Author's Notes:
I've definitely thought about the names, and I suppose I can see how they can be an annoyance with some readers, especially if they know more about Japanese names than I do. To be honest, it just felt easier to keep the names in, and it slipped my mind that Japanese names would be masculine, feminine, or unisex. It's pretty depressing, when I think about it, since I've had foreign language classes, and I feel even more depressed, when I realize that I could have just thought of…English…names (Insert the most epic face-plant in history for the readers here). Realizing this, I guess I can see how much of a problem this might be to readers if I kept the some of the same names (maybe not the biggest problem, but a problem in any case).
So, to sum all that up, I will change the names of the characters (I'll keep others like Naru and Keitaro, as they are who they are). But, not right now (Readers, repeat face-plant). Maybe in the next chapter, or the one after that, they will be changed, but not for this one. In addition, I feel that I will take another suggestion made by the readers. As suggested, I may keep names if they are unisex. According to some readers, this means Shinobu and Mitsune. I actually thought about, and researched for "japanese names" and the like on Google, during my time with the first chapter, so I know Shinobu to be unisex now. I couldn't find anything about Mitsune, but I'm pretty sure you guys are right about that as well. So, keep that in mind about the unisex names.
I've thought about the Naru's fondling of Shinobu, and am leaning towards altering it. In fact, I have altered it in my Word document version. It still will be perverted, because I kind of wanted to end on that note, with Naru accused of being a pervert, but there will be no fondling.
...That last statement is not exactly a ringing endorsement of my good morals, but you get the picture.
Obviously, I may not take every suggestion or constructive criticism readers make, as I may not feel warranted to do so; for instance, I might name Motoko 'Masato' or some other, horrifying and sickening name instead of other suggestions. However, I thank you readers who've taken the time to do an R&R of this fanfic, and even those who simply read and pass by, as I can't say that I have done the same for other writers (eh, I know; I should). I have really taken this too long, so I'll stop noting now.
Update - 8/18/09: Names changed for Motoko and Kaolla; changes may stay until further notice. No Kitsune; only Mitsune.
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Chapter 2: A Dormitory Welcome, Then
Opening her eyes, Naru found herself looking at a ceiling, as she was resting on a futon. Having remembered everything prior to going unconscious, she found the unmoving sight peaceful, compared to the hectic journey through stairs and boys. With her hands at her side, Naru felt her towel, still covering her midsection.
"Heh." Naru turned her head to the stranger kneeling beside her. "I thought about taking off your towel," he continued, blushing, "but decided not to."
Naru continued to look at him, with a worried look on her face.
"Wait, that sounds perverted," he decided, as he looked away and chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "What I mean is that you could've gotten a cold or something like that. Besides, a towel isn't exactly an article of clothing." Adjusting his seating position, he leaned back with his hands, straightening out his legs. "But, then I thought, you would wake up and see that you're wearing your clothes, and remember that you were only wearing a towel before you blacked out. You'd then think that somebody changed your clothes and took off your towel. You'd look at me, and think that I saw you naked." He looked back at Naru. "I didn't want you to call me a pervert and punch me again, so…that's why I didn't take off your towel." The stranger lowered his eyes as he exhaled. Naru felt the fabric of a blanket, which covered anything "perverted" that the stranger could see because of the limited coverage of the towel.
"Thanks," Naru said softly, "I guess." She took a look around the room they were in. "Where are we?"
"In the manager's room."
"Oh."
There was silence as Naru looked back at the ceiling. She thought about the hectic events that led her to being knocked unconscious by Makoto.
"I guess I should also say I'm sorry for…touching you like that." Naru blushed, remembering how the stranger shook her breasts. She glanced quickly at him, and noticed his glasses.
"Oh, just forget it. Actually, I should be sorry for calling you a pervert, and punching you like that," Naru remarked, remembering how he wasn't wearing his glasses in the hot springs. "You were mistaken; you thought I was someone else, since you didn't have your glasses on, and were calling me 'Mitsune.'"
"Yes," he exclaimed, looking relieved, "Exactly, and there was all that steam. It was all a horrible misunderstanding."
Her breasts…they felt so nice. He had a faraway look in his eyes as he smiled.
"Well, maybe 'horrible' isn't the right word," he mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Err, nothing. Nothing!"
