Three thousand words in three hours! Woot! ^_^
Ch 4
Keitaro opened his eyes at the sound of the alarm clock buzzing beside him. He had never been a fan of getting up early, but his life pretty much demanded it of him. Early to go to school, early to study before school, early to roll out of a bunk covered with mosquito netting to keep from getting eaten aliveà waking up on a futon indoors at this relatively late hour was almost a luxury now.
Smacking the alarm clock off and grabbing his glasses from where they lay next to it, Keitaro rolled from his back to his knees beside the futon in a smooth motion. Placing the glasses on his face, he looked around the room he had spent the night in.
If there were any proof needed that Granny Hina had not intended to wait to see him, this room was it. Except for the slightly cluttered Western roll-up desk against the wall, the room was almost as bare as a hotelÆs would be. Drawers and closet empty, no pictures on the walls or the dresser. When Haruka had let him into the room last night, he had though she had shown him to one of the empty Inn rooms, but the desk put the lie to that. Thankfully, there had been bedding and a futon in the storage cubby so he did not have to sleep on a bare floor. All of Granny HinaÆs other belongings had been put into storage.
Moving over to where his duffle bag lay, Keitaro grabbed it and walked over to where the dresser was. Moving methodically, he emptied the contents into the drawers. Socks, skivvies, t-shirts in the first drawer, pullover shirts and jeans in the second, and sweaters and a black hoodie in the bottom drawer. Even so, there was still room to spare once he got to the bottom of the duffle. His jeans were still clean, so he just pulled on a new t-shirt, this one red with a stylized picture of a man wearing a Spartan helmet with the words æPipe Hitters UnionÆ above and æLocal 300Æ below it.
Sighing, Keitaro pulled out a locked flat metal case from the bag and laid it on the top of the drawer. After folding up and putting away the duffle bag on a shelf in the closet, he returned to the dresser.
Producing a key from his jeans pocket, Keitaro opened the case and did a quick inventory of the contents before closing and locking the case. Pulling open the bottom drawer, he tucked the case under the hoodie and closed it again.
Keitaro did not feel pleased that he did not have a more secure place to lock up the case, but he had received the contents from Seta-sensei when he first started working for him, as well as the necessary legal permits and paperwork so he would not be violating either Japanese or Thai law. He would just have to wait for Sensei to get out of the hospital in Osaka so that he could put the case and its contents in proper storage.
Picking up the last item, Keitaro turned the battered baseball cap around in his hands. Khaki and sweatstained, the cap looked it had gone through a war or two, and knowing the previous owner, it probably had. Tracing his fingers over the Union Jack patch sewn to the front, he could hear a voice floating through his memory û Fortune favors the brave, mate. Let the Devil take the rest.
After setting the cap back on top of the dresser, Keitaro picked up the battered Luminox wristwatch next to it and put it on. Given how fast the survivors of the expedition had been evacuated by the Thai navy, it was ironic that most of the clothes and gear he had with him now had not been originally his. The camp had been ransacked, and what little had been saved had included the duffle bag he had been carrying when he arrived. He had time to pick up some skivvies, socks and a couple pairs of jeans in Osaka in the week before he had to jump on the train to Tokyo when he got word from Granny Hina that he need to get his butt to the Hinata-sou pronto. The shirts, sweaters, and hoodie (all clean) had been in the bag and the ball cap and watch had been among the personal effects given to him by the Thais.
Walking over to the desk, Keitaro picked up a clipboard and several sheets of blank lined paper for notes as well as a pencil. After grabbing something for breakfast, he was going to have go through the Hinata-sou top to bottom, stem to stern. Gods willing, he would not have to do a lot of extensive repairsà like fixing that hole in the ceiling that was covered by what looked to be a piece of plywood. Keitaro had seen it last night and had been tempted to get a chair to stand on and examine the hole more closely, but he had been dead tired, and with his luck, the chair would have collapsed under him or something worse.
Keitaro had left his boots next to the main doorway last night, and he had not been able to dig out some indoors slippers, so he walked in his sock-clad feet out of the room, down the stairs, and through the living room and the dining room toward the kitchen. The last room brought back memories of last night, mostly unpleasant.
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Dinner itself was rather good. Pouched fish, steamed rice and vegetables, pickles and ginger, all spiced and seasoned to near perfection. The awkward part had begun when Keitaro and Haruka had walked in after everyone had already been seated, and Keitaro automatically walked to the foot of the long rectangular table the tenants were sitting around, where guests normally sat. But after a not-so-gentle nudge from Haruka, Keitaro slowly walked around to the head of the table and sat at the empty seat there, GrannyÆs old seat.
Motoko had been visibly not happy with the arrangement, Naru, even less so. Kitsune had grinned at the contretemps, Su barely noticed, but Shinobu almost had a breakdown, since she had not set a place at the head of the table. Keitaro had almost said to hell with it and gone back to the guest seat, but Haruka had clamped her hand down on his arm and held him in place.
