Disclaimer: Ken Akamatsu owns Love Hina.
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Typed by HotelKatz, Beta'd by Existential Insanity
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In the Hinata cafe...
"Alright, Mutsumi, We're closing up early." Haruka said.
"Ara, Any reason why?" Mutsumi asked.
"I'm going to go check the water main in the kitchen. A sink seemed to be running a little funny. Hopefully, Su didn't try to 'improve' it." Haruka said, as she entered the kitchen.
"May I watch the television here?" Mutsumi asked, "I don't feel like competing for the tv at the Inn."
"Go ahead." Haruka called out from the kitchen.
Mutsumi then turned on the tv and randomly flipped through the station before settling on one.
"Ara... The news is on instead of 'Liddo-kun & Friends'. Must be important or perhaps I miss-remembered the time..." Mutsumi said, before reflecting on the last year.
"There have been some changes in a few laws concerning marriages worldwide," The Newscaster began.
'Keitaro discovered he couldn't advance because he forgot to register his classes last semester and Naru took a part-time job teaching a review class. Then... Then... Second Impact happened.' Mutsumi thought. Even now, it made Mutsumi shiver in fright.
"Due to the world population reaching low levels, several countries have changed a few laws concerning polygamy," The newscaster continued.
'Everyone was scared when it happened. So scared, that when Keitaro tripped and fell on one of the girls, the girls barely registered the act happening. And when they did, they were reluctant to punish him in their usual way, out of fear he might never return from his skyward trips. Even now, punishments were few and far in between,' Mutsumi mused, 'Keitaro didn't take the Tokyo University Archeological Department selection test, because he felt we needed him more than before.'
"In a few countries, the government has issued an edict. In a marriage with three or more spouses, the group will receive funds to help their situation, provided that the group has two or more spouses pregnant within the year," The newscaster stated.
'If I remember right, Everyone in the Hinata slept in the same room for three months. Su asked everyone to sleep with her, because she was afraid she might never see anyone again when she woke up. Naru and Motoko refused to let Keitaro sleep in the same room, but Su and Shinobu made teary puppy-dog eyes until they allowed it. He was restrained by rope at night, that was the only thing Naru and Motoko refused to budge on. Kitsune made quite a few jokes that Naru, Motoko, and Keitaro had a bondage fetish. She still makes those jokes to this day,' Mutsumi reminisced to herself. She was pretty sure Kitsune took a few pictures of Naru and Motoko tying up Keitaro.
"A few of the countries will make checks on their citizens to insure that the group is trying to get pregnant. A number of civil groups were outraged at that information," The newscaster stated.
'Su-chan had been called back to her country five months after Second Impact. Su-chan did come back to the Hinata two months afterwords. Su-chan informed us all that she convinced her family that she was safer at the Hinata. I believe she said some about making a factory that produces easy to build houses in the shape of Tama for the homeless.' Mutsumi thought with a smile. 'If that's true, then Tama will be famous.'
"When asked for specifics, a few members of these civil groups shared their opinion of both the Second Impact and the effect it had on the recent changes in law," The newscaster stated.
'Motoko's family unofficially helped the Kyoto police keep the peace for a while. Tsuruko came to ask Motoko to assist in Kyoko, but Tsuruko and Motoko had a chat that allowed Motoko to stay. I wonder what it was about? Ah well, Shinobu's father took time out of every day to talk with her. So did her mother. It is heartening to remember that. Perhaps Tsuruko will come by more often...' Mutsumi mused, 'Come to think of it, Seta comes to the Hinata more often. Haruka said the disaster made him realize he might actually die in a accident. I guess he doesn't want Sarah or Haruka to worry about never seeing him again.'
"A few asked what about marriages where a few of the spouses have no idea that they were married to the same person," The newscaster continued.
'I was worried that Mother, my sisters, and my brothers were hurt during the disaster. Thank heavens they are alright. Keitaro's grandmother and sister were safe when Second impact happened. I still don't know what happened to Naru's relatives. She goes real quiet when we ask,' Mutsumi thought, with worry on her brow, 'I do hope they are alright, They seemed like such good people when Naru used to talk about them. Perhaps they had a falling out due to the stress of living through a disaster? I hope nothing bad happened to them.'
"Please check with your local government to see if your country is one of the few that passed a law that allows polygamy," The newscaster finished.
"Ara ara, Such trying times... Huh, What did the newsman say about polygamy? Oh, I wish Tama was here!" Mutsumi said.
"Myu!"
Mutsumi looked up and saw Tama flying above the Television.
"Tama! Do you know what the tv news was about?" Mutsumi asked Tama.
"Myu! Myu Myu Myu Myu!" Tama mewed as he flew around in a circle.
"Polygamy is now legal in Japan? And the government will pay if two or more of the wives are pregnant? Ara... Now Kei-chan won't have to choose one of us, he can choose us all! How naughty!" Mutsumi said with a smile.
