Thanks for making it this far. By the way, new chapters for Soul Requiem and New Mobile Suit: Gundam Hina Eternity are also available. Don't forget to check'em out! Also, Final Hina Fantasy and Love Hina Children of the Exodus will be re-written over the summer holidays, so stay tuned for more new releases from Beyond the Bounds! Now, to reply to reviews!
Wonderbee31: Seems like you're becoming a regular reviewer. Thanks a lot. The Market Avenue idea came to me suddenly and I decided, hey, why not? Yeah, Romance is definitely one of this story's themes so relationships are a must. We'll see what happens. As for the Market Avenue Mayhem, yep, I only had one thought at the time: Insanity.
Swordbearer: Thanks for the review and feedback. I seriously need feedback...lots and lots of it, as I am still in the process of learning. Yeah, I do realize there may be many grammar mistakes. It's just one of the things. I know I should start getting proof-readers but I just never get around to it. Yes, the chapter 3 prologue was Shinobu's flashback, while the chapter 4 prologue was Nodoka's flashback. Guess who's turn it is now in chapter 6? I don't really know much about those weapons. I asked my sis for good weapons to use in the story and the name Nighthawk came up as well as Desert Eagle and SOCOM. Thanks again for the review and please continue to notify me of my mistakes (corrections will follow, definitely). Please enjoy the chapter!
BigFics2: 'That Darn Cat"? Actually, that actually crossed my mind as I wrote that chapter. It was a pretty unique movie. Off course, Insanity is a must in the LH universe. As I wrote the story, I couldn't help wanting to visit Kanagawa myself...who knows, such a place might exist somewhere in this world, hehehehe. Thanks for the review and please enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina, Negima, or anything else here that doesn't belong to me. I definitely don't own the Desert Eagle,.SOCOM, Cobra, or Chinookbrands.
Watashi wa…Tantei…Shinobu-chan…Nodoka-chan…Tantei no sannin…
Kimochi…kimochi…kanashimi…namida…shiawase…egau? Warau? Nadako-chan…Shinobu-chan…
Where would I be now…if it weren't for the twins…I couldn't even imagine it.
"All right, Keitarou. These two girls will be living here with us starting today. You're a man, so now it's your task to care for them and protect them as a big brother would, understand?" Father's words that day are still etched into my head…I could never forget that day…when the twins appeared on our doorstep, soaked to the skin. Shinobu-chan was crying…she always was. Nodoka-chan was always hovering around her, doing her best to cheer her up.
Our office and home was rather small. Father had to dig up mother's old futon to accommodate the twins. It was a bit of a squeeze, but we managed to get all three futons folded out. Dad decided to sleep on the sofa and wouldn't hear any protests from me or the twins. The two almost didn't sleep the whole night…Nodoka-chan held a sobbing Shinobu-chan all night long, gently stroking her hair, whispering words of comfort. She was crying too…though I noticed that she was trying her best to hold back the tears.
I…did I sleep? All I remember was a darkness, a silence only broken by Shinobu-chan's subsequent sobs. Father didn't stir…he only lay still on his sofa. Why wasn't he trying to comfort the twins? I wondered…I always did…well, at least for some time. I got up and approached the two…but I was at a loss…what was I to do? I wanted to ask father…or someone…anyone…for the first time in my life I really felt I had to make a difference…but I didn't know how. But I ended up sitting there beside the two…just watching…
I thought I heard a faint rustle from the sofa behind me. I looked around for a moment, but was only greeted by Father's slowly rising and descending backside. But later on I speculated…was he watching us? Me? And if he was…why? Why hadn't he comforted the twins? Why'd he leave it…all to me? Wait…he left it…to me….
Later on in the morning…
"Ok, Keitarou, you hold the fort while I go out and solve a case, ok? Take care of the twins for me." The next morning father had to go out on another case. I understood that he would rather stay home and get the twins settled, but our family, as usual, was going through hard times.
"Ummm…do you two…need anything?" I asked the two…well, only Nodoka actually. Shinobu-chan had fallen asleep in Nodoka's arms. Nodoka was still, though red-eyed, wide awake. "I think you should get some sleep too."
"This is all your fault…" Nodoka muttered.
"Eh?"
"It's because of this tiny depressing room you call your home….the décor's all gloomy…everything's a mess…it's all dark and dreary…no wonder Shinobu-chan's crying all the time…" Nodoka muttered. I swear, a vein almost popped in my head. I could see there was going to be trouble.
"Uhh…do you want me to open the curtains or something?" I asked her. Concentrate, Keitarou…focus…don't lose your temper…these kids just lost their parents and father told you to take care of them.
