A Different Life

by crosseyedbutterfly

AU that starts before the anime or manga. A forced engagment, random turtle demons, throw in some new characters, plus an explination of several people's pasts...well... guess you'll have to read it and see...CHAPTER 23 UP. Fini.

11. The Meeting and the Test

Back again we are, with Chapter 11 this time! I know it's been awhile, but I couldn't update again until I got to college and was hooked to the internet there. We don't have wireless at my home, and after returning to visit for a few weeks I finished a chapter and couldn't post it. You know how depressing that is? I actually had it finished and I couldn't get it up! Anyways, on to the main point here...Chapter 11! Hope you enjoy it, and as always: Authors Comments are listed at the end I would suggest you check them especially if you asked a question or made a statement of sorts other than how much you liked it! Those of you who did review, I LOVE YOU!!!

Btw: Chapter 10 is being re-uploaded at the same time this is being put up. So those of you who couldn't read it before, I'm sorry but it should work now!

Naru left her room, rubbing her eyes tiredly with a yawn. All this studying was wearing her out, and as much as she wished she had more than the month or so left to prepare, getting the test over and done with would be a huge relief. Turning the corner, two blonde streaks raced past her towards the stairs, nearly bowling her over in the process.

"Oof! Hey, watch it Su!"

"Sorry!" called the foreign girl over her shoulder, her unknown companion giving her a mischievous grin before they disappeared. Blinking in confusion as something about the girl struck her as familiar, she shrugged it off and followed them down the stairs at a much slower pace.

Placing her glasses in her pocket and undoing her braids with a sigh, Naru had just waved to Kitsune when the doorbell rang.

"Can you guys get that?" called Keitaro from the kitchen. "We've got our hands full in...Sarah, no! Put that down!"

The high school girl glanced at Kitsune, who was suddenly absorbed with the television, and sighed. "I'll get it," she replied flatly, shuffling over to the door as she ran a hand through her hair before turning the knob and letting it swing inwards. "Hi, can I..." Naru's voice dropped off, ending in silence as she stared at their surprising handsome, as well as male, visitor with a slightly open jaw. It wasn't so much as she was struck by his handsome looks, as that they hadn't had a male guest that hadn't been invited for a good reason for probably years, and she had no idea what he was doing there. He was dressed in jeans and the same button-down shirts Keitaro seemed to favor, as well as had messy dark brown hair, but that's where the resemblance ended. Obviously built beneath his modest clothes and about half a head taller than Naru, he stood straight with an air of confidence that gleamed in his bright brown eyes as he bowed to her politely though with only just as much deference as one her age required. His smile was easy and open, though it was one of those faces you were never sure if the person was taking you seriously or not.

"Hello, I'm Koshi," he introduced himself, sounding a little nervous as she looked back warily while he straightened himself slowly. Clearing his throat as her fists suddenly clenched, he backed off a step. "Hey, don't go psycho on me here, I'm just here to pick up Sarah-chan..."

Naru's temper flared like a flash of lightening as she pulled back her fist. "What do you mean, go psycho?!"

"Hey there handsome, never seen you around here before," cut in Kitsune as she appeared at Naru's side pushing her fist aside with her usual foxy grin as she draped herself over her friend's shoulder with a wink. "You wouldn't be here trying to prey on some poor, defenseless young maiden, would you?"

The poor young man turned red, immediately waving his hands in panic as Naru began to wind up her fist again though with difficulty from Kitsune's interference. "What?! No, I'm just...!!"

"Well, hey, if you're ever interested I might let you prey on me a bit..." Kitsune winked again as a dribble of blood appeared from Koshi's nose, chuckling slyly.

"Ah! No, really, I...!!"

"PERVERT!!"

"Koshi-kun!! You came!!"

Everything seemed to freeze as the sassy young blonde launched herself at the visitor with a look of pure joy on her face. Naru growled as she got in her line of fire and put her fist back down, for while the new comer probably deserved it the young girl now glomping him didn't.

"Hey, of course I did," he said with a wry chuckle as she hugged him around the neck, reciprocating the action for a moment before setting her on her feet. "How was it here? Did you have fun?"

"The guy Papa hired can be a dork, but the other residents are pretty cool," replied Sarah as Keitaro stuck his head out of the kitchen to see who it was. "Especially Su-chan, she's got all these really cool machines! And his aunt knew my mom!"

"Hello there, you must be Koshi," said their manager politely as he quickly entered the room, wiping his hands on a towel as he did. "I'm Keitaro Urashima, and welcome to Hinata-sou."

"Thanks. I'm pleased to have met you." The two bowed to each other, Sarah muttering something about stupid customs as she waited impatiently for them to finish. "I just came for Sarah-chan here, sorry if I disrupted your meal."

"No, in fact we were just about to eat," laughed Keitaro with a shake of his head. "Would you like to join us? We have more than enough to go around."

"No thanks, my uncle will be waiting for us," said Koshi, though he obviously regretted having said so as delicious aromas began to waft from open kitchen door.

Keitaro just nodded in understanding. "Well, perhaps next time."

"Thank you for watching Sarah for us." Koshi grinned as his younger counterpart clung to his leg, looking back up at him innocently. "She can be a handful at times..."

The manager sweated. "Oh, it was nothing. She's always welcome here anytime!"

"Well, then we'd better go. Thanks again, and good evening to you all." He looked around the room, bowing once more respectfully to them all before he let Sarah clamber up onto his back and headed out the door. "Bye!"

"Later, dork!" called Sarah over her shoulder, waving until they were outside.

"Good riddance!" ground Naru through her teeth, still seeing red. Keitaro backed away into the kitchen, not wishing to start anything with her at the moment.

"You know, he was kinda cute," chuckled Kitsune slyly, grinning all the more when Naru nearly began to nod in agreement and caught herself just in time to replace it with a scowl. "A girl could get used to seeing scenery like that all the time..."

"Yeah, whatever."

"Was that Sarah's cousin?" inquired Motoko when Keitaro helped her finish setting the table in the kitchen, making sure they had enough places for everyone.

"Yeah, but I think I've met him before," he replied, scratching the back of his head as he did.

"He likely looks a great deal like his uncle, which is why you would think so," she explained with a shrug. "The rest are waiting to eat, shall we?"

He nodded. "Ok."

Days turned into weeks as the Hinata residents settled into the new routine, Keitaro disappearing most mornings and coming back every two or three days with Sarah in tow. Money began to trickle back into the dormitories again, and by the time Keitaro had collected the next round of rents and paid the bills for the Inn and repairs while cashing his checks even though it was by a hair's breadth, they were breaking even again.

Haruka's ribs and arm appeared to be doing well too, and fate seemed to smile on them as she was able to move more with less pain each and every day. Sarah, who visited the elder Urashima every time the opportunity was presented, was even nicer than usual, only breaking things occasionally and attacking Keitaro when she felt she was being ignored. No one was sure what had caused the change, or if the change had been caused by the frequent visits to Haruka at all, but for whatever the reason they were all glad for it.

Finally the day came when Haruka had to go back to the doctor, Keitaro sweating a bit as he met his wife and aunt at the front of the Inn that afternoon.

"Do you think we could not drive this time?" he offered hesitantly, flushing in embarrassment with Motoko raised her brows teasingly and Haruka just laughed.

"We'll take the train," she said as she turned and began to stroll down the steps. "I think I can handle walking a little ways by now."

"Come, the sooner we leave the sooner we may return," added Motoko as she slipped her hand discretely onto his arm and they walked together down the steps after her. "Your test approaches quickly, and you must take every opportunity to study."

"Yeah," he sighed, nodding though he didn't want to agree. "I know."

"Stop being so slow and get moving!" called Haruka, already at the bottom. "If I get the ok that means I can finally get rid of that part timer and get back to work!"

"Have you met him?" inquired the samurai woman as they quickly caught up, weaving their way through the crowded streets to the station. "Perhaps if his work proves to be sufficient you could continue his use for the time being."

"Haven't even seen him, he's never around when I come to check on the shop," she replied as she lit a cigarette while waiting for the train. "Ami says he does his job and all, and if he's late he stays after to make up for it which is nice. She also commented that there's been quite a few Toudai students, especially girls, coming to visit the café that seem to know him. I don't really care, business is business and as long as he doesn't neglect his work I can't complain. But I don't want the Tea House to turn into some teeny-bopper joint."

"I doubt that'll ever happen," coughed Keitaro with a grin. "No offense, but you don't exactly cater to those types of costumers."

"Business isn't so bad that I can't afford to take on another hand for the time being," she reasoned lightly, dropping her cigarette to the floor and crushing it with her heal as the train pulled in. "Come on, kids, let's go." The ride was a relatively short and uneventful one, for which Keitaro was grateful, and it was only a few minutes before they got off at another stop.

"Which way are we headed?" asked Keitaro as they made their way to the streets outside, sticking close together through the dense crowds.

"Going left a ways, then making a right down Orchid," came the simple reply, Haruka lighting up again as soon as they were in a public area.

"It seemed like it was a lot farther away than last time," commented Keitaro.

"It would've been even a shorter ride than before if I'd been driving," snorted his aunt with a grin. "Motoko is a turtle compared to myself behind the wheel."

Keitaro glanced at his wife as if for confirmation though she remained impassive, her eyes seemingly studying the crowds with interest. It was not long before the office came into view, a plain brick building with a sight out front labeling it as a family doctor facility.

"Why did we come here instead of a hospital last time?" asked Keitaro as they let themselves in the front.

"Because this place is just as good as any hospital, and there's not much that shakes Nori like those wussy hospital nurses," came the rough reply as Haruka signed herself in at the front desk. "Looks can be deceiving, remember that."

"Good to see you're still alive," commented the doctor as she appeared in the doorway, her assistant at her side as always.

"Good to know you care," came the dry retort.

Doctor Nori just smiled, bowing slightly to Motoko and Keitaro who replied in turn. "It is good to see you both in good health."

"Thank you," replied Keitaro with a nod. "We're hoping you can say the same for my aunt."

"We'll see in just a moment," said the doctor lightly, moving aside so Haruka could walk through the door. "Please wait here."

"Of course."

The elder Urashima went, just twitching her lips when the cigarette was removed from them and tossed in the waste bin.

