Love Hina: Battles of the Heart
A/N: Man... I didn't realise how much I had written for this thing... may as well finish it off now: D
Disclaimer: Yes, I own love Hina, and Ranma, and Inuyasha, and Microsoft (By the way, that was sarcasm, I don't own any of those Anime. I don't even own my own house yet ... stupid low wages...)
Chapter 3: The Competition Begins
Keitaro opened his eyes and blinked until his eyes grew accustomed to the bright lights. He stretched and glanced to the side of his bed. Some one had returned his glasses. There was a small note beside them which read;
'Urashima, the booby trap on these glasses has been deactivated. Hoping you have had a pleasant nights sleep, Motoko.'
Keitaro glanced at the glasses again. They didn't look different. Sighing he put them on and once again his vision were more or less back to normal. He made a mental note to ask Motoko what the booby trap was and thank her for deactivating it. He decided not to follow up on her breaking into his room after a quick inspection while getting dressed failed to identify any missing items. He set off towards his door when a knocking came from the roof.
"Keitaro? Are you decent?"
"Naru? Yes I'm dressed."
"Good." There was the sound of furniture being rearranged followed shortly by Naru's head poking through the gap in the ceiling. "Are you alright... I apologise for the other day... I may have been a little too aggressive."
"Oh it was nothing, I probably deserved it." Keitaro smiled.
Naru blushed slightly, "You are too kind to me... I sometimes wonder what I did to have such a great, trustworthy friend such as yourself."
This time it was Keitaro's turn to blush, "Oh... It's me who should be wondering how I ended up with such a great friend."
"Maybe one day... " Naru closed the hole in the ceiling leaving Keitaro wondering what she was about to say.
Scene Change
Naru listened for a while and hugged her Liddo-chan doll, silently cursing herself. All I had to say is maybe we would be more than just friends! Why did I chicken out... he probably thinks I am weird. She heard Keitaro mutter to himself but was unable to make out the words he was speaking. Sighing Naru started to get dressed and left the doll on top of the plank covering the hole. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror she smiled to herself. Every time I see Keitaro I feel so... happy. When I think of anyone taking him from me I get so jealous... yet when I think of us together...Naru sighed and got ready for breakfast trying to ignore the most pressing thought He didn't call my name in his sleep... has he moved on?
Scene Change
"Morning Sempai!" Shinobu smiled at Keitaro as he walked down the stairs. Kitsune and Mutsumi were already at the table and were chatting happily.
"Morning Shinobu, Mutsumi, Kitsune." Keitaro nodded to the three in turn and sat down at the table.
"Dork! How's the eye!" Sara popped up from under the table, her grin quickly faded when she saw Keitaro's unmarked face. "Huh?"
"Keitaro!" Suu crushed Keitaro with a bone splintering hug. "Hey, your eye is alright…"
"Why? Should there be something up with it?" Keitaro raised an eyebrow at the energetic pair.
They huddled and discussed something, peering occasionally at Keitaro. Eventually Sara emerged and stood before Keitaro, "We are not telling you because you are a geek," and then she kicked him in the stomach before fleeing with Koalla.
Keitaro shrugged and glanced at Kitsune. "Where are Naru and Motoko?"
"Motoko is out training I think and Naru hasn't left her room." Kitsune glanced at Keitaro.
"Oh, I'll go and thank Motoko later then." Keitaro sighed.
"Thank her for what?" Kitsune raised an eyebrow.
"Finding my glasses." Keitaro yawned. "I suppose I should get on with my chores…"
"Please wait until you have eaten Sempai!" Shinobu handed a bowl to Keitaro who devoured the bowl's contents.
"Amazing, Shinobu, I am yet to meet a cook with skills such as yours!"
"Thank you Sempai." Shinobu turned to the kitchen and muttered under her breath, "If only cooking was as important as beauty…"
"Don't be silly!" Keitaro cut in jovially. "Beauty fades with time but a good meal is a good meal regardless!"
"Really? So you would choose someone who is a good cook over someone who is attractive?"
"There are more than just those factors…" Keitaro smiled, "The main factor is personality; how kind they are and how they treat not just me but my friends too."
Scene Change
Outside Motoko was lost in thought; she had eavesdropped on Keitaro's conversation and was already formulating a plan. Maybe I can get Shinobu to teach me to cook... then I can get some make up and maybe some books on etiquette and learn how to be a good wife for Urashima. She thought to herself. She was still crouched when Keitaro opened the door to begin repairs on the Inn.
"Oh hey Motoko... did you get hit in the eye?" Keitaro crouched down beside her.