"You stupid Baka! Can't you see Shinobu-chan's sleeping! Do you know how long she was up last night, crying! Do you want to wake her up with you idiotic nonsense!" Nadako hissed. As if I don't know…I was up all night beside you…
"…right…do you want to eat anything? Dad normally eats meals on the run, so I normally do the real cooking." I can tell you, it was taking every ounce of self-restrain in existence just to keep a civil tone.
"Urusai, baka, be quiet. Can't you see Shinobu-chan's sleeping!"
"Ok, scrambled eggs and toast for three, was it?" I decided to just ignore her. As I cooked, I heard a gentle melody seep through me…it was a melody that was etched into my very soul…my mother's old lullaby. Father claimed he didn't know how to sing it, and left it at that. But to hear it once again…here? I turned around and found Nodoka-chan, gently humming the lullaby as Shinobu-chan's sleeping face was contorted into a frown, her eyes flicking. A nightmare?
I realized that day…how much Nodoka-chan loved Shinobu-chan, and how everything she ever did, every single blown top, was all for Shinobu. I later found that Nodoka-chan was by nature somewhat similar to Shinobu-chan…though she started to put on an attitude in order to protect Shinobu-chan, and it sort of developed out of control. I just sighed and placed the plates on the table, before walking over to my cupboard. After a few minutes rummaging I found what I was looking for.
"What the hell is that?" Nadako asked, in a low tone.
"My mother's old cuddle doll…I think its name is Liddo-kun or something." I held it out to the twins.
"And…what am I supposed to do with that dirty ragged doll?" Nadako asked. The vein popped. But just then Shinobu, eyes closed, reached out for the doll, took it, and hugged it tight before falling into a deep sleep. I and Nadako watched her contented sleeping face for a moment before looking at one another.
"What the hell are you looking at, Baka?" Nadako asked.
"Oh…nothing…" I answered, standing up.
"…Thank you…" Nadako muttered.
"What?" I whirled around in surprise. This girl can say 'thank you'?
"I said…thank you…you baka!" Nadako said in a slightly more audible voice. Shinobu giggled in her sleep, a tear escaping her eyes.
"And what are you laughing at, Shinobu-chan?" Nodoka asked, in a gentler tone, laying Shinobu to sleep on the futon. "Hey, you said there's breakfast?"
"Yes…" I said, walking to the low dining table. "Toast and scrambled eggs."
"WHAT!" Nadako raised her voice slightly. "What's wrong with you! No tomato sauce!" She pointed at the scrambled eggs. "Shinobu-chan likes it with tomato sauce!"
It became clear to me…later on…why exactly dad hadn't comforted the twins that night…and why he watched us, or at least I think he did…but even that morning I had already had a close enough idea of why exactly…
I just chuckled as I took out a bottle of tomato sauce and handed it over. Nadako turns out to be far more predictable than I thought. And so my life with the twins started…and every single day was as sweet as the tomato sauce Nadako accidentally spilled all over the table…
Her scream of rage attracted the entire neighbourhood….
Futakoi Alternative Opening OST
New World/Bokura No Jikan (Yumi)
Downloadable from any Anime soundtrack site. I suggest gendou(dot)com
Intro: A view of blue skies…a usual Love Hina scene with Keitarou and Naru studying for their Tokyo-U exams up on the rooftop, with Motoko practicing Kendo on one side, Shinobu drying some clothes on another, Mitsune and Mutsumi sitting in a kotatsu drinking booze and gulping down watermelons, Sarah and Haruka enjoying the wind then the camera swivels up to the skies before suddenly fizzing out… Suddenly, rock kicks in and view flashes. Title shows 'Love Hina Alternative, koi to shoujo to machine gun'
Yume wo mukou e ikki ni hashitte yo (Running at once towards a dream)
Nayameru kinou wo fungiri warai aou (let's meet and laugh away yesterday's troubles)
(Maehara Shinobu and Maehara Nodoka fall out of the sky on snowboards. As they approach Hinata Sou, wings spring out from the boards, causing them to glide upwards above Hinata Sou while a volley of missiles blast Hinata Sou)
Omoide ga itta no toki mo (when our memories were here)
(Everyone in the cinema, who incidentally were wearing 'we love Love Hina' T-shirts, starts shouting complaints at the screen as the screen started to show explosions and action scenes.)