"Well, anyway, I'm sorry." Naru turned on her side, facing him. "What's your name?"
"Er, Keitaro. Keitaro Urashima." He looked at her longingly.
She's really attractive, and she's only in a towel. Suddenly, blood started spurting out of Keitaro's nose. Naru's eyes widened.
"Aah! I'm sorry!" He panicked, waving his arms in the air. Finding a box of tissues on the floor next a table leg, Naru grabbed some and shoved them into his face. After a moment, the bleeding stopped.
"I'm Naru Narusegawa."
"Th-thank you, Naru." Keitaro noticed that she was closer to him, having given him the tissues, causing him to blush a little.
"How the heck can your nose bleed like that?" she asked, looking at his nose, "It was like a water pipe bursting."
"To be honest, I tend to get nose bleeds when I have perverted thoughts."
"I see." Naru looked down at her towel. "Well, I guess I should let it slide." She smirked as she thought of something. "You know, that really seems like a problem, to have nose bleeds like that."
"Heh, I suppose."
"Seriously, when you think of nose bleeds, you think of blood trickling out of your nose. With you, it's tap water coming out of a faucet."
Keitaro was starting to get a little annoyed. "Yeah, yeah, I get it."
"When you die, will the cause of death most likely be 'sexual intercourse?' Boy, I'd hate to be your sexual partner, with all that blood. It'd be like a dam breaking open. Worst. Sex. Ever-"
"Will you knock it off already!?" Keitaro yelled. Stifled chuckles and laughter could be heard behind the door to the room, although both of the occupants did not notice.
"Sorry, sorry. I went a little too far. Hey, look at me." Keitaro sighed and did as she said. After a second or two, he got a little nervous, as she did not say anything. He noticed her sympathetic face, blushing at how cute he thought she seemed. "I'm sorry."
"You're welcome, I suppose." Keitaro broke eye contact, and looked around the room, as it got quiet. Naru continued to look at him.
He seems like a nice guy…
"Hey." Keitaro looked back, wondering what she would say. "How did I get all the way from the third floor to the second floor?"
"I…carried you." She smiled as she heard the response she somewhat expected.
"Thanks again."
"No problem."
Maybe he is a nice guy. Unlike that other pervert…
"Oh, speaking of names," she said, sparked by a thought, "who's Mitsune?"
"Oh, he's the 'other' pervert." He smiled with his choice of words. "He's the guy with gray hair, the second person you met here." Naru nodded. "He received the 'punishment' that all 'perverts' must endure. You know, you really do punch hard. My face really hurts." Naru scoffed.
"He actually deserves it. That bastard got a full view of my butt."
"Hey!" The door to the room slid open, revealing an angry Mitsune, and the other dorm residents. "You can't go around callin' people 'bastards!'" Half of the residents moved away slightly, embarrassed at being caught listening, while the others either fumed angrily, or hopped happily with a banana in their hands.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Naru said. She gave Mitsune an apologetic look. "I don't know you well enough to call you such things."
Mitsune relaxed. "It's OK, I-"
"So far, I know that you're a pervert," Naru continued, causing Mitsune to plant his face into the floor, "and now, I know that you're an eavesdropper." He twitched, acting as if an arrow went into his heart through his back. Naru remembered a little more information that she was told of about Mitsune, when Keitaro shook her breasts in the hot springs. "Oh, and you're a drinker and a gambler." A couple more figurative arrows pierced Mitsune's heart, causing him to get up dejectedly and mope in a corner.
Wow, she's mean, Keitaro thought, a bead of sweat appearing behind his head.
"Hey, come on. Settle down, guys," he pleaded, "I know, why don't you introduce yourself to everyone else? Get off to a better start?"
"I guess I can do that, but I think I should get dressed first." Naru looked down at her toweled self.
"Yes, I think that would be wise," a soft, low voice announced. Keitaro and Naru looked up to see a woman with short brown hair and a cigarette hanging from her lips, wearing a dark work apron. "These boys tend to have the wildest imaginations, some of which may not be clean, if you know what I mean."
Naru recognized her. "Haruka?"
"You know Aunt Haruka?" Haruka rolled up a piece of paper she had in her hands, and chucked it at Keitaro, hitting him squarely on the head.
