Chapter 40

Epilogue – 5 years on

The Hinata House was buzzing with excitement. Kanako was currently turning the inn into party central. She had Shirai blowing up balloons and Haitani hanging streamers from the ceiling of the common room. The junior Urashima and current manager of the Hinata House was taking no prisoners as she had everyone working doubly hard. Her parents were currently getting all the starters and snacks ready.

"Look at this, a postcard from my mother." Keita said as he organised the mail.

"I didn't know you could send postcards from prison." Kanako replied.

"Well, that's one of the perks of minimum security I guess. What does the card say?" Akane responded.

"It's another request for us to testify on her behalf at another appeal." Keita explained.

"She's been asking every year and every year we turn her down." Akane shook her head. "I guess I'll let her know we're declining again."

"You're secretly enjoying that." Kanako whispered to her mother.

"I think this is enough; I doubt we need any more balloons." Shirai wheezed.

"Enough is never enough!" Kanako exclaimed.

"I told you." Haitani laughed.

"Haitani, you should have been done with the streamers by now! You still have to hang up the banner!" Kanako reminded.

"Yes ma'am! On it!" Haitani saluted.

"You're really pulling out all the stops." Akane smiled admiring her daughter's drive.

"This is Oniichan's big day; I have to make it special." Kanako replied.

"Your brother would have been fine with anything." Akane reminded.

"I know but I really wanted to do this for him. Because it was his special day I decided to hire his best friends as manual labour." Kanako spoke loudly glaring at Shirai and Haitani making sure they weren't slacking off.

"I hate to say this Kanako but you're behind schedule. Shinobu should have been here with the desserts by now." Keita said looking at his watch.

"Speak of the devil." Kanako chuckled as she saw Shinobu walking by carrying way too much than she should.

"Let us help you." Akane exclaimed when she saw Shinobu struggling.

Akane and Keita took the desserts of Shinobu's hands and moved them to the kitchen to refrigerate them.

"Thank you, traffic was a nightmare." Shinobu sighed.

"You look well." Kanako greeted as she walked over to the young chef.

"You too, this place looks amazing." Shinobu complimented.

"It's only been a year since you moved out and we still miss your cooking." Kanako sighed.

"I also miss being around everyone here, my new apartment is so lonely but its right next door to the culinary school and my restaurant job." Shinobu replied.

"Since you have an inside track at that fancy restaurant, maybe you can get me onto the reservation list. I need to get out and spend a night on the town one of these days." Kanako laughed.

"Hmmm, it might be difficult but the maître d does owe me a favour. I'm sure she can make a plan." Shinobu thought out loud.

"I was just joking but if it's no trouble then I would really appreciate it." Kanako responded.

"It's no problem. Is Urumi going to come today?" Shinobu asked. "The last time I spoke to her was about a week ago when she left the country."

"Unfortunately she can't make it. Urumi and Onizuka are still out of the country, they're enjoying their wedding anniversary on a tropical island somewhere." Kanako replied. "My parents are taking a long time in the kitchen; I'm going to check up on them. Please make sure these two don't slack off."

"You should have more faith in us Kanako." Shirai sighed as he tied string around another balloon. "This is exhausting."

"That's your punishment. You were supposed to pick up the helium tank and you forgot." Haitani reminded.

"This place is still as lively as ever." Kitsune chuckled entering the common room.

"Mitsune, you look amazing!" Shinobu exclaimed.

"You're just saying that because the last time you saw me I was nine months pregnant and huge." Kitsune reminded.

"It's not my fault I didn't see you after that. You and Naru suddenly moved out of the inn right after the baby was born." Shinobu countered.

"I guess I didn't really give anyone else besides Keitaro a heads up I was leaving. I didn't want to be a bother to everyone around me. Believe me, the first six months and all Takayuki did was cry." Kitsune sighed.

"Speaking of Takayuki, where is the little angel? I haven't seen him since he was two when I ran into Naru and him at the vegetable market." Shinobu asked.

"We stopped down at the café so he is coming up with Naru, he really loves his aunt. She spoils him rotten." Kitsune sighed.

