Love Hina – Boarding House Blues

Fanfic

Chapter Eleven –

Thursday noon

After being returned to his room, Keitaro rests and more of his memory of the previous night returns. Shinobu comes up a half hour later, a covered tray ready for him. She lightly taps on the door, and he says, "Who is it?"

"Sempai, you are awake! Are you hungry? I have a meal for you."

"Yes. Is that you, Shinto? I am very hungry. But, I don't want to be a bother. You can just leave it at my desk, I'll get it."

Entering the room, "No, Sempai. Haruka-san told me to make sure you did not overexert yourself, so I am to serve you. Let me adjust your pillows so you may sit at the table." Shinobu raises Keitaro's head, and pulls the kotatsu over for him to eat on.

"I prepared breakfast this morning."

"Oh, you had a lot of practice at your old hotel?"

Looking down, "N-no, Sempai. Before I moved there, I used to help my parents in their restaurant, but I haven't cooked for some time."

'choo-choo'

"This is wonderful, although, I suppose everyone should have the opportunity to help out with cooking, this being a dorm." (Hmmm, it never occurred to me to hire a cook. I'll talk to Haruka about some possible staff assistance. Although with only six tenants, we can't afford a full-time cook.)

'choo-choo'

Bowing low, "S-sempai? We're s-sorry for what has happened today. I m-mean, all of us feel badly that we hurt you so badly, and then scared you this morning, please forgive us."

'choo-choo'

Keitaro bows as much as his injuries allow, "No, I am the one who should apologize. How could any of you know I was here last night? You were right to defend yourselves. And this morning was just a string of unfortunate accidents, but none of you were hurt, right? So let's just forget it."

'choo-choo'

"I heal pretty quickly. You'll see, I'll be up and around in no time. And Shinto, can you do me a favor?"

"Y-yes Sempai?

Grinning "Please stop saying 'choo-choo' with every bite you feed me. OK?"

"O-oh, so sorry. I apologize, Sempai."

"That's ok. I guess this is how it feels when brothers take care of each. I was your big brother taking care of you last night, you are my little brother taking care of me today. I am honored to be helped by you."

Hands shaking, Shinobu finishes cleaning up "Thank you Sempai. The doctor will be here soon, and you must rest until then."

"I will. Thank you, Shinto…. Oh, Shinto, may I ask you a favor?"

"Oh, yes, anything Sempai."

"Could you talk to my Aunt Haruka, and if she thinks it's a good idea, ask her if we can all have dinner up here? I'd like to meet all of you, and over dinner seems a good way to do it. We'll need some tables and chairs from storage if you guys don't mind. Haruka knows where everything is at. Otherwise, it can wait until I am able to make it down the stairs."

"Yes, Sempai, I shall ask her opinion this afternoon."

As Shinobu opens the door, the girls quickly jump out of the way, and quietly follow her down the stairs. After they help place the dishes in the kitchen, they ask her what she thinks of their new manager.

"He likes my cooking! He let me feed him! He is very kind. He doesn't even blame us for what happened to him last night, or this morning. He said it was his fault and it was an accident. He wants me to ask Haruka-san about all of us having dinner with him so we may meet this evening. Aaaauuuu!"

Naru "What is it Shinobu?"

Blushing "Even though we are pretending to be men, I almost peed when he said we are like brothers. I am so happy. Sempai likes me likes a brother already!"

Kitsune "Give it time, Shinobu. Maybe, when we can finally get rid of these disguises, he'll treat ya like a sister. Or if you play yer cards right, the younger woman! Yay!"

"Aaauuuuu ! Now I h-have, I-I peed!"

As the girls go to the Tea Shop to get Haruka's assistance in having dinner with their manager, they pass Hikari, who just had her lunch meeting with Haruka. The girls all try to avoid eye contact with her until she stands directly in front of them to get their attention.