"It's Haruka," she said, with a slight change in the neutral tone of her voice, "but Keitaro's right about the other matter. After you get dressed, meet us all in the lobby, and we'll have a little chat to clear things up."
"What brings you up here, Haruka?" Makoto asked, resting his katana on his shoulder.
"Kaoru let me know what was happening, actually," Haruka replied, as the boy jumped around the other residents upon hearing his name. "For some reason, he sent one of his toy airplanes by the tea shop to drop off a message…before it crashed into one of the tables inside, causing irreparable damage to it." In a rare moment, Haruka showed some emotion and furrowed her brow in anger.
"Y-you're ok, aren't you, Haruka?" Shinobu asked.
"Yes."
"Oops," Kaoru said with a sheepish smile, "I haven't perfected my model airplanes, but I'm very close! Hee hee, still, it must've been an awesome explosion, right, Haruka?" He jumped in front of Haruka, when she stopped him with her hands and forced him to be still.
"No, it was awful. I expect you to come by the tea shop later on, and help me clean up the mess, ok?"
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to do it. I just wanted to let you know what was happening."
"Well, all right, just don't send any more planes."
"OK!"
With that matter settled, Haruka decided to head to the lounge area. "If you want to read it, the message is actually the ball of paper I threw at you, Keitaro." She looked at Naru. "We'll be waiting." Seeing her leave, the other dorm residents decided to follow her downstairs, except for Keitaro, who unrolled the ball of paper.
"Hiya Haruka. Come quick, there's a girl in here. She's not moving, maybe she's dead? She's also in a towel. PS, bring some bananas. Kaoru." He shook his head in disbelief after reading the message out loud. "Well, I should let you get dressed."
"Yeah."
"See you down there," Keitaro said, before sliding the door shut. A moment later, Naru took off her towel, and looked through her bag of clothes, with her back to the door.
Where are my bras?
Suddenly, the door slid open. "I should get those bloody tissues out of the room-"
Keitaro froze, seeing Naru's naked backside.
"Knock before you enter, you pervert!" Naru screamed, before punching him through the door opening.
---
Wearing a yellow long sleeve shirt and brown Capri pants, Naru went downstairs. As she walked on down, she could sense that they were all looking at her. Sure enough, Naru glanced over and saw that her assumption was true, as some of them shifted their gazes. She walked over to the furniture set where Haruka and the residents gathered.
"Well, this is awkward," Naru remarked as she sat down on the couch, with Haruka to her right, and Keitaro to his aunt's right.
"I agree," Haruka stated, "so let's not make this more uncomfortable than it has to be. Let's just do names or introductions if you'd like. Just some light stuff. Let's start with you."
"Uh, hi everyone. My name is Naru Narusegawa. I needed some place to stay, so I came here-"
"Wait, Naru, you said you came here because you needed a place to stay?" Haruka asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Don't you know? This place is no longer the Hinata Inn."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"The inn was turned into a dormitory a little while ago. It's now an all-male dormitory…sorry."
"An all-male dormitory?" Haruka nodded, looking at her shocked face. "But…I don't understand. Hina called my mom, telling me to come here-"
"Hina?!?" Naru flinched, as the residents all spoke at the same time.
"You know my grandma?" Keitaro asked.
"She's your grandmother?" He nodded, as he focused on her more intently, as everyone else did. "Well, I don't know her that well; I only know her through my mother, who knew her some time ago. She called her, like I said, and said that she wanted me to come to Hinata for some reason." Naru turned to Haruka. "Does Grandma Hina own Hinata?"
"Yes. I'm surprised that Hina told you to come here, and didn't mention anything about that." Naru sighed.
What do I do now? Naru thought, as she leaned against the sofa arm.
"Don't worry about tonight, Naru. You can stay here for a little while."
"Are you sure, Haruka?"
"I'm sure, but I don't know how the other guys feel about this." Haruka looked to the left, where Shinobu sat on a similar couch.
"Let's vote!" Kaoru suggested.
"Sure, Kaoru. How do you feel about Naru, Shinobu?"
"Uh, I wouldn't mind if Naru stayed for the night," Shinobu said, looking at Haruka.
Makoto calmly sat beside Shinobu, clearing his throat before speaking. "I suppose there would not be any harm in letting Narusegawa stay here. She does not appear to be a threat or danger to anyone, despite the hectic chase that occurred earlier this afternoon. I have issues that need to be resolved with Narusegawa…" He glanced over to her, and then closed his eyes. "…but I will talk with her later in private."
