"NEW TENANTS?!"
"That's correct," Keitarou confirmed with a nod before he took a sip of his tea. "I've contacted Madame Fabulous and offered her and her team guest quarters here. It'll save their looking for a place to stay in Nerima. And the family of one of the fiancées of a friend of mind will be coming here, too."
The regular tenants of Hinata-sou — save Kaolla, who was still running around the place trying to track down the maintenance robots Keitarou and Taiko had brought back with them from Yiziba — blinked as they took in that information, and then they found themselves staring warily at the four newcomers who had moved in earlier that day. The Yizibajohei were quite surprised at this news. "You actually invited the Quartet to stay here?" Courtesan asked. "You realise they are affiliated with the Extreme Archaist these days! Even if their goals are similar, Archy, the Archaist and the Preacher…!"
"If they want to start a fight scene, especially here, they'll have my sister to deal with, Sanny," Keitarou responded.
Courtesan and her friends blinked, and then they nodded in understanding. "Sempai, would there be trouble if those people came here?" Shinobu wondered.
"It is a possibility, Shinobu-chan," Keitarou admitted. "One I'll try to avert as best as I can when I'm back on Yiziba, of course. As will my sister while she stays here. Since she'll officially become the kanrinin once our friends from New York get done with all the paperwork…!"
A blast of sake exploded from Mitsune's mouth, that coinciding with Motoko's and Naru's jaws hitting the floor. "WHAT?!" all three screamed out.
Keitarou blinked as he stared at them. "Is there something the matter, ladies?" he calmly asked as he crossed his arms.
Silence fell as they stared at him, and then Shinobu started to shudder as her eyes began to well with tears. "Y-y-you're l-leaving us, S-s-Sempai…?"
"Not permanently, of course," he affirmed. "I'll still base my operations on Earth here at Hinata-sou, but I've another base of operations on Yiziba I'll be reopening as soon as I get back there to see if it's still in good condition." He then rolled his eyes. "Hopefully, some idiot hasn't gone in there to pillage the place while I've been 'gone,' so to speak, inside the Crystal…!"
A hand slammed into the table. "YOU CAN'T LEAVE!"
Eyes locked on Naru. She had bolted to her feet, her body shivering slightly as she stared at her fellow Tokyo University aspirant…or was that now former Tokyo University aspirant? Since she was wearing her studying glasses — presently fogged up, though Keitarou couldn't tell if it was because of anger or another emotion — he couldn't really see into her eyes. Taking a deep breath, he placed his cup on the table, and then he stood up. "Isn't this what you've always wanted, Naru-san?" he asked before walking away from them, heading to the hallway that would take him back to his room.
Silence fell over the scene as the Terran residents found themselves staring at Naru. Before anyone could try to say anything, a flash of light at one corner of the room heralded the arrival of six women, four of them in Yizibajohei fighting costumes. "Tadaima!" Stone Mountain called out before she willed her uniform back into civilian clothes. "Apologies for being gone for a while, everyone, but I had to go out and guide our new tenants here." Taiko then gazed on Wildflower, who had just switched her own uniform back into civilians. "Ka-chan, could you escort everyone to their rooms? I pointed them out to you when you came by to visit after Tariko-chan moved all of Ranma-kun's things here."
"No problem, Tai-chan," Kanami assured her with a wave before she gazed on the Tendou sisters. "Follow me, girls. Fortunately, you're all on the main floor here, so you don't have to go crawl up and down stairs to get to your rooms."
"House meeting in two hours," Taiko announced.
"Hai!"
With that, they headed off. Taiko then turned to Infinity, who had remained in her costume. "Thanks for the help, Tari-chan."
"Anytime, Tai-chan," Infinity said before she vanished back to Tomobiki.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to the Yizibajohei. "Anyone seen Onii-chan?"
"He's gone back to your room, Stoney," Muoti said before she finished her tea.
"Thanks."
"A-a-ano…?"
Taiko stopped, and then she gazed on Shinobu. "Is there a problem, Maehara-san?"
