Chapter 12

Graduation Blues and the Spring Festival

§

Mid to late March XX, 1999

|At the Hinata-sou|

Haruka is reading her newspaper while puffing a broken cigarette and says to herself, "It's too quiet. I wondered how they managed their little 'vacation'?"

And speaking of the devil, the whole company of the Hinata-sou residents finally made it back home after getting lost and found in the whole sovereignty of Japan. Ruto is among the group carrying his souvenirs in his scrolls of subspace and having Kaolla on his back (with the hearts looking in her eyes) and Shinobu holding his hand in comfort. They had a lot to tell them in their journals, as well as having photo stickers of where they've been...

(What had been planned for a week of vacation during Spring Break had turned into almost 2 weeks.)

"We're back!" Keitaro addressed his greetings as they took off their shoes, "Sorry to make you worried, Haruka-san."

"So where did you all go?" the Teahouse Manager asked.

"Oh, we had a lot of things happen this past week and a half," Keitaro answered.

Haruka put away the newspaper and then asked, "Well then, what do you have planned next, Keitaro?"

"Er... But first, I have to do something I wanted to do," he requested while Su reached out and patted his head, "If it's alright, I want you to please forgive my absence and let me work here again."

"...Whatever pleases you then," Haruka indifferently obliged.

The girls and Ruto are glad that things have finally settled. But Naru seems to be aloof for some reason. So Haruka asked her, "I understand if my older nephew fails, but I didn't expect you to miss the mark also. Do you have any plans?"

"I... I haven't made up my mind, yet..." Naru answered with uncertainty, but then she turned to her friends and asked them, "Wait a second. What is today?"

"The 21st," Kaolla answered.

"March 21st," Shinobu added.

"Aren't you forgetting something, Senpai?" Ruto questioned.

March 21st…! «OH NO!» Today's graduation ceremony for Naru's last day in Senior High as a Senior. So she hastily dressed herself in her uniform (while in front of the boys who are sweatdropping from the backstage pass, so Ruto turned away and block Keitaro's viewing with a sign saying, "DON'T LOOK, ESERU!" and she puts on her shoes before saying goodbye for now.

"Narusegawa seems to be spiritful," Keitaro commented.

"That's not entirely true, though," Haruka dryly replied.

"Indubitably, Haruka-san," Ruto agreed with a sweatdrop, "Senpai wouldn't miss this for a lifetime."

-LNH-

|At the K' Senior High School Location|

Naru arrived only a few minutes late as she met her classmates from school. They made some comments about changing her looks, but then, one of them told Naru to go see her teacher, who gave her a bit of a scolding for her tardiness.

Among the senior grade students, there were some that managed to make it into a university exam that goes to many different colleges. (Tōdai is one of these.) Among them is a man by the name of Kentaro (not Keitaro) Sakata who was one of those who succeeded.

(He managed to go to K' University after passing the exams. He's currently enrolled in the Pre-Med major. He has a hidden crush on Naru.)

Of course, there are other students that either didn't pass the university exams, decided not to take one and probably begin a new career right away, or put their college plans on hold.

Later, after the ceremony, Naru's friends ask their former classmate about what to do in April after her failure in the exams. Narusegawa was thinking about retaking the test (with a cloud of doubt). Then the classmates worried about her crush on Seta-sensei since he's been away for 2 years, but Naru felt that she'll never have her chance to meet her former teacher again as she lets out a depressing sigh.

Later, her friends asked Naru if they wanted to join in a graduation party for old time's sake. But Naru politely refused as they parted ways. And now, life as a postgraduate student begins for Naru Narusegawa, soon to be 18.

-LNH-

|At the Hinata-sou|

It's windy outside at the Urashima residence. Cherry blossoms are blowing in the spring zephyr and some of its petals have come into the apartment... and Keitaro just swept the place...

That's when the landlord and Ruto (along with the unnamed turtle on his shoulder) came by on the 2nd floor balcony and saw Naru walking towards them in an aloof and lonely manner. While Keitaro was thinking about whatever is going on in her mind, Ruto does a speed painting project on canvas with his doubles to create a momentous scene with his senpai as he prepares his birthday present... as soon as the paint dries.

-Explanation-

Ruto has bought some supplies that were at the Arts and Crafts store for his little project and some materials that he found from the leftover parts from the family's shed; the wood, glue, and spare stiff unused canvas cloth to make the frame.

-End Explanation-

Then the 3rd Year ronin asked from a distance, "Hey, Narusegawa! You don't look cheerful, is something the matter?"

"Well, what do you think, smartass?" Naru sarcastically replied, "Of course, I'm fine!" And she walks inside the dormitory in a huff.

"Say, Aniki. You noticed that there's something wrong here?" Ruto asked as he worked on the small details of his painting.

"You right, Nii-san," Keitaro replied, "Naru seems to be depressed from something."

"A girl in a uniform walking in cherry blossoms...Wow! It's just like what it looks like on a good painting, just as Ruto-kun was making," that voice turned out to be Kitsuné who stopped by, along with the other tenants who surprised the landlord from behind, "You're staring at Naru in her uniform, aren't you?"

"That's because..." Keitaro tried to explain among the brief mayhem, but Ruto stepped in and said, "Girls, it's not that. Naru-senpai seems to be rather uncheerful lately, or rather she felt... emptiness inside, as if she missed out on a lot of things in life. And I mean, a lot."

"Yeah, what he said," Keitaro commented, "We wondered what's wrong with her."

Shinobu gave it some thought and hypothesized, "Maybe Naru's hungry?"

"Maybe it's because she spent too much money on the holidays and couldn't pay her rent now-ya," Kaolla suggested.

"No, but Naru-senpai once mentioned that she was out of shape because of the exams," Motoko disagreed, "I think that she is thinking of a way to lose the fat..."

"Motoko, that's called 'dieting'," Kitsuné corrected the details with a comedic backslap.

::"Girls, I don't believe it's quite any of those reasons...💧":: both Urashima brothers sweatdropped at the unlikeliness of the suggestions.

Then Kitsuné questioned, "But didn't she look better after our vacation?"

"Yeah," Ruto said as he turned to finish the hues on the painting. Keitaro pondered about the person that Naru was thinking about...