When they look up, they are surprised to see her smiling at them. "Haruka told me the whole story, and swore me to secrecy. I totally understand such good friends desiring to remain together, and the extremes you are going through is a testament to your friendship."

The girls bow their thanks to the Doctor.

"However, I must stress that this isn't all about you. Keitaro Urashima is an extraordinary and special young man. You may not see that now. You may never see it at all. But that doesn't change who he is. My secrecy for your deception ends when his well-being is compromised. Is that clear? Do not let this worthy attempt at keeping good friends together become a cruel joke, with Keitaro the victim. If that happens, no sworn oath to my friend Haruka will protect you girls from my wrath. That is, if Haruka doesn't reach you before I do."

The girls readily agree to Hikari's terms as she shoes them down the hill. Hikari continues upstairs to check on Keitaro.

Keitaro rests while Hikari visits. She says everything seems to be healing very well, and he could be up and about in a few days. "I'll leave a cane for you to make your way around. To ease the strain, you may continue to take your meals in your room until Sunday evening. By that time, you should be able to use the stairs, as long as someone is there to assist you."

She places her things in her bag, and hands Keitaro two bottles:

"I must stress, Keitaro, you are not just injured. You haven't been eating enough for at least 2 weeks." laughs "I can that tell from the sound your breakfast is making in your intestines. I am giving you some pain killers, and yes, before you ask, they will also help you rest. The other is a nutritional supplement. Take one pain killer three times a day, at meals. Take one supplement at the same times, also with food."

"When can I start working around the inn, Hikari-sensei?"

She eyes Keitaro for several seconds to make sure he pays attention. "You must do no work until at least next Wednesday. You have to give you body a chance to start healing, AND you must eat and rebuild your stamina. Do as I have instructed, and you MAY be able to return to your normal routine in two or three weeks! Fail in either, and your recovery will take the rest of the summer, if not longer. I leave it to you to make that decision for yourself. Of course, what do I know, I'm just a doctor." She smiles to show no sting was intended, just honest concern. "I have informed Haruka of these 'restrictions', and she will pass them on to your residents."

Thursday afternoon

After getting Haruka's agreement, the girls all prepare to have a dinner meeting with their new manager. They are shown the storage areas where extra tables and chairs are kept. They clean these and move them into the hallway outside the manager's room for meals, as they have decided that, if he feels up to it, the residents will have all meals with him until he is able to join them downstairs, so he'll have company.

Shinobu, to make up for what she feels was the mistake Keitaro was attacked, goes down to cook 'her Sempai' a special dinner. Rather than risk the hot springs, the others assist in preparing the meal, each one insisting that they prepare something to go with the main course that Shinobu creates. They arrange a formal meal for their manager, placing his food on its own individual trays, while they will serve themselves from the main trays. "And we will not tell him who prepared what, so that we may surprise him." says Shinobu.

Haruka "At least I know how not to burn boiled vegetables."

Motoko "I shall prepare the sashimi, as 'slicing' is my specialty."

Kitsune "I'll take care of pickles and sake. (I know a place I can get both in the same bottle)."

Su "I know where to get pickled vegetables (I've seen the shop Kitsune gets her sake from, although they could use some bananas, thems good pickled)."

Mutsumi "Oh my, do you think Kei-kun would like some of my melons for dessert?"

Naru "I will prepare the clear soups" (he needs liquids to help replace the blood he lost, and anyway, how hard can clear soup be? What would it need to make it nutritious to make up for loss of blood, I wonder?)

Shinobu powders stomach pills and sprinkles them onto the melon slices, because Naru is helping to prepare TWO dishes. Shinobu notices there are only seven tablets left. (There'll be eight of us eating Naru's soup tonight. I hope we don't need any more pills, since there isn't enough to go around for everyone until we can go to the market again.)

Thursday evening

Everyone bows as they enter Keitaro's room, and are presented by Haruka, who acts as Keitaro's second for the dinner. Haruka and the girls have decided to use as much of the truth as possible, so as not to get confused as they maintain their disguises.

