Love Hina – The Once and Future Manager
Fanfic
Chapter Two – Time to vote
"I w-wish I had never seen this. I never wanted to s-see anything like this happen with my K-Keitaro-san." Su lifts the modified Keitaro tracker over her head to smash it on the floor, only to be stopped by Kitsune.
Her voice hoarse from vomiting, she says, "No, Su, don't. Keep it. And for now, don't tell anybody what we've learned. We're going to need that device of yours once more, I'm afraid. Then, you can destroy it, and I'll gladly help."
The smell of breakfast cooking sends each of them rushing off one last time to the bathrooms.
Saturday Morning, breakfast
After recovering from what she had seen, Su goes to her room to rest before changing for breakfast. Naru and Motoko are studying and meditating, respectively. Keitaro is still trying to get some morning work done without another incident.
Kitsune, her stomach settling, heads to the kitchen after hiding the video tape in her room. No longer in the mood for sake, she hopes Shinobu has some soothing tea prepared.
As she opens the door, Shinobu turns "Breakfast will be another ten minutes, Kitsune-san."
"That's good. Shinobu, do ya'll have any, ah, never mind, I see ya'll have some tea already made." Kitsune walks over to the teapot, getting a strange look from the young cook.
"Pardon me for asking, Kitsune-san, but why are you drinking tea? I m-mean, not that there's anything wrong, p-please, go ahead, enjoy yourself." Shinobu stammers, embarrassed at questioning the older girl for choosing tea over her normal morning drink; sake.
Kitsune ponders Shinobu's comment (I do drink a lot first thing in the morning, don't I? Amazing what a slap in the face of reality does for your alcohol desire.) To the younger girl, "Ah just wanted something to soothe me, sugah. Thank ya for being concerned, though." (I wonder why I never thought about what Shinobu thinks about my drinking. Safe to say, she worries about me. Heck, she worries about every one of us, especially Keitaro.)
Sipping the tea, Kitsune watches as Shinobu works on another excellent meal for the residents of the inn. Kitsune asks, "Shinobu, do you mind if I ask ya'll something?"
Shinobu looks over her shoulder, then wipes her hands on a towel. Turning to face the Fox, she says "Please, what would you like to know?"
(Best to be blunt, I guess, not that I don't know the answer already.) "How do ya'll feel about the way we treat Keitaro around here?"
Caught off-guard, Shinobu sputters a response "Sempai? He., ..I think that, that is, you all, I mean, not to say anything bad, but…" Shinobu looks at her hands, unable to criticize her friends.
Kitsune reaches out and lifts Shinobu's chin "Hey, kiddo, ya'll can be straight with me. And, this just stays between you and me, right?"
Shinobu takes a deep breath, gaining courage from Kitsune's promise of confidentiality. "It hurts me the way all of you treat my Sempai. He tries so hard to take care of all of us, even though he can be clumsy at times. It's not his fault almost every time Naru-sempai punches him, or when Motoko-sempai uses her techniques on him, or when Su always finds ways to torture him with her inventions." She shifts nervously from one foot to the other.
Smiling, Kitsune says, "Ah think you're forgetting someone, Shinobu. Go ahead, tell me the truth. What about me?"
Gulping, Shinobu lowers her head "You are always setting my Sempai up. You remove his signs when he's working in the hot springs or the showers, so Naru or Motoko will walk in and accuse him of trying to spy on them. You're always, uh, using your, uh…"
"Feminine wiles?" Kitsune adds for her, a sly smile on her face.
"Uh, yes. You always use, what you said, against my Sempai to trick him into things like money to go out drinking, or skipping a rent payment, or get him in trouble with the others. You cause him almost as much hurt as Naru-sempai and Motoko-sempai the way he falls and gushes blood whenever you do things to him."
Shinobu's face pales as she continues, her voice on the verge of breaking, "He'd have more money for himself, if it weren't for you; he wouldn't have to get extra jobs every time he wants to buy presents for all of us on our birthdays, or Christmas, or New Years. He works too hard around here as it is, no one helps him. You once told me you all shared the work with Granny Hina and Haruka before he became our manager, now my Sempai has to do the work of six people. And, my Sempai wouldn't be attacked so much if it weren't for you, playing your jokes on him all the time." Shinobu's voice takes on a hint of an emotion Kitsune never heard before. Anger.
Shinobu looks her in the eyes. A tear falls down her face as she tries not to cry, her pent-up emotions threatening to come to the surface. Her hands clenched at her sides, she stares at the Fox. "Why do you all treat my Sempai that way, Kitsune-san? Why do you enjoy causing him so much pain?"
Kitsune sits there, blinking in surprise. She hadn't expected what she just heard, and the effect her actions have had, not just on Keitaro, but on the most innocent resident of the dorm. (Have I really been such a bitch?...Yes. I have, and I know it. Especially after seeing what Keitaro actually goes through every day.) The Fox tries to explain, but Shinobu waves her to be quiet. "Shut-up! I'm not done yet!" she says, fire starting to form in her eyes. (Oh Spit! What have I woke up in Shinobu? She NEVER talks like this to anyone!)
