Love Hina – The Forgotten Ronin
Fanfic
"Is that how you really see them?" Keitaro nods. Sighing, she sits back and crosses her arms. "I've said it before, Keitaro. You're too kind for your own good." (I only hope those girls come to their senses before they take advantage of you one too many times.)
Smiling at her, he says, "Sorry Aunt Haruka; it's just the way I am. Ow!" Keitaro flinches as a large paper fan smack him on the head.
Putting her fan back in her jacket, his aunt says; "Just call me Haruka. And Keitaro, never apologize for being you. Now, let's eat our breakfast. I told Shinobu we'd only be an hour, and you wouldn't want her to go out in this weather looking for you, would you?"
The both jump as there is a knock at the back door of the Tea Shop.
Chapter Two
Christmas Eve, Hinata-sou, breakfast time
As most of the girls arrive downstairs to breakfast, Shinobu wipes her hands on her towel and asks "Su, could you bring the last tray in from the kitchen?"
"Sure things, Shinobus. And I'll brings some more bananas, you only put a dozens out!" Su says, smiling, as she leaps out of her chair and through the kitchen door.
In the common room, the phone rings. Shinobu rushes through the door, saying to the other residents "I'll get it."
Picking up the phone, the young cook asks, "H-Hinata-sou apartments, Shinobu Maehara speaking. May I help you?"
Shinobu smiles. "Haruka-san! It's good to hear from you. Are you still going to be here in time for breakfast?" she asks happily.
A few seconds of silence.
Shinobu continues, her voice betraying a hint of sadness. "Oh, I see. I-is Sempai alright? K-Kitsune-san said Naru and Motoko were not too happy with him trying to leave again, and…..well, they uh…" her voice fades and she feels slighlty ashamed; not only in avoiding accusing her friends of attacking her Sempai, but also in her running away and not doing anything to stop them.
She listens to the older woman, then replies, her face lighting , "Thank you, Haruka-san! I'm glad Sempai isn't leaving. I will tell the others…"
Shinobu's smile fades as she listens to what Haruka asks. (Poor Sempai! And I made his favorite breakfast this morning. I wish I could ask him to forgive me for running away like a coward when I knew Motoko-sempai and Naru-sempai where going to attack him again.) "I understand, Haruka-san. I promise won't tell anyone he is with you. P-please tell Sempai I feel real bad about what happened this morning." Shinobu asks, wishing she had the nerve to ask for Keitaro to speak to her.
Getting the older woman's promise, she finishes, "Hai, see you later, Haruka-san." Feeling better, Shinobu hangs up, not realizing that the conversation about to be played at the Tea Shop will cause Haruka to forget to mention how Shinobu felt about what happened to him.
As she returns to the dining room, Naru looks up from her tea. "Who was that , Shinobu?"
"It was Haruka-san. She called to say she is running a bit late, and will be here in an hour or two."
"Oh. That's good. I was a little worried that she hadn't shown up yet. Did she say what the problem was?" Naru ask as Shinobu takes the tray Su is drooling over and places it on the table.
"No. It sounded l-like sh-she might have overslept. It is a holiday, you know." Shinobu says, hoping her impromtu cover story sounded plausible.
"Haruka-san works very hard at the Tea Shop. She is entitled to sleep in on occasion. Unlike that nephew of hers. Why isn't he down here so that we may begin our meal? It is most impolite of Urashima to make use wait on him." Motoko states, wondering deep in her mind where Keitaro is. (Urashima has not returned for mealtime. I have doubts that he was actually leaving, but, he normally is back by now. Perhaps we have driven him…) Motoko shakes her head, unwilling to continue her train of thought.
Kitsune looks up from the plate Shinobu places in front of her. "Ah went by his room. Keitaro ain't there." A hint of worry enters her voice as she looks out the window at the snowfall. "And Ah don't think he ever came back after ya'll knocked him into the hot springs."
Su jerks, her eyes meeting Kitsune's before she turns to Naru. "Didn't one of ya go and checks on him after ya beat him? It's not exactlies a sunny day in Junesies out there right now!" she asks, her eyes showing concern for her favorite playmate.
Naru, acting defensively, replies "Hey, it's not our responsibility to look after that baka! It's his job as manager, poor as he does it sometimes, to look after us! Besides, he tried to leave us again, so he doesn't deserve our sympathy." she says, her words not quite matching her thoughts. (Keitaro! Where are you? Why haven't you come home?)
Shinobu, knowing where Keitaro is, and why, struggles to keep from speaking up and defending him. As she puts a plate down for Naru, she puts it in front of the older girls with more force than she intended, hitting Naru's tea cup and spilling it.
Naru turns a looks at the young cook, who meets her gaze. Softly, quietly, Shinobu whispers one word, "Why?" as a tear comes to her eye. Not understanding what she means, Naru stares at Shinobu.
To everyone else Shinobu quickly says, "E-excuse me, please, don't wait up. Enjoy your breakfast." Shinobu rushes out of the dining room, and her footsteps can be heard going up the stairs.
The other residents stare at the door Shinobu ran through, and then at each other. Except Su, who is staring at Motoko's bacon and eggs.
Motoko is the first to speak. "It would appear Urashima's absence has upset Shinobu-chan."
"Ah think it was what Naru said, myself." Kitsune says under her breath, then looking up and smiling sweetly at the sword master.
Naru, confused at Shinobu's actions, concentrates on her breakfast.
What no one except Kitsune notices is Shinobu didn't set a plate out for Keitaro like she normally would, as if she knew he wouldn't be at breakfast that morning. (What was that phone call really about, Shinobu?) the Fox wonders as she slowly starts on her own meal.