"No smoking in here," Nori reminded her with a stern look. "Even if you don't care about your lungs, several of my other patients do."

"Sorry, sorry..." Haruka just shrugged. "Can we get on with it?"

"Yeah, couple x-rays and some stitches removed should do it and you'll be set."

"Finally..."

"How've you been keeping yourself?" she questioned as her stoic patient sat on her examination table and submitted to a quick check of her vitals.

"Good enough," came the confident reply. "You can ask the kids, I haven't worked at all and actually behaved according to your orders this time."

"That's a pleasant change," teased the doctor in a friendly manner. "Usually I spend two or three visits yelling at you for making it worse, and by the time you do obey you have to wait two or three times longer than you originally would have to heal."

"I never said I was a quick learner."

Nori laughed wryly as she moved on to the x-rays, taking Haruka to a different room in the back. "So, I understand Seta hasn't been around in awhile," commented the doctor lightly as her patient got into position and she went behind the wall to press the button. "He hasn't gone and gotten himself killed, has he?"

Haruka shook her head, her face betraying nothing. "No, he's been in Africa."

"What's he been doing there? Digging up another civilization?"

"Most likely, yeah. Idiot can't find his own head most of the time, but he can find artifacts and old buried structures as easily as he can breath." Haruka held still as the flash went off twice, getting into position for the second out of ease of practice.

"Surprised you didn't with him, he hates being alone," pointed out Nori as she set the camera for the second go, hitting the button when things were in place.

"He's not."

"Oh, really?"

The doctor motioned for Haruka to follow her back down the hall when it was finished, having her assistant develop the pictures for her. In another room they sat down, the elder Urashima baring her left arm as her friend pulled out a tiny pair of scissors, a scalpel, and some tweezers to begin the work of pulling out the tiny stitches one by one.

"Who's he got with him?" prodded Nori cautiously when her patient offered no further details. "A new girlfriend?"

"That nephew of his that used to live by the inn, and Goldie lock's kid."

Nori paused, glancing up at Haruka. "What's she like?"

"Spitting image of her mom, except she's got her dad's smile."

"You got to meet her?"

"My nephew watches her at Hinata after work sometimes so I see her around, and her cousin comes and picks her up in the evening. I haven't seen him yet, but I'm told he's grown into quite the handsome young man by one of the other residents." Haruka closed her eyes, an odd smile on her lips. "I'm pretty sure that idiot has not idea he's hired an Urashima or that I know he's back in town."

"You should show up at his place one night and surprise him," suggested Nori with a wink.

"He doesn't have a 'place' anymore, he's living out of that old van with his kid and nephew."

"How'd you find that out?"

"Keitaro. He knew for some reason."

"Does he know you're of his current employer's ex-girlfriends?"

"No, and I don't intend for him to."

"Why? Plan on making that 'ex' part of what you are disappear?"

"No." Haruka took out an unlit cigarette, letting it hand from her pursed lips. "I intend to let the past stay where it is and not bother with it again."

"I'd say someone's suffering from a strong case of denial..."

"You're a doctor, not a shrink, and I didn't ask for your opinion."

"Touché."

The x-rays appeared on the desk beside the table they were using, the assistant making himself scarce in Haruka's presence.

"...and that's the last one." Dr. Nori took out a bottle of alcohol and some band aids, wiping up the little blood that had come from removing the ties and patching up a few bits that weren't quite fully healed but required no further assistance at the moment. Picking up the developed x-rays, she shuffled through them with a nod. "Try and keep yourself outta trouble this time, alright? You're not as young as you used to be, and eventually injuries like this are going to leave something more permanent than a scar and a little stiffness at times. You'll have to take it easy with that arm for awhile yet, no heavy lifting or fan flipping for a couple more days. Your ribs are looking pretty good...just don't do anything too strenuous for a little while and you should be fine."

"Yes, ma'am," said the unperturbed Tea House owner, though she would obey simply to get her strength back sooner.

"If you feel any pain or stiffness more than the usual or if you split the scars back open again, I want you back here immediately," went on the doctor with a bemused look. "And should you require any other sort of healing, like say of the heart...well, you know how to reach me. No charge, either."

"Thanks for the offer," coughed Haruka as she rose, rolling down her sleeve as she did. "But it won't be necessary."

"Haruka-chan..." Nori crossed her arms as she studied her friend's expressionless face, head bowed slightly as she signed the insurance and release forms. "You need to let it go already. It wasn't your-"

crack

The clipboard Haruka had been using snapped in half, the latter keeping her eyes towards the ground as she set it aside and turned quickly. "Sorry about that," she said simply as she began to leave. "Add it to the bill, if you would. See you around, doc. Thanks for your help."

"Is everything alright?" asked Keitaro when Haruka came walking out quickly, already reaching for her lighter.

"It's fine," she said flatly. "I'm cleared, so let's go."

"She's fit as a fiddle," said Dr. Nori as she appeared at a slower pace. "Just make sure she doesn't rush into things too much for the next few days. Now, if you'll excuse me..." She bowed to the confused pair before disappearing into the back.

"What are you two waiting for, an invitation?" called Haruka from the front, halfway outside inhaling off her freshly-lit cigarette. "Get moving already."

"Is it just me, or did we just miss something?" Keitaro whispered to his wife as they followed the quickly retreating Haruka back to the train station.

"One can never be sure," came soft reply as the young samurai glanced back at the office before focusing forwards on her aunt. "But...you may be right."

"You requested to see me, sir?"

Two figures, alone in the dark council room. One bows before the others, waiting patiently.

"I would like to know when this 'plan' of yours is to go into effect." His voice is mocking, eyes that glint from the depths of his hood staring contemptuously at his subordinate.

"It already is, my lord." The second remains bowing, though there is a hint of annoyance in his voice. "The effects will take time, but when they appear you will know. Patience is a virtue of the turtle, my-urk!"

"Do not quote useless platitudes to me." The master holds his follower firmly by the neck, squeezing ever so slightly. "We of the Turtle have patience for results, not empty promises. Bring to me proof that your work has been done, or hope you can flee far enough to escape the punishment that will result. Understand?"

"Ahh...yes...my lord..."

The second figure falls to his knees as he is finally released, holding on his neck as he crawls for the door.

"Insolent fool." The Master motions towards the shadows, another materializing seemingly out of thin air. "Follow him. Do not let your presence be known. And if he fails in this...kill him."

The figure backs into the shadows, bowing as he does. "Yes, Master."

Haruka sauntered into the Tea House, nodding politely to the customers who recognized her and even paused to speak with one who asked about her health. Finally making her way to the bar in the back, she grinned in an unusually bright manner at Ami who was more than happy to see her.

"Doctor say you can work?" she asked, not hiding the hope in her voice very well.

"Yep. Can't do heavy lifting for awhile, but other than that yeah." Haruka gently flexed the offending limb as she spoke.

Ami wanted to collapse in relief, getting her an apron immediately. "Welcome back, ma'am!"

thwap

The American girl rubbed the sore spot on her forehead as Haruka put the fan away. "I'm not a ma'am."

"Yes....ma'am!" Ami skipped outside of Haruka's fan reach, hurrying over to the other side of the Tea House with a wink to wait on some customers.

"Hm...impudent little thing is gonna have to taught a lesson for that later..." The elder Urashima did a quick inspection of the shop and its backrooms, finding it all completely to her satisfaction. Either Ami had really stepped up to the plate, or the hired help knew a thing or two about running a restaurant business. Motoko's words from earlier coming to mind, she went back out to the bar and once business had dropped off a bit called Ami over.

"Where's the part-time guy you hired?" she asked simply as she lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply. "Haven't seen him around at all."

"He took a few days off for some trip," explained Ami as she dumped a load of dirty dishes in the back sinks, filling it with hot water and a liberal dose of soap. "He said he'd be back by tomorrow, I think. And that he'd take full shifts for a few days if we needed him to, to make up for it. Why? We gonna have to cut him loose?"

"That's what I'm trying to decide," admitted Haruka as she pulled out the store register and looked at the numbers. "Business has been up lately, and if it stays this way we might want an extra hand around to help keep it up. Though if it drops off, another person will just be a burden...it's a fine line, if you know what I mean."

"What if I open up in the morning and you can come down and meet him around lunch rush?" offered Ami helpfully, turning away as someone signaled her over from the tables. "You'd get to see him in action for yourself, then."

"I'd say that's close to the most intelligent thing you've ever suggested," replied Haruka, though the American knew she was only kidding with her. "I'll be in around 12 or so, think you can handle things until then?"

"Have been for the last couple weeks," returned Ami cheekily. "The world does not revolve around you, you know."

thwap

Ami chuckled as Haruka put away the fan, for it had been more like a love-tap compared to what she usually dished out. It was good to have her boss back, even it meant enduring the punishing paper fan every once in awhile.

Keitaro was back at Toudai the next morning, unsurprised when his scatter-brained boss appeared and dropped Sarah off with him for the day. Thankfully, time there passed quickly for the pair until they were ready to head back to the Inn for the day.

"Is Su gonna be there today?" asked Sarah as they ascended the steps together.

"I don't know," admitted Keitaro with a sheepish shrug. "I left before anyone else was awake. But I bet Motoko-chan knows, and I know for sure she'll be there."

"Ok, that's fine, she's not quite as much fun but she's still pretty cool."

Keitaro entered the Inn, depositing his shoes among the rest as he called out, "Hey, anyone home?!"

"Keitaro-kun?" Neither was surprised to see Motoko looking over the top of the stairs railing, a slight smile on her face.

"Where's everyone else?" asked Keitaro as he gave her a warm smile in return. "In their rooms or something?"

"They are not here, Kitsune and Naru took Su and Shinobu to the movies for the afternoon," replied Motoko, her eyes lit with bemusement. "Though you should have at least known they were not on the grounds the moment you came up the steps."

"Huh?" Keitaro paused, puzzlement written across his face until it sparked in the back of his mind. The ki reading! Flushing in embarrassment, he shrugged as Motoko just nodded slightly. "I forgot...sorry about that!"

"No apology is necessary," she replied, amusement shinning in her eyes.

"What am I going to do all day, then?" asked Sarah as the main clock struck noon. "I don't mind having an Instant Ramen or something for lunch, but dork here is always too busy to play and you're not exactly always free either, Motoko."

