A/N: I'm so sorry for being late people! I could've uploaded it by Friday, but my dad took away my internet privileges for the weekend. I'm so sorry! Anyway... Hooray! I finally, finally learned how to get HTML tags. Thank you, Stahn Aileron! Thank you so much! Oh, and one BIG bit of a warning. If you do not like and/or hate Keitaro/Naru pairings, then I suggest you stop right now. The ending will probably want to make you retch your guts. But for the others... you'll love it! Yay!
Android K: one I'd like to thank you for offering to be a pre-reader, I really appreciate it. Two, I love your review, it's so great! And one other thing, I'll try to read your fanfic, but unfortunately for me, I have no knowledge of gundam wing, so I might be a little confused of the plot. I'm sooooo sorry
Shadowed-Moon2525: thank you for the review, but if you don't like that much OOC-ness, then you might not like the sequel because EVERYONE acts much more mature, and Keitaro doesn't act like so much of a wimp. Sorry. And don't worry about the advertisement plug, I love it when people suggest their own fics. It gives me a feeling of...something. Heh, heh
Jihi: thank you so much for staying with me the entire time. Heh, truth be told, I didn't think so many people would like my fic. And yeah, Keitaro finally snapped. If I were in his shoes, I probably would have done that long ago
Metallica-wedo: thanks for the review and thank you even more for wanting to be my pre-reader
LighthawkKnight: deep. Yeah, you could call it that. Thanks. I thank you for your kind and enthusiastic words
Knight's Shadow: thank you. I will as soon as I can type
Nutty Al: thank you for your concern! And thank you for the review! And thank you... wait... for everything! Whoo-hoo!
Achariyth: thank you for the (ahem) detailed review. I didn't know I had such people of English reading my pathetic crap. (you notice I'm a cynic?) anyway, about the St. Keitaro angle, I just wanted to prove a point to the girls and I guess I went a wee (*cough* bullshit *cough*) bit too far. My bad. And I would love for you to be my pre-reader. Thank you
Baka-Alaskan: thank you for the review. Btw, are you really a baka-alaskan, or are you just trying to be funny? Kidding. I love you all, well as much a 16 year old boy can... right
Kippenberger: I love your name! It's so cool! But sorry about the pairing, you're not going to like it. And Kanako is a totally different promise altogether, you know what I mean. But since I finally finished the manga... I'd rather not ruin it for you. Believe what you want
Jenniviennai: thank you for the review. And yes, Haruka doesn't get enough time in the spotlight! Argh! It infuriates me. Even Tama-chan gets more panel time than her and she never speaks except for several "myuh"s
Anyway thank you all!
Disclaimer: I have never, do not, nor probably will ever own Love Hina. (sob) So please don't sue me. I'm poor, I could never afford an attorney, and I'll probably end up in the streets if you do.
Holding Hands
By Yamiga'sLight
Chapter 4: Confessions
"..." – talking '...' – thinking
A few hours later, things were back to normal at Hinata House. Except for one thing. A thick sheet of tension blanketed every room and hall throughout the dormitory. Everyone was on edge after the revelations shown to them from earlier.
Keitaro, meanwhile, had finally gotten his tea and medicine by employing the help of Tama-chan. She floated in with a tray on her back holding a cup and a couple of pills. With a 'myuh,' she deposited the tray next to him and left, but not before waving him to get well.
The corners of Keitaro's mouth turned up. "Really," he smiled. "Is there anything that tiny turtle can't do?" He took a long sip of the tea and let out a gratifying sigh. "Ahhh...that feels good. Nothing like a nice, hot cup of tea." He took the pills and swallowed them with some more of the tea.
After that, he reached out his arms and stretched them. Feeling a little better, he sat up and noticed something. "Huh?" He look over himself. He saw that he was still wearing his clothes from yesterday. "Better get out of these," he said. "I won't get any better wearing wet clothes." Getting out of them, he decided to switch into his pajamas because he'd probably go back to sleep soon anyway.
Getting up to his feet, Keitaro stretched one more time, moved to his door, and quietly slid it open. He poked his head out and looked up and down the hall. Seeing no one, he stepped out and quietly closed his door.
He tiptoed down the hall before a thought came to him. 'It's too quiet in here. There's no yelling, explosions, or even any noise at all. Where is everybody?' He silently made his way down the stairs and peeked into the main room.
There was everybody, mulling around in a dazed state. They all were silent and had confused looks on their faces. Even Su and Sarah had frowns adorning their usually mischievous faces. 'I think I should go back to bed,' Keitaro thought.