"I don't spoil him rotten." Naru huffed.

The red head was carrying a four year old boy that had Kitsune's light brown hair but more ruffled and wild. Takayuki Konno was dressed in, or at least supposed to be in a suit that his mother had bought for him.

"Naru, where's his little coat and little bow tie?" Kitsune asked feeling disappointed she couldn't show off how handsome her son looked dressed up.

"They were annoying him so I took them off and left them down in the café." Naru replied.

"Annoying me!" Takayuki repeated.

"See, spoiling him. He's supposed to be walking on his own but Naru insists on carrying him everywhere." Kitsune pointed out.

"Takayuki likes it when I carry him." Naru retorted. "Don't you Takayuki?"

"Naru obaa is the beast!" Takayuki cheered.

"Not beast Takayuki, best. Naru obaa is the best." Naru corrected.

"He's so cute. Such a big boy like him must be able to walk." Shinobu gushed trying to get the child's attention. "He must be very good at walking. I hope he can show me."

The boy looked to his mother and his mother gave him an approving nod.

"Yes! Yes!" Takayuki struggled against Naru to get her to put him down. "Takayuki is very good at walking."

"Hello there, my name is Shinobu Maehara. What's your name?" Shinobu kneeled down to Takayuki's level.

"My name is Takayuki Konno!" Takayuki declared proudly.

"Please tell me more about yourself." Shinobu asked.

"Takayuki Konno, four years old, I live with mama and Naru obaa. This is mama." Takayuki ran and grabbed Kitsune's leg. "Mama plays with laptop."

"He means that I type on my laptop. I'm still a journalist but now I write freelance for different online publications." Kitsune clarified.

Takayuki then ran to Naru and grabbed her leg. "This is my Naru obaa. Naru obaa is in Todai."

"Huh, he got that right. I am in Todai." Naru smiled.

"I thought you graduated already." Shinobu replied confused.

"Yes, I got a job on campus in the faculty that I was studying." Naru explained.

"It's a shame that Yui couldn't be here today." Kitsune sighed.

"Yeah but she's prosecuting a big case." Naru winked.

"I read about that. Yui is prosecuting Tora Igarashi. You'd think he learnt his lesson after he went to jail five years ago." Shinobu mumbled. "I still remember the trail from five years ago."

"I had a very strong case to sue him but I just wanted to get an order keeping him out of our lives for good." Kitsune recalled.

"If Kitsune had tried to get maintenance, he would have found a way to worm himself into Takayuki's life and that was one thing we couldn't let happen. Looking at his new stint in court, it's a good thing we cut all ties with him." Naru added.

"He's getting what he deserves, again. That basket." Kitsune said.

"Basket?" Shinobu looked confused.

"We try not to use bad words around Takayuki." Naru explained.

"Basket, basket, basket, basket." Takayuki sang.

"I can see why." Shinobu chuckled.

"If I had known all the original tenants were meeting up before the party, I would have been here earlier." Motoko sulked feeling left out.

Shirai, Haitani were left with their jaws hanging as Shinobu, Kitsune and Naru were left stunned. Motoko was not the tomboy in karategi that they remembered. She had grown up some and was wearing a dress that showed off how much she had grown, how much curvier she had gotten, her hips, her chest…

"What is it? Why is everyone so quite?" Motoko asked.

"Motoko, you have a figure, a very womanly figure." Kitsune pointed out.

"I assume you're making reference to the fact that I'm not wearing any bindings that I look more voluptuous." Motoko replied.

"Vol… Volly… Volly-tew… volley-tew-uses." Takayuki tried to repeat the big word he had just heard.

"Almost Takayuki, but you shouldn't try and repeat Motoko's big words. Ever since she became a published author she's been making a habit of using of big words." Naru teased.

"It was just a short story in a magazine Naru. You're never going to let me live that down." Motoko sighed.

"Who could forget that story about a female samurai and wayward courier?" Kitsune snickered. "It was so hot and steamy. Was it based on real life events?"

"It was a fictional story." Motoko responded.

"Speaking of wayward, where is your boyfriend?" Naru asked.

