Hina Digger Chapter 7, a Love Hina + Gold Digger Crossover fanfic

And so the madness continues.

To Grave Wolf: Keitaro becoming a werecheetah was one of my initial concept sketches for this series, but I pushed it aside as it would've made this fic too close to ice-tea-1983's 'The Black Paw'. Besides, Lycanthropes, in this fic, cannot become stand users, as they're pretty much invulnerable as is. Stand users that develop Lycanthropy however...

To Nanya: You pretty much hit the nail on the head, at least where Naru is concerned. Luckily, Hina will be employing a little something called a Shock collar to keep the more violent girls in check. Shock collars designed for the dinosaurs at Jurrassic park that is...heheh...

To Nysk: Don't worry...Granny's letting them stew for a bit. After all, she can torture them anytime she wants, right now she needs to find her sacrifi-GRANDSON, before he gets hurt.

To HolyKnight5: Perhaps he will...though he'd probably take more closely after Doc Diggers than Seance. As Star Platinum or not, Keitaro ain't a fighter.

Halibel: Procrastinator...

Kyugan: No Ichigo plushy for you!

Halibel:...TT^TT...

Dedicated To sketchfan: Keep on trucking bro, first fics are always the hardest ones to get out.

Chapter 7.

Keitaro swore as the two lycanthropes launched themselves from the shadows, almost wetting himself at the sight of the male, who was a virtual wall of muscle and fur, dressed in a simple loincloth and cape. The female wore a tattered looking shirt top and loincloth that did little to hide her ample figure. Though smaller than the male it was clear who was giving the orders as she yelled at him to keep them away whilst she tackled Cheetah, driving her headfirst into a tree.

"Why do you attack us?!" Stripe called out, standing his ground as the male advanced like a sentinel. The Kryn Prince had no delusions of beating him in a test of strength, seeing how easily the female had taken down Cheetah, but was damned if he was letting him near Keitaro and Gina.

"Only the were-cheetah man cat." Was the response, "You and the humans may live if you…" he trailed off, nostrils twitching as he rounded on Keitaro in confusion "Wait a minute…this smell…" a dangerous smirk crossed his features as he locked onto Keitaro, who eyed him in terror "It seems I may yet have some fun after-eh? AAARGH!"

Keitaro blinked as Gina stood over the agonized form of the werewolf, having just unleashed a burst of photoelectric death right into his armpit, wincing at the smell of burnt fur as the beast slumped against a tree. 'THAT had to hurt' he reasoned, wincing as his ears detected a cry of pain he identified as Cheetah's. 'DAMMIT!' the ronin hissed 'We're seriously out gunned here!'

"That should make him a little less dangerous." Stripe reasoned, standing over the howling lycanthrope, the brute rolling around clutching his armpit, though the Kryn's attention was turned towards Cheetah's cry.

"Less dangerous?!" Gina repeated in amazement, gaping down atthe fallen wolf in disbelief, her hand-cannon still smoking from the discharge "That blast should've liquefied him! What does it take to stop this guy?!"

A snarl from the woods drew their attention, Stripe calling out for Cheetah, even as the male got to his feet. "We have to help her!" the Kryn prince stated, wincing as he dodged a blow from the male, only to blink as something blurred past him ramming into the werewolf and sending him flying.

"Wha…what?" Gina began, eyes widening in confusion, as the lycanthrope was sent head over asshole "What just…Keitaro?"

The duo stared in disbelief at the Ronin as he stood next to Stripe, looking a little amazed with himself, his spirit having sent the werewolf flying backwards with a high-speed kick to the chest that could've downed a hummer.

'So it's strong too…' Keitaro noted, watching as the spirit returned to his side, fists at the ready 'Not to mention FAST, I couldn't see it move!' he shivered as he heard a low rumble from the general direction the brute had gone "Stripe-san, could you go check on Cheetah-san?" he asked, looking to the Kryn Prince for emphasis "We'll be fine here, this way it's two on one."

Stripe blinked, confused at the Ronin's feat of strength, before nodding in understanding and dashing off into the brush to aid Cheetah, leaving the two alone with the male. "Keitaro…" Gina wondered, looking at the man in confusion as she sidled up next to him, her pun pointed at the ground "What…how did you…?"

