Reforged

by MakKeiUra

A collaboration by Y-PenDraig and MakKeiUra. Happily Ever After was all that Tsuruko ever wanted, but in the battle of good versus evil you do not get what you want unless you grab it. An old and tremendous evil has other ideas; an old artifact may be the key; is Tsuruko capable of balancing the battle and a new love?

8. Chapter 8

"Reforged Chapter 8"

By Y-PenDraig and MakKeiUra.

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Love Hina, Ken Akamatsu does. This is a not-for-profit work of fanfiction with no monies or profit being made from it. No copyright infringement is intended.

AUTHORS' NOTE ON CONTINUITY: This story uses a mixed manga/anime continuity that starts to branch off majorly from the Burning Blades arc/TV series episode 25. Simply stated, Keitaro's initial arrival at the Hinata Inn and the order he meets the girls is the same as it is in the TV series, as well as Granny Hina's departure from the same. The increased presence of Shirai and Haitani as well as Kentaro Sakata is also as it was in the TV series, as well as Mei, and Moe-Chan. Beyond that, events that occur in the manga should be considered completely canon unless otherwise obviously superseded except for ages; we'll keep to the TV series there unless noted.

INTRODUCTION: Y-PenDraig and I welcome you, the reader, to this story. It grew out of discussion between the two of us about Tsuruko Aoyama and a shared desire to tell a good, long story involving her. The regular rating will be T for Teen for the story proper, but owing to the naughty idea that kind of inspired this madness, you will see omake side-stories posted independently that are rated M for Mature.

000

The next day as noon approached, Keitaro sat in the manager's room at his kotatsu with a couple of books open in front of him. One was his sketchbook and the other was a Tokyo U course catalog. He was wearing cargo shorts and his beloved Bounty Hunter sweatshirt, and his now healed leg was stretched out next to him. Everytime he looked at the now pale, sickly looking exposed skin of his leg he wanted to retch.

"Still, can't complain, the weird old man healed it," Keitaro returned his focus to his sketchbook. He was aimlessly sketching a few images. After looking through the Tokyo U coursebook and highlighting a few introductory and pre-requisite courses, he had started sketching without anything in mind. Merlin had told him his training would begin the next day at dawn after both of them got their bearings and the old wizard had talked to Tsuruko a bit more.

"I bet he's as confused as I am, in a lot of ways," Keitaro muttered as he took a look at the half finished images. He had drawn cartoon-style images of a hill (Hinata Hill) with stones that comically seemed to dwarf the hill itself, a caricature of himself with steam puffing out of his ears, and a crown drawn from a picture he had seen in the instruction manual of one of his old console RPG games.

Keitaro looked up as he heard Naru remove the plank from the hole in his ceiling.

"Hey Keitaro, you not naked or perverted?" Naru called down.

"Well, my leg looks awful now that the cast is off, but I'm dressed otherwise and just trying to get my head together."

He heard Naru sigh. "A trying task for you, indeed."

Keitaro cracked a smile. "Come on down."

Naru hopped down to gently land on Keitaro's kotatsu and quickly took a seat. Keitaro blushed. "Um, want some tea, Narusegawa-san?"

"Yeah, that'd be great," Naru smiled.

Keitaro made some tea for her and him and once he returned to the table he noticed Naru glancing at the Tokyo U course catalog. "You made any decisions yet on courses?"

"More like trying to make non-decisions," Keitaro deadpanned. "Not sure how much time I can spend on school now."

Naru took a grateful, but cautious sip of the hot tea. "Well, duh idiot, you're the king now."

Keitaro felt the sweat break out on his brow. "So the grumpy old man says."

"Just remember Keitaro, there are many ways to be a king." Naru smiled.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that too." Keitaro nodded down towards his sketchbook and his scrawled out pictures, he pointed at the crown.

"That looks like a kid's cartoon," Naru shook her head.

Keitaro laughed. "That was kind of the point."

Naru looked down, she sipped her tea and made it last longer than she should have. "Look, Keitaro… I'm… sorry for how I left town back there…"

Keitaro nodded slowly, but did not speak.

Naru glanced back up to him, found herself looking into his brown eyes, then immediately looked down again. "It was… inconsiderate and cowardly of me not to give you an answer and just leave for my club trip."

Keitaro swallowed. "It hurt… a lot."

"More than it should have, I should have reached out and told you… I just want us to be," Naru struggled with the word, "well, what we were now, dummy!"

Keitaro blinked, feeling some pain but… not as much. "...um, study partners?"

"Well, we've always been more than just *that,* Keitaro." Naru sighed. "How about we just take it easy and be… cool with each other, okay?"

"Yeah," Keitaro nodded, "that sounds, well, cool!" He smiled.

"You should also take it cool, too." Naru's voice lowered. "You're taking a lot onto your plate with the old man running around."

Keitaro sighed. "Tell me about it. It's just so crazy…" Keitaro mentally steeled himself for his next question. "... how are you, Naru?"

Naru closed her eyes. "...I'm managing. We're… going to see a therapist Tsuruko-san gave us the name of."

"I'm here for you anytime, all of us are." Keitaro said softly.

"Th-thank you," Naru smiled. Then, her smile turned a touch mischievous. "You certainly got up and married quick, though."

Keitaro blushed, looking down. "Yeah, that's my Granny; always the kick in the behind. I'm going to talk to Tsuruko-san today; just to let her know we don't have to be awkward around each other."

"Well, you're doing better than I did, already." Naru chuckled sadly and Keitaro joined in and then they both soon finished their teas and were about to leave the manager's room when a knock was heard at the door.

"Hullo my Liege!" Merlin's melodic voice could be heard on the other side of the door.

"Coming, Merlin-sama!" Keitaro called as he ambled over to the door carefully (almost as if still compensating for a cast). Naru watched in silence and apprehension as Keitaro slid the door open.

"A good noon to you, my King." Merlin bowed with a short flourish of hands.

"G-good noon," Keitaro replied, finding the wording odd.

"I have come to make certain your servant is not mistreating you." Merlin eyed Naru suspiciously.

Naru blinked, shocked. But she held her silence.

"Well, Merlin-sama she's my tenant and friend and not really a servant." Keitaro chuckled uneasily.

"It really makes no difference what fair words you have decided now to pretty up how things are called now," Merlin said impatiently, he trained his eyes on Naru. "You. I can see you have not used your fists to send him across the realm; good girl."

Naru stiffened. "I'm not a dog, you know."

Merlin's expression brightened ten-fold. "Dogs still live?! Grand!"

Keitaro shared a dumbfounded look with Naru.

Seeing this, Merlin clarified: "I was briefly scared humanity in its hell-bent decision to acquire stupidity had driven them into the sea or consumed them!"

"...I…" Keitaro wracked his brain, "I'm sorry, Merlin-sama, I really can't follow that up."

"No shit," Naru crossed her arms.

Merlin laughed. "My task here is complete for now. The yellow-haired sprite with the dark skin has told me about a crystal ball in the main hall of your house that she says will help me understand this new, ridiculous age."

"Yeah, it'll help you with the ridiculous part no sweat," Naru rolled her eyes.

Merlin bowed. "I take my leave, dear King." Merlin turned around and walked away down the hall, humming as he went.

000

Tsuruko was sitting at the dining room table with a mug of tea and the most recent blueprints and topographical maps of the grounds of the Hinata Inn. She had mentioned a need to research them to Keitaro at breakfast, and he had told her where to find them in his closet "office." Or rather, he had made the move to find them for her, but she told Keitaro firmly he needed to take some time for himself to meditate in his room on the previous day's events. But she already had deduced enough about Keitaro's personality to know he was likely doing what was already known to him; sketching and looking at his Tokyo U course catalogs.

Tsuruko made a note to herself to teach him God's Cry meditation techniques before Motoko did (why was that so important just now?) so his mind in less active moments did not automatically lapse back into old habits. Or Kitsune showed up at his door with a large bottle of sake, or Shinobu with some tea and snacks…

'Many potential distractions in this house,' Tsuruko mused internally as she used a permanent marker to make brief indications on the perimeter map of the Inn's grounds to show the standing stones Merlin had raised.

Tsuruko sensed Merlin's quiet humming before he came into the room.

"Ah, good noon, Merlin-sama," Tsuruko called out pleasantly, but loudly enough to make certain Merlin knew *she* knew of his approach.

"Good noon to you, Lady Tsuruko of the Aoyama clan," Merlin smiled.

"How very formal of you, Master Wizard," Tsuruko smirked.

"And how very flattering of you, Tsuruko-san if you prefer." Merlin replied with an odd twinkle in his eye.

Tsuruko nodded that it would be preferable.

"I was on my way to peer into the household's crystal ball," Merlin commented.

Briefly, Tsuruko blinked, then her mind clicked. "Oh my! Do you mean the television?"

"Yes, that's it!"

Tsuruko frowned. "I must warn you, a lot of what you will see on it is similar to the tales told to children by their parents from your time-only intended for adults."

Merlin gave her a look. "So it is all just humans mating?"

Tsuruko chewed her lower lip in thought for a half-second. "At… some times yes, but the main concept to keep in your mind is that almost everything you will see is like a tale told around a fire. Very few are word-for-word true, many are exaggerated, and still too many are outright lies."

"How very confusing," Merlin mused, "why put up with it?"