"He went to check if they have been taking care of the pond in his absence." Motoko responded.

"It's been five years and I still can't get over you two. Just announcing you're dating and then Tsuruko swiftly kicking him out." Kitsune reminisced.

"Firstly, we only told Keitaro and he accidently told you. Secondly Anewe did not kick Yamato out. We merely came to an agreement that as high school students in a relationship we shouldn't be under the same roof." Motoko clarified.

"I need to talk to Kanako; they've been neglecting our pond since we left." Yamato sighed walking into the room.

"We have been gone for a long time." Motoko said.

"Ah, I see. Since you both weren't in high school anymore you both left here so you could live together." Kitsune theorized.

"No, I moved out so I could be closer to campus, work and the training ground. Training for the Olympics is no joke." Yamato explained.

"I moved into a female residence near Todai which happened to be two blocks away from Yamato's apartment." Motoko added.

"So you two aren't living together?" Naru asked.

"Well, actually now we are." Motoko blushed. "I'm almost done with my degree and I've got a job lined up. Yamato has a good position at his company. We just thought this was a good time to start living together."

"Soon you're going to have your own little Takayuki." Kitsune joked as she picked up her son.

"W…What are you talking about? We're always safe." Motoko retorted flustered.

"I see you're still easily embarrassed." Naru noted.

"We're not at that stage in our relationship as yet." Motoko collected herself. "We're only going to have kids after we get married."

"Such a mature couple, discussing stuff like that." Kitsune noted.

"Yeah, lots of kids. Like six or seven." Yamato joked as he grabbed Motoko.

"Seven!" Motoko exclaimed pushing Yamato away.

"So where are you working now Yamato?" Shinobu spoke up.

"With my running career over, getting a job in a sports representation firm was the only option for me. Luckily my hands on experience and degree allowed me to climb the ranks faster than most." Yamato said.

"I heard about that from Honoka, it must have been hard for you." Kitsune nodded.

"One bad slip around the bend and then the tell-tale "pop" of the ligament and I knew it was serious. I can still run but returning after the injury, I was never able to push myself to the limits I once could." Yamato explained. "Besides, life is too perfect already." He placed his arm around Motoko.

"Kitsune, you mentioned Honoka, how is she." Motoko asked.

"Well, she used to babysit Takayuki when Naru and I were busy while she was studying but now she's doing well for herself. She's a manager at the Horizon Grand Hotel." Kitsune answered.

It was at that moment that Yamato's cell phone rang. But this wasn't a phone call; it was a picture message from an old friend.

"Motoko, check this out." Yamato smiled as he showed her the photo.

It was a photo of several athletes leaving Japan to compete in a World Championship.

"That's Arima, Kenji; I don't know any of the other. I don't believe it. Suzuka is there too." Motoko said examining the picture. "She actually did it."

"From what I heard Suzuka turned a new leaf when she returned from America. She was a better person and worked hard to reach her goal of representing Japan." Yamato smiled. "They're all doing well for themselves."

"Does anyone know if Mizuho will be able to make it?" Naru asked. "I haven't seen her in ages."

"Mizuho couldn't make it. She's busy working on her doctoral thesis in America." Kanako said re-entering the room. "She's really working hard for that qualification."

"Hime-sama! Hime-sama!" Takayuki began screaming.

"Oh what's this? A fan." Kanako smiled.

"Hime-sama?" Motoko spoke up confused.

"Hime-sama is the character Kanako voices on Takayuki's favourite show." Kitsune explained.

"You didn't tell me about your voice acting!" Motoko responded.

"I had one acting job three years ago and couldn't really break back into the big time. So I've been voice acting on a few CD dramas and anime here and there." Kanako explained.

"That's still really impressive." Yamato noted.

"Well I guess I can tell you guys now since my parents will probably announce it later. I'm going to be in a movie next. Filming starts next month." Kanako announced.

The adopted Urashima was swamped in compliments, praise and well wishes by her friends as Takayuki tried to get Kanako to be Hime-sama.

"Kanako, we are done!" Haitani declared.

"That's good; now let's get that banner up." Kanako smiled. "Where is the banner?"

