Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina in any form. What I own, however, is this fanfic.

Authors Notes:

Seventh chapter! Woohoo! This one is about Kei again, expect some OOCness from some characters.

Zeroeye: Expect a lot of surprises then.

Abel Nightcross: Like I said before, Jimmy is patterned after John. If I ever use him again in future works, I'll develop him to make a delineation. As for Kei, well, let's not spoil it, shall we?

Halo expert: I can understand that, sometimes I feel out of place too when reading crossovers. But I promise, crossovers will be minimal and and most of them would just talk—not act. I use characters from other series to establish the story since OCs can be straining when it comes to back story. And I will always explain what manga/anime they came from.

windybreeze: Haha, I'm flattered that my piece of work inspired you. Cheers!

Now for the story indicators:

"Word" Spoken out loud

"Word" Thoughts

"WORD" Scream/Shouts

***** Change in location, or in some cases time (as in flashbacks)

This fanfic is rated Mature for the use of cigarettes, alcohol consumption, profanity, and other mature elements and themes.

Reader discretion is advised.

Now on with the story!

Chapter 7: Closing the Doors

Time passed painfully slow for Keitaro.

Most of his classmates, most noticeably the boys, were aptly fixated on their Physics professor. Her green hair and sparkling garnet eyes were captivating; even though her voice was cold and clinical, they were still smitten.

Keitaro, however, did not care. His mind was wandering in the days of his past, trying to find some sort of happiness by escaping reality.

"Urashima-san."

No response.

"Urashima-san."

Still no reply.

"Urashima-san," the extra coldness added to the voice made Keitaro snap back to reality, "Yes?"

"Answer this question for us: A certain ball made of glass will break if dropped at the speed of two meters per second on the floor. I drop it at the height of fifteen centimeters. Does the glass ball break?"

"Well, I guess not, sensei."

"Urashima-san, may I remind you that this is a physics class. Guessing is not something we do in science, if we ever did, we do it in an educated manner," she showed him a piece of chalk, "I want you to come in front and write the formula for us."

Keitaro stood up and went to the front, oblivious to the snickers of his classmates. The situation he was in reminded them of high school, and since they were in college, the sight of a twenty-two year old going in front made them laugh in their insides.

On the chalkboard the formula appeared as such:

d = (vf^2 – vi^2)/2a

.15 = (vf^2 – 0)/2(9.8)

2.94 = vf^2

vf = 1.71 m/s

"Very good. But I must say that your formula was a little hurried up. You may go back to your seat. Now, aside from Urashima-san, can anyone explain how he arrived in such a conclusion?"

Another student raised her hand, it was Naru. With a scholarly tone she explained the nuances of the formula, but it was all lost to Keitaro; he just sat down again and allowed his mind to wander once more. Before he knew it, the class had already ended. As he was walking in the hallways of Toudai, he felt a hand tap his shoulder.

Naru gave him a proud smile, "Hey you did good back there. Where in the world did you get the that formula? I never found it in the textbooks I use."

"I had some other books about the subject. I guess I got it from there."

"Keitaro---"

"Strange. A few days ago when you gave me the rent, you just called me kanrinin. What's up with that?"

"I want to talk to you, but not here. Let's find a coffee shop or something."

"Why not here?"

"Keitaro, please don't run away from this one. I just really want to talk to you."

"I'm not running, Naru, I'm walking."

Naru took his hand in a gentle manner, prompting him to stop.

He looked into her eyes and saw genuine concern. Urashima's words floated inside his head, "But there is 'worried' and then there is 'worried'. If you know what I mean."

"Please."

"Alright then, how about the coffee shop where Isamu works? You know where it is?"

"Yes. But not there. I want it to be in some other place. Where people won't recognize us."

