Love Hina: Battles of the Heart
A/N: Since someone got on my account and deleted all my stories I am having to reupload them… Oh well. Here we go.
Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina
Chapter 1: Hollow
Keitaro rolled over and mumbled happily. It had been several weeks since he got have a lie in. He had returned from Kyoto with Motoko and Naru some weeks ago, after Motoko defeated her sister and earned her right to continue practising her sword skills and Keitaro managed to survive long enough to have his cast removed. Keitaro couldn't help but notice that despite her victory, Motoko did not seem happy. In fact the few times he had tried to talk to her after the fight convinced him that she was actually more upset now than before the fight.
Keitaro stretched and reached out for his glasses. A lie in was nice but he knew Naru would give him hell if he didn't get on with his managerial chores. His hand searched the small table beside his bed. Then on the floor next to his bed. Finally Keitaro gave a confused grunt and got out of bed.
"Strange..." muttered Keitaro to himself, "I could have sworn I left them here..."
Scene Change
Naru was laid in bed staring at the ceiling. She had been awake for several hours just listening to Keitaro muttering in his sleep. He had called out her name several times, just on the verge of her hearing. Though she would not admit it to herself, never mind anyone else, Naru felt warm and content listening to Keitaro sleeping. She allowed herself a chuckle as she heard Keitaro mutter to himself as he finally got out of bed.
Glancing at the clock, Naru saw it was still only 8:30.
"What a useless pervert," Naru chuckled to herself, "We give him an early lie in and he is still up before nine." She began to undress when a familiar noise behind her made her sigh. Oh well she thought to herself, Looks like the same old morning routine…
"Hey Naru! Have you seen my glasses?"
"Have you ever heard of knocking? Pervert!" Naru span around and delivered a punch that sent Keitaro spiralling out of the gap in her floor up into the sky, leaving a silhouette of Keitaro in the roof.
"And fix that hole in the roof!" Naru yelled as an afterthought, before returning to getting changed.
Scene Change
Motoko finished her routine and glanced skyward as she saw Keitaro rocket away. She had been up since 6 in the morning, practising her katana skills rigorously. She yawned and decided it was time to call it a day. Sheathing her katana Motoko made her way to the waterfall near the Hinata apartments. It was secluded and gave her much needed solace.
You didn't defeat your sister... Motoko's treacherous thoughts hissed at her, if not for Naru and Urashima you would have lost!
"My sister conceded defeat!" Motoko hissed as she put a foot into the water to test its heat.
Yes... she felt sorry for you... all alone with no one to love...
"Shut up!" Motoko screamed, blinking back tears.
"AAARGGHHH!"
Motoko instinctively dived away from the waterfall. There was an explosion of water from the pool. When it finally subsided Keitaro clambered out of the pool. There was a bright red mark on his chin where Naru's fist had connected.
"Motoko? Is that you?"
"Urashima." Motoko replied coldly.
"Where am I?"
"The waterfall."
"Ah, thanks. You wouldn't have happened to see my glasses around would you?"
"Huh?" Motoko looked at Keitaro and felt her heart race. Has he always been this attractive? Or is it just when he doesn't wear his glasses...
"Have you seen my glasses?"
He may not be a genius but he is a Tokyo U student... Motoko found herself thinking.
"Er... Motoko?"
Yes but his heart belongs to Naru. Motoko argued with herself.
"Motoko... are you alright?"
Does she deserve it? You could easily earn his heart. Naru has yet to confess her feelings... strike swiftly and fatally.
"Motoko..." Keitaro stopped waving his hand in front of her eyes. This was going no where.
You cannot argue with your heart.
"Oh snap!" Keitaro slipped on the damp rock he had used to clamber out of the pool. He flailed his arms and grabbed hold of the first thing he could. He glanced up and sighed. "What god did I upset...?"
Motoko blinked and looked down. Keitaro had grabbed hold of her robes and had torn them off. Currently he was cringing and preparing for the killer blow...
... That never came.
"Oh... sorry I was lost in thought." Motoko retrieved her clothes and walked away.
"Huh?" Keitaro lowered the hands he had raised to try and intercept the attack. Well that was odd. Keitaro thought to himself. He stepped out of the pool and considered following Motoko and asking what was on her mind. The blank look of hers had scared him. It lacked any of the fire and determination that Keitaro had labelled as essential Motoko features. Something was definitely wrong.