"You will find at times the modern world has produced concepts and objects that ninety-percent of what they produce is pure garbage," Tsuruko raised a finger. "Sometimes that figure is higher."

Merlin nodded slowly. "So it is much like humanity in general."

Tsuruko sighed, looking down. "Sadly, it seems that way at times." She looked up, peering into Merlin's blue eyes. "I do wish, during your service to Keitaro-san, to make something else clear to you."

"Clear? To me?"

"Yes," Tsuruko's tone lowered. "I wish to make certain there is no uncertainty about my responsibility here in this house. I am housemother and assistant manager; I will zealously protect the residents thereof, especially Keitaro-san."

"Of course," Merlin replied curtly.

Tsuruko waited a moment before continuing, letting Merlin's slight discomfort hang between them. Then, she continued: "While I am grateful-immensely grateful-for you saving us from the Seraphim; if at a later point I determine you are either using Keitaro-san for your own exclusive ends in a manner that does not benefit him, or if you have not been truthful in your explanations, or even if I determine you are more trouble than you are worth; I will deal with you personally."

Merlin laughed pleasantly. "Dear Lady, that is the best words I have heard spoken since I arrived." Then, he knelt. "You are truly worthy to be Queen."

Tsuruko hid her astonishment at Merlin kneeling in front of her well. "Elder Hina's little gambit is a matter for another conversation," Tsuruko said simply.

"I feel no need to address the matter further unless you or the King brought it to my attention," Merlin rose after Tsuruko motioned for him to stand up.

"Very well, carry on then Merlin-sama." Tsuruko took a sip of her tea and returned her attention to the blueprints and diagrams in front of her.

"Now to the crystal ball!" Merlin said excitedly as he left.

Tsuruko shook her head ruefully, mentally preparing herself for the inevitable explanations she would have to prepare for Merlin when the questions came at her fast and furious.

000

After lunch (where the most significant event was Merlin muttering about ridiculously rigged games of chance), Keitaro proudly declared he was going to do a chore he sorely missed doing since breaking his leg-sweeping the front porch and the stoop. He welcomed Tsuruko to join him after she explained to Merlin how to change channels to find something that was not a game show. Keitaro happily did a thorough job, smiling as he moved the broom back and forth as the cloud of dust and dirt was evicted by him from the premises. Keitaro was about to start his second pass with the broom, intent on the stoop when the front door opened.

"Keitaro-san, please forgive my tardiness as I taught our guest about the controls on the television set," Tsuruko sighed, glad to be done with it.

"Oh, that's fine Tsuruko-san. There's also a remote, too!"

"Such laziness," Tsuruko commented dismissively.

Keitaro laughed. "When the remote goes missing due to Suu-chan dismantling it; who do you think changes channels for the girls?"

Tsuruko chuckled. "Well, now you have a wizard from fifth century Wales to assist you with that."

Keitaro's expression turned more serious after the moment of mirth. "So… I just wanted to talk with you a bit about Granny's little marriage trick."

Tsuruko nodded, taking a steadying breath. 'I do not want to say anything to hurt his feelings,' Tsuruko thought, then: 'but I hope he chooses his words carefully himself.'

Keitaro stopped sweeping and looked out at the early afternoon, contemplating. "I don't want anything to be any more difficult than it needs to be, Tsuruko-san."

"Nor should they," Tsuruko smiled.

"Let's just concentrate on working together and being friends, okay?" Keitaro turned to look directly at Tsuruko, adjusting his glasses. "I'm… dealing with a lot, you know? I know you are too."

"Yes..." Tsuruko found herself reaching out and touching Keitaro's shoulder.

Keitaro blushed a bit, but appreciated the friendly gesture nonetheless.

"You forgot one important part, Keitaro-san," Tsuruko cracked a grin. "The King's combat training beginning tomorrow at dawn."

"What King?" Keitaro blinked, utterly confused.

Tsuruko regarded him for a moment. "Are you jesting with me, Keitaro-san?"

A sheepish look stole over Keitaro's face then. "Ohhh… I forgot," he said, chuckling embarrassingly. "Yeah, I guess that's me now." Keitaro sighed.

"Tonight, myself and Merlin-sama will decide on what to teach you first so you can be ready when our enemy returns," Tsuruko said as she gazed out at the Inn's courtyard.

"What style will it be?"

"That is what we will be discussing, Keitaro-san." Tsuruko smiled. "Just concentrate on getting a restful night sleep and stretch your now healed leg out a bit. Nothing too strenuous, but you will need to be limber."

"Gotcha," Keitaro nodded, he glanced down for a moment. "Will Kana-chan and Motoko-chan really be there, too?"

Tsuruko pursed her lips. "It would be a tad bit difficult to keep this from them, would it not?"

"Yeah," Keitaro sighed. "It would."

"Do you fear embarrassment in front of them, Keitaro-san?"

"Wouldn't you if you were me?" Keitaro gave her a look.

"I think you will be surprised at my sister and your sister's capacity to be good instructors," Tsuruko smiled kindly. "You will learn a lot," she chuckled, "besides I am in charge; no matter what Merlin-sama may say."

"And I am smart enough not to say that aloud when he is within earshot," Keitaro said, lowering his voice.

"I doubt it matters much to him one way or another," Tsuruko shrugged. "It likely would only serve to amuse him."

"The old man does have a funny sense of humor," Keitaro commented. "Probably why he and Granny seemed to get along so well."

"To say the least," Tsuruko replied dryly.

000

"Well, it certainly seems like things have not been boring around here," Sakata said as he served Seta some Earl Grey tea and rice cakes in Haruka's tea shop. Seta had long since already set down well more than enough money to pay for the food, drink, and Kentaro's tip.

"You can say that again," Seta commented, laughing.

Sakata took a breath, about to follow Seta's advice when the professor held up a hand. "Caught you!" Seta laughed. "You always go in for the easy joke, Sakata-san, you know that?"

"Someone around here has to," Sakata grinned as he proceeded to bus the table next to where Seta was seated. "So why else are you here today, Seta-sensei? Getting away from the new lunatic?"

"Hah, that and I had a business proposition for you," Seta smiled.

"Oh?" Sakata looked up.

"My van is in the middle of nowhere in Kyoto," Seta sighed. "I was looking to hire you and Keitaro's cram school chums to go get it for me."

Sakata looked at Seta, contemplating. "Why hire us? Why not just go get it yourself? Kyoto's beautiful countryside isn't that far."

Seta looked down at his tea, taking a deep sip. Almost in answer, the tea shop's door opened-

"Seta!" Naru called as she walked in. "There you are!"

"Na-chan, I left a note…" Seta turned to favor Naru with a smile.

"I read it, yeah." She stopped and gave a curt nod acknowledging Sakata's presence after the playboy waved. "But what was this stuff about 'don't worry, I'm not disappearing,'?"

Seta shrugged. "Because I'm not. I sticking around for a while. I just came down here for some tea and see if I can hire Sakata and Keitaro's pals to go get my van."

"What's to stop them from joyriding around Japan?" Naru crossed her arms.

Seta turned back to Sakata. "I got a stash of smokes in the glove box and a bottle of whiskey; just don't drink while driving."

"SETA!" Naru glared daggers at both him and Sakata.

"Narusegawa," Sakata said cooly, "I think he's joking; though I appreciate the offer," Sakata grinned. "Besides, we drive a wrecker."

Seeing Naru's confused look, Sakata clarified: "I got another part-time job and dragged Shirai and Haitani with me."

"That's right," Naru snapped her fingers. "That's their names."

Sakata gave a pained sigh. He turned to Seta. "We'll take the job. Call me later and we'll work out payment."

"Sounds great!" Seta grinned.

Sakata turned and went back behind the counter, muttering something about how his life just kept getting stranger and stranger.

Naru sat down next to Seta. "I… talked to Keitaro…"

Seta nodded slowly. "...and?"

"And what?" Naru sighed, defeated. "I apologized and told him I liked us as… friends, or something, I guess." The brunette shook her head.

"That's good," Seta commented.

For a couple minutes neither of them said anything, finally Seta spoke up: "Sakata-san makes a good cup of Earl Grey, would you like one?"

"No… I just," Naru wet her lips with her tongue, still shaking her head. "...I really liked us going on that hike together."

"So did I," Seta smiled.

"I liked spending time with you again, Seta-san…"

Seta nodded, trying to follow along with Naru.

"I would like to spend… more…"

"Money?" Seta asked, incredulously. Why did she have to tell him about her spending habits?

"No, baka!" Naru lightly rapped Seta on his forehead.

"Ow," Seta chuckled, "then what?"

"I'm saying I want to hang out with you, Seta!" Naru blushed.

"You mean, more than we already do?"

"Yeah," Naru nodded. "Stuff like… going to the movies or out for coffee..."

Seta nodded very, very slowly. "Or… on a dig?"

Naru beamed in happiness. "That'd be cool too!"

Seta blushed, suddenly realizing he was in Haruka's tea shop, saying yes to spending more time with Naru, and mentally thanked the kami Haruka was not around. 'Now, why am I blushing?' Seta wondered as he reflected on Naru's poorly concealed happiness.

000

Merlin was trying to watch a news broadcast with Suu's assistance (she would read the text on screen to him) when he heard a noise and began looking around.

"What kind of bird song was that?"

Suu looked around too, then up, then down, and finally underneath the couch.