"Some sort of spirit bound itself to me." Keitaro explained, using it to crush a tree branch, leaving the imprint of fingers in the bark to demonstrate "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier." Keitaro offered, noticing the look of confusion on Gina's face, "I only found out in Shangri-La and…well…" He trailed off as the male let loose a deep chuckle, rubbing his jaw and chest from the blows.

"So…it seems there's some fight in you after all boy." The lupine muscleman stated, growling in approval as he padded towards them, wounds already healing "Now it'll be all the more satisfying when I rip your hide off."

"What is your beef with us anyway?!" Keitaro swore, recalling Cheetah's tale from when she'd been rescued "So you and Cheetah's clan were at war! That ended years ago! Cheetah wants nothing to do with you!"

"Regardless of what SHE wants." The male countered, fangs clenched "All were-cheetah's are our enemies!" he snarled and lunged forwards "PREPARE YOURSELF!"

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Cheetah swore as the female werewolf proceeded to pound her head into the dirt, wishing she could get an arm free to ram her elbow into the bitch's face, and it didn't help that the werewolf was taunting her with every blow. She blinked as the werewolf let out a startled yip, letting go of her head to grip her own, only to go tumbling off as a decent sized rock shattered against her skull.

"Cheetah!" Stripe called out, helping the were-cat to her feet as the werewolf held her head and growled, looking more annoyed than hurt if the anger in her eyes was any tell "Are you alright?"

"Battered but fine." Cheetah ground out, glaring at the werewolf, angry with herself at how easily the mutt had thrown her around, before turning to stripe in concern "What about Gina and Keitaro! You didn't leave them alone did you?!"

"Trust me." Stripe assured her, as he leapt aside to avoid a lupine haymaker, "Keitaro's got things covered!"

"I am so DEAD!" Keitaro yelped as he leapt over the hulking werewolf, Gina held in his arms bridal style as he put every ounce of his 'mad retreating skillz' to good use. He felt a bizarre rush run through his body, the spirit seemingly guiding his actions as he moved, muscles moving on instinct as he placed each foot with the precision of a machine, his body twisting and turning in such a way that the lupine threat's blows sailed past them harmlessly.

"You're good boy!" The hulking mass of lupine muscle commended, actually sounding impressed, "But your only human, I don't know how you got off that blow before but with my guard up you won't be so fortunate a second time! Sooner or later you'll make a mistake, and then I'll have you!"

"Then you won't mind if I keep running!" Keitaro shot back, leaping over his head again, using it as a springboard as he launched himself into the canopy, leaving the cursing lupine behind as he took shelter in a cluster of branches.

"Keitaro?" Gina whispered, drawing the ronin's attention to the woman he was holding in his arms, who was frowning up at him, though without any real anger "When were you planning on telling us about this…spirit thing? She asked, earning a wince from the Ronin.

"I didn't want you to worry," he stated, keeping an ear out for their opponent, who was sniffing around for them. Fortunately they were downwind, so they'd hear the brute coming before he could catch their scent "But your dad told me to do it soon."

"Dad knows?" Gina stammered, before blinking and shaking her head "Mind reader, right." She muttered with a chuckle, before shaking herself and looking him and the spirit over with new interest "So, how's it feel?"

"In all honesty? Kinda cool." Keitaro admitted, looking up at the spirit as it kept an eye out, eyes narrowed as it scanned the surroundings like a hawk, broadcasting what it saw to Keitaro's brain directly, like a second set of eyes "I feel stronger, faster, and more sure footed than before." He grinned at her, "Kinda reminds me of when Grandma tried to teach me the family style."

"Martial arts?" Gina queried in amazement, looking the Ronin over with honest surprise in her baby-blues, noting his undeveloped, but still pretty healthy form "You don't look the type." she stated flatly.

"I wasn't." Keitaro admitted with a weak chuckle, frowning slightly at old memories as they came rushing in for attention "Or at least…I couldn't focus you know? The promise and all kept getting in the way."

"So how about now?" Gina asked, feeling concerned, knowing that Keitaro's promise with his 'Promise Girl' had been a pretty important factor in his life "You still worried about it?"