Kidzu wa fukaa no mi massugu mae ni (even though we are deeply hurt, go straight on)
(Every big screen across the world started showing the title 'Love Hina Alternative'. Everyone screams in pure horror)
GO TO NEW WORLD
(Flashes show a number of close-up views of characters from Market Avenue)
Kaze no naka kainjiteru yo (I can feel it in the wind)
(Everyone runs down Market Avenue)
Atsumi moto wa kagayaku yo (the warm sea is shining)
(Everyone's surrounded by armed people in suits)
Ima koso (especially now)
(Everyone goes berserk. You get the idea.)
Kitto zutto soba ni iru yo ne (surely, always, you'll be by my side)
(Maehara Shinobu and Maehara Nodoka ride a bike amidst busy rush hour traffic, pursued by a gunship. Kaede and Ku Fei leap amongst the sky scrapers behind them, right beside the gunships, followed closely by the gothiloli kamens)
Miro no michi wa hoshi ni tsazuke yo (The road to the future goes on to the stars)
(A chopper flies around a tall skyscraper with Lee and Makie at the wheel and Hakase and Mana at the door. Nodoka was gun-duelling with a man, both shooting and melee, free-falling down one side of the building. Shinobu was falling right behind them, switching places with Nodoka every few shots. )
Motto Motto nani ga okitemo (on and on, no matter what happens)
(Keitarou smashes out of one of the windows right beside Nodoka, Shinobu, and the opponent, a SOCOM in one hand. The opponent tried to shoot Keitarou while Setsuna leans out of one window and throws Keitarou a katana which he catches and swings around to deflect the bullets.)
Namida wa hanbun miba no egao ni mou (half our tears become double smiles)
(A few more gunships whirl around the building, firing a volley of missiles at the the group. Evangeline, Suu, Sarah, Fumika, Fuuka, Rayce, Motoko, Tsuroko and Shana fall through the sky and use their own unique styles to destroy the missile barrage and the gunships.)
Itsudemo (forever)
(Shinobu, Nodoka and Keitarou knocks out their opponent but then realizes they're in free fall.They scream as they fall towards the camera while the gunships and missiles explodes above them. END)
"Did you hear? They just uncovered another part of that artefact the other day." There was the usual loud cacophony of a multitude voices, intermingling into the usual beat of the bar.
"Yeah…I heard the guy who uncovered it was this really elusive archaeologist. Quite famous really. I heard he's the authority on Turtlian artefacts…he's uncovered all the most famous Turtlian artefacts." Another voice said. There was the occasional clink of glasses, the cheerful tune of the jukebox, and the soft whap whap of the fan overhead. There was a low hanging smog of cigarette smoke.
"But he's now wanted by almost every single underground organization on the planet…they say…hey, what happened?" The three men stopped talking as the whole bar went quiet. By the bar counter sat a man in a white lab coat, idly gently shifting around the ice in his empty glass. The bartender had ducked under the counter and re-appeared with a suitcase and an army helmet. He high-tailed it out of the bar's backdoor, before everyone who was perceptive enough did the same while the more hardy ones decided to stay put and take out their guns and other miscellaneous weapons. The guy sitting by the counter just stared down into his glass and sighed.
Suddenly, everything went bright outside.
"Hey…is it just me or did the roof just get ripped off?" One of the customers asked, as far behind the bar the wrecked roof smashed into the dust, accompanied by a huge cloud of dust. Everyone, even the less perceptive ones now, decided that this ain't no ordinary bar brawl and decided to scramble out of the firing range. The man in the white lab coat didn't as much as flinch. The bar's metal sign flew up into the air, flashing in the bright morning sun.
Then it started. A barrage of machine gun rippers smashed through what remained of the bar. It was followed by a volley of shotgun shots that cleanly wiped away any remaining traces of the bar.
"Hehe…what are the chances he's still alive?" One man laughed, reloading his AK-47.
"Slim…real slim…as slim as the twig we've probably reduced him into…hehehe…" Another man laughed, pumping his shotgun.
"He…hey…where is he then?" Another man asked, as he primed his M-60. The metal sign stood straight amidst the smoking bar, pocked by bullet dents. It slowly fell to the ground, raising yet another cloud of dust. Behind it still sat the man in the white lab coat, whisky glass in one hand.
"Huh…he's…" The group of six men (all armed to the teeth) raised their guns. "He's…immortal?"
"…" A rather larger man behind them swung around the gigantic beam launcher he was shouldering and primed it. "Get him, men"
The man in the lab coat sighed and stood up, taking a revolver out of his pockets.
All the men flinched.
"Huuuaaahm…" Keitarou yawned as he stretched. He stood up and looked around the room. Thankfully yesterday's blast hadn't damaged much of the interior of the office. On one side stood Shinobu in her usual cooking apron, skilfully stirring about something in a large wok.
