YOUR ORDERS
Chapter 4: Awakenings

PV: SHINOBU

It's the big moment. The girls carry senpai until they get to the main saloon. As Kitsune said, it's Keitaro's "doomsday". After all, we need to know why Urashima-senpai left us. I had never felt so much sadness as that day, not even when my parents got separated. It's because, when my parents got separated, Urashima-senpai was there, protecting me and giving me strength. When Keitaro-senpai gone away, I felt a large emptiness. There's no other person to give me strength. And I also noticed the girls felt the shock, too.

The only one who didn't seem bothered with the fact that senpai was leaving was Sarah; she was bothered with the fact that nobody paid attention to her. How can someone be so selfish? She didn't notice all the girls were hurt, this is an unpleasant thing to do in a moment like that. Speaking about that, what Urashima-senpai did also isn't a pleasant thing. Going away, just like that, without a good reason. But I don't blame him for the whole thing, I know the girls also had their excesses. But senpai could have given an ultimatum, instead of going away so suddenly.

Do you know something? I don't know who is really with a good motivation. One moment, I think senpai is right; other times, I think it's us. Maybe it's a better thing listening to Keitaro-senpai's words. Perhaps the name "doomsday" is exaggerated, but I find that an open discussion, totally frank, is the best stuff to understand what's happening with senpai.

PV: KEITARO

And there I am. Bound, frightened, sweating cold. The girls face me, keeping a constraining silence. It seems, this time, I don't have an escape. They look like the inquisition monks, ready to put fire on me. It's not a fuss, whoever lived with them knows the destruction potential they bring themselves.

They were evaluating me some time and, after that, Kitsune knelt and got close to me. Due to her hair, I couldn't see her eyes, but I could see a frightening smile pretty printed. And that smile was growing, turning into a sinister laughter. Kitsune's laughter put me on panic, I was fearing the worst – that woman was behaving as a psychopath. When her laughter reached the bliss, she raised her face very close to mine and...

"Keitaro, why have you gone away?", Kitsune spoke, with watered eyes. That stuff put me off, it was a fact completely incoherent with the previous climate in the room.

"That's it, senpai! What have we done wrong? What have we lost in this home?", Shinobu asked, having the watered eyes too, and with the voice a bit hindered.

"Ara, Kei-kun, if you didn't say what's wrong we cannot improve ourselves! We just want your happiness!", Mutsumi completed, a little thrilled too.

"Stay, Keitaro, if you go away, the boarding house will not be funny!", Kaolla purred, grabbing my neck. This time, she didn't exaggerate in the hug; contrariwise, it was something very delicate.

"I'm sorry if I don't show something, but I feel you're very important here in Hinata-sou. I admit everything changed upon your arrival here. Stay, please...", Motoko requested, in a very moderate voice.

"Stay, it's the only thing I ask for you...", Naru completed, in a kind of neutral voice, almost without an emotion. That thing disappointed me, I must agree.

"Brother, don't leave me again! I have lost you once, I don't wanna lose you again!", Kanako begged, with a very hindered voice and the tears looking like an waterfall.

"So, you moron? A bunch of women begging you and you don't speak anything?", Sarah menaced, but she was neutralized when she received the unnapproving look from all girls.

"Keitaro-kun, Sarah isn't so wrong like that. All girls are asking for you to stay, and I also request you. You're one of the few relatives I have, and this inn still needs a managing decision. Don't let us down...", Haruka meditated.

I didn't know what I could say. I was confused, with a turmoil of emotions disturbing me in that moment. I delayed a little, but I decided I should do something. And I did. I asked for Kaolla keeping me off a little and she attended me speedily.

"Very well, now I wanna be unbound. I thought slavery was forbidden in this country", I alleged, but I didn't face them. Even a little suspicious, Kitsune and Naru undid the knots. After that, I stood on my own feet and I sat down at an old sofa. By the description grandma Hina gave me, lots of love affairs and lots of business was materialized on that sofa. By the way, one of the most important decisions in my life also would occur on that fitment.

I hemmed a little, and so I said: "So, Is it a consensus I must stay here? I just stay if it's a major decision"; so I waited for the all girls' replies. All of them nodded in agreement, but Sarah – she remained still, with a very long face. Kaolla approached by the right and Shinobu by the left, nudging her. So, even she wasn't satisfied, Sarah also nodded positively.

"So, this being a case of consensus, maybe I remain here...", I said, a bit unsteady.

"What're you meaning with maybe? I think we already moaned the fact you were going away and we agreed that we want your presence over here, what else?", Naru said, irritated, "Unless that... you horny pig!".

"Stop with that, Narusegawa! That's the stuff I'm tired of! I think I'm more than a simply wasteful dummy, and this unpleasant feeling prompted me to go away", I scolded. In that moment I noticed Naru stopped and headed her look off from mine, with a slightly ruddy face.

"Well, and what are you going to do about that? You have to prove the fact you're not a clumsy. And there's no other way; all of us have some imperfection, and maybe that's yours. Why don't you conform? We like you, even acting in this way, I just think you didn't notice that...", Motoko told me, facing me calmly. That stuff made me think a little more, maybe that's the truth after all...

"It could be Motoko, but all of you want me as the landlord, and a kanrinrin acting like that isn't very recommended... Don't forget all of you the boarding house is almost bankrupted", I argued.

"So, be a man and do what you think that you must do!", Motoko scolded me. That phrase hit me as a threat, and I felt – for the first time in my life – I should give a proper answer. Yet a little shy, I raised and faced them all. In fact, all of them are waiting an answer.