After being seated, they introduce themselves:

Mutsumi, "I am Matsuka Otohime. I am 22 years old. I was born on Okinawa. I am trying to make it into Toudai. I like heated kotatsu tables, watermelon and turtles. I have a turtle named 

Tama-chan (mew). My hobbies are studying, canoe rides, and dressing up." Keitaro (dressing up?)

Kitsune, "I am Shimura Konno. I am 22 years old. I was born in Osaka. Everyone calls me Kitsune 'The Fox'. I like sake, reading magazines, and having fun. My hobbies are free-lance writing and gambling." Keitaro (a guy nicknamed Fox? That just doesn't sound right.)

Naru, "I am Nabeshin Narusegawa. I am 19 years old. I was born in Kanagawa prefecture. I am a prep school student and I want to go to Toudai. I received top scores in the nationwide practice entrance exam. My hobbies are shopping, studying, karaoke, and bowling." Keitaro (he got top scores? Oh god, I really feel like an idiot now.)

Motoko, "I am Muzuno Aoyama. I am 19 years old. I was born in Kyoto. I am a twelfth generation sword master of the Shinmei-ryu School. I am a freshman in high school. I detest turtles. I wish to become the greatest master of the Shinmei-ryu School. My hobbies are practicing with my sword, meditation, and watching anime." Keitaro (practicing 'gulp' I hope he doesn't ever practice on me again.)

Su, "I am Lamba Su, but ya'll can call me Su. I am 16 years old. I was born in my home country. I wanna rule the world someday. I'm a freshman in junior high school. I like bananas and turtles, stewed. My hobbies are inventing, having fun, and eating." Keitaro nervously thinks (heh heh, rule the world.)

Shinobu, "I am Shinto Maehara. I am 15 years old. I was born in Hinata City. I am a freshman in junior high school. I want to own a nice restaurant someday. My hobbies are cooking, cleaning, and stuffed animals." Keitaro thinks (Stuffed animals? Oh well, but he does cook rather well.)

After everyone is seated, Keitaro introduces himself.

"My name is Keitaro Urashima. I am 19 years old. I was born in Hinata City. I am the owner and manager of Hinata-sou. My goal is to someday resume studying to make it into Toudai, even though my studies never went very well before." blushing "In fact, I failed to get in twice, but I hope someday to be able to try again. My hobbies are photo stickers, cooking, working with my hands, drawing, and writing.

Naru thinks (Well, some people just aren't meant for university life. But, maybe, we can encourage him to start studying again. Mutsumi could include him in our study group.)

Haruka claps her hands "Now that everyone is properly introduced, let us all relax and enjoy this fine dinner. Keitaro, everyone helped prepare the dishes, but we will keep the cook's name secret for now, to avoid any embarrassment."

"We? Did you help too, Haruka?" Keitaro grins.

"Yes. I do cook for the Tea Shop, you know. Of course, that's limited to snacks, but I am a fine cook in my own right."

Naru, "Yes, Urashima-san. Please enjoy. It is necessary to regain your strength after your accident."

They all settle in to eat, polite conversation interspersed between dishes.

They marvel at the lightly spiced fish, the soft and fluffy rice.

Everyone except Naru, however, wonders at the bitterly salty, strangely metallic taste of the soups. Not wanting to seem impolite, they finish each bowl in turn.

Despite the sweat starting to bead on their foreheads, they all enjoy the artistic balance of the sashimi, the interesting flavor of the pickles and vegetables, both boiled and pickled, and the steamed seafood. Liberal use is made of tea to try to quell the burning/tingling/nauseous sensations in their stomachs.

By the end of the meal, everyone is having difficulty hiding their discomfort. Shinobu serves the melon slices, but even the medicine she sprinkled on them is insufficient to quell the nausea in their bellies.

