Love Hina – The Forgotten Ronin
Fanfic
Chapter One
Christmas Eve (Thursday, Dec 24th), morning, just before dawn
After a hectic several weeks, with everyone; well, nearly everyone, trying to get used to the idea of Keitaro as their live-in manager, the residents of Hinata-sou are grateful to spend a few leisurely days together at home for the holidays.
Keitaro, the first to awaken, dresses quickly and hurries to check to see if anyone else is up, first going to the roof, and then back downstairs to the dining and common rooms.
(Great! No one else is up yet) he thinks as he goes back to his room. Opening the panel in the back of his closet, he pulls out a blanket-wrapped load. He quietly moves down the stairs, heading through the common room.
(I know that we haven't exactly seen eye-to-eye, and I'd feel wrong if I didn't do this. It's something I have to do, no matter what they think of me.) Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he stops near the front door and softly sets his load down to wipe his forehead. Although it is quiet, he can't help but feel a little fearful that someone will catch him before he…..
"Hey, Keitaro! What're ya'll doing, moving around all sneaky-like?" Kitsune's voice calls out.
"Eep!" Keitaro freezes, a chill going down his spine.
Motoko's stern words come next. "It would appear that Urashima is attempting to depart Hinata-sou again. I told you that he was not able to perform the duties of manager, and now he tries to leave like the cowardly male he is!"
"Ack!" Unwittingly, his feet turn towards them.
Naru speaks, her voice full of sadness and a hint of anger; "I thought we had an agreement, Keitaro! But I see that your promise to us, to me, really doesn't mean anything to you!"
"Gack!" Keitaro turns to see the residents, all of them, staring at him from the changing room door. And, from the towels wrapped around their hair, and the bath robes they have on, they had obviously just finished an early-morning dip in the hot springs. Blood drips from his nose as he forces his eyes away from them. (The hot springs! Why didn't I think to check the hot springs?)
Staring at the floor, he tries to explain, like that has ever made a difference; "N-no, you see, it isn't what y-you think. It's n-nothing, really!" He explains, hoping that they would just let him be.
Shinobu, her hands clenched in front of her mouth. "Aaauuuuu! Y-you aren't really going to try to leave again, are you, S-Sempai?" Her tears run down her face as she spins and runs up the stairs to her room.
Su looks sadly at him, pouting "I thought you had promised to stay and plays with me, Keitaros." Su follows her friend up the stairs.
"Shinobu-chan, Su, wait! You don't understand!" He calls, one hand reaching out to them.
"Now look what you've done! How dare you make Shinobu cry like that? Especially on Christmas Eve!" Naru's eyes spout flames as she steps towards him.
Keitaro stutters, trying to answer, but the sight of Naru, her fists clenched, and Motoko, her bokken held in front of her, saps his ability to put two words together.
"Su-chan also deserves better than that. You are indeed a vile, lecherous, deceitful, perverted male, Urashima. Prepare to meet justice!" Motoko spits the words out at him through clenched teeth.
"Oh, boy! This is gonna be good. Sake, sake!" Kitsune says, raising her second glass of the day in a toast to the entertainment about to be provided for her.
Standing there like a deer in headlights (the headlights of a freight train, that is) Keitaro can only wait for the inevitable to happen. (Kami, please don't let it hurt so much this time) he silently prays. Starting to understand that it doesn't help, he puts his hands up in front of himself anyway, and pleads "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt anyone! Wait, it's not what.." True to form, he never completes his sentence.
"You baka!" Naru yells as she delivers a Naru-punch to the side of his face, sending him bouncing off the walls to land at Motoko's feet.
Looking up, he sees the sword maiden holding her bokken over her head; "Shinmei-ryu no Zanganken! God's Cry Attack of The Stone Cleaving Sword!" Her attack blasts him across the room, through the door, and out into the hot springs. His scream stops when he hits the water.
Kitsune is enjoying the short but entertaining diversion that her friends have provided. "That's a nice way to start mah day, sake and a show!" She raises her glass to the two 'performers'.
Naru blows her fist as she shakes it, staring at the door their kanrinin flew though. Motoko, no longer interested now that the 'male' has been dealt with appropriately, walks upstairs to get dressed.
"That'll teach that stupid idiot! So much for his promises. Trying to sneak out on us! After he promised me he'd try to make it into Tokyo U. so he could be our manager. Humph!" Naru snarls, conveniently forgetting her part in putting Keitaro into the position he is in.
