The Wheel Turns...

A "Love Hina" Fan fiction by David Alan Abramczyk.

Disclaimer: "Love Hina" is the property of Ken Akamatsu. All names, places and events named within this story are fictitious, and any similarities are co-incidental.

Springtime in the Hinata District of Tokyo is one of those times when simply breathing the air made you feel good to be alive. The fresh green shots of young plants, and the scent of the Sakura, or cherry blossoms, combined to make the Hot Springs resort one of the most popular tourist locations in all of Japan.

The peaceful slumber of this early morning was not to last, though. Suddenly, the air was rent by a scream, and the sound of wood smashing, as Keitaro Urashima, three-time ronin of Tokyo University, manager of the Hinata-sou Girls Dormitory, and favoured plaything of Fate, was once again sent into Low Earth Orbit by the fist of Naru Narusegawa, a tenant of the Hinata-sou, fellow ronin, and on-again/off-again romantic interest of Keitaro Urashima.

The flight path of the unfortunate kanrinin was observed not only by Naru, but also by the raven-haired kendo-ka Motoko Aoyama, as she meditated on the laundry deck after performing her customary 1000 strikes of her katana Shisui.
'What was Granny Hina thinking when she made that lecherous male the manager? It does not matter that he is her grandson, there is no place for a man at the Hinata-sou!' she thought, her features distorting into a frown. For a moment, she considered hunting Urashima and striking him down, but she stopped, as an image of Keitaros' goofy, warm-hearted smile came to her mind. With a growl of frustration, Motoko shook her head and rose to her feet. Her nose told her that Shinobu, the resident cook of the Hinata Apartments, was starting to prepare breakfast, and that she had to be quick before Su, the hyper-active genius of the Hinata-sou gobbled it all up.

Not too far away, in the local park, the unfortunate landlord of the Hinata-sou strained with all his might to get out of a large tree he had landed in. This was made more difficult by the fact that his head was trapped inside a hollow of the tree, and that a squirrel was nibbling at his hair. Around the park, which was mostly in shadow, the sun had yet to disperse the fog of the night. Out of this mist, stepped three of the mysterious Town Elders, who silently watched Keitaro struggle.

"The wheel turns..." One of them said.

The second one spoke. "When one door closes-"

"-Another opens." finished the third.

All of a sudden, a wind blew for a moment, stirring up the mist. A fourth figure joined the Elders, his face masked by the fog.

"But only if you have the key..." the figure said softly, his words flavoured slightly by a faint Dutch accent. The figure slowly strolled out of the fog, revealing a man of average height wearing a grey suit and brown fedora, and made his way over to the tree that Keitaro was trapped in.

"Hey, are you all right?" The man asked as he helped the dazed ronin safely down to the ground. "And how did you end up in that tree, anyway?"

"It's a long story..." Keitaro groaned as he shook his head. Looking up at his rescuer, he performed a spectacular double take.

"Donald?"

Motoko paused in mid-step as she felt something. Attuned as she was to the flow of ki, she sensed a change. For an instant, the fresh salty tang of the sea filled her nose, and the cry of seagulls filled her ears. "The wind of change..." she said to herself softly. Shinobu then called out that breakfast was ready, and Su charged past, knife and fork already in hand. Shaking her head slightly, Motoko made her way to the breakfast table.

Keitaro and Donald were sitting, deep in conversation, in a local ramen shop, and each had a steaming bowl of miso ramen in front of them.

"So, that's why I've come to Japan." Donald finished, bobbing his head slightly as he clumsily used his chopsticks to scoop up his noodles.

"So, aside from that, Donald, how've you been doing? I haven't heard from you in ages." Keitaro said.

"Yes, well... To be honest, I've have a fairly rough couple of months." Donald said, primly supping up his soup. "I've been in and out of hospital, because of my... condition."

Seeing Keitaro jump at that last word, Donald raised his eyebrow, and his mouth quirked into a half-smile. "Don't get you knickers in a twist, Kei. I only developed a slight allergy to human contact, I didn't catch Influenza."

"A-A-allergy? To human contact?" Keitaro asked, disbelievingly. Donald nodded.