Standing in her room, Shinobu quickly dresses herself in a long skirt, warm socks, and a heavy jacket and gloves. Pulling the hood over her head, she grabs a spare pair of winter boots from her closet, and quietly slides her door open, looking around to make sure no one has followed her to her room.
Silently, she moves down to the far end of the hallway, and goes down the rear stairwell, away from the common room. Putting her boots on, she lets herself out the side door to the dorm. Moving around the far-side of the inn, she heads for the path down to the Tea Shop, rather than the stairs, so that the others won't see her.
As she reaches the Tea Shop kitchen door, she pauses a moment before knocking. Inside, she hears Keitaro and Haruka talking; "…and I do have a lot of fun. And Shinobu seems to go out of her way to make things pleasant for me, with her cooking, doing laundry, and smiling at me when things are going kinda rough. They're all special to me."
(S-Sempai? He a-appreciates me? He likes all of us?) Shinobu's lower lip trembles as she listens, her hand still raised to knock.
"Is that how you really see them?" Haruka asks. "I've said it before, Keitaro. You're too kind for your own good."
Keitaro replies, "Sorry Aunt Haruka; it's just the way I am. Ow!"
"Just call me Haruka. And Keitaro, never apologize for being you. Now, let's eat our breakfast. I told Shinobu we'd only be an hour, and you wouldn't want her to go out in this weather looking for you, would you?"
Shinobu gathers her courage and knocks on the door. "F-forgive me, Sempai, Haruka-san, if I'm disturbing you. M-may I come in?" Footsteps can be heard stepping over to the door, and it opens to reveal Haruka, still wearing an apron, standing there.
"Shinobu-chan? Are you okay? What are you doing here? Is something wrong, do you need my help?" Behind the older woman, the young girl sees Keitaro rising from the table, a towel around his neck, wearing a thick robe. (H-he's worried about me! I came down here to help him, but, he asks ME if I need HIS help!)
"Oh, Sempai!" Shinobu cries. Forgetting appearances, she runs in and throws herself against the surprised kanrinin, wrapping her arms around his waist in a bear hug that could give Su a run for her money.
"Ooof!" The confused Keitaro grunts as Shinobu crashes into him, her grip forcing the air out of his lungs. He tentatively puts his arms around her shoulders as he looks at his aunt, a questioning look in his eyes asking 'What's going on, and what the heck am I supposed to do now?'
Haruka, closing the door, looks at the young kanrinin as she steps over to the oven and says, "I'll put on a couple more eggs and toast. I think it's a good bet Shinobu hasn't eaten yet. Keitaro, could you pour her a cup of tea?"
Stuttering slightly, Keitaro nods his head, unsure of what to do about the armload of young tenant around his waist. "Uh, sure. Hey, uh, Shinobu-chan?" he asks, looking down at the dark-haired girl in his arms.
Slowly, Shinobu releases her kanrinin and takes a step back. "I'm sorry, Sempai."
Rubbing the back of his neck, Keitaro says "That's okay, Shinobu-chan. Why are you down here? Is something wrong?"
Shinobu, her face blushing, "I-I just didn't want y-you toeat breakfast by yourself, Sempai."
Smiling, Haruka looks over and says, "So, what am I? Chopped liver?"
Shinobu, seeing the smile on the older woman's face, relaxes. "Hai, I'm sorry, Haruka-san. I did not mean that the way it sounded."
"I know, Shinobu, so don't worry about it. Get that tea from Keitaro before he spills it and sit down."
Obeying Haruka, Shinobu grabs a chair and gratefully accepts the tea from Keitaro.
After Haruka serves Shinobu, the three of them quietly eat breakfast. Keitaro, pondering something, quietly speaks, "You know, this isn't like eating breakfast up at the dorm. It's like, oh, I don't know, like I'm not one wrong word or move away from getting in trouble. I think I could get used to eating my meals down here." He says, slowly eating his bacon while looking at the table.
Shinobu gasps. (Oh please no! Has Sempai been pushed so far that he no longer wants to eat with us? I mean, what he just said makes sense, he would be better off eating somewhere else. But, I won't be able to cook for him anymore.) Her lips trembling, Shinobu dares to look up at Keitaro, who is still contemplating his bacon.
Haruka, seeing the both of them, smacks Keitaro with her fan. "There is no way I'm going to cook meals for you every day, Keitaro. Or have you forgotten that you promised Shinobu she could be your cook in exchange for living at Hinata-sou?"
Holding his head, Keitaro looks from Shinobu to Haruka and back. "W-what? Oh, Shinobu-chan, don't pay attention to me! I was just thinking out loud. Honestly, there is no way I can turn down the chance to eat your wonderful cooking. No one else can whip up delicious food like you can. I'm only eating Haruka's breakfast because she insisted that…. OW!"
Haruka, her fan in her hand, says "You don't have to make excuses. And I'll have you know that I can cook just as good as anyone."
Shinobu, a smile on her face, replies "Oh, thank you Sempai. I will always make sure to feed you well!" Realizing what that sounded like, Shinobu blushes and concentrates on her eggs.
The rest of the meal is completed with polite conversation. As Haruka rises to clean up, Shinobu follows her lead and asks "So, will the two of you be coming up to the dorm now?"
"You let me put these dishes in the sink. I'll worry about them later. And yes, we will all go up to the dorm now."
"Yeah. It's time I apologized to everyone for this morning before it gets any worse." Looking at Shinobu, "I'm sorry that your Christmas Eve started out like it did, Shinobu-chan. Please accept my apology."
"B-but you d-don't.." Shinobu sputters.
"Please, Shinobu?" Keitaro ask.
Unable to reject him, even though he was not at fault, "Hai. Of course, Sempai."
"Good. Now that you've got the easy part out of the way, let's head on up." They gather their jackets, Keitaro stuffing his now dry clothes into a bag and covering his borrowed clothes with his jacket.
