Chapter 6

Let's Have A Sleepover! A Tale of Kaolla Su

§

Early to Mid December XX, 1998

|At the Hinata-sou, 3rd Floor|

Kaolla Su: foreigner and in Junior High, 2nd Year (8th Grade); 13 years old, 14 in the next month. She usually wears her school uniform (the set that shows her midriff and her long legs) and goes barefoot in the cool, brisk weather, playing with the birds outside.

"Such nice weather. Winter in Japan is so relaxing, ya," Kaolla said to herself, knowing that she had never experienced winter or cold weather in her native country, until she arrived in Japan 2 years ago. But then, she overheard three people arguing with each other about something in the hallway.

-LNH-

|Inside the Hinata-sou, 3rd Floor Hallway|

(Keitaro)» "Come on, guys! Help me out here!"

(Naru)» "Stay away from me!"

(Keitaro)» "Why are you giving me the cold shoulder? Ruto-niisan?"

(Ruto)» "Uh-uh. I already gave you enough pointers, Aniki. Besides, I have to find Kaolla-chan to help her with the homework, 'ttébayo!"

(Naru)» "Yeah, and I've been trying to help you for the last few weeks. I just want to do my own studies, you know. And it's almost the final countdown for the Tōdai Exams. There's not enough time for this nonsense!"

(Keitaro)» "Come on! Studying with you is so~ much easier!"

(Ruto)» "Not on your life..."

But suddenly, hears the sound of footsteps coming from the rooftop outside as Kaolla gives her usual greetings, "Ruto! Naru! Ronin!" Keitaro turned around and then was given a *BOOT!* to his face as Kaolla said, "Heyas!" while dangling from the window. Naru was shocked from the dynamic entry, but then Kaolla lost her grip and landed, with her panties flaunting, on Ruto's face and both students crashed to the floor.

"Again‽" Ruto muttered as he pried Kaolla's seat off his head, as she chuckled, scratching the back of her head, "Oopsie! Messed up my landing, ya."

(Naru)» "💧Ruto-san? Does this happen to you... a lot?"

(Ruto)» "💧Naru-senpai, when you know your classmate from grade school, this is practically the norm. She simply loves to mess with people, just to be friendly. Besides, Shinobu-chan and I were the ones that helped her in learning our language before Kitsuné-oneechan did the rest."

(Naru)» "She must be energetic, that's for sure."

Keitaro stands back up, with his nose bleeding, and then exclaimed to the island girl, "What the hell are you doing, you crazy Indian girl‽"

"How do you like my salut?" Kaolla remarked with a chuckle.

Naru gave the ronin a suspicious look and said, "It's just a Junior High student's panties. Why were you having a nosebleed?"

"Well, excuse me for having a flying kick in the nose!" Keitaro exclaimingly retorted.

Then Kaolla started to act very guileless and asked, "What? Keitaro, you want to see my panties-ya? Go right ahead!" And she was about to flaunt her short skirt in front of Keitaro, but Ruto quickly stopped her from doing it and said, "You better not, Kaolla-chan. This is not the time nor place for your naïveté. Please try to understand, 'ttébayo."

"Ah, phooey," Kaolla grumbled, knowing that her jig is up.

Keitaro recovers from the nosebleed and asks Kaolla, "Are... are Indian girls this liberal?"

"I ain't from Indi-ya, silly," Kaolla answered.

(Keitaro)» "Then where are you from?"

(Ruto)» "I believe that she is from a far-off island nation somewhere in the Pacific."

(Kaolla)» "That's a secret that I don't want to tell... yet."

Naru turned to Kaolla and reprimanded, "Su-chan, you may be comfortable around Ruto-kun, but you should stay away from Keitaro. There's something 'blyackk!' about him that makes him dangerous."

"Why? Does it matter-ya?" Kaolla questioned her senpai's motives, "But I like Keitaro, he reminds me of 'Big Brother' back home."

Keitaro was surprised that some girl said that she liked him for once in his miserable life. But then Ruto said, "Come on, Kaolla-chan. We have to get your homework finished before your teacher Kurenai-sensei is going to be all over you. You know you don't like her when she gets terribly mean, 'ttébayo."

"Right," Kaolla singsonged as she climbed onto Ruto's back, just like a monkey, and they walked to Room 202 (the room next to Shinobu's).