"It's true. I break out in an itchy rash at as much as a handshake. Go figure." he said.

"Any road, that's why I wear these gloves." he added, and showed Keitaro his hands, which were covered by a pair of cotton gloves. "I had to be discharged from the RN because of my allergy." Donald said, becoming glum as he looked at his hands. "My family have been sea-dogs since the days of Sir Francis Drake and the Spanish Armada. And now? Just like that, 500 years of naval tradition dies with me, because I can bare no heirs..."

"Hey, don't get so down..." Keitaro said, his kind nature coming to the fore as always.

"M'yeah, I know... But you understand where I'm coming from, right?" Donald sighed, puffing out his cheeks. "Anyway, changing the subject, how've you been, Kei? Still gunning for Tokyo University, and your 'promise girl'?"

"Yeah, even though I've failed three years running." Keitaro sighed. "Sometimes, I can't help but wonder, Don. Does that little girl still remember me? Or our promise?"

Oh, I'm sure that she does, my friend." Donald smiled, patting Keitaro on the shoulder. "In fact, for all you know, she might be right under your very nose...," he said, tapping his left index finger against the mentioned organ.

"Nani? What do you mean, Donald?"

"Eh? Oh, forgive me." Donald said. "The ramblings of an older man."

"So level with me, Keitaro." he continued, changing the subject. "Is it true you manage an all girls dormitory?"

"What?! How did you know that?" Keitaro spluttered. This time, Donald snorted with open mirth.

"You know, Keitaro, We've known each other, what, sixteen, seventeen years now? We both know you have a heart as large as a mountain, but a brain as dense as a stone. But surely even you can figure it out, right?"

Keitaro grimaced and coloured slightly at that comment. Donald, realising that he might have gone just a little too far this time, raised his gloved hands in a conciliatory gesture. "Hey, relax, I'm just kiddin' ya', man." he said, rising to his feet. Strolling over to the counter, Donald handed over a travellers' cheque for ten American Dollars.

"Hey, Donald, how'd you like to come over and visit all my friends at the Hinata Apartments?" Keitaro asked unexpectedly.

"Oh, that's jolly kind of you, Keitaro. It would be a pleasure to meet your friends." Donald smiled, and so the two set off.

Keitaro moved silently as he lost himself in thought, but his train of thought was derailed by a faint but persistent clink, clink, clink sound every time Donald took a step. Seeing his expression, Donald shrugged

"Well, it's either having steel plates on the soles of my shoes, or having bad ankles for the rest of my life." Keitaro just sighed and moved on.

Soon, the two men had arrived at the foot of the long flight of stairs that led up to the Hinata-sou. As he looked up, Donald tipped his fedora back and whistled one long note. "Impressive."

"Yeah... I just hope the girls like you." Keitaro replied, a worm of worry gnawing at his insides.

"Well, let's not dilly-dally!" the Englishman said, clapping his hands together and striding up the steps. Swallowing slightly, Keitaro followed just behind Donald, worrying about how the girls would react.

"I'm home..." Keitaro called, as he took his shoes off and walked in. Just as quickly, he flew back out again, as Kaolla Su greeted him with her customary kick to the head.

"Hiyas Keitaro!"

"Ye Gods!" Donald said, shocked. Su looked up, and beamed at Donald.

"Keitaro who is your friend?" she asked, leaping up to sit on Donald's shoulders.

"No, wait Su!" Keitaro shouted. But it was too late. With a yelp, Donald tossed Su off his shoulders, and began tearing up as huge angry red splotches covered his face and neck.

"S-S-Sempai? Who is this?" the young blue haired girl known as Shinobu Maehara asked nervously, as she saw the European man glare angrily at Su.
Taking a deep breath, Donald calmed his shattered nerves, and bowed, doffing his fedora. "How do you do? My name is Donald Johannsen, an old friend of Keitaro. It is a pleasure to meet you."

To be continued...

If you are able to, please read and review, and give me your thoughts.

I'dalso like to give a shout out to my pre-reader "Dark Jedi Princess", for taking time out to read my work. Thanks!