What the heck is that about? Naru thought. Opposite from Shinobu and Makoto, and to Naru, Haruka, and Keitaro's right, sat Kaoru and Mitsune.
"Of course, I'm glad that you're staying here! There's always room for one more…" Kaoru pulled out a blueprint of the Hinata Inn behind his back. "In fact, there's room for many more! Look how many rooms there are! Actually, this place would be really profitable if we turned the dormitory back to an inn-" At this moment, Mitsune jabbed him in the ribs. "Ow, what was that for?"
"Shut up, shut up," Mitsune muttered to him, under his breath, "even now, I can't make the rent payments; I'll have no place to live…" Turning back to Naru, he chuckled nervously, patting Kaoru on the back.
"I think I can speak for all of us, especially my friend Kaoru, when I say that you are most welcome to live here for as long as you need. Besides, who could refuse a strong, young, and beautiful woman, such as yourself?"
"Thank you," Naru replied, a little annoyed.
I hope he doesn't make any passes at me, the creep…
Finally, they all looked at Keitaro. Keitaro felt a bead of sweat behind his head, seeing all of them focusing so intently on him. He looked at Naru.
It doesn't really matter what he says, since I have the majority, Naru thought, but still…
"Of course she can stay. We have plenty of room, like Kaoru said, and my grandma wanted you to come here, so if she wants you here, then you should be here, even if it's now an all-male dormitory."
"Well, then; it's settled. Naru, you can stay here tonight and longer if you need to."
"Thank you, Haruka."
"Mmmhmm. I'll contact Hina later on, and see if we can clear some things up. Meanwhile, I have temporarily closed my tea shop for a little while, and most likely lost some business." Haruka started walking towards the inn entrance.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Haruka turned her head slightly while still walking.
"I'm just kidding, Naru. Don't worry about it. Have fun, you guys." The residents said their farewells and turned their attention back to themselves, each of them wondering what to do to pass the time.
"Excuse me, Mitsune. Do you know what time it is?" Shinobu asked. Mitsune glanced at his watch.
"Oh, it's about a quarter past five."
"I see. I'll have to prepare to cook dinner for you guys." Getting up, he gave Naru a small bow. "It was very nice to meet you, Naru."
"You too," Naru said, as he hurried to the kitchen.
"Oh, I'm so hungry," Mitsune groaned, stretching his arms and back out, "and tired."
"Perhaps, if you were on a regimen of daily exercise and a healthy diet, you would not be so 'tired,'" Makoto observed, as he began to walk upstairs.
"If you were on my 'regimen' of lengthy drinking and excessive gambling, you would actually be fun to hang around." With the couches right next to the staircase, the residents could see Makoto twitch as he stopped briefly near the bottom of the stairs. Hehe, let's see where this goes, Mitsune thought gleefully, turning his face away from Makoto as he smiled broadly. He instantly faced Kaoru, who smiled broadly as well. This caused him to lose his smile.
"Mitsune is right, Makoto! You are really boring!" Mitsune grinned widely again at Kaoru's jab, while Makoto blushed slightly and twitched again. "Even Shinobu's more expressive." Makoto tightened his lips.
Stay calm, Makoto. Don't show any emotions. You must not show any weaknesses. You must show that you're strong; you must show that you're a warrior.
There was still a blush on his cheeks, but Makoto appeared to regain his composure. Meanwhile, Mitsune thought of something that would really get Makoto going.
"Hey, Kaoru, who's cooler: Makoto or Keitaro?" Makoto turned and grasped the staircase railing tightly, dropping his katana while looking at Mitsune with desperate eyes.
"Mit-Mitsune, please, I must protest! You are taking this too far!" Mitsune noticed the raised voice, which was a rarity with Makoto, except with attacks from his katana and shinai.
"Hmmm…who's cooler? Makoto, Keitaro. Makoootoooo…Keitaaaaaaro…" Kaoru looked up at the ceiling, sitting cross-legged while tapping a finger on his chin.
"Kaoru, maybe we should call it a tie," Keitaro said, worrying about Makoto, "anyways, who cares about that, Mitsune?"