Mutsumi twirled around in a circle.
"Now I can enact my plan, fu fu fu," Mutsumi laughed evilly, with her hand covering her mouth.
"Myu?" Tama mewed, with his head turning on his side in curiosity.
"Oh, just a plan I made when I first came to the Hinata. It involves me becoming a little bit evil. Fu fu fu," Mutsumi said, while continuing to laughing a little.
"Myu," Tama mewed as he shook his head.
"I too can be evil," Mutsumi said, before she turned her head away from Tama in a pout.
"Myu myu..." Tama mewed in a apologetic tone.
Mutsumi turned her head towards Tama once again.
"I accept your apology," Mutsumi said, "Now I must be off. Time waits for no man or woman!"
Before she could leave, Mutsumi fainted.
"Myu..." Tama mewed as he shook his head.
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After Mutsumi woke up, she walked to the Hinata. She found Naru in her room studying at her desk.
"Why, hello, Naru-chan! How are you feeling?" Mutsumi asked.
Naru quickly turned from her books and took off her glasses.
"Oh, hey Mutsumi! Not much has been going on, I'm actually hoping something will happen," Naru replied.
"The government is now allowing polygamy!" Mutsumi cheered.
A few moments passed before Naru replied.
"When I said I was hoping something will happen, I did not mean I wanted that to happen. That's a joke on your part, right?" Naru spoke.
Mutsumi shook her head.
"No, polygamy is now legal! We can now all marry Keitaro and each other!" Mutsumi cheered again.
"All that law will do is create perverts! And that is because the polygamy law was created by perverts!" Naru ranted.
While Naru was in a rant, Mutsumi decided to speak up.
"The governments fear the world population level is starting to reach dangerously low levels. That's why they passed the law. But that's not why you're angry. I also know why your relationship with Keitaro backtracked a little," Mutsumi stated.
That made Naru stop in her rant tracks.
"O-oh... Why?" Naru said, hoping Mutsumi would be wrong.
"You're afraid of being hurt. You're also afraid of the relationship turning out for the worse and making everything in your life go bad. You're even afraid of hurting Keitaro in a way his immortality won't be able to heal him from," Mutsumi said, with her eyes closed. She then opened them with a smile.
Naru's entire body shook in fear. Was she that easy to read?
"I-I-I don't know what you're talking about, Mutsumi. Perhaps you ate too many watermelons, or too little. Which is it again?" Naru said, hoping Mutsumi will take the bait and go off track.
Poor Naru, Mutsumi didn't.
"You don't have too worry about being hurt. You know Keitaro doesn't even a mean bone in his body. He would rather hurt himself than even think about harming you. Remember when he tried to set you up with Seta? If he had succeeded, he would have been hurt a little by it, but he would have been glad to see you happy. Besides, all that would change in a polygamous relationship for us would be is a lot more love for everybody! We could all be more open with our love, wouldn't that be great!" Mutsumi said in a song-like fashion.
A few more moments passed. When Naru collected herself, she asked a question.
"What if I want Keitaro to love me, and only me?" Naru quietly asked.
"Keitaro has a big enough heart to love us all. So do you. If we were all in a polygamous relationship, you wouldn't have to worry about him cheating on you. The only ones he would have sex with are ones you allowed in the relationship, and they would be extra eyes to watch him," Mutsumi said.
"And the possibility I might hurt him? In a permanent way?" Naru asked. She still wasn't sure if the idea of polygamy was a good one.
"The others would stop you." Mutsumi said.
"Kitsune wouldn't. She'd laugh at the display. Motoko has a bad temper like me, she'd probably be alongside me hurting him. And Su would... Well, Su is Su," Naru said. Then she sank to the desk in despair.
"Then pay attention to Me and Shinobu. If we disagree, the action you would be taking might be a bad one," Mutsumi quietly said.
"How would you stop me when my temper is in control?" Naru asked, while starting to get up.
"I'd ask Tama, he would stop you," Mutsumi said with a smile.
Before Naru could say anything more, Mutsumi continued.
"Us all being in a polygamous marriage would stop any arranged ones from taking place and splitting us apart," Mutsumi said, with her smile starting to fade.
"What are you talking about! Everyone in the Hinata would fight any loser who comes here trying to set us up in an arranged marriage!" Naru yelled. "Even if it was the government or our parents, We would fight!"
"If it was our parents or the government, A few wouldn't fight. Me, Keitaro, or Shinobu would go along with it, if it meant the others would avoid being hurt, killed, or arrested," Mutsumi said, with her smile disappearing. Then it reappeared quickly, " But if we entered a polygamous marriage, we could avoid that. And no one here would ever be lonely again!"
Naru's eyes widened, and she quickly turned away.
