YOUR ORDERS
Chapter 16: The Time Doesn't Stop

PV: KITSUNE

What a terrible sleep! I can't have a comfortable sleep after a discussion as inflexible as that one from yesterday night. I need to have a mea culpa with Mizuho; it wasn't our intention to pain her. That Naru, when will she learn there're moments we need to stay quiet, or we'll lose the chance to gain something else. I should take her to the horse races. Naru will learn a lot of things over there.

While I had the breakfast, I noticed Mizuho and Motoko didn't come down yet. There was a bit of delay till they both appeared in the dinner room, with light smiles stamped in their faces. Motoko sat down in front of me and she'd kept her usual serious posing, as if she was self assured. Mizuho sat down alongside Shinobu-chan and she seemed to be happy too. I nudged noiselessly Motoko's leg and asked her: "What happened to you, eh? From where does this sudden happiness come?".

"Me and Mizuho established a peace agreement, just like that. I think it's ridiculous the people living under the same ceiling fighting against each other. If both of us were in love with Kei-kun, it was just an incidental fact, nothing else", Motoko explained me, serenely.

"Kei-kun? From when have you called him this way?", I questioned, with some malice.

"From the moment when I learnt I can love him without hiding it from the others. And I have the right of calling him like that, because I'll fight for him", Motoko responded, without losing her serene expression. Man, my favourite fencer was growing up. It's bad for me, I'm the less favourite in the contest for the heart for the most charming simple guy of the zone.

After the girls finished the meal, I warned them before they left the table: "Today at night will have a meeting to set the bar details, alright? Let's forget what happened and come back to the planning, right?".

The girls agreed and each one left to make the own activity from that day. The most of them were studying... Only I was enjoying the pleasures and suffering from the work market. I saw the calendar... November 12th 2002, the time really goes by! I already was 23 years old (the same age of Keitaro); beyond that, next year will have several graduations: Naru, Keitaro and Mutsumi. Oh, I've heard of Mizuho will also graduate next year...

I recalled the ceremony at the Todai ruins, and I thought Haruka and Seta would consummate the marriage when they were back to the Japan. Something went wrong, and I didn't find out what happened. Each one came back to the previous activities: Haruka (currently 30 years old) came back to the Tea House, and Seta have continued his archeological expeditions. Wherefore, I've always said to Naru it's not a simple promise or a cheap superstition will determine the love of a couple. The Todai ruins were famous due to the matchmaker superstition, but the marriage didn't happen. That was a lesson to me, I've believed some girls noticed it's not enough to say "I love you", it's always necessary to evince the existing love thru attitudes.

Speaking about wooers, I recalled Motoko, Kanako, Shinobu and Kaolla were ronins by now; they didn't have sucess to be approved in the last entrance exams to the Toudai, but they were studying in a prep school and the rest of the people have awaited the sucess of the four. It seemed to me it wasn't too long I'd met the girls, except the newcomer Mizuho. So many things we had challenged together, as soon as possible the fate will push us to different ways in the life.

I was thinking about these things while I was beginning another day as freelancer. These thoughts had came into my my mind at several moments of the day. I thought it was very sure Naru would marry Keitaro, but after all that mess, the scenario changed the figure. All the girls came back to the contest, and each one has very interesting proper virtues.

Mutsumi is the oldest of the group; she's already 24 years old. Surely, she's the sexiest girl of the gang; she has body measures bigger than mines. She has all the tools to be a femme fatale, but she has the spirit of a pre-teenager. Albeit she wasn't as foolish as she appeared to be when she showed her feelings, she has been disconnected from the others facts of life. Of course, she has been a spectacular schoolgirl, and she'll get the degree in Biology with accolades. She said to me she intended to do a master degree, and that's another score to the turtle girl. A voluptuous woman, also intelligent and mild: what kind of man wouldn't like to be a couple with her? I noticed Keitaro already lusted that body, and she's a formidable rival.