"I am sure we can find something for you to amuse yourself with," Keitaro assured her quickly. "But as for lunch...Motoko-chan, would you mind taking Sarah to the Tea House to eat? Haruka's back for the first time, and she'd probably enjoy having both of you drop in."

"Hey!! Can we, please??" Sarah grabbed onto Motoko's wrist the moment she was downstairs. "I haven't seen her in days, and I wanna tell her about the trip!!"

"Of course." Motoko smiled almost self-consciously as the young American clambered up onto her back, hugging her around the neck. "Hm, consider yourself very lucky, Sarah-chan," she said as she flushed slightly from the attention.

Sarah cocked her head slightly as they began to move. "Why's that?"

"There are very few who are allowed the pleasure of riding my back," explained Motoko as she nodded in farewell to Keitaro who waved back before entering his office.

"Has the dork done it yet?"

Both young adults froze at the seemingly innocent question, blooding rushing to their faces in absolute floods of a brilliant red.

"What?" prodded Sarah when she didn't get a reply. "I just asked if he'd ridden your back or not! Is something wrong?" She poked her carried questioningly.

"Eh...no," stuttered Motoko as she regained at least partial control of herself. "N-no, Keitaro has not." She turned away as she said it, her voice slightly higher than usual.

"Are you not strong enough? He'd probably enjoy the flying leaps like Su and I!"

"I do not think it is an issue of strength..." replied Motoko quietly. "We will return soon, Keitaro!"

"Um, yeah...enjoy the meal!" He cleared his throat as he scratched the back of his head. That kid and her questions.

"So, what's the problem?" He heard Sarah ask as they descended the steps.

"Mm...more as in the situation has never arose...?"

"Oh, well why didn't you just say so!"

The manager shook the thoughts of his wife those questions brought with them away, determined to study. Curious little monkey, was there anything that girl would not stick her nose into?

Seta chatted easily with the customers as he served a table their drinks, taking a few cups to the back from the table next to them to be refilled.

"A house special and green tea," he told Ami with his ever-present grin, depositing the dirty cups in the bin.

"Before you go, I wouldn't pull any stunts today," cautioned Ami. "Yeah, I know you never drop anything, but our boss is coming in. I know she likes a job well done, but some of your other tricks...why don't you save them until after evaluation time, ok?"

"Is she here?" Seta glanced about. "I was hoping her injuries weren't too bad, but she must be in better health than I thought to be healing that quick!"

"No, not yet, and she's not exactly old," replied Ami as she pushed the two fresh drinks towards him. "Just be your usual attentive self without the extra stuff and you'll be fine, ok?"

"Ok!" He grin widened ever so slightly, taking the drinks with ease of practice. "Thanks for the heads up!"

"I thought you'd appreciate it." Ami smiled back, his high spirits were infectious.

"I do!" He served the customers, giving the main room a final go-around before he headed for the back. "Things are slow out here...I'm gonna go tackle the dishes back there while I can, ok?"

"Good thinking," she called after him. "I'll let you know if I need anything."

"Alright."

Motoko, having managed to steer the conversation towards other things, led the way into the Tea House after setting Sarah on her feet outside. Seeing Ami who was at the bar, she waved and headed towards her with the younger girl in tow.

"Come for lunch?" asked the American as she motioned to an empty table just off to the left in a small nook by the door in the back. "The special today is beef ramen."

"Two, if you could manage it please," replied Motoko politely as she seated herself, Sarah taking the one across from her.

"Any time, and your timing is good, lunch rush will start any moment now."

"Where's Haruka?" asked Sarah curiously.

"Nice to see you too," teased Ami as she ruffled the blonde hair affectionately. "She'll be here soon. I gave her the morning off, so she could watch the new guy."

"Oh, ok! Thanks."

"No prob!" Ami disappeared into the back, leaving them to their own devices for the moment.

"Now," said Motoko as Sarah took off her hat and hung it on the back of the chairs beside her. "Where is your Papa took you this time?"

Sarah smiled happily. "We joined a traveling circus! I even got to ride on an elephant!!"

Motoko sweated as her small companion rattled on about everything she had seen. At least her upbringing was unique, if a little strange...

Haruka straightened her shirt as she hurriedly dressed, hating the fact that she was running late and there was no one she could blame but herself. She'd spent most of the night pouring over the books and records for the Tea House, for she'd been denied access to even those while recovering. As a result, she hadn't woken until 15 minutes ago, still in the same clothes as the day before and stiff as a board.

Hoping she didn't look too thrown together for her meeting, she tied her apron off in the back and left through the door to the deck. Ami had probably tipped the guy off that he was being observed today, as soft-hearted as she was, and hopefully entering from the front would give her a few minutes time to observe him before he noticed her. Whoever he was, Ami had mentioned he spoke like he thought he knew her from somewhere and while it was possible she didn't want to tip him off who she was until she'd gotten a good look at how he interacted with the other customers in case he did recognize her.

Seta effortlessly balanced the loaded tray in one hand, pausing right outside the door to the main room to rearrange the platters he'd whipped up under Ami's orders so their weight was more evenly spread. It wouldn't do for the whole thing to tip when he removed one, especially not when he was about to be 'tested' for his job.

Looking up and around the room as he pushed the door open with his foot, he paused in surprise and spun quickly to the left when a familiar voice called out.

"Papa?!"

Motoko and Sarah continued to wait for their meals, one sipping a hot tea and the other noisily slurping the bottle of coke with a straw that had been set before her. Still rattling on about the circus with occasional interjections about how hungry she was, her elder companion just sat back and listened attentively, nodding every once in awhile or raising her brows in surprise at an exceptionally amusing or shocking detail.

"Oh! And then there were the trapeze people!" went on Sarah, draining her second bottle to the very bottom. "Ami, can I have another? Thanks! What was I- the trapeze people, right! They were flipping all over the place in practice, and could bend their bodies as if they were made of rubber! One of them even....uh..."

Motoko looked over her shoulder when she noticed her young charge's mouth drop, eyes wide in surprise and focused behind her. There stood a middle-aged man in the doorway to the back that she recognized from just about a year ago, the tutor Naru had used to help her study. About to open her mouth, Sarah beat her too it, and what came out of her mouth surprised her even more.

"Papa?!"

Haruka entered the Tea Shop, immediately sensing a familiar presence that she knew logically shouldn't be there. Forgetting her original plan, she strode forwards with a growl, not quite registering a few important facts about her target. One: he was wearing her apron, two: he bore a tray of entrees that, three: were swinging towards her. She wasn't stupid, and those three details did come to light in one huge rush. Unfortunately, the rush came a tad bit too late.

crash

"Oh, shoot!" Seta scrambled for the tray and plates as it all went crashing into the one person in the world who'd always been able to sneak up on him. "Sorry, so sorry, I didn't...Haruka-chan! Oh, thank goodness it's just you! Help me clean this up real quick, well you? Before Hina-san gets here. She's supposed to be evaluating me today and I really need this job..." Pausing when she made no move to even clean herself off as she folded her arms and a frosty look on her face, he glanced at the worried Ami in confusion. "Uh...what's going on?"

"Seta," said Ami hesitantly. "...Haruka IS your boss."

The entire restaurant was silent, all eyes on the goofball and his pissed employer.

"Oh..." was all he said after a few moments, white with a blank look on his face.

"You just signed your resignation," she said suddenly, moving to walk around him to the back. "You can finish today, then have Ami pay you for what we owe you."

Nothing else was said until she'd exited completely, everyone seemingly breathing a sigh of relief and turning back to their conversations and meals though Seta just stood there in shock.

"You'd better clean that up," stated Ami regretfully as she turned away slowly. "And get replacements made. Quickly." Haruka had spoken, and it was final. "Sorry, Motoko-chan, it'll be a few more moments before you eat."

"There is no hurry," she sighed as she rose quickly. "Please remain here, Sarah-chan. I had best go and speak with my aunt."

"Which reminds me!" Seta suddenly jumped up just in time to see the samurai disappear into the back. "Sarah, what are you doing here? I left you with Keitaro, right? He hasn't just been leaving you at Hinata-sou, has he??"

"Motoko's Keitaro's wife," replied Sarah as she stared after her 'guardian' before looking at her dad. "She was taking me to lunch since all the other residents were busy."

"Keitaro lives at Hinata with the other residents?!" Seta shook his head in confusion. "Hun, that can't be right, it's an all girls dormitory!"

"Yeah, he's the manager," she replied in exasperation. "Why's Haruka mad at you, though? Even when I spilled paint helping her clean up she wasn't this mad!"

"Eh well..." Seta turned back to cleaning things up quickly, as much to get it done as to not have to face his daughter. "It's a really long, long story..."

thunk

thunk

Motoko cautiously entered the apartment in time to see the second of Haruka's fans bury itself halfway through the wall, neatly splitting the middle of a picture hung on the far wall. Two more fans already in hand, she didn't even both taking up a stance before hurdling both at the same time to land directly on either side of their twins, the two halves of the picture frame falling to the ground on impact. A quick glance showed a girl on either side, both still intact, but whoever had once graced the center was now gone.

"You have stretched your arm beyond its limits," she observed carefully from where she stood in the kitchen door way. "May I come in and bind it for you?"

Haruka looked down at her left arm, frowning at the spots of blood that appeared at her shoulder and wrist. "Yeah, I guess so," she sighed, rubbing her right hand over her eyes quickly before she looked to her niece. "You know where the first aid kit is, right?"

"Yes." Motoko retrieved it, returning to find Haruka's sleeve already pushed up and both wounds being rinsed gently in the sink. Taking over the operation easily, she had the two tears in the scar tissue neatly cleaned, dressed, and bandaged in record time.

"Do me a favor and don't mention this to Nori," said the elder Urashima as she flexed the offending arm gently, more to test it than anything else.

"Only if you promise not to behave so foolishly in the future," replied Motoko before thinking first, flushing embarrassment afterwards. "I apologize, I should not..."

"It was foolish," cut in Haruka with a shrug, reaching for a cigarette in her apron pocket. "You don't have to apologize for telling the truth."

"But it was not my place," murmured Motoko as she washed off her hands. "You are an honored elder in my husband's family."