Merlin heard the sound again. "There that bird is again!"

"Noes! Door bells!" Suu laughed, bouncing up from the couch, extending her arms and making a flapping motion as she went to the foyer.

Merlin followed, noted Suu looking through a small side window, she tittered and opened the door.

A large green patterned obstruction was on the other side of the door. Merlin peered at it closely.

Suu excitedly jumped and clapped her hands. "Snackstimes!"

"What in the heavens is this green orb?" Merlin wondered aloud.

Keitaro came down the stairs. "I heard the doorbell… wha-what happened to the front yard?"

"My King, it is my duty to report there is a large green orb-a sphere really, blocking the front entryway of your house!" Merlin turned to Keitaro as he came up to the door threshold in the foyer.

"Sillys!" Suu laughed. "Watermelons!"

Keitaro looked at what lay outside the door. "... it's a huge watermelon!"

"...judging from your tone, my liege, it sounds as if that thing out there is edible?" Merlin raised a skeptical eye.

"Oh yes it is!" Keitaro nodded excitedly. "Isn't it Suu-chan?"

"Not as goodies as bananas but goods!" Suu nodded at Merlin.

"And where there are watermelons-" Keitaro began.

"Mutsumios!" Suu hopped up and down again.

"Oh me oh my!" a light, airy, melodic voice was heard from above the door calling down from the top of the watermelon. "Kei-kei, Na-chan, are you home?"

"Mutsumi-chan!" Keitaro called back. "Where are you?"

A light giggle was heard. "You might need to catch me, Kei-Kei!"

A rustling then a slipping was heard from the giant watermelon. "Here I come, wheee!"

"Mutsumi!" Keitaro ran forward-

-just in time for a shapely feminine behind clad in a long orange skirt to slam into Keitaro's face. "Ooof!"

"Oh dear!" Mustumi managed to giggle as she and Keitaro crashed to the floor in a laughable heap.

"Mutsumios!" Suu put her hands up and reached over to give Mutsumi a very gentle hug. "Missed you!"

"Suu-chan, I've missed you too!" Mutsumi returned the hug. She looked around, "I thought I heard Kei-Kei," Mutsumi peered up at Merlin as she dusted off her red button-up vest and the sleeves of her white blouse. "Oh me oh my! Keitaro! Did you fall in some kind of enchanted spring and become old?"

"Mmmmhmmmhmmph!"

Merlin blinked, completely taken aback and unsure how to respond. Suu, seeing this, waved her hand in front of Mutsumi's face. Once the MolMolian princess and inventor had the Okinawan native's attention, she directed it down.

"Oh me oh my!" Mutsumi noted she was sitting shapely derriere first on Keitaro's face. "Kei-kei, why are you on the floor? Is a board creaking again? You are such a dedicated manager!"

"MmmmMmmmMmmfph!"

"I believe the King is requesting you elevate your hind quarters, dear girl." Merlin made an up, up motion with an extended palm of his right hand.

Suu took the initiative and assisted Mutsumi to a stand as Keitaro took a grateful breath, willed a blush to subside and stood up as well. "Mutsumi-chan what brings you here?"

"Well, Kei-kei with my class work at Tokyo U I figured why not rent a room here so I can be close to you and Na-chan?" Mutsumi ran her hand through her antenna chocolate brown hair, scratching her head with a short giggle.

Keitaro smiled once he had caught his breath and mentally willed a nosebleed away. Instinctively, he was thankful Naru and Motoko were not around. "Well, we have plenty of room!"

Mutsumi smiled. "I brought a watermelon as I gift," she fumbled around in her skirt, "here," she produced an envelope.

"What's this?" Keitaro wondered as he opened the envelope, looking at the document contained therein. His eyes went wide. Suu hopped around as Merlin looked on.

"... you, you shipped that huge watermelon and yourself here from Okinawa Payment-On-Delivery?!" Keitaro almost felt like he would have a heart attack.

Mutsumi giggled. "My parents paid the down-payment, but not to worry I told them you would pay them back!"

Keitaro gulped, figures from his expense ledger seeming to float in front of his eyes. "Accounts receivable… accounts payable… double-entry bookkeeping!" Keitaro muttered quietly.

"Yays!" Suu spun around. "Keitaros smarties nows!"

"The delivery truck driver and crane operator are outside waiting," Mutsumi giggled. "They told me to let you know they have a very understanding repayment plan as well as accepting of all major credit cards."

"Hell, did they bring their own lawyer with them?" Keitaro asked miserably.

"How did you guess?" Mutsumi giggled.

Keitaro groaned loudly.

Seeing Keitaro's mounting distress, Merlin cleared his throat. "My liege, I would be happy to pay these laborers."

Keitaro smiled thinly, he handed the document to Merlin. "Merlin-sama, I thank you… do you have this much?"

Merlin's brow furrowed. Wordlessly, he motioned Suu over to whisper a translation into his ear. Merlin shook his head in the negative. "I have gold coins, what will these laborers do with them?"

Keitaro smiled. "Let's find out."

000

Leaving Mutsumi to get settled in, after meeting with the workmen by going out the back and around the Inn, the crisis was averted after consultation with the delivery company's lawyer. After being assured the offer was not a prank; that the recipient wished to pay the delivery charge in gold coins, it was agreed that the coins would be examined and Keitaro contacted if any more was needed to pay the bill. Merlin then proceeded to threaten the workmen and the lawyer that if there was any attempt on tricking them into paying more for the service, then he himself would deal with them one at a time..

Keitaro could tell the men did not believe Merlin, and Merlin sensed this too. A well placed crackle of blue lightning up Merlin's right arm persuaded them that they should take Merlin at his word.

Suu (with Mecha Tama) happily took charge of the large watermelon that Mutsumi had gifted the Inn with. Next to it, Keitaro found Mutsumi's bags and took them inside.

Once Merlin and him reached the common room, Keitaro was happy to see Mutsumi seated on the couch giving Naru a tight hug as Tama-chan hovered nearby while Kitsune had taken the opportunity to pour some saucers of sake. It gladdened him that Naru would also have the Turtle Lady's love and support during this difficult time. Even Merlin smiled a touch before respectfully excusing himself to assist Suu with the watermelon (he was barely able to conceal his curiosity).

Tsuruko walked into the room with Motoko at her side mid-argument regarding what combat skills would be taught to Keitaro first, the discussion was dropped the moment they noticed Mutsumi.

"Otohime-san!" Motoko bowed. "It is good to see you again."

"Aoyama-san," Mutsumi nodded. "I'm moving in!"

Motoko visibly sweated. "Oh. How nice." She hastily threw on a smile, yet another distraction for Keitaro...

Tsuruko noted this, and giggled. "Greetings and salutations, Otohime-san."

Mutsumi smiled big and wide. "Oh me oh my, Aoyama-san," the bubbly young lady said to Motoko, "is this your mother?"

Tsuruko blinked, and her mouth opened then shut soundlessly.

KItsune laughed.

Motoko grinned. "Well, you *are* the elder Aoyama in residence."

"Ought not little girls *respect* their elders?" Tsuruko said with a demon glare.

Naru disengaged from the hug and sighed. "Mutsumi-chan, this is Tsuruko Aoyama-"

"-yes, yes Motoko-san's mother!" Mutsumi clasped her hands in front of her gleefully.

"No," Keitaro shook his head. "Tsuruko-san is Motoko-chan's older sister."

Naru sighed. "She is also the new housemother and assistant manager."

"Oh dear," Mutsumi shook her head. "What will Haruka-san say?"

"Something sarcastic; she's been sharpening her words razor sharp lately," Naru replied.

"Also a job she never really wanted in 'tha first place, y'all." Kitsune pointed out.

Keitaro chuckled. "She'll be happy you're here, Mutsumi-chan."

"And who was that kind old man with the gold? Is he a tutor you hired?" Mutsumi smiled brightly.

Keitaro exhaled slowly. "Well, that's a long story."

"A long story without a proper ending yet," Tsuruko also exhaled slowly.

Motoko crossed her arms and maintained a sullen silence. It was obvious she would not be helping with any explanations of recent events for Mutsumi.

Naru chewed her lower lip, briefly reviewing in her mind how to word a capsule version of what had happened before giving up. Naru sighed loudly. "Mutsumi… that old man's name is Merlin; he is a wizard, and Keitaro is going to be the new King of some kind."

Mutsumi's sunny smile faltered somewhat. "... Na-chan, are you joking?"

"Believe me, I wish I were," Naru answered.

Mutsumi fainted.

"Oh my!" Tsuruko exclaimed, going to Mutsumi's side.

"She's okay!" Naru put up her hand. "That's why I made sure she was sitting on the couch, Tsuruko-san."

Tsuruko stopped. Motoko smirked, enjoying the brief start Mutsumi's faint had given her older sister.

"This happens often," Keitaro gently explained to Tsuruko.

True to form, Mutsumi blinked and sat back up and smiled. "I had the strangest dream... Kei-kei was going to be King with the help of a wizard."

"'Ya, Mutsumi-chan," Kitsune smirked, "just like in a fairy tale."

"Like…" Mutsumi looked around the room, as if someone would eavesdrop and tell her she was crazy at any moment. "Like King Arthur, the Knights of the round table, and that wizard Merlin?"

"Well," Keitaro shuffled his feet, looking down. "Probably not like *all* of that..."