Everyone has gotten up from the table, and settled on the cushions placed around the kotatsu table in a conversational manner. One-by-one, they succumb to their distress, and lay on the cushions in various stages of 'Naru's toxic waste' syndrome.

Keitaro, concerned for his guests, finds his cane and forces himself down the stairs, where he searches the kitchen until he finds the stomach medicine. Finding seven tablets left, he doesn't hesitate to make his way back up the stairs, thermos of water in one hand, medicine and glass in his robe pocket. He assists each victim to take a pill and drink some water to ease it down. Once finished, he pulls himself down the hall to the room the guests are using, and drags blankets back to the manager's office. He pulls everyone to more comfortable positions, and covers each victim to keep them warm before he collapses next to the desk from his own stomach cramping and exhaustion.

Thursday evening late

Motoko is the first to recover from Naru's 'toxic waste' soup. As she lays there orienting herself to her surroundings, she hears the others stir in their blankets. "Spirits, that was close. I feared recovering without stomach medicine after this onslaught of Naru-san's cooking. I can't remember it being this bad in some time."

Rising on her elbows, she scans the area. Surprised, she realizes they are still in the manager's room. (I thought we would have at least had the strength to make it back to our own rooms. Naru's cooking was more potent than I thought).

Haruka, lying with one hand across her forehead "That was a spicy meat-ball!"

Shinobu replies to Motoko "Aaauuuuu! I didn't think it would take so long for the medicine to work. I actually mixed it in with the melons as a precaution."

Kitsune, wicked grin on her face "Then it was a good thing you did. I wouldn't have been able to make it to the kitchen for more pills if you hadn't."

Mutsumi "Oh my, and I had hoped my melons would be more enjoyable. Poor Kei-kun."

Su, looking at Naru "You is gonna be the death knell of us all with your toxic cooking skills. I could use some in my Tama-Tak napalm formula."

Naru, "It wasn't THAT bad. I was only concerned with making it nutritious enough to make up for Keitaro's blood-loss the other day. I added salt for his blood sodium levels, and some raw beef blood instead of broth for the iron he needs."

Kitsune, mouth covered, rises and wobbles down the hallway.

As she mentions the manager, everyone looks at him, lying next to the desk. "Apparently, Urashima-san is not quite up to your 'special' diet. He is still trying to recover. Typical weakling male." Motoko observes.

Haruka, rising to her knees, looks from one side of the room to the other; "But, Keitaro was over there after we finished eating. And, where did all these blankets come from?"

Being closest, Naru crawls over to examine Keitaro. She rolls him over, his glasses having fallen off, and she sees his body trembling slightly. She spots the thermos and empty stomach medicine bottle next to him. "Oh god, it must have been worse than , than….Look, Keitaro must've somehow made his way down to the kitchen and got a water thermos and stomach medicine for us all."

Motoko, slightly contemptuously, "Even with that, he is still unable to recover as easily as the rest of us.

Shinobu "But, wait a minute. I remember there were only seven stomach pills left. If the rest of us are ok, that means? Aaauuuuu! He helped us, he gave all the medicine to us! He didn't have any!"

Keitaro, barely conscious, reacts to being rolled onto his back by weakly raising one hand to his mouth.

Mutsumi "Oh my, Kei-kun helped us, in his condition? Poor Kei-kun."

Kitsune, returning "Oh spit! I think Keitaro is gonna need either a doctor or a bucket, and quick!" and rushes from the room again.

Haruka "Roll him onto his side and get him slowly to his knees!" she rushes down the hall, and returns with a cleaning bucket just as Keitaro loses his dinner. Naru, her hand on his back, feels the strain his muscles go through, and can't help but think about what his retching is doing to his injured ribs.

Motoko and Haruka support his head until the spasms are over. When his trembling eases, they lift him and place him on his futon. "Stay with him, I have some stomach pills at the Tea Shop." Haruka leaves them with the manager.