Keitaro was puzzled, but nonetheless followed her. Instead of taking the train back to Hinata city, they walked around Tokyo, trying to find a place where they can continue their discussion. His puzzlement grew to epic proportions when he found himself standing outside a tall building, "Naru...this is not a coffee shop. Just what the hell are---"

Naru took his hand with an iron grip, he knew that resistance was futile, but he tried nonetheless, "Naru have you gone insane?"

"Just shut up. Most guys would jump just to get this opportunity."

"Well, I'm not most guys. Besides, I think this isn't the best place to talk. People come here to do more that just talk." His agrument failed to convince her, he was dragged inside and before he knew it he was already standing in front of a reception desk.

"Shut up and sign," the last word carried death on its shoulders. Not wanting to abuse his immortality or be made to pay up for damages that might come out of him flying through a wall, he obeyed. But he placed a fake name on the register. Naru did the same, "Now let's go."

A heavy, sweet, and gagging smell wafted in the otherwise crystal clean room; pillows were big and fluffy, the bed looked disturbingly inviting and seemed that it could handle up to four people, the dimness of the lights invited romance, and a shower room was available. Keitaro's head was bombarded with questions and half-hearted answers, "This is wrong...or is it? I...love Naru. I love her still. Hell I don't care if that clone of mine loves her. I love her! But this is cheating right? Do I have to stoop so low to get love? To be the other guy? The number two? Maybe. Maybe not. What the hell?"

His thoughts were broken when Naru pushed him into the bed. She kicked off her shoes and jacket then threw herself at him. Her kiss was fierce, Keitaro swore he felt her tongue search for his and when she did not find it, the kiss was broken. Before he could even breathe, Naru attacked again; first giving his chin a slight nibble, then working down his neck. Her hands undid the buttons on his shirt and he felt electricity jolt inside him when she kissed his chest. One by one the walls of logic were beginning to crumble, his lust was slowly, but surely, working its way on his head. Still, logic made good of its last stand.

"No, no, definitely no! Shirai and Haitani told me something about this. They called it a 'pity fuck' or a 'mercy fuck'. She just feels sorry! No I don't want this! I won't settle for this kind of lovemaking!"

Reason restored, Keitaro found some hidden strength inside him, he quickly grabbed Naru before she could undo his belt and threw her on the other side of the bed.

"I'm sorry Naru. But for once I guess I want to be selfish. I want have sex with someone who wants to have sex with me because they want to, not because they feel so awfully sorry for me."

She remained silent. Deadly silent. The type of silence that rivals the calm before the storm.

"Naru...are you okay?"

Keitaro's neck was caught by two deadly hands. His airflow was being blocked, his mind filled with fear he had never felt before. Naru's eyes gleamed with a murderous intent, she seemed to determined to choke the life out of him. He tried to move, but she mounted him down, locking his body in a submissive position.

"Why?"

He could only answer back in his thoughts, "Why what?"

"Why? You don't want me? I don't excite you? Not anymore? What about those nosebleeds you had? Tell me why? Why?"

"I wish I could...if you could just get your hands off my neck! GODDAMNIT NARU! YOU'RE KILLING ME!"

"I love you Keitaro. I had the same feelings for you even before we got to Toudai. I just had a hard time showing it to you. But you kept going on, you chased me back and forth. You never gave up, until now! I thought you love me! Why can't you show it now?"

He tried to be flippant in order to overcome his fear, "Well look at us! You're on top...not that I mind, but...you're strangling me you...bitch!" but it failed, "Oh god, oh god! Naru...is a freaking yanderekko! A PSYCHO-BITCH GIRLFRIEND FROM HELL!"

"Why did you have to come back? I already fell in love with Makoto-kun while you were gone..." Naru began to cry, her grip's firmness became weaker, until she fully let go, tears overflowing her face.

Keitaro wheezed as he tried to catch his breath. With the oxygen flowing back to his lungs, he spat back at the girl who strangled his neck, "I didn't ask to be split up into six, Naru. It was because of Suu's goddamn experiments."