"Oh, Anou…ohayo, Keitarou-kun." Shinobu smiled as she sprinkled some salt into the fry. Everyone in Market Avenue had helped out cleaning up the mess yesterday. Fortunately nothing was heavily damaged, with the exception of the facades of each store within the explosion radius and the slight depression in the road. But everyone did their part in cleaning up and they even had a small party afterwards…and lo and behold, even the yakuza came and helped out…with a temporary cease fire, off course.
"Ohayo, Shinobu-chan…" Keitarou said, rubbing his eyes as he walked towards the bathroom. "I think I'm gonna go wash up…darn, I fell asleep in my day clothes again…" he stifled a yawn.
"Ummm…anou…you shouldn't go in there, Keita…" Shinobu started, turning around, before an ear-piercing scream rent the air.
"Okay…let's go over this one more time…you're saying the yakuza were involved, right?" Rayce asked. He and Tsuroko were standing beside the street where chaos had reigned supreme just the day before.
"Yes." Tsuroko smiled pleasantly.
"And there was street brawl…involving the local DA secretaries and a…misshaped cow…that happens to be the local IT expert…" Rayce looked through his notes.
"Correct." Tsuroko said.
"The local mechanic and the local bartender/pub owner got involved as well…" Rayce ticked something on his notes.
"Right."
"And…apparently…a superhero showed up…" Rayce flipped through his notes. "Lollipoppy cuckoos or something, was it?"
"Two superheroes, and it's Gothiloli Kamens." Tsuroko corrected.
"Right…right…what's this about the cops arriving and creating more havoc?" Rayce asked. "I thought the cops were supposed to…"
"They're Market Avenue Cops…" Tsuroko reminded him.
"Ah…yes, I forgot…then a nun and a samurai…" Rayce eyed Tsuroko suspiciously.
"We are only local Kendo senseis…the Shinmei-ryu Dojo had nothing to do with it." Tsuroko smiled a hundred-dollar smile.
"Okay…a nun and a samurai joined the fray…and caused more damage to nearby structures…and then…a Grade-A custom Hakase-Laboratory brand Plasma Beam Cannon with optional sun umbrella… suddenly exploded in the middle of the street?"
"That's the full story." Tsuroko said, gesturing around her.
"uh…I hope you realize how strange that's going to look in the insurance claim report I'm going to have to file." Rayce said, smiling uneasily.
"How would that be strange, Farelle-san? It's the complete truth." Tsuroko said.
"But…let's see…on new year's eve this year, Market Avenue got burnt to the ground due to a yakuza riot caused by a drink overflow in the happy dragon pub, followed by an explosion caused by a new year fireworks display arranged by the Market Avenue New Year committee…then the Candylollies cocos suddenly decided to save the world again…Then later on, on February the 14th, another street brawl broke out over the rights to give chocolate to the only eligible young man in Market Avenue…and apparently a few 'enthusiastic' participants started sending each other 'surprise' chocolate gifts, causing the obliteration of every single store in Market Avenue. And then it turned out everyone was just desperate for a male to give a chocolate to, rather than it being a seriously complex love I-don't-know-what-hellish-geometric-shape-this-is. Apparently the local bakery had a part in perpetrating a sales scheme for Valentine's day too…" Rayce looked through his notes.
"Ah…well, you see, we're a rather tight-knit community here." Tsuroko smiled looking around.
"…Tight-knit community, eh? Then what's this about the local dojo challenging the local baker to a fight? Then how'd the local theatre manager get involved? And how'd the local DA's chase that just happened to go through that area suddenly cause an experimental nuclear device to explode?" Rayce asked, incredulously. "And here's a note dating from May…apparently the local restaurant was having a free sampling…then the line went out of control…then the yakuza came…then…then…" Rayce gasped for breath. "Ok, the thing is…this makes it the fifth insurance claim in a space of less than 6 months…and we're not talking smashed vases here, we're talking a whole street."
"Well…I guess things just happen…" Tsuroko said, waving her hand as if to dismiss it all. "We do pay our premiums, Farelle-san. We should at least be able to expect the insurance company to be there for us when we need it."
"But…be reasonable, Aoyama-san…" Rayce pleaded. "I can't file this story… I've filed 4 ludicrous stories already this year…." Rayce slapped his notebook. "I…I…"
Tsuroko looked at Rayce with knowing eyes.
"Ok…ok…sigh…I'll do my best, as usual…" Rayce sighed.
"Thank you, Farelle-san. By the way, are you on another case? It must be tiring, working part-time as an insurance agent at the same time." Tsuroko smiled.
"It's not…a part-time job…" Rayce sighed again. "oh well…better get back to…"
Suddenly a scream pierced the quiet morning air…
"Oh?" Rayce looked up at the DA office.