-LNH-

|Later, at the Lounge|

Motoko told the residents that she'll have to take a trip with her kendo club for the next 3 days. Kaolla was shocked that her close friend had to be away for a while. And Motoko reminded her roommate to stay alert for Keitaro, because she still doesn't like the landlord with a passion. Then she left while the residents wished the high school freshman good luck.

Kaolla waved a silent goodbye and then Kitsuné instantly knew that this was going to lead into trouble. So she takes Shinobu away into the dining room to hide from what's next.

"Poor Keitaro will have to be the sacrifice for what's bound to happen," the vixen said to her roommate as Kaolla was having 'that' particular feeling with Keitaro.

"What do you mean, Kitsuné-san?" Shinobu asked.

(Kitsuné)» "You see, Su likes to "cling" to other people for support. It can get really tiresome. I'd rather not go through with that again. And I helped teach her to learn Japanese too."

(Shinobu)» "Now that I think about it, Kaolla-chan always seems to get attached to Ruto-kun for a while before she goes to you and Motoko-san."

(Kitsuné)» "Being with her takes a lot of stamina and that's Motoko and Ruto-kun's specialty. The real problem is what happens in the middle of the night... And *ugh!*, I still quiver whenever I think about it."

(Shinobu)» "Eh‽ At night?"

-LNH-

And Kaolla was following Keitaro everywhere he went (along with Naru and Ruto), whether it's walking, piggybacking, or just plain goofing off.

"Argh! Will you stop following me?" Keitaro exclaimed to her, "I got to study for the exams!"

Ruto is feeling somewhat sorry for his brother, so he said, "Hey Aniki, why don't I take Kaolla-chan for a bit? She's more attached to me, 'ttebayo."

Keitaro is glad that the "monkey" is off his back as Kaolla climbs onto Ruto's back.

-LNH-

|Room 301|

Kaolla invited Ruto into her room and inside was extremely unusual. The room is like a jungle in there (without the fauna). The place also has a lot of technology and some propaganda that is unique to her hometown. The two students decided to help each other into Kaolla's devices and small projects. It turns out that she and Ruto have creative minds on how to put different parts and build different objects. It was great and all, but the environment and the project-building and the playing have made them feel rather sweaty. So, the two students decided to take a bath before checking on Keitaro. For now, they'll have to go their separate ways...

But secretly, Kaolla has other ideas.

-LNH-

|At the Corner Bath Hall|

Ruto had his dirty clothes in a hamper and a set of clean ones in a basket. As he was about to go the wooden tub, he felt a towel-covered *plump* from behind his back. He swallowed his pride for a moment as he used his special senses and said, "Don't tell me. Kaolla-chan?"

"Aw... How'd you know it was me, Ruto?" Kaolla asked while hugging her close friend.

(Ruto)» "Well, for starters, you have the scent of... bananas and curry powder. None of the other residents have the same scent as you."

Kaolla giggled as she childishly breathed on Ruto's neck and said, "Say, Ruto. Remember the time that you saw me naked in the hot baths-ya?"

"Yeah, and I never forgot the time that you had mistaken the men's side with the women's and I was with the boys at the time when you suddenly jumped on me, butt naked, 'ttébayo," Ruto sighed as he reminisces the day when his class and Kaolla's class went to that one inn where the students were having fun together...

-Flashback-

It was during the autumn field trip for the elementary students, when Kaolla (11½, 6th grade at the time) didn't quite understand Kanji (the katakana part) completely, so she looks for Ruto (11, 5th grade) for guidance (or this case, some skinship) in the indoor onsen.

The boys, except for Ruto, developed a nasty case of the nosebleeds from seeing Kaolla's beguiling and prepubescent body while she was jumping into the water and clinged to an already beet-red, blushing, and completely embarrassed Ruto (who's trying to hide his growing manhood) without a care in the world.

After that, both Kaolla and Ruto got scolded by their respective teachers that said to them that this isn't a mixed bath day and they had to sit on their legs in a seiza position for 10 minutes; it was nerve-wracking in more ways than one.