-LNH-

|Room 304 (Naru's Room)|

Naru, the postgraduate student, reflected upon herself while looking at a picture in her hand. The photo takes place about 3 years ago at her (a First Year) staying in the Hinata-sou, with Kitsuné (Senior Year at the time), Haruka, and a man that she once knew as a former teacher and a close acquaintance of the teahouse manager.

"I was so happy when Seta-sensei called me the night before the exam. But we didn't get a chance to talk about anything important..." Naru says to herself in melancholy as she puts her photo in her journal and then fatigue comes in and she collapses on her desk, "I wonder what the idiot will do for this year..."

|At the Landlord's Room|

The 'idiot' is pacing the floor thinking about his upstairs neighbor, with the turtle following him. ::She's making us worry,:: Keitaro thought as he looked up in the ceiling hole.

-Explanation-

Ruto had managed to fix the hole to make it much easier to climb without the troubles of getting splinters from the rotten wood. Thankfully, he's not telling Naru about the repair job with his doubles while she's away.

-End Explanation-

Keitaro knocked on the cover to see if Naru's around. But as he and the turtle entered the hole, he inadvertently caught Naru changing her undergarments (her butt facing the unintentional peeper). Normally, she would clobber him to next week, but instead, she put her sock-covered foot on Keitaro's face and said, "Urashima, now I'm already more tired than you are..."

"Ack! You're stepping on me!" Keitaro struggled.

"Hurry and get out and stay down!" Naru demanded as she put the cover back on the hole, while the turtle stayed in the room.

Later, as Keitaro walked down the stairs, he saw Kitsuné carrying a rolled-up mat, so he asked her what she was doing.

"Hi, Keitaro," she called out, "Come and lend us a hand. We're getting ready for the Spring Festival. Ruto and his doubles brought the table and other fixings." And so they grabbed what they needed for the anticipated event in the latter month of March.

-LNH-

|Late afternoon, out in the Hinata Grounds|

The tenants except Naru have prepared the picnic set on the ground while enjoying the scenery. As Ruto brought in some lacquered wooden Sakazuki cups that he bought while touring Japan's known cities, Keitaro lays out the mat on the ground and asks Kitsuné, "So we do this every year?"

"Yup," she answered, "We got a beautiful view of cherry blossoms here! Our neighbors will usually come."

"Ya~! Blowing flowers!" Kaolla excitingly said as she wore a questionable costume (🍡), "Kinda remind us of dango, right?" Keitaro, Kitsuné, and Ruto sweatdropped as they saw the island girl preparing for this while donning a dango stack costume.

Motoko decided to help chop the carrots and daikons at her insistence to Shinobu, to which she obliged. And when the kendo girl tossed and sliced the vegetables with her sharp blade. Kaolla and Shinobu were impressed by their senpai's technique, Keitaro is surprised by having an eye-popping experience, Kitsuné appears to have lost her appetite, and Ruto silently remarked with a scoff at his roommate's grandstanding, ::Showoff…::

-LNH-

"What? Naru is still depressed?" Kitsuné questioned her friends, "Well, we'll just celebrate and try to cheer her up."

Shinobu, Kaolla, Motoko, and Ruto confidentially agreed, but Keitaro was rather reluctant on the suggestion. Then Kitsuné ordered the landlord to go get some drinks and hard liquor to go with the sakazuki cups. Ruto decided to join his brother to make sure he doesn't overstock on booze, due to minors in the vicinity, counting himself.

|At the Teahouse Annex|

"Spring Festival... Not a bad idea," Haruka said through her cigarette, "I'll join in after I get the lights up and running." And she passed the saké, beer, and wine into a box while she gave Ruto a few sacks containing sparkling juices, fruit cocktails, and water bottles and then sent them on their way, "Don't forget to save some for me, otherwise, you two won't get paid!"

(Hahaha... Haruka-san isn't kidding now, is she?)

|At the Stairs Leading to the Site|

The brothers walked the long stairway while hauling the heavy weight of the goods. The blossoms reminded Keitaro of the time when he made a promise to the girls 16 years ago. But while being lost in thought, Ruto got his brother's attention as he accidentally dropped 2 beer cans from the box and Ruto can't grab them with his bags in his hands and he can't risk bringing forth his doubles without dropping his sacks full of drinks.

That's when somebody managed to catch the falling cans with one hand, masterfully done. And who was that person? It's the professor that they encountered less than a month earlier!

"Hmm... What beautiful scenery full of blossoms," he said through his cigarette.

Keitaro was clueless about the mysterious professor while Ruto sensed a strong aura emitted by the man that he patched up not long ago. Then the professor put the 2 beer cans in the box and said, "You can have them back, but do try to be more careful..."

Just as the boys were about to thank the man, Kitsuné called out, "Guys! What's keeping you?"

"Coming!" Keitaro replied, but as he turned around, Ruto pointed out, "He left, Aniki. I've a feeling that we probably won't be seeing the last of that professor guy soon, 'ttébayo." And the brothers and the tenants went on their way.

-LNH-

|Hinata-sou, 3rd Floor Balcony|

Naru is looking at the night sky while playing with the turtle. She sighs as she wishes what she is going to do tomorrow. Until Shinobu called out from downstairs, "Naru-senpai! Dinner is ready!"

The forlorned Naru wondered what's for dinner until she went outside and saw a decorated and illuminated picnic for the festival as the neighbors invited her to come. "I totally forgot all about it!" she said as she regained her cheerfulness, "We're having a party here."

Then Kitsuné and Kaolla come by and are glad that their friend has gotten her mojo back. "It's not like you to be beside yourself," Kitsuné said as she gulps her canned liquor, "It's like having saké without food." And Naru came with Kitsuné to the picnic spread.

Then Kaolla came by, wearing a hat and sunglasses like she's incognito, and suggested to Naru, "If you want money, we can discuss this." And she gives the Narusegawa an unusual bill from her country, making the given a bit of a strange look, but Ruto came by and swapped out the insufficient bill with 5000¥'s worth for her graduation gift and he chided her, "Kaolla-chan, how many times do I have to tell you about your currency again? You know that your kind of money doesn't work here."

"I forgot-ya," Kaolla admitted as she scratched the back of her head in embarrassment.

"I'll forgive you for that, Kaolla-chan," Ruto patted her back and hugged her with one arm, "But just watch your step after this, dattébayo. You could get yourself in big trouble." Kaolla was relieved by her confidant from her careless mistake.

