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Chapter 2

The old inn looked much bigger up close. Hinata-sou stood here on top of the mountain more than one hundred years. The architecture was archaically Japanese with generous use of thick, stout wooden beams, and even some of the glass panes looked original. The building overall, however, looked to be in serious need of repairs. How it hadn't been declared condemned ages ago, Aria wasn't sure.

Her "father" stood at her side, the look on his face told her he had misgivings about this place too. Now that they were closer to the building, the feeling they had the other day was much stronger.

"A dark shadow falls over this place," said Kano. He had a grim look on his face.

Aria nodded, "It is ancient magic, and perhaps a curse...and something else." There was something more here but she couldn't quite sense what it was.

"Is this really a good idea, holy one?" asked Kano, who kept his voice low.

Aria shook her head, "There is no choice, this is the time and I must be here when it happens."

She reached out and touched the man's arm, "I am not that powerless, you need not fear, noble Kano." That seemed to reassure him. With renewed resolve, they entered Hinata-sou. Aria immediately felt the transition, there was a protective barrier around the inn, a powerful one. Its creation would have required considerable skill in magic, the purpose of the barrier seemed to be to suppress whatever darkness permeated this place. This was of no natural origin, someone consciously created this barrier...and they were maintaining it.

"Interesting," she breathed, Kano apparently picked up on what she meant as he nodded in agreement.

"WELCOME!"

There came the pop of a confetti ball and everyone Aria assumed was the current residents of the inn cheered her and Kano as they stepped into the entry hall. The woman Aria already knew as Haruka was there. The rest were all girls, except one. Her eyes went straight to his and she nearly burst out in tears. But, she caught herself...it wasn't time yet. She noticed Kano looking at him too and doing his best to hide his emotions.

"That's quite the reception, thank you." Kano smiled, still playing his part.

"Well, it isn't every day we get a new roommate." the girl who spoke was perhaps eighteen to twenty-something. She was very pretty, not the prettiest of the older girls, but definitely a beauty. Her light brown hair was long, hanging down to her waist. Two locks on the top of her head formed that looked like a pair an antenna. Aria did not like the aura this girl was giving off, she didn't appear to have any powers but there was something about this girl Aria knew she wasn't going to like. Strong vibrations in her aura suggested she was easy to provoke to anger.

"My name is Naru, Naru Narusegawa." the girl walked up and shook Kano's hand.

The others appeared to have been waiting for Naru to break the ice as they all now came forward to introduce themselves. There were two other older girls, Mitsune Konno was by far the most well endowed of the three. Aria felt a strong flirtatious aura around her and she was definitely beautiful. Where Naru leaned heavily on the cute side of the spectrum, Mitsune was on the sexy and sultry side especially when her short cropped girl. Her accent was unmistakably Osakan. Vibration in her aura also suggested the girl was also something of a freeloader.

The third of the older girls was someone Aria knew though the last time they met she was just a child. Aria was well acquainted with the Aoyama clan, the practitioners of the sacred Shinmei-Ryu demon slaying kendo style. Motoko was Tsuruko's little sister, and she was growing up to be just as stunningly beautiful. The girl wore a formal kimono as expected from a young lady brought up by such a noble family, though Aria was confused as to why she was living here and not back in the Aoyama estate. She decided to inquire about that later. There seemed something usually chaotic in the girl's aura as if she were unsure of her feelings.

The other two girls who living in Hinata-sou were much younger. They were Shinobu Maehara and a foreign girl named Kaolla Su. They were both young teenagers of middle school age. Shinobu radiated a gentle, caring, and dependable aura. Aria wouldn't be surprised if the other girls all depended on her, something in her aura also told Aria the girl might also be something of a chef. There was a certain vibration to her aura when she was near Keitaro. The little girl had a crush on him, a strong one.