"Then you're going to have to learn that that means jack squat in this family," she retorted flatly. "And don't call me that, it makes me feel old."

Motoko felt the corners of her lips tug upwards ever so slightly. "If I may ask...?"

"You're family, go ahead," sighed Haruka in frustration, knowing she'd said it before. "Damn it, Motoko, I may not be the 'touchy-feely' kind of aunt, but I'm not some stiff-necked old grump you have to be all formal with either!"

"No, I suppose not..." She allowed herself a single amused look before she went on. "What you said the Tea House...that is your decision, then? Why?"

"Asking does not mean I will always tell," came the low reply. "It's just better for everyone involved this way."

"Or easiest for you?"

"...perhaps."

Motoko nodded, packing away the last of the supplies she had used as she did. "I...just so you know." The kendoist paused there, grasping for the words to form what she wished to convey. "You are very strong, but even they who all others lean on need another...we are family, as you said yourself. If you ever find yourself with that need..."

"I understand," put in Haruka, leaning back against the counter. "You're not used to this 'mushy stuff' either, but your heart is in the right place."

There was a soft knock at the door right them, Sarah sticking her head in a second later. "Um...is everything ok? The foods ready, I just thought that...yeah."

"I had best go back and finish lunch," said Motoko politely as she snapped the lid shut in the kit, handing it to Haruka discreetly. Under her breath, she added, "She will ask questions later, what will you tell her?"

"Nothing."

She nodded, even if she didn't agree with it. "Rest for today, Ami-chan is more than capable of doing with out your presence for one more day."

Haruka shrugged as they left, though she remained where she was. She had a lot to think about.

Keitaro quit even pretending to himself that he was trying to study after the fifth time his stomach growled, putting away his books and notes with a sigh before heading down the stairs to join his wife and their charge for lunch. They'd probably already started, but that was ok. With as hungry as he was he'd probably catch up quick enough. Lost in his dreams of a fresh meal as he was, he didn't notice the man standing out from wearing the Tea House apron until he'd received a friendly thump on the shoulder.

"Hey there, part timer!"

"Seta-san?!" Keitaro's surprise was clear in his wide eyes and dropped jaw, both growing a little larger at the sight of the apron. "Wait, you work here?!"

"Well, I was working here," coughed his boss, scratching the back of his head. "I'm pretty sure I've been canned after today."

"Why would Aunt Haruka do something like that?" wondered Keitaro aloud, looking into the bustling shop in puzzlement. "Ami-chan made it sound like you were perfect, and even if you did make a mistake she's usually pretty forgiving..."

"Yeah, well, your aunt and I go pretty far back, actually," admitted Seat a tad bit guiltily. "I didn't realize you were her nephew until just today...nice wife, by the way."

Keitaro flushed as Seta grinned. "Uh...thanks. Do you know Motoko-chan too?"

"Only slightly, I tutored one of her housemates for a few months this last year," explained the elder man, tossing his cigarette into the ashtray to fizzle out and die.

"Oh, I see..."

"Break time's over!" called Ami from the front door suddenly, easily spotting the pair. "Oh, hi, Keitaro! You need something?"

"A lunch special would be great," he replied. "I'll let you get back to work, Seta."

"Hey, before you go, did you inherit Hinata-sou?" asked the man quickly, appearing in front of him with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.

"Yeah, why?"

"Is there anyway you'd let me poke around a bit?" went on Seta, though Ami had grabbed the back of his apron and was forcibly dragging him inside. "Hina's got all sorts of odds and ends stored up there...you could make a tidy profit with some help!"

"I'll think about it!" called back Keitaro, following at a steady walk as he spotted his wife and Sarah in the back. Whatever it was Seta was after, and why he'd gotten fired, he'd ask his aunt about it later.

Su and Shinobu skipped a head of Naru and Kitsune, giggling to each other with their hands linked between them. The cute chick-flick had had enough fluff for one and plenty of butt-kicking action for the other and thus everyone was satisfied. It was close to sunset, and collectively they hurried home for Shinobu was the one to make dinner that night and she couldn't cook if she wasn't there.

Koshi met them at the bottom of the steps with a friendly grin, coming from the opposite direction carrying a full book bag. Bowing politely, both young girls did the same in return though Su jumped on him a moment later to give him a neck-crushing bear hug. Naru and Kitsune had caught up by then, one grinning as slyly as ever and the other getting more irritated by the moment.

"Ack...easy there Su, I'm not unbreakable!" he said with a grin as he set her on the ground, flushing at Kitsune's wink. "Hey, have you guys seen Sarah-chan?"

"No, we've been gone all day," replied Shinobu politely. "She's probably up at the house with Motoko and Keitaro-sempai!"

"Would you mind if I walked with you?" he inquired carefully, instinctively moving himself out of Naru's range. His close calls with it were becoming more frequent.

Kitsune instantly latched onto his arm, more to see Naru's reaction than her own interest with a teasing grin on her face. "Of course, sugar!"

"...!!" Naru's eyes flashed red right on schedule, Kitsune quickly leading the blushing Koshi up the steps with Su and Shinobu on either side. A thin-lipped Naru followed, though why she was so upset she couldn't (or wouldn't) exactly say.

Reaching the top, they were greeted by a weary Keitaro as he climbed down a ladder by the lamp posts at the front door.

"Looks like you finally got around to replacing the bulb," commented Naru tightly. Kitsune noted all of it with glee, thinking of how she might use this later on.

"Of course," he replied, giving them a welcoming smile anyways. "Gotta do my duty as manager. Good to see you Koshi! Here for the usual?"

"Yeah, just picking up Sarah-chan," he replied with a friendly nod, disentangling himself from the smirking Kitsune to bow to Keitaro who did so in reply.

"Are you sure we can't get you to stay for dinner?" offered the manager quickly. "Shinobu-chan is an excellent chef, and Sarah hasn't seen Su all day..." The said young girl jumped on his back, giving him a quick hug before tearing inside to set the table as was her duty for the day before she could go see Sarah.

"It's tempting, considering we're on our own for tonight," he admitted slowly. "Uncle's working late tonight...are you sure we wouldn't be intruding?"

"No, there's always room at our table," explained Keitaro. "Come on, I'll give you a tour of the grounds if you like while we wait. Sarah's up on the roof with Motoko-chan, likely sparring again. They'll be awhile."

"Or you could come with me for a drink," added Kitsune silkily, Naru nearly hitting the roof once more. "I am quite a sake collector..."

"Which means she's the dorm drunkard," coughed Naru, unable to resist.

"Connoisseur ...alcoholic...it's all the same after awhile." Kitsune shrugged, throwing one last look over her shoulder at as she left. "They know where to find me..."

"Actually, if we could go see Sarah that'd be fine," replied Koshi nervously. "I haven't seen her either, and I'm a little curious about what kind of fighter your wife is. We've only met briefly, and she carries herself like a warrior."

"She's a swordswoman, and a darn good one, but that's all I really know," admitted Keitaro shamelessly. "I'm not a fighter myself."

"That's ok, though, because not everyone can be," said Koshi in a matter-of-fact tone. "If everyone solved things with a weapon or their fists, everything would be chaos."

Keitaro paused just inside the doorway to the Inn in surprise. "Yeah...I guess you're right. Oh, this is the main room, and over to the right is the kitchen hot springs. We'll be going up the stairs to reach the roof, though."

"Nice, you fixed it up real well," commented Koshi as he looked about.

"You've been here before?" his host said in surprise.

"Not since I was a kid, and that's when it was still a 'normal' Inn," laughed his guest. "Uncle Seta used to bring me 'round on the nights Hina-san cooked, and my family was in town visiting. Are either of those two girls he was dating at the time still around? I can't remember the blonde's name, but the other was Ha...Haruto? No..."

"Haruka?" offered Keitaro slowly.

"Yeah, that's the one! Haruka-san, you know her?" Koshi cocked his head questioningly as they reached the second floor and turned down the hall.

"She's my aunt!" exclaimed the manager as he stopped suddenly. "Let me drop this off..." He stepped into his room quickly.

"You don't say," said Koshi, equally surprised. "I guess it makes sense, you owning this place and all....do I need to stay out here or what?"

"Oh, our room's practically public property, come on in," snorted Keitaro wryly as he pulled out some mail and filed it. "There isn't a single resident that hasn't come bursting in here at least once, so we try to keep thing cleaned up as a general rule."

"Is this your handy work, or Motoko's?" Koshi held up a half-finished sketch on the desk, studying the lines of the forest trees in the wind with admiration.

"Mine," said Keitaro hesitantly. "It's not great, but I try it out sometimes."

"I think it's good, or at least it's better than anything I could ever do," he replied honestly, setting it back in its place. "You done?"

"Yeah...let's go." Keitaro ran a hand through his hair, leading the way towards the next few flights of stairs. "So, what are you planning to major in at Toudai if you make it?"

"Probably Chemical Engineering or something with science and math period," came the confident reply. "They're about all I'm good at academically."

"I would've thought you'd go into history and archeology, like your Uncle," offered the manager as he opened the door the roof.

"Nah, that's his dream, not mine, and if I have to do it for the rest of my life I'd rather it be doing my dream, right?" chuckled Koshi as he stepped out lightly. He practically froze in his tracks, though, Keitaro following his gaze to where Motoko was lightly dodging each of Sarah's attacks or lightly batting them aside with a wooden sword as easily as a leaf moves with the winds. "Whoa...she really is good! I bet she could give Uncle a run for his money."

"Seta's into that?" Keitaro raised his brows slightly.

"Oh yeah, he's studied at dojo's and training halls all over Asia and Europe," he explained lightly. "He hides it pretty well, too. He taught me enough to keep myself out of too much trouble, and he's currently teaching Sarah the basics. I don't know why, but his methods seem to pack months, even years of knowledge into mere weeks and days."

Keitaro shook his head slightly. "I never would've guessed."

"Koshi!" A blonde blur came crashing into their visitor, nearly knocking him over as his younger cousin eagerly wrapped her arms about his neck. "Where've you been??"

"Around," he replied, quickly setting her down. "Hope you haven't been making trouble, now!"

