Love Hina: Once Again
Chapter 42
"Hot springs! Hot springs!' the little blond sang as the group walked up the steps to the inn.
"You haven't been to a hot springs before, Lotte?" the light brown haired girl asked.
"No, but I've always wanted to, Ushio!" Lotte beamed.
The small group of highschoolers reached the top of the stairs, and the Hinata Inn itself. All were carrying small bags for their overnight visit, and looked a bit tired from the long stairs.
"Argh, what a climb," Miyako Taema groaned, the short brown haired girl standing beside her girlfriend.
Tomoe Hachisuka, a taller black haired girl, patted her lover's arm as she said, "Well. We made it and can relax, now."
"Sumi! Are you okay?" Ushio asked as Sumika Murasame also caught up with them.
The tall, black haired girl in glasses didn't even look winded by the climb as she shrugged, "I'm okay. Let's get checked in, huh?"
"Just two rooms?" Kanako Urashima asked as they registered.
"Yes, it's a club excursion for us," Tomoe explained.
"Ah, Karate Club," Kanako noted, interested. "We have several martial artists living here, actually. Maybe we could do a bout."
"Sumika?" Tomoe looked at the tall girl.
"I suppose?" Sumika said a bit sheepishly.
"Only if you feel like it," Kanako added mildly.
"Let's get to our rooms then do the hot springs," Lotte said eagerly.
"No running, Lotte," Sumika chided mildly as the group walked off.
Everyone put their stuff in the rooms, then headed out to the springs. Just wearing long towels, the five women settled into the soothing waters.
"Ahh, that's nice," Miyako sighed happily.
"Hmm, yeah," Ushio sighed, laying back.
Sumika VERY MUCH pretended she didn't notice Ushio's breasts bounce as she soaked.
Tomoe gave her a sympathetic look, which Sumika also ignored.
"Sumika, did you want to do a practice match later?" Lotte asked her adoringly.
Sumika shrugged slightly, "Well, we'll see."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"There's THREE swords women living here?" Setsuna Sakurazaki blinked as she chatted to Kitsune over at the Hinata Cafe. The tall, black haired girl had her hair tied in a side ponytail, and was dressed in loose, comfortable clothes.
"Yes, Motoko, Tennyo and Utena," Kitsune told her. She paused and added, "But don't try to spar with Utena."
Setrsuna tilted her head, the black haired girl nodding. She had been through... stuff herself, so she could understand that.
Kitsune continued, "I know Motoko probably would like to spar with you. I'm not sure about Tennyo, though."
"I'm sort of on a training journey," Setsuna admitted, "so I would appreciate it."
"Set-chan!" a cheerful voice called as another woman entered.
"Konoka," Setsuna smiled at her warmly.
Konoka Konoe hurried over, beaming at her girlfriend. "Did you find who you were looking for, Set-chan?" she asked.
"I think so," Setsuna smiled. "Did you find the shrine you wanted to visit?" she asked.
"Shrine?" Kitsune checked.
"Yes, my Grandfather sent me to meet with Ms Kagome. We're interested in networking with people like us," Konoka explained.
Kitsune found herself wondering how she might react to meeting Anthy and Utena. Well, either way it wasn't her business, really.
"Did you want a iced coffee too?" Kitsune asked Konoka.
"Please!" Konoka smiled.
Both girls settled at a corner table, and pointedly ignoring the boys that seemed intrigued by the two newcomers.
"Another couple?" Shinobu asked Kitsune as she carried out food from the kitchen.
"Looks like it," Kitsune agreed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Miss Konoe, please stop trying to pet Inu-Yasha," Rei Hino scolded.
"But he's so CUTE!" Konoka cried.
"Get her off me!" Inu-Yasha complained.
Reluctantly Konoka let him go, and the half demon boy bounded off, disappearing into the nearby trees. "Oh poo," Konoka pouted.
Kagome looked more amused than anything else. "So you're from Mahora Academy?" she asked, looking over the letter Konoka gave her.
"Yes. My Grandfather, the Headmaster, wants to try to network magic users in and around Japan," Konoka explained.
'Wonder if that applies to magical girls too?' Rei wondered.
"I'm more a spiritualists, but it does sound interesting," Kagome admitted.
Konoka turned to Rei, "You're not on my contact list, but I can sense a impressive amount of magical energy from you. Would you be interested?"
"I'm kind of tied up with other commitments," Rei said diplomatically. She paused then added, "A question: what about Magical Girls?"
"We're looking into contacting them," Konoka admitted, "the disguise magic most of them have makes it complicated."
"Makes sense," Rei agreed. She made a mental note to talk to Usagi and the others about this. It was interesting...
"Do I need to commit to this now?" Kagome wondered.
"Oh, no," Konoka said quickly, "no pressure. We're still trying to get whatever this ends up being organized."
"It's stupid," Inu-Yasha scoffered. "You can only rely on your own strength, not these fools."
"Inu-yasha!" Kagome ordered, "SIT!"
The magic necklace he wore kicked in, slamming him down into the ground.
"Poor thing," Konoka said gently. She paused, "Can I try it?"
"Hey!" Inu-Yasha protested.
"It only works for me," Kagome explained.
"Awww," Konoka pouted.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Kanako had to admit, she was impressed.
Symika and Kanako exchanged a flurry of blows and kicks, striking and blocking gracefully.
"Holy...," Tomoe blinked.
"They're both very good," Motoko agreed, the tall swordswoman watching.
"Fist of the North Pole?" Kanako asked as they paused the fight a moment.
Sumika nodded, "And that's Urashima school."
"My Grandma, Hina, taught me," Kanako agreed. "Shall we step it up a bit?"
"Of course," Sumika agreed, then they became a blur of flying fists.
"Oh fuck," Miyako blinked, the girls barely able to keep up with the fight.
"Go Sumika!" Lotte cheered.
"Kick her ass, Kanako!" Kitsune called, also watching from the sidelines.
"Who do you think will win?" Motoko asked Tennyo curiously.
The (much) older Tennyo frowned thoughtfully. "Both are very good," she mused, "but I think Murasame has the edge."
"Really?" Kitsuna asked.
"I think I even see bits of Chinese Amazon in her fighting style," Tennyo added.
Suddenly Kanako staggered, then dropped.
"What?" Kitsune yelped.
"Pressure point attack," Motoko realized. "How...?" she wondered.
"Well THAT was embarrassing," Kanako muttered.
"Here, I'll undo the effect," Sumika said, gently pressing points in her arms.
"Could you show me how to do that?" Kanako asked as the smaller girl recovered.
"We'll see," Sumika smiled faintly.
To be continued...
Notes: Sasameki Koto/Whispered Words appearance.
Negima more or less exists in the same universe as Love Hina, in my canon at least.
I do need to decide what happened to the mages from Negima over in my Crystal Tokyo canon. Will have to think about it...