Reaching the front door, Haruka enters first, just to make sure no one is waiting to confront her nephew. Inside, she sees all the other residents in the common room, sipping tea (or sake, in Kitsune's case).
Hearing the door open, the girls rise. Naru says,"Haruka! It's great that you made it! We thought that,…uh, Shinobu? Why are you with…" spying the person bringing up the rear, Naru's eyes fill with flame. "K-Keitaro? What the heck are you doing, hiding behind Shinobu, you baka! Where the heck have you been, making us wait for you to get back and do your job?" Rushing forward, Naru balls up her right fist and, before anyone can stop her, slams Keitaro against the wall. As he slides down, Motoko joins her, standing above his prone figure.
"Urashima! How dare you attempt to hide from us after your pitiful and deceitful attempt to make us believe you were leaving us?" As she attempts to raise her sword, a stern voice stops them all cold.
"Enough!" Haruka says, not loudly, but with steel in her tone.
Keitaro rises to his feet, edging away from Naru's fist and Motoko's sword. He looks around as if trying to find something. "Kei, don't go anywhere." Haruka says, slightly more gently.
"This being the holidays, I am going to let you girls off easy. But only under this condition. Keitaro explained to me exactly what happened this morning, his side of the story. I believe him. I do not want to hear any more about it. Is that clear?"
Keitaro faces the girls and bows. "I apologize for this morning. If I gave any of you the wrong impression, I am sincerely sorry. I was no trying to run away, again." His eyes on the floor "I just had, I had some things I was trying to get done early, and I didn't want to be in anyone's way. I didn't know you'd all be using the hot springs so early, especially with it snowing outside." He stands there, awaiting whatever answer the girls see fit to give him.
Shaking her head, Haruka takes the cigarette out of her mouth and sighs. "Keitaro, you really need to start thinking more about yourself and not about everyone else." (Spit, cant' he see how much these girls take advantage of him? He is the manager, so I can't force any of his tenants to do something against his desires. But damn it, he's family.) "Just let it drop, everyone. Forget that this morning ever happened."
Standing there, Motoko allows herself to relax. Looking at Haruka, she bows and replies, "As I respect your wisdom, Haruka-san, I shall consider the matter in the past."
Haruka glances at Naru, who still has a look of unfulfilled anger on her face. "Naru? Did you understand me?"
Forcing her hands down to her sides, Naru glares at Keitaro for a moment, and then turns to Haruka. "Oh, alright. As long as he stays out of trouble, I guess I can let it slide. But, that baka had better get working. We were planning on having a party tonight, and Shinobu still needs him to pick up some things from the market."
Softly, Keitaro says "I-I'll go as soon as I change." As he turns and heads for the stairs, Naru notices for the first time that the clothes he has on are old and patched, not the clothes he was wearing this morning. Seeing the slump in his shoulders, her natural concern for him overrides her anger. Reaching out to him, she asks, "Uh, Keitaro. What happened to your clothes?"
Before he can turn, Haruka replies, "Keitaro, you just keep going to your room. I'll explain your clothes." Waving him off, Haruka beckons the girls to follow her to the dining room.
Upstairs, Keitaro continues to look around. (Where are the presents I got for the girls? Did..did they really think it was my stuff and I was running away? They might have thrown the basket out! Oh no! I've gotta find it!) Changing into clothes more appropriate for going into town, Keitaro sneaks outside and searches the trash bins for the gifts. Not finding them, he moves back inside, going through the laundry room, the changing room, and the common area.
Dejected, Keitaro thinks. (They must have taken them down the stairs and thrown them out. Damn, and trash pickup was an hour ago.) Going back to his room, Keitaro checks his bank statement. "If I can avoid any expenses for myself until the end of the month, I have just enough to get the girls something for Christmas and New Years." sighing, "And to think I've been collecting all those gifts for the last month."
Grabbing the list of stuff he needs to purchase for the party, Keitaro heads out to the city, hoping he can find some gifts he can afford with the last of his savings before he swings by the market to fill the shopping list.
Mid-morning, in the dining room.
The girls sit around the table, listening to Haruka's story, who leaves out any mention of the presents Keitaro told her about, wanting him to surprise the girls himself. "And it took him almost half an hour to stop shaking. He was too damned afraid to come back up here, so he chose to risk freezing to death waiting for me. It chills me to the bone to think of what might have happened if I hadn't made it here this morning."
Kitsune looks at Shinobu. "So, Ah guess that was Haruka that called earlier. Why didn't ya'll tell us about Keitaro? We'd've been down there in a flash to bring him home."
Haruka asks Kitsune, "And when he did come home, how was he greeted? With warmth, tenderness, a little concern for having been soaking wet and nearly frozen? My, how sweet of all of you to be such caring individuals." She says sarcastically.
Everyone stares silently at the table. Naru thinks (Maybe Haruka is right. Maybe he wasn't running away. But, why would he have a blanket full of his stuff? Unless, oh that's it! He was trying to get some laundry done early before going to the market!) "I, I guess we misjudged him a bit today, huh?"
Su stares at the banana in front of her. "Just todays? Seems ta me, mmph, that's standard procedures for Keitaros!" the now empty banana peel stares back at Su.
Motoko sits, her sword held in her lap. "A question you have not cleared up for us, Haruka-san. If Urashima was not attempting to run away, again, what was he doing with his things this morning?"
Before Haruka can think of an excuse that doesn't reveal Keitaro's plans, Naru speaks.
"Laundry." Looking up at Motoko, she repeats "It must have been his laundry. He wanted to get it done early, before we all woke up. Think about it! If he were running away, wouldn't he have used a suitcase instead of a blanket in a basket? He was just trying to get some laundry done." Naru looks at her hands, thinking about how she had twice attacked Keitaro that morning for something as innocent as his laundry.