What's even more shocking is that Classes 5 and 6 have to share the same gigantic room. Ruto (positioned at the end the row, facing the window) was about to have his shuteye when he saw Kaolla, (whose bed was parallel to his, wearing her pajamas and nightcap) came crawling along and lie next to him, crying for her big brother figure, Lamba Lu. Not to mention, she is also a 'squeezer' in her sleep; at least there are no bones being broken or taken out of alignment on his conditioned body since Ruto did learn the old-fashioned law of Physicality 101: "No pain, no gain." The teachers objected to the unusual predicament at first, but since Ruto and Kaolla are just kids, they've decided to let this slide, with caution.

Since then, the 2 students became closer friends, along with Shinobu... until Kaolla had to go to Junior High. However, they promised to meet after school from time to time.

Now, Ruto is surprised that two girls from school seemed to like him for who he is. Motoko is still rather iffy on the communication with the opposite gender, along with a certain reptilian species. Kitsuné is more of an older sister figure that is currently starting to have deeper feelings for somebody. And Naru can only be like a sister to him, and besides that, she is more involved with his older brother than she realized.

And then Kaolla talked with Ruto about their dreams while they were in the tub. He has a dream to become a doctor and to help the unfortunate for their wounds and their well-being. And Kaolla then told him her dreams by becoming an inventor and one day perfecting better ideas for different projects.

Then both students clasp their hands and make a promise to try to go to a university to help make their dreams come true.


Not so fast!

What you're about to see is somewhat graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some viewers.

Viewer discretion is advised.

Thank you.


Then Kaolla gets a little too curious. and then she asked Ruto, "Ruto. Can I be your first patient? I don't understand why my chest feels a bit warmer than usual and so is down there. I think I see a 'spider' on me that I don't know what kind it is-ya."

Spider‽ At first, Ruto thought he cleared the house full of vermin and bugs, but then he realized that the 'spider' was probably something else.

So he asked, "Is this what you wished for, Kaolla-chan?"

Kaolla consented with a blush on her cheeks as she got out of the tub and sat down on the floor and then unfurled the towel in front of her classmate. Ruto is trying to keep his nerves steady as they permit while he steps out of the tub and examines her physique. She has a lighter aboriginal-dark (not quite fake Gal-tan colored) skin and blonde hair that is a natural color like he has, forest-green eyes that sparkle like emeralds and a cutest baby face that gives her a childish expression. Kaolla has an hourglass figure (that is still in progress); a pair of low, yet still growing B-cup breasts that are on the firm side (from being very... active) with unusually light pink nipples that are neither inverted nor mounded, thin waist and wide hips from all the time clinging to some unfortunate sap or patsy that she hangs around with and from her swinging around from sections of the dorms and she has a small patch of smooth dark brown hair covering her Π (Pi) shaped womanhood.

So Ruto examined her body for anything out of the ordinary; such as bruises, moles, or blemishes, etc. And then he carefully looked at her womanhood and then said to his friend, "It's all right, Kaolla-chan. There's no spider on your body. It's just hair growing down there that usually happens to us teenagers, believe me."

Then Kaolla got up and hugged Ruto (with her bare chest and all) with hearts showing in her eyes and gave him kisses on his cheek and lips and thanked him for helping out her problem. Then Ruto sheepishly asked, "By the way, Kaolla-chan. Had any of your relatives told you about... 'The Talk'? Ever?"

Kaolla just gave him a goofy grin, telling signs that she didn't learn about the facts of life, let alone what they really are. Ruto slaps the upper part of his face in frustration and says to her with a sigh, "Kaolla-chan, what you need is to ask someone we can trust about this issue. Otherwise, we'll be popping children right and left without any considerable conscience at all, or worse. Also, it wouldn't give our family members good merit if we take too soon of a dive. Understand?"

But Kaolla just hugged him while rubbing her skin towards his towel-covered manhood without much question. She doesn't mind if she wants her wish right away... or not.

As Ruto helps Kaolla get dressed, he says to himself, "Oh, well... How jolly can she get?" Then he gives out a small grin, knowing that his senpai of a girlfriend has a long way to go about life skills. They then dressed themselves in their clean clothes and Ruto used his ninjutsu to summon two clones to move their dirty clothes to the laundry room.

"Ho! (Yessir!)" the doubles replied and they did.

And then Kaolla asked, "Hey, Ruto? Why don't we pay your brother a visit-ya?"

"Sure," Ruto answered, "I think we definitely should check if he's working with his... 'studies'?"