Shinobu continues, her voice rising, her face red with embarrassment and a barely controlled rage. "Why is it funny to you to treat my Sempai this way? It hurts me every time one of you does something and My Sempai gets blamed for it, or when you refuse to listen to him when he apologizes sincerely for an accident. Am I the only one here other than Haruka who cares for him and doesn't hurt him, or cause trouble for him? I,….I Love Keitaro, Kitsune-san! Don't any of you feel anything for him? Or is he just a toy you all can play with until it breaks, and then you'll all throw him out when you're done with him?"
A few moments of silence fall between the two girls. In spite of it all, Kitsune smiles at a comment Shinobu made. "Why are you smiling, Kitsune-san? Is this funny to you?" the young cook growls angrily.
Kitsune raises her hands in front of her, "No, No, Shinobu. Ah agree one hundred percent with everything ya'll has said. You're right; we have all, except for you, treated Keitaro like our own personal slave, test subject, piggy-bank, and punching bag. And it ain't right. Not to him, and not for what it does to you to see it happen."
Grinning tenderly at the young cook, she takes Shinobu's hands in hers and says, "I was smiling because ya'll said ya love 'Keitaro', not 'your Sempai'" the blush in Kitsune's face nearly matches Shinobu's "and, to be perfectly honest, Ah'm rather fond of that ronin myself, but Ah keep it hidden, too."
Looking her in the eye, Shinobu, with a touch of trepidation, asks "B-but, Kitsune-san. Why do you do those things to him? Why don't you ever tell Kei-, uh my Sempai how you really f-feel?"
Kitsune sighs, "Ah've only just come to the realization of what really happens around here, or, more precisely, what happens to Keitaro. As for me telling him anything, let me ask you the same question. How come ya'll never told him that you love him?" she asks, pulling Shinobu down to sit in a chair beside her.
Shinobu looks at her hands in Kitsune's and whispers "I-I'm nothing to him, Kitsune-san. I'm t-too young to be anything more than a little sister to my Sempai. And besides, he.. he doesn't look at anyone that way, except…" More tears fall from her eyes as she looks up at the ceiling, as if she could see through them to a certain honey-haired girl's room.
Kitsune grabs and holds the young girl in a friendly hug, "Shinobu, Ah know how he feels about Naru. Heck, last Christmas, the whole dorm heard how he feels. But, have ya'll ever heard Naru come out and say anything remotely along the lines of her loving him back? To us, or more importantly, to him? Ah know I haven't, and that tears poor Keitaro apart. He loves her, and won't let go of her; Naru won't admit she loves him, but she won't release him to let him find someone else."
Now Kitsune looks up at the ceiling as if searching for their manager. "He's stuck between loving someone and not being loved in return. Naru knows that Keitaro will always be there, waiting for her, so she's in no hurry to establish any relationship with him. The poor guy would wait for her until the end of time, unless something happens to change things. And Naru is an idiot for not realizing what a kind and gentle person he really is. Even I knew that from almost the day he came here."
Looking Shinobu in the eyes, Kitsune continues, "But ya'll figured it out before any of us did, so that puts you one up on us supposedly 'more mature' girls around here. If I had any say in the matter, I'd tell Keitaro that there are at least two other people here that care very much for him and one of them is a cute little cook with a heart o' gold" as she lightly pinches Shinobu's cheek.
Shinobu's anger has faded, and now just the embarrassment remains "Aaauuuuu! I-I'd pee myself if you told my Sempai that. Don't do it, Kitsune-san, please. It still wouldn't be fair to Naru-sempai."
Kitsune looks sadly at the young girl. "That's the same reason Ah never told Keitaro how Ah feel. I've always stood back for Naru when it comes to guys. But, that has gotta change, one way or another, for Keitaro's sake. Either Naru needs to see the light, or someone has to convince Keitaro he's wasting his time on her. Oops, ya'll better check that rice before it overcooks!"
The Fox thinks for a few minutes as Shinobu quickly returns to preparing breakfast. (hmmm, the Annual Manager Review is next week. Ah remember hearing Keitaro once telling Haruka that, if it is a majority vote against him, he'll leave rather than contest it. That could work, but he'd still feel guilty about it and want to come back, even if he has to work under worse conditions than he already does. And I swear that ain't gonna happen to him!)
A few minutes of silent contemplation passes. "Kitsune-san, could you help me and set the table while I go tell everyone breakfast is ready, please?" Shinobu asks, wiping her hands clean.
"Of course Ah'll help ya, sugah. Ya'll just run along and gets everyone down here."