Keitaro was silent for a while, before chuckling and looking up at her in amusement, "You know, with everything that's happened since we met I'd forgotten all about it." He admitted, earning a blush from the woman in his arms "Guess that's what happens when you're having fun."

"Then don't let ME spoil it." A mocking growl announced, the duo yelping in alarm as the werewolf dropped at them from above "These woods are my home boy! You think you can hide from me here?"

Keitaro merely tightened his grip on Gina and dashed off the trunk, the spirit's hands lashing out to grab branches as they passed, swinging the duo from tree to tree, unaware of Gina's flush as she was pressed into his torso. The werewolf leapt out in front of them, hand gripping a branch as he swung at them with a kick, Keitaro turning in time to take the brunt of it with his upper arm with a howl of pain as they were slammed back to earth. "You got a plan Gina?" he asked, as the werewolf advanced on them like a fur-covered terminator "Cause I'm running outta gas here…"

"Try to get behind him again!" Gina insisted in a sharp whisper, readying her gun behind his back where the wolf couldn't see it. Keitaro nodded, gritting his teeth as his arm popped as it healed, splitting from the genius and rolling under the startled lycan's legs, drawing his attention away long enough for Gina to take aim.

Not that it was necessary; the brute's back was the equivalent of a barnyard wall of tightly packed muscles.

Cheetah grinned as she delivered a high-speed blow to the female werewolf's jaw, Stripe grabbing her around the waist and hurling her into a tree trunk. The two had been playing a high-speed game of 'keep away' with their lupine opponent, catching her of guard and not giving her a chance to get her bearings, Cheetah making good use of her speed whilst Stripe used his agility to keep as far from the bitch's clutches as possible. This resulted in a rather frustrated female werewolf who was beginning to look a little unsure of herself.

Just as she looked ready to lunge into the fray her head shot up at her mate's sound of distress, which followed after an almighty explosion that the other two normally associated with one of Gina's portable death machines. With a last glare at Cheetah, the werewolf dashed off into the brush.

"C'mon!" Cheetah urged, following after her, "We've got her on the ropes! If she teams up with that bruiser from before we'll never beat 'em!"

Keitaro ducked and weaved under the male's swings; Gina's second blast had temporarily blinded him, meaning his meager recollection of his training was getting some good use. He dimly caught Gina's warning in time to leap out of the path of a slash to the jugular as the female from before entered the scene.

"Thabian!" the female werewolf called out, looking over at the male in concern, before glowering at the Ronin "You've done well to last so long against my Husband boy, but the games end here!"

Keitaro yelped and backed away as the smaller, FASTER lycanthrope leapt overhead. It seemed that while the Male was the powerhouse, this one was more of a tactician, as she used the surrounding woodland to ricochet back at him from behind with a kick that would've taken his head from his shoulders had his spirit not rose to the challenge. "WHAT THE HELL?!" the female yelped, recoiling back from having her kick blocked by the spirit's arm eyeing the Ronin in shock "Thabian! Did you see-?!"

"An arm." The male agreed, glaring dazedly at the Ronin as he grabbed Gina by the shorts and disarmed her, crushing the gun with one hand. "An arm came out of his back, it seems this one has a few tricks up his sleeve."

"HEY!" Gina yelled, thrashing in his grip like a petulant kitten, pointing at the ruins of her gun "that pistol cost me a fortune! I'll sue!" She trailed off as his words finally registered "Wait…you can see the spirit?"

"Quite clearly." The larger werewolf muttered, watching as his mate circled the Ronin warily, only for the Were-cheetah to burst out of the woodwork like a damn bullet train. He tossed the human aside, idly noting that the man-cat had caught her, before disappearing into the shadows with the ease of long practice.

Cheetah grinned as she realized how effective her hit-and-run tactics were, vowing to spruce up on a few things in case they encountered more of the lupine bastards, only to choke as she was effectively clotheslined by the male, collapsing to her knees as she tried to clear her throat. "Let's see how fast you are with a broken spine." The male growled, grabbing her arm, only for his mate to demand he restrain her.

"Okay kibble-breath." Cheetah growled as she struggled in the males grip, scowling at the smug features of her previous opponent as she drew closer "Tell cuddles to let me go so we can finish our fight! C'mon! Just you and me!"