"Then who will be Lancelot and Gwenivere?" Mutsumi asked, eyeing Naru.

"Not me," Naru stated. Keitaro grimaced a touch.

Mutsumi absorbed this for a half second before eyeing the other ladies present carefully.

Tsuruko smiled at Mutsumi. "I would hope for a faithful best friend and spouse for Keitaro-san."

Motoko's arms remained crossed. "As would I." She gave Tsuruko a withering look.

'A bit of a stand-off, it seems.' Kitsune thought, slightly amused.

"Oh my," Mutsumi daintily touched her right arm to her chin. "I should write to Mother to tell her to send my wedding dress, then."

Keitaro face-palmed to hide his blush.

Naru's jaw hung open. "This soon, Mutsumi?!"

Motoko's eye twitched.

Tsuruko regarded Mutsumi with what could pass for a cool look.

'Saucy,' Kitsune thought admiringly.

"Well," Mutsumi giggled, "it's best to be prepared."

Keitaro recovered. "Mutsumi… sorry to let you know, my grandmother decided to go ahead and trick me into a marriage agreement with Tsuruko-san."

Mutsumi clasped her hands in front of her. "How darling! Is the duration of a standard year and a day?"

"Yup," Kitsune nodded.

"And will it also be null and void if one or both of the parties produces a more suitable match?" Mutsumi blushed.

"That's the ticket," Naru nodded, her mind still reeling at the complete and total lunacy of it all.

"Goody-goody!" Mutsumi beamed. "I can still win Kei-Kei's heart!"

"Wasting no time I see, Mutsumi..." Naru shook her head, not bothering to hide gentle disapproval. It was one thing for her to not *want* Keitaro it was quite another thing to see all of her friends around her scheme like petty hussy's for their shot at the *King.*

"Well, fortune favors the bold!" Mutsumi quoted.

"Your study of the Classics is showing, Mutsumi-chan," Keitaro gulped.

"Well, one must find out what got us here," Mutsumi smiled.

"''Ya don't say," Kitsune remarked casually.

"You sound like you've heard of these marriage agreements," Keitaro said.

"Oh yes," Mutsumi giggled. "I looked into them to see if it would help Kei-Kei and Na-chan-or me!"

"Lots of manipulative women around here, huh Keitaro?" Naru threw to Keitaro dryly.

"No kidding," Keitaro remarked, then he looked to Tsuruko. "Except for the new housemother," he smiled.

Tsuruko smiled warmly to Keitaro.

"What room will Otohime-san have, Urashima-san?" Motoko asked abruptly.

Keitaro blinked. He thought on it. He thought about Mutsumi and her lovely, daffy personality, her frailty, her tendency to faint and her habit of sleepwalking. "First floor." His tone left no real room to disagree.

Naru, Kitsune, and Motoko looked at Keitaro. Mutsumi simply clapped her hands in glee.

"Kei baby, I thought you had more clean rooms than 'jut on the first floor," Kitsune drawled smoothly, thinking he had just forgot.

"Yeah, but I've decided." Keitaro said simply.

Tsuruko nodded in the affirmative, carrying a little smile on her lips.

"But ought not Otohime-san have some say in the matter?" Motoko prompted.

For her part, Mutsumi had taken to playing with Tama-chan who had curiously decided to keep his distance from Motoko that day.

"Well, I am the manager," Keitaro remarked casually.

Naru shrugged, not getting the context of the interaction taking place. "I'm just happy there's a room ready for Mutsumi-chan."

"Well, 'ya in charge," Kitsune winked at Keitaro.

Motoko blushed, instinctively looking down.

Keitaro chuckled, suddenly self-conscious.

Tsuruko smiled to herself. 'Another encouraging sign,' she thought with a feeling of satisfaction.

Kitsune watched silently, contemplating.

"And since Kei Kei's heart is completely free of attachment in his heart, I can take a bath with him!" Mutsumi declared with utmost sweetness and innocence. The way one would look at a picture of a cute kitten or puppy.

"The hell?!" Naru exclaimed. "WHAT?!" everyone else save Tsuruko yelled.

Keitaro fought a nosebleed valiantly; but failed miserably.

"Otohime-san," Tsuruko smiled with utmost kindness. "While the legal relationship between myself and Keitaro-san was undertaken without our knowledge; I am still housemother so his well-being and judicious morals are my concern as well."

Mutsumi closed her eyes and scratched the back of her head. "Oh me oh my!" she chuckled. "I am afraid you have confused me, Motoko's Mother."

Tsuruko narrowed her eyes minutely as Motoko stifled a snort. "As has already been established, Otohime-san, I am Motoko's elder sister."

"You seem so much more-" Mutsumi began.

"Older?" Motoko supplied with a smirk.

"Mature," Tsuruko interjected with a hint of icy sharpness.

"Now I *know* you two are sisters," Mutsumi clapped her hands joyfully once more.

Tsuruko's smirk was firmly back on her lips. "Will Otohime-san have any other parcels of her effects being delivered today?"

"Nope, unless you count my love for everyone at the Hinata Inn." Mutsumi put her arms out in a giant embrace of thin air.

Keitaro laughed. "You already brought that, Mutsumi-chan!"

Naru smiled.

"I gathered that you have brought us the gift of the watermelon," Tsuruko stated. "Shinobu-chan expressed gratitude once she recovered after her faint."

"Oh my, fainting, how terrible!" Mutsumi's eyes went wide.

Tsuruko turned to Motoko with a silent question on her face. Motoko gave a short nod of her head in the affirmative; this was completely normal in regards to Mutsumi Otohime.

"After lunch I'll help you to your room with your things," Keitaro said, not missing a beat.

"I'll help too!" Naru smiled.

000

Merlin had finished the securing of the watermelon next to the back door out of the kitchen with the assistance of Suu, Tama-chan, and Shinobu when a plume of acrid cigarette smoke wafted past his nostrils. Suu and Shinobu went inside to enjoy some juice before the petite chef set about creating a lunchtime masterpiece and Tama-chan flew off to parts unknown.

The old wizard smiled once he got past the foul smell of the smoke, he smiled in anticipation of the one producing the smoke-

-and was profoundly disappointed when it was Seta who rounded the corner of the Inn enjoying his afternoon cigarette.

It might have been a small comfort to Merlin to know that Seta felt the same way (he had been hoping to run into Naru), but really it was of no real consequence in the grand scheme of things.

"Good sun to you, Teacher-Servant," Merlin gave a flourish of his hands. "I hope the day is finding you well." His tone did nothing to match the words.

"Good afternoon, Merlin-san." Seta bowed his head shortly. "You sound disappointed. Wishing the modern world was more like what you knew?"

"Not entirely," Merlin nodded towards the giant watermelon. "I am finding many sweet fruits to enjoy, even if the crystal ball in the house delights in frivolous stupidity."

Seta gave a toothy grin. "Oh I'm sure there's some things you really miss. Like finding the perfect rock or tree to drop dung." He chuckled.

"Oh no, not that! But if you mean not being able to thrash the backsides of runts like you at will, then yes." Merlin smiled.

Seta laughed. "You know, I don't like it when a lady in my care is disrespected."

"Then you should take your fawning admirer to wife and have done with it; my hearty congratulations." Merlin raised his hands high above his hand and waved.

Seta glared. "It is not like that-she's a friend, I used to tutor her when she was younger-"

"I am losing my patience, *boy.*"

"That makes two of us," Seta put out his cigarette. "You are sorely lacking in Old World manners, old man."

"I know enough to teach you some respect, and to eat your own words." Merlin put his hands out, palms visible.

"You gonna shoot me with lightning? If so, I wore my rubber underwear!" Seta quipped, very pleased with himself.

"I have no idea what that is, but from the context of the statement I have no need to hear about your secret fashion sensibilities." Merlin yawned, cracking his knuckles. "Besides, why waste earth energy on *you* when my fists can do the job?"

"Practical," Seta commented. "Who starts?"

"I care not," Merlin gave a pained look. "You may, if you must."

And so, a spirited sparring match began and promptly ended with Merlin intercepting a quick punch and kick from Seta, promptly throwing him over his shoulder and landing Seta face-first into the dirt.

Merlin yawned, considered saying a cutting comment to the Tokyo U professor, but decided it was not worth the wasted breath and simply walked off.

"That damned son of a bitch," Seta spat out dirt. "Have to ask Tsuruko-san for advice on sparring with him..."

000

Merlin stretched as he walked back around to the front of the Inn, humming as he contemplated that… somehow after thrashing the teacher-servant he felt a new spring in his step.

'Almost feels like before I went to sleep,' Merlin thought as he passed Suu (who was amusing herself by running around the outside of the Inn in airplane mode).

"Medicine Mans, growing younger!" Suu tittered.

"Really, Nobleborn? You can see it?"

Suu nodded as she immediately did a high leap, playfully vaulting onto Merlin's shoulders then effortlessly bouncing off of the side of the Inn before landing back in place. "Must be the sunnies!" Suu said as she continued her airplane run-then suddenly stopped and spun back around on her heel.

"What did Medicine Mans call Suu?" the dark skinned girl asked.

Merlin smiled mischievously. "I can see your inner form, just as you see me change before your eyes."

Suu stopped dead in her tracks, her smile briefly fading from her sunny face. "... no tells?"

"Not unless I must for the sake of the kingdom," Merlin replied. "I only want an idea why."