Scene Change
"More bananas!" Suu leapt over the large pot Shinobu was cooking in and dropped in several of the aforementioned fruit.
"Suu! You are supposed to remove the skins! And I don't think that bananas go well with this stew!" Shinobu sighed; she had hoped to make a special stew an old lady had told her about. She said it was guaranteed to impress a man far more than looks or intelligence, and once again Shinobu felt she had a chance to win Sempai from Naru and Mutsumi, but it looked as if Suu was unknowingly assisting them.
"Hey, the dork is back." Sara nodded to the entrance to the Hinata hotel.
"Yay! Keitaro!" Suu gave Keitaro the traditional greeting, a flying heel to the chin.
"Hey Suu, Shinobu, Sara... hey the three S Girls!" Keitaro grinned as he was assisted back to his feet by Shinobu.
"Ah shut up you geek." Sara delivered a powerful kick to one of Keitaro's shins.
Naru and Kitsune walked down the stairs. Kitsune was grinning as she listened to Naru's story. They both smiled when they saw Keitaro. Kitsune walked over and hugged him.
"Oh my dearest you are safe! Please use me as you please!" Kitsune began unbuttoning her shirt.
"You still owe me the rent Kitsune."
"Oh well, can't blame a girl for trying!" Kitsune poked Keitaro playfully in the ribs.
"Do you have no shame?" Naru sighed at her friend. "Can't you do better than this pervert?"
"Hey!" Keitaro called out, "That was an accident! I was looking for my glasses!"
"In Naru's room?" Kitsune grinned, "Why oh why did you think they were there... unless you left them there after a night of passionate..."
"Sempai! You didn't!" Shinobu squeaked.
"No he didn't!" Naru shot her friend an evil glare.
"My, what an imagination I must have then. I could have sworn I heard Keitaro calling your name."
"What?" Naru snarled as Shinobu fainted.
"Just my little joke." Kitsune winked at Naru and turned to Keitaro. "If she isn't giving you any then I am always here for you."
"Kitsune!"
"Some one should see to Shinobu," Motoko strolled past the others on her way to the kitchen. "I will finish the meal."
"What?" The other housemates called out in union.
"Is Motoko ill?" Kitsune asked Naru as they say down at the table.
"She has been in her room a lot. She only just started training again recently." Keitaro murmured.
"How do you know? Peeking on her you pervert!" Naru threw a pillow at Keitaro and grinned as it struck him on the chin.
"Hey!" Keitaro muttered. She has been more violent than usual against me... is it something I've done?
"Motoko hasn't been the same since Kyoto..." Haruka noted.
"Aunt Haruka? When..."
THUD
"I mean... Haruka... when did you get here?"
"I have been here all along." The cigarette in her mouth rolled from one side to the other. "I think someone should talk to her."
"Who?" Kitsune glanced at Suu, who was fanning Shinobu with Tama.
"No... Not her. This is personal." Haruka frowned then turned to Keitaro. "You know her sister right?"
"Yeah... we have met." Keitaro frowned, "She tried to force me and Motoko to marry."
"Really." Haruka looked thoughtful, "Go and see if she will investigate her sister's behaviour."
"Right." Keitaro nodded. "Right after breakfast."
Scene Change
Keitaro sighed as another man in a suit knocked him in the ribs. The train was packed full of people and each one seemed to catch Keitaro on the ribs, where a combined kick from Suu and Naru punch had sent him flying out of the Hinata apartments. He still hadn't managed to find his glasses.
"Next Stop, Kyoto... I repeat our next stop will be Kyoto." a voice announced over the speaker.
Keitaro moaned as his stomach grumbled. He had not got any breakfast as the others had made it clear Motoko's behaviour was more important than his breakfast. Although I notice none of them offered to come with me. The more clinical part of Keitaro's thinking commented.
The door swung open and Keitaro started out but found himself being forced back in.
"Hey listen mister! I need to get out!"
"My, my... forgotten me already?" The figure pulled off its hat.
"Tsuruko?" Keitaro blinked.