She threw herself at Keitaro's chest, sobbing uncontrollably. He responded with a reluctant hug, while his face wore a bitter frown.

"You're still so kind after what I did to you. God, I don't what to do."

Sarcasm dripped out of his teeth, "Well, you could've just punched me, I would have appreciated that."

"I'm sorry Keitaro. I'm so sorry."

Keitaro hesitated to ask, but went on with it anyway, "Who do you really love Naru? Me? Or him?"

"I don't know. I'm still confused. I just don't know. Please just hug me, Keitaro. Don't ask---"

"You have to decide here and now Naru. Spare us both the pain and confusion."

"I-I-I just...I had sex with Makoto-kun, Keitaro. No, made love. We made love with each other."

"Then you love him?"

Naru evaded answering the question, "Then you came back. At first I didn't mind. But as the days went by, my feelings for you just showed up again. I-I hurt Makoto-kun."

"What do you mean by that? How?"

"While we were doing it, I accidentally shouted your name. We had a fight. I told him I just slipped. Being what he is, he let that pass. But he can't help but feel sad about what happened. He told me that he could accept the fact that I still love you and wouldn't mind if we get back together again. He'd even support us he said."

"So that's why Makoto was acting strange that time. He thought she was ready to leave him and he wanted me to take care of myself for Naru. My god! He's the kind side of me! The kind side of me! If that is really true, then...I must be so pathetic. So ready to sacrifice myself for the sake of others."

"Please help me, Keitaro. This is very hard for me to do. I can't even ask Kitsune about this."

Keitaro broke off their embrace. He gave Naru a longing and sad look, "There's a difference between loving and being in love Naru. From the way I see it you do love me. But...you're not in love with me, not anymore. You said it yourself, you fell in love with him. I'm just like a close friend now. Someone you talk to, have fun with, but not love."

Naru wiped the tears on her face, "But you're in love with me right?"

"Yes."

"Then what are you saying?"

"Everything must come to an end. This is something I just realized now. Happier days must give in to the sad, in order for us to appreciate those joyful times. I must end this once and for all."

"Keitaro?"

"Naru listen to me," his voiced echoed with authority as he gripped her shoulders, "Walk of out this room. Go back to Hinata. Makoto is working his ass off in my obasan's teashop." Inside, his heart began to bleed. "Just be done with it already. In a way, you already broke my heart when you chose my clone and forgot about me. Me who is the real one. Me who is complete. I just can't understand why am I not enough for you."

"What---"

"Break my heart Naru. Or I might change my mind and never let you go."

Naru blinked several times at what Keitaro said, she slowly edged herself away from him, stood up, arranged her clothes, and walked to the door, "Keitaro...thank you. Thank you and sorry." Without looking back, she left the room, closing the door gently with an almost inaudible click.

He crashed himself into the bed. Tears fell down his face one by one. His mouth quivered, his chest heaved, he tried to keep it all in, but it was useless. All of his pent-up emotions came out in a bitter laugh, that slowly became a desperate cry for someone to be there.

No one came.

Urashima Keitaro had never felt so alone in his whole life.

*****

"Damn, I guess I must learn to control my emotions better. I had to pay extra for the room."

"Urashima-san," a cold voice came out of his back, "What are you doing in such a place?"

Turning around, Keitaro came face to face with his physics professor, he hastily greeted her "Oh, sensei...Well good afternoon, ma'am."

"Good afternoon to you too. Now, I hope you don't mind answering my question. We may be out of the classroom but I believe I am still a person of authority."

"With all due respect sensei, but I'm not in high school anymore. I'm an adult. You don't have to worry about me in these kind of places."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I hope I don't sound rude but I want to go home."

"Can you spare some time for me Urashima-san? How about a coffee break. My treat."

Not having any good reasons to turn down the invitation, the young man relented. Nonetheless, he found his professor's manners a little unnerving. Her words were polite but here tone never changed; it was still like before in the classroom—ice cold.