The younger girl jolted on hearing the formal way this female version of Keitarou was addressing her, and then she bowed her head. "I-it's nothing, T-t-Taiko-s-sempai…n-nothing at all! I'm s-sorry to b-bother you…"
She looked away. Taiko hummed, and then she nodded. "Fair enough, Maehara-san. Please be here in two hours. I'll have some announcements for you all."
With that, she headed off. The Terrans watched her go, all of them looking quite wary. "'Announcements'…?" they all whispered.
Watching this, Courtesan tried not to grin as she gazed knowingly at the Matron. The older woman took note, and then she nodded.
Over two hours later…
"How on Earth did you get this arranged?!"
Urashima Haruka was trying not to drop her cigarette in shocked disbelief as she looked over the forms in her hands. The other Terran residents of Hinata-sou save the elder Tendou sisters were standing behind her, all of them slack-jawed at what the words written there meant for them as well as the woman presently sitting at the head of the table. "It was quite easy," Taiko answered before she sipped her tea. "The Special Committee for Alien Activities has an office in Tomobiki. Once their agents went to the Moroboshi home and met Tari-chan, they were told of Ka-chan and I. After we were entered into our respective family registries, we became in legality what we are spiritually: Citizens of Japan. Once it happened, it was legal for Onii-chan to turn over ownership of Hinata-sou to me."
Tendou Nabiki leaned over the table to glance over the sheets. "Look legal to me, too," she noted. "So who is this 'Special Committee' anyway, Kanrinin-san?"
The other Terran residents of Hinata-sou and Haruka jerked on hearing the middle Tendou daughter address Taiko as "Miss Manager." "They're more popularly known as the 'Men in Black,' Tendou-san," Taiko answered.
Jaws dropped. "But that was just a movie!" Naru protested.
Taiko smirked. "I know!" she said before a giggle escaped her. "Ingenious, wasn't it?!"
Hearing that, Akane and Kanami blinked before they started to laugh. "So we're properly registered here, too, Stoney?" Courtesan playfully asked.
"I told them you were currently transients sent here by social leaders back on Yiziba due to what happened to all of us, Sanny. They don't mind it too much, just as long as those who visit don't make too much of a ruckus. Okay?"
"It's cool," Euphoria affirmed as the others from Yiziba nodded in agreement. The members of the Fabulous Quartet were currently standing behind the current members of the Preacher's Choir. "It's your place now, Stoney."
"Certainly, it is that," Madame Fabulous agreed with a nod.
"And it's a beautiful place, too," Kasumi said as she looked around. "It's even more rustic than the house." She then paused as she remembered the events not three hours before at the Tendou home, and then her face dropped in a frown.
The others were quick to notice. "Are you okay?" Mitsune asked.
"Please leave her be, Konno-san," Taiko stated as she reached over to gently grasp Kasumi's hand in support. "Tendou-san and her sisters were forced to leave their family home today due to a very profound disagreement between themselves and their father over another 'guest' at that location. Kasumi-san and Nabiki-san are here because no place in Nerima is presently safe for them to stay."
Kasumi blinked, and then she bowed her head. "Thank you very much for your kindness in our time of need, Kanrinin-san," she whispered.
"It's my pleasure, Tendou-san," Taiko said as she let Kasumi's hand go. "In the times we met Ranma-san, he was quite positive in his descriptions of you."
Kasumi blinked again, and then she started to blush. "Oh, my…!"
"Er, Kanrinin-san…?"
"Yes, Tendou-san?" Taiko asked Nabiki.
"What did Ranma-kun say about me?"
Taiko's smile lost its mirth. "There are children present, Tendou-san. I don't wish to hurt them by repeating Ranma-san's words about you."
Nabiki awked, sweat appearing in her hair as she took that unspoken message in. She then jolted on hearing Kanami start to laugh. Kasumi had a pitying look on her face and Akane was shaking her head. The others from Hinata-sou blinked in confusion. "I don't think Tangy really likes you, Miss Nabiki," Muoti said.