"Yes, yes. I agree with Urashima. We are…equally cool," Makoto concurred. Thinking that the worst was over, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Now, if you asked who was stronger, than there would be a clear favorite..."
"What!?"
Maybe I should've kept my mouth shut, Makoto thought, once again fearing the worst.
"Screw it! Kaoru, I'm the cooler one, not Makoto. He is the most boring resident here at Hinata." Makoto gawked at Keitaro in shock.
"No, I'm not!"
"Like you said, who cares?" Naru asked, even though she was amused. Makoto leaned over the railing to look at her, while Keitaro only had to turn. "It's obvious that Mitsune is just doing this to mess with you guys."
Mitsune frowned at her. Stop messing with my affairs, lady!
A moment of silence passed as they all thought about what she said. Mitsune fidgeted in his seat, waiting for something to happen.
"Naru, I'm cool, right?" Keitaro asked, leaning over to her side of the sofa.
"What?" He leaned in closer, and whispered.
"Just, say I'm cooler. You owe me; you punched me for being a pervert, even though I wasn't. And, Makoto? He sent you flying into a wall. He could've really hurt you, you know?"
"Don't get so close to me," she muttered, getting a little irritated, as he continued to whisper.
"You would've suffered brain damage, been…bed-ridden…with a coma-"
"-Actually, Makoto," Naru said out loud, tilting her head up so that she could see him, "you seem pretty cool."
Makoto down at Naru's upside-down face with puzzled curiosity. She thinks I'm cool?
"You...you don't think I'm boring?"
"Not really. Like, that katana. I see you carrying it, like it's no big deal. I look at you with it, and I think to myself…" Naru paused as she searched for the right words. "'…That's badass.'"
Shocked, Makoto couldn't help but give a small, yet noticeable smile. "Thank you, Narusegawa."
"I think Makoto looks cool, too!" Kaoru chimed in, causing Keitaro to hang his head in shame. "He looks so cool, attacking with his katana. Banana split wave attack!…mmmm, bananas." After drooling for a second, he turned to Mitsune. "I've decided! Makoto is way cooler than Keitaro." Still with a small smile on his face, Makoto continued to his room.
Tears flowed out of Keitaro's closed eyes, as he raised a fist in anguish. One day, I'll show you all that I am cool…
Looking depressed, Keitaro got up, and walked slowly to the stairs. Naru, feeling slightly amused, and responsible for Keitaro, followed him.
"Heh, I'm sorry, Keitaro; maybe I shouldn't have commented on something so silly…" she said, continuing as they disappeared upstairs. Seeing them go, Mitsune got up, with Kaoru quickly doing the same. They chatted as they made their way to their rooms, waiting for dinner.
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Ramblings (I had some thoughts about writing various parts of this chapter, and would express what I felt was funny, or interesting to explore, through some long-winded rant by a character or two. In this case, it's Mitsune and Kaoru, kind of going off-tangent from the "banana split wave attack" line that Kaoru had. If you find it satisfactory, you can feel free to include it with the actual story, at the end of this chapter.)
"You know, I don't think I've had a banana split before. Sure I know what it is, and what it would look like, but I just never got around to eating ice cream, along with a banana."
"Bananas and ice cream? That sounds delicious!" Kaoru exclaimed.
"It probably is. Probably better than the "hot-and-spicy curry over bananas" meal you concocted yesterday."
"What are you talking about? I found it to be very tasty." Mitsune turned to him, giving him a restrained look of disbelief.
"Your taste buds called; they want their gun back, so that they can blow their brains out."
"What? I don't have a gun."
"Whenever, I'm eating ice cream," Mitsune continued, trying to forget Kaoru's comment about curry and bananas, "having a banana split never crosses my mind. I probably wouldn't eat one now, though. I mean, what is it going to be, like a half-hour until dinner? It wouldn't be worth it; I'd ruin my appetite."
"It'd be better than being hung-over, vomiting from over-drinking, I imagine," Makoto remarked, passing them by on the stairs. Mitsune stared at Makoto, with a small frown on his face. "I forgot my katana." He continued down the stairs. Mitsune and Kaoru stood still on the stairs for a few seconds.
"Could you imagine Makoto drunk? I would pay to see that, to see Makoto drunk."
"What's 'drunk?'" Is it tasty?"
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