Suu looked down, shuffling her bare feet on the earth. "No wannas go homes; wannas stays with Kaytaros and friends!"

"What is home, young one?" Merlin knelt down to be on eye level with Suu.

"Boring, boring island where Suu would have to stay forevers if she go back!" Suu shook her head emphatically.

Merlin studied Suu intently for a long moment, then he sighed. "Very well, what I said before stands; your secret is safe so long as it serves the kingdom."

Suu's sunny smile was back, as if it never left. She immediately did a cartwheel around Merlin. Twice. Then went back around the Inn, merrily on her way.

"Stretching the legs also helps make one younger," Merlin grinned, then turned and strode back to where he left Seta in the dirt.

Seta was completely dusted off and was about to go inside the Inn when he saw Merlin come back around the corner. The professor narrowed his eyes, but put on a jovial grin. "Back to grace me with your august presence once more?"

"Do you wish to learn how I throw you around, Teacher-Servant?" Merlin asked.

"While I would rather a different teacher," Seta remarked dryly, "but I don't believe that would be in the cards."

"Not for what I will teach you," Merlin shook his head. "You must endure my lashing tongue."

"That line could be taken a different way these days, old man." Seta took a closer look at Merlin. "You start playing with hair-dye just now?"

"Pah!" Merlin scoffed. "Dye is for clothing, you moron! I propose a transaction; I will teach you to survive a real fight against a being such as myself-a useful skill that will help you serve the King. In return, this practice will help my rejuvenation."

Seta chuckled. "Sounds acceptable. Name your time and place," Seta bowed respectfully.

Merlin acknowledged it with a graceful wave. "After supper; here."

"I'll be here!" Seta gave his cockiest grin.

Merlin cracked a smile. "Feel free to bring your admirer so you can show off your plumage."

Seta bravely concealed a slight blush at the thought of Naru watching him spar!

000

After a pleasant and uneventful enough (for the Hinata Inn) lunch, Keitaro and Naru went to assist Mutsumi to her new room while the others each found things to occupy themselves-which actually was just continuations of what they had been doing before during the morning. The younger girls talked about preparing to go back to school the next morning. Seta made a note to catch a shower both before and after his upcoming sparring match with Merlin; he wanted to look his best for Naru. Motoko quietly went back to her room as she had some time before her afternoon practice.

Efficiently, with her purpose already in mind, Motoko got out her stationary and sat down at her kotatsu. She wrote…

"Dear Yoshida-san,

I have given some time to meditate on your offer, but as of this moment I cannot commit to the request outlined in your letter of introduction. However, I would like to meet you and your brother in order to gather more information before making my final decision. In three days from this writing, please meet me in front of the Hinata City train station at half-past eight o' clock in the evening. If this does not work for you, please offer up an alternative. I will not speak on the phone or make this decision solely based on written correspondence.

Sincerely,

Motoko Aoyama

Captain, Raika Girls High School Kendo Team"

Motoko carefully folded the letter, placed it in the envelope and sealed it. Double-checking to make certain she left her return address as Raika Girls High School. She knew she had just enough time to make it downstairs, out of the house, and down the hill to place it in the public mail-box in time for pick-up.

Motoko accomplished this task, and as she swiftly made her way back up the stone staircase she noticed a dark-haired, sun-hat wearing and flowing black dress wearing figure-

"Kanako-san!" Motoko stopped. "Is there something I can do for you?" Motoko eyed Kanako carefully, she knew that what had happened to Keitaro's newly arrived sister at the Annex was something that could either make, break, or otherwise just permanently alter a person's whole persona.

Kanako gave a short laugh. "I actually came to see if there was something I could do for you. I saw you sprint out of the house and down the stairs like a deer!"

Motoko pursed her lips. "School kendo team business."

Kanako nodded slowly. So slowly in fact, Motoko could *tell* the explanation was not satisfactory for the younger Urashima.

Motoko thought for a split second to beg off and leave when she stopped. Then smiled. "School kendo team business that another set of eyes might be good for."

Kanako cocked an eyebrow. "Do tell, Aoyama-san."

Motoko composed herself for a moment. "A… *male* student at another high school has requested combat kendo training for himself and his younger brother; he says the need is urgent."

Kanako nodded soberly. "And if this request has merited a response from you-then it is the samurai of the Aoyama clan acting, unless I miss my guess?"

"It is. If I may humbly request you accompany me to meet these males."

Kanako smiled. "I will need to check with My Lady, but I do not anticipate a conflict."

"I have not told you the date, time or place of the meeting yet." Motoko cocked an eyebrow.

"We speak of your sister, do not forget," Kanako winked.

"As I am constantly reminded," Motoko groaned. "Very well, the Hinata train station three days from now at half past eight in the evening."

"I will be there and give my undisguised opinion, Aoyama-san," Kanako bowed.

Motoko acknowledged it, wished Kanako a good afternoon and proceeded to her afternoon practice.

000

Kanako, in a pleasant mood, enjoyed the afternoon for a few more moments before going into the Inn and stopped dead when she found Keitaro and Kitsune in a conversation in the common room.

"Big Brother, Konno-san, good afternoon," Kanako greeted. "How are things?"

"As normal as can be expected with our new guest and a giant watermelon out back," Keitaro commented.

Kitsune chuckled absently, she was sipping an open can of beer.

Kanako walked around to face Keitaro and Kitsune sitting on the couch. "Konno-san, is everything all right?"

Keitaro looked down.

"Yeah sugah," Kitsune said slowly, "just tellin' 'ya handsome big brother where I'll be this evenin'."

"I was informed," Kanako favored Kitsune with a look of open compassion.

"But enough of that," Kitsune winked, "what do you think of our new resident?"

"Which one, the old man or the one who needs no introduction save flying turtles?" Kanako laughed.

"The Otohime family is old friends with our family, according to Tsuruko-san," Keitaro said.

"Yes, they are Big Brother." Kanako smiled. "Fate wishes for you to have all of you and our family friends here with you now."

Keitaro blushed. "I still wonder if this King business is for real, you know?"

Kitsune took another long swig of beer. "'Ya can say that again, but…" the ash-blonde woman shrugged.

"It seems there's enough reason to, for now at least, to act like it is for real." Kanako commented, mentally adding to herself: 'it was certainly real enough for me.'

"And now we have Turtle Lady with us," Kitsune laughed, "lots of ladies for you, Kei baby."

Keitaro blushed even redder. "Um… well, um…"

"Hmmph." Kanako wagged a finger at KItsune. "Now, now don't tease the manager, Konno-san."

Kitsune grinned at Keitaro, seemingly completely ignoring Kanako as she took another long sip of her beer. "Well, that's all of my news sugah, anything new and interestin' with 'ya?"

Keitaro smiled. "I am getting my butt kicked tomorrow at dawn."

"Well, that's nothing new." Kitsune replied.

"I am participating," Kanako smiled.

"You?" Kitsune asked.

"Yes, it is combat training after all." Kanako bowed proudly. "And I am the Lady's bodyguard as well."

"'Lotta hands in this pie," Kitsune stated dryly. "How many does it take to teach Kei baby how to fight?"

"I suspect a lively debate about what form and style of training," Kanako matched Kitsune's dry tone.

"I might have to put my foot down," Keitaro crossed his arms. "Just letting you all know."

"The King's mighty boot," Kitsune winked again, taking another long pull of her beer. Then she started laughing drunkenly. "Or the King's mighty booty!" Kitsune love slapped Keitaro on his shoulder.

Keitaro chuckled, hiding his blush as well as he could.

000

It might be said that dinner is frequently the topic or event least likely to arouse significant controversy in the Hinata Inn since the arrival of Shinobu Maehara. As in, the act of eating it or what the esteemed chef had chosen to prepare for the night. Controversies arising from what transpires around the dinner table were a different story, as anyone who has spent any amount of time at the Hinata Inn could tell you. The only real tragic outcome of this was sometimes attention was not paid (except by Keitaro and Motoko) to the surpassing quality of Shinobu's mastery of food due to the ensuing madness of said controversy. On this night, Shinobu had selected a simple but satisfying recipe of tempura, rice and fresh greens along with a variety of miso soup.

Or so, that was the plan. About one minutes before Shinobu was about to finish work on the miso soup and tempura (removing them from the heat of the stove), Shinobu found Suu with a full tummy and an empty kettle that was supposed to be full of rice! Suu had been apologetic, but told her best friend that she had skipped her pre-dinner/post-lunch meal and the hunger had struck fiercely when she smelled the rice in the pot. Shinobu asked why she did not eat a banana, or the now vast (vast!) supply of watermelon and Suu sheepishly said when one wants rice the call cannot be ignored. It was at this point that the unmistakable scent of burning tempura and bubbling soup hitting the burners on the stove wafted past Shinobu's nose.

And so, with that, dinner was ruined.

Suu apologized profusely, and Shinobu forgave her. By this time, Keitaro, Naru, and Tsuruko had come into the kitchen having been alerted by the conversation and one of Suu's loud belches. The conversation turned to what to do about dinner, as Shinobu had told everyone twenty minutes and twenty minutes had already elapsed. Suu suggested rice cakes and cookies, along with a lot of bananas and watermelon but immediately fell silent at the agast look from Shinobu.

"Well, we gotta do something about dinner and fast," Naru crossed her arms, shaking her head while giving Suu a look.