Naru wonders just how Ruto managed to get along with the other girls after being stuck in her studies for so long. But then Shinobu got her attention and said, "Senpai, I made a lot of dishes! Try to cheer up!" She holds some baozi (meat buns) on one plate and a roasted duck on another plate. Ruto helped hold the other plates that his classmate was carrying to prevent them from falling to the ground.

Motoko came next and bestowed a medicine bottle and said, "If you're concerned about your health, I brought in my family's secret medicine that can effectively lose 10 kg (about 22 lbs) in 3 days! I'll give it to you, Naru-senpai."

"What? Wait... wait a minute..." Naru stammered, until the male tenant stepped in and said, "Not so fast, Motoko-chan! Naru-senpai would be too thin to handle this kind of dieting. «OH NO.» However, I have a suggestion for a regiment and maybe some creams that'll let her maintain her figure safely and help with her studies while still feeling energetic. Wouldn't that be agreeable?"

"...Yes, Ruto-kun. I understand," Motoko learned the hard way about losing too quickly in weight and be ugly in thinness.

Kitsuné chuckled with a tipsy disposition and said, "Ha-ha... Everybody is so caring..."

"Yup, they're all concerned about Narusegawa," Keitaro agreed.

Then Kitsuné gave her former kohai something to solve her problems: a feminine pad, "It's that 'time' of the month, right? I knew it!"

"You're too worried about her!" Keitaro shot back at Kitsuné after facefaulting from that trick.

But then Naru begins to double over in laughter. "Hahaha... *deep breath* I'm laughing so much, my stomach hurts..." (Keitaro and Kitsuné gasped at the sudden pratfall.) "Thank you, guys... I'm alright now..."

Kitsuné then gleefully said to Keitaro, "Naru's all cheered up now. Alright! Now that our honored resident is happy, let's get the party started!"

"Yeah~!" the other tenants saluted as they drank their appropriate liquids in a semi-drunken look. (Keitaro thinks that the minors must've been drunk off of the hard liquor, but Ruto fixed that problem with sparkling juices instead. It gives off a form of ecstasy from the eustress, without the hangovers.)

-LNH-

While the tenants are busy having fun, Keitaro and Naru are having their moments together.

"Kitsuné sure knows how to enjoy herself," Naru remarked.

"We were really worried about you," Keitaro said.

"Hee-hee... I'm sorry. Anyway, it would be unnecessary for you to be worried about me."

"Huh?"

"I wanted to cherish this moment for a long time. I don't want to think about what I'm doing for next year."

"...But what's that got to do with it, Narusegawa? If you need to talk about something, talk to us. My brother and I are good at helping people."

"Thank you."

"Hey, Naru-senpai! Aniki!" Ruto yelled as he came closer to them, "You are getting along well?"

"We're doing just fine," Naru said as she sipped her drink.

"Yeah. Feeling peachy!" Keitaro commented, but then he made a serious boo-boo as Ruto sweatdropped and pointed out; the bonehead inadvertently put his hand on Naru's breast during his previous action. Then Naru began to lose her temper and sent the idiot flying with a right hook. Motoko and Kaolla wanted in on the action while Kitsuné felt elated, "Now that's the Naru I wanted to see!"

And Ruto and Shinobu watched as Motoko pulled her [Shinmei Style: Hyakka Ryōran] and 'blasted' Keitaro off for good measure. (Thankfully, Ruto managed to put a stop to the madness.)

As for Haruka... She missed out a bit on a good scene in the park area. Oh well...

§

To be continued…-»

(Later, on Naru's birthday, Ruto brought his finished painting of Naru in a classic Japanese art style of herself near the cherry blossoms. She thanked him and the others for giving her a wonderful 18th birthday.)


Omaké

A Session with the Family

|During the time of the graduation ceremony of Naru Narusegawa|

While Ruto unpacked his belongings and souvenirs to sort them out.

(They've been almost around the Japanese mainland during the 11 day trip).

Haruka called out his name, requesting that his mother wanted to talk to him. Ruto sighs as he knows that he's in a whole heap of trouble from roaming all over Japan with the girls. As he went to the phone, he set up a Shadow Double to set the art supplies from his scrolls (leftover from his school sessions), then he picked up the line and answered, "Moshi moshi?"

〝Ruto-chan!〟

"Oh, Kaa-san."

〝phone talk〟

"Sorry, Kaa-san. I didn't get a chance to call you, 'ttébayo."

〝phone talk〟

"Yes. Well, it's like this..." (Ruto explains the exploits of his adventures with Kaolla and Shinobu, minus the tales about him and the girls being 'wild in bed'.)

〝phone talk〟

"Don't worry, Kaa-san. I know what I was doing with my spending. Besides, I managed to get a lot of souvenirs and prize packages along the way. Actually, my friends and I were searching for Aniki and Naru-senpai. You know, the long-haired brunette that shares basically the same name as me and lives in the Hinata-sou? I was certain that I sent a picture of us to you from the mail."

〝phone talk〟

"Yes. I'm sorry about not contacting you from travelling all over the country. As I was saying, we were trying to catch up with Aniki after he failed miserably at the exams, but it strangely turned out that poor Naru-senpai also failed the test and then they planned their little... What was the word? 'Escape'?"

〝phone talk〟

"No, I wasn't too worried about Aniki leaving the Dorms for a while, but my friends insisted on finding Aniki and Naru-senpai before they go too far."

〝phone talk〟

"😳 Ka-Kaa-san! What makes you think about me being with Shinobu-chan and Kaolla-chan like that? We're only in Junior High, for crying out loud!"

〝phone talk〟

"Yes, I know what happened with Haruno-san. But we heard that she may due by the time the new school term arrives. She says that she is expecting a girl."

〝phone talk〟

"Yeah, I'll wish her and the baby all the best. But there's another thing. My dormmates and I are now one grade higher. Aren't you and gifu-san (stepfather) glad?"

〝phone talk〟

"Problems at school? It's the usual with homework and tutoring with my classmates, and there's been some trouble with the other students and faculty. By the way, have there been any teachers stopping by your house recently, such as PAIN-sensei and Konan-sensei?"