Kitsune, her eyes wide open, sputters, "Ya'll nearly killed Keitaro twice this morning over his friggin' laundry?" Looking up at the ceiling, she whispers, "Kami-sama, has it come to this? Keitaro get's his backside handed to him just because he wanted to wash his clothes?" A tear forms at the corner of her eye as she looks down at her sake. "He's gotta be feeling like the unluckiest bastard in the world about now."
"Maybe I can makes somethings ta cheer him up, maybe something that can wash his clothes for him!" Su says, her eyes bright. Motoko leans over and whispers in the girls' ear.
"Oh." Su takes out a notepad and next to 'Clothes cleaning mecha' checks the box labeled already done.
"Does anyone want more tea?" Shinobu gets up and walks to the kitchen, returning a minute later with some fresh tea.
Motoko and Naru accept, Haruka waves of, and Kitsune decides to forgoe the remainder of her sake in favor of some soothing tea. Su looks despondent until Shinobu tosses her a banana. "Yippees! You is da best, Shinobus!"
"Well, now that you all understand what actually happened, I suggest you just continue with your plans for the day. I'll be around if you need me." Haruka tells the girls as she heads to the changing room and the hot springs.
A few hours later
Keitaro, desperately trying to find gifts the girls will like with the little money he has, has spent several hours trying to find what he's looking for. Managing to get a few nice items but depleting his savings, he heads to the market to pick up the items on the list. Thankful that he has a separate account to cover the purchases, he quickly finds the items. "This looks like it's gonna be a pretty good party. Shinobu is sure to whip up a lot of tasty snacks with all these. I can't wait, I didn't even have money left to have lunch, and I wasn't very hungry at breakfast this morning."
Half an hour later, late afternoon
Back at the dorm, the residents are taking an afternoon break from their party preparations to relax in the hot springs. Some of the girls, most notably Naru, are angered that after several hours, Keitaro still hasn't returned to help.
"I bet that baka is off with his so-called buddies. That idiot! Of all days, he wants to spend time with a bunch of losers instead of us!"
Haruka, surprised, asks, "Should Keitaro honestly have any reason to want to spend today with any of you?"
All the girls to turn and look at the older woman for an explanation. "He's been here every day since he accepted the manager's position, doing things for you, fixing things, running errands, cleaning, helping to cook, and dozens of other things all for your benefit" holding up a hand, she forestalls their comments "and don't give me that 'it's his job' line."
She continues "As far as I can remember, he hasn't taken a day off for himself since he came here. So, why should spending today here be anything special for him? Seems to me as far as how he's been treated already, today is just like any other day to him." Pausing a moment, Haruka adds, "He does have relatives other than me he could go to, you know, who would be willing to show him a little human kindness, with no strings attached."
That comment causes all the residents to stop and think.
"Y-You don't think Sempai would leave us alone here on Christmas Eve, would you, Haruka-san?" Shinobu whimpers, her hands clenched under her jaw as she sinks lower into the hot springs.
Looking at the young cook, Haruka answers, "If it were only you, Shinobu, I know Keitaro would do everything in his power to be here tonight. You're the only one here that doesn't hit him," Naru and Motoko grimace "or con him out of his money," Kitsune blushes guiltily "or treat him like a rag doll on a daily basis" Su looks to see if there are any bananas to be had, before looking sadly at Haruka. "But, knowing him, I suspect he'll be back. He doesn't have it in him to let anyone down that's counting on him, if he can possibly help it."
Meanwhile, at the front door,
Keitaro quietly let's himself back into the dorm, hopeful that no one will confront him again. Thanking his rare case of luck, he silently heads to the kitchen, where he puts away the items he returned with while arranging the sake, soda and beer on the counter. Looking at the small bag he has left, he hesitates, sighing.
Keitaro walks out to the common room and carefully places the small, plain, paper-wrapped presents behind the tree in the corner, well behind the other beautifully wrapped ones stacked in the front. "Well, hopefully they'll understand it's the thought that counts."
Heading upstairs, Keitaro goes to his bathing tub. Between the chill from the morning, skipping lunch, and rushing around the city, his eyes immediately close from exhaustion.
Early that evening
After everyone finishes their baths in the hot springs and dress, they meet in the common room to finish the decorations. Shinobu walks into the kitchen and finds the items Keitaro had picked up already there. She sticks her head out and asks, "Has anyone seen Sempai? He brought everything from the market we needed, but he isn't here!"
Naru sets down the garland she was draping, "I suppose he's in his room moping again. I'll bring him down. The least he can do is help us get things ready for the party."
Reaching his room, Naru knocks. After a few seconds with no answer, she slides opens the door. "Hey, Keitaro! Can't you hear……Keitaro?" Looking around, she sees no sign of the manager. Even his futon is still unmade.
Slowly walking back down the stairs, Naru returns to the common room. "Keitaro isn't here. His room isn't even straightened up."
Kitsune pauses, her sake glass forgotten. "Oh Spit! Ya'll don't think Haruka was mistaken and he decided to let us spend the holiday all alone?"
Motoko, looking over her shoulder from her decorating, says "It is not our business to dictate to Urashima how he spends his free time. However, as our manager, I would have at least expected him to stay long enough to wish us well for the day. But, it seems that even that small courtesy is beyond him." Turning back, no one notices the momentary sad look that crosses her face (Perhaps he has decided our company in no longer preferable.)
"Should we, maybe, call his parents? I mean, just to make sure he is okay, that is? Shinobu asks, looking at the front door.
Naru thinks for a minute. "I..I don't know their number." Looking slightly panicked, she adds, "As a matter of fact, I don't even know where they live." She looks hopefully at Kitsune.
