WARNING: This fanfic is going to include some crazy postmodern Mary-Suing. I would like to call that style Kaolla-Suing.

Introduction

An alternate universe.

Since the incident at Wakkanai (Love Hina manga volume XII), Keitaro and Naru were actually college sweethearts. However strong their friendship with the other girls was, they began to gradually grow apart from them -- except for Mutsumi, their cheerful and supportive study buddy.

It was Mutsumi who found a nice and cheap little apartment for them, too. After a good deal of thought Keitaro and Naru decided to leave the Hinata House behind and move together. The privacy they found proved to be quite favorable for the progress of their relationship. They were very serious about getting married after graduating.

Nearly five years have passed since Naru's final confession. The members of the Hinata gang have gone on to live their own lives and pursue their own goals. Kaolla Su has returned to her home country, Noriyasu Seta continues spending most of his time working abroad. Haruka Urashima is on good terms with him, but has decided to stay at her café in Hinata.

After Grandma Hinata's death, the Hinata House was let to a young couple who brought the inn back to life and are doing pretty well with it. They are now good friends with both Haruka and Keitaro, the official owner.

All so nice and dandy, isn't it?

And once the things are coming along fine, what options are there left for a writer? Little more than to make up some trouble for everybody, I guess.

Prelude: Tonight Will Be All We Have Left to Recall

"Naru?"

No answer.

"Naru, are you there? May I come in?"

The lights were out. As Keitaro entered the room, he found her lying on the bed, her face to the wall. He did not press the switch, but left the door open so he could see something.

"Come here, Kei," Naru said in a smothered voice, staying motionless.

Keitaro stood for a moment, confused, then walked over to the double bed and sat down, half facing her.

"I'm sorry for the things I said. I really didn't mean to be rude, but it just somehow went out of hand," he apologized. His voice trembled.

"I'm very sorry too," Naru answered. "Sorry for so much I've said and done."

Keitaro heard a loud sniffle.

"Are... Are you still crying?"

"OF COURSE I'M CRYING, YOU IDIOT!"

Keitaro jumped with fear, his brain automatically counting the most probable courses of Naru's upper body and fist.

No movement. She was staying all still, sobbing quietly.

I've got to say it now, Keitaro thought to himself, clenching his fist. There's no point putting it off any more.

It was silent for some minutes, probably. Time seemed to have lost its significance. It hurt so badly inside, every five seconds felt like an eternity.

I guess Naru's feeling none better than me, Keitaro thought. Why are there no eternities of happiness to balance moments like this?

"Naru..."

"Y-yes?"

Keitaro lost control for a while. It was as if his nerves no more registered any information from outside his own body. He could feel only the inside, which was a storm of trembles and sobs.

As he recovered full consciousness, Naru was holding his head tenderly on her lap, smoothly caressing his hair. Tears were flowing from her eyes. He could feel them dropping on his burning cheeks.

"Naru..."

"I... I know what you're going to say. Just go ahead. You must do it," she answered.

Naru closed her eyes, sniffed, and continued, "I'm not strong enough. It's you who must say it aloud."

Keitaro sat up and tried to breathe deep. He was not able to look at her.

He took the final step.

"This cannot go on. It's all over now. Th-this is not love. Mutual dependence is what they call this."

"Those 'they' are damn right."

Iron punch, Keitaro thought, closing his eyes and tightening his body. Feels like flying... Flying... It was so dark. He was seeing tiny, colored bursts of sparkles. My life seems so unreal. This is like a badly written scene in which I must play.

*****

"Are you listening to me at all, you idiot?" (Sniffle.)

That was Naru's voice. Most definitely.

"Wha?!"

"I'm talking to you, silly."

True it was. They were still sitting there, on the sheets. Naru was not enraged. In fact, she did not even look angry. Her expression showed a mixture of sadness, determination, and affection. He tried to answer her but did not not find the words.

"I want to have you now, Keitaro. For this one last time!"

*****

Afterwards, neither of them could have told how many times their sighs and moans had been carrying the words, "I love you!"

But both of them knew they would never ever forget that night.