-LNH-

|In the Landlord's Room, Room 204|

Keitaro felt like his progress was becoming rather sluggish after his younger brother took care of Kaolla. He says to himself while studying his exam book, "I wonder what they are doing? I bet those two are having a wonderful time playing games and such."

"All I see in your hands is a porno mag which I thought I had sent into the recycling bin, dattébayo!"

Keitaro was surprised to see an angry Ruto and a nosy Kaolla (messing up the room) who swapped the book for one of the hidden risque magazines that he stashed somewhere. Kaolla was reading the story over the ronin's shoulder that is very graphic in nature. This made Keitaro very ashamed as he chased her around the room.

However, the racket somehow disturbs the upstairs neighbor, that is Naru. She opens the cover and finds Kaolla clinging to a standing Ruto and Keitaro was in a compromising position with the magazines.

She asked Ruto, "Ya don't think Naru is still mad at Keitaro, is she?"

Naru dangled from the ceiling and booted Keitaro in the head, again.

"Yeah, she's still mad," Ruto answered the silly question.

-LNH-

Kaolla prepared a kettle in the portable thermal water heater to make some tea. Keitaro was trying to ask a question... that quickly went awkward, "You... why... Why are you studying here, Naru?"

"To make sure that you three don't try and to do anything Heaven knows what," The glasses wearing Naru replied.

Kaolla kept showing a magazine full of sexy, half-dressed or completely naked women (showing off their shameless femininity) in front of the speechless Naru, but she declared as she tossed the magazine, "Su, Keitaro and Ruto are guys, so it's normal, okay? What we're after is studying. STU-DY-ING!"

"That was a boring response-ya," Kaolla said to Ruto.

"Kaolla-chan, you should be doing it too, if you want to make your dreams come true," Ruto chided as he put away the mess, "But right now, I think you broke Aniki..."

Keitaro was utterly defeated from Kaolla's careless beguilement as she hugs the ronin to try to attempt to calm him down and said, "Getting all embarrassed from having a girl see your centerfold collection, You're just too cute, Keitaro."

The ronin was glared at by Naru's superstitious looks when she asked him if he's really studying his guide.

"With a girl like Kaolla-chan? I don't think so," Ruto retorted while sipping his tea.

Then, what Kaolla was about to say is probably the most damning of all the silly questions, "Keitaro, is it true that you never had a date?" The question just pierces at Keitaro just like a sniping arrow to the brain. (And that's gonna leave a mark...) "Wh-wh-WHAT?" he stammered as Kaolla was acting flirty-birdy towards him.

"Your hair smells nice-ya," she sniffs through Keitaro's hair.

"Su, stop it," Keitaro blushed from the island girl's besetment.

"...and your face is super smooth-ya, just like a baby's," Kaolla rubbed her cheeks against his. (And why not? Ruto did notice that Keitaro never has a moustache nor a scraggly beard growing on his face at all.) "And Keitaro. Would you be my brother?"

Naru, Keitaro, and Ruto didn't expect this to happen. They were expecting the word 'boyfriend' from Kaolla, but 'brother'? Then the older exam students begin to argue with each other.

(Naru)» "Okay, are you done yet, you blockhead?"

(Keitaro)» "I told you, it wasn't my fault!"

(Naru)» "Stop your fidgeting! Su-chan's just a kid! Are you asking to become jail-bait?"

(Keitaro)» "I should be asking you!"

*Bam!* *Bam!*

Ruto smacks the both of them with a harisen (paper fan), giving them comical lumps each and saying, "All right, I heard enough bickering out of you."

Then Kaolla said to Naru, "Oh, well. Too bad I was already taken. But it seems that Naru got to Keitaro first-ya."

"Ehh‽" the exam students gasped at what Kaolla had said. She already has a boyfriend... at 13½...? But more importantly, Kaolla was thinking that the two older residents are a couple‽

"Well, you two do make a fine, charming pair, believe it," Ruto sarcastically remarked.

(Naru)» "What are you saying, you two‽ Why should I like this dunderhead!"

(Keitaro)» "As if I would get along with a violent tomboy like her!"

Then Kaolla suggested an idea, "Let's try it this way then." She placed Keitaro and Naru cheek to cheek. "The 4 of us can be family together! I like y'all."