"I-I'll think about it. By myself, if you don't mind," Naru said. Mutsumi could swear Naru was getting ready to cry.
Mutsumi started to walk over to Naru to hug her.
"No no, I'll be alright," Naru quickly said, waving the other girl off.
"Alright, I'm going to talk to the others. If ever you need to talk to someone, I'll always be free to talk," Mutsumi said, before she left the room.
After Mutsumi left the room, Naru got up from her desk. She walked over, picked up her Liddo-kun, and sat on her futon.
"Never be lonely again... Be real nice if it were true..." Naru said, as she hugged Liddo-kun while tears started to appear in the corners of her eyes.
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Mutsumi stayed awhile and listened in case Naru called out for her. She didn't, so Mutsumi left on quest to get everyone married to Keitaro. Something bugged her, though.
"I wonder what it might be that I'm forgetting," Mutsumi said to herself. When nothing came to mind she shrugged and went to find Motoko.
It never dawned on Mutsumi to ask Keitaro what his stance on polygamy was.
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It took some time to find Motoko, but Mutsumi found Motoko at her usual training spot.
"How are you Motoko?" Mutsumi asked.
"I'm doing well. On the way here, I heard some interesting news on the TV when I passed by an electronics shop," Motoko said, as she was going through her warm-ups.
"Good news, I hope?" Mutsumi asked, while walking towards Motoko. Mutsumi stopped about 5 feet away from the door, not wanting to be accidentally hit if Motoko ranted.
"Like most information, it depends on one's point of view," Motoko replied.
"Was it the change in polygamy laws?" Mutsumi asked, preparing for a difficult argument and rant from Motoko.
"Yes. I think it is rather favorable to all of us living here in the Hinata," Motoko answered.
Mutsumi wasn't expecting that from Motoko, so it took everyone's favorite anemic Turtlegirl a few moments to respond.
A slight squeak from behind Mutsumi made her turn around. She saw nothing but the door, so she turned around to continue talking to Motoko.
"Ara ara... I expected you to be against it..." Mutsumi muttered.
"About a year ago I would, but... Things happen..." Motoko said.
"Might I ask why you think it would be good?" Mutsumi asked.
"For one, it would prevent the sisterhood of the Hinata from breaking up. Two, I would not have to fight Naru in winning Urashima's affections. Three..." Motoko mumbled the last bit, turning away from Mutsumi and stopping her warm-ups.
"I did not catch that last part, would you repeat it?" Mutsumi asked, hoping Motoko would not lapse back into hate-all-men mode.
"I'm slightly ashamed to admit it," Motoko answered, with a blush spreading across her face that would look more appropriate on Shinobu.
"Whatever it is, I won't look down on you for it," Mutsumi said, while walking towards Motoko. When She reached Motoko, Mutsumi put her hand on on of Motoko's shoulders, "I would support you, no matter what it is."
"I write stories," Motoko quickly said, growing redder.
"There's nothing wrong with writing stories," Mutsumi replied, with a slight look of confusion on her face.
"They...are... are... !" Motoko said, with her face now red as a tomato.
"Ara... I did not catch that. Could you repeat it?" Mutsumi asked.
"T-t-t-they're ero-tic-tic-tic s-s-stories in... in... involving... everyone... in... in...in.. t-t-t-the Hinata..." Motoko said, while about to pass out from embarrassment.
Mutsumi smiled.
"Ara... That's nothing to be ashamed of. Well, Kitsune might tease you. Or use it to tease others," Mutsumi said.
"Well, I can't argue there. You aren't going to tell her, are you? " Motoko asked, while she began to regain her normally calm demeanor.
"If you show me your writings, I won't. I won't even tell Tama," Mutsumi answered.
"Are you serious?" Motoko asked.
Mutsumi closed her eyes and nodded.
Motoko thought about Mutsumi's deal about keeping silent about her writing.
"That seems fair, in a way. Follow me," Motoko said, while heading to the door. 'I never should have said anything about my writings about it in the first place.'
Mutsumi opened her eyes and began to follow.
On the way to Motoko's room, Mutsumi decided to play a prank. When she had decided what to do, a naughty smirk appeared on Mutsumi's face.
"Who knows, we might get some inspiration for later! I wonder if it will be for the writing or for what to do with Kei-chan!" Mutsumi said.
Motoko nearly tripped.
"P-p-please keep quiet! There are ears everywhere!" Motoko said, while making the gestures for Mutsumi to keep silent.
Mutsumi tilted her head a little.
"Okay," Mutsumi replied. The smirk grew into a smile, while becoming no less naughty.
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Author's note: A few reviewer's asked for more detail on Second Impact in the fic. Second Impact is from Neon Genesis Evangelion. As far as the Hinata gang know, It's a Meteor that started a cataclysm that wiped out half the Human race.