Keitaro shifted his weight to turn around, and the floorboard beneath him creaked. He froze. Everyone's heads snapped up to look at the cause of the disturbance. Their eyes located Keitaro and widened. He laughed nervously and pulled at the neck cuff of his pajama top. "Heh, heh...hi girls." He gulped.
A swarm of muffled greetings were heard in response. "H'lo Keitaro." "Urahima." "Sempai..." "Keitaro." Hi Keitaro. "Oh my, Urashima." "Keitaro..." It was obvious they weren't prepared to talk to him just yet.
Keitaro blinked and put his head behind his head. "Sooo...how are you? Having a nice Christmas morning?" Silence was his only answer. "Um, obviously not. Anything wrong that I should know of?" He said with eyebrows raised. No answer again. "Okay, well I'm going back to bed. See ya." He turned around and started to head back upstairs.
"Wait, Keitaro!" Naru shouted, finally breaking the tension in the air.
Keitaro turned around again. "Yes, Naru?" His eyes seemed to be asking what it was. She could see it in his depths, a yearning to know what was nagging them.
"Um," she fidgeted nervously. She looked down at her feet when she said, "Haruka...told us...everything."
"Everything?" Said Keitaro with an eyebrow raised.
"About your past...about your feelings...about...you." She answered.
"I know," he smiled.
Her head flew up and her eyes snapped open in surprise. "H-h-how?" She stuttered.
He pointed at the ceiling. The girls look up, noticed the hole was still there, and blushed. Keitaro smiled and laughed. "Yeah, a hole's not exactly good insulation against sound."
'Not to mention Tama-chan kept giving me frequent reports. I think Mutsumi's starting to rub off on me. When did I start understanding Turtlese?'
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Anyway, I know that you know what I know." He stopped, scratched his head and began again. "I mean, you know what I know which means that...I...know...ARGH!!" He put his hands in his hair and rubbed furiously while bending over in frustration. It was all rather amusing, and seeing their normal Keitaro began to bring back the original cheerful atmosphere of the dormitory.
"Geeze, Keitaro," mused Kitsune. "Just when we thought you were getting mysterious, you go back to normal."
"Shut up!" Was the muffled reply. They all giggled. Keitaro stood up and tried again. "You know what? Screw what I know. Now, what do you want to know?"
"Who did you learn to fight from?" Motoko instantly asked.
"Um..." Keitaro nervously said. "Except for that. Maybe some other day."
"Keitaro..." Growled Motoko.
"You're not going to hit me, are you?"
"Don't tempt me."
"You wouldn't hit a person with glasses, would you?"
"One, that's never bothered me before. Two, you're not wearing any."
"How about a sick person?"
"You don't seem very sick if you can stand like that."
"Wanna come close enough to find out?"
"I'd rather not."
"Good. Then back off."
"Oh, sempai!" Shinobu whimpered. "Please tell us!" She said, giving Keitaro her best puppy-dog eyes, complete with tears and sniffles.
"Shinobu..." Keitaro sighed. "Please don't do that.' She kept staring. "Please. I have enough nightmares of that old hag without having to bring up some more."
"Old hag?" Naru asked.
"You don't mean..."
"Yeah," Keitaro sighed. "My grandma."
"Grandma Hina!?" They all shouted.
"Yeah..."
"How dare you call Grandma Hina an old hag! "Motoko yelled while drawing her katana." She was a dignified elder which I was proud to know!"
"Nothing dignified about that crazy old bat," he muttered.
"Oh, c'mon, Keitaro," Naru said. "She wasn't crazy, just a bit eccentric."
"She was past eccentric, Naru. She was a full-blown psycho."
"I vouch for Keitaro." They turned to see Haruka enter the room. "Grandma Hina was a little more than off her rocker. The way she taught Keitaro was kinda unorthodox."
********************Flashback********************
A ten-year-old Keitaro was tied up with ropes at the bottom of a hill. He looked with tired eyes up at the sky. A rumble was heard and felt in his stomach, and he looked pitifully at a withered figure in front of him.
"Grandma, can we stop now?"
Grandma Hinata looked her nose at the small figure at her feet.. Her eyes held an annoyed glint as she frowned. "No," she said firmly.
"But, Grandmaaa..." He whined. "I'm really hungry and tired..."
"Quiet!" She snapped. He shut up. "No grandson of mine is going to be a weakling. Now, we are going to repeat this exercise until you do it right. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Grandma..." Keitaro replied dejectedly.
"Good. Well, shall we begin?" A wicked smile crossed her aged face and the glint in her eye turned to an amused and almost evil one. "Good luck, Kei." She said as she bounded away. He heard her cackling as she disappeared from his view.