"If Ah knew, Ah would've already been on the phone, Naru. What about you, Su?
"Nope, never came ups in conversation. He always was asking abouts me and my family, but…"
Shinobu encourages her, "But what, Su?"
"I never asked him anythings about his family or his past. All I knows is what we learned when he first came here. He gots kicked out of his house, he's trying to get into Tokyo U, he's a pervert, and he's invincible." Su says.
Naru looks pleadingly at Motoko, who has turned, her decorating forgotten. "It is the same for me as well. He would innocently inquire about my thoughts, aspirations, and family, but it, it never occurred to me to return the pleasantries by inquiring as to the story of his." Motoko looks down at the garland in her hands. "He..he showed consideration by asking out of simple courtesy, yet I could not bring myself to return the pleasantries."
Kitsune perks up, "Wait a sec! Haruka, you got all that information, don't ya'll? We can just get the number from you, right?"
Frowning, Haruka removes her cigarette. Staring silently at the girls for a few moments, she replies, "If after all this time, none of you have even bothered to learn anything about Keitaro other than he is Granny's relative, that he is my nephew, and that he was kicked out of his house for twice failing to get into University, than I sure as heck am NOT going to tell you his parents telephone number."
Pausing to light another cigarette, "He's been here for two months and knows all your stories, why you're here, what your likes and dislikes are, when all your birthdays are, and many of your hopes and dreams, simply because he was polite enough to ask out of genuine concern."
Blowing a puff, she continues "Serves you all right. He reaches out to learn about you so he can be a better manager, and I may say, a better friend, but none of you return the favor. And for some strange reason, I'm really not surprised."
Standing or sitting, the girls have no response for Haruka. Rolling her eyes, she looks at Shinobu. "However, I will make one allowance. I will call his parents, if Shinobu wants to talk to them. She at least treats Keitaro like a human being. What do you say Shinobu?" Haruka turns to see the young cook standing at the phone, the receiver in her hand and a hopeful smile on her face. The others look pleadingly at Shinobu, urging her to accept Haruka's offer.
Haruka steps over and dials a number. Shinobu waits anxiously as there is first one ring, then another, and then another.
Keitaro, having awakened from his nap, dresses and heads downstairs.
Shinobu, on the phone, responds as the other end answers "H-hello? Is this the Urashima residence?...I'm sorry, I can't hear you, I-I asked if Sem, I mean, is Keitaro there…….Keitaro…."
Coming downs the stairs with a towel over his head, the manager hears Shinobu call his name. "Oh, Shinobu-chan, what do you need?"
"Oh Sempai, th-thank goodness, I , we were afraid we might not be able to get a hold of you. How are you?"
The girls, seeing Keitaro on the stairs, and Shinobu still on the phone, stare, their mouths wide open.
"Uh, I'm fine, Shinobu-chan. Why, is something the matter?" Keitaro stands behind Shinobu, still drying his hair and not seeing that she thinks he is on the phone.
Fiddling nervously with the phone cord, Shinobu ask, "W-why d-did you leave, Sempai? D-don't you want to spend the holiday with us?"
Taking the towel off his head, Keitaro looks around. The other girls, having gotten over their astonishment, are trying very hard to hide their laughter at the situation. Not understanding what has been discussed, Keitaro of course gets the wrong impression. "I'd like nothing better than that, but, after this morning, I don't think I'm wanted around much right now. I guess I'll see if maybe my parents will let me stay at home, seeing as they are away on vacation right now." Placing his hand on Shinobu's shoulder "I'm sorry."
With tears falling down her face, Shinobu tries to think of anything to say to get him to come back for the holiday, when something he said dawns on her. "Y-your parents are o-on vacation? Aaauuuuu! Then you are all alone there." Noticing the hand on her shoulder, Shinobu turns and looks up to see Keitaro looking at her with a confused look on his face.
"Uh, are you talking to me or someone on the phone, Shinobu-chan?" he asks.
"Aaaiiieee!" Shinbou jumps three feet backwards as all the girls break down and laugh.
"Ya'll shoulda seen the look on yer face when ya saw Keitaro standing right there, Shinobu!" Kitsune giggles, holding a glass of sake in the air. "Nice psyche play, Keitaro!"
Su leaps over and lands on Keitaro's shoulders, "Where ya beens, Keitaros? We thoughts ya had gone home for the holidays"
Unwrapping a leg from around his neck so he can breathe, Keitaro answers "Even if my parents weren't on vacation, I'd rather be here. I mean, seeing as how they want me to be more independent and all." He rubs the back of his neck as he looks around the room.
Naru, relieved that Keitaro hasn't taken off and left them all alone for the holiday, regains her composure and steps over to the manager. "Well, since you're here, you'd better do your share of the work and get this place decorated. We ARE having a party tonight, and we don't want to delay it because of you." She says, a bit more gruffly than she had intended. Slightly more contritely and while lowering her gaze, she mumbles "Please?"
Giving her a genuine smile that reaches from his lips to his eyes, Keitaro says "Sure! Anything I can do to help out, I'll be glad to!" Suddenly, armloads of decorations are dumped at his feet by Motoko, Kitsune and Su.
"Be sure to have this up before this evening, Urashima. Shinobu plans to have her preparations done by six thirty, so do not delay." Motoko tells him, glaring at him with her hand on her sword as she heads upstairs, Su tagging behind. Kitsune fills her glass and settles in on the couch "Ah think Ah'll stay down here and supervise ya, Keitaro. Make sure ya decorate the place right. What about you Naru?"