"What? Oh it is nothing Urashima."
"Was that the booby trap on my glasses?"
"Yes," Motoko blushed slightly, "I tried them on to see if they were booby trapped... and they were."
"That was really kind of you! Thanks Motoko." Keitaro smiled warmly at her.
"O...oh it was nothing, really..." Motoko blushed a darker crimson, almost camouflaging the red swollen eye she had received due to Suu's booby trap. "I should be going... I need to ask a favour of Shinobu."
"All right, I have to get on with the repairs here anyway. See you around!" Keitaro waved at Motoko who watched him leave with a distant smile.
"What are you smiling at?" Kitsune leaned over Motoko's left shoulder.
"Nothing!"
"What is the favour you want to ask of Shinobu?"
"None of your business!"
"I'll bet she wants to learn to cook to impress Kei-kun," Mutsumi leaned over her right shoulder.
"What? Why would I want to impress that weakling?"
"You tell us." Kitsune grinned as Motoko turned bright red. "Oh, it appears we have angered the mighty Motoko! Leg it!" Cackling her and Mutsumi ran off to raid their alcohol cellar.
"Fools," Motoko smiled to herself. "Shinobu?"
Scene Change
And we hammer this plank here… this one goes here… this one goes "MY HAND!" Keitaro dropped the hammer and nails he was holding and rolled around clutching his left hand.
"My, my, let me see it." Naru sat down beside him and took his stricken hand.
"Naru? How long have you been up here?" Keitaro took deep breaths.
"Since before you were. I was watching you work. You are really dedicated to this place aren't you?" Naru began rubbing his hand softly.
"Well… I owe you girls a lot and this is the only way I can really help." Keitaro winced as Naru planted a brief kiss on his hand.
"You should be more careful… if something were to happen to you…" Naru trailed off.
"Naru… "
"What?"
"Well… you… I mean it sounded like you were going to say…"
"Pardon?"
"Well… oh it doesn't matter. I should get on with the repairs."
"No, your hand is still injured. Let me do it for you."
"Are you sure?" Keitaro frowned.
"Of course, you take it easy. Go to the kitchen and get some ice for your hand."
"All right then…" Keitaro clambered off the roof leaving Naru alone.
Hah! Let's see Motoko try and get him now. Naru smiled to herself as she started hammering the planks in place.
Scene Change
"So... how is the plan coming along?" Mutsumi downed another glass of Sake with out any affects.
How does she do that? Kitsune thought, maybe the alcohol can't find her head... "Well you shee," she slurred, "See I mean, the plan is put on hold since Motoko is back to normal, well normal for Motoko."
"But she seemed very embarrassed when talking to Keitaro."
"I know... something is not right here." Kitsune sighed, "Usually she would attack Urashima if he embarrassed her but now she appears to be more," Kitsune waved her hands trying to think of a suitable word.
"Feminine?"
"No..."
"Cute?"
"No! You find Motoko cute?"
"You don't? How about meek."
"Meek, yeah that sounds about right." Kitsune frowned. "Something is going on with her and it is up to me to find it out!"
"Are you going to get Suu to build something to help you?"
"I bet she could make some kind of spy robot."
"Probably." Mutsumi downed another glass. "Maybe she is in love with Kei-kun."
The sound of Kitsune laughing filled the inn.
Scene Change
On the roof, Naru smiled at the sound of her friend's laughter. Sounds like Kitsune's having fun. And here's me working like a dog. I wonder why Keitaro puts up with all these chores. Well he will no longer combat the chores by himself. Naru smiled contently as she swung the hammer down, and missed the board and struck her hand.
Scene Change
"What happened to her?" Keitaro sat beside Naru's bed. She was out cold with a swollen hand and a black eye.
"Mi."
"Tama says she missed a plank and struck her hand." Mutsumi translated.
"And how did she get the black eye?"
"Mi!"
"Tama says she threw the hammer in the air when she struck her hand and it caught her on the way down."
"Mi..."
"Tama says that is when she fell off the roof."
And landed right on me... Keitaro sighed inwardly. He himself had a bandaged arm and head, but he was practically indestructible but Naru wasn't. The doctor had said she was lucky that Keitaro caught her or she could have been in serious trouble rather than just a slight concussion and superficial wounds. "Well I guess we should let her rest."
"Mi!"
"Tama says you should stay beside her. She might need your help."
"Right... will you tell Shinobu not to bother making food for me? Tell her I'll get something later."
"Of course Kei-Kun." Mutsumi smiled and left, Tama flying behind her.