Uh-oh... Naru and Keitaro are in such a calamity, they keep on arguing, fussing, and 'ox-ing' around in the room until suddenly, it's nightfall.

-LNH-

Keitaro and Naru are practically worn out while Ruto (who was reading his brother's Todai Exam Guide) and Kaolla are still energetic. The exam students just can't seem to be able to study today.

(Keitaro)» "Shouldn't you know how to deal with Su-chan?"

(Naru)» "Ah, shut up! I think I oughta go to bed."

But then, the older students and Ruto saw Kaolla promptly wearing her pajama set.

"Wha-what‽ Su-chan, why are you changing?" Naru questions her roommate.

"I'm sleeping with Keitaro tonight," Kaolla answered, "I just can't sleep without somebody next to me since Motoko and Ruto are always nearby."

"You-you-you-you want to sleep here?" Keitaro stammered.

"Nooo~!" Naru exclaimed in despair.

"Somehow... I am beginning to think that this is not going to turn out right, dattébayo," Ruto murmured while reviewing the guide.

-LNH-

"Huh? You're sleeping here, too?" Keitaro asked Naru as she pulled her futon and pillow.

"What else can I do?💧" Naru replied with a sweatdrop.

Naru, Kaolla, and Ruto moved their futons to Keitaro's room: Keitaro's futon is placed at the right, Kaolla's in the middle, Naru's to the left, and Ruto's in front of the three.

"Yay~! Just like a class field trip!" Kaolla excitedly said.

Keitaro is 'blessed' (or whatever form of elation it was) that in the 2 months of living here, he never slept in the same room with a girl. Everything is swell... until he gets hit with a pillow by Kaolla.

"Pillow fight!" she declares and she and Ruto are throwing pillows at each other and Keitaro. Naru tried to stop the match, but she was hit by a stray pillow. She charged at Kaolla until Keitaro dizzily stumbled and accidentally uncovered the Amazon's top part of her kimono. (Surprise! No bra!) Naru uses the nearby table to bust Keitaro's idiotic head and the 'fight' kept going until they are tired out.

"You're pretty good-ya," Kaolla said to her exhausted friends, "Hee hee ha ha... You know, being with you reminds me of my older brother and sister from far away. Today is the happiest day of my life since coming to Japan."

Naru and Keitaro are glad that things have quieted down... for once. And Ruto is glad that Kaolla is feeling much better than she ever was.

-LNH-

It's a peaceful night with a waning crescent moon outside. Everybody was practically asleep, except for one restless Keitaro.

::"Aaagh! It's already December! Is it right for me to play with a Junior High student at the turning point in my life? *sigh* Can't a guy who's being too soft and indecisive ever try to make it to Tōdai‽ But... with 2 girls and Ruto-niisan in the same room, it's just nerve-wracking, I just can't sleep!"::

Then suddenly, the ronin landlord felt somebody crawling towards him from behind and started to hug him. Keitaro thought it was Narusegawa embracing him after all the insults; he was hoping it wasn't one of the 'night raids' he was expecting. But when he turned around, the person next to him was none other than... Kaolla.

Naru just woke up and was thinking that Keitaro is making a wrong impression of being 'too friendly' with the sleeping island girl as she cracks her knuckles. Keitaro tried to plead to Naru that Kaolla was the one grabbing him in her sleep. And then, they hear Kaolla moaning in a different tongue, "«Brother Lamba… Brother...»"

Then Naru and Keitaro realized that no matter which way they put it, poor Kaolla Su is still 13 and is a long way from home. Her feelings of dependence are just the sign of being lonesome.

But then Kaolla began to wrap her legs as she was having a nightmare. "«I can't eat so many... bananas!»" she cried in her sleep as she was squeezing both Keitaro's and Naru's ribs and backs after she got caught in the middle and it got tighter and tighter... until suddenly, (quiet poof!) Ruto swapped their places with his Substitution Art just as she was about to break a few bones in the poor landlord and upperclasswoman's bodies.

Naru then blurted out while catching her breath, "What just happened?"

Ruto answered, "I forgot to tell you that Kaolla-chan is a 'squeezer' in her sleep, 'ttébayo. Just be grateful that I can take it from here."

(Naru)» "And how do you know about Su-chan, Ruto-kun?"

(Ruto)» "Let's just call it 'experience'. Believe me, she feels much calmer when she's with me."