Shinobu thought of herself as a kid still, but she'll be 17 years old next Sunday! She has delayed to improve the body; she looked like a doll yet... But she was growing up and turning into a real woman. I'd already said her to let her hair grow even more, and it seemed to me only in the last weeks, when all the girls came back to the contest, she finally accepted my advice. And her breasts were growing a lot... She was worried a lot with that; after all, she was 16 years old and the breasts were small yet. Very suddenly, they began to grow, and they've gotten beautiful.

Kaolla was already 17 yearls old, but she was noisier than ever. She always used the happy seasons to hang herself in the objects, as if she was a little girl yet. She had luck because the hyperactivity let her quite healthy... I couldn't imagine if she was heavier than now? Lots of people would be serious problems in the backbone. And I'd noticed she dispensed several wooers, as in her country as here in Japan... Now I've understood; that kinky girl has always liked Keitaro... Kanrinrin wasn't only a big friend.

Motoko was 19 years old, and she was a splendorous woman. The routine of studies and physical exercises turned her into an interesting woman due to the physical and intellectual aspects. She've always showed an opinion about any subjects, and she have never had any shame to say "I don't know" when she didn't have any opinion about the debated issue. She's grown up a lot and she was 176cm (1), and she'd be a very peculiar pair to Keitaro and his 168cm (1), because it's difficult to find a couple where the woman is taller than the man. The only problem is she always had difficulty to take on the sexuality, that she needed sex as anyone else. I felt her more confident today, maybe the kendo girl was more aware than before about the pleasures she can obtain from her body. With that knowledge, she'll be an important rival.

Kanako was an attractive woman of 20 years old, but she was out of the running. Only she was insisting not to realize it, and she will suffer a lot if she's gonna act like this. I thought Keitaro had made very clear what he felt about her, but it's visible she's denying the reality again and had an almost schizophrenic attitude of conquering her half brother Keitaro won't love her in the same way she've done it.

Naru... Well, Naru was an odd case, very odd. She's 163cm (1) tall and 21 years old, and she was accepting slowly the declarations from the disastrous kanrinrin. She always was afraid of suffering due to the love, so she has kept on the posture of a strong and decided woman. So many boys from the school I liked and I had to back off each one of them because they just kept the eyes on her. And I'm not a person without seduction, but my way of life was able to keep all of them away… The only guy was able to tolerate me, as incredible as it can be, was Keitaro; maybe this was the fact which I also created a feeling for him. It was another guy I wasn't able to conquer due to the existance of Naru, and she ended up to keep him away from her too!

I've never accepted that indecision. I recalled the ring episode, when both of two had the first kiss as lovers. In that moment, I had felt that their relationship would raise without more problems, but the Naru's impetuosity blew all the thing up. And I must confess that our insistence in treating him as a doormat haven't helped anything at all. We've always liked him, but we haven't known how to demonstrate it appropriately. But Naru would have to insist in getting closer to him, but something stopped her. The indifference is the worst thing we can give to any human being. It was the right time to change the game.

When I got home, I noticed the girls hadn't arrived yet, except for Sarah; Seta's adoptive daughter was 11 years old and, maybe due to the fact she's western, she's already passing thru changes inherent to the puberty, albeit she's still a source of many problems. I asked to the little blonde if any other girls had arrived, she confirmed me there wasn't another girl yet.

Great, I'm gonna wait for them and, when the moment is propitious, I'm gonna have a chat with Naru. If we're gonna fight for Keitaro's love, and if she has any intents of reconquering him, I believe I must put some issue very clear. Yet she was a rival, I couldn't let my friend suffers due to emotional immaturity again. A relationship isn't built just for promises made in the childhood.

PV: NARU

Man, today was hurry! So many classes and appointments, I barely had a lunch. During the midday, I got together with Mutsumi and Mizuho, and we hand some lunch together. Before the lunch, having Mutsumi as eyewitness, I decided to talk to the Hinata-sou's new tenant.

"Ah, Mizuho-san, I'd like to...", I mumbled, badly expressing what I felt.