"I think Sarah was still working on it when I saw her down at the café." Naru said.

"I wasn't finishing it up just now because I accidently fell asleep last night after putting it off to the last minute." Sarah laughed sprinting into the room.

The banner was a fine piece of work, it looked like it had been printed but Sarah had actually written out and painted the words that read, "Congratulations Keitaro."

"As expected from someone who restores ancient artefacts." Kanako complimented.

"It's kind of strange. When I was a kid all I did was break them but now I spend my time searching for them and restoring them." Sarah laughed.

"You really did well following in Seta's footsteps." Naru nodded.

"Speaking off Seta; how is that old fool?" Kitsune asked.

"Papa is good. We go out on expeditions when he's not lecturing. He really pulled out all the stops and became a proper father." Sarah smiled.

"Delivery!" Mutsumi's cheerful voice rang out through the house as she walked into the room carrying a watermelon.

"Well, well, if it isn't the owner Okinawa's largest watermelon farm." Naru smiled as she hugged Mutsumi.

"Ara, I wanted that to be a surprise." Mutsumi replied.

"It wasn't going to be much of a surprise after your farm was in the paper for its exceptional growth." Motoko pointed out.

"I have been receiving much more attention than I expected recently." Mutsumi nodded.

"I thought you weren't going to be able to make it today because the farm is going through an expansion." Kanako responded.

"I couldn't miss today so I decided to leave Saki in charge." Mutsumi explained.

"Saki as in Saki Asai?" Kanako asked.

"Yes, the same. She wasn't really able to get passed that blemish on her record of being arrested. Since we were in the same boat at the time, I decided to give her a chance." Mutsumi replied.

"The same old kind Mutsumi." Naru smiled.

Upstairs in the Hinata House in his room, Keitaro, the owner of the inn was looking at himself in the mirror. He could hear everyone downstairs and was feeling nervous about the party that they were going to throw for him.

"Ah, I could never get these right." Keitaro complained as he struggled to put on his bow tie properly that would complete his formal look.

Two hands wrapped around his waist from behind and held him tight.

"You're just stressed." Yuka whispered into his ear as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I can't believe this day has finally come. I've been waiting for it." Keitaro responded.

"Three years for your bachelor's degree and another two for your Master of Arts, five years is a long time." Yuka said.

"I was talking about this." Keitaro corrected as he held Yuka's hands and traced his fingers on the ring she wore.

"Everyone's going to be really surprised when you tell them we're engaged." Yuka smiled.

"We've been engaged for the last six months. I am sorry that I wanted to keep it a secret until I graduated." Keitaro apologized.

"Don't be sorry. The idea of us getting married when you got your masters was what fuelled you and kept you going during that last six month stretch." Yuka remembered.

"No, it wasn't the idea or anything like that. It was you. It was all the support you gave me." Keitaro shook his head.

"I was just being a good girlfriend/fiancé." Yuka chuckled.

"You were beyond good, if it wasn't for you being by my side I don't think I would have finished my thesis." Keitaro said.

"Don't make it sound like you've done nothing. You've also supported me so much over these last five years. You stood by me when I ventured into a career that everyone said I couldn't handle. You gave me strength when I thought I was weak." Yuka nuzzled his neck.

"It's amazing how things lead to this. Five years ago when you said 'Think about it', that's all I did for the next week. I wanted to save what we had even if it meant being just friends." Keitaro reminisced.

"It was restarting that friendship that lead to us becoming closer. Now everything seems like a dream. It's perfect." Yuka spoke.

Keitaro freed himself and turned around to face his fiancé. "We still have a lifetime together to improve on perfect. Let's go downstairs." Keitaro said before he kissed her.

"Let's." Yuka kissed him back before taking his hand and leading him to the party below.

END

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Poll: The results of that little poll from the last chapter were pretty largely in favour of Yuka.

AN: The end is finally here, it has been a long journey. Thank you everyone who's been with me, reading this story. Those of you who have followed from the beginning would know that this story has had its fair share of breaks while I went about reinventing my style of writing.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and I hope you continue to follow my work in the future.