"After the way she treated him in the past, I don't blame him for feeling that way, Muoti," Akane noted before she sipped her tea.
"Gee, thanks a lot, sis!" Nabiki hissed.
Taiko then cleared her throat before she stood up, reaching over to take the papers from Haruka. "Now then," she announced. "Since we've now had the chance to meet each other, the time's come for me, as the new landlady of Hinata-sou, to lay down some ground rules to ensure everyone's stay here will be enjoyable for all. Number one rule…" She paused as she stared intently at the Yizibajohei contingent before she glanced at Motoko. "There will be no fight scenes inside this building or anywhere within fifty metres of the building. If you have a problem with one of the others, take it outside and fight it out there! I've only got four of the maintenance 'bots here and I don't want to overwork them so far from Yiziba and the Crystal."
"Sounds cool," Euphoria stated.
"It's okay with us, Stoney," the Yoke declared with a thumbs-up.
"Thank you," Taiko said with a nod. "Please understand that there are norms also resident here, including a pair of younger children. I don't want them hurt in case any of you get the itch to pound someone's skull." She then fixed her gaze on Motoko. "Oh, and Aoyama-san…"
The kendou-ka jolted. "Wh-what is it?"
"That goes double for you," Taiko announced flatly as she seemed to glare the younger woman down. "Your skills with your sword are practically Yizibajohei-level in overall power. While Onii-chan might have forgiven you for the times you went berserk over him, I'm not so forgiving. If you draw that weapon inside this house with intent to hurt anyone here, I'll personally evict you from the house and send you gift-wrapped right back to your sister! Understood?!"
Bristling as Taiko's threat started to wash over her, Motoko then balked on hearing whom else the former had spoke of in that tirade. As her face turned stark white, she nearly collapsed onto her knees. "Aneue…?" she rasped.
"Yes, your sister," Taiko finished with a nod and a smirk. "She sounds like a very charming person. It was so nice of Obaa-san to tell me about Tsuruko-san when I talked to her earlier. As a matter of fact…"
"WHAT?!" Haruka gasped. "You mean…?"
"Yes, Oba-san, Obaa-san already knows what's happened to Onii-chan and I."
Haruka jolted. "Taiko, I really would appreciate it if you didn't call me that!" she then snarled. "It really bothers me."
Taiko stared at her. "Are you implying I shouldn't be respectful to you?"
Haruka balked, and then she sighed, remembering what Keitarou had said on that very subject earlier in the day, just after he became the Archaeologist. "Look, I really appreciate the sentiment, but still…!"
"Wait a minute!" Naru cut in. "Are you saying Obaa-chan already knows about what happened to Keitarou?!"
A nod. "Hai, Narusegawa-san, she does."
"So how did she react?" Mitsune demanded.
"Other than she was happy to have another granddaughter, plus pleased at the fact that our family was still in charge of Hinata-sou?" Taiko asked, and then she sighed. "Onii-chan finally got the chance to express his displeasure at Obaa-san for asking us…" — the Terran residents of Hinata-sou were quick to realise that the "us" meant the time when Urashima Keitarou was only one person instead of two — "To come here without giving us any sense of warning about the changes she had done to Hinata-sou in the years since our last stay here. He also made it very clear that thanks to the Special Committee's actions, Obaa-san can't reverse Onii-chan's decision to turn over Hinata-sou to me. With that, whatever objections you all might have…" Her eyes focused on Motoko and Naru. "Concerning men being resident in this house are effectively dealt with. However, it doesn't mean that men won't be forbidden from visiting the House. After all, Ka-chan's brother and Akane-san have a relationship and the others from Yiziba are here to impose themselves on Ataru-san's time."
"Including you, Stoney?" the Unseen Lady probed with a knowing smirk.
Taiko blushed. "I'm considering it." She then clapped her hands once.
The sound of something racing quickly through the air filled the dining room as one of the maintenance robots raced out to stop beside her. "By your command, Mistress?"
"YAY! I CAN PLAY WITH ONEE-CHAN'S TOY!"