"Very well, since that's so... Kanako, come near to me", I requested. My sister attended me quickly, with a very beautiful smile. It seems I'm one of the few that can pull a Kanako's smile out.

"Very good. I'll come back to do the activities as kanrinrin, but I won't live into the boarding house. If Hinata-sou will continue to be as female inn, it's not a very good thing I live over here", I gave the first argument. I made a small pause, just to verify their reaction.

"And where will you live then?", Mutsumi asked.

"Where you live nowadays, in the Hinata Tea House appendants. These also are estate of Urashima family. Is there any problem, Haruka-san?", it was my second movement.

"Nothing at all, Keitaro-kun...", Haruka assured. With that, it was almost everything completed. Now, I must go on with the game.

"Allright. Kanako will live in the kanrinrin's bedroom, and Mutsumi will live over here. I know Mutsumi rents a small room over there, I don't see any problem to rent a bigger room over here. Is there any problem to both of you two?", it was my next play.

"It's superb, Kei-kun!", Mutsumi affirmed, very happy.

"What you say is perfect to me", Kanako agreed. I felt I'd make my biggest play now.

"Very well, now the most fragile issue: money. I'll take on just the boarding house maintenance section and some outside service that needs to be done. The financial issue, from now on, is with Kanako. I'll just help her at managerial issues, but the collection, the costs control and the bank stuffs are responsibilities to Kanako", I stated without a blink. The Kanako's smile grew, while the others girls were shocked.

"But, senpai, is that correct?", Shinobu asked me.

"It's more than correct, Shinobu-chan! When Kanako took on the boarding house as replacing landlord, the inn had more money than ever. I think she knows how to do it. It's now or never. If all of you want my presence over here, you'll have to accept my conditions", I answered, giving some air of reliability when I was speaking.

"You listened to my brother, the money is my trust from now on. I'll be the main allied person to my brother inside here. And all of you know how the matter is: either you pay the inn in time, or you'll get out of here. And this warning is given for you too, Kitsune!", Kanako spoke, heading a threatening look to Kitsune. The old fox just swallowed dry, she didn't make even a noise to contest anything.

"Well, I think the meeting is over. Have a nice day all of you", I conclude, and I didn't want any chat to them. I noticed all of them got out of the room mixing joy and deception. That's very strange, how can they mix two feelings so different? Well, perhaps today wasn't a common day...

After the meeting, I stowed my stuffs and headed to the Tea House. Now, I need to arrange my new life.

PV: HARUKA

I came back to the Tea House and was preparing the precinct for the night, that's time when I have my clients. When I was cleaning the tableware, I heard someone getting in. I headed to the entrance and Keitaro is over there, with loaded bags in each hand. Some things Mutsumi helped him to bring.

"Well, Haruka-san, here I am...", Keitaro spoke, doing the traditional body bow.

"No formalities, Keitaro... Now you're at home", I assured. Deep inside me, I was very happy to get close to him. I have so few relatives, it's good to have someone that has the same blood as you at home.

"Well, I still don't have the means to pay you, but soon...", Keitaro argued. I managed to interrupt him.

"You're from the family. What it's mine, is yours. All of this is estate of Urashima family. Unlike your parents, I don't have any interest to strip the other family members from everything they have a right to", I answered with a little of umbrage. After all, my brother, since he got married, kept himself off from us and he just invests in his wife's family. I thought to shelter Keitaro wouldn't be a bad idea at all – lodging someone so dear to me, and perhaps to prove to my brother I deal with that young man better than him.

"I see, thank you a lot, Haruka-san...", Keitaro thanked me, a little gawky.

"Well... So be welcome! Mutsumi, show him the room, inasmuch you know the place so good...", I said, coming back to the Tea House tasks.

While I do the tasks, I'm giving little intermissions in my work to see how those two kids are. Mutsumi seems to be very happy, showing him everything and helping him to undo the Keitaro baggage. Keitaro seems to be very distant, if he's hesitant. Soon, he helps Mutsumi to stow her bags. I confess I'll be missing the turtle girl, but she still will help me to do the tasks. And I'm happy my nephew will be close to me now. What a damn, the Keitaro's way of life reminds me of Seta's a little. If Seta also make a decision as Keitaro did, perhaps everything would change in my life.

When I finished these thoughts, I see everything is done for one more working night. I see Mutsumi and Kanako are going out with Keitaro. I'm somewhat curious.

"Hey, Keitaro, where are you going? Already meddling myself in your lives, can I know it?", I asked.

"No problem! While we did the change of residence, I said to Mutsumi I needed to relieve my stress a little, and she gave me a very good idea to go out to Tokyo. We'll enjoy a bar, go to a karaoke, do something different.", Keitaro was explaining, "And I found nice to invite Kanako, because she goes out so little, and I thought that would be opportune to invite her to celebrate the new stage of the boarding house. Mutsumi loved the idea".

In the end, I think Mutsumi wanted to go out just with Keitaro, but she never would say 'no' if Keitaro asks for something. I felt it'd be a good idea if he enjoys the night.

"So, have lots of fun", I said, waving goodbye. The three kids seem to be very happy, but I'd like to know how some tenants of a certain boarding house are in this moment...

Chapter written between Nov-16-2004 and Nov-17-2004, and translated at Dec-14-2004. I'm waiting more reviews, because they are important to know if all of you are enjoying the saga. I thank Martin Gradwell for helping me as beta reader, and all of you that are sending me more reviews. It's very good when the writer see his creations are pleasing other people.