It was hard for Shinobu to believe that Keitaro Urashima was sitting across from her, at the same table, at the "El Guapo" coffee shop. The only thing she was worried about for the time being was that she was going to wake up.
"Again sorry for the bad directions Shinobu", Keitaro apologized to her a fifth time.
"No, it's okay Sempai. What matters is that I'm here with you right now", Shinobu answered. "That's more than worth the direction mix up."
She slightly drifted off in her own world. They were both interrupted by the clearing of someone's throat. Both Shinobu and Keitaro turned their heads to see a waitress holding a small pen and pad of paper.
"Afternoon you two", the waiter said. "What can I get you both?"
"What would you like Shinobu", asked Keitaro,"A hot chocolate?
"He want's to order a hot chocolate for me. It sounds good, but it makes me look like a kid."
The girls with black hair shook her head in protest.
"No, I'm a lady now! I'll have a cup of coffee, black please", Shinobu stated in a deeper tone.
"Are you sure", the older boy asked.
"Yes, I'm a big girl now sempai."
"Okay then. She'll take a black coffee, and I'll have a hot chocolate."
"Alrighty, I'll have your orders in a jiffy' said the waiter in a nonchalant tone.
As she started to walk away, Shinobu was puzzled by what Keitaro wanted for himself.
"You're not getting coffee Keitaro", the black haired girl asked.
"Naah, I'm not too big of a coffee drinker. Hot chocolate is more of my style."
Hearing this Shinobu stood up and ordered to their passing waitress, "I've changed my mind, I'll have a hot chocolate too."
From about a block away, Keitaro and Shinobu had no idea that they were being spied on. For the moment, the rest of the tenants watched the two targets through a small laptop screen.
"Hmm, nothing interesting is happening yet", Su said in a boredish tone.
As Su began rapidly tapping the buttons on her small device, the others watched the screen with questions and concerns of their own. On the screen, Keitaro was reaching into his pocket and placing a small box on the table for Shinobu to take.
"What's he doing", Sarah wanted to know.
Naru said shouted low enough to not get any unwanted attention, "This is frustrating, I can't hear what they're saying."
"Don't worry, I'm working on that part", the machine nut Su tapped on her laptop buttons. "Just a few more moments...aaaand...there"
With that, the sound of the conversation automatically came to life. The other moved in a little closer to hear what they were saying.
Keitaro spoke loud enough for the others to hear as he said, "Here, this was a little souvenir I picked up in Hawaii."
He went to Hawaii after he left us?
There was a slight irritation in her voice. The camera zoomed in a little bit as Shinobu opened the box. Inside was a small sea shell made bracelet with a bright blue pearl in the middle.
"Keitaro its beautiful", Shinobu said in excitement.
"You like it", Keitaro asked. "I was hoping you would. I remember you saying you wanted a vacation on the beach, and I thought you would like this.
"Thank you Keitaro", Shinobu told her old Sempai. "I didn't even get you anything."
Keitaro realized he had to back track some of the conversation because of the tears welling up in her eyes.
"It's no big deal Shinobu, honest...So, how are you holding up at Hinata Sou?"
Hearing this question Shinobu paused for a moment. On the other side of the screen, the rest of them also held their breaths in their throats.
"W-well, I'm doing okay", Shinobu shyly stated. "I've been keeping up in my studies, and all the other tenants are doing well.
"That's good, that's good", he said to her.
As Keitaro grabbed another sip from his beverage, Shinobu asked a question that completely caught him off guard.
"Keitaro, are you still mad at Naru?"
The boy spit out the hot chocolate that was in his mouth onto the floor. He was obviously not prepared for this.
The boy stuttered not from the heat of his beverage, but from the awkward question. "Well..it's just that..."
It was now Naru who moved closer to the laptop screen. She need to hear this desperately. There was no response from Keitaro for what felt like a long time. As her eyes focused on Keitaro's image, the camera began to move. The screen pointed to the sky with a small nose whiffing the camera. Naru grew concerned and shook the laptop slightly.
"Su, what's wrong? What's happening", Naru shouted impatiently.
"I don't know", Su replied trying to regain control. "It looks like something took the camera."
Keitaro and Shinobu both sat at the table peacefully without knowing the panic coming nearly a block away.
"So that's how you feel then? I guess that's reasonable Sempai", Shinobu told Keitaro.
All of a sudden, a small brown furry creäture landed right in the middle of their table, knocking over a small bowl of sugar. Shinobu had enough time to shriek in fear as Keitaro saved the falling sugar bowl.
"I found this turtle in a tree", the creäture spoke.
The little girl was at loss for words. This small, weasel like creäture was...talking...talking like a human. It wasn't very different from Kanako's cat, but it was still amazing to know that a small animal like this could speak.
"It...it talks", Shinobu said as she nervously pointed to the animal.
"Huh, oh yeah this is my Pine Martin, Skinny."
"Oh, it's...it's so cute."
"Thanks missy, the martin politely replied.
"Skinny, what do you have there", Keitaro asked.
The small weasel like animal held out what looked like a small mechanical turtle.
"I found this in a tree, and I thought it looked cool", was Skinny's reply.
Keitaro held the device carefully as he examined it further. On the other side of the camera, the girls held their breaths, covered their faces, bit their nails, or prayed that Keitaro would not discover them. After some closer examination, Keitaro handed the martin the small turtle.
"It looks like someone's toy, better put it back Skinny"
"Ok", said Skinny.
There was some slight disappointment in Criminals tone. Never the less, he wasn't one to disobey his master when given an order.
On the other side of the lenses, the girls were vitally relieved that their cover had not been blown...yet.
"Phew, now that was a close one, wasn't it y'all", Kitsune said as she wiped her sweaty forehead off.