"Now, Naru, don't be so hard on Keitaro. Besides, how do we know he was running away?" Kitsune asks as she sits on the couch.
Naru walks over and picks up the bag Keitaro had dropped. "Why else would he have all his stuff tied into a blanket again? He was leaving, that's all there is to it." Naru claims. "That idiot will have to come back for this, and then I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. No one breaks a promise to me and gets away with it."
She turns her back on the Fox, and heads up the stairs to dress for the day, taking the bag with her. Calming down a bit, she says over her shoulder, "I'll be back down in a bit. Don't forget to at least get dressed before you pass out on the couch, Kitsune." She giggles.
Kitsune grins at her friend. (Yeah, right! Like I've ever passed out BEFORE dinner.) She finishes her sake and goes to her room.
in the hot springs..
Bobbing to the surface, Keitaro inspects himself for damage. Except for a bruised jaw and an aching shoulder, he seems alright. (I thought I was a goner! Maybe I'll just stay out here until things calm down. No, on second thought, maybe I'd better not. Last thing I need is to be caught in their hot spring again. I'll go see if Aunt Haruka can spare a cup of coffee or something while the girls calm down). Looking back towards the inn, Keitaro shrugs and climbs out of the hot springs. "I would have thought at least one of them would have come out to see if I was alright." (They must really hate me.)
Dripping wet, Keitaro makes his way around the front of the inn, his house slippers rapidly becoming encased in snow and ice before he reaches the stairs to the Tea Shop (Oh no! My bag! My…..) He looks back at the inn, and decides that discretion is the better part of valor. (Oh heck! It'll have to wait. There's no way I'm going to go back in there for a while.) Slipping and sliding, he slowly starts down the stairs to the Tea House, his arms wrapped around his wet body to try and hold in some warmth.
inside Hinata-sou..
As Kitsune comes to her room, Shinobu, her eyes still wet from crying passes her, heading for the kitchen. "I'll have breakfast ready in half an hour, Kitsune-san. Will you be coming back down? That is, I'm sure that you'll be down if you want, not that I 'm saying anything!" Shinobu blushes and stutters, not wanting to imply (at least, not out loud) that she thinks Kitsune drinks too much and eats too little.
Kitsune puts her hand on the young cook's head and ruffles her hair. "As long as ya'll cook those delicious meals, Shinobu, Ah'll be there. Even if ya'll have to drag me outta mah bed."
"Right, yes, of course." Shinobu says, beaming under the praise. With her chin up, she turns to go to the kitchen, but turns back with a pensive look on her face and asks "K-Kitsune-san. What happened to Sempai? H-he didn't really leave, did he?" Shinobu's face looks pleadingly up at the Fox.
Kitsune smiles at the young girl. "Ah don't think he was leaving, Shinobu. But, Naru and Motoko, well, let's just say they had words with him. I'm sure he'll be at breakfast, don't ya'll worry none." She says. (Ah mean, where would he go? Nothing is open today, the train services are almost stopped for the holiday, and most of the taxis don't come out this way in this weather.) Kitsune looks out the window at the falling snow.
Shinobu heads for the kitchen, feeling a little better after Kitsune's reassurances.
Upstairs, Naru throws the bag into the closet down the hall from her room, determined that she'll dump it on Keitaro when he comes back. She dresses and heads down for breakfast.
Down the hill, fifteen minutes later;
Haruka passes at the Tea Shop on her way to have breakfast at Hinata-sou and spend the day with her nephew and his tenants. Talking to herself, she says, "It looks like it's going to be snowing all day. I think I'll ask Keitaro to put me up for a few days instead of trying to walk home in this storm." As she goes by, she hears a shaking voice call out to her. "H-H-Haruk-k-ka?"
"Keitaro? Is that you? What are you doing down here?" She goes to the corner and sees Keitaro, sitting on the step near the back door. She moves over to her nephew and sees snow and ice coating his trembling body.
"Kami-sama! You're frozen!" Grabbing her keys from her pocket, she unlocks the door and, quickly helping him to his feet, assists him inside. Closing the door, she turns the thermostat all the way up, praying that the furnace kicks in fast.
Pulling several blankets out of her storage closet, she wraps Keitaro snuggly and sits him at a table close to the kitchen, then rushes to put a coffee kettle on to boil.
Pulling over a stool to sit in front of him, she wraps a dry kitchen towel around his head and starts rubbing his arms and legs, trying to encourage warmth into his body.