Keitaro was relieved that Kaolla didn't completely break his back and then the brothers decided to return to their original spots while Ruto carried a more relaxed girl in his arms. "Mmm... Ruto... «My love»."

Ruto can't help but smile as he falls back into blissful slumber.

-LNH-

|The Next Morning…|

Keitaro and Naru looked like they were nervous wrecks from the antics of last night. Ruto and Kaolla, on the other hand, are refreshed from a good night's rest. And the older residents wonder how Ruto ever calmed the hyperactive island girl down.

Then Kaolla cheerfully said to Keitaro and Naru, "We sure had a wonderful time playing and sleeping together."

When Kaolla wants to think of another sleepover. Keitaro was praying for Motoko to come back from camp soon, because he and Naru just can't handle one more night with the restless island girl.

While Kitsuné and Shinobu are speechless of what had happened last night, Ruto is being hugged endearingly by Kaolla while he pats her head and then remarks, "Kaolla-chan, we're going to need to find a way to channel that energy of yours, 'ttebayo..."

Then Kaolla rubbed Ruto's cheeks with hers and then the blonde ninja began to purr like a cat. She knew that she always liked him and Naruto "Ruto" Urashima had learned this important lesson. And it's, "No good deed goes unpunished."

§

To be continued…-»


Backstory

Kaolla, in this scenario, came to Japan about less than 2 years prior to the current time. She was... How do I put it?... "exiled" by her older sister because she isn't ready to handle the duties of her homeland, as well as not ready to be an adult, instead of running away; not to mention it's for good intentions. Ironically, the location in the middle of her kingdom is the same name as the university, but that's another story for another time.

When Kaolla arrived to Hinata City in her jungle fashion (bikini with a grass skirt, a cloth and grass top, armlets, tribal make-up and no shoes) on July XX, she tried asking somebody for directions, but with the problem of her hyperactive nature and carefree personality, along with a language barrier (Hindi), it hampers her progress while searching for answers. Just as she was about to lose hope, she ran into none other than... Ruto (10½, in the 5th Grade at the time), by accidentally misjudging her landing with her gluteus maximus on his face. (Not bad for a first "impression".)

The meeting got off... to a slow and rough start and Kaolla and Ruto tried to understand each other and learn different words and their names and how it's written out. But suddenly, they realized that she had to find the one place to let her stay at the Hinata-sou, but it was getting late, so Ruto decided to let her stay at his house for the night, since it's closer.

When the Urashimas (excluding Keitaro, who has to stay at a hotel for the exams) saw that Ruto has a girl that wants to stay for the night, they were utterly surprised. But he said that "«Kaora Suu»" (the way he pronounced it) wanted to find the Hinata-sou that her 'brother' had considered. It seems that she wants to have an education in Japan and get away from the disciplinary, military life of her homeland.

After some negotiating, the family decided to let the foreigner stay for the night. While Kaolla was exploring the house, (sometimes getting into things that she shouldn't), and had her dinner with the family, she went into the bathroom and found a shower room and bathtub. She's been on the ship for about a week and she was getting rather dirty from not having been able to bathe. And she doesn't know what a soap bar, the shampoo, or what the "feminine wash" is, for she can't read Japanese or English. That's when Ruto came by with his towel and was about to take a bath and was surprised to see the naïve Kaolla inside the bathroom, dabbling with the detergents. She asked him in a broken language and a form of hand signals, "Ruto... me wash with Ruto? Me use wash with Bhaee Lamba. Me feel... safe... with Ruto."

Ruto's mother, who was nearby, was a bit concerned about Ruto being with an unknown girl, but she made him promise not to do anything that will do her harm. So this was the first time Ruto had to take a bath with a girl other than his mother, stepsister, and baby-sitter; and Kaolla learned more different words including some that is difficult to say in context as Ruto helped wash her back and hair, while Kaolla messes with a little of his mother's feminine wash and Ruto explained where the specific is supposed to go, making her feel a little erotically strange, as well as making her feel ticklish.

When they finished bathing, Ruto sensed from Kaolla that she was having feelings for him as she saw his developing manhood and vice versa with the young womanhood and a blood-red blush; thankfully, no nosebleeds had happened.