The robot jolted slightly as Kaolla landed on its domed head to hug it tightly. "Take Su-himesama for a ride around the dorm, Unit Three," Taiko ordered.
"Compliance, Mistress."
It scooted off, Kaolla laughing as she rode it out of the room. "Maehara-san, please keep an eye on them," Taiko then asked. "I don't want Su-himesama's exuberance to get her hurt, especially if the unit takes her very high."
Shinobu blinked, and then she nodded. "H-hai, S-sempai. Excuse me, please."
With that, the young girl ran off after her housemate. Once they were gone, Taiko took a deep breath. "Well, now that the children are gone, we can move on to the second rule." Her eyes fell on all those touched by the Great Crystal of Power, and then Mitsune. "If you get an itch to do a pillow scene, please keep in mind there are people here whose sensibilities would be grossly offended if they stumbled onto it, not to mention those who aren't mature enough to understand it. So please, if you can afford to do so, keep it away from the House."
"What about the springs?" Blaze asked. "We noticed you barred off part of it."
"Ah, yes," Taiko said with a smile. "That section is set aside for everyone who's touched the Crystal. So I'll make one small amendment to the second rule: If you wish to enjoy a good soak with a potential lover there, please warn me ahead of time so we can get privacy shields up so it won't become public." She then gazed on Nabiki. "Especially given that we now have someone here who gladly has taken near-pornographic pictures of her sister's lover in the past."
Nabiki awked. Haruka, Naru, Motoko and Mitsune all stared wide-eyed at the middle Tendou daughter. "Taiko-san, I really would love to hear what Ranma told your brother about all of us in Nerima," Akane then noted.
"You can simply ask Onii-san yourself, Akane-san," Taiko stated. She then took a deep breath as she focused on the oldest of the Terran-born residents of Hinata-sou. "Now, the final rule: No alcohol in the house, period."
Silence.
Mitsune was now petrified by Taiko's announcement. "B-but…!"
"No 'buts,' Konno-san," Taiko stated. "And before you ask, I've already taken the liberty of having the maintenance 'bots remove all your sake and every other alcoholic beverage from every hiding place you have in the House. Don't bring any more in here or you'll be the one who'll be evicted." As Mitsune started to choke on her bile, the landlady moved to walk back to her room. "And by the way, Konno-san, you're also two months overdue on your rent. And while I am bisexual, I will admit right now that I don't find you the least bit attractive, so don't think you can deal with your rent problems that way with me." She then looked at Madame Fabulous. "Could I see you in my room for a moment, M.F.? I need to talk to you about getting a good security system installed in the House."
"I'm at your convenience, Stoney," the leader of the Quartet declared.
As they headed off, Mitsune began to sway. "No booze…"
"So are we happy about this or not?" Naru asked.
The original residents of Hinata-sou — save Kaolla and Shinobu — had quickly relocated themselves to Haruka's tea shop to discuss what had just been dropped on their heads by their new landlady. "Definitely not!" Mitsune snapped. Before coming here, she had gone into her room to try to find something to drink. When she learned that Taiko's earlier statement had been quite true, the following wail of pain and anger had literally rocked Hinata-sou to its foundations. "It's bad enough that Keitarou just turned around and gave a total stranger complete control of Hinata-sou — and he even somehow got Obaa-chan to go along with it, too! — but now that she's taken all my sake away…!"
"And threatening us with eviction now," Motoko noted.
Mitsune jolted, her face turning stark white on hearing the "E" word escape the kendou-ka's lips. Naru stared at the amateur writer for a moment, and then she sighed. "It might not be as bad as your girls might think," Haruka noted as she came up to place teacups in front of them.
"What do you mean, 'it might not be as bad,' Haruka?!" Mitsune demanded, and then she started to quake. "This is all Keitarou's revenge for all the things we've done to him since he showed up!"
"Don't you mean his response for all the times you've taken advantage of his kindness, Miss Mitsune?"