〝phone talk〟

"What's that? My teachers and Karin-neesan were there, but then you were attacked by the ROOT Disciplinary Squad? How did you ever get out of that mess? ::Curse that Mr. Buttinsky Danzo!::"

〝phone talk〟

(What happened was that Fu Yamanaka (Ino's estranged cousin) and Toruné Aburamé (Shino's distant relative) were leading their ROOT goon squad to try make demands at the Urashimas and Uzumakis for the surrender of "Naruto Uzumaki".)

"They were threatening you to give me up to them? And PAIN-sensei stopped them before they could trash our house and the police arrived to take them away?"

〝phone talk〟

"I'm just glad that you and the others are safe. Anyhow, isn't it strange that I have relatives that worked at the school and that Karin-neesan is really my aunt. Strange, wasn't it?"

〝phone talk〟

"Anyhow, I think I may have to get off the line and probably contact Obaa-chan and Kanako-neechan to see how they are doing."

〝phone talk〟

"All right, I'll call you sometime. See you soon. Bye-bye."

*hangs phone*

As Ruto turned around, the other residents (sans Keitaro) were curious about what happened and he explained that his mother was worried about him being all over Japan in the cruel world. He also explained that there was trouble back at his old homeplace. At least, they're doing fine during the personal parent/teacher conference.

And then Kitsuné asked, "Hey, Ruto, what are you doing with a painting set?"

"I'm making a little surprise present for Naru-senpai, Onee-chan. Her birthday is coming up," Ruto says as he begins painting the background and then the scenery. Naru won't be coming back until she comes from the school whenever she wants to.

Later, Kanako and Grandma Hina faxed the residents that they are now in Thailand for many of its wonders, especially their fine cuisine, their things that are a bit difficult to pronounce in Japanese, let alone in English. But they are glad that they are having a good time.


Extended Story

The Summary of the 3 Musketeers' Journals

(A Multi Crossover Sub-Chapter)

After the party's over, the older residents (plus Haruka) noticed that Ruto, Shinobu, and Kaolla had finished unpacking their souvenirs at the lounge and realized that the sakazaki cups were not the only things they brought over. In fact, the trio of Junior High Students looked like they'd been around the major locations in Japan, including a genuine tea set not known in their native country. So Keitaro asked about where they've been during the last week and a half. The Junior High Students pulled out their journals from their backpacks to help them recall what happened during the trip. Naru wondered and asked aloud, "How did you three ever get through this mess? And without an adult present? And... Why are you three looking a little bit more... 'plumped' and yet still fit?"

Motoko, Kitsuné, and Keitaro agreed to the questioning, while Haruka put an unlit cigarette in her mouth as she overheard the conversation.

Ruto and the younger girls explained what happened while searching for Naru and Keitaro, and how both of them went A.W.O.L., leaving the tenants without much of an answer.

-Flashback-

.

Warning! May show some minor citrus moments not appropriate for the younger audience.

Viewer discretion is absolutely advised.

(Thank you.)

At first, it was just Shinobu and Kaolla by themselves, but Ruto decided to join in on their journey. So the trio tried to follow the trail, but they ended up on the wrong train to Shizuoka (at Kaolla's haste) and the train wouldn't run until tomorrow morning.

Then, after a night in a hotel, they went off to try to take the train to Kyoto, but there was a notice saying that the train route to Kyoto is under maintenance, much to their dismay. But then Kaolla nearly lost her friends and they found another train route. Unfortunately, it was eastbound towards Yokohama and then went further eastbound to Tokyo and spent most of the day there, visiting a lot of the city and getting their unruly hair fixed.

(A/N: Refer to Chapter 11 for details.)

Day 3, the young trio went further along into Yamagata and into Sendai, where they saw a parade of military vehicles rolling along the roads. They went to the nearby grocery market to get some rations and found themselves earning an entry to win a prize and surprisingly won the 1st Prize drawing: a cruise ride to Hokkaido, a night stay at a fine hotel, and a flight to their desired location in Japan. It was getting late, so Ruto picked out a scroll that contained a 4 person tent to sleep it off at the park, (with seals to hide their presence), but not before calling a reservation at the said hotel in Hokkaido. Coincidentally, Shinobu also won a Western-style tea set, and Kaolla won 5000¥ and put them towards bananas for her and her friends' daily meals.

(Ruto puts the prizes into separate mini-scrolls for safe keeping.)

It's Day 4 and White Day; the trio convince the ticket man that their prize is legitimate and he lets them pass. As they got themselves a room, they realized that they haven't had a shower in a while, so they did.

However, Ruto wanted to take his soaking in the shower later, for obvious reasons. He then takes his clothing out of his separate compartment in his scroll to wear after taking a shower, but then he hears that the girls must have suddenly finished their washing so soon. As they got out, they saw the girls completely naked and his face was blushing blood-red and then he stuttered, "G-girls, what... what happened to your... t-towels."

Shinobu was also embarrassed from being 'convinced' by Kaolla as she covered what's left of her modesty with her arms and hands, but couldn't find the words to say. But Kaolla, being shamelessly butt naked and not hiding her modesty, replied, "We forgot to get our towels-ya!" She gives Ruto a frisky look and puts her hands on her breasts to show off her beauty, "What's-a matter, Ruto? Afraid to see our wonderfully naked boobies and fem... femi..."

"It's 'femininity'," Shinobu blushingly corrected.

-LNH-

Naru interrupted their tale with a gasp and a reddened look and assumed, "What‽ Don't tell me you didn't- -!"

"Naru-senpai, we didn't!" Ruto objected and the younger girls agreed as he continued their adventures while Motoko and Kitsuné were blushing as they tried to comprehend what their male roommate was saying.

-LNH-

"Of course not, girls!" Ruto denied with redness still showing on his face, "It's just that we're alone and I'm the only boy present. And it's not right for us to do this, especially with other people around."

"Oh, don't be like that-ya!" Kaolla cooed as she came closer to her alpha boyfriend and made a small continuous circle on his chest, "You saw us naked plenty of times back home, remember-ya? Shinobu and I wouldn't mind letting ya join us. Aren't we, Shinobu?" Kaolla said and she moved behind Shinobu's back and tickled her, making her show her public to Ruto and rubbed her fingers onto her friend's now low B-cup bust, making the latter blush as madly as her boyfriend was and fidget with her index fingers together.

Ruto, given very little choice, quickly changed out of his clothes and wrapped a towel around his waist, and then carried a few dry, clean towels on one arm, while he puts his remaining arm to support the naked and embarrassed Shinobu, gaining her trust without the need of taking the advantage of his close friend.