"I am SO tempted to take you up on that just so I can stomp on you some more," the female admitted, a smug look on her face "But the fun is over, and so is you LIFE!" she leant forward, "but before I send you to the big litter-box in the sky I thought you might like to know what's going to happen to your friends." She smiled at the male restraining Cheetah "Thabian and I have kids arriving soon, so we'll probably need a nanny…so I'll infect your human friend with lycanthropy and she'll become a decent, helpful, obedient werewolf under me." She smirked "Dinner times such a mess with more than two babies and no help, I would've LOVED to have you as a slave, but lycanthropy doesn't affect were-folk."

Cheetah was about to make a quip about having 'had shots for that' when the Male Let out a yelp of pain as something barreled into his side with enough force to release Cheetah, sending her stumbling into the Female. "Cheetah-san! Run!" Keitaro yelled, standing not to far from where he'd snuck up on the male, his spirit still out from having sucker punched the brute.

"K-KEITARO?!" Cheetah gaped, eyeing the Ronin in alarm "How did you…when did you…WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!"

Keitaro would have replied but at that moment the Male lunged at him from the woods, causing the Ronin to beat a hasty retreat, his spirit deflecting most of the blows, though a couple of scratches appeared on his arms nonetheless. In his haste to retreat he tripped over a tree trunk, his head cracking loudly against the forest floor as the Male loomed over him for the final blow.

The sound of a revolver firing echoed through the air, followed closely by a silvery projectile clipping the side of the female's leg, a small flame bursting to life as she fell howling to the ground.

Keitaro moaned as he opened his eyes, wondering if he was going to like what he was about to see right up until Stripe's concerned features swam into view. "You okay?" the lord of El Dorado asked, helping the Ronin-turned-lycanthrope to his feet.

"I feel like something the Dog dragged in." Keitaro joked, wincing at the pounding of his head even as Stripe shook his own at the pun. "Where'd the wolves go?" the ronin asked, looking around blearily "Last thing I remember was a gunshot..."

"Gina drove them off with silver bullets." Stripe revealed, a sudden chill rushing over the Ronin at the mention of the deadly, lycanthrope slaying metal in the hands of Gina and her notoriously bad aim "Relax," Stripe assured him, reading his expression and holding up the twenty-two "Cheetah said it'd be better if I held onto this."

Keitaro couldn't have agreed more, sure Gina was a great girl and a good friend but the memory of being caught in the wake of her Tachyon beam still scared the bejeezus out of him. Immortality or no, he didn't feel like tempting fate by being shot by anything she had on hand again.

"Anyways, you're not going to believe this." The Kryn continued, leading him towards a clearing, tricorder in hand "but it seems like we struck the proverbial mother-load," he held out the machine, which beeped loudly in reaction "this whole area is full of Hindrium."

"So we can stock up and get out of here?" Keitaro asked eagerly, wincing as he shifted his shoulders, the joints of his back popping in several places "No offence but I don't care much for the neighbors."

"I agree." Stripe seconded with a nod, "But Gina reckons they were merely protecting the area from threats, they haven't bothered us since we began looking for Hindrium." He blinked and held the tricorder out "I think we got it, these plants are brimming with the stuff!"

"Cool," Keitaro noted, grabbing a decent handful as Stripe did the same with a grin "Now lets get outta here before Fido and Lassie decided to come back for round two."

In the shadows, Jetta had to be restrained by her husband to keep her from ripping the Ronin's throat out for his comment. The duo watching as the males returned with the plants in hand, vowing to only step in if they tried to enter the hidden garden.

Keitaro blinked as he noticed Gina mumbling to herself with a pout, chin trembling and looking absolutely miserable. Clearing his throat he grinned and walked up to the blonde, holding up the flowers he'd gathered "Gina-san! Stripe says these plants are-!"

"EEEE!" Gina squealed, leaping onto the startled Ronin and latching on like a deranged hormonal limpet "A bouquet? For me?! You shouldn't have!"

Keitaro, still harboring an innate fear of being touched by females from his time at Hinata-Sou, was about to call out for help when he realized Stripe was in a similar, if not more painful, position, Cheetah having latched onto the Kryn prince, whose eyes were bulging out of their sockets as he was lovingly crushed into her bosom whilst trying to support her weight. 'At least Gina-san's normal.' Was the Ronin's sole consolation as he fought down the blush that was rising as said explorer nuzzled his cheek...whilst copping a feel of his OTHER cheeks.