Suu simply belched again in response.

Keitaro face-palmed, then silently went to the counter, opened a drawer and extracted a flier that read "Hinata Pizza."

Tsuruko watched intently.

"I guess it's pizza tonight," Keitaro said mostly to himself. He looked to Shinobu, handing the flier to the petite chef with a rueful smile. "Shinobu-chan, forgive me but would you please go ask everyone what they want and try to find a choice everyone can agree on?"

"I'll go and help, Keitaro." Naru said, "I'll make sure everyone knows we'll go hungry or have to go out for beef bowls otherwise."

""Thanks!" Keitaro smiled as Naru grabbed the flier and left with Shinobu.

Keitaro eyed Suu. "Suu-chan, you better go with them; I know you want something swimming in curry and you gotta sell it to them." He noticed the pout Suu was starting to give him, "hey, you ate all the rice!"

Suu nodded, giving a salute. "Yesss, Chiefs!" She spun around and followed after Naru and Shinobu.

"Chiefs?" Keitaro said to Tsuruko, bewildered.

"Another odd translation from MolMol to Japanese?" Tsuruko ventured. "Good handling of the situation, Keitaro-san; the majority of those in your care seem to be satisfied with pizza." A soft smile.

"Majority?"

Tsuruko pursed her lips and clasped her hands in front of her waist in a picture of demure, prim and proper traditional Japanese womanhood that made Keitaro freeze and harden to his core. She looked into his eyes. "It is a small matter; but I know myself and Motoko-han share a lack of fondness for foreign fast food." She smiled brighter then: "Unless it is sweets or German knockwurst."

Keitaro blinked, then flushed sharply. How stupid of him! He knew that, but he was trying to prevent a hungry meltdown amongst the youngest and most susceptible residents under his care. Keitaro thoughtly wildly for a split second… what should he do? Run out for something quick for Tsuruko and Motoko? That'd be appreciated, but his absence might cause more questions than answers. He was afraid Merlin might take his absence as him running away. What then? Take the Aoyama sisters down the street for a quick beef bowl? That would cause a speculation explosion on the part of Kitsune and Mutsumi that might escalate to some kind of comedy of errors on top of everything else he was dealing with…

Cook something for them? With his luck, that'd likely end up with both Aoyama sisters ill and hating him forever. The only thing he could do in the kitchen was bake and create confections-

-then Keitaro smiled. He turned to Tsuruko who started with just how… confident and strong the smile and expression on Keitaro's face was in that moment.

"I've got you and your sister covered, Tsuruko-san."

000

The order to Hinata Pizza was thus. All pizza orders were of the extra large variety; persistent requests from Sara for sides such as breadsticks were denied. Sara happily got back at being denied breadsticks by naming her, Keitaro, and Kitsune's pizza the "Dork Pizza" (topping; pepperoni and shrimp), the next one was plain cheese (Shinobu, Suu), margarita (Naru, Mutsumi) and for Merlin and Seta there was the closest thing to wild boar that could be acquired and placed on a pizza… Kobe style fresh ground beef. A quick call to Haruka asked if she or Kentaro wanted anything; but the reply was laughter and a "no thanks" and a brief mention that Kentaro was "on assignment" and out of town.

During this, Keitaro's involvement was fairly minimal as he did a quick survey of the pantry, refrigerator, and then as quick as a rabbit he dashed out. In an almost lightning quick sprint he first visited Haruka's tea shop, borrowed a couple more ingredients, then darted across the street to a small convenience store that he knew sold a few more. He was back in the Inn before anyone (save Tsuruko and Merlin) noticed he had stepped out for a bit. Keitaro then set about baking. The ingredients he acquired would make the job quicker and able to be prepared by the time the pizzas would arrive. Until then, his residents and friends were either munching on rice crackers or waiting with what could pass as patience while sipping tea or juice (Kitsune was already well-past tipsy on her stash of beer).

Motoko had tried on three separate attempts to put on her shoes and leave for a quick beef bowel. She was stopped by Tsuruko who told her Keitaro would take care of their meals. Motoko wanted to be alone with her thoughts, and she knew that Keitaro's cooking skills were lacking as a simple matter of experience, but she relented at Tsuruko's stern look and the thought that Keitaro was likely thinking along the same lines as she was. Still, an unbidden, illogical mental image came to mind of her and Keitaro running into each other at the beef bowl stand and sharing a moment together-

Motoko had to excuse herself to the bathroom until the blush subsided.

Meanwhile, sounds could be heard outside the back door of the Inn. Seta and Merlin's spirited (and a bit foul mouthed) sparring match that had been moved up to being pre-supper entertainment. Later, Naru joyously (a bit too joyously to Kitsune's amusement) said that Seta was improving against the wizard.

When Motoko emerged, a sweet decadent scent lusciously caressed her nostrils. Instantly her mouth watered. Indulging in anything sweet was, as a rule, something she had only allowed herself a handful of times a year since she graduated grade school. It was chocolate, the scent told her, the richest, darkest chocolate imaginable. Motoko composed herself, snapping her jaw shut when she was momentarily frightened her mouth was hanging open in open violation of stoicism (she had not). Wordlessly, she followed the scent towards the kitchen-

"Motoko-han!" Tsuruko exclaimed.

"Big Sister!" Motoko chirped, turning to see her sibling stride up the hall.

"What is that wondrous, delicious… confection?" Tsuruko luxuriated in the sniffs she was enjoying.

"Let us investigate!" Motoko nodded towards the kitchen.

Tsuruko and Motoko walked into the kitchen just in time to see Keitaro gingerly remove from the oven a pan… a pan containing a cake... a decadent chocolate ganache cake. Slowly, deliberately, Keitaro placed the dessert on the counter with a satisfied smile.

"I hope they like it," Keitaro said to himself. His back was turned, and had not heard Motoko and Tsuruko arrive in the kitchen. The Aoyama sisters observed Keitaro go over to the counter and start to write carefully on a card with a marker. He smiled once he was satisfied, and then walked out of the opposite doorway out of the kitchen without looking back to see the two samurai when Kitsune was heard saucily calling his name that the pizzas had arrived.

Once Keitaro was safely gone, Tsuruko and Motoko shared a silent look, and they both walked over just close enough to clearly read what Keitaro had written on the card…

"Aoyama Pie; for samurai ONLY!"

000

All in all, dinner was enjoyed by all. Even Merlin, after carefully observing Suu devour her slices, followed suit and gave a positive review; he did not immediately want to retch. Mutsumi made certain there were generous portions of watermelon for dessert, as well. The younger girls eyed the decadent chocolate ganache cake Keitaro had made for Tsuruko and Motoko as the two Aoyama samurai carefully but gratefully enjoyed such an indulgence; but Keitaro held firm that he made it only for them to enjoy.

"Why did you go through all of that trouble for them, dork?" Sara pointed at Keitaro's nose.

Keitaro gulped. "I j-j-just wanted Motoko-chan and Tsuruko-san to have something good to eat tonight!"

"But you made something you *knew* you wouldn't screw up!" Sara jeered.

Keitaro blinked. Then smiled a touch. "Because I'm *that* good at chocolate."

"Your point is, Sara-chan?" Motoko asked Sara sternly, her eyes boring into the American girls'.

Sara sat back down in a huff.

"Good," Motoko replied, satisfied as she tasted the luscious residue of chocolate on her lips in a manner some would claim to be un-samurai like.

Keitaro breathed a sigh of relief and found his eyes somehow resting on Tsuruko.

His housemother winked.

Keitaro blushed.

All the other girls watched, laughed good naturedly at the display as Kitsune, Kanako, and Tsuruko quietly clinking sake saucers in celebration of Keitaro's small triumph.

Once the remaining cake was carefully wrapped and placed in the refrigerator with the "Aoyama Pie" card placed back on top of it by Motoko, she found herself accepting an invitation of tea on the back porch of the Inn from her sister.

The night was full of stars and a light breeze blew in from the southwest. There was a light, peaceful rustle to the leaves that Motoko always appreciated in her years at the Hinata Inn and Tsuruko was pleased to return to.

Both women were half-way through their mugs of tea when Motoko said: "Morning training must begin an hour before dawn."

"Two hours, considering the richness of that 'dessert for dinner,'" Tsuruko shook her head amid a rueful, but pleased, smirk. "I know some of Keitaro-san and Kanako-san's parents' various 'unofficial' businesses, but the Urashima talent for confectionary is well earned indeed."

Motoko smiled. "I must prepare for the baths."

"As will I, Motoko-han." Tsuruko replied, leaving unsaid the meeting with Merlin as Motoko finished her tea and formally excused herself.

000

Tsuruko proceeded back around the Inn from the outside silently, intent on the agreed upon meeting place; the top of the stone staircase. She saw ahead of her a male figure, obviously Merlin but three more forms with him. A puff of cigarette smoke announced one was Haruka, but the other-

-"Motoko-han!" Tsuruko exclaimed.

"My preparation for this evening's bath begins here," Motoko deadpanned, crossing her arms.

"I really have no follow-up to that one," Haruka clucked through her cigarette in the dark.

"It is past *my* time to retire, so let's hurry this along," Merlin stamped one foot impatiently.

"So the wizard needs his sleep," Seta chuckled.