"Ah…" Tsuroko looked up in the same direction.
"De gozaru?" Kaede looked up.
"Oh, right on time…" Mitsune said, without even looking up, as she swept the road in front of her pub.
SMASH…
Something spiralled out of the detective agency's windows and smashed down into the road below in a shower of glass shards.
"So now it's exactly 5.00 AM…" Mitsune said, setting her watch, before continuing sweeping.
"Kei-kun! I got your morning bandages and disinfectant all ready for you!" Makie shouted from her café. She was already up and about in her maid costume, bringing out the café's tables and chairs.
"Oh…man…" Keitarou tried to regain his balance as he tried to stand up. Everything was spinning…even the speeding motorcycle…speeding motorcycle? SMASH…
"And now it's 5.05…" Mitsune said, looking down at her watch. "Yep, still accurate."
"Oh, so sorry, Kei-kun, I keep on forgetting this is your usual landing zone." Yuna Akashi got off her grocery delivery motorcycle and got down beside Keitarou. "Makie-chan! Do you have the morning bandages?"
"Yes, right here!" Makie said, crouching by Keitarou. She skilfully applied the bandages and disinfectant in a would-be routine manner. "Ako-chan came by earlier to drop some more off cause she knew this week's supply of morning bandages would have run out." She giggled.
"Keitarou-sempai!" a voice shouted from above. Keitarou, Yuna, and Makie looked up to see Lee on the roof of Makie's cafe, a hammer in one hand, a few nails in another. "Heya, I'm sorry about that! I keep on forgetting to fix that faulty lock on your bathroom door…remind me, ok!" He shouted.
"Yeah, Lee, thanks!" Keitarou hollered back. "I'm fine, Makie-chan, Yuna-chan, don't worry." Keitarou said, standing up. "Thanks."
"Ohayo Urashima-san! Remember, it's good manners to knock first, de-gozaru!" A voice shouted form up the street.
"Yes, Nagase-san! I'll remember!" Keitarou hollered back.
"And it's good for your health too!" Kaede added. "And tell Maehara-san she really should attend those meditation lessons!"
"I will, Nagase-san!" Keitarou shouted back.
"Hey, perv, here's your morning paper." A child, her long blonde hair flowing in the cool morning breeze, handed Keitarou his newspaper.
"Oh, thanks Sarah-chan…" Keitarou said, taking the paper from the girl. The girl rummaged through her newspaper satchel and brought out Yuna and Makie's newspapers too.
"Hey, peeping Tom, after Nadako's forgiven you, give this to her, ok?" Sarah said, handing Keitarou a newspaper satchel, before running off down the road.
"Urashima-san…ohayo…" Tsuroko greeted him.
"Ah, ohayo, Aoyama-san…eh, Makie-chan? I thought it's all done…" He flinched, as Makie put on some more disinfectant.
"Missed a spot…" Makie giggled.
"I do believe you should move, Urashima-san…Narusegawa-san would be half-way down the stairs right around now…" Tsuroko said, smiling as usual, looking down at her watch.
"Naru? Oh, I forgo…" Keitarou was about to turn to run when…
"KEITAROU! WERE YOU PEEPING AGAIN!" A voice shouted from behind. Keitarou looked around. SMASH… "NARU PUNCH!"
"5.10…to the second…" Mitsune nodded with approval, before turning back to go inside her pub. Meanwhile, something spiralled off into Chiisame's Internet café beside her pub. It smashed through the windows and crashed into a few computers.
"I HATE THIS FRICKIN' BLOODY STREET!" someone shouted from inside the internet café.
"Did you set your watch already, by the way?" Makie asked Yuna, setting her own watch to 5.10.
"Nope, who needs watches here in Market Avenue. The whole street's a clock." Yuna laughed, turning around back to her motorcycle. "Gotta go, tell Keitarou-kun I wish him a speedy recovery, as usual."
"I ain't paying for that…" Rayce muttered, walking past, kicking a smashed mouse aside. "Part-time job my ass…"
"Sorry, Keitarou…you know, it's just reflexes…that's all…" Nodoka laughed, one hand scratching the back of her head.
"Please forgive Nadako-chan, Keitarou-kun, I'm sure she didn't mean it." Shinobu pleaded.
"I must apologize, Nadako-chan. Don't worry guys, it's not the first time, and it won't be the last…." Keitarou laughed.
"You mean you intend to peek on me again?" Nadako's eyes narrowed.