"Nah, just learning some stuff from Motoko," she said lightly, waiving at the ever-slightly smiling swordswoman who nodded back quickly as she packed away her practice weapon and placed the real one at her side again. "Though..." Her face fell a little. "I think I might've gotten Papa fired today..."

Koshi blinked, completely floored. "You WHAT?!"

"She was not the cause of his release," put in Motoko carefully, setting a comforting hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Though, she did not help, either. Dinner will be soon, perhaps we should explain it as we head down...?"

"Yeah, sure." He nodded, letting Sarah hold his hand tightly. "I guess so."

By the time they'd descended the stairs, helped finish making dinner, and gotten all the residents gathered around the table with the exception of Naru who had begged out earlier to go study, all the residents knew the table from beginning to end with the exclusion of one minor, seemingly unimportant detail: Haruka had been Seta's boss.

"So, what's this mean in terms of what's gonna happen to you guys?" asked Kitsune as tactless as ever, though her heart was in the right place supposedly.

"For who?" asked a familiar voice, everyone turning around quickly to see Haruka standing in the doorway.

"Hello Haruka-san!" said Koshi cheerfully, getting a surprised look in reply as he stood to bow respectfully to her. "Long time no see, ne?"

"Yeah, like maybe decade or so," she murmured, obviously disconcerted at the fact that she now had to look up to the young man she'd last seen as barely reaching her chest. Bowing hastily, she sat at the quickly arranged place for her across from Koshi next to Keitaro. "How've you been, kid?"

"Well enough, though Uncle's not doing good from what I hear," came the friendly reply as Koshi helped himself to some of the rice balls.

"Why's that?" Haruka's question was innocent enough, but good look from any who knew her well knew she was no longer comfortable in the present situation.

"His boss supposedly canned him," explained the high schooler candidly, not seeing the worried looks Motoko and Keitaro traded. They hadn't realized Koshi didn't know Seta's boss... "Mmm, this really is excellent! Would you please pass me those spring rolls, Shinobu-chan? They're the best I've ever had."

"Of course," replied the younger girl cheerfully, a heavy blush staining her fair cheeks. "Please, help yourself t as much as you like!"

"Thank you, I will." Koshi beamed at her, making her blush all the more. "It's too bad, though," he went on blithely, seemingly ignorant of the mounting tension in the room. Kitsune sat back sipping her sake slowly, studying Haruka, Koshi, Motoko, and Keitaro by turns. There was some vital fact in all this she was missing, otherwise the couple wouldn't look like they wanted to gag the boy and Haruka about to crack like a brick under too much stress.

Haruka, who'd hardly touched her food, took a sip from the sake she'd poured herself. Finally asking the one thing everyone wanted to know but didn't dare mention for some reason most couldn't fathom, she said, "What's too bad?"

Sarah, thankfully absorbed in her favorite dishes that Shinobu had for some reason chose to prepare that night, didn't notice any of it in the least. Grabbing another sweet roll, she paused only long enough to ask for some more tea and went back to her stomach's oblivion the moment the request had been fulfilled.

"Oh, Uncle's just been hoping to get an apartment now that his debts were covered," explained Koshi, a note of sadness ringing in his voice. "I mean, I haven't seen a real bed in months, and for Sarah-chan it's been even longer than that!"

"I'm sure..." Haruka reached for her cigarettes, and though she rarely lit up at the table no one protested as she did now. Quickly making her trademark 'smoke halo', she seemed lost in her own thoughts for much of the rest of dinner.

The mood quickly lightened from then on, Su managing to grab everyone's attention for awhile describing some of the special effects of the movie they'd seen earlier. Kitsune picked it up from there, bringing blushes from some and scolding from others as she told some of the more risqué jokes she'd heard earlier. Time passed all too quickly, and before they knew it Austin as home, grimy and sweaty with a satisfied look on his face.

"Why, hello there stranger," said Kitsune teasingly, letting all her charm flow with Ami not present. "Haven't seen you around much lately."

"Practice, like every other day, but we got out early today," he explained, flushing slightly. "Save anything for me?" Giving Shinobu a grateful look as she quickly set him a place, he headed for the sink to wash his hands real fast. "Oh, hey Koshi! How've you been?"

"Pretty good. How's the soccer coming?"

"If things keep going this good, we're guaranteed a good shot at Nationals this year," grinned Austin. "We're still looking for a good goalie, though..."

"Yeah, yeah...I can't try for it until I pass the test, remember?"

"Yeah, I know. Mmm...smells delicious as always, Shinobu-chan!" He seated himself beside Sarah, reaching the last sweet roll though she snatched it from his grasp at the last second and popped it into her mouth.

"Mmm..."

"Hey!"

"I have some more warming in the oven," broke in Shinobu quickly, fetching them as Sarah gloated over her victory. "There are plenty more to go around."

"Your skills as a cook have grown even since I've been here!" praised Austin lavishly as he began the burdensome task of filling his growling stomach.

"Hitting on younger girls again, Austin?" teased Kitsune as Shinobu went bright red for the third time that night. "Ami would be most disappointed..."

"No, just giving praise where it's needed," he replied coolly, a little wiser now to her foxy tricks. "Where is Ami-chan, though? I would've thought she'd be here by now."

"She will be, in a moment," put in Haruka, still working on her cigarette and sake. "I had to take today for some...extenuating circumstance."

Ami, as if on cue, walked through the kitchen door at that moment removing her apron as she went. "Hey guys," she said wearily, taking the seat next to Austin that Motoko politely vacated for her as Shinobu produced another set of dinning ware for her to use. "Man, we had this one rowdy group that didn't want to leave...oh! And Haruka?"

The elder woman glanced up, clearly unused to having others interrupt her musings. "Yeah? What is it?"

"I closed out that account like you said," replied Ami cautiously.

"Have you destroyed the paper work yet?"

"Uh...no." Ami cringed, half expecting some acidic remark only to get a sigh.

"That's fine. I'll look over it in the morning."

"Thank you very much for dinner," said Koshi as Sarah finished her food, climbing into his lap sleepily. "It was absolutely delicious. But I think we'd better get moving before...Uncle!"

"Papa!" Sarah was down and running in a flash, attaching herself to her father's leg almost instantly as everyone just watched, stunned. Kitsune's eyes actually opened as every single connection to be made was done so instantly before she cracked a sly smile. Oh the fun she would have..."What're you doing here??"

"Hey, sweety. I don't mean to intrude, but the front door was open and no one answered when I knocked," he said, smiling at her before glancing at Koshi who smiled back. "I just came to return this." Gently, he tossed the folded apron in his hands to Haruka who caught it with her good arm.

"What the hell is this for? Work's too hard for you?" snorted Haruka before anyone could intervene. "Last time I checked, you're scheduled to open in the morning and I expect you to be there bright and early. You wanna quit, give me a damn two weeks notice." She threw the apron back, hitting him squarely in the chest as she stalked past his towards the front door.

Seta blinked with a blank look on his face, everyone mirroring his expression accept Koshi who looked like he'd seen a ghost. Breaking into a smile, the underpaid professor pet the apron back under his arm. "Yes, ma'am!"

One of Haruka's paper fans made itself known in the back of his head, Sarah slipping away from her father as he just rubbed the spot with a wry smile. "I'm not a MA'AM!" came the accompanying growl, everyone smiling as usual.

Sarah provided the final shocker of the day, though, when she tackled Haruka' from the back with one of her affectionate hugs.

The elder Urashima looked back with a mixed look of irritation and affection, the latter likely caused by the appearance of the former. "Yeah, kid?"

Sarah looked up at her, a genuine smile lighting her face. "Thank you."

Everyone seemed to hold their breath as Haruka stiffened, then relaxed as she patted the golden head gently with a tense nod. "You're welcome." She then removed herself gently, turning and walking out the door amid the stunned silence.

Keitaro looked at Seta who bore the more serious and yet hopeful expression he'd even seen the man don. It only lasted a moment, though, before Sarah hopped on his back and he went back to his usual goofy smile.

"Thank you for feeding these two," he said, reaching over and shaking Keitaro's hand warmly. "But I think it's time for us to go home. It's good seeing some of you again." He nodded to Kitsune and Shinobu who both responded in kind.

"You're all welcome for dinner any time you want," he assured him amiably.

"Thanks, we will." Seta looked to Koshi, who was standing quickly. "Ready?"

"Yep! Thanks for dinner, it was delicious Shinobu-chan!"

"You're welcome," she chirped, bringing her bright blush count to four.

"Yeah, later!" called Sarah as she clung to her Papa's back as he exited the building. "And thanks!"

"That was...interesting," commented Motoko as Keitaro joined her in clearing up the kitchen, everyone else making themselves scarce at the prospect of more work.

"Koshi I think was a little more over his head tonight than he at first realized," replied her husband as she began to wash the dishes, taking and drying them when she finished. "He unknowingly walked a very fine line for awhile."

"With your punishment being an angered Haruka if you misstep, it is a line I shall never willingly walk," she replied quietly. "Though, had he done it on purpose, it would have been quite foolish as well as brave...which reminds me of someone else I know." Her lips formed a teasing smile which he noted with a laugh.

"I'm not brave, just foolish," he stated as Ami and Austin brought them their dishes, being the last to leave besides them selves.

"So you say," she said as those were quickly finished and set aside, draining the sink and washing her hands afterwards. "I will be in the hot springs should you need me."

"And I'll be up late studying, so don't wait up for me." He glanced around before kissing her on the cheek before they parted. "Good night, and sleep well if I don't make it up there in time."

She smiled back at him over her shoulder. "Same to you, when you do sleep tonight."

Keitaro followed his aunt up the winding steps to the attic above the old Inn, noting the way she winced when she bumped her left wrist or shoulder against something accidentally but wise enough not to mention it. It was the next morning, and after mentioning what Seta had said about old artifacts she had promptly let him here. Blinking as she pulled the chain for a single bulb suspended overhead, he began to move among the stacks and piles of old junk that littered the floor.

"Wait," she snapped as he moved to open a chest at his feet. "That's mine, leave it alone. Everything on the left is your birthmark from that corner there on." She motioned to where there was a definitive break in the stuff stored up there. "Don't touch the rest."

"It can't possibly all be yours," pointed out her nephew cautiously.

"It's not," she admitted flatly. "But you're still not gonna touch it."

