give me a reason for you to stay… and maybe we can work some things out." She gave a wink.
Keitaro winked back. "Oh, I'll give you plenty of reasons to stay."
Naru glared at the young man. "Please… not in front of the kids."
Shrugging, he replied back, "Only perverted minds think that what I was talking about was perverted. Suu?"
"I like Keitaro!" Suu exclaimed unabashed, with that same silly smile on her face.
"… I have my reservations," Motoko declared, her arms crossed. "I don't like the idea of a male, more or less as a manager in an all girl's dorm." She unsheathed her sword a little bit just to show the blade. "And I don't like your attitude. If worse comes to worse… I'll force you out."
Keitaro smiled. "Well, that's understandable." He looked at the last girl. "Should I even ask you?"
"I absolutely hate you and I am disgusted by you. I just hope you pack up and DIE!" Naru declared with a glare.
Keitaro smirked. "Knew shouldn't ask… but whatever. I got a proposal."
"Proposal?" all the girls asked.
"Proposal… is that delicious?" Suu asked.
"Yeah… proposal," Keitaro showed the papers again. "Have you ever heard of the Coliseum?"
"That big arena?" Naru asked, suddenly why the Big C was mentioned here.
"Yes… I propose a match between us two," Keitaro pointed at the girl.
Motoko's eyes, which were closed earlier, opened suddenly and went towards the hilt of her sword. "What kind of male proposes to fight a female? You are low."
Keitaro just took it to stride, smiling at Motoko. "Hey, she can fight. And in my book, there are two people in the world… Those who can fight, or those who can't. And you both impressed me, and since that she has a problem with my acquisition… she can fight me for it."
Standing up, he showed the papers yet again to Naru and everyone. "If she wins, she can be the manager of this dorm… and she can decide whatever she wants to do with me. What do you say, Narusegawa?"
The girl looked at the guy, and then towards the papers. Her mind cogs began to turn… what an opportunity for her. All she had to do was win a battle against this pervert right? But taking in consideration on what had happened earlier, her hand unconsciously went to her chin as she began to think.
Keitaro looked at the girl, and smiled. Smarter than she looks, actually… "Well, you don't have to decide now. I ain't gonna battle you at once… but I can arrange a sort of warm up fight for you. You know… let you check the temperature of the waters before diving in."
Naru looked at the Keitaro, and she smirked. "Check the temperature? Or you just scared of facing me?"
Keitaro just smiled. "Hey, I'm giving a great opportunity here. Not only am I giving you a chance of being the new manager of the Hinata-sou, but also give you a sort of warm up/warning before you do face me."
"When will I fight?" Naru asked, cracking her knuckles.
"You're warm up fight is coming 3 days from now, and our match will take a week from then," Keitaro went all business like. "I suggest you train a bit… I will admit that you are strong and fast, but that ain't going to be enough."
"Heh… see you next week," Naru stood up and looked at Keitaro with a cold stare. "Very soon next week." She looked towards Motoko… "Motoko… we need to talk…"
"Yes," Motoko also stood up… she gave a slight bow to everyone present. "I shall take my leave."
When both girls were out of sight, Haruka looked at her nephew, jerked her head over to one side, seemingly asking him what the hell he was doing. "Keitaro, what are you doing?"
Keitaro smiled. "Well… She had problems with me being manager, so I gave her a shot to the 'title'."
"And what if by chance you lose the title?" Haruka asked.
"I'll leave. Simple as that," Keitaro declared.
"Alright, that's it, I'm out," Haruka declared, sitting up. "I got a teahouse to run… I hope you know what you are doing, Keitaro."
With that, Haruka went out, leaving Keitaro alone with Su, Shinobu and Kitsune, who were still looking at him. One was trying to comprehend what just went about earlier… one just blushed as she looked… and the last one just looked and smiled clueless.
Kitsune was the first one to stand up. "Oh-kay… today was one weird day, and it isn't yet over… I'm going up, and have myself a drink."
Shinobu hastily stood up as well, bowing, mumbling about going to cook food now, and Su, hearing the word food, jumped at the chance and ran after Shinobu, leaving Keitaro alone.
When he was sure that no one was around anymore, he grabbed the folder that Haruka handed to him. Inside were the files of all the tenants living in Hinata-sou, all the information he would need, especially if he was going to be their manager… oh yes. Keitaro never played to lose. Naru was going to lose to him… plain and simple.