"N…no! off course not!" Keitarou laughed uneasily. "Right, I have to go to the corner antiques to get some work done and make sure the twins are ok, and then see Mr. Tamada and Kaolla Suu. I'll see you two later, ok?" Keitarou said, going out the front door.
"Call us if you need us!" Shinobu shouted after him. "Ok, I'll see you in school, ok?" Shinobu said to Nadako, picking up her school bag. "Here's your newspaper satchel. Don't be late!"
"Don't worry about me, Shinobu-chan." Nadako said, heaving the satchel on, picking up her school bag and following Nadako out the front door. "Say hello to Shana for me too, all right?"
"Sure." Shinobu smiled as she set off up the road towards Shana's bakery while Nadako set off in the opposite direction on her paper route. "Bye!". A chilly breeze blew across the street, blowing dust into Nadako's eyes, causing her to turn back for a moment. As she did so, she saw Shinobu's back, slowly diminishingup the street. She shivered...there was an uneasiness in the air. She shrugged it off and ran off down the street.
"Fumika-chan! Fuuka-chan!" The bell rang pleasantly as Keitarou entered the corner antiques store. "Are you guys up yet?"
"Oh, it's the part-timer. Whassup, Keitarou-sempai!" Fuuka landed on his back from above.
"Wow! Wow! We'll both fall over!" Keitarou yelped as he fought to keep his balance.
"Oneechan! That's dangerous!" Fumika shouted, appearing around a corner in her uniform, a black dress with a small apron on the front bearing the Corner Antiques logo. "What if you break any of the merchandise! Noriyasu-san will kill us!"
"Don't worry, Fumika, I've got this baka all under control…" Fuuka laughed, still clinging onto Keitarou's back as Keitarou walked backwards across the store, hands swinging wildly, before…SMASH…
"Noriyasu-san's gonna kill us…." Fumika moaned.
"Good morning, how may I help you?" Shinobu bowed to a customer who had just entered the bakery. She picked up a cloth and wiped off the flour off her hands.
"Good morning…I heard the melon bread around here is quite good." The man who had just entered said.
"Ah, yes, the specialty of our Shakugan Bakery, please wait a moment, sir. A fresh batch is about to come out of the oven." Shinobu smiled. "Feel free to look around. I'll just go and check on the bread." The bakery was built in such a way such that the traditional-looking kitchen was right behind the store's counter, so that the customers could personally see the bread making process.
"So, you own this bakery? I heard the owner's a young girl." The man said.
"Oh, no. That would be Shana, she's out right now. I'm only a part-timer here. I normally work at the local DA office." Shinobu said, crouching in front of the bread oven.
"Oh, then you work with Urashima-san?" the man suddenly asked.
"Yes, do you know him?" Shinobu asked, taking out a tray-full of melon bread.
"Yes, actually. My name's Tamada. Urashima-san helped me out the other day. You must be one of his ojou-chans, the ones he's so proud of." The man laughed.
"Tamada-san? But aren't you being watched? You shouldn't really be walking around out in the open, should you?" Shinobu asked, placing the melon breads in the glass counter. "How many melon breads would you like, by the way?"
"Ah, as many as you have. I've got a whole orphanage-load of kids to share it with." Tamada smiled. "And a few other sweets too, yes, that would be good."
"Would you like me to escort you back to the Hinata Sou…it's still really unsafe for you to be walking around out here." Shinobu asked with concern.
"ah, it's all right, Ojou-chan. I'm sure I'd be able to survive the trip back. How much is everything?" Tamada asked, taking out his wallet.
"That would be…huh?" Two canisters smashed through the windows and started hissing as they rolled about the floor. "Please get down, Tamada-san! Hold you breath!" Shinobu leaped over the counter, and grabbed the two smoke canisters. She hurled them out of the window and took out her Nighthawk. After a moments silence, 6 more smoke canisters flew in through the smashed windows. "You've gotta be kidding me…" Shinobu took Tamada by the hand and lead him around the counter and into the back. "Follow me, Tamada-san. We've got to get to the Hinata Sou!"
"Right…that's the last paper…" Nodoka looked in her satchel.
"Hey, Nodoka-chan!" Asuna came running up the road, the bells in her hair jingling.
"Asuna…" Nodoka greeted back. "Ohayo."
"Ohayo, Nodoka-chan. Finished your paper route?" She asked.
"Yes, all finished." Nodoka said.
"Good, here's this month's salary. Sorry I'm handing it over like this, but it saves time. That's your principle, isn't it?" Asuna smiled, handing over Nodoka a brown envelope with her name on it.
"Thank you, Asuna." Nodoka bowed.