(What Ruto didn't know was that when the first male, that is not of kin, sees Kaolla naked, because of the laws of her land and as princess, the said male is declared to be her lover, if not as her husband. It's been that way since the founding of her country. But Kaolla's not telling him that; just not in a lawful sense.)

Then Ruto quickly grabs a towel and covers Kaolla's modesty and teaches her the words about apologies and forgiveness. Kaolla, who's still just a young girl, affectionately embraced her bath-mate with her smooth bare skin and then rubbed her cheeks with his, inadvertently making him purr like a cat. And they dried off together.

The Urashima used some of Kanako's hand-me-downs and some of spare clothing that Kaolla has to wear until she settles in her new location at the Hinata-sou. (She insisted on not wearing shoes due to her lifestyle.)

Then, at night, while Ruto and the family were asleep, Kaolla, who was sleeping in Ruto's bed, is crying in her sleep, mumbling in Hindi that she misses her brother and sister from her homeland. And she began to sleepwalk until she felt the warmth of a body nearby. Unfortunately, it was Ruto who was nearby on the floor in his spare futon and he felt somebody lying next to him, crying. And then she squeezed him in her sleep, nearly giving him a rather unwanted form of resistance training but then Kaolla finally calmed down and murmured in Hindi, "«My love»". All is well through the night... more or less.

Then, Ruto got up early and helped prepare breakfast, while being 'forced' to carry the sleeping 'monkey' on his back, that is Kaolla. Among the meals for breakfast are a sliced toast with jam, fried egg (omelet style), pork sausage links, and a banana. When Kaolla smelled the banana, she finally woke up and grabbed 2 bananas from the banana holder on the cabinet nearby and ate them. Ruto's double was busy preparing his and the guest's lunches.) She then learned more new words and learned about new foods to eat. But then, he realizes that the Autumn quarter in school isn't ready until September. So, there's not much time left before they get to the Hinata-sou (which is a few hours away by train and streetcar.

On the way there, Ruto bought Kaolla some flip-flops to let her have the proper admittance through the transportation. As they exited the stop near Sasaki, the two kids were not far from Hinata City. They experienced what it's like in the city and the sleepy little town ahead. Ruto also explained about the currency used in this country and why her form of money is possibly exchangeable to their rates (much to Kaolla's gleefulness).

They then see the Sasaki Preparatory School for the exams where Keitaro goes to for the preparation of learning in higher education known as universities. He also mentions that Todai is one of the places that his big brother wants to go to. Kaolla gasped and excitedly said in her broken language that there is a Todai in her homeland that is in the desert region. It's said that Tōdai (Desert) has mystical qualities in the hidden location. But there's a problem that Kaolla admitted: she has very little sense of direction and she could easily get lost in the city. That's when Ruto suggested finding a trusted older person to help her with her vocabulary and geography of where she stays and where she goes to places such as the school, grocery store, hobbies, hardware, etc, etc.

And then, Ruto stops at the Hinata-sou (now a Dormitory for Women) where his newfound friend's destination is at. To thank her new friend, she kissed his cheek and thanked him with some of her currency and a promise that they'll meet again someday. Ruto blushingly accepted her thanks and told her to find Grandma Hina and Aunt Haruka and mention his name on the paper in her hand that he had written.

And then, in their brief, short day of friendship, the two kids parted ways, vowing to meet again on some other day.

When Grandma Hina and Haruka read the paper, they were glad that Ruto kept in touch with them. That's when the news broke to the current residents, Naru and Kitsuné, that they have a new resident. How the Hinata-sou handles the energetic girl is anybody's bet, until Motoko came along. Thankfully, Kaolla stayed at Ruto's house now and then whenever she needed some comfort with her 'bestie' and to further communications in Japanese.

A few months have passed. Just when Ruto and his classmate Shinobu didn't expect somebody to come to this school, they ended up meeting Kaolla Su from the Class 6 classroom and they introduced themselves. From then on, the now dubbed "3 Musketeers" (named by the other students at the Elementary School) are able to help study and exchange the lessons of cultures.

They became the best of friends.


A/N: The timeline that I put in for the characters to fit in the story is a bit different from the canon. Also, Kaolla has had an affection for Ruto ever since they first met. Whether it's love at first sight, being bound by the laws of the land, or it's blinded by amorousness, the island girl loves him anyway.

That's all, for now, as the heat will be on.

-blukmage19