Embarrassed at the way she spoke to him, Naru excuses herself "I, uh, need to get ready. I'll be in my room." Rushing up the stairs, she berates herself for leaving Keitaro to finish all the decorating by himself. Looking at the clock, she knows that forty-five minutes will not be enough time to do a thorough job of it, but she can't bring herself to go back and face him yet.
Exactly forty minutes later
With Kitsune's constant "no, put that here, no try it over there, maybe it'll look better this way" Keitaro is nowhere near finished by the time Motoko returns from her room, dressed in a casual sweater and slacks combination.
"Urashima, as I thought, you can't even do simple decorating in a timely matter. If we are to start on time, now I must assist you." After five minutes, with no interruptions from Kitsune, Motoko has the decorations up, a task that would have taken Keitaro, with Kitsune's 'help' another thirty minutes. Refusing Keitaro's apologies, Motoko ignores him. As everyone else comes back to the common room, Haruka and Shinobu come out of the kitchen and announce that the food is ready, if everyone will lend a hand carrying it out.
Throughout the meal, Motoko keeps a watchful eye on Keitaro. Anytime he reaches for some of the special items Shinobu made, Motoko glares at him and shakes her head. Dejected, Keitaro settles for some fried rice and a bowl of soup. His choice of meal items doesn't go unnoticed by Shinobu, who thinks he is deliberately avoiding the special items she prepared, some with him in mind.
Naru sees how Shinobu is reacting to Keitaro's choices, while missing Motoko's glares. Her anger at Keitaro for making Shinobu sad after all her hard work starts to rise.
Kitsune sees the silent interactions, and thinks things are gonna get pretty lively this evening.
Haruka, noticing all of it, wonders when these girls are ever going to grow up.
Having limited himself to rice and soup, Keitaro's stomach argues to taste some of the wonderful smelling items Shinobu made, but he is unwilling to risk Motoko's wrath for it. Not having had time for lunch and still hungry, he sits quietly and waits for everyone else to finish, not wanting to draw any untoward attention to himself.
Once the main meal is finished, Shinobu and Haruka bring snack trays in from the kitchen and place them on the tables in the common area. Everyone gathers around the seating near the tree in anticipation of opening their gifts. Except for Keitaro. He sits a discrete distance away from the others, trying to remain unnoticed.
Kitsune starts it off. Kneeling in front of the tree, she separates the gifts by name. Two for each of the girls, two for Haruka, and one for Keitaro.
Kitsune gets a scarf from Shinobu and a pair of soft slippers from Naru.
Naru gets some cheap perfume from Kitsune and a scroll from Motoko.
Motoko gets a sweater from Naru and a bunch of bananas from Su.
Su gets a scroll from Motoko and a banana basket from Shinobu.
Shinobu gets a bunch of bananas from Su and a mini lipstick from Kitsune.
Haruka gets a hot springs robe and slippers from the girls.
Keitaro get work gloves and work sandals as a gift from 'Your tenants'.
As everyone except Keitaro shows off their presents. Keitaro slowly tries to move out of the room. Suddenly, Su says "Hey, lookies! Theres more presents unders the tree!"
In a mad rush, the girls grab the plain-wrapped gifts. Staring at them, they see handwritten cards on each, to them from Keitaro.
Kitsune, shaking the two with her name on them, says "Plain brown paper fer wrapping? Really went all out, eh Keitaro?" she says with a sneer on her face.
Catching the looks from the girls, Keitaro freezes in his tracks and sits down in the furthest chair. "No, it's not like that, I…I…" unable to admit that he had bought better gifts but has no idea where they are at, Keitaro just gives up and waits.
Shinobu, pleased to have gotten anything from Keitaro, says "I don't care how it's wrapped! Isn't it the thought that counts?" Opening her first gift, she finds a tiny diary with a heart-shaped lock and key, a unicorn on the cover. Her second gift is a 'Hello Kitty' drawing set. "Oh, Sempai! Thank You! These are wonderful!" Shinobu walks over and gives Keitaro a small kiss on the cheek, who looks on, embarrassed at such praise for such inexpensive gifts.
Su is right behind Shinobu ripping open her packages. She finds a box of melting chocolates and a small electric pot. "Woohoos! Now I can make chocolate dipped bananas any times I wants! Thanks Keitaros!" Su leaps over and glomps Keitaro with a full-face kiss.
Kitsune opens hers. A baseball cap with fox ears and a pocket make-up compact cause her to grin from ear to ear. Putting the cap on, and tweaking the ears upright, Kitsune crawls over and holds one hand in the air like a paw. "Rowr! A bit cheap, but I guess beggars can't be choosers. How's about I show you what foxes do to young men who give them cheap gifts, eh Keitaro?"
Looking at Kitsune, Keitaro can't help notice that at the angle that she is approaching him, a good deal of her breasts, bra-less, are visible. Slapping his hand to his nose as blood spurts out, he collapses backwards, chair and all. His right foot sticks straight up in the air, twitching.
Looking at Keitaro and then at her shirt, Kitsune sits up straight and covers her chest. Blushing, she says, "Oops! S-S-sorry about that, Keitaro. Uh, Merry Christmas!"
While Su and Shinobu assist Keitaro in setting the chair back upright. Motoko opens her gifts and glares at the manager. "Urashima, why would you even consider getting me such a low priced gift as a pair of slippers and a hot springs robe?" Of course, Motoko conveniently forgets that is exactly the same type of gift the five girls pitched in to get for Haruka.
Bowing his head, Keitaro mutters "I'm sorry, Motoko."
"I'm afraid to even open mine, seeing what that baka got everyone else." Naru says, putting her gifts on the table beside her. "Just what the heck were you thinking? Yeah, I guess we can see what you think about all of us with crappy gifts like these."
Haruka looks at Naru "Drop it, Naru. Keitaro means well."