Then, the trio went to the bathroom together to take a shower.

-LNH-

What the students didn't tell is that, as they entered the tub, they realized that the trio are in such a predicament that they set themselves in; 3 students, from the same dormitory and school, are practically butt naked and they are washing themselves in the shower stall. (The big whirlpool tub was separate.) Shinobu felt Ruto's caressing fingers as he washes her arms and back while Kaolla washes one side of his back and they switch sides scrubbing each other, making Kaolla rather ticklish.

After they rinsed off, Shinobu then asked Ruto a rather odd question, "Did your parents give you 'The Talk', Ruto-kun?"

"Hey, hey! What's 'The Talk'? Something we eat with-ya?" Kaolla curiously asked without caution.

Ruto looked at the two dormmates for a moment and swallowed his pride and gathered all his nervous strength while Shinobu and Kaolla sit in the empty big tub and Ruto, seated between them, explained from what he learned from his mother and from Kitsuné, including the part of what happened when that blockhead Sasuke and the repentant Sakura 'took a dive' too soon and she got herself pregnant after that. Then he mentioned about taking responsibility as a parent to the said child whether be a boy, girl, or multiples; it was a huge task that they have to take as life begins again for the next generation.

(The trio didn't want to do with the hands-on approach in Sex Ed just yet, but they promised themselves to wait until they are truly committed and are living the life as either businesspeople or as college students aiming for higher education to make a better business.)

But then, Shinobu began to feel faint from the overexcitement of racy thoughts inside her head and developed a bit of a nosebleed as Ruto catches the hapless girl in his arms and carried her, bridal style, while wiping the nosebleed from her nose, as he said to Kaolla, "And that, my friends, is what 'The Talk' or 'The Facts of Life' are all about. You can dish it out, but you can't take it."

Kaolla chuckled with a grin, (knowing that she still have ways to go before trying to get into Ruto's pants and continue her family's legacy), as the group exited the bathroom and sitted themselves at the bed to rest for a bit while Shinobu lie down on his arms like she was a baby to help calm her nerves. Kaolla decided to lie next to him to help cool off and to enjoy some 'Ruto' moments together as they fell asleep.

(They were still practically naked as jaybirds.)

-LNH-

After Shinobu recovered from her (sudden) fainting and Ruto and Kaolla woke up from their nap, they realized that there are a few hours left before they go ashore, they're hungry, but most importantly, they're still naked. But then they realized that they just laughed at each other, knowing that they are still friendly towards each other after going through their own circumstances. So the fully dressed students went through a buffet line to get what they wanted, but not completely overstuffed themselves because they still have to get back to Kyoto. And they sit at the table and say grace before they eat and drink. It was almost like the trio set themselves on their first double date having dinner together with the bright lights coming from the chandelier. They enjoyed the food, with a few moments of sharing together with some of the morsels. Shinobu wanted to learn a few recipes from the cruise line for the dormmates back in the Hinata-sou. With a little persuasion, she got what she wanted. And Kaolla managed to swipe a few extra bananas in her grasp as they went back into their room to collect their luggage and then they viewed the ship coming to port to Hokkaido.

Before they went ashore, Ruto had his gifts prepared for the girls while they were tired out from waiting for Keitaro and Naru. It was a few boxes containing white chocolate fudge that he personally had made for them. Kaolla and Shinobu thanked their boyfriend in their own, special way. *Kap-chuu~! 💋 *

Then the trio took the bus to their hotel destination to stop for the night.

-LNH-

Day 5. Ruto and the girls checked out from the hotel and are exploring the trails toward their plane flight, scheduled to be leaving at sunset. In the meanwhile, they took a bus to the Ainu reservation to learn of the history of the Ainu Tribe and how they lived through the fine greens of summer and the harsh winters where there is only a few feet of snow. But currently, there's a crisis showing in the remote piece of land; civilization and cities are slowly making the wilds lose their fauna and their way of life, as well as the Ainu Way. Along the beaten paths, they ran into a young man that is about the same age as them and he's not in a really happy mood. The mysterious kid has blue spiky hair (that is completely different from Ruto's style) with blue roots, a headband, some winter clothing and traditional Ainu hunting garments, and a snowboard attached to his arm. He growled to the students, "Tourists, leave this land at once! I do not want you city folk dirtying your tracks all over the fuki (coltsfoot) fields!"

(The trio didn't realize, at first, that these particular plants, the coltsfoot, are precious to the tribe. But they rather not mess with them, so they decided to go around the fields to simply mind their own businesses.)

Ruto put his foot down and said with a diplomatic approach, "Listen, friend. We're just passing through."

The Ainu boy stood his ground and looked at Ruto warily as he sees the power flowing around his 'foe' and vice versa with him as he see a tiny humanoid spirit floating next to the Ainu as he explains that they have to walk to the airport and get back to the mainland to search for his brother and roommate.

But the Ainu didn't believe their story and said with a snarl, "No! You will go no further! I, Horokeu Usui, hereby challenge you to a duel to see if you are truthful in what you're saying! Let's get ready, Kororo!"

A female [Koropukkuru] spirit named Kororo is anxious about what the motives of her partner were thinking. Shinobu wanted to avoid the unnecessary conflict and she can tell that she can barely 'sense' the spirit nearby. And Kaolla didn't want any harm, either; she wanted to have fun. But Ruto decided that he has no choice but to accept the challenge as he takes a scroll from his backpack and unsealed his Tachibana Clothes-rod Blade and asked the girls to move back a few paces, so that they won't get hurt and get caught in the violence.

"That was pretty admirable of you to keep your bitches out of trouble. However, you tourists have no right to come into the fields and as an Ainu tribesman, I must defend my homeland from intruders!" Horokeu declared.

Suddenly, something snapped as Ruto's temper and Alkaid powers began to flare up, making Horokeu intimidated. "«SHUT UP!»" Naruto exclaimed in English, "You have the nerve to call my best friends like that? I'll never understand jerks like you, dattébayo! To defend those that are precious to me, I, Naruto Urashima, will and must protect my friends and my family from the likes of you, dattebayo! I accept your challenge!"

After a bit of a standstill, Horokeu realizes that something is not right, so he demanded, "Well, what are you waiting for? Call out your Spirit Partner!"

