Disclaimer: I…well…umm…I'm SORRY!! I don't own it! I don't own Love Hina!! I'm such a failure! WAHHH!
Sidenote: To avoid any further confusion, this is what all of the girls decided. This is on that night after they viewed Keitaro's dream.
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*Flashback*
"Alright Shinobu. Why'd you call all of us here?" mumbled a somewhat groggy Kitsune.
"Yes. I too am wondering why we were called here," said Motoko. All of the girls had been awoken at 3:00 in the morning by Shinobu, who said she had a serious matter to discuss. That is, all of the girls except Haruka and Tsuroko. With all of them awake, they went into the common area, and the meeting began.
"We are all here today to discuss what happened tonight," said Shinobu.
"Yes, your kanrinin-san seems to have some things on his mind. Shinobu, I am willing to help you in what you wish to do," said Tsuroko, suddenly appearing.
"Thank you Tsuroko. I appreciate that. Well then. Sempai has fallen in love with Haruka it seems. If he were to try to deny his…his love for her, it would only end up with him hurting himself and possibly others."
"Oh, I see where you're going. What we gotta do is help Keitaro realize his love for Haruka!" said an intently listening Kitsune.
"Exactly. So we need to think this through."
"Keitaro said he would ask you out tomorrow – er, today," added Motoko, who wanted for Keitaro to be happy. She found herself wanting him more and more these days, but she couldn't force him to love her. It would feel wrong, be wrong.
"Right. So I will not accept the date from…from…sempai," said Shinobu determinedly. She wanted nothing more than to go out with Keitaro, but she couldn't tear his love away from Haruka. "If I do that, he'll probably go ask another one of us. We will all refuse. Make an excuse. Kitsune, I want you to tell him 'NO' right from the start. It'll throw him off balance and help us."
"Got it sugar. But I'm wondering. How come you're being so confident and leading right now?"
"I don't…I don't want…poor sempai…to get…to…to get hurt. I just want what's best for sempai. Because I love him so much. Even if I can't be with him, just knowing that I helped him be happy would make me happy as well," Shinobu confessed. She blushed deeply, and then turned to Naru.
"Naru, you alright?" asked Su before Shinobu could talk. She gave a look at Shinobu that told her 'Don't worry, I got it'. "Naru, you're probably the one hurt the most right now. Knowing that Keitaros doesn't love you anymore. But…when he comes to ask you…IF he comes to ask you, make sure you refuse. You can't take advan"-
"I know Su. I know," said a deeply hurt Naru. "I wouldn't take advantage of Keitaro now. It would just make me a worse person. Even though I know that he doesn't love me now…I want him to be happy nonetheless. If I had been smarter, if maybe I had shown him more love…he wouldn't have fallen in love with Haruka. But…what's done is done. I want him to enjoy life! I don't want him to wallow in despair…" Tears began falling down her face, but Naru spoke through the sobs. "I hit him for things that weren't really his fault. Deep down, he's a really great guy, and not a pervert at all. I punched him when all he tried to do was good. I'm so sorry for all the things we did, but I know that won't change anything. So I've decided that….that…Keitaro…can be…with Haruka because…I won't make his life sad just for the sake of me being happy. Making him glad will make me glad too." Naru stopped talking and kept on sobbing. Tsuroko embraced Naru, comforting her.
"There there. Naru…what you just said was beautiful. Keitaro is lucky to have friends like you. You're all willing to give him to the person he truly loves, even though each and every one of you love him so much. You've all grown up. You've all matured and become beautiful women. I'm sure that Keitaro will be pleased. But, Shinobu…what do I do?" Tsuroko awaited Shinobu's response.
After a moment of thinking, Shinobu said, "When we all refuse to go out with him, he'll probably leave, thinking he's got no chance with you. Before he leaves the door, you will have to confront him and ask him what it is he is doing. We're out of food so that gives you a reason to accompany him. If he does ask you Tsuroko, make sure you go with him. When you come back, make sure to tell him before we get here that he shouldn't deny his love for Haruka. That he should trust it and that he should go after her." Shinobu took a few seconds to breathe. Tsuroko, however, nodded and then replied,
"I know exactly what to say to him. I know just the words. Don't worry, I'll fail you not."
"Thank you. If this works, Keitaro will end up happy. And he deserves happiness, for all of his hard work."
"Ummm, Shinobu? What about Haruka?" asked Naru, who had stopped crying, although her eyes were still red. I'll make sure you end up happy Keitaro. Thank you… she thought.
"Don't worry about Haruka. I'll speak with her myself. You can count on me." Shinobu was determined to get Keitaro and Haruka together. Even if it meant that Keitaro would never be hers. If it made him happy, she would be too. She owed that much to her sempai.
"Well, we better get to sleep. It'll be morning soon." With that said, everyone went off to their room.
"Aww shucks Keitaro. I won't be able to drink Sake tomorrow. Well, I owe that much to you. I'll do it for you Keitaro," uttered Kitsune before falling asleep. If she drank sake, she would get drunk. Then she would forget about the plan and go out with him, or worse, she'd forget not to tell him, and he would find out from her.
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The next day, while Keitaro and Tsuroko headed for the supermarket, Shinobu made her way to Haruka's tea shop. She entered after knocking, and found Haruka sitting at a table thinking about all that had happened.
"Haruka? I need to talk with you."
"Shinobu? What is it?" she replied, although she already knew.
"It's about Keitaro. Just hear me out please."
"Uh…fine."
"Keitaro loves you. There's no denying it. It's in his dreams, the one place where you can feel safe. There's no point lying in dreams is there? Keitaro holds you close to his heart, and you need to find out how you feel about him. How does Haruka Urashima feel about Keitaro Urashima."
Haruka, not even noticing that Shinobu had called her sempai by his name, said, "I…I don't know. I could love him…but…I think that…Ugh. Shinobu…I was just remembering all the times we had together, all the times he smiled at me, and it made my heart beat fast. I…"
"You love him." It was more a statement than a question.
"Ye…Yes. I love him…" said a smiling, distant Haruka. "I really love him, and I want him for the rest of my life. I want to spend my days living with him. I want to love him forever. And…but…he's family. He's my"-
"That doesn't matter. If you love him, you have to go after him. You have to embrace your love for him. You have to chase after him with all of your might."
"You're right! I love him! I'll…I'll speak with him tomorrow." Haruka threw herself at Shinobu and hugged her. "Thanks so much Shinobu. I know how much you love him, and I'm so grateful that…that you would give him to me. You're such a great person. Thanks so much."
After that, Shinobu bid farewell to Haruka, then left for her room at the Hinata Sou. Haruka said a final silent 'thank you' and then left for her room, awaiting for Keitaro's return.
*End of Flashback*
She heard Keitaro's footsteps. When she saw him, she stood up.
"What is it that you want Keitaro?"
End of Chapter 8
Author Note: I'm about to end this fanfic. It's so sad that I have to do it. But hey, I can always write another one if I wanted to. Thanks for all of your support. Read and Review.