As the young cook heads upstairs to start her morning rounds, Kitsune gets the plates from the cabinet and utensils from the drawers. She continues thinking as she sets the table. (Something more drastic has to happen to give Keitaro a chance to live away from the constant fear of being attacked, conned, swindled, threatened, or experimented on every day, and where his heart has a chance to mend for all the times Naru's broken it by ignoring his affections. Maybe, if he's willing to wait just a little while, Shinobu will have a real shot at him. Or, if he's willing ta forgive me for everything Ah've done to him, maybe I…whoa, girl, just stop right there. Are we talking the 'L' word here? Ah do Like Keitaro, but, do I love him? Could he love me?)
Kitsune picks up her tea again and sips as she watches Su come bounding through the window, looking like she's mostly recovered from her shock at the video they watched earlier. Shinobu returns and get the last items from the kitchen for breakfast. (If Ah know Shinobu, she'll vote in Keitaro's favor at his review. Ah'm pretty sure Su will as well. Naru and Motoko will vote against him, just outta principle, since they know it won't be a unanimous vote, and then they'll agree later to let Keitaro stay on as the manager. And Ah probably woulda voted against him, just so's Ah could use it against him later. But now, that ain't gonna be the reason. Ah've gotta vote against Keitaro for his own good! And, Ah've gotta convince Shinobu and Su to do the same. If it's a unanimous vote against him, Keitaro won't feel guilty about leaving us, and he won't feel like he has any reason, at least, not right away, to come back and he can act on his own with a clear conscience. But, what can Ah say to them to get them to vote against Keitaro? Su saw the video, so she won't be too difficult to persuade. But, Ah can't subject poor Shinobu to that to convince her.)
The sounds of Naru and Motoko coming down the stairs interrupt the Fox's train of thought. She decides maybe a little observation is in order for now, so she sits down and smiles as she greets her friends.
Naru, surprised to see Kitsune at the table before them, "How come you aren't still up in your room, Kitsune? Aren't you usually working on your first glass of sake about now, with Shinobu trying to drag you down to breakfast?"
"Yes, and tea is not your beverage of choice first thing in the morning, Konno-san. Is there a problem?" Motoko asks, eyeing their friend.
Careful to catch Shinobu's eye with a glance that says 'shhhhh', Kitsune replies "Nah, Ah just felt like sitting downstairs for a bit after soaking this morning. Ah never realized how nice it smells in the kitchen first thing in the morning when Shinobu is doing her magic. If Ah weren't so lazy, Ah could get used to hanging around here that early. Course, that would have serious repercussions on mah figure if Ah started snacking while Shinobu cooks!"
Naru laughs. "Yeah, right, liked you'd ever change your ways. You like sake too much to give up your morning routine, even for Shinobu's cooking aromas."
(Nope, it takes seeing the hell Keitaro goes through for that to happen!) Kitsune thinks, forcing her smile to stay in place. "Ya'll got me there, Naru. But, it's nice to dream, ain't it?"
Motoko sits and looks around, "Where is Urashima? It is not like him to be late for Saturday breakfast. It is impolite to make us have to wait on his appearance before we may begin." Her voice gets that edge to it that speaks volumes to Kitsune. Keitaro'd better walk through the door now, or else.
"S-Sempai said to tell everyone he cannot make it to breakfast, as he has too much work to catch up on, and he wants us to eat without him." Shinobu says, her eyes glancing out the window. She holds back a tear. Keitaro looked so tired, especially so early in the day, and he was genuinely sad he'd have to skip breakfast (I will set some aside for him. I'll take it out to him while he is working, so he may still eat.) Shinobu feels better at this idea, but also sad that, too many times over the past several weeks, her Sempai has been working so hard she had to take him something to eat, often staying with him to make sure that he has his meal. She sighs and turns back to the table to sit.
Naru grumbles "That lazy, stupid baka! You'd think he could manage to get his work done on time for once. What does he do with his time, anyways?"
Unnoticed by everyone but Kitsune is the glare Shinobu favors Naru with for a fleeting moment. Kitsune us surprised at the sudden tightening of her chest at Naru's words.
Su, her eyes looking up from the meal before her, silently thinks to herself (Narus wouldn't treats Keitaros so bad if she had to do alls that he does. We all used to do the work before Granny left. It ain't fairs to Keitaros!)
"Naru-san, you know as well as I that Urashima was obviously up before dawn working. Even I can see he is making some effort. Can you not give him some credit for attempting to do his required tasks?" Motoko asks, wondering (Why am I standing up for Urashima? It does seem that he takes longer to get things done around here than it took us before he became our manager, but, something just seems, not, quite right.)
The compassionate side of Motoko's brain struggles to free itself from the sword master's self-defensive side, yelling (He does the work of six every day, idiot! That's what isn't 'quite right'! Why can't you admit that to yourself?) and gets a secret technique for its troubles; (Shinmei-ryu munesanzunno Zankusho! God's Cry Mind Attack of the Slashing Wind! Now, get back in your cage, I have no desire to go over this with you again!)