Standing up, he walked towards the phone, and dialed a number. After a few rings, he heard the reception
Kitsune heard a knock on her door. "Who is it?" she asked.
"You're temporary manager," Keitaro replied from the outside.
"Come in," Kitsune said.
The door slid open, and Keitaro walked in, giving a slight wave at Kitsune. "Yo."
"Well, well, what brings you here?" Kitsune asked, crossing her hands, and smiling seductively (Konno Mitsune MO). "Delivering the promise so I would give more reasons for you to stay?"
"Actually… yes," Keitaro smirked.
Kitsune did a double take, her eyes opened. "Uh…"
The smirk became more pronounced when Keitaro saw her face. "Mitsune-san… don't tell me you also thought the same lines as Narusegawa, eh? Didn't know girls at your age were so ecchi."
Kitsune removed her shocked face, and replaced it with a teasing one. She won't get one upped by a guy she just met. "We can be whatever you want to be… and what we like to be." And she gave a wink. "So… what is this reason you are about to give me?"
"Mitsune-san… do you have a permanent high paying, and yet easy job?" Keitaro asked her.
"… keep talking…" Kitsune stated, her face now looking curios and anticipating.
"Well…"
20 minutes later…
"So… whatcha think?" Keitaro asked.
"Keitaro-kun… you can call me Kitsune…" the young woman said with a warmer and truer smile.
The delicious smell of Shinobu's prodigal cooking was in the air when Keitaro entered. For a moment there, he paused and took a deep breath, taking in the flavors hanging in the air… and for a while, held his breath, and then… slowly released it.
"Aaaah…" Keitaro sighed as he entered the kitchen.
Shinobu's head looked back from her chopping to see who entered the kitchen. "Oh… sempai…" she blushed. "Um… good afternoon…"
She was about to turn and bow when Keitaro just raised his hand and sat down the chair. "Eh, continue cooking." He smiled. "I thought I had entered some sort of wormhole and ended up in a fancy restaurant with the wonderful smell when I came in through the kitchen door. You have quite surprising talents at cooking, Maeharra-san."
Shinobu, if possible, blushed even deeper. Almost went to her ears, actually. "Uh… I'm not that good…"
"Sure you are… just lacking some good old fashioned self-confidence," Keitaro closed his eyes and put his head down towards the table, seemingly in euphoria. "Such a sweet smelling flavors of your cooking Maeharra-san… You'll make a good wife one day…"
Now the red covered her ears. Shinobu's mouth formed a small smile, steadily growing. "Sempai… please call me Shinobu…"
He gave her the look, and the wink. "Sure, Shinobu-chan…" The girl had turned around, avidly trying her hardest to hide her glowing blush. After a few minutes of silence, Keitaro sat up, and looked at Shinobu. "Hey, Shinobu-chan… I think I got something to help with your shyness…"
Shinobu's eyes widened. "Oh?" She squeaked softly… "Um… I'm not to sure about this… sempai…"
"Hey, its okay," Keitaro gave her another wink. "I'll never let you do something you will hate… promise."
"Muh… I'm… not to sure…"
"I don't say that much… but trust me on this," Keitaro stated neutrally.
The girl could only look at the hot young man in the kitchen table, looking at her in the eye… not threatening, not insulting… but just being… himself. They looked at each other, eye to eye. Su entered hoping to get some food, when she noticed the two looking at each other…
"Shinomu? Whatcha doing?"
In Naru's room, Motoko sat down as Naru asked her whats her honest opinion about her decision about challenging the new male manager. In all honesty, Motoko didn't know for sure. She was defeated earlier… sure, she held back, underestimating the male, but she was still beaten. She wouldn't make the same mistake twice…
"He's skilled, Narusegawa-sempai… really skilled," Motoko muttered softly. "He's more skilled than you…"
"I know that…" Naru muttered. "It's been a while since I trained… wish Seta-san was here…" and she had that far away look in her eyes.
"Seta?" Motoko asked.
"My old teacher… he taught me some fighting moves," Naru closed her eyes. "Motoko… would you train me?"
Motoko nodded.
To Be Continued:
Alright, boring for now… but NEXT! Naru's fight! Will she make it? Hope so. :P