"Oh...alright. Thanks for showing me this, it could really help us out."

"Yeah, whatever." Haruka shrugged as she turned to make her way back downstairs. "If you find something you think might sell, come to me first, ok? I do know something about antiques and I'd rather you not prove your ignorance of it to another."

"Awww...oba-san, I didn't know your cared!"

"I don't. I care about this family's reputation."

Keitaro winced as the door at the bottom of the stairs slammed shut, surveying the heaping piles of whatever before wading over to the far side of where Haruka had indicated and beginning his search there. A great deal of the trunks, boxes, and crates held old clothes that were dusty and moth ridden or ancient books whose pages were yellow with age. But occasionally, and usually when he least expected it, a trinket or something like it caught his eye and was set aside for further inspection.

Getting up and opening a giant wardrobe that had attracted his attention, the ronin sifted through the aged kimonos and sets of black hamakas and gi that were so old the edges of the fabric crumbled away at his gentle touch.

About to abandon it as junk, a glimmer in the back corner caught his attention. Carefully bringing the long, heavy object into the light as he managed to get a hold on it, Keitaro was astounded to find himself holding an ancient, black-lacquered katana.

Drawing out the sword a few inches, he was surprised to find the blade still in excellent condition and the maker's stamp clearly visible below the hilt. Tempted to draw it fully and examine it further, he opted otherwise and merely contented himself to looking at the detailed silver inlays on the outside. Remembering the empty spot above his desk on the wall, he decided right then and there that the beautiful weapon would make the perfect ornament and immediately gathered up the rest of his findings to head back downstairs.

"Whatcha got there, dork?" asked Sarah as she appeared out of nowhere, Su close behind dressed in overalls, work boots, and hardhats with flashlights.

"Some stuff to show your dad," replied Keitaro, giving them an odd look. "What are you two up to?"

"Exploring," said Su, waving a detailed floor plan to Hinata-sour that Keitaro had never seen before. "You're on top of a trap door, mind moving?"

"I am?" Keitaro moved, Su kneeling down where his feet were to reveal a loose square of floorboards. "Huh?! How many things like that are there, Su?!"

"Dunno, we've found three that were dead ends, and two that aren't even marked period," she replied lightly as Sarah hopped into the dark shaft and called back that it was all clear. "Well, see ya later, Keitaro!" She grabbed the square and replaced it as she wriggled her way in feet first.

"Uh...bye? Man, there are some strange things about this house..."

Hurrying the rest of the way to his office, Keitaro carefully set his 'sellable treasures' to the side and got out a hammer, nails, and brackets from his tool stash. Marking the spots with making sure it was leveled off like Haruka had showed him in his younger years at the Inn, it was only a matter of seconds before the procedure was complete and the fine weapon graced the walls of his humble abode. To one side, and blocked from view by a chest of drawers that he filed all the paperwork in, he stood there admiring it when his door slid open of its own accord.

"Keitaro-kun...?" He glanced over to see Motoko peeking in, a confused look on her face.

"Is everything alright?" he asked as she glanced about before frowning.

She paused, then shrugged. "Yes, I suppose. I thought I felt something for a moment, but I could be wrong..."

"We all feel like something's prickling at the back of our necks sometimes," he assured her, putting arm about her waist as he gingerly pulled her closer to give her a quick peck on the cheek. "Want to help me carry all this down to Haruka?"

Motoko smiled, enjoying their closeness as she returned the kiss though it was an unusually public place for them to do so with the door open. "I do not see you all morning, and that is all you can say?" she teased him gently, turning away in mock anger. The action caused her eyes to fall on the black katana that now adorned the office wall, and Keitaro could feel her freeze even as his arms closed about her.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked when she didn't respond to his questioning nudge. "Motoko-chan...are you mad at me??"

"It is not you," she cut in quietly, eyes still focused on the sword. "That blade..."

"Can I come in?" cut in Haruka from the door way. "Or am I interrupting?"

"No," replied Keitaro quickly, letting go of his wife as she shook her head as if to clear it of something.

"Just wanted to see if you dug up anything while I'm on lunch break," she explained. "It looks like you did." With sharp eyes and practiced hands, she quickly had the trash picked out from the possible treasures. "That's that, Seta's getting off early so he can come bargain with you for it. Oh, and he said Sarah's being dropped off right after she and Koshi have lunch."

"She's already here, with Su-chan. You're being really helpful with all this, though," he commented as she tossed everything they weren't selling that didn't have family value. "What's the occasion?"

"The loan I gave you is due," she said as she left. "You'd better hope you have enough to cover it!"

Motoko raised her brows as their aunt laughed, Keitaro turning rather pale. He'd forgotten about the loan...!!

"We will have enough," she assured him firmly as he opened his mouth in panic.

"I take it everything's alright between us, then?" His mind flew back to earlier, catching her hand with a concerned look. "That wasn't like you..."

"Yes, I know, it wasn't you," she replied, giving him a soft smile before glancing back at the blade that now seemed harmless to her probing. "I just thought...never mind."

"Well, alright, could you help me- whoa!" The ronin stumbled over nothing for, what an objective part of his mind noted, was the first time in months; completely losing his balance to fall face forwards. His trajectory path took him straight into his unsuspecting wife, bringing them both to the floor with Keitaro sprawled over Motoko's lap on his stomach. "Ouch! Sorry, really, I didn't mean to..." He immediately scrambled away, curling up with his hands over his head as he did.

"Accidents happen," she replied simply, giving him a strange look as she gently took his hands and pulled him to his feet. "I will go inform Shinobu-chan that we will likely need extra places set at the table for lunch and possibly dinner. You had best go study while you can, though, for it shall not be long until the entire day as passed."

"Yeah, I know," he sighed, though he was tired of cramming his head with facts he knew it was necessary with the test just on the horizon. "You have a meet tomorrow, don't you?"

"Yes." She smiled, pleasantly surprised that he'd remembered. "Against one of our greatest rivals."

"If I don't get to talk to you between now and then..." He gave her a quick kiss, taking her hand to squeeze it gently. "Good luck."

She squeezed it back, understanding lighting her eyes as she smiled one of her rare warm ones for him alone. "Thank you."

And then, like a faint summer breeze, she was gone. Off completing the tasks life had set in her path and leaving him to do the same.

Carrying the soft glow that had welling up inside him as he went to his desk, the ronin's face remained in a gentle smile as he pulled out his books, notes, and pencil to arrange them neatly on his desk. Reaching across to readjust his book ever so slightly, his sleeve hit his pencil and sent it rolling across the desk to fall off the edge and land on the floor. Frowning, he leaned over to pick it up, only to hit it farther under the desk by accident. Reaching for it again, he barely managed to reach it with the tips of his fingers before sitting up again quickly.

whack

"Ow!!" Keitaro winced as he struck his head on the corner of his desk, seeing spots for a moment before his vision cleared and he was able to stand and go check in the mirror to see what damage had been done. There was no blood, but a lovely lump would remain that even with his speed-healing abilities he would be hard-pressed to rid himself of by nightfall. "What in the world, it's like I'm suddenly cursed..."

Hehehe...

Whirling around, Keitaro looked up at the sword hanging over his desk, disbelief written all over his face until he snapped out of with a blink. No, there's no way a sound had come from that lifeless piece of metal, surely he'd just imagined in. Sitting back down, he glanced up once more feeling incredibly foolish as he did. He'd just imagined it, that was all, something that had come from the back corners of his mind that the knock against the table had jarred looses. Turning back to his work, he sighed. It was just a sword. Right?

More weeks passed until it was the eve of the test itself, Keitaro and Naru had been practically hermits in their respective bedrooms as for the last week they had studied from dawn to dusk and even into the late hours of the night. Having migrated from his office to the room upstairs as Keitaro suddenly seemed to become increasingly accident prone when around the office (he blamed it upon his lack of usual sleep and since he hadn't had any 'perverted accident' the rest of the residents accept it), Motoko had taken to practicing long hours at night to give him more time to study without seeming to be inconvenienced by his move. Though such work tired her more than usual, and often left her with little time to sleep, the young samurai considered it worth it with the upcoming test and Keitaro's dedication to do his best on it.

Everything in the Inn, barring the other resident's concern for their two friends, was going relatively well and for that Keitaro was grateful. There were an unusual amount of leaks in the rooms directly above his office, and it wasn't until he relocated the satellite to another part of the house rather than that particular section of roof that their cable worked again. But all things considered, that wasn't bad at all. Motoko was handling the usual chores he took care of, Shinobu lending a hand now and then, and with the objects Seta had taken of their hands they were now debt-free and with a slight nest egg should they need it sometime soon. Even Haruka, now fully recuperated, was getting along reasonably well with Seta (which meant she ignored him for the most part and let him work as much as he wanted) and one often found her these days with one or two blonde shadows seemingly glued to her hips.

Dinner on this particular night had been quiet, the table half-empty with the absence of Kitsune (who had lost her racing bets earlier and was sleeping off the effects of the resulting over-indulgence) and Motoko who was not to return until much later from her kendo matches. Both Toudai hopefuls were given direct orders from Haruka, though, and soon after dinner was cleaned up and everyone finished their soaking in either the upstairs tubs or downstairs hot springs the giant Inn quieted now much earlier than usual with the coming night.

Motoko returned around eleven, bothering none as she silently slipped into the house, not even bothering to eat though she was starving as she made her way to her bed room. Stripping in the middle of the dark room, she wearily tossed on a clean sleep shirt before carefully crawling over what she assumed was an asleep Keitaro and cuddle up next to him to immediately fall asleep.

Her husband had not been blessed with such a speedy release into his dreams, though, and he waited until her breathing was slow and steady before he opened his eyes and again.

Keitaro started at the ceiling, unable to sleep though the clock on the wall testified the next time he checked that it was well-past midnight. His wife lay at his side, facing towards him with one arm looped about his waist and the other tucked under her head as she slept on quietly. Shifting ever so slightly so he could see her more clearly, he ran a finger along the side of her face and grinned guiltily when she cracked an eye open and gazed at him questioningly.

"Is something wrong?" she murmured as she moved closer, opening the other eye to stare into his own searchingly.

"No, just can't sleep," he replied quietly. "I didn't mean to wake you though..."