"I think this is a good place to talk Urashima-san. Let's sit down here."

"Well at least she brought me to a real coffee shop."

"What would you like to drink Urashima-san?"

"I guess brewed coffee would do. I'm not into fancy drinks anyway."

"I guess I'll have the same then," she raised her hand and called for a server. Keitaro was shocked when he saw him.

"Well a good afternoon to you, beautiful lady and to you...Keitaro?"

"Isamu."

"You know each other?"

"We're siblings," both of them said in unison.

"Twins?"

"More or less, sensei. Isamu get back to work and bring us two cups of brewed coffee."

"Why, of course, onii-sama," he gave him a wink that spelled "nice catch" as he went to the counter and brewed their coffee.

"I never knew you had a twin brother."

"I don't talk about myself that much."

"Strange."

"What is, sensei?"

"Just this morning I thought I saw you, but you had gray hair, and seemed to be the type who works in a computer programming company."

"Oh, hell. The insanity of my life is pouring out to the world," he decided to limit his story by telling a half-lie, "That must have been my other brother, Shinichi."

"But you're twins with our server, Isamu."

"Triplets. I'm the eldest."

"And the Shinichi boy has gray hair."

"Genes. Some far side of the family gets their hair a premature white."

"Ah, interesting."

Before she could press on with more questions, Isamu came back with their coffee, "Here we are, two cups of brewed coffee."

"Isamu-kun right?"

"Yes ma'am."

"A while ago, were you being sarcastic when you showed a high degree of respect to your 'elder' brother?"

"Oh, of course not. Keitaro here," he patted the young man's shoulder , "Is a very good father-figure. Keeps us in line." Another customer called for a server, "Sorry to cut this short, but I have to go back to work."

"Of course. Please don't let me hinder you."

With Isamu out of earshot, Keitaro fired a cautious question, "You seem to be very interested in my life sensei."

"Oh my, did it appear that way? I just became curious all of a sudden."

Keitaro could not shake the feeling of foreboding, "All this time she's asking me this questions, her tone doesn't even change. Whenever she looks at me or to others it's always without emotion, it's inhuman. I better find myself out of here."

"By the way Urashima-san, is Narusegawa-san your girlfriend?"

He simply answered, "No."

"Really now?" her tone still remained calm and collected.

"We had something like of 'more than friends, but not yet lovers' thing back then. Never got past that. She found another guy."

"Still rooting for her?"

Irritation found its way on his head, "Why the hell does that question always come up?" to which he answered, "For a time. I had to grow up. You can't go chasing someone who'll never look at you the way you look at them."

"Is that so?" Keitaro swore that a tinge of sadness penetrated the woman's usually cold eyes, "I find that situation terribly similar. In my case, however, he was already married."

He let out a bitter chuckle, "Not everyone gets a happy ending it seems.

"Yes. It seems that is so," she finished her coffee, stood up and left some money on the table, "Thank you for your time Urashima-san."

"No, thank you, sensei. A normal conversation is something I need these days."

"Still, I believe you and Narusegawa-san might have been a happy couple if Fate was more forgiving."

"Fate? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I'll see you again, Urashima-san."

"Sensei, if it's not a bother, could I know your name? You have me at a disadvantage."

"Setsuna. Meio Setsuna."

"Then, I guess...I'll see you again. Meio-sensei."

Setsuna only nodded her head and made her way out of the coffee shop.

Gears of thought began to roll on the young man's head, "What did she mean by that? Me and Naru. Come to think of it...there was some approval in her voice when she said that. She's very strange. She's a college professor and yet she went to talk to me. I could understand if I was still high school but this is the university. Most professors don't know their students unless they are in their majors. Wait...did she see me and Naru enter the hotel? Was she spying on us? This is bad. I just had a yanderekko and now there's an older woman for a stalker. Am I really this unlucky when it comes to love?"