Ignoring the older woman, Naru stands up and walks over to stand in front of Keitaro. "Well? What have you got to say for yourself, Keitaro? Is this all we are worth to you? Some bargain-store close-out gifts? We bend-over backwards to accept you as our manager and you treat us like this?" Naru does not notice the rejection in Keitaro's eyes.
"Naru, enough" Haruka says, but she senses that the damage has already been done.
Getting up slowly, Keitaro, his head bowed, "I'm sorry, Narusegawa. I really am. Please forgive me."
"Forgive you? For this crap? Ooooh! Just get outta my sight!" Naru says, a vein throbbing on her forehead.
Defeated, Keitaro turns and slowly walks away, all eyes on his slumped shoulders as he goes up the stairs.
Looking sternly at Naru, Haruka says "You just don't listen, do you? Does it matter how much Keitaro spends on gifts? At least he bought each of you two gifts, when all the five of you could do was to lump in and buy him work gloves and sandals." Letting out a long sigh, "I'm surprised he even bothered, seeing how he's treated around here. I feel like soaking some of the smell in this room off me. I'll be in the hot springs." Haruka stands, looks at the robe and slippers she received, and pointedly leaves them there as she heads for the changing room to use the regular robes and slippers kept there.
Motoko contemplates her hands, while Kitsune, Su and Shinobu stare at Naru.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that? He's the one who bought these cheap gifts, not me!" She says.
"Naru, maybe ya'll shouldn't have been so hard on Keitaro. He means well. Maybe he just didn't have much money for gift-giving. Maybe, maybe that was all he could afford." Kitsune softly says.
"I know that's not true! I saw his account books a few weeks ago when he left them on his desk while we were studying. He has plenty of money, he just doesn't care to use any of it on us. Some friends he must think we are, huh?" Naru says in a huff.
Kitsune looks down at the work gloves and sandals they bought for their manager. A tear rolls down the side of her face. "Yeah, some friends he's got, huh?"
"Oh, don't let that attitude of his fool you, Kitsune! You know he uses that 'oh, poor me' act too often." Naru stalk off to her room, not wanting to continue the conversation.
As she reaches her room, still angered, she remembers to clothes basket Keitaro left that morning. Deciding now was as good a time as any to drop it on his head, she retrieves it from the closet and takes it to her room. Sliding Liddo-kun and the board off the hole in her floor, she looks down and spots Keitaro kneeling on his floor, his head bowed, hands upturned in his lap. For a moment, Naru's heart softens. But, her pride kicks back in to full, righteous force.
"Hey, baka! You forgot this." Naru stuffs the basket through the hole into his room, kicking and pushing it through with her foot, unmindful of the soft popping and snapping sounds coming from it. The blanket catches on the edge of the hole and rips open, its contents spilling down into Keitaro's room. "Like any of us want to be stuck with anything of yours!" She adds, anger and hurt in her voice. "Merry Christmas, you cheap bastard!"
Keitaro, his mouth open, moans as he sees the items Naru drops into his room. The sound of objects hitting the floor fades as he looks on helplessly.
Naru is about to slide the cover over the hole when she glances down. She drops the cover as her hands come up to her mouth, her eyes wide with dismay.
Instead of the dirty laundry, clothing and other personal belongings of his that she expected, carefully wrapped gifts, lots of them, have fallen from the ripped blanket.
Keitaro kneels there, staring as the presents he had bought for the girls, lay scattered on his floor. 'Like any of us want to be stuck with anything of yours!' Each word strikes his heart like a Naru-punch. "Merry Christmas, you cheap bastard!"
"I….I…." he lowers his face, "I'm sorry. I only wanted to show that I…. I thought that maybe if I could show my appreciation for….." his voice thick with emotion and unable to continue, Keitaro closes his eyes.
Stunned, Naru freezes, her mind temporarily going blank. Several seconds go by, Keitaro staring at the floor, Naru staring at the presents.
(Oh no! It wasn't laundry! Kami-sama! You were just trying to put presents for us under the tree! And then you, you went out and bought more when I, when you thought…And we complained because we thought you didn't care!) Dropping to her knees, she pulls the torn blanket up, and draws it to her chest. In a voice barely above a whisper "K-Keitaro? No…I...I…" Naru tries to speak, but her words die on her lips as Keitaro looks up again, his eyes pits of despair. His voice heavy with emotion, he whimpers; "I only wanted to, to say, to express my…" full dejection kicks in, and Keitaro lowers his face as Naru see him shed more tears. "Forget it, w-what does it matter, anyways? I'm just a loser, you're right. Why would any of you want anything f-from me."
His hands at his sides as he shakily stands, the pain in his bearing brings a lump to Naru's throat. Her chest constricting painfully, she reaches down towards him. "B-but, Keitaro! I didn't kno…."
Keitaro walks out of his room, sliding the door to the side so hard it falls off its rails to crash to the floor. Naru hears his footsteps as they go down the stairs, followed by the sound of the side door opening and closing.
The voices of the other residents can be heard, wondering "Where are ya'll going"; "What happened, Sempai?"; "What was that noise upstairs, Urashima?"; "Keitaros, aint ya gonna plays?"
Naru sits there, unable to move. Even as she hears the footsteps of the others running up the stairs, she remains motionless.
Motoko is first to reach Keitaro's room, her sword at her side. Skidding to a halt as she enters, she looks up and sees Naru sitting at the edge of the hole. "Naru, what has happened? Did Urashima attempt his perversions upon you again? I shall hunt him down and deliver justice with my sword."
Haruka, rushing up from the hot springs, and Kitsune arrive right behind the sword master, but their eyes are drawn to the mess on the manager's floor.
Haruka steps in and puts her hand on Motoko's shoulder "First, I think we'd better hear from Naru what exactly happened here before you go chasing after my nephew, Motoko." she says, a hint of steel in her voice.
