As Keiichi and Belldandy left the Dorm on his Beemer, he said, "I know a place nearby. It's an Inn owned by my Grandma, though I think my aunt is in charge of it."
"Oh? Why?" Belldandy asked.
"Last time we talked, Grandma Hina said she felt it was almost time for her to go on a world tour with her friends," Keiichi answered. "Aunt Haruka prefers to run the tea shop right in front of the Inn, but has run the Inn when Grandma was out and about."
"So... the Tea shop... Do you know the Tea selection?" Belldandy asked. After stopping at a stoplight, Keiichi smiled at her.
"It's been awhile, but I do recall that it was a pretty good amount. She's been on a lot of adventures across the globe and she's claimed she still has some of her special connections shipping her tea," Keiichi answered. After a moment, he frowned as he looked forward and said, "At least I hope she really meant tea."
=-=
Haruka Urashima was finishing closing the Tea shop when she heard Keiichi's Beemer. She muttered, "Oh? I wonder what brings him here today? I wonder if those two muscleheads wore him down again. You can come in, Keiichi!"
Keiichi and Belldandy walked in, with the former saying, "Good ears, Aunt Har-Ow!"
"Thought I told you to not call me aunt!" Haruka muttered, proud of her fan-throwing.
"I'm sorry, but it's been a few years since we've talked and you're my mom's sister. What should I call you then?" Keiichi muttered, rubbing the spot that got hit by the fan.
"My name, for one," Haruka said. She then looked at Belldandy and said, "So who are you?"
"I am Belldandy. Keiichi wished for me to by by his side," Belldandy said with a bow. "I do believe I will be a reoccurring patron to your teashop, Ms. Haruka."
"Oh? Good to hear I'll be having a Goddess visit my humble tea shop," Haruka said with a smile.
Keiichi asked with a shocked tone,"You... know?"
Haruka shrugged. "It's not my first time with the Divine. I'm just glad it's a peaceful meeting."
"How many have been hostile?" Keiichi asked.
Haruka shrugged. "Lost count. But more importantly, what brings you here? I'll prepare some tea and a light meal for the three of us."
And so, after the meal and the explanation, Haruka said, "Well, well, well. It seems your run of bad luck finally has changed. Good for you, Keiichi."
"So... can we stay for the night?" Keiichi asked.
Haruka lit a cigarette and took a long drag. "About that... You might be staying longer than you expected."
"Eh?" Keiichi asked.
"Before Granny left earlier, she decided you were going to be the new owner of the Hinata Inn... And it's also now a Girls Dormitory. I guess she was hoping you'd pick one of the girls here as your girlfriend," Haruka said. She then smiled at Belldandy. "Too bad for them you picked the platinum prize before even getting here."
"Thank you," Belldandy replied.
"You're welcome. I do hope you'll help him deal with the girls here," Haruka said.
"Can we have some tips?" Keiichi asked.
Haruka held up four fingers. "There's four girls. Mutsumi Otohime is like an absent-minded clone of your girlfriend here, but often faints. Naru Narusegawa is a guarded girl with a temper. Mitsune Konno is a sneaky trickster who likes to live up to her nickname of Kitsune. Those three are best friends. Finally, there's Motoko Aoyama also has a temper and is the heir to the Shinmei-ryu. Both Motoko and Naru will hate you being here, Keiichi."
Keiichi blinked a few times. "It honestly sounds like I'd be safer finding an abandoned car and spending the night there."
Haruka chuckled. "And you'd be right, but you're here and you got a strong sense of responsibility."
Keiichi grumbled. Belldandy said, "Can you help ease us in? I do believe those four will accept Keiichi easier if you're there to explain things."
"I doubt it," Keiichi and Haruka said at the same time.
=-=
A meeting was called in the common room of the Hinata Inn.
As Keiichi and Haruka thought, Naru and Motoko glared at Keiichi. Kitsune looked at Keiichi like he was a full wallet ripe for the taking.
Mutsumi smiled at Belldandy and Keiichi before she said, "Ara ara! I'm glad you'll be the new owner!"
Naru stood up and said, "I forbid it! He'll abuse being the owner to be a pervert to us all!"
Motoko stood up and said, "I second it! In fact, I challenge him to a duel. If I win, and I will, then he will leave here and never return!"
"What if he, or if I duel for him, wins?" Belldandy asked with seriousness in her voice that scared the others in the room.
"He won't and if he wants to prove if he is a man, he won't let you duel for him," Motoko said, trying to gather back her courage. Something about Belldandy scared her worse than Tsuruko.
"I will be dueling in his place, as he lacks the training. If I win, then you shall serve the two of us," Belldandy said. Both Keiichi and Motoko gasped in shock, but Belldandy silenced them with a glare.
=-=
Belldandy won the duel by dodging Motoko's attacks and hitting her hard in the stomach, causing the Shinmei-ryu Swordswoman unable to fight any more for the rest of the night.
As Naru and Kitsune helped Motoko back to the latter's room, Kitsune thought, 'That Keiichi looks like a real sap, one I could milk for all the money I could ever want. Heck, I could even make him let me live here for free... but that Belldandy seems like she'd be a dragon guarding him like he's her treasure. I better be careful.'
Keiichi and Belldandy were helping the passed-out Mutsumi to her room.
Haruka headed back to her teashop. A slight smile was on her face because she had a good feeling about tomorrow.
=-=
The next day, Belldandy and Keiichi were watching Tv. She left the room to get some food. When she was bringing a tray back, she heard a cry and a slam.
She rushed and saw a familiar figure lying on top of Keiichi. Seeing the person had a leg still within the TV Screen without breaking anything, Belldandy gasped, "Urd? What brings you here?"
"What? I can't visit my sister?" Urd asked with a grin..
"Oh, you always can, but could you stand up? I think Keiichi wants to breathe more than he wants to pass out in your bosom," Belldandy said.
Urd stood up as she chuckled, "We'll see about that, but speaking to me like that after a day with him, Belldandy? I'm proud of you."
=-=
At lunch, Belldandy introduced Urd to the others. At first sight, both Urd and Kitsune had a feeling they'd get along like a house on fire.
Keiichi excused himself, as something about Urd and Kitsune reminded him of Tamiya and Otaki. A teamup that would make his life much harder.
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