The others watched on the screen as the small furry mammal placed the camera back in its original position in the tree. As it scurried, they were all shocked to see that their previous targets were gone.
Kanako asked "Where did they go?"
Her cat answered, "That way, that way, meow!"
The six hidden girls watched as Keitaro and Shinobu walked by a mere thirty feet from them. It was a miracle that they were not spotted as the small pine martin provided a distraction. The rest of the day was spent in pretty much the same fashion. Keitaro took Shinobu to the lake edge to watch the fish swim by in the crystal clear water. He also took her to movies to see some sappy romance film only she liked. Not that Keitaro was complaining or anything. In both events, close by was the "Follow Shinobu Renegade". Before everyone knew it, the day had turned into night. The city was brightly light as much as the night sky full of stars. Despite the wonderful scenery of the night-time, Shinobu knew that her time grew short.
"Keitaro, it's getting late", Shinobu said with some sadness. "I have to get back to Hinata Sou."
"Alright Shinobu, but before we go, I have to show you something", Keitaro said with a hit of wonder in his eyes.
The two friends walk a surprisingly short distance before reaching their destination.
"The park", questioned Shinobu.
"Yeah, hop on."
Shinobu looked to Keitaro, he was kneeling down with his back to her, signalling that he wanted her to climb on his back. Doing what she felt was right, Shinobu wrapped her arms around his neck and gripped his sides with her legs. She was in great surprise as Keitaro swiftly, and easily climbed the twelve-foot fence and landed ever so gracefully. Once they were over the metal barricade, Shinobu jumped off of his sides. "C'mon", was all he said as he walked deeper into the shadowy park with Shinobu, and Skinny right behind him. The three of them were out of sight and earshot as the other girls tried to scale the fence. It was easy enough for Su, Sarah, and Kuro to squeeze through the bars, but the rest of them were having problems of their own. Before their targets could move any farther out, Motoko used her signature Rock Splitting Sword Technique to forcefully open the gates.
Deeper in the park beyond the trees and pathways, the booming noise from Motoko's technique ran throughout the area.
"What was that", the girl asked in a small scared tone.
Keitaro looked towards the trail that they came through. Despite seeing nothing there, he continued to stare out beyond the blackness.
"Boss? What's wrong Boss", Skinny asked.
"Shinobu", Keitaro said in a deep seriousness. "Go behind that big rock over there and don't move until I tell you to."
"What?"
"I need you to trust me Shinobu, Keitaro continued" Skinny watch over her.
The girl nodded her head before doing what she was instructed to. The pine martin was immediate to follow. The whole time, Keitaro did not budge, and continued staring at the road.
The rest of the girls continued moving as fast as they could to find their targets. After a certain amount of running, they arrived at a small clearing. Yet, there was still no sign of either Keitaro or Shinobu, not even his pet. On the other hand it was hard to see in the park at this time of the day.
Kitsune said in an obviously out of shape voice "Now where did they all go?"
"Right behind you", a mysterious voice said.
None of them moved another inch as they heard the sound of clank that was too close to a gun for their liking.
"Don't move", the voice continued "Put your hands in the air and..."
Worthless thief! Rock Splitting Sword!
The voice never had a chance to finish his demands as Motoko unsheathed her sword and focused her Ki into her sword attack.
"Waita go Motoko", Su cheered.
Her attack was powerful, but not successful. The clearing dusk with no victim confirmed it. The only thing in it's place was a small gun on the floor. Before she could react, a strong hand grabbed the back of her outfit and tossed her into a tree. As everyone shouted, "Motoko" out of concern. Kanako reacted the way she was taught by her grandma. Using her trained skill, Kanako repeatedly attacked her opponent with rapid martial art punches and kicks. However, her opponent was a professional on her level, if not a higher level. Her agility and natural flexibility was an advantage, but her opponent had a speed and strength advantage. Without even realizing it, Kanako had a small opening in her defense, an opening her opponent preyed upon. With a strong elbow attack to her midsection, Kanako was sent flying.
"You sneaky bandit, I'll teach you to use your tricks on us!"
Motoko attempted to split her opponent in half with her sword from his blind spot. As her sword came closer, the shadowy figure stopped the sword with a pocket knife. As he struggled with blade against blade, he did not see as Naru picked up the gun and pointed it point blank shot at their attacker.
"Now you don't move and put your..."
Using his free right hand, their opponent chopped at Naru's wrist. The gun was sent out of her hands for a split second before he seized it in his own hand. Despite the darkness, Naru could hear the piston drawn back and could make out that it was being pointed at her face.
"Naru?"
All movement ceased as they all heard Shinobu. Out of all the times, the lamp-post in the park all sparked to life. With the newly acquired light, everyone began to take in the scenery. From behind the rock emerged Shinobu and Skinny. Keitaro looked all around him and saw many faces all too familiar.
"Su?...Kitsune?...Kanako?..."
He looked above him and realized his pocket knife had collided with Motoko's sword.
"Motoko?..."
The biggest surprise was the one literally right in front of him. Keitaro stared deeply into the frightened eyes of an old acquaintance as he held the gun to her face. He slowly lowered the gun and stood up as his soft breath echoed her name.
"N-Naru?...I..what are you...I mean..."
"Keitaro..."
He stepped back as she inched closer to him. His pulse was out of control, and his breathing wasn't any better.
(Keitaro) I gotta go!
Before he could say another word, Keitaro bolted off into the distance. Not too far behind was his small furry friend Skinny shouting "Hey, wait for me boss!"
"Keitaro wait! Keitaro!"
Despite Naru's cries, the older male did not stop for her. He continued to run until he was gone from everyone's vision. With that Keitaro Urashima was gone once again.