His teeth chattering less than before, Keitaro mutters, "T-T-Thanks, A-A-A-Aunt H-Haruk-ka. I-I k-kinda forg-got that I don't h-have a key to the t-tea shop." He manages a lop-sided grin at her.
Taking her fan out, she lightly taps him on the head, "That's just Haruka! But, I'll let you slide this time, Keitaro." The kettle whistles, and Haruka hurries into the kitchen to make them both some strong coffee.
Placing a hot cup in his trembling hands, she helps him lift it so he can drink some. After a few sips, the color rises back into his face as the coffee spreads its warmth through his body. His trembling rapidly eases, and his breathing becomes more regular.
Some minutes later, Keitaro opens the blankets, having warmed sufficiently to be comfortable. Haruka asks, "Now that you're better, care to tell me just why you were sitting out there in the snow, soaking wet, your clothes freezing, and with no shoes on? Are you trying to catch your death of cold or something?" Haruka refills his cup.
Keitaro drinks some more coffee, pondering his answer. He doesn't want to seem like a coward for trying to hide out in the Tea Shop, but he doesn't want to blame the girls, either. Making a decision, he says, "I, uh, well, I was just waiting for you to come to the inn. I, uh, wanted to be a good manager and walk you up the hill."
(You're not a good liar, Keitaro. No jacket, no shoes, soaking wet, sitting outside in the snow. The girls obviously thought you did something and knocked you into the hot springs, and you decided it was safer to hide out here for a while, in spite of the weather.) She decides he has his reasons for not telling her what happened, and plays along with him.
"That's very considerate of you, Keitaro, but" she reaches behind the counter and takes out a key, which she hands to him, "next time, you can wait inside, maybe have a cup of tea waiting for me. I really should have thought to give you a key, since I have one to the inn."
"Thanks, Haruka. I appreciate it." Keitaro takes the key and secures it to the key ring he keeps in his pocket.
"Well, since you obviously lost your shoes and jacket in the snow," she snickers, "I think I have something in the closet here you can use." She walks over to her storage closet. After a minute, she emerges carrying a pair of shoes and a warm jacket. "These look like they'll fit. And you can keep 'em, you never know when you'll need some extra clothes for doing work around the inn."
Keitaro bows in thanks as he accepts the clothes.
Looking out the window, Haruka tells Keitaro "We'll just stay down here and I'll make us some breakfast. Go in the back to take your wet clothes off and put them in the dryer. There's a robe hanging on the wall you can wear until they dry."
As Keitaro goes into the back room, Haruka picks up the phone and calls the inn.
"H-Hinata-sou apartments, Shinobu Maehara speaking. May I help you?"
Slightly relieved, Haruka replies, "Ah, Shinobu, I was hoping it would be you."
"Haruka-san! It's good to hear from you. Are you still going to be here in time for breakfast?" she asks happily.
"No, Shinobu. I'm at the Tea House with Keitaro right now." Haruka says in a bland monotone.
A few seconds of silence.
"Oh, I see. I-is Sempai alright? K-Kitsune-san said Naru and Motoko were not too happy with him trying to leave again, and…..well, they uh…" her voice fades, not wanting to directly accuse her friends of attacking her Sempai.
Haruka nods to herself (I thought so.) "Keitaro is OK, Shinobu. He and I are going to have breakfast down here at the Tea Shop. And I don't think he was trying to leave, so don't worry. I wanted to let you know we'll be up in an hour or so, and I didn't want you to worry."
Her voice sounding more confident, "Thank you, Haruka-san! I'm glad Sempai isn't leaving. I will tell the others…"
"No, Shinobu. Don't tell anyone where Keitaro is. Let's give him a chance to enjoy breakfast, okay? You understand what I'm asking?" Haruka tells the young cook.
"I understand, Haruka-san. I promise won't tell anyone he is with you. P-please tell Sempai I feel real bad about what happened this morning." Shinobu says to the older woman.
"I will Shinobu. Expect us after you all have finished breakfast. We'll see you later."
"Hai, see you later, Haruka-san."
Hanging up the phone, Haruka looks out the window for a moment. (So, they thought Keitaro was leaving. What would have giving them that idea? He promised to do his best to be their manager, and I know how strongly Keitaro takes his promises.) Moving to the kitchen area, Haruka starts to prepare a meal for herself and Keitaro.
Walking into the kitchen, Keitaro, the robe pulled snugly around him, dries his hair. "Can I help, Haruka? You don't have to go through so much trouble for me." He offers.