Isamu interrupted his musings, "Hey Keitaro, my shift ends ends now. Wanna take the shinkansen back to Hinata with me?"

"Yeah. Sure."

Their trip back was a one-sided conversation. Isamu ranted about the different issues concerning work; the boss, the difficulty of work, the pretty girls, the assholes, he went on and on. Keitaro, for his part, just gave out an "oh" or an "ah" for answers. That was until the topic shifted to what happened earlier in the morning.

"I usually go with Mo-chan. Before I got this work I'm the one who comes by to see her. Not today though."

"She didn't go to class?"

"No," Isamu's face twisted with concern, "After what happened during breakfast, she cried a lot and locked her room. She told me she needed some space."

"Funny, I heard a breakup line about that. Guy tells girl he wants to be an astronaut, because he wants space."

"Try to be serious here. That attitude reminds me of Urashima."

"Yeah, and I'm Urashima too you know. Makoto, you, Haru, Aoi, and Shinichi. One way or another, you're all me."

"Look, I'm not sorry that we're here. Nobody asked to be born."

"I know. We come to this world without our permission and we go out the same way."

"You nearly went out that time. That's why Mo-chan was so upset."

"I'm still alive."

"That's fucking obvious. What I'm talking about was the way it happened. I also got your memories, up to the time you were split up and we were born. I know Mo-chan sent you flying a lot of times. But I never remembered that you coughed up blood."

"Guess there's a first time for everything..."

*****

"Keitaro-kun please you've got to help me!"

"I told you this during lunch yesterday Makoto, I don't want to wake up to these insane mornings everyday. Any signs of trouble, I'll walk out."

Motoko's scream echoed throughout the hallways, "UNHAND ME ISAMU-KUN! I WILL TEACH THIS VILE PERVERT A LESSON!"

Keitaro sighed, "Fuck this. C'mon Makoto, we're almost broke. I don't need another bill for repairs."

"Alright then," the two of them ran back to the dining room. Just in time to find Motoko in the middle of unsheathing her katana.

"Okay, break it up, kanrinin's here."

"Kanrinin-san! Urashima has been spreading lies!"

"Lies my ass! I was telling the truth! The sofa was really wet! And it smelled too!"

"It wasn't us!"

Another sigh came out of Keitaro, "Alright, everyone be honest, I don't mind if you get it on inside the house. But for everyone's sake do it in your rooms. Now, who did that to the sofa?"

"Only Urashima sleeps there!" Motoko spat, "So it must be him, he's just shifting the blame to me and Isamu-kun."

"Me? Hell no! The wet spot on the sofa was so freaking big! I wish I can spurt that many!"

Everyone blushed at Urashima's retort, except for Keitaro who was more annoyed than amused. He turned his attention to Isamu, "Out with it, rock star, was it you and Motoko on the couch?"

"Well..."

"Isamu-kun."

"But Mo-chan we did make out in the sofa. All we have to do is say that, it's not as if we did something else," he turned to Keitaro, "All we did was make out, that must have been our sweat."

"Ha!" Urashima's voice bellowed out with triumph, "So who's the liar now, kendo-girl? You're much worse, you're a hypocrite! Not to mention those pulp novels you were writing."

"THAT'S IT! PREPARE TO DIE URASHIMA!"

From Keitaro's point of view, the world played in a slow-motion sequence. Motoko's sword was finally out of its sheath, and she was preparing to execute a ki-blast. Suddenly, yesterday's talk with his evil clone reminded the kanrinin something.

"A few weeks ago. I beat up some thugs who were harassing Shinobu while we were out for groceries. Gave them a good one that my hand needed some care."

Another image flashed in his mind. The black and bloodied index finger taking its time to heal. Or rather, it was not healing. It was only there, swollen and angry.

"Well, we're not you Original. Come to think of it, Brains wants you to tell something about it."