"COME ON GINA! PICK UP THE RECEIVER!" Penny's voice snapped out over the communicator attached to Gina's pack, startling the blonde as she squirmed atop the flushing ronin to answer it "I hope you've got this 'master plan' together by now, because the situation here is going right through the roof-" An explosion was heard in the background "LITERALY!"

"Don't get your bikini in a bunch penny!" Gina snapped, getting off the relieved Ronin and placing a good bundle of flowers into her backpack along with Stripe's crown and the Gem of Returning "My backpack should keep everything together," she noted with a frown "I just hopes it survives! Computer: Light gate transport to Armageddon…one backpack and contents…parcel post!"

Gyphon cackled insanely as his automaton rained death and destruction down on the infidels that had dared oppose him. Him! The true master of Atlantis and future ruler of the surface! So consumed was he in his revelry that he failed to noticed the burst of light as a portal opened, the backpack falling towards the power source, it's contents reacting together.

"HAHAHAHA!!!!! YOU'RE DOOMED!" he cackled once more, "DOOMED I TELLS YA! BWAHAHAHAHAHA-" he blinked as he caught sight of the backpack "uh-oh."

BOOM

Vimes staggered against the wall as he tried to keep his footing, managing to remain mostly upright. His subordinates weren't so lucky, the massive sergeant haven fallen on the corporal whilst the fat sergeant had managed to grab hold of the water cooler for balance, pulling the whole thing down and spilling water all over the place. "What the devil was THAT?!" Vimes demanded, looking round to see the captain help the female sergeant to her feet, the scruffy officer standing in the doorway, latched onto it with a death grip, whilst the orangutan held onto the ceiling fan for dear life "An earthquake?!"

"Unlikely sir!" the captain countered, pulling off a salute as soon as the female sergeant was standing on her own two feet "We've been monitoring the fault lines and there's been no activity!"

"Came from der sea sir!" the massive sergeant announced as he got off the squashed corporal, holding up his radio for confirmation "Massive wave hit der shores, every-tin getting mixed up sir!"

"A tidal wave?" Vimes repeated, "You're telling me that was because of a bloody TIDAL WAVE?!"

"FUCK!" Revy swore as she held onto the railings of the Black Lagoon for dear life, the torpedo boat bucking like a horny bronco on hot coals as the waves lashed around them "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT DUTCH?!"

"You're asking me?" the captain of the Black Lagoon asked, gripping the wheel tightly as he checked for the waves, fortunately no more giants were headed their way. "I'm taking us back to port, it's too dangerous to be out here right now."

"THE SYSTEMS GONE FUBAR AGAIN!" Benny swore from below, sounding highly distressed over the sound of dieing electronics and the occasional sparking explosion "DUTCH, MY BABIES ARE ALL FUCKED UP!"

"Get counseling then." Dutch joked, earning a snort from Revy, who blinked as she realized something was missing, namely a certain white-collar employee turned pirate that had been standing on deck with her.

"FUCK! ROCK FELL OVERBOARD!" she yelled, diving into the ocean as the former salary man floated past, face down in the water.

"So that's it?" Keitaro asked, looking around as the group prepared to light gate back to Atlantis before Penny could swipe Gina's share of the loot, uh, REWARD from Princess Tyr "It's all over?"

"God I hope so." Cheetah muttered, arms behind her head as she waited for the portal to stabalise enough for them to walk into "That Gyphon bastard was one sick piece of work, like a cockroach that wouldn't die."

"So that's it then?" Keitaro repeated, looking oddly concerned "The adventure's over?"

Keitaro didn't know quite how to explain it. On the one hand he was glad the crisis had been averted, Gyphon was gone, Atlantis and El Dorado had been saved and were now allies and none of his new friends had gotten hurt. But was that it? Did this mean he had to go back to the dorms? Back to the abuse? The lack of respect? Back to living day in and day out fearing that his immortality would run out and the next blow would finish him?"