"No, Keitaro. You look like you could use a good breakfast without having to worry about being attacked, so you just sit and let me take care of it. And, before you ask; Yes, I called the inn and told Shinobu that you and I will be up in about an hour, and not to tell the others where you are." She tells him as she sets a pot of coffee on the stove. (Let the others sweat and worry a bit, might do them some good.)
"Oh. Well, thanks Haruka, but I don't think it matters much to them what happens to me." Keitaro says as he pulls a chair out from the small table in the kitchen to sit on.
"Keitaro, I know some of the girls may seem a little, well, unforgiving, but they're all nice people. It's just going to take time before they accept you as their manager. They all miss Granny, except Shinobu, she's never met her. You've been thrown into a situation where you have some pretty big shoes to fill." Haruka tells him as she places bread in the toaster.
A few minutes go by as Haruka continues cooking. Keitaro decides to explain what happened.
He looks at his aunt, and speaks in a dull monotone. "They think I was trying to leave again, even after I promised I would do my best to pass the entrance exam so I can stay here as the manager." Keitaro's face reflects his disappointment in himself. "Do they really think so little of me that they'd believe I would break my promise to them?"
Haruka scoops the eggs and ham she has cooked onto two plates, and places toast on the side. Carrying the plates to the table, she places one in front of her nephew, and sits across from him. "They don't know you like I do, Keitaro. They don't understand how much you value your promises, how you always keep them. Give them time. Now eat before your breakfast gets cold."
The young kanrinin picks up his chopsticks and pushes the food around on his plate, his appetite not quite up to it at the moment. "I was just trying to put some presents under the tree." Keitaro says so quietly that Haruka almost misses his comment.
Haruka pauses, her coffee cup half-way to her lips. "Presents?" she encourages him to continue speaking.
Rubbing his neck, Keitaro replies "This morning. I've been getting Christmas presents for the girls for the last couple of weeks, and this morning I tried to get up before anyone else so I could put them under the tree. I figured if the presents showed up today…" His grins lopsidedly at her. "I mean, I kinda doubt they will accept anything from me if I tried to give it to them personally, so I wanted to put them downstairs for them to open tomorrow morning."
As well as she knows her nephew, Haruka is still taken aback. "Are you telling me that, in spite of how they've treated you these these two months since you became the manager, you still bought them Christmas gifts?" she asks, her voice not betraying her emotions.
Looking at Haruka in surprise, he replies, "I couldn't live with myself if I didn't! I mean, I know they see me as just their manager, but they've become, well, I care about them, Haruka. And not just as their manager, but as, as their friend." Keitaro rubs the backof his neck as he pokes at his meal.
"Now I know you've been hit in the head by those girls one time too many, Keitaro! They complain about you, they belittle you, they attack you for the smallest of reasons, sometimes for no good reason at all! You DO NOT owe them a thing. You're the manager, they shouldn't expect, much less deserve, anything more than that." Haruka says crossly. "They never would have gotten away with all this when Granny was here. They…" she stops as Keitaro raises his head and looks at her.
"I know. I'm not Granny" Keitaro says, "but, I also know that those girls all have issues of their own that they have to deal with. I can't help it if I want to help them, to try to make things better for them, do things for them."
Placing his hands on Haruka's, he says, "Heck, I don't mind all the things that go on like you said, but that isn't how things always are. I mean, Naru is being nicer to me some of the time; she helps me study, and my grades are improving. Kitsune has started to help out around the dorm; she even volunteers to clean the dishes occasionally. Motoko doesn't sneer at me every day anymore, and she smiles at me once in a while when we are all eating. Su, well, she just has a different idea of playtime then most people, and I do have a lot of fun. And Shinobu seems to go out of her way to make things pleasant for me, with her cooking, doing laundry, and smiling at me when things are going kinda rough. They're all special to me." Keitaro explains, his smiling eyes never leaving Haruka's.
"Is that how you really see them?" Keitaro nods. Sighing, she sits back and crosses her arms. "I've said it before, Keitaro. You're too kind for your own good." (I only hope those girls come to their senses before they take advantage of you one too many times.)
Smiling at her, he says, "Sorry Aunt Haruka; it's just the way I am. Ow!" Keitaro flinches as a large paper fan smack him on the head.
Putting her fan back in her jacket, his aunt says; "Just call me Haruka. And Keitaro, never apologize for being you. Now, let's eat our breakfast. I told Shinobu we'd only be an hour, and you wouldn't want her to go out in this weather looking for you, would you?"
The both jump as there is a knock at the back door of the Tea Shop.