Finally, Aria's attention came to the last of the girls. Kaolla Su's accent screamed Molmol and her aura was powerful and energetic. She was pretty hyperactive, yet Aria could tell there was definitely something behind her overly cheerful demeanor. She was similar in age to Shinobu, but whereas Shinobu was simply cute Kaolla was an exotic beauty. Her skin was a creamy brown, her hair near platinum blond, and her seifuku top seemed made deliberately to short to show off a generous midriff. In just two or three years, Aria suspected, this girl was going to be a heartbreaker. There was also something else, yet another thing Aria decided to look into later.

"Alright now, settle down everyone," Haruka, clearly the one who was really in charge spoke up. "Kei, why don't you show her and her father where she's going to be staying." The young man in question nearly stumbled over his own feet as he came forward.

"Sure, Mr. Tenkawa your daughter's room is right above Shinobu's," he said to Kano, then he turned towards her. At that moment, there was recognition in his eyes. It was brief, then he started to fall. Before the girls could react Kano caught him, then Keitaro seemed to recover as if nothing happened.

"Sorry, I guess those late night studying sessions finally caught up with me." Keitaro blushed.

"I'm trying to get into Toudai," he explained, now looking embarrassed. Kano let him go now that it appeared he could stand on his own two feet.

Kano clapped him on the shoulder, "Ah, I remember those days. Wish I could still pull all-nighters like that!" Aria could see the strain in Kano's features, the man was doing an incredible job of keeping his emotions in check, but just barely.

"What was I saying," Keitaro turned towards her and now it was her turn to keep her emotions in check. "Oh, yeah, Aria, you're room is the one right above Shinobu's." Hinata-sou had once been a hotel, an inn actually, so the rooms were very spacious. They were two large spaces separated by sliding shoji doors. There was already some furniture in the room. A large wardrobe cabinet and kotatsu table and a few cushions. One wall was made into a bookshelf in the first room.

"We don't have spare beds, but we do have plenty of clean futon mats and extra linen and comforters," Keitaro explained as he showed them the room. Aria liked the feel of the room, perhaps because it was so close to Shinobu some of her calming aurae seemed to radiate here.

Kano replied, "I ordered a twin size bed for Aria that should arrive sometime later today. I paid extra for onsite assembly, I hope that's alright?" Those delivery men would be other members of the Twelve, Aria wanted them to get a good look at the place, learn the lay of the land. They were all going to be living here in town except for Kano, he would have important business elsewhere.

Keitaro nodded, "I could have put it together for her, but that's fine. If she buys any other furniture I'll gladly help her with it, that's what I'm here for."

Kano slapped him on the shoulder again, "The missus and I will feel better knowing a strong, reliable young man will be here watching over our little girl while we're gone." Keitaro blushed, scratched the back of his head and thanked him profusely.

"Keitaro...strong and reliable?" Aria heard Naru whisper to Motoko, who seemed to nod in agreement. It seemed she was right about that Naru girl, some attitude adjustment will be in order soon.

"So, Aria," Keitaro turned to her. "What do you think?" He gestured toward her room. Aria crossed the threshold, past the sliding shoji doors. She felt something, the moment she pushed her senses out to determine was it was it vanished.

She did a cute twirl for effect. "It's so cozy," she said innocently. "I think I'll like it here father." Kano gently patted her on the head.

"I'm glad you like it," he said.

Kano turned to Keitaro and put on what Aria thought was a very believable mask of sadness. "I wish I had more time to say goodbye to my daughter," he said. "But, the misses and I have a very limited timetable."

Keitaro smile apologetically, "I completely understand Mr. Tenkawa, I hope you and your wife have a safe flight and don't worry about Aria we'll take good care of her."

Kano bowed, "Thank you so much." Still playing her role, Aria took his hand and tried to look sad but not too sad. She didn't want to make a scene.

"I have just enough time to have a few words with Aria before I have to go," Keitaro lead them back downstairs to the lobby. Aria continued to hold Kano's hand until they were outside in front of the main steps. She could see tears welling up in the man's eyes and so she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"It was so good to see his face again," the big man was on the verge of sobbing.