The traveling students sweatdropped as they heard what the Ainu boy just said. "Spirit Partner?" Ruto questioned with his head tilted to one side.

*Facefault!* Horokeu was taken aback that the stranger didn't understand about the Spirits and yelled, "Seriously‽ You can see ghosts and spirits like Kororo-chan, right?"

Ruto nodded.

"Then don't you have a Spirit Partner that assisted you in battle?"

"I may not have one with me, but I have a power that'll be good enough to fare with yours, 'ttébayo." And he readies himself in a stance and says, "Prepare yourself!"

Then Horokeu said, "Kororo!" The tiny humanoid spirit rematerialized into Spirit Form and its master cried, "Into the snowboard!" And the spirit unites with the medium (tool) and transforms the snowboard into a weapon that resembles an Ainu carving of a statue like it's an extended part of an arm.

And just as they were about to fight in real earnest and sheer determination, a voice called out from the distance, "Horohoro-niichan! Where have you been‽"

It was a girl with long sky-bluenette hair held back with a hairband and clothes with an Ainu pattern, followed by two animals that accompanied her: Mamahaha the hawk and Shikuru the wolf. The student trio can tell that she, the hawk, and the wolf are not very happy with Horokeu's behavior. "I turned my back for a moment and here you are attacking visitors! What were you thinking, Onii-chan!"

"Pirika! Don't call me by that awful name!" Horokeu loudly and exasperatingly complained.

Ruto and the girls imagined why he is called "Horohoro" (ホロホロ) and then they add the dots to the kanji and they get "Boroboro" (ボロボロ), which translates as "Crap or Tattered". The trio snickered and doubled over in laughter.

"Hey! Stop laughing! Are you making fun of me?" Horokeu angrily explained.

"*chuckles* Sorry, but we... *laughs* We haven't had a good laugh for a while! *laughs* Shall we call this match off? Because we... *laughs*" Ruto was laughing his lungs off.

Then Kororo releases the unity and chuckles along with the student trio. "Oh, come on, not you too!💧" the Usui brother sweatdropped. And Pirika agreed that this "Shaman Duel" is officially off. The student trio calmed down and then introduced themselves, likewise said the Usui siblings. Then Horokeu noticed that Ruto has a strange power flowing in his body and about why he wields a hidden blade in a clothes-rod, so he asked the Urashima about them.

"My blade?" Ruto questioned, while calming down, and then he unsheathes his hiltless blade and revealed to them that it's not only reverse edged, (the sharp side is on the back while the blunt side is on its hamon patterned edge), but it's also considerably shorter than its sheath, like the size of a ninjato. "Had I attacked you, you would mainly end up with bruises and some broken bones from its blunted side, 'ttébayo. I would've also left you with a burn mark from my quick-draw attack among many other techniques of both [sword] and [fist]."

Horokeu visualizes what happened if he was outsped by his opponent, then Ruto said, "I've been trained by my kendo sensei who happens to be a dear friend of mine, even when you can handle the strain from her strong training regiment. Also, the power I'm using in battle is more of a spacial sense. You know of the stars and constellations? Or even the Septentrions? I happened to be the avatar of the Alkaid (Hagun), one of the seven stars that formed the Ursa Major or the Big Dipper."

Horokeu understood (more or less) about what happened, but then he asked where the student trio hailed from. Ruto explained where he and the girls are from and they just completed a grade from Konoha Junior High.

"No way! You're in the same age group as me?" Horokeu exclaimed in disbelief, "My little sister just graduated grade school and she's smarter than me!"

"Maybe if you didn't let those spikes go through your head, Onii-chan, you would have been at the top of the class!" Pirika complained.

That's when they decided to change the subject and Horokeu asked Ruto, "How long have you been able to see the spirits?"

Ruto explained that as long as he can remember, he sees some of the ghosts of his family's ancestors and some other souls that hadn't been properly passed on. At first, he was scared to death of what they are: ghosts. But overtime, he learns to like them (or dislike them because some of them are just plain annoying or mischievous) and understands their tales of yesteryear.

Then the parties asked themselves about their dreams and plans for the future; Ruto being a doctor, Shinobu dreams of being a chef as she cooks at the Hinata-sou, and Kaolla dreams of being an inventor and a wife to a good husband. And both Usui siblings have their dream of not only keeping the Ainu legacy alive, but Horokeu dreams of a large expanded field full of coltsfoot for the Koropokkuru spirits.

Then Ruto asked Horokeu, "What were you exactly doing with these... [Shaman Battles], anyway? I know that what we did was nearly downright dangerous, but why use the spirits for means of battling?"

"We're preparing ourselves for the upcoming Shaman battles that only happen once every 500 years," Horokeu explained as he talked about going to Tokyo to where the preliminaries take place.

This could be a great challenge for Ruto to experience, but he declined, "...because I'm sure that we're not invited."

But suddenly, the Hinata-sou 'Musketeers' realized that it's getting late and they had to leave for the airport. Pirika told them that there's a bus stop that will lead them to the airport. The trio thanked the Usuis and exchanged addresses and their personal souvenirs from their respective locations, (Ruto does a little side project from Grandma Hina's trade, back when it was a hotel), and then they parted ways. As Ruto looked back from the bus stop, he saw two more Koropokkuru spirits that resembled Nakoruru and Rimururu, praying for their safe journey. And the trio left the village by bus.

Then they took the flight and they landed themselves in Osaka, which is still a little ways off from their intended location. However, they were forced to stay at a hotel to get out of a sudden shower. Ruto uses his genjutsu to make themselves look older and they stay the night or at least until the downpour lets up.

-LNH-

"Don't tell me you haven't - - !" Naru, Keitaro, and Kitsuné surmised of a risque threesome while Motoko was having a flashback of her own with her sister and brother-in-law.

But Ruto said, "«N. O. NO!»"

-LNH-

What the students didn't say is that after Ruto, Shinobu, and Kaolla decided to take a shower separately. He looked for a TV and a VCR to watch some movies with the girls, they were some unmarked mystery movies that were covered over with masking tape and they decided to watch them, with both girls on either side to brace themselves. But what they got was...

30 minutes later...

