Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina…

"Dammit," Keitaro huffed, storming into the kitchen. "I always get blamed for everything around here!" He paused in front of the refrigerator, taking a moment to pat the bruise on his left cheek. "I hope it doesn't swell…"

"Oh wow… She got ya good." Keitaro flinched with a start, unaware that he had company. Kitsune, one of Hinata's many boarders, sat at the far end of the kitchen table, fox-slit eyes staring coolly up at him over the rim of her beer can.

"K-K-Kitsune-san!" he stammered. "I-I didn't know you were in here!"

"What'd ya do this time?" she grinned. "Diddya sneak a peek?"

"N-NO!" Kitsune placed the can down on the coaster in from of her and rested her cheek against an open palm. Even at this range, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. He could feel the beads of sweat forming at his temples.

"Well," she began, "Since you're already down here, ya might as well pull up a chair. Somehow, I don't think you'll be allowed upstairs for a while."

Keitaro sighed, inwardly. Had this been anyone else, he would have been more than happy to oblige, but this was Kitsune; the Master of Mischief. This was, no doubt, the bait of some cleverly laid trap that would more-than-likely lead to another beating. But, after mulling it over, momentarily, Keitaro failed to detect any obvious trickery and plopped down in the chair across from her. Kitsune smiled again before raising the can back to her lips and tipping the bottom up. Keitaro watch in silence, oddly taken by the way her neck pulsed with each swallow. His eyes trailed down past her collarbone to the open neck of her ill-fitting shirt. It was a simple top; just a starched white button-up, and yet, there was something… intriguing about the way she wore it.

"Another one down," Kitsune sighed. The clang of the empty beer can on the coaster roused Keitaro from his thoughts. Quickly, he looked off toward the window, desperately trying to conceal his blushing face. "Hey, Keitaro… Grab me another out of the fridge, would ya?" The landlord nodded and quietly made his way back to the refrigerator.

'I should have just left when I had the chance,' Keitaro told himself. 'I don't even know what I'm doing here…!'

"You can have one too, if ya want," she added, waving her empty can. He nodded appreciatively and retrieved two beer cans from the top rack on the door. Placing one down in front of Kitsune, Keitaro sat back down in his chair and stared silently over at her. The crack of the metal tab echoed through the kitchen, followed by the gentle fizzle of the rising foam. Keitaro hesitantly followed her lead.

'Why am I so nervous?' he wondered. 'Why do I feel so out of place?"

"Does it hurt?" she asked, sipping her beer.

"E-eh?" Kitsune motioned toward his cheek. "Oh! No, not really. It probably looks worse that it feels-…" Before he could finish, Kitsune bolted up in her chair and leaned out over the length of the kitchen table. Her hand flew to his face in a blur, stopping just below his eye. Keitaro twitched nervously in his seat. 'Wha-what is she-?!'

Suddenly, a cool sensation spread over the bruised area, starting at the center of his cheek and radiating out over the left side of his face.

"How's that?" Kitsune asked, pressing the can gently against his skin. Keitaro nodded, shakily. The corners of her lips turned up in a grin. "Well, if ya can blush like that, I guess you're alright." Realizing what she meant, Keitaro snatched back in his seat and muzzled himself with his own beer can. 'Too easy,' Kitsune chuckled to herself. 'Too easy!' Once the young landlord had finally settled down, Kitsune decided to strike up some casual conversation. She was bored and didn't particularly like to drink in silence, especially when she wasn't alone. "So, what DID you do to earn that shiner?"

"W-why do you want to know?" he asked. There was a hint of apprehension in his tone.

"Why not?" she shrugged. Keitaro sighed.

"I wanted to return a study packet to Narusegawa and accidentally…" His voice trailed off with the deepening blush that crept over his face.

"Naughty, naughty," she sneered behind her beverage.

"H-hey! That's not-! I didn't mean to-!"

"I know, I know." Keitaro let out a sigh of relief and chugged the latter half of his beer crushed the can bitterly between his hands.

"I always seem to get blamed for everything around here," he muttered. "Nothing ever goes right for me and it always feels like everyone's working against me…! If I knew it was going to be this hard, I would have-!"

"Given up?" she finished. He didn't answer. "Well, I can't pretend to know how you feel or anything, but I guess I can understand how that could get ya down. But if it's any consolation, I like having you around." Keitaro's eyes immediately lit up driving back the glum gray that darkened his features.

"R-really…?!"

"Sure," she smiled. "The house stays clean, the laundry never piles up and the meals are edible."

"Oh…"

"The others might not want to admit it, but it'd be pretty rough around here without ya."

"Thanks, I think…?"

"No problem," she nodded with a broad smile.

XXX

Two hours and twelve cans later, Keitaro announced that the kitchen fridge was officially fresh out of beer. Kitsune slumped back in her chair and clasped her hands behind her head. She was buzzed enough, she decided, and the trip had been well worth it. Keitaro shoved his face into his folded arms and sighed softly into the table-top. Unlike Kitsune, he had never been particularly good at drinking; his tolerance was average at best. Having lived at home for so many years, he never really had the chance or cause to experiment with alcohol.

"I'm gonna have such a headache, tomorrow," he groaned.

"I know, isn't it great?"