While Shinobu had frantically run around resetting the table, Haruka walked over to where Naru was quietly stewing and in a no-nonsense voice ordered, ôMove over, Naru.ö
ôWhat?ö Naru jerked slightly, looking up the older woman standing beside her.
ôYouÆre not going to make me sit away from my favorite nephew, are you? Scoot over.ö Haruka had a slight flat smile on her face, barely enough to be polite.
Naru had almost scowled, but she remembered who was in front of her and gave a slight head jerk in acknowledgement. Moving over to the seat that Kitsune had already vacated, she looked down at the empty plate before her and glowered, her eyes deliberately not looking at anyone elseÆs.
After that, dinner was an almost silent affair. Except for quiet requests to pass a platter or some condiment, everyone pretty much concentrated on enjoying the delicious food. And it was delicious; much better than what he had eaten for the last year; fast and/or street food, quickly prepared and barely edible canned camp fare, and the all-time favorite meals of all, military rations and food bars he had eaten when there was nothing else.
Naru had attacked her food as though she was killing it before eating it; Keitaro was glad that they were eating with chopsticks and therefore the food was already in small portions. He was not sure he would have been safe if Naru had been holding a dinner knife at the time.
Motoko was eating like she was at a formal dinner; back straight, looking only ahead, off hand in her lap when not in use. Her eyes would move from one fellow dinner to another, but otherwise she concentrated on her meal.
Kitsune on the other hand was making no attempt to hide her amusement with the situation. Looking from the two other older tenants to Keitaro and Haruka, her dining was interspaced with sips of a clear beverage that Keitaro was sure was not water.
Shinobu had calmed down slightly once everyone had a place at the table and the food was served, but she was still looking anxious as everyone eat. Keitaro was reminded of an idiomatic American saying he had once heard; Shinobu was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Su on the other hand looked like she had not a care in the world. Pouring hot sauce on her food the way other would douse their french fries in ketchup, she ate almost twice as much as anyone else at the table. And this before Shinobu brought out dessert; while everyone else got a slice of strawberry cake, Su got a half dozen bananas that she peeled and slammed down like someone was going to take them from her. It was more than a little disturbing.
Haruka merely looked from one tenant to another while she ate, not saying anything. After her food was finished, she automatically put a cigarette in her mouth before Keitaro caught her eye. Sighing, she put the lighter way and waited for everyone else to finish.
Once the strawberry cake was gone, Shinobu stood to start cleaning off the table when Keitaro cleared his throat slightly. The girl froze in place before slowly sitting back down, eyes wide.
ôDinner was delicious, Shinobu-chan. I almost didnÆt believe what Aunt Haru had said, but now I have proof.ö Keitaro smiled at the young cook.
ôTh-thank you, Keitaro-sempai.ö The permanent blush on ShinobuÆs face rose to almost atomic levels.
Keitaro looked at the rest of the tenants around the table, seeing two scowls, one oblivious grin, and one smirk. It was almost like having a single pair hand in pokerà then again, the smirker could be considered a joker, so three of a kind, not bad, huh? Looking to the side, he saw that his aunt was grinning slightly as well, so three scowls (well, two and the joker) over two grins. Keitaro was getting the feeling it was some kind of demented ædead manÆs handÆ.
ôItÆs a little too late to be doing much of anything tonight, so tomorrow IÆm going to go through the entire Hinata-sou and see what needs to be done.ö Keitaro could see the objections rising on the faces of Naru and Motoko. ôExcept for the personal rooms of the tenants. IÆll wait for you to arrive home tomorrow afternoon so that you are with me when I enter your rooms. I can tell you right now, I wonÆt be entering your rooms unless the tenant is there with me, Aunt Haru is with me, or itÆs an emergency. Haru is going to be with me on the room inspection tomorrow regardless.ö Keitaro tilted his head over toward his aunt, who nodded in agreement. Naru and Motoko sat back in their chairs not saying anything but visibly not happy. ôI need to know when you will back here at the Inn tomorrow.ö
Naru scowled. ôCram school is done by 3:00 PM, I usually get here by 4:30.ö
Motoko answered stiffly. ôSchool is over at 3:00 PM as well, but I usually have kendo practice after school. I can leave early and be here by 3:30.ö
Shinobu spoke up softly. ôWe leave at the same time as Motoko-sempai, but Kaolla-chan and I donÆt have club. We normally get home at 3:30 PM.ö Su happily nodded in agreement.
Kitsune half-smirked. ôWell, IÆm a work-at-home kinda gal, so my door is always open for you, Manager-san,ö the fox girl said in a suggestive drawl that caused Naru and Motoko to frown at her for a change and for Shinobu to squeak and flush red.
Of course that is when Su spoke up. ôWhatÆs a Manager, Kitsune? Is it good to eat?ö
ôDepends on the toppings, Su-chan.ö KitsuneÆs smirk got even wider.