"Dear sweet noble Kano," Aria said to him. As if compelled to do so, the big man knelt down so his face could be level with hers.

Aria touched the sides of his face, then leaned in and gave both cheeks a gentle kiss. "I send you off with my blessing," she told him. "Tell the others to await word from me. Your long wait is almost at an end, so don't cry dear one but rejoice."

"Yes, most holy one." Kano bowed his head in deep reverence.

"Now, it is time for us to part, when we meet again he will be among us at last." these words made him smile. Aria giggled and kissed him again.

"I'll let them know," Kano replied, then all for a show he reached out and gave Aria a gentle hug. After that, he stood and started down the stairs to the street below. Aria returned to the inn where everyone was waiting in the lobby.

The young girl named Shinobu walked up to her, "Aria, would you like a tour? This is a big place so there are lots to see."

"Ok," she replied excited, and she and the young girl began their tour walking hand in hand with Kaolla following along behind them.

Later that night, Aria finished making the bed which had arrived an hour after Kano left. It wasn't anything fancy, she would have been happy with just a futon mat. The sun had already dipped below the mountains and she could hear life in Hinata-sou winding down for the night. Eventually, everyone came by her door to wish her a good night. Naru and Motoko stayed a for a bit to talk to her. They weren't bad people they just a strange opinion of Keitaro, especially Naru. Aria decided to explore why that was another time. It was getting late, Motoko had school and Naru had to be up for another study session in the morning.

Laying in her bed with the lights off, Aria finally allowed her senses to stretch out into the room. There was definitely something very mystical about this place. It was practically wreaking with magic, and there was something else. Something on the edge of her current perception, it was dark whatever it was.

Her concentration was broken by a sound in the room. Lying still, she listened, someone opened her door and she could hear footsteps on the tatami mats. The air in the room became cold, she could see her breath in light of the moon shining through her window. That's when she saw it, a vaguely humanoid form standing in the corner. It stepped forward into the light, it was a woman but not one of the residents Aria had met. She wore a kimono and her skin was pale. The woman stopped walking when she came just next to the bed.

Aria looked up at her. Now that she could see the woman clearly Aria noted that she was very beautiful. Her hair was done up in a traditional bun style that went out of fashion years ago except for during festivals. The woman turned her head to look down at her and she and Aria locked eyes for a moment.

Then, suddenly, the woman's eyes became black pits and her mouth opened wider than was physically possible revealing rows of sharp teeth. Aria sat up and calmly spoke one word.

"Begone."

The apparition wailed a piercing scream as it's form was torn apart by a fierce wind that only it could feel and when it finally blew away there was a thunderous hollow roar. It came from somewhere deep within the inn. Moments later, Aria head shouting and the sound of sliding doors slamming. Her door opened and Keitaro, Naru, and Mokoto armed with a wooden katana came rushing in.

"What was that sound, Aria are you ok?" Naru asked her.

Aria smiled innocently, "I'm ok."

"I'll go downstairs and make sure all the doors are locked," Keitaro turn and left quickly. Motoko hurried after him.

"I will come with you," she said firmly. "We may have an intruder."

"You've got a bigger problem than that," Aria whispered to herself.

"What was that, sweetie?" Naru asked she must have good hearing.

Aria just smiled, "I hope it isn't a burglar."

"Doubt it sugar," Kitsune said at the door. "Last time someone came in her Motoko chased him around the place with her sword for an hour until the cops showed up. After that, we haven't had any more trouble like that."

"That sound was like a scream and then thunder," Naru said. "What was it?"

Kitsune just shrugged, "Considering everything that's been going on around here, your guess is as good as mine sugar."

What was it, indeed, Aria thought to herself. There was definitely something in this house, something that wasn't friendly. She was going to have to do something about it soon rather than later. But, that would have to wait until morning. As the excitement wound down, everyone wished Aria a good night then wandered off to their own rooms again. Aria laid in her bed with her senses once again reaching out into the room. Something was definitely in this place, and whatever it was just now woke up.

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To be continued...