They inadvertently watched a porno from the first cassette they picked that really has no particular plot at all; just men and women stripped off their clothing and foreplays and oral sex before getting to real thing, sometimes go anal, male and male to female (MMF) threesome and then a male to female and female (MFF) threesome. They immediately stopped the player and put the videotape back where it was and just switched inputs to just watch the weather forecast. (The meteorologist says that the skies are likely clearing up first thing in the morning.) Then, they looked at each other like they've seen red while catching their breath and their hearts quiver from the revolting display; the Junior High students just simply weren't ready nor wanted to watch X-rated films like that ever again... at least not for a little while, because if their classmates and their neighbors get on to them being more than just good friends so soon, the trio will never live it down.

So they decided to go to bed, but not before Kaolla, who was wearing nothing but her modest pair of thong panties (the non-string variety that still shows her behind without revealing too much), wanted to sleep topless next to Ruto. Shinobu wanted to protest, but decided that two can play this sexy little game as she stripped off her undergown down to her cute-patterned bikini panties and lay next to Ruto's other side. (Neither of them were wearing bras.) As for the boyfriend himself, he said as long as they don't get too wild, then he doesn't mind keeping each other warm in the double bed, as they turned off the lights and cuddled with each other for warmth and some skinship throughout the night. Since then, the threesome became closer than they ever had before...without the 'wanting for the pleasures of the flesh' fit.

Day 6 and Ruto and Company packed their belongings, ate some breakfast, and then he activated his genjutsu to let themselves leave the hotel without suspicion. Then Kaolla wanted to take the next train, but nearly lost her friends as they got themselves... on the wrong stop again, all the way down to Okayama, southwest of Osaka.

They explored the countryside around the town until they came across some people that fell into the lake and then were invited to stay there for the night and enjoyed their rather luxurious baths. (They didn't want to tell them about unusual people that live with the current head of the house, as well as the mad scientist just yet.)

Then as Days 7 and 8 go by, they travel by train back to Osaka and then to Nara where deer and wildlife frolic in their native habitat.

Kaolla didn't know what the Nara crackers were for, but she thought they were delicious, but Shinobu panicked and said that the crackers are for the deer. But all in all, they enjoyed the sights of the town.

(Ironically, that's where Shikamaru's extended family lived as they are responsible herders of the deer for generations because of the species' naturally broken and chipped antlers and selective breeding without any cause for anything congenial (inbreeding), thanks to a variable tag placed on their ears.)

Then when the night fell as the students trekked their way to Kyoto, they managed to find a hotel to rest their weary feet and bodies. And strangely enough, it was the same place that Keitaro and Naru visited and they realized that they had just missed them by 3 days. They had their dinner and a session in the mixed bath, leaving out their 'wild in bed' part.

The next day, Day 9, they used some of Kaolla's technology to find where the 2 wayward ronin were at and learned that Kitsuné and Motoko are not far behind. Unfortunately, they ran into some trouble when Danzo's hired cronies tried to capture Ruto and the girls, but they were ultimately stopped in their tracks at a movie set. That's when most of the residents are reunited except for their landlord and ill-tempered neighbor.

(After that, you can guess the rest.)

-End Very Long Flashback-

-LNH-

Keitaro and Naru were absolutely stunned about the younger tenants' harrowing adventures. They travelled throughout the majority of Japan's mainland by train, bus, boat, plane, and mostly on foot. They even had a cuisine in the boat ride and yet they still looked toned from all that roaming and almost ran into big trouble. At least, Ruto took good care of the girls and they were all safe and accounted for.

Then Ruto even brought his own print club album with himself and the girls posing together in those booths. It's enough to make Keitaro green with envy twice over; one for going through many of the nearby locations throughout most of Japan, and the second for that most of the pictures are with three people together, while the poor older brother got stuck with most of his photos by himself. (Shameful...)

That's when the yet-to-be-named turtle came by and wanted to spend time with Ruto as they were preparing themselves for the next school year.

End... of a Story…-»


Omaké

A Day in the School Life 2

|At Konoha Academy|

March 31st, 1999

It was a new school year as Ruto, Shinobu, and Kaolla went up one grade and learned which teachers in the class shuffle they were going to take. Ruto and Shinobu are now in the same class with Kurenai Yuhi (28) as their homeroom teacher and Kaolla gets Kazuma Kuwabara (24, former gangster delinquent, recent college graduate, and rookie teacher) as her 3rd Year (9th Grade) teacher among other Junior High School students. Surprisingly, there's a student that Shinobu knows from last year that was in her classmate that tends to do foolish things with makeup from time to time; her name: Akiko Taichi. (We'll see her in a little later.)

However, there are also a couple of girls that are also joining Ruto's class. Karin Uzumaki (Ruto's aunt, who was reformed and became a better person) is helping her now close friend Sakura Haruno (who is nearly full-term with her child). They became good friends ever since the scoundrelly scandalous Sasuke is out of their lives. But Karin, Ruto, and Shinobu are worried that the baby would arrive any day now, but Sakura just wouldn't want to miss out on the opening ceremony.

Later, in Class 2-2, as they are seated at their arranged spots, Kurenai was about to choose which 2 students are to be shown as class representatives, when...

*splash!*

It happened with the worst timing of all! The water in Sakura's womb broke in front of her class, (she was seated at the front right corner of the room, nearest to the teacher and the entryway), and started to feel labor pains as she screamed. Ruto immediately asked the teacher to help her into the infirmary while they called the number for the ambulance. Kurenai-sensei immediately agreed as the Urashima, Shinobu, and Karin helped the expectant mother to the nearby office.

|In the Infirmary|

Ruto helped Sakura into the bed. The unfortunate situation is that the current nurse is not on site nor in sight. So he ordered Shinobu and his double, (that he summoned and had called the ambulance earlier), to not panic and bring in the necessary items to help with the delivery while he helps with giving the expecting mother back support and Karin ends up being the assistant midwife and Kurenai-sensei as witness and the main midwife, for this a battle that can't be afforded to lose or to make a mistake.

(Karin had delivered puppies with her Great Pyrenees/Labrador Mix in her home, but she has never done it with a human baby before. However, supposedly, there has to be a first time for her.)

The students have their hands cleaned as they begin the emergency operation as Sakura's cervix is getting close to 10 centimeters dilated as the black-haired head of the baby is beginning to crown between her legs. They coached the first-time mother to keep calm and wait for the contractions before pushing the baby out, while Ruto helped cool the shrieking Sakura down and become the supportive cushion.