Gina noticed the look on the Ronin's face and smiled, wrapping her arm around his as she grinned. "Hey Keitaro, studying abroad is a pretty good thing to have on your resume, y'know." She stated, smirking as he blinked in confusion, "And besides, getting a little experience under your belt will make getting into a university back home a cakewalk in comparison."

Keitaro blinked, before breaking into a grateful smile as he walked arm in arm with her through the light gate.

"Poor kid doesn't know what he's in for." Cheetah muttered, clutching Stripe to her side possessively "I know that look, Gina's gonna have him tied to the bed before he knows what's happening."

"Should we warn him?" Stripe asked, concern for his new friend not quite overpowering his blush at being held so close to Cheetah's, uh, assets. Kryn Prince or no he was only a man, and even gay men couldn't miss THOSE puppies.

"What, and spoil the fun?" Cheetah countered, looking affronted, before grinning, "It'll be much more amusing to…'accidentally' barge in on them."

Stripe couldn't help but say a silent prayer for his friend as the two followed Gina and Keitaro into the light.

Thabian sighed, arms crossed as he watched the portal shut behind the intruders, taking the were-cat and her comrades away. "I thought they'd never leave!" he muttered, shaking his head in annoyance.

"Husband?" Jetta asked, looking at him with her hands on her hips as he turned to face her. "How come you never pick ME any flowers?"

Thabian suddenly wished that the intruders would return, anything would have been better than being put on the spot like this.

"Aoyama Tsuruko?"

"Yes?" the beautiful former heir of the Shinmeiryuu greeted, smiling as she turned to address the men in black suits lined up behind her. Some of them were looking decidedly nervous, the leader, being the closest was visibly sweating.

"We are representatives of the Japanese government," the leader announced, his face professional, even with the beads of sweat slipping down his cheek "More specifically the Hinata city branch."

"Oh? What a coincidence! I was about to head there myself!" tsuruko admitted pleasantly, holding a hand to her face as she sighed, "That last earthquake had me worried about my Imouto."

"Your sister is currently under arrest for suspected involvement in the disappearance of one Urashima Keitaro." The leader spoke up, holding out a folder to the woman, which she accepted with a raised eyebrow, "We would ask that you accompany us."

Tsuruko flipped through the file, Shippu eyeing the men beadily as she did so, before snapping it shut and smiling genially at them. "Very well, lead the way please."

The men visibly relaxed and moved aside to escort her to the waiting cars. After all, you didn't just DEMAND that the strongest warrior of the Kanto region come with you, even if she HAD retired she was still the former heir to the most prominent school of demon-slayers in all of Japan.

That bird of hers was giving them some nasty looks too.

Aoyama Motoko jolted awake, taking in her surroundings for perhaps the first time in several days, a cold sweat running down her neck as she eyed the surroundings warily.

"You okay Motoko?" Kitsune called out, Naru muttering incoherently in a corner, an aura of DOOM hovering over her that was making the already cramped cell all the more so "You look like someone just stepped on your grave."

"I had a premonition." The kendo-ka admitted, shivering slightly as the chill ran down her spine at the memory, unable to place the feeling at the moment "Something very bad is going to happen soon."

"Any chance of getting us out of here?" Kitsune asked, holding up her shackles hopefully, though it was with a sarcastic snort, as the Kendo-ka couldn't even flex a finger in that suit of hers "I never was one for bangles and these just don't suit me at all."

"Were I not confined by this damnable straight-jacket I would have freed us all." Motoko replied, growling as she struggled, "It seems to react to ki, every time I try to summon enough to burst free it tightens, cutting off my concentration."

"Same for Naru." Kitsune muttered, nodding over to the redhead's angst-corner "She keeps trying to bust loose, only for the things to send a shock through her body." She winced as the fireworks started up again, the smell of ozone filling the air as Naru shrieked and convulsed in her restraints, hair standing on end as she collapsed in a smoking heap. "And I don't suggest picking the locks either." Kitsune muttered, holding up her shackles for the stunned samurai to see "No keyholes."

"Truly an ingenious set-up." Motoko admitted grudgingly, scowling around her a she got to her knees, a little unsteady due to her lack of arms to aid her "But we shall not be detained here for long."

"You sound sure." Kitsune noted, eyeing the smug look on the younger woman's face with some concern, and with good reason. The last time Motoko had looked so smug was when she'd lost to Keitaro and Tama-Chan at the onsen.