"Silence, boy," Merlin snarled. "Or you will get a third sparring match today; so intense you will sleep like the dead, teacher!"

"Got hot chocolate with Naru," Seta replied nonchalantly.

"Yeah, 'hot' I bet," the cold look from Haruka was unmistakable.

Tsuruko sighed, raised her hand high in the air. "We are here to discuss Keitaro-san's combat training to commence tomorrow. I care not one whit about anything else at this moment."

"Right," Merlin snapped his fingers. "I have seen some of the familiar fighting styles in this time and place and while I see the reasons behind them-I find them all useless."

"A real charmer, aren't you?" Haruka shook her head.

"Only for you," Merlin smiled warmly at the tea house proprietor.

Haruka exhaled smoke directly at Merlin.

"I really should gather some *fresh* tobacco for you, dear Lady, for a proper council audience." Merlin continued smiling.

Motoko cleared her throat loudly. "We are getting completely off track!"

Merlin nodded. "Useless for training the King in what he needs to build a proper foundation. His family teachings have their good points; but he has not mastered them sufficiently and time is limited for his training." Merlin took a breath before clarifying: "Limited as in we do not have a decade or two to focus just on that."

"Merlin-sama has also told me many times Jeet Kwon Due is something he expects only children to learn." Seta commented.

"Babes, actually," Merlin replied smartly.

Seta held his silence.

"God's Cry kendo would be best, I know Motoko-han would agree," Tsuruko pursed her lips. "But we do not have the decades for proper mastery and we have to find a method of shortening the way forward for Keitaro-san so he can be prepared for when the Seraphim returns."

Motoko blinked. "Big Sister, you cannot be serious about this."

"Again, he needs combat training and fast. He also needs to at least become proficient at it." Tsuruko smiled sadly.

"I think," Haruka took another long drag on her cigarette. "Tomorrow we need to start with basic street fighting skills with Keitaro and see what he picks up the best. We all bring our best, most useful lessons for him to learn and try to make him a general well-rounded brawler."

Merlin seemed lost in thought for a long moment, finally he snapped his fingers again. "I think the Lady of Tea, Beauty, and Wisdom-"

"Don't butter me up!" Haruka jabbed a finger in Merlin's direction.

"-sounds inviting!" Merlin clicked his tongue. "I believe you are correct, Lady Haruka."

"Very well, for the first training session we will follow Haruka-san's recommendation." Tsuruko smirked.

Motoko sighed loudly. "He needs *firm* training."

"Or you just wish his *firm* training with you, dear sister?" Tsuruko winked.

Even in the dark Motoko's deep red blush was amusing to all.

Merlin shook his head, gave Motoko a look with light contempt. "Young warrior, is it not a bit early for the King to take a concubine when he was yet to consummate with the Queen?"

Motoko's blush grew deeper and mixed the embarrassment with anger and scandal. "... how… how dare you!"

Tsuruko snickered, gracefully lifting a hand in the air and taking a step forward to place herself in between Motoko and Merlin. "Hohoho! I believe we are done here for tonight."

"Hmm," Haruka nodded curtly, balancing the cigarette in her mouth. "Where's Kana-chan?"

"Resting," Tsuruko replied. "On my orders." She noticed Haruka narrow her eyes. "My servant will naturally defer to my judgment in her Big Brother's training."

"If you say so," Haruka sighed.

"Until the morrow, before the sun pierces the horizon," Merlin nodded and simply stalked off towards the Inn.

Haruka peered closer at Merlin in the dark. "Are you putting on makeup, Welshman?"

Merlin blinked for a moment, momentarily perplexed. Then he remembered what he had seen on the crystal ball in the King's main hall. Suu's explanation had been informative of what a "commercial" and "beauty products" were intended for. He threw his head back and laughed loudly.

While Merlin laughed, Haruka had plenty of time to stamp out the butt of her cigarette, retrieve another, light it and take a deep drag.

Finally, Merlin's guffawing ceased. "No, dear Lady, just getting some practice and breathing the air." Then he gave Haruka another appraising look. "And being in the presence of a beautiful Lady."

Haruka responded with exhaling another large cloud of smoke, turned on her heel and started walking down the stone staircase to her tea house.

After that, everyone else bowed shortly, and said their goodnights. Seta shook his head at the display between his former girlfriend and new antagonist, and began walking down the stairs. He had an appointment.

000

Seta knocked on the door of the private room at the karaoke bar closest to the Hinata Tea shop. The door was opened by a woman in her mid to late thirties with brown hair cut in a framing bob style; her eyes matched her hair and she had a beauty mark just below her right eye. She had a quiet, casual beauty and style about her that Seta instantly marked as a fine cover for the Buddhist Spiritualist vibe he sensed from her.

"Good evening, my name is Himiko Se Masaki, therapist, please come in." Himiko showed him in, he saw both Naru and Kitsune had already arrived and were clutching mugs of tea.

Once the door was closed, Himiko asked if Seta would like some tea. He said yes, and soon he was seated on a couch with Naru sipping tea and counting the seconds. If they both felt like it, he and Naru were still planning to get hot chocolate after the session.

"I must say," Himiko began, looking at Kitsune. "While not the first time I have had therapy sessions outside of my office; it is the first time in a karaoke parlor."

"Well," Kitsune indicated Naru and Seta, grinning tipsily, "'y'all told me to find a place close by that we can have privacy and sneak into and out of!"

"Yeah, it certainly fits the bill," Naru said to Kitsune.

"Okay, we're… as ready as we will ever be," Seta took a slow sip of his tea after blowing off the steam.

Himiko nodded. "There will only be sparse therapist notes and no recordings of this session. When the location was told to me by Konno-san I already had it swept of all possible surveillance devices."

All three of them simply looked at Himiko in stunned silence.

"So," Himiko sipped her own tea. "All three of you know each other; but I don't know you."

Seta took the lead with short introductions for Naru, Kitsune and himself.

Himiko smiled. "My husband Tenchi, who is a Shinto priest from Okayama told me that when souls are troubled and come together to seek help it is because they are ready to face anything together. I feel that strong bond and determination from you three here tonight."

"Buddhist Spiritualist," Seta smirked. "I could feel it walking through the door. Why take up being a therapist?"

Himiko frowned slightly. "I cannot discuss the particulars; but I can tell you that working in the field lost its appeal some years back."

"It does take its toll," Seta returned his attention to his tea. He eyed the ladies in his company.

"I'll start talking," Naru said unsteadily. She told her part of the events that brought them there starting with her taking leave of Hinata City to go on her club trip in Kyoto, then Kitsune took over, and finally Seta. When everyone was finished, there were many tears and Kitsune was trembling.

Himiko turned her compassionate expression to Kitsune. "... you're drunk, aren't you?"

Kitsune blinked the tears from her eyes. Thought about denying it, or laughing it off, but just could not. "...um, yeah."

"I am not going to tell you to stop, but if you want to get the most out of these sessions please attempt to keep it under control." Himiko said as if reading an ingredient list. "Is it recreational or to get away from pain?"

"Recreational." Kitsune answered without hesitation.

"Any other substance use?" Himiko gave the fox a probing look.

"... used to do cocaine and LSD here and there."

Naru and Seta sat stone silent.

"How long ago was your last time?" Himiko asked.

"Three years."

"Why did you stop?" Himiko's mouth was drawn into an expressionless line

Kitsune shuffled her foot. "The club I went to probably wasn't paying their protection money and actually got raided by the police without warning."

Seta rubbed his temples from memory. "Probably the Goru gang; they don't hesitate to kick someone when they're down… many times."

Naru gave Kitsune a comforting side-hug. Kitsune smiled softly. "I got arrested; lucky for me I was already livin' at the Hinata Inn and Granny Hina got me out of trouble."

"Must have been difficult," Himiko stated.

"'Ya. But I got through it with friends and sake." Kitsune chuckled thinly.

"Ever since your encounter with the creature, have you increased your drinking?" Himiko asked.

Kitsune shook her head in the negative. "It's stayin' the same; just trying to hang out more with Kei-friends!"

Seta laughed. "No reason to hide anything here, Kits."

Naru closed her eyes and exhaled loudly. "Just keep talking, Kitsune."

"So, we all have this friend who manages the Inn on 'yonder hill, and he's gonna be King-" Kitsune's eyes opened wide.

Naru made a slashing motion with her hand. "Second thought; don't keep talking!"

Seta chuckled, smiled at Himiko in a disarming way. "The Inn manager they're talking about is a part-time helper of mine; he's a-King of Kindness!"

Naru and Kitsune nodded vigorously.

"HmmMmmph," Himiko remarked and said no more for a few seconds. Then: "Konno-san, do you plan on curbing your intake of alcohol?"

Kitsune blinked. "Why? It tastes good and I'm only half-way through sampling the world's best booze."

Both Seta and Naru groaned.

"Very well, we will move on from that." Himiko replied.

'Thank the Kami!' Kitsune thought madly through her buzz.

"This Inn manager; tell me more about him." Himiko asked no one in particular.

"He just got dumped," Kitsune drawled without thinking.

Naru stiffened. "It wasn't like that, there never was an 'us' in the first place, really…"

Seta sighed. "Does anyone mind if I smoke?"

"I do," Himiko answered curtly.

"My apologies," Seta bowed his head shortly with his hands up briefly.

Kitsune narrowed her eyes at Naru. "Well, you two could have fooled us for a while. Kei baby certainly bought into it."