"I'm sorry Naru, I should have just got on with my chores rather than dragging you into them."
Naru murmured something in her sleep.
"What? What did you say...?"
"Kitsune... where is Kitsune?"
"I'll go get her! Don't worry Naru, I am on the case." Keitaro ran out of the room.
Scene Change
"Kitsune!" Keitaro came skidding into the room.
"Yeah?" The girl looked up from her drink, "What do you want?"
"Naru has asked for you."
"For me? I thought she would want to talk to you." Kitsune shrugged to herself. "Okay, I'll go see what she wants." Downing her drink Kitsune left the room, leaving Motoko and Keitaro alone.
"You were watching Naru for hours, you should rest Urashima, and you too were wounded." Motoko walked over and squeezed Keitaro on the shoulder. "You will do yourself more damage if you are not careful."
"I am perfectly fine." Keitaro smiled. "Just a little dizzy is all."
"Keitaro..." Motoko looked at him sadly. "You shouldn't endanger your well being for Naru's sake. She is not deserving of such treatment."
"And you are?" Keitaro replied sourly.
Motoko was taken aback. She had never seen Keitaro so obvious annoyed. His smile was replaced with an icy glare.
"I..." Motoko was unable to speak.
"Sorry," Keitaro's glare defrosted and he sank to his knees and held his head in his hands. "I shouldn't have snapped like that. I just can't think straight."
"I apologise. I did not intend to upset you."
"You're right. Maybe I should get a little rest." Keitaro grinned weakly, "I just want life back to normal you know," Keitaro staggered off to his room.
Scene Change
"You have got to be kidding me..." Kitsune moaned to herself.
Naru said nothing.
"I mean, you serious expect me to believe that."
Naru repeated herself.
"You're serious aren't you?" Kitsune frowned.
"Well, I wasn't helping Keitaro for any reason." Naru frowned.
"Ha," Kitsune laughed hollowly. "That is just brilliant. Keitaro has his eyes set on someone else..."
"What do I do?" Naru hugged her knees to herself.
"Tell Keitaro how you feel!"
"I tried! Every time I am about to tell him I lose control of my tongue and blush uncontrollably."
"So you thought you could show Urashima your feelings instead..."
"Yes." Naru tucked her head between her knees, "It was a stupid plan! Motoko will steal him from me!"
"Motoko?"
"The girl who I was talking about taking Keitaro is Motoko."
"You're serious? I found it hard enough believing that Keitaro was interested in anyone aside from you but, Motoko?"
"Well I kind of lied about that part... Keitaro told her he only cared about me and I was happy... but Motoko swore to prove to him that she was the one woman for him!"
"Wait... you said Keitaro loved another girl... not that another girl liked him! Why are you worried? Mutsumi and Shinobu all like Keitaro but they never bothered you."
"Well I never felt threatened by them..."
"Even when you thought Mutsumi was the promised girl?"
"Yeah... somehow deep down I knew Keitaro would still be mine." Naru sniffled, "But with Motoko..."
"Hmm... we need to find out Keitaro's feelings for her before we do anything."
"How do you intend to get him to tell you?"
Kitsune grinned evilly. "Oh I have my ways."
Random daydream #3
"Do you want some more Sake?" Motoko leaned over Keitaro, brushing him with her naked body.
"N...no thanks!" Keitaro stammered.
"How about some grapes?" An equally naked Naru brushed against him.
"No thank you!" Keitaro squeaked.
"How about some Watermelon stew?" a naked Mutsumi massaged his scalp.
"No thanks!" Keitaro took a deep cleansing breath.
"You really are a pervert Keitaro!" Suu sat down (fully clothed) beside Keitaro and ate a banana watching the scene with interest.
"Aren't you too young for this kind of dream?" Keitaro panicked.
"Isn't my dream."
"Well it isn't mine." Keitaro glanced at the three girls. "And I doubt it is theirs."
"Well whose is it?"
Kitsune suddenly awoke knocking empty sake bottles everywhere.
"Oh... it was a dream. Damn, if it was real all I would need is a camcorder and I would have all the money I would ever need... I wonder if everyone else is awake..."
"GET AWAY GIANT TURTLE! FEEL THE WRATH OF MOTOKO!"
"AH KEITARO! LOOK OUT! IT'S GOING TO GET YOU!"
"SEMPAI!"
"WATERMELONS ARE INVADING THE EARTH! WATCH OUT KEI-KUN!"
"Hmm... looks like almost everyone is having a nightmare." Kitsune frowned and lifted up a Sake bottle. "Well they can find their own methods of getting back to sleep."