"No, its not!" he squealed. "And I was supposed to study, tonight, too!"

"Man, you've gotta learn how to relax," Kitsune sighed, piteously. "Don't people get ulcers from that?"

"Easy for YOU to say... You get to lie around Hinata House all day!"

"Ouch," she chuckled. "You calling me a slacker, Keitaro?" Keitaro paused, frozen under the gravity of what he'd implied. In truth, yes, he did see Kitsune as somewhat of a loafer, but making those thoughts known was the last thing he wanted to do.

"N-No!" he blurted. "I don't think you're a slacker at all!"

"Sure, ya do…"

"No! Really, I don't!"

"It's okay. I'm not enrolled in any schools and the only time I leave the house is to hit up a bar. I can see why you'd think I'm a good-for-nothing lay-about."

"I didn't say that!

"But, I'll let ya in on a little secret…" Keitaro's eyebrows arched up over his forehead. There was something about the way Kitsune was leering at him that he found particularly... unnerving.

"S-secret…?"

"That's right. Can you keep… a secret?" The soft, sultry tone in her voice sent chills up and down his spine.

"Yes…?" Kitsune sat upright in her chair and glances casually from side to side. Finally, when she was sure they were alone, she leaned down over the table amongst the forest of empty beer cans.

"I'm writing a book." Silence. "That's it."

"T-That's it?! That was your secret?!"

"Pretty much," she shrugged. "What, were you expecting me to tell ya: my bra size?" Keitaro blushed furiously.

"N-no, no! Nothing like that! I-!"

"Wanna see…?" Keitaro's flustered expression faded to a curious stare. Slowly, his eyes lowered to Kitsune's ample chest.

"I meant the book..."

"Oh, of course!" Keitaro laughed, nervously. Quickly, he tore his gaze away from the tenant. 'Gah! What was I thinking?! Stupid, stupid, stupid!'

XXX

"Wow…!" Keitaro stood slack-jawed at Kitsune's open door, staring into the dimly-lit room. Even in the dull glow of her small table lamp, his eyes could clearly trace the rows of bottles that lined her shelves. There were green bottles, brown bottles, clear bottles… Gold labels marked in German and Russian… It was a collection that rivaled even the most professional bars. Though he had seen it before, it was still quite a sight to behold.

"Well, are ya comin' in or aren't ya?"

"Oh! R-right…" Keitaro nodded obediently and stepped inside, closing the shoji door behind him. As he settled down on the floor, Kitsune made her way over to him, holding a stack of papers in one hand and a beer in the other.

"Here." Keitaro took the papers from her outstretched hand and began skimming. Gradually, his expression shifted, until at last, he was hunched over, staring down intently at the copy. "I started it a few months back," she explained, "but I doubt I'll do anything with it… You're the only one who's even…"

"Kitsune-san… This is AMAZING…!" he exclaimed, at last.

"Eh?"

"I had no idea you could write like this! The structure and diction…! The way you describe every little detail…!"

"Yeah, yeah," Kitsune muttered, dismissively.

"No, really!" The intensity in his eyes was as captivating as it was unsettling. "This is great stuff! You should definitely continue this!" Kitsune stared nervously back at him from behind her beer can. He sounded so insistent… So passionate. She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. "You've got real talent," he continued. "I'll bet something like this would be a bestseller in no time at all…"

"Ya think so, eh?" she mused. "Alright, then… I'll do it."

"Y-You will?"

"Why not?" she shrugged. "I mean, since it means so much to ya, and all…" She couldn't help but smile as the landlord quickly regained his self consciousness and began to blush. "Well, I guess I'll hit the sack, now…"

"R-right." Setting the papers aside, Keitaro climbed to his feet and shuffled back toward the hall, stopping just short of the sliding door. "Umm… Just wondering," he murmured, "why me?"

"Hmmm?"

"I mean, we never really talk or anything, but you let me read your story… Why?"

"Maybe it's the booze," Kistune replied nonchalantly. "Or, maybe I trust you. Goodnight, Keitaro."

"G-goodnight…" Kitsune waited until the door snapped shut behind him before flopping back down on her futon. The ceiling swayed slightly through her alcoholic haze, though the tingling sensation was fleeting at best. Now that she thought about it, it probably was a bit of a gamble to show Keitaro her "secret." After all, it was something that no one else in the world knew about her. But, despite her doubts, there was a warmth in his eyes; an honest care; that let her know he could be trusted.

"Yeah," she whispered, "he's a good guy…"

XXX

Keitaro stood on the other side of Kitsune's door, eyes fixed on the floor beneath him. For the first time since he had met her, he felt he had actually learned something about Kitsune. Out of all of the Hinata dorm's tenants, she was by far the most elusive. He really didn't know anything about her. She had been the first to approach him in a non-hostile manner (granted; it was a ploy), yet she somehow remained a complete mystery to him. Just what lay behind those fox-slit eyes?

"Ugh… I'd better get to bed, too…" he yawned. He would have plenty of time to mull it over tomorrow. With that, the residential director turned down the hall and headed to his room.

Author's Note: This is my first Love Hina fanfic (odd, right?) I love this pairing, but I've only found one fanfic that addresses it (sadly, it's still unfinished). As always, feedback is welcome.