"Naru, if you allow me to call you like this, let's speak frankly, ok? What occurred yesterday was terrible, but Motoko talked to me before breakfast and I've understood everything. Don't you worry, I forgive you, right? And you can call me Mizuho, I don't like formalities among friends", Mizuho said, with a shy smile.

"Ara, ara! Naru-san and Mizuho-san will be little friends from now on? This is a good thing!", Mutsumi announced, with that lovable way only she was.

"Wow, thank you Mizuho, what I said yesterday was a contingent. After all, you're also a girl from the promise… Or even better, you're the girl from the promise…", I affirmed, somewhat sad. It's hard to admit you didn't get a score.

"Naru, it's not a simple promise that makes someone fall in love with another person. It's something from the deep inside, and it's a determination to make that feeling come true is what makes people get together. Keitaro always showed he's in search of the promised girl, but that was just a reference. As any clearheaded person, he'll search the love in who is ready to return the love he manifests", Mizuho explained. Man, she's really smart, I wished to have such a maturity.

"Ara, ara! What exciting words!", Mutsumi exclaimed, evidently affected. The turtle girl's eyes were full of tears, and then Mutsumi affirmed, with shining eyes and united hands: "You're a golden girl, Mizuho-san!".

"Thank you Mutsumi... And you can call me Mizuho, please… No formalities among beloved beings, ok?", Mizuho affirmed, hugging Mutsumi tightly. I felt relieved, because my blows up used to be devastating. What a damn, don't matter how much I have suffered, I can't restrain my tongue. Then she turned over me and said: "Naru, I have a hint that your impetuosity has made things hard to Kei-kun, hasn't it?".

"I... I think so...", I responded, very constrained. It's hard to point out my own defects.

"I hope you can solve them, alright? For a while, the only thing I want is having a friendship with all Hinata-sou tenants, despite the fact we have became rivals to the Keitaro's love due to some ironic move of destiny. Don't you lose true friends due to your vanity of having a man… It's something hard, but you can reach it if you try…", Mizuho affirmed. I can't helped myself and I hugged her, showing my regret because I'd hurted her. Sometimes, I don't notice the evil I make to the other people.

After we got everything clear, we had some lunch and ended up the study day. Both three of us went back home, tired after an exhausting day. I found out the new ronins at the train, and we went back all of us talking happily, as if nothing was happened before. Well, it's hard to find out Keitaro, just because he's running away from us and he preferred to go home alone. But this problem I can solve afterward…

Today would be the meeting day to make the bar arrangements, because we had few time to set everything up, until next Friday. We had to fix everything, and the meeting occurred in the dinner room, after the delicious meal made by Shinobu. In the end, it was established all the adornments will be used in the main environment of the Tea House. We made a very nice project, and we decided to help Shinobu to make them. It would be a cruelty to make Shinobu to execute everything on her own. Another thing decided was about the bar name, the previous name wasn't cool… We didn't speak anything previously not to make Haruka unhappy, but I thought the bar would get a coolest name. In the end, we named our achievement after "Electric Girls Co. Bar"; a modern name in English, because the current Japanese youth adores any ambience which name is in English. We chose Kitsune to warn Haruka about the change, and I wish the last mentioned woman would accept the change good.

After we finished the meeting, each girl went to her own lodging. Kitsune grasped me by the shoulder and warned me: "Naru, let's go to the roof. We need a private talk, and now is the moment".

I was curious to know the motive to so much urgency, then I attended the request and, when we got over there, I asked: "Well, here we are. What's so special to talk about?".

"Well, it seems you made peace with Mizuho, didn't you?", Kitsune asked, seriously.

"Yes, we did it, why?", I inquired.

"The time doesn't stop when we make errors, Naru. I want that you think a lot about that. You lost Kei-kun, provoked a big quarrel with Mizuho immediately, and it seems you haven't understood the problem, have you?", Kitsune warned.

I was quite surprised with the sentence, but another thing was more amazing to me, I didn't avoid the question: "Kei-kun? Since when have you called him like that?".