"Don't worry about it. By the way…" Asuna looked towards Market Avenue. "Isn't this a bit too early for another street brawl? I thought the yakuzas agreed to a cool-off period…"
"…not again…" Nodoka sighed, running up towards Market Avenue. "Thank you, Asuna, I'll see you later in school!"
"Yeah, and please make sure you tell Sarah to see me too!" Asuna shouted. "And stay out of trouble!"
"Oh man…" Rayce sighed, shifting around the pickle in his whisky glass. "This…isn't my day…"
"Why the long face, Rayce? Tired?" Mitsune asked, smirking as usual from behind the counter.
"I don't know…it used to be so much easier before…" Rayce sighed, stretching. "I haven't been here in a long time…a really long time…everything's changed. So many new kids have taken up the slack…all the old stores are open again…" Rayce smiled up at the slowly spinning fan. "Things change so fast…"
"Things being so easy before…are you referring to those days?" Mitsune smiled, cleaning out a few tumblers.
"Yeah…back then there wasn't this much damn bureaucracy. We would just knock on every gang lord's door and whoop ass all day long…now they talk about regional stability…maintaining balance of powers…crap, what happened to all the bounty hunters and sweepers? They were the real power behind the law back then." Rayce sighed, resting his chin on the countertop.
"Weep not…why don't you just get the others to join you again…I mean, we've still got bounties out everywhere, it's only that no one has the guts to catch criminals nowadays…nobody has the stomach for bounties." Mitsune sighed. "What you need to do is to round up the old gang and go out and kick ass."
"Hahahaha…go all vigilante again." Rayce reminisced happily. "Things aren't that easy anymore, Mitsune…damn bureaucracy…cause of them, things like this happen everyday." Rayce gestured out the window as a truckload of armed men went up the street. "Organized crime at every doorstep and no one's ALLOWED to stop them."
"…Mitsune…was it just me…or did a truckload of cool-looking people in full commando armor just go up the street, looking for trouble?" Rayce suddenly asked Mitsune, slamming his hands on the counter. Suddenly something exploded something outside.
"Yes…I think whatever it is…it has something to do with you." Mitsune said, going to the back and coming back with a fresh bottle of whisky. She poured out a shot and slid it across the counter at Rayce. "For good luck."
Rayce swigged down the shot, wiped his mouth, slammed down a note on the counter, before running out into the bright sunlight.
"I guess…it never ends…" Mitsune sighed, looking back at a photograph of a group of people, all smiling and waving. "…does it?"
"Yet another mummy from 2500 B.C….how on earth do these things end up in an antique store?" Keitarou asked, checking the merchandise and cross-checking the catalogue. "And what on earth is this!" He picked up what looked like an old feather duster.
"Oh! So that's where it went…Fumika! I found your Chickadee doll!" Fuuka shouted, taking the old feather-duster-like object and placing it on the counter.
"Is it just me…hmmm…" Keitarou thought. "There's something that's really hanging on my brain…but I can't really find what it is…" He thought as he watched Fumika pick up what was left of the doll and dropped it back onto the counter, while Fuuka watched her from the other side of the counter.
"Hey…what was that?" Fumika asked, as something exploded outside. "Another fight?" Keitarou whirled through the store and out the front door, just in time to see two black Cobra gunships and a black chinook whiz by, kicking up dust in their wake. He shielded his eyes from the dust as he tried to get across the street.
"Damn…what on earth were those?" Keitarou muttered, as he took cover in an alleyway. The two cobras whirled around as the Chinook slowed down to a hover. "What happened to the cat chasing days?" Keitarou sighed, as he took out his SOCOM.
"Oneechan! They must be after our target!" Fumika shouted, throwing an MP5-N along with a belt full of ammo at Fuuka.
"Thanks, Fuuka! Let's go! They won't tolerate failure!" Fuuka shouted, catching the gun and belt and running outside. They both threw aside their uniforms to reveal the blood red coats and skirts underneath.
"Hey, oneechan? Did HQ give us the green to move out yet?" Fumika asked, priming her MP5-N.
"You seriously think HQ would give us the go? They'd be ordering reinforcements and signing documents just to let us whoop some guy's ass…nope, we're going in without permission!" Fuuka shouted.
"Oneechan! We're going to get into so much trouble…" Fumika cried out, pulling on Fuuka's coat.
"That's what makes it fun, Fumika!" Fuuka shouted, priming her MP5-N and running up the street towards the helicopters. A number of special ops commandos rappelled down from the helicopters onto Market Avenue. "Hehe…this looks like it's going to be more than fun!"