Su finds Keitaro's glasses on the floor, and hands them to Naru, who is kneeling beside him with Motoko. She places his glasses on his nose, and pats him on the shoulder "Haruka has gone to get some more medicine, Keitaro-san, you'll be ok in a few minutes."

Keitaro grins weakly, and raises his hands "I'm sorry." His hands drop weakly to his sides as he closes his eyes. "I don't mean to be so much trouble." Looking at his face close up for the first time, Naru admits to herself that Mutsumi is right, he does have cute eyes. While examining Keitaro's face, Naru has a flash of recognition, as two memories come to her mind:

Their manager's face just now, as he said "I'm sorry".

That pervert from school, Keitaro, the day she struck him. Backing away, he said "I'm sorry".

Keitaro Urashima, their manager. Keitaro, that pervert from school that dropped out. (Oh my god!) Her mouth drops open as her mind bends almost to the breaking point (Keitaro the pervert is Haruka-san's NEPHEW?) She stands, grabs Mutsumi's arm, and pulls her downstairs to the common room. She tells her "Oh heck! Keitaro Urashima, our manager and Keitaro the pervert who dropped out of prep school is the SAME person!"

Mutsumi already knows "Oh my, I already knew that when Kei-kun came up to our room our first night here."

"WHAT? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Oh, I thought that you had recognized him as well."

"Mutsumi, you know I can't see without my glasses, and my contact lenses won't be ready until tomorrow. I couldn't see his face well enough until I was bending over him just now to recognize him!"

Haruka comes in, medicine in hand "How's Keitaro doing?"

Naru, not looking at Haruka, says "That per..I mean your nephew is resting, but he'll still need those stomach pills."

Haruka pauses for a moment before going upstairs, sensing something in Naru's tone of voice, "Naru, what's wrong?"

"I-I'll tell you after your nephew is asleep. We all need to talk."

Thursday, almost midnight

After giving Keitaro the stomach pill and his pain medication, Haruka and the girls go to the common room where Naru and Mutsumi wait. Mutsumi has prepared some tea for them.

Haruka, "OK, Naru, what is it?"

Looking at the others "Do you all remember that guy from prep school I told you about? The guy I called a perv..a pervert? The guy who was always looking at me, and who would draw pictures of me in his sketchbook?" pointing upstairs "It's him! Haruka's nephew! He's the same guy!"

Motoko, standing, hand on her sword "What? You are telling us that we are residents in a dorm being run by a two-time ronin, perverted male? This is unacceptable!"

Kitsune wonders out loud "Your pervert is our manager, huh? Hmm, maybe I can get me some free rent from that after all."

Mutsumi "Oh my, this is all so exciting, playing dress-up and make-believe with Kei-kun. Can I be the mommy?"

Kitsune scratches her chin, "Seeing as we are supposed to be men, wouldn't that be baby-fadda?"

Su "Mutsumi, guys can't be mommy-fellas, it ain't natural. I could build a mecha-mommy, though, something with a ball and chain attack might work."

Shinobu wrings her hands, "Aaauuuu! Don't say that! Don't hurt Sempai! He isn't a pervert."

Motoko "I wonder if maybe there was more than Shinobu stated going on that first night, in light of what Naru has discovered."

Shinobu blushes, "Oh, no, Sempai didn't do a thing. He just let he hold his arm."

Haruka "Motoko, I can guarantee to you that Keitaro couldn't do anything untoward like you are suggesting."

"Very well. But I cannot disregard Naru's school experiences with Urashima. I shall refrain from judgment for now, but if he shows any vile, deceitful, lecherous, perverted tendencies I shall send that vile, deceitful, lecherous, wasted two-time ronin of a perverted male to his final justice."

Haruka "Naru, are you positive about what you are saying? Are you sure it was Keitaro?"

"Yes. When I was helping him get comfortable, I was close enough to see his face clearly. It's the same guy. I'm positive. He even said the same thing he did when I……when I…oh god, oh my god!" Naru's face suddenly pales.