"Nervous?" she asked, sitting up so she was leaning over him slightly.

"Not really, but I should be," he sighed, looking up at her though his thoughts were obviously elsewhere. "It's like I'm just waiting for the test to happen."

"Ssh...just relax and try to get some rest. You are going to need it for tomorrow." Keitaro found himself grin tiredly as she settled back down on his chest, sighing into her hair as it pooled around them. As much as he'd hoped she would talk with him some more, neither would he deprive her of the rest she needed. She'd been working just as hard as he these last few weeks, and even more so as she was physically exhausted from her hours of honing her skills over her usual practices. Promising himself to give both of them a break once this was over, pass or fail, he gently ran a hand through the silken strands of hair that lay close by. Closing his eyes, he tried to do as she had said, but it wasn't until the sun was peeking its head over the horizon that he finally drifted off to sleep.

Naru sat up bolt right the moment her alarm went off, fumbling for her glasses in the pre-dawn light. Glancing at the calendar that had graced her wall for the last six months with the test day circled in red, she gulped nervously before hardening her will not to let her nerves show again and quickly rose to dress and get some last-minute studying in.

Shoving on her usual orange sweatshirt and pulling her hair back into braids so they would remain out of her way, Naru gathered her flip cards and school I.D. on her way downstairs. In the kitchen she found Shinobu already hard at work, a huge smile on her face as she noticed the elder resident's presence.

"Good morning, Naru-sempai!" she chirped, swiftly putting a plate together for her. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yeah, thanks," Naru replied slowly as she sat herself at the table and began to eat. "What are you doing up so early, though? No one else is going to be awake for another hour except maybe Keitaro and Motoko. Not that I'm complaining," she added hastily. "This is very good, as always."

"You have a very important test today," said the young chef firmly as she heaped some more rice and vegetables onto Naru's plate. "You need all the help you can get, starting with a good breakfast rather than some 'insta-noddles'." Naru flushed slightly, for that had been her plan exactly. "Oh, and I packed you and Keitaro-sempai a lunch so you wouldn't have an excuse not to eat during your break." Naru's mouth dropped slightly as she paused, for her had planned to skip lunch as well. "And there'll be dinner waiting here when it's over, so come straight home. No going to the library to check yourself, you'll know your score tomorrow morning."

"Since when are you my mother?" teased Naru as she put her empty plate in the sink, giving Shinobu a wink.

"Since you decided not to take care of yourself," admitted Shinobu, flushing with embarrassment. "Me and the others, we worry about you and Keitaro-sempai sometimes! You both work so long and hard and rarely stop for a break...we know it's because you want to do well and we want you to do well too! But you still have to take care of yourself so you can do your very, very best."

"Mm, morning guys," said Keitaro as he shuffled into the kitchen, attempting to comb his unruly hair into a semblance of order. Reaching for the coffee pot, by the time he'd poured himself a cup and sat down, a plate of breakfast was waiting at his spot still steaming. "Wow, thanks Shinobu-chan! This looks great."

"Sleep any?" muttered Naru as she noted the dark smudged under his eyes and yawns that seemed to punctuate his every movement.

"Some." He shrugged, inhaling the food as though he'd never eaten before.

"You'd better hurry, your train leaves in fifteen minutes," Shinobu reminded them as she set the lunches on the table emphatically.

"Yup, do you have everything?" Naru stood up as she pulled out her pass to get into the test, student I.D., and proof of high school graduation.

"Yeah, right here." Keitaro pulled out his pass and proof, but his hands hit nothing but the sides of his pocket where his I.D. should be. "What?! Where did I-"

"Right here!" Motoko appeared in the doorway, unusually unkempt in her sleep shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Putting the missing I.D. in his pocket, she twitched her lips in amusement. "You left it on the table again. Good luck on your test today."

"Thanks," he replied, getting a hold of her arm before she could back away to pull her into a tight embrace more of his own comfort than anything else. Naru pointedly looked away as Shinobu blushed, skittering off into the main room. "You'll be here afterwards, right?"

"Waiting and eager to hear both of your tales of success," she replied, glancing at Naru who smiled back confidently though it took a moment to coax it from her. "You'd better hurry or you will miss your train."

"Ok, see you then." He let go reluctantly, gathering up his things and with one last wave followed Naru down the steps to one of the biggest possible turning points of his life. Whatever the outcome, it would decide the course of his life from then on. Hoping for all he was worth that it meant he would be studying in the hallowed Tokyo University halls, he faced in head on as they quickly made their way towards their destiny.

"Hey...are you nervous at all?" he asked Naru when their train reached the station, getting off with her to walk to their testing center. She'd been silent up until that, immersed in the flashcards she'd carried around everywhere for the last year.

"I don't have time to be nervous," was all she said, and after they split at the entrance of the campus it was the last time he saw her before later that evening. The rest of the time blurred about the ronin in a whirl of questions, fill in bubbles, formulas, characters, words, grammar laws, numbers, historical moments, and facts.

Finding himself on the train afterwards with Naru plumping down him tiredly, he wandered if the whole thing had happened at all. The way his unusually talkative companion rattled off everything she remembered and made comparisons of the practices between the real thing convinced him it had though, and he sighed as he rested his head on the window behind him.

"Well?" Naru looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for a reply.

"Uh...what? Sorry." He ducked his head sheepishly. "What did you say?"

"I asked you how you thought you did," she stated wryly. "I can relate, though, I can't believe it's finally over."

"I...um..." Keitaro thought about it a moment, surprised at the underlying confidence he could recall from the few parts that stuck out in his mind. "Pretty well, I hope, but we won't know until tomorrow. What about you?"

"I kicked its butt!" Naru gave him a thumbs up with a huge smile. "Not a chance I didn't ace that thing!"

"Well, good luck and no hard feelings however it falls out, right?" He held out hi hand to her smiling.

She took it, shaking it firmly. "I'll try not to gloat too much when you don't make it," she laughed. Yawning suddenly, she covered her mouth quickly. "Gees, I'm tired."

"Hey, can I sit here?"

Both of them looked up to see a tired Koshi standing there, pointing to the open spot beside Naru.

"Sure," she said, scooting over in an unusually amiable fashion to make more room. "You just take the test?"

"Yep, and my Uncle told me to go have dinner at your place with Sarah before I catch my flight to wherever it is we're going."

"Where's Sarah staying?" asked Keitaro curiously.

"With Haruka, though I think she mentioned having her stay with Su-chan, something about they'd enjoy the break?" He glanced at Keitaro in puzzlement.

The manager just chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, it's a resident thing. Narusegawa here could probably explain it better than I..."

Both young men blinked when a soft snore met that statement, turning to find Naru fast asleep between them with her head pillowed on Koshi's shoulder.

The said fellow froze, a panicked look crossing his face. "Shoot, what's she fall asleep on me for?! She's gonna murder me when she wakes up!" he hissed urgently.

"Hold still or you'll wake her you and then she'll be cranky and mad," cautioned Keitaro, who'd seen Naru when she'd just woke up before and didn't have the energy to deal with it at the moment. "Besides, better you than me. I'm a married man!"

"You can beg off on a 'fatherly interest' in your tenants," growled his companion, though he stayed still with a slight flush on his face and even shifted so she'd be more comfortable as the train began to move. "Me, I'm an 'unclaimed male', and therefore in grave danger when she joins the real world again."

"No one would believe me if I claimed 'fatherly interest'," chuckled Keitaro as he leaned back. "Especially since Narusegawa is older than Motoko-chan."

"She is? I always thought they were in the same grade or that she'd already graduated." Koshi grinned sheepishly. "Just goes to show how dumb us guys are."

"Yeah. Motoko-chan is a year below Narusegawa, and will be graduating next year," he explained candidly. "Otherwise she'd be taking the college exams too."

"That's true, I never thought about that," admitted Koshi, flushing a little more though one couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or the fact that Naru had nuzzled him gently in her sleep. "Heh, you're still a lucky guy, though, having a wife like her."

"Hm?" Keitaro sat up, looking at his companion strangely. "Not that I disagree with you at all, but why do you say that? I would think a guy like you wouldn't have trouble picking up girls."

"Oh, I don't," admitted Koshi with a shrug. "But...you and your wife have so much than I envy. And it's not that she's absolutely beautiful either. Though, I'm sure that's a nice bonus."

Keitaro flushed. "Yeah, I'm definitely not complaining about that. Why do you envy us, though?"

"She entirely supports you, and probably would no matter what. Maybe you aren't 'crazily in love' like everyone says you should be, but you have a strong relationship built on trust and cooperation that beats anything I've seen love do for people so far. I want someone like her to be with me. Someone who, even if you can't see them, you know that they'll always be there at your side." Naru shifted onto his chest, Koshi unconsciously moving with her though when he looked down to check on her he blushed even more.

"She's far better a wife that I deserve," admitted Keitaro softly. "She's so much stronger than I, so talented with her kendo and very intelligent, always willing to help out and doing so much for me...I wish sometimes that I could be a better husband in return for all that she has done for me."

"And she'd probably say the same thing in regards to you," said his companion with a snort. "Which is why the two of you work so well together, I suppose. I don't expect that it's all peaches and cream, but...anyone who's seen you two together knows there's a special bond between you two even if you aren't public about it. She will likely never let another male get half as close to her unless it's her son besides you for the rest of her life. And in my opinion, that's the way it should be. The openness, the trust, taking everything at face value and never giving the other a reason to think otherwise."

"I think that's because neither of us could cope if it were any other way," sighed the manager as their train pulled into the station, Naru still fast asleep. "Any ideas?"

"Nope." Koshi took on a look of a man sentenced to die. "She's so sweet looking when she's asleep, why can't she always be like that... Do you have one? She'd better not have drooled on my new coat."

"Lean her towards me," offered Keitaro with an understanding nod. Naru murmured as they gently moved her, remaining asleep though she was now slumped over on herself rather than Koshi. Both young men stood quickly, Keitaro reaching out to shake her shoulder gently as the others around them began to exit. "Narusegawa-san, it's our stop..."

"Wha...?" She opened her eyes, blinking a few times as she stood and they guided hr out of the stations before she finally woke from her stupor. "Did I sleep the whole way back?" she asked, not seeing the look the other two shared.