Su started to bounce up and down in her chair. ôOh, like bananas and chocolate sauce?ö she asked eagerly.
ôWell, there is a banana involvedàö By this time, Motoko was matching Shinobu with her blush, while NaruÆs glower was almost at the point where it could be classified as a lighting source.
ôEnough, Kitsune.ö Haruka stood up, with Keitaro following a moment later. ôSo 5:00 PM sound OK to you, Kei-kun?ö
ôYeah, just fine. IÆll come get you at the tea house around that time.ö Keitaro responded. He watched as everyone else stood and walked out toward the living room, with Shinobu staying behind and starting to gather the used plates and utensils on the table.
ôHaru, give a hand.ö Keitaro started gathering the dishes on his side of the table, and after a momentÆs hesitation, Haruka joined him.
ôKeitaro-sempai! DonÆt worry, I do this every night.ö Shinobu bit her lip in worry as the new landlord and his aunt quickly cleared the table.
ôYeah, doesnÆt mean itÆs right.ö Keitaro picked up the stack of plates and utensils in front of him, while Haruka collected the various cups and glasses. ôYou can take the left-overs to the kitchen, Shinobu-chan, weÆll get this done in no time.ö
ôOKàö Shinobu picked up a couple of half-empty platters of food and followed Keitaro and Haruka to the kitchen, not noticing that Naru and Motoko were standing on the other side of the doorway leading to the living room, guilt and concern showing on their faces.
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Walking into the kitchen the next morning, Keitaro saw that it was empty except for Shinobu, dressed in a school fuku uniform, who was standing on a small stepladder placing dishes in the cabinet. He frowned at the sight; Shinobu was standing on the top step of the ladder, with no visible means of stabilizing herself if she should lose her balance.
Without saying anything, Keitaro walked over to where the oblivious girl was standing and stood behind her. He did not want to see her fall, but he did not want to startle her into falling off either.
Ultimately, it didnÆt matter, as a loud call carried in from the entry hallway. ôShinobu-chan! Time to go to school!ö By the sound of the voice, it was Motoko.
Shinobu gave a slight gasp and unsteadily climbed down the stepladder. Getting to the bottom and turning around to leave the kitchen, Shinobu was abruptly face-to-face with Keitaro, who was standing less than an armÆs distance away from her.
ôSempai!ö Shinobu instinctively took a step back, which made her almost stumble over the stepladder. Instantly, KeitaroÆs hand shot out and grabbed her shoulder, steadying her.
ôShinobu-chan, that wasnÆt safe.ö Keitaro took his hand off her shoulder, although he stood in place close to her.
ôSafe?ö Shinobu placed her hand over her rapidly beating heart, and tilted her hand up so she could look at the manager.
ôWhat you were doing on that stepladder. You were too high on it, you could have lost your balance and fell.ö
ôBut IÆm too short to use the cabinets otherwise, Keitaro-sempai.ö Shinobu had a crestfallen look on her face.
ôThen weÆll have to make other arrangements. Otherwise I donÆt want you to use that stepladder anymore, especially with no one around to support you. IÆll look into getting another one to replace it.ö Keitaro took a step back from Shinobu and started writing a note on his clipboard about a replacement.
ôIf youÆre sure, Keitaro-sempai. I donÆt want to be a botheràö Shinobu would have continued speaking when another voice interrupted them.
ôWhat is going on here? Why are you two standing like that?ö The two turned toward the doorway where Motoko was standing with a suspicious look on her face. She was also dressed in a fuku uniform, and had a long and narrow wrapped bundle slung on her back.
ôShinobu was on that stepladder when I came in, she could have fallen off, so I stood next to it to make sure she didnÆt.ö Keitaro turned and stepped to face Motoko, incidentally stepping away from Shinobu. ôIÆm probably going to have to replace the stepladder for a safer one.ö
Motoko looked from the manager to the tenant, seeing an impassive look on one face and a blush on the other. But given that a blush was almost the default expression on ShinobuÆs face and there was no sign of lechery or guilt on the managerÆs face, she had to let it go for now. Motoko did resolve to question Shinobu more closely on the way to school, however.
ôItÆs time for us to go, Shinobu. We donÆt want to be late to the trolley.ö Motoko finally stated, looking toward the younger school girl.
Shinobu turned toward Keitaro. ôSempai, I left a plate of food covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for you, all you have to do is put it in the microwave for 30 seconds to heat it up. I have to get going, have a good day, Sempai.ö Turning, Shinobu hurried out of the kitchen.
Keitaro and Motoko looked at each other for a few moments before he broke the silence. ôHave a good day at school, Aoyama-san.ö
Motoko gave a brisk nod. ôThank you, have a good day as well, Manager-san,ö she responded, eyeing him for another moment before she turned and left the kitchen.
Keitaro stood there for a long moment before giving a soft sigh. Putting the clipboard on the counter, he turned and moved over to the fridge to get his breakfast. It was going to be a long day, he could just feel it.
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