"What's wrong, Naru? Naru?"

Naru's mind again replays her memories of Keitaro, from school and the first night in the dorm. This time, she sees what her mind failed to admit. He was not at fault, yet he apologized anyway. He was not to blame, but accepted the responsibility himself.

"Naru!" Haruka is shaking her, trying to get her attention.

Naru looks up at Haruka "I hit him."

"That was yesterday, and it was an accident, don't worry ab.."

"NO! Not yesterday. The day before he quit school, I h-hit him."

"What? Why? What did he do?"

"T-the same as yesterday. H-he didn't do anything. I just reacted without thinking about anyone's feelings but my own, and I hit him. Just because he drew my picture, I hit him."

"Your picture? Wait here a minute." Haruka rushes up the stairs.

A minute later, Haruka walks back down the stairs, a book in her hand. She sits at the table, and looks at Naru. "I'm afraid our situation just got a lot more complicated."

She places the book on the table. It is a sketchbook. She opens it near the middle, and starts flipping the pages. Random people, buildings, animals peer out from the pages, until a likeness of Naru appears. After that, the next dozen or so pages are of nothing but Naru, sitting at her desk, studying, walking in the hall at school, talking to Mutsumi, looking over her shoulder, etc.

The last drawing causes all the girls to gasp. It is Naru, anger in her face, looking down, fists on her hips. "I'm sorry, Narusegawa" written across the bottom.

Naru "That's, that's the last way he saw me at school! Even after how I treated him, he still drew my picture and apologizes? Why?"

Mutsumi, "Oh my, Kei-kun seems to like you, Naru. Or, at least he did before he left school."

Haruka "Naru, I'm afraid YOU are the girl Keitaro believes that he hurt at school. Damn, this isn't good."

Kitsune "Haruka, all the drawings show Naru wearing her glasses. As long as she doesn't wear them here, we might still pull this off long enough for you to convince him the make Hinata-sou an all-girl dorm."

Motoko "The risk is great that he will see through our deception before then, and most likely would kick us out for betraying his trust. For that, and for having lied on our resident contracts."

Kitsune slaps her hand against her forehead; "Spit! An offense like that will get us thirty days in the hoosegow, if Keitaro presses charges. It also makes it almost impossible to be accepted anywhere decent. We could be stuck in a flea-ridden, rat trap of a dump!"

Su jumps up on the back of the couch; "A free ridin' rat rap sounds neat! We can bling our thing and be jammin' in the her-house!" She flips upside down and spins on her head three times before slipping and crashing to the floor. Sitting up, Su rubs her head "I thinks I just bent my bling!"

Shinobu runs around the coffee table a few times while covering her ears; "They made me do it! I'm innocent! I don't want to go to jail, I'm too young and . . . "Shinobu hits a support beam a glancing blow and spins towards the dining room door. She tumbles though and there is silence for a few moments. Presently the sound of scraping pans can be heard and the young cook throws the door open. Brandishing a cooking pan and shaking at the knees, she continues where she left off; ". . . . . and they'll never take me alive! Aaauuuuu!" Kitsune cups her hands over her mouth as she activates her voice changer; "Give it up, Cookie, we have da joint surrounded! Come out with your hands up or the turtle get's it!" Shinobu drops her pan and raises her hands; "Aaauuuuu! Me gives up!" and promptly passes out.

Naru looks at Motoko, and laughs "Well, so much for not being taken alive."

Motoko, trying to hold back her own laughter, shakes her head and places her right hand over her eyes, "I am so ashamed."

Haruka "OK, let's all just relax. We need to just work this through. I suggest we get a good night sleep, and meet at the Tea Shop tomorrow after your classes. Bring a change of clothes, and you can change there instead of risking walking up to Hinata-sou and being spotted by Keitaro as girls. He's bound to ask what you are doing, and as the manager, he won't let you enter a 'guys' dorm"