"Stay back!" Shinobu shouted, holding her Nighthawk straight before her. "I won't hesitate!" Tamada was slumped against the wall behind her, breathing heavily, holding tightly onto a bleeding arm. A white haired boy in a black cloak stood before her. A number of special ops commandos lined the alleyway.
"Then die…" the white haired boy before her said, raising his gun.
"Shinobu-chan!" Keitarou shouted, rounding the alleyway and noticing her. The commandos all whirled around and raised their guns towards him.
"Keitarou-kun!" Shinobu cried out…BANG…
"SHINOBU-CHAN!" Keitarou screamed, leaping into a charge. The commandos all opened fire, sending shredders through every square-inch of the alleyway. Keitarou leaped off one wall onto another before kicking two commandos in the head while shooting two more with his SOCOM. He leaped off the last commando and ran across the wall, using the energy from the momentum to keep himself up. As he ran he fired a barrage of bullets down the alleyway, knocking out four more commandos. "SHINOBU-CHAN!" He screamed again, as he came closer towards the end of the alleyway.
"You…are just another failure…" The white haired boy looked down at Shinobu's defeated form, lying in a growing pool of blood. "I…am disappointed." He turned towards Tamada.
"Ojou-chan!" Tamada held Shinobu. "You!" He picked up Shinobu's fallen Nighthawk and aimed it at him.
The boy promptly shot Tamada's other arm, the one holding the gun. The gun fell with a clatter as the boy held Tamada up by the collar. "You're coming with me…" He leaped up onto the rooftops, carrying Tamada with him. The Chinook descended, ready to pick him up.
"Shinobu-chan!" Keitarou finally reached Shinobu, after the other commandos decided to retreat along with the white-haired boy. The draft from the Chinook blew up the dust around them. "Shinobu-chan!" Keitarou looked down at the wound. She was shot in the stomach. She was losing a lot of blood. Keitarou held her in his arms and lifted her as the Chinook came close to the rooftops above.
"SHINOBU-CHAN!" Nodoka shouted from above. She was standing on a nearby rooftop, looking down at the alleyway.
"She's still alive, Nodoka!" Keitarou shouted up at her. "We've got to get her to the nearest…HEY!" He shouted as Nodoka leaped over the alleyway and ran over the rooftops towards the Chinook.
"YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY! NOT THAT EASILY!" Nodoka screamed, holding her Desert Eagle out. "YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" She charged madly towards the Chinook. The draft whipped at her clothes as the Chinook prepared to again ascend.
"Another…one?" The white haired boy asked, depositing Tamada in the hands of the other commandos. A few more commandos climbed onto the Chinook carrying a brown skinned struggling figure.
"DIE!" Nodoka shouted, firing at the them.
"Fate…verify Code 04…" A man inside the Chinook commanded.
"Understood, sir…" Fate said, leaping off towards Nadako.
"Huh!" Nadako shouted, raising her gun. She fired up at the figure that was mid-somersault above her. Fate evaded the bullets with a few rapid mid-air maneuvers before aiming down at Nadako. Nadako rolled out of the way as Fate shot the ground she was standing on just a moment ago. Fate landed and started firing. Nadako leaped out of the way once more, firing as she did so.
Fate merely deflected the bullets with a few rapid flicks of his gun.
"What!" Nadako shouted, reloading her Desert Eagle. Suddenly a rapidly enlarging shadow came over the two of them. They both looked up before leaping out of the way as a flaming Cobra gunship came crashing down.
Some distance away stood two figures, one holding a smoking gun, another holding out a smoking, blazing katana.
"Shinmei-ryu…ougi…RAI MEI KIN!" One of the figures shouted, raising its katana. Thousands of lightning bolts coursed through the air and seared the ground as they crackled and burned their way towards their target…Fate. Fate leaped out of the way and quickly evaded each bolt with a few twirls and somersaults.
"Aoyama-san! Tatsumiya-san!" Nodoka shouted. Tsuroko raised her katana again and leaped into a charge. Fate leaped backwards into the rising Chinook while the Cobra came before it and fired a barrage of hot lead straight at Nodoka and Tsuroko. Tsuroko flashed and re-appeared in front of Nodoka, katana flashing as it made contact with the lead tracers, sending them all over the place. Mana meanwhile raised her twin desert eagles and fired up at the Cobra. The Cobra's missile pods flashed as it sent two missiles arching towards the three.
"Jump!" Nadako shouted, firing at the two missiles. She, Mana and Tsuroko leaped aside as the two missiles lit up the rooftops…
"Just another failure…just like your sister…" Fate muttered from the door of the Chinook as it took of towards the horizon, the cobra on its tail. "Code 03 and 04 verified, sir…verification confirmed…zero threat report."
To be continued…