"Your meddling didn't help any!" Naru shot back angrily.

"Everytime you shot him down; you gave him just enough to hold out hope for a little while longer," Kitsune sighed, "'ya also were the most indecisive person I ever met."

Naru clenched her fist. "Well, Keitaro shouldn't have listened to you-"

"Shut up." Kitsune declared. "You were the one who couldn't *stop* talking my ear off about 'that pervert this' and 'that pervert that.' Then there were 'tha comparisons to a certain professor we both know."

Seta's expression brightened with surprise and undisguised curiosity. "Oh, and who is this 'certain professor'?"

Naru and Kitsune rewarded Seta with a withering look.

"Oh," Seta chuckled bashfully, "I guess it's me."

Kitsune sighed. "I guess you got what *really* wanted after all this time, Naru."

"What?!" Naru blinked, shrinking back in her seat.

Himiko jotted down some notes.

"'Ya'," Kitsune jabbed a finger at Naru. "You never quite got over your crush on Seta-sensei, so you encouraged Keitaro towards becoming more like him!"

Naru looked down. "B-but I didn't want that… want *Keitaro*..."

"Nope, not the lovable loser Keitaro no. Not as he walked in the door to the Inn," Kitsune blushed, turning to Himiko. "After all the misunderstandings and tomfoolery was settled, that is." Kitsune gave a short nervous chuckle before turning back to Naru. "You wanted a more accessible Seta; so you tried to be a changin' Keitaro from loser ronin to-"

"-Indiana Jones," Seta interjected.

Kitsune and Himiko's mouths gaped open.

"Seriously?" Kitsune asked, then laughed. "Keitaro was a better person walking in the door than I was, and I was your best friend… and that still wasn't quite goodish enough for 'ya? You needed him to become someone else who just happened to closely resemble your old crush?"

Naru continued looking down, a soft blush forming on her cheeks. "Your crush too, Kitsune."

Kitsune blushed. "Not as much as you."

"Point," Naru replied hotly.

"Fascinating," Himiko took another note.

"Not like you're innocent either, Kits." Seta's tone darkened.

"Nope… I'm a… cheat… a user… and lazy but I know that, at least. Especially now," Kitsune sighed. "Naru, I love 'ya but what happened wasn't cool. In fact, it was downright cold."

Naru shook her head, still staring at the plush karaoke parlor's carpet.

Seta silently wrapped his arm around Naru. Seta fixed his eyes on Kitsune, his face solemn. "From what I've gathered, Kits, you got what you want now too-or at least a shot at it."

"What?" Kitsune asked.

"Keitaro," Naru supplied. "You want Keitaro."

Kitsune shrugged. "'Ya, I do. See? I know what I want and can say it, too!"

"It seems now," Himiko raised a graceful, almost mystical hand. "That Narusegawa-san can as well."

Naru looked up. "Huh?"

Himiko nodded. "While what you did was cold; it did start your friend Urashima-san and everyone else on a journey of more firm ground of where everyone was and was not in their relationships."

"See?" Seta smiled at Naru. "It's kinda like what I told you back when I visited you at your Mother's."

"Yeah…" Naru mumbled, wiping the beginnings of tears from her eyes.

"'Kay," Kitsune remarked. "So… now what?"

"Well," Himiko gave Kitsune a probing look. "Now what indeed? Do you three want to meet again together? Next week, same day and time?"

The three patients shared a long look, then decided that the thought did have its appeal. The three of them facing this together, shouldering the burden, and also-

"There's been some… strange changes and new residents at the Hinata Inn," Seta said slowly," would it be outside of your remit for us to talk about them so long as the Organization's guidelines are observed?"

"Yes, of course it would." Himiko answered enthusiastically.

"Ladies? I'm game if you two are." Seta smiled.

Kitsune and Naru looked at each other, thought it over for a moment, then nodded that they were too.

Himiko glanced around the karaoke parlor thoughtfully. "I've decided I like this venue. If it is acceptable to all three of you; same place?"

The three patients also replied they would like that as well.

Himiko rose effortlessly and bowed. "Until next week, then. If anything arises, all three of you are allowed to contact me through my office."

Seta, Naru, and Kitsune returned the bow.

With that, they silently adjourned from the karaoke bar, Himiko leaving in a waiting black car driven by a staid, somber older man in a white suit and glasses while Kitsune gave both Naru and Seta a quick hug, apologized for her harsh words, and said she needed to hit up Kubo's Bar before that day's well drink special expired.

Seta and Naru silently watched the ash-blonde woman walk up the street to Kubo's; not taking their eyes off of her until she safely entered her favorite watering hole. After that, by equally silent agreement the couple went to the "hot chocolate appointment" Seta had mentioned at the meeting for Keitaro's combat training.

000

From the desk of Motoko Aoyama…

Dear Mother,

I hope this letter finds you well and please know in your heart how much I love you and miss you. I am sure the agents of Granny Hina have already kept you abreast of recent events so I will not recite what you no doubt already know. I am afraid this letter will be brief and it is primarily to make a request as a samurai of the Aoyama clan and the God's Cry School to the acting head of the dojo. With the destruction of the Hina katana I am in need of the trainer blade I utilized back in Kyoto. I humbly beseech you, Mother mine, to send it to me as soon as possible.

I am also writing to you to request advice. A young man-not Urashima-san-has requested kendo training, actual kendo training. I will meet with him and hear his request with the assistance of Kanako Urashima, I am uncertain of the outcome of this meeting. My emotions lately have been a maelstrom of conflict that exceeds the outside storm of recent events. So much has changed for me, and when I need comfort I read your letters from home. I hope to see you again soon, and while I am grateful for Big Sister… and love her, I must also beg your pardon for advice as to how to… be sisterly towards her in her new role in my life-the Inn's life, that is.

Your most respectful and humble daughter,

Motoko

000

From the desk of Mutsumi Otohime…

Dear Mommy,

Kei-Kei is the new King of the World! And sooo much cuter than Leonardo DiCaprio! Shhh, don't tell anyone! And don't tell anyone I told you, oh me oh my! Tee-hee, there's also a wizard named Merlin living with Kei-Kei now too and his little sister Kanako! There is also another Aoyama-sama at the Inn now too; she is the new housemother and my new rival since Na-chan wants that charming Seta-sensei! I have a feeling I will need more watermelons delivered soon… perhaps an even bigger one! I can just feel the Inn and the Tea House craving more friends. Tama-chan agrees, he feels it is the world's destiny!

Please send my party dress and wedding dress. Kei-Kei's wizard will be happy to provide you the money, I am sure!

XX's and OO's,

Your little watermelon baby already planning for your grand watermelons!

This letter was delivered to Natsumi Otohime not by regular postal service, but by personal couriers who wore neatly tailored white suits along with a companion letter making it clear to Natsumi to keep the contents of the letter private to the immediate Otohime family on Okinawa.

000

Hime Aoyama sat on a stone in the middle of the forest just outside of the God's Cry School compound. It was not a clearing, per se, it was not even served by a path in the woods. It was surrounded by tall pines on all sides and below it was a bed of rotted pine needles and underbrush. It was a place she could go and not be disturbed or sensed when she needed a place of stillness and silence in which to think. The events of recent months had been both infuriating to her sense of family discipline and propriety and yet tantalizing in the possibilities she sensed for advancing her vision for the clan and the school.

Hime smiled softly, thinking of her sleeping eight year old son Akira, away safe and warm back in *her* wing of the family compound. Even before the death of her husband, Shinjiro (heroically died exorcising a demon from a child), she had felt her clan and dojo's decline must be stopped and reversed.

The contours of her plan were simple but elegant; if Tsuruko or Motoko could not lead God's Cry, then Chisako would eventually have to allow succession of the title to go to her younger sister, Hime, and her issue. In the absence of a suitable female leader in the mainline family's matrilineal direct line; then a capable male from the main family was preferable than a female from a branch family; it was known to all who mattered and not a matter of controversy. Once that occurred, Hime imagined her and her son taking on and taking over all the kendo dojos and demon-hunting outfits in Japan and consolidating them under direct rule. That would make her ancestors proud.

The only uncertainty was the most glaring; events surrounding her nieces down in Hinata City were chaotic to say the least, no thanks to the meddling of Elder Hina. If her hopes were to come to fruition, some other moves would have to be taken to make the whole clan see that it was time for Hime to lead. She resolved to meditate on this further and further.

Hime closed her eyes.

It was unfortunate for Hime that in the darkness of the forest and her solitude, there was no one (not even a nocturnal bird or even an insect) to alert her as a wisp of dark cloud wafted down through the pines, hovered directly above her against that night's prevailing breeze then moved off through the forest towards the Aoyama family compound…

000

End Chapter 8.

AFTERWARD: Himiko Se is from the 1988 "Vampire Princess Miyu" OVA. I am borrowing her without permission for no profit. Same thing with Tenchi Masaki from the 1992 "Tenchi Muyo" OVA 1. I imagine in the world of "Reforged" Tenchi does not awaken the Space Pirate Ryoko until years later when he becomes a Shinto priest and is simply given the keys to the old shrine by his asshole of a grandfather. By that time Tenchi and Himiko are already together.

I am getting a feeling we should continue on with "Reforged" Chapter 9. Thank you so much for your reviews, follows, favorites, reads and support!