"My sister will question my disappearance and come looking for me." Motoko replied, not without a trace of fear at the mention of the woman, but confident nonetheless "Urashima and his cohorts wont stand a chance against her!"

'Maybe I should look into getting a separate cell?' Kitsune muttered, as the kendo-ka began to cackle in glee at their 'impending freedom'.

Tsuruko sneezed, Shippu resettling himself on her shoulder with a soft 'coo' as she apologized. "Not at all," Granny-Hina assured the former shihan, "and may I thank you for agreeing to come so quickly? You husband must be worried."

"My husband is quite aware of my capabilities to defend myself." Tsuruko assured the woman, though it was with a slight smile, "Though I am grateful for permitting me to let him know where I am, he can get so protective at times."

"And I really don't feel like replacing any walls." Haruka muttered to herself, though she KNEW the Kyoto beauty heard every single word. The last time Tsuruko's husband had panicked about his beloved's condition, he'd damn near set Kyoto on fire in his zeal to help her.

"Still," Tsuruko noted, acting as if nothing had been said, though Haruka noted a slight qurik to her lips "I am rather disappointed in Motoko's actions, I really didn't think her fear of men would fly so far out of control."

"One cannot predict the foolishness of youth." Hina offered sagely, sipping at her tea in the traditional 'genial old woman' pose that would only be utilized by suspicious old bats who had nothing better to do than make life hell for said youths "I'm as much to blame by allowing it to run rampant while she was under my roof."

"I assure you the problem will be addressed in full." Tsuruko assured her "I am, however concerned as to the whereabouts of your grandson, will you be requiring the assistance of the Shinmeiryu?"

"Tempting, but no." Hina replied, "You have enough on your plate disciplining your errant sister." She sipped her tea, sighing as she shook her head "I had hoped to avoid this, but sometimes drastic measures are called for, and I cannot place my trust with the mafia."

Haruka frowned as her mother pulled out a black mobile phone, eyes widening as she noticed the symbol painted onto the back in silver paint. "You really think it's necessary to bring HIM into this?" she asked, feeling a shudder run through her body at the thought.

"You trained under him personally." Hina replied, pressing the auto-dial button and listening to the receiver, "You know there's no-one better…ah Diana-Chan, it's Hinata…no I have no intention of taking up command again you're doing splendidly…Yes I AM aware of the incident with the Franchise, and I agree, it did go down smoothly. On the subject, I'm sure you know by know who I'm requesting…Very well, I'll send you the details through the proper channels, I'm offering ten times the going rate…make SURE he knows this is a search and retrieval mission…no I'm NOT worried about collateral damage so long as my grandson isn't counted among it."

'God help us.' Haruka prayed, closing her eyes in silent prayer as her grandmother hung up the phone 'Keitaro, wherever you are you better PRAY there aren't innocent bystanders or you're gonna be scarred for life.'

Hong Kong; 23:57 hours.

A cell phone rings softly in the darkened room, echoing in the silent penthouse suite of one of the red dragon triad's leaders. The man in question was currently facedown on the carpet, a bottle of wine on the floor as a figure straightens himself from frisking the man for a disk he kept on his person. Flipping the phone out he held it to his ear, blue eyes narrowing as he took in the information.

"…I see…I'm on my way."

He hung up, putting the phone and disk away as he quietly left the penthouse suite, the door locking behind him silently as he made his way to the elevator, the guard having taken a much needed bathroom break between shifts. The generic elevator music had barely caught his attention as he quickly exited the lift on a separate floor to avoid detection, exiting from a different lift before leaving via the front door even as the black limo pulled up out front, the last sight anyone saw of him being the light shining off his bald head, the back of which bore a strange barcode tattoo.

Up in the penthouse, the clock reset at 00:00 hours.

And I think I'll finish up there for now.

The Atlantis ark is over, but KEitaro won't be returning to Hinata-Sou anytime soon I assure you...he needs to master his Stand and get some 'tutoring' from Gina first.

And yes, the other Gold Digger cast members will awaken Stand Abilities...though who gets what I'll leave to your imagination for now!

And yes, the Stands will be from Series 3 through 6.

Halibel: interesting.

R&R or be Ora Ora'd!