"Yeah, you conked out right after we left the station," replied Koshi carefully, flushing a little as he did.

"Oh...I didn't say anything in my sleep, did I?"

"No, why?"

"Then why are you looking at me all weird-like??" Naru frowned when Koshi just shrugged, turned away quickly. "Hey, what happened while I was asleep?"

"Nothing."

Naru turned to Keitaro, who shrugged as Koshi hurried a few steps ahead of them.

"We just talked, that's all," he said quickly, backing away as she began to growl.

"Baka!!" Swinging her school bag at Koshi, she whacked him on the back of the head before marching a head angrily.

"OW!! That hurt! What'd I do?!"

"That's for those perverted thoughts while I was asleep," she replied haughtily over her shoulder, giving him a hard glare. "Maybe Keitaro is too stupid to have noticed, but I wasn't born yesterday!"

"What?!" Koshi actually laughed, Naru growing all the more angry as he did. "Oh, poor misguided little friend. You might be cute asleep, but any guy who heard you open your mouth knows that's only skin deep. Believe me, there are many other less violent girls I'd rather think about than you."

"Why you..! SUPER NARU PUNCH!!"

Koshi took off for the Inn, Naru hot on his heels as Keitaro was left in the dust watching. Sweating, he kept his steady pace towards his destination. "I'm so glad I'm married...!!" Reaching Hinata-sou a little while later, he found Motoko waiting at the top of the steps seated on a bench off to the side, as patient as ever.

"How did you do?" she asked curiously, giving him an encouraging smile as he sat next to her.

"Very well, I hope," he replied as he hugged her like he had in the morning, nearly pulling her into his lap as he drew upon her strength and comfort to steady himself. "We won't know for sure until tomorrow, though. Did Narusegawa and Koshi make it in alright?"

"Yes, Sarah interrupted them just before Naru-chan closed in on Koshi, and they are currently settling the matter over Shinobu's cooking. Koshi-san did not deserve such a punishment as was planned, did he?"

"He just got stuck with her sleeping on his shoulder by accident, and she was convinced he tried to do something perverted while she was out afterwards," he explained with a chuckle. "He didn't do anything, though, we talked the whole way back."

"Come, then, there is a plate waiting for you as well." She smiled as he gently slipped his arm about her and they stood together.

"Lead the way, I'm starved! Where's everyone else, though?"

"Kitsune is out for the night," said his wife, going through the residents one by one. "We are not sure where, and neither are we sure that we want to. Su and Sarah already had dinner and are over at Haruka's home spending the night. She said it is for you, and thus do not expect any gifts from her for your birthday or Christmas this year. Austin and Ami left not long ago for an away game that he has to play in, and they will not be back until tomorrow morning. That leaves you, Naru, Shinobu and myself for the night."

"Whoa, empty house for once." The ronin shrugged, letting months of tension practically bleed away as he sauntered the last few steps into the Inn. "I'm alright with that, though."

Motoko smiled. "I thought you would be."

The stress the old Inn had endured for all those months vanished as everyone sat around the kitchen table, comparing parts of the test and the possible scores they might each receive. Though a nervous excitement now swarmed the place, every single tenant, whether there or not, rested easy that night when they finally found their beds.

Tomorrow was a big day, a deciding point for many. All had their assumptions, but who knew who was right and who wasn't. All they could do now was sleep, and wait.

The evilness of Authors shall never cease. However, this is my first cliffhanger, the 11th chapter of the story, so I think it's permissible, right? Don't forget, Authors Notes are at the bottom along with the quote-of-the-chapter that I have found or been told of. If you leave one in a review, and I like it, it inspires me, or flat out makes me laugh, you shall might get a special mentions. Thank you for your many, many, many reviews! I love you all SOOO much for them! As I write this bit, I am currently sitting in my new college dorm, feeling a little out of sorts and tired from standing in lines for hours so if I seem a little out of it, well, I probably am. Come again soon!

Authors Notes:

#1. Here's the next chapter, as so many of you requested. This was a much quicker update compared to the last one, and the next should come even faster than this last. Classes start Tuesday, giving me plenty of time to write while I'm supposed to be taking notes and thus giving me something to type up later on.

#2. Kitsune's questioning of Motoko. A few of you mentioned this, and while I can understand your curiosity as to what's been said, you will soon find out, I promise! In fact, if I don't decide to change the plotline AGAIN, it will be this next chapter. Think of it as something that continued to take place, but as it had no importance it wasn't mentioned again until it was, ok?

#3. Mutsumi. Several of you seemed very concerned that we shall never see her! Well, you shall, just stick with me here, ok? Maybe not as a large of a roll as was first planned, but a decent sized one and one just can't have the LH Universe, even in a AU without her popping up eventually.

#4. More good Sarah, Seta, and Haruka goodness this chapter, eh? Gotta love 'em, especially with the wonderful Koshi-kun flung into the mix! Much fun coming there, I can tell you that right now.

#5. As noted above: updates should be coming along much more regularly like before, say a week to two weeks between them. I can't make that a solid promise, but that's what I'm going to try and settle into.

#6. Ok, so, I just realized the has been eating some of my 'characters'. Or things that are typed. Like the little asterisk or other such things. That's what I usually use to 'separate' actions and thoughts in A.N., but as you can see they are gone. I didn't type it that way, I'm not that dumb, I'm just going to have to find a different way to do so in the future.

#7. Some 'personal' info here. This is the last Love Hina fic I will be writing, and after I get the SSS fic done the last one I will finish on I have a lot of original work that's been put on the backburner for you guys, and as much as I love doing this I can't do it forever! It also doesn't put bread on the table, which is rather important. I might go back and rework some stuff later, reposting it so others might see it, but past that once ADL is done, so am I as a writer. Sorry! As to the number of chapters left: not a clue. But if I had to make a guess, I would say at least mid-20's, maybe 30's in all when I'm finished. You can do the math from there.

#8. I wasn't dissinng it, I swear! I just thought it was a little odd is all, but oddness is something I'm pretty familiar with so it's alright! Don't worry, I never leave a fic I've started forever. I have to finish it, there's something about writing that forces me to do so. It might take awhile, but it will be finished.

#9. If you request I read your story, I will TRY to, but I'm not able to read much of anything with my present schedule these days and so please don't be offended if I don't. It doesn't mean I don't care, it means I put getting an update in over reading your fic, and no offense but I have a lot of fans to please, right?

#10. Kanako. Another character you all seem to be very eager to see in action. Well, remember how she didn't come in until close to the end? Same thing here. I'm sorry, but you're going to be waiting for at least a couple more chapters, and probably more than that, before she makes her appearance. Not that I dislike her, in fact I think she's pretty awesome XD but...that's the way things go.

#11. As always, it seems I have made a few spelling mistakes. Thank you for understanding that while I try, I'm not perfect! I catch those which I can, but that's never all of them. Again, sorry!

#12. ...I don't believe I have ever been so insulted as a writer before. I can take criticism if it is right. In fact, if I have made a serious mistake, tell me so and I will thank you for it. But undue accusation kinda just pisses me off. On a vote: how many think Austin and Ami are Mary Sues? Perfect characters who always save the day? Just a note, reviewer who shall remain anonymous, everyone I have asked and had read over it to make sure disagreed with you. They are not perfect. They have flaws. And they have never performed a task that should have been done by another. Admittedly, their role is no longer as important as it once was, I rewrote a large portion of the plot and they got shoved out of the way. However, I do not write Mary Sues. If you truly need a reason to stop reading my fic, come up with a better one than that.

#13. Ok, Koshi has a purpose. Therefore, he stays. I know more than one of you has commented that there's several characters already. Perhaps, just as some have said, too many. But I have need of him, as well as the rest mentioned, and he will get plenty of 'stage time' as his importance requires. I am doing the best that I can juggling times, I'll do what I can helping the others get the limelight more often. However, as this isn't a story that's being published, I'm not going to agonize over it over hours and what you get is what I can produce in a reasonable amount of time.

#14. Haruka is the bomb and rules all things that are awesome. That is all I have to say.

#15. Thank you for those of you who like the quotes! It's just something special I try to add at the end of each chapter.

#16. bows low Occasionally one gets a review that makes the author feel as if they have truly created something akin to a masterpiece by the words returned to them. This was one of those times. Good sir, you have never reviewed for me before, but if you never did again, I would still be satisfied with what you have said.

#17. You're quite welcome! Though...I hope I didn't kick you too hard...it didn't leave a mark, did it?? o.0;; I'm really, really sorry if it did...

#18. Romance between Seta and Haruka. Well, that one's up in the air right now. Guess you'll just have to wait and see!

#19. Motoko and Keitaro: when will they 'get together'. Well, if you haven't noticed, they kind of already are. I know what you guys are angling for, though, and it is coming!! Just something we have to get over with first... hehe...

#20. YEAH!! I'm some body's HERO! I don't think I've ever been that before. Glad I could make you so happy! And keep reading, because there's more good stuff to come. Oh, and...I'm not a goddess. Just the demi-Duchess of all things Butterfly. Sorry.

#21. Yes, I know last chapter was a little slow. And this one is only a little bit better by ways of getting things rolling. However, well, you're just going to have to wait and see.

And that is the end of the authors notes for now. However, I have something else for you. A special SHOUT OUT to my good buddy Jun-chan who has sent in this little bit for your amusement once again. Gotta love it. Just so you know, I am a female, I just find this to be incredibly funny even though it is a slam against my kind. : P GO REVIEW!!

Crosseyedbutterfly

Chemical hazard data sheet

Element: Women

Symbol: O

Discoverer: Adam

Atomic Mass: Accepted as 55kg but can vary from 45kg to 225kg

Physical properties

1.Skin usually covered in a film of powder and paint

2.Boils at absolute nothing, freezes for no reason

3.Can be found ranging from virgin material to common ore

Chemical properties

1.Reacts well to gold, platinum and all other valuable materials

2.Explodes with no reason or warning

3.The most powerful money reducing agent known to man

Common uses

1.Purely ornamental, especially in sports vehicles

2.Known to aid relaxation

3.A powerful cleaning agent

Hazards

1.Turns green when placed next to a superior specimen

2.Possesion of more than one specimen is possible, but they must never make eye contact