"I'm giving birth! I'm giving birth! Sasuké, you o-baka! When I get my hands on you, I... *grunt* I~~~!" were a few of the many screams of agony coming out of her.

After a few short, yet tense hours of pushing, Karin manages to catch the baby in a towel after being delivered safely. It was a girl and she cried loudly as she was cleaned and was carefully being given to Sakura, who is crying tears of joy as she gets to hold her new daughter. While the original Naruto rubbed the new mother's lower abdomen with gentle fingers (as part of the procedure) to help her relax, the double brought the news to the classmates of 2-2 that the mother and child are safe. They cheered with great joy as they were relieved for Sakura Haruno and Baby Sarada just as the ambulance crew arrived and after Karin tied and cut the umbilical cord with a sterile pair of scissors and the mother and child were safely being sent to the General Hospital.

(The placenta was later safely indisposed in a hazard container, but Sakura requested to put a small piece of it into a tag to wish her new baby girl a healthy living.)

As for Ruto, for once in his short 13½ life, he never felt this kind of newfound strength before, as if he has the first taste of being more than just being a first-aid student and an 'uncle' to a delivered baby is all about, and Shinobu is there by his side, while ended up being a first-time 'aunt', witnessing the unplanned blessing.

|Later, in the offices|

Hiruzen and the faculty got the word about Sakura Haruno and the baby and they're both fine, much to their relief. But Danzo and his yes-men wanted to expel not only Sakura, but Ruto, Shinobu, and Karin for their outrageous 'behavior' and to oust Kurenai-sensei out of the school premises immediately for her involvement in the so-called scandal, but Hiruzen sternly stated, "Denied! Absolutely absurd! Your claim to expel these subjects is outright ludicrous, Danzo! Those 3 students and their teacher only did what's right to help take care of Haruno-san and her child."

"I object!" Danzo and a few loathsome faculty members stated.

"Shut up!" Hiruzen shouted and landed his hands on the desk to stop the foolish nonsense with great intent, "You know damn well that Haruno-san wanted to keep going with her education, despite the past events with Uchiha-san and she was sorry for her mistakes. But you don't have the right to just simply kick the students and my fellow teachers out just because of a medical emergency! Now I want you to shut the f*** up and return to your duties, or so help me, Kami-sama, I'll have the school board fire you for your dishonesty and your unlawful hiring of a 'disciplinary committee' without my permission! Is that clear?"

::Did he know about my ROOT squad? It can't be!:: Danzo shows tension from his feeling of dreadfulness.

Then Hiruzen said to the faculty, "Unfortunately, Haruno-san will have to take a leave of absence to help with whatever it takes with the infant. Should she raise the child, leave her for adoption, or let her relatives help take care of the baby girl is up to her; not you, not the staff, nor I do have the right to enforce her decisions to choose for their future. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," the teachers and staff agreed, as did Danzo.

"Also, it seems that the current Junior High school nurse seems to be A.W.O.L. before and during the incident with Haruno-san. It's high time to say that she is to pack her bags and to be fired immediately from her station," the principal added. The faculty murmured and chatted about the sudden inquiry as the head of the committee continued, "Since Kabuto Yakushi is also fired due to his crimes, we need to propose on who will be filling the most important spot in the infirmary office immediately."

After making their suggestions and unanimously making their choice (with Danzo and his supporters booted out of the room), the meeting was dismissed by Principal Sarutobi.

|After School|

Ruto and Karin had been officially chosen to be the class representatives for class 2-2 by Kurenai-sensei for their bravery. They also decided to help Sakura with her homework until she's able to come back to school. Shinobu and Kaolla managed to meet with their best friend at the Hinata-sou to tell the news of what happened at the school while trying to lessen the publicity. Becoming a family member to Baby Sarada has more responsibilities than they realized. They wondered if someone else had been in this situation before.

("AAAAH-choo!" a certain professor sneezes while taking his daughter-figure from America in his van while hauling exotic and rare treasures over to Tōdai for his lessons. The blonde-haired girl asked her 'papa' why he sneezed like that and he answered, "Probably somebody must have been talking about me or something.")

|Elsewhere, in the Juvenile Detention Center|

Sasuke is still brooding about Ruto and his female classmates as he has darkened thoughts of coveting them for his gains and simply *gryyykk!*, murder that blond bum. Then he got a requested meeting from Orochimaru about what to do with his baby girl who had somehow got the information about the unintentional blessed event. The snake-in-the-grass decides to take the Uchiha in and use whatever means to get what he wanted: a chance for the parliament seat (by means of cruel deception.)

The destined event for the hidden school wars is still yet to come...

As for the Haruno family, they decided not to opt in giving Baby Sarada up for adoption and decided to help give the baby a better future. They just hope that her father isn't doing drastic measures to either take her away or worse. It's a terrible and horrible way to lose the life of an infant.


A/N: I know that putting Sarada in this story made sound a bit off, but like I said, there are cases of the 'unplanned blessings' that tend to happen, especially teenagers such as Sakura Haruno and Sasuké Uchiha. Normally she would appear in the original story in a later time, but blame it on my ideas that are on the fly. But don't worry too much about her, for she'll play a role in the Hinata-sou's life soon enough.

Also, how I got that little idea that was inspired by a particular manga and live-action movie called, "Kodomo no Kodomo" (A Child by Children), which a case of 5th Graders (10/11 year olds) got a little too curious about what's what with the facts of life and the main character (which is a girl, BTW), winds up pregnant at her age and later created new life throughout the story in the form of a baby.

The early seasons of "Reba" the TV series also inspired the term "unplanned blessings" as it involves High School friends misunderstood about sex education and Reba ends up being a grandmother to her teenage daughter's baby girl. It's full of laughs and is somehow lighthearted, despite all the hard times.

To those who read the semi-lime moments, I'd normally rather not get into too much of a lemon moment involving young teenagers so soon. It doesn't suit me nor the other viewers very well, and it tends to have poor taste.

Dreadful.

But when push comes to shove due to certain circumstances, I won't be afraid to get my hands (or rather my typing skills) dirty.

In the extra story, I borrowed some characters from Shaman King that took place a few years before the big tournament took place in 2001 and from Samurai Shodown that are somewhat related to the Usui siblings. It took some inspiration when the main characters took a brief visit to Hokkaido and how they are related of sorts.

And the heat of the moment is on...

- blukmage19