She jolted, and then spun around to see Courtesan standing there. As the others looked, they then blinked on seeing that the beautiful Yizibajohei had dressed herself in quite plain Terran clothing — which, for her, still looked good enough for a fashion show runway in Europe! "What does that mean?" Naru asked.
The empath sighed. "If you really wish to blame someone for his becoming the Archaeologist, Miss Naru, look no further than me. I was the one who took him to Yiziba in the first place to receive his Gift from the Crystal." She walked over to sit down at their table. Ignoring Mitsune's glare, she focused her attention on the young Toodai aspirant. "Mister Keitarou was quite an emotional wreck when your punch sent him into the side of our ship this morning, Miss Naru. It didn't take me too long to probe into him to see what was wrong with him. Once I did that, it was quite easy to persuade him to become one of us."
Haruka perked, her eyes widening. Quick to sense her genuine concern for her nephew, Courtesan gazed on her. "What did you find inside him?" the former asked.
"A lot of buried pain and a growing sense of helplessness," the empath answered.
Everyone perked. "Pain? Helplessness?" Naru parroted her.
Courtesan looked at her. "Do you think he enjoyed all the times his karma came to bite him in the ass, Miss Naru? Especially those times when you believe you were under the threat of being physically or emotionally violated?"
"Urashima?!" Motoko then snorted. "Of course he…URK!"
Haruka, Mitsune and Naru tensed on seeing the kendou-ka suddenly gasp as she reached up to her temples. A quick glance to Courtesan revealed to the Terrans that the Yizibajohei was staring quite intently at Motoko. "I was asking Miss Naru the question, Miss Motoko," the empath icily warned. "Your opinions do not matter, so be silent and listen. You might learn something from this."
Finally, after a moment of pained gasping, Motoko cried out as she collapsed onto the floor, blissfully passing out. Seeing that, Courtesan relaxed as she turned back to Nara. "Now, as I was saying…"
"What did you do to her?!" Mitsune demanded as she pointed at Motoko.
Courtesan's reddish-brown eyes then focused on her. "Are you interrupting?"
Mitsune's breath caught in her throat as she rapidly shook her head. "Thank you," Courtesan said before turning back to Naru. "Now, as I was saying, do you really believe he enjoyed being caught in those incidents where your temper went out of control and you sent him on such impromptu flying lessons?"
Naru blinked as she took in that question, and then she sat back in her chair as her mind went through all of the incidents she had been involved with concerning Keitarou since their first accidental encounter in the hot springs. As each of them replayed themselves in her mind, she found herself concentrating on what Keitarou had said each time before she lashed out at him…
H-Hold on! I just…I just came to visit my grandma…!
Shaddup! You're the one with the sneaky 'Get Rid of Keitarou' Plan…and you told them about my photo booth collection…
I'm not doing this on purpose…honest!
It was an accident! I swear!
I didn't do it on purpose!
And then…
Remember that old sandbox?
When we were young…
…we made a promise…
…didn't we?
Remembering that incident in the park not several weeks before, Naru then bolted up, her eyes going wide as she remembered how Keitarou had acted in the wake of the Tokyo University entrance examination they both had failed. An entrance examination that she still couldn't believe she had failed! Yet when he had failed, it hadn't seemed so bad in the end…
Yet, maybe…
Does he blame me because I'm not his promised girl…?
<<No, he blamed himself for your failure.>>
Silence.
Naru stared wide-eyed at Courtesan. "What did you say…?"
The empath smiled as she stood up. "Think about this, Miss Naru: In all the time he's been your landlord, he has always held the power of eviction over all your heads," she said as she turned to leave. "Why hasn't he used it?" She then indicated the unconscious Motoko. "As you think about it, don't listen to what she has to say, much less your drunken friend." She thumbed Mitsune in emphasis.
With that, she stepped out of the teahouse. Haruka watched her go, and then she stared curiously at Naru. "What did she say to you?"
"I didn't hear anything," Mitsune noted.
Naru blinked as she looked down at her hands, while we…
(Posted Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:09)
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