With his reflexes taking itself to the limits, Keitaro sprang from where he stood and kicked Urashima out of the ki-blast's path. When he turned to look to Motoko, all he saw was a blinding flash of light.

Darkness did not come.

Instead he just stood there, looking and feeling a little stupid. He still managed to smile as he mouthed off a mild retort, "Damn. Are you still practicing Motoko? That one didn't even send me flying." His attempt for hollow bravado was cut short when his knees lost its strength. He found himself facing the floor with one hand to support himself, the other was on his stomach, clutching on it as if some acidic substance was burning inside.

Blood came out of his mouth through a disgusting cough. This time, his vision faded to black as he kissed the floor in a hard crash. However, there was still some awareness left in him. He heard their voices shouting in panic and confusion. Then there was silence.

*****

"Then you just stood up as if nothing happened. Hell, if I remember you only passed out for a few seconds."

"I have my 'immortality' to thank for."

"Yeah. Hell, Urashima went ballistic when he thought you were killed. Mo-chan would be in stitches right now if Makoto didn't try to stop him."

"By the way what happened to Naru?"

"Eh?"

"Don't give me that 'eh' of yours. I saw her passed out on the floor when I woke up. Then in class she just acted as if nothing happened. Quite disturbing really," Keitaro remembered what happened to them in the hotel, "Hell, she had a psychotic episode all of a sudden."

"I dunno with that. Guess she had too much of it that she just blanked it out."

Keitaro only let out a small grunt as an answer. The rest of the train ride became uneventful. A few moments later they found themselves at the front of Hinata Inn. The door slid open and Makoto greeted them as they entered, "Welcome back. By the way we...well, Keitaro-kun you have a visitor."

"Who would that be?"

"Onii-chan. I'm back."

Keitaro looked towards the direction of the voice. It was Kanako.

"Kana-chan. Hey when did you get back?"

"Just a while ago."

"Jeez, you could have left a note or something," he moved towards her and gave her a hug. Somehow, Keitaro felt something was not right. His sister seemed to be squirming away from him.

"Onii-chan, dinner will be ready soon. I'll go help and prepare."

"Okay then," he released her from his hug and watched her disappear towards the kitchen.

"What's up with her?" Isamu asked.

"Yes, that's quite strange," added Makoto, "If memory serves me right, our...your sister would have already jumped on you."

Keitaro furrowed his brows. He could not deny that there was a grain of truth to what his clone said, "I guess she's just tired from her trip. Well, I better change clothes. See you at dinner."

"Well I just hope you do come. And please eat something, Keitaro-kun."

Inside his room, Keitaro tried to understand the sudden change in his sister. He knew she harbored love for him that was inappropriate for siblings, even if they were not related by blood. But that never served to dissuade her, once in a while, she would dress up and seduce him.

Haruka's confused face flickered in his memory.

"You don't remember?"

Creases appeared on his face followed, all of them marked with confusion, "I better get to the bottom of this."

____________________

Author's Notes:

yanderekko – like what Kei said, a psycho-bitch girlfriend from hell, in anime/manga these type of girls are sweet and assuming on the outside but when faced with emotional turmoil, ex., love interest dumps them or chooses another girl, they go psycho and kill

shinkansen – bullet train

oba – I forgot about this in the early chapters, but this means "aunt"

onii – the double "i" signifies a longer pronunciation, means "brother"

chan – this suffix denotes a closeness to certain people, usually used in girl's names, works for boys as well

kun – like chan, but used mostly for boys, though it can be used for girls, but that's quite rare

sama – a very formal suffix, using it towards someone means great respect or perhaps sarcasm

About the physics class, well just correct me if I got the formula wrong. I just ripped that off from an old assignment back in college. In other matters, my story is categorized in the Angst group, so expect a lot of emotional turmoil from our hero in the next chapters. I consider this the start since I killed off the pairing with Naru.

By the way, the Guardian made her appearance here, she's from the Sailormoon series.