"From now on, Naru! Because I won't quit about a man again just because he loves you and you think you perhaps want him… I'm tired of that, Naru! I'll never be a Toudaisei, but I don't need a college to understand the secrets of life! I've lost wonderful boys due to the fact I'm always with you, and all of them just had eyes on you… I can be a thriftless, love horse races, drink sake lots of times, but I'm just a woman, dammit! And I also want to be loved, desired… I know very well the physical gifts I have, and I could have any mafioso in my hands, but that's not the kind of man I want. The kind of man I want is that one who falls in love with you, Naru! I'm gonna join to the quest for Kei-kun's head, in the same way that the others girls will do it. And I won't have any pity about you!", Kitsune unburdened, sounding as a threat.

"I... I'd never known about that, Kitsune... Sorry... I just wanna be happy, in the same way you want, but why have you put things like that way just now?", I questioned, confused with that situation yet.

"Because I love you, Naru! As a friend, I've always loved you! When you were younger, you were a scary girl and didn't have lots of friends because you were so reckless, and you closed the heart to the men due to the fact Seta-san didn't fall in love for you… When I met Keitaro, he was a jerk that fell in love for an almost intangible woman, I even had a pity about him. Not now, you've lost Keitaro because he hasn't accepted your indifference any longer, Naru. It's useless to make a big fiasco and say that you love him, you must show with attitudes you love him. And I'm ready to do it; are you truly ready to do it, Naru?", Kitsune scolded.

"I really don't know, but I wanna try it. I wanna try to show I truly love him, with all my forces!", I answered, almost crying.

"Trying isn't enough, you have to do it, or any other woman will be better than you are. Don't you get a wrong idea about that, Naru. I'll always like you, but there are some life episodes that demand some distinction, a proper answer. I don't wanna lose you, but I don't wanna lose Keitaro too. Can you still accept my friendship or is it a hard thing to do?", Kitsune challenged me.

"I don't wanna give up of being your friend, Kitsune. Let's play fairly from now on, alright? I thank you for being sincere. Now I understand that being sincere in the troubles is the greatest proof of friendship someone can receive, mainly when there's a conflict of interests. Thanks!", I responded, hugging her. I didn't wanna lose anyone else. I've already lost so many things in my life, I didn't wanna turn into a complete loser.

Kitsune grabbed my hand and said: "Then, let's sleep. I hope the will of keeping our friendship is a real desire, alright? Sometimes, friends scold the really beloved people to bring some reason to them. And it's too late, tomorrow you'll have classes early, won't you?".

I nodded positively and we headed to our own lodgings, entwining one of my arms to one of hers. Obviously I don't like when people very close to me scold me, but I needed to learn to listen more and speak less. Will it really be possible for me to be a nicer person to Keitaro? I think just the future will show it, and so I've understood I cannot count on a childish promise…

Chapter written between Feb-14-2005 and Feb-16-2005, and translated between Jul-07-2006 and Jul-12-2006. A chapter that served as a retrospective about what happened among the girls from mangá conclusion (not counting the marriage epilogue) to the thematic bar's pre-inauguration week. I just put some order in the house...

Oh, a warning to hasty readers: my saga, in Portuguese version, is up to chapter 26 (till Sep-16-2006), and it's not completed yet. So, I would recommend you to enjoy the story calmly.

I'll put more lemon moments in the saga, inasmuch as the very original series also emphasized the romantic comedy style with a bit of erotism; the only difference is the girls have grown up and, like this, I believe the affective involvement with a sexual component more outcropped is unavoidable.

Inasmuch as Martin Gradwell makes all necessary corrections in each chapter, I'll update the series. Of course, I'll keep an intermission between any new chapter released – I'll keep a minimum gap, because I know you need a certain time to read any episode. Sayonara!

(1) I prefer to use the International Measures System, but I'll help the users of the English system: Motoko is 68,24 inches tall, Keitaro is 65,52 inches tall and Naru is 63,57 inches tall. In my saga, Motoko is taller than the original mangá.