"Ah you remember," Tsuruko smiled warmly. "No doubt you are here to find me in regards to my sister's behaviour correct?"
"Er... yes."
"And you wish for me to investigate the cause of her misery?"
"Er... if you don't mind..."
"Well I do."
"Huh?"
"Only joking." The door closed behind Tsuruko and the train continued along its circuit.
"So... you'll check on her?"
"No... I already know the two things what bother her." Tsuruko sighed. "She believes that without your assistance she would have lost to me so the victory was not hers."
"So... that is why she is acting so cold to me..."
"Maybe." Tsuruko span around and dealt a punch to an old man beside her. "Hands to yourself."
Keitaro tried to edge away. Being this close to Tsuruko on such a jerky train ride... he could already see an accident occurring and was imagining the consequences quite vividly.
"I will go and talk to her regardless though."
...all that will be left will be one of my shoes...
"Ah you alright Urashima?"
...and that will be at the top of a tall tree...
"Urashima..." Tsuruko waved a hand in front of his face.
... And it won't be a tree near here...
"Urashima." Tsuruko hummed in a sing song voice.
"What?" Keitaro snapped out of the gory scene playing in his mind. "Sorry I was distracted."
"So I could tell." Tsuruko looked at Keitaro critically.
"What?" Keitaro backed away defensively.
"Oh... nothing." Tsuruko smiled at a man sat down on a bench, "Would you please allow me to sit there?"
"Of course sexy." The man got up and suddenly fell over clutching his groin.
"Thank you." Tsuruko sat down and replaced her sheathed katana in the recesses of her robes. "Thank you very much."
The man was making bubbling noises as the cart suddenly emptied, even the man on the floor made a spirited crawl to another compartment.
"My! It got awfully empty awfully fast." Tsuruko smiled. "Would you like a seat Keitaro?"
"Er... I'll stand..."
"Nonsense! There are many seats, don't worry I won't bite."
It's not being bitten that worries me, Keitaro thought to himself.
Scene Change
Naru watched Motoko clean the dishes with a worried expression. She, like Keitaro, was used to and preferred the fiery Motoko and seeing Motoko as blank looking as this was worrying her more than she cared to admit.
"Hey Motoko, are you alright?"
"I am fine Naru," the voice was as blank as her expression.
"Er... alright then..." Naru left the kitchen and bumped into Kitsune on the stairs.
"Oh there you are Naru, pining for Keitaro to return?" Kitsune grinned.
"I am worried about Motoko." Naru sighed, "She just seems so... empty."
"Maybe she needs a man to love her... I know! Keitaro's single we should set them up on a date!"
"What? No way!" Naru snapped.
"Why? Do you want Keitaro?"
"N...no of course not." Naru's face turned from the red of rage to the red of embarrassment.
"Then why not?" Kitsune grinned.
"B...because Motoko is in enough despair without that pervert hitting on her!"
"Oh... so it's for Motoko's sake then." Kitsune tilted her head.
"Yes... what other reasons could I have?" Naru muttered as she walked to her room.
Kitsune's smile remained in place. She had a plan. If Naru only showed her feelings when she was worried about loosing Keitaro then she would make Naru think just that. Who knows? Kitsune thought to herself, this might even get the old Motoko back as well. I am a genius! The thought that Keitaro could actually fall for Motoko was one that didn't cross Kitsune's mind.
Random Daydream #1
The sunset was a brilliant pink colour and threw the world into sharp focus. Keitaro coughed and reached into his pocket and produced a small box.
"Here Naru, for you." He offered her the small box. "Naru, will you do me the honour of being my wife?"
"Oh Keitaro!" Naru grasped the box and opened it. It was empty.
"You see I couldn't afford the ring yet... but that box is a promise that I will buy you one as soon as I collect the rent money Kitsune owes me."
"How much is it now."
"Oh... about five years' worth."
Naru smiled and leaned towards Keitaro. "I don't care about the ring. I just want to love you right now." She began to unbutton her shirt when...
"PERVERT!" Keitaro soared off into orbit, leaving Naru nursing her knuckles.
"Maybe using the dream reader on a pervert like Keitaro was not such a good idea." Kitsune grinned. "But at least I know he doesn't expect to get any rent off me for the next 5 years! More booze money!"