Shinobu slowly peeks around the damaged doorway to peer inside as Su leaps over her head to land on Motoko's shoulders. "Where is Keitaros going? Is he going to come back and open all these presents he got?"
Kitsune softly steps into the room and picks up one of the boxes. Reading the name on the card, she looks at the others strewn on the floor. "These are gifts? For us? From Keitaro?" the Fox asks. She looks up at Naru. "Where,…when,…why……" Her voice trails off as Naru just stares through the hole.
"Gifts? Keitaros bought us more gifts? Are they yummy?'Su exclaims, not noticing the look on Naru's face.
Naru, swallowing hard to speak, quietly replies; "K-Keitaro. I'm….I'm …"
"S-Sempai? Oh my poor Sempai!" Shinobu whispers, her face growing pale as she guesses what has just occurred.
Haruka, her hands on her hips, speaks, her voice hard as stone; "And just what happened here, Naru? I see you now understand what Keitaro was trying to do this morning. And it wasn't laundry."
Naru, a tear in her eye, says "I thought…I mean, Keitaro was, he said, I …." She bites her fist and turns and runs, the sounds of her door opening and closing clearly heard. As footsteps rush down the stairs, everyone turns as Naru passes the manager's room at a run, the ripped blanket bundled in her arms. They quickly follow her downstairs.
Haruka asks Shinobu, "Bring some hot tea from the kitchen, Shinobu. It looks like Naru could use some, and I have a feeling the rest of us are going to need it as well."
"Hai, Haruka-san. I was thinking some tea would be needed, too." Shinobu heads to the kitchen while the others settle themselves on the chairs and couches in the common room.
Naru, still holding the blanket the gifts were in, sits at the end of one of the couches and draws her knees up to her chin, rocking back and forth slowly.
After Shinobu brings more tea in, Haruka has the girls explain where the gifts that Naru dropped through the ceiling into Keitaro's room had been. After learning that at first they thought it was his clothes, and the they thought it was laundry, Naru had hidden it (When asked why she did, Naru had no good answer). Haruka sits back and stares at the assembled tenants.
"You criticized his gifts, but he had already spent so much, too much if you ask me, on gifts for you. In his eyes, you must seem like greedy, inconsiderate bitches, they way you put down his gifts just because they didn't cost much! Damn it, they were all he could afford after he thought you threw away the other gifts he got for you." Putting out her cigarette and lighting another, Haruka look at the girls sternly. "I want each of you to go up there and bring down any packages with your names on them. Now!" Looking at Naru, "And that goes double for you, Naru. You never even bothered to open the gifts he bought this afternoon, did you?"
Naru looks down at the table, her two gifts still sitting there, mocking her in her shame.
Slowly she follows the others up to Keitaro's room. A long few minutes later, they return, each girl carrying three or four packages. Kitsune and Shinobu present Haruka with two presents with her name on them.
"Now, I want you to open these presents in front of everyone else, and then honestly explain to us what is wrong with them." Haruka instructs the girls.
Kitsune opens hers: A pair of heated couch slippers, a TV lounge robe, and a matching gloves and scarf set.
Motoko looks at her gifts: A Haiku book, incense, and a matching gloves and scarf set.
Su tears hers open: A banana basket, a remote-controlled battle figure, and a matching gloves and scarf set.
Shinobu gently unwraps her presents: A leather school backpack, a 16-piece spice rack, and a matching gloves and scarf set.
Haruka opens hers to find: A matching gloves and scarf set with a hat.
Naru, her hands trembling, opens hers: A matching hat, gloves, sweater and scarf set, low-cut/fur-lined leather winter boots, and a hot pot.
After taking stock, Haruka grimaces. "I'm surprised Keitaro had any money left at all after he got all these gifts. Those glove and scarf sets are expensive, and he got seven of them. Heated slippers, a signed first print book of haikus, a remote-controlled mecha, a leather backpack, and a full set of winter clothing couldn't have been cheap, either."
When none of the girls say anything, Haruka stands "I'm gonna go out and talk to Keitaro. I'm guessing he's out on the deck about now." When the girls all rise to follow her, she turns and points at them. "Just me. I understand how things normally end up around here; If you all go up there, Keitaro will just try to apologize again and probably end up getting hit for his troubles. And that's the last thing I'm gonna let happen tonight!"
"Shinobu, could you prepare a plate or two of some of the treats you prepared? I noticed" she says, eyeing Motoko "that Keitaro didn't eat much at dinner, and avoided all the special items you made. Bring them down in about fifteen minutes. I'm going to invite Kei down to the Tea Shop to finish the holiday evening, the rest of you can just stay here and enjoy your warm and caring company." she says sarcastically. "Kei deserves better treatment than what he's gotten from most of you, and it's past time for you to learn that lesson.
"Hai, Haruka-san, I will be happy to bring prepare plates for the two of you."
"One, Shinobu. I'm already full of those delicious snacks." Haruka smiles at the young cook. Blushing, Shinobu nods and bows, "Thank you, Haruka-san."
Puffing her cigarette, Haruka adds, "And him being the manager or not, if any of you so much as shows a shadow down at the Tea Shop, unless the inn is on fire or one of you is dying, you will have to deal with me!"
Picking up the work gloves they got for Keitaro, Haruka stops by the tree and picks up one last present that went un-noticed. Naru, regaining her voice, asks "What is that, Haruka-san?"
"This? It's the gift I bought for Keitaro, which I notice you all conveniently overlooked. And it ain't a pair of work gloves." Haruka says as she puts her coat on and heads for the deck. "I'll expect you in a bit, Shinobu, but give me time to talk to Keitaro first before you rush down the hill. No use waiting for us in the cold."