"But, Grandma! You forgot to untie me! Grandma!" His crying was cut short as a rumbling was heard at the top of the hill. He looked up to see an avalanche of boulders cascading and rolling down the hill towards the young boy. His eyes widened in horror as they got closer. His screams of pain and fear were quickly droned out with the crashing of earth.
********************End Flashback********************
Keitaro closed his eyes and shuddered. From his cold or from the memory, he was not too sure of. "Grandma always had a strange fascination with my immortality. Half the time the training was to see how much abuse my body could take." He then stopped and grinned. "But then if I weren't toughened by her experiments, I probably wouldn't of stayed here for this long, huh?"
"Man, dork. You were right. Your grandma is psychotic." Sarah said in awe.
"But when we met her, she seemed like such a nice, old lady." Shinobu said.
"That's because your not family. She's actually quite sweet with other people. But get her alone with people she's related to...and I'll let your imagination show you the rest."
"What would she do with you, Keitaro?" Asked Su.
"Probably run me over with a steamroller. See if I would turn out like a pancake. Evil woman." He muttered.
"You don't seem to like her very much." Kitsune said.
"Like her. Heck no, I love her. She's my little, old grandma. It's just that...she...scares me."
"Scare you? How can she scare you? She's an old woman, and you're...well...immortal." Naru said as she crossed her arms.
"Naru, just because I'm immortal doesn't mean I can't feel pain. And trust me, my grandma can cause much pain." He took a deep breath, and tried to steady himself on the banister as he was feeling wobbly. "Anyway, I'm glad if I was able to tell you anything you wanted to know. I'm going to go back to bed now. So if you need anything else, say it now."
"Hey, Keitaro! Can you dodge this!?" Turning his head, Keitaro was able to just catch Su's roundhouse kick right in the face. From her attack, he was propelled right into Naru, knocking them both down. When Naru lifted her head, she saw that Keitaro's face was wedged between her breasts.
"Kyaaahhh! Pervert!" She wound back her fist and let loose on Keitaro. He was thrown backwards with so much force, he was actually impacted into the wall. He was stuck there, a few feet off the ground, his body molded into it. He fell off, and a perfect impression of him was left in his wake. He picked himself off the ground, and let out a wracking series of coughs.
"I don't think getting beat up is going to make me better, guys."
"Oh my gosh, Keitaro! Are you all right?" Naru cried out as she ran over to him.
"How come he didn't dodge?" Su questioned.
"Su," Keitaro chuckled. "I'm sick, in case you haven't noticed, and unfortunately, training didn't cure me of my klutziness and extremely bad luck." He gratefully slung an arm around Naru's shoulder as she helped him up. "Thanks, Naru." She blushed and smiled. He turned his attention to the others. "Now, any other questions that don't cause me bodily harm?"
"Think we could see some of your moves when you get better?" Kitsune quirked.
Maybe," Keitaro smiled. "Maybe."
"Urashima?"
"Yes, Motoko?"
"Do you think that maybe you could have...a spar...or two, with me," she asked, looking down at her feet. It was obvious that she was embarrassed asking.
"You know what, Motoko?" She raised her head. His eyes were shut and he had a giant smile on his face. "That sounds like a lot of fun. Just...go easy on me, okay?"
Motoko's mouth twitched into the tiniest of smiles. A faint flush crossed her cheeks. She bowed and said, "Thank you, Urashima."
Su bowed over to look at her. "Motoko's blushing!" She laughed.
"Su! Be quiet!" Motoko yelped trying to cover a laughing Su's mouth.
"Ha, ha, ha!" They all turned to see a merry, laughing Keitaro. "You know," he said while he raised a hand to wipe some tears out of his eyes. "You guys crack me up." He sighed and murmured something that only Naru could hear, "I love you guys...so much." She smiled.
"Hey dork!"
"Yeah, Sarah?"
"What did you say that made Haruka laugh so hard?"
"What did I...?" He looked at Haruka, who simply smirked and bonked herself slightly on the head. He flushed. "I'd rather not say." He mumbled.
"Why not?"
"Because I'm kinda helpless at the moment and my comment might earn me a death sentence from you girls."
"Keitaro..."
"Fine," he sighed. "Promise you won't beat me?"
"Maybe."
"I hate chance. I always end up last."
"Okay, we won't."
"Umm...I said that you guys were beginning to turn into sadists."
Silence reigned supreme over all. A cricket was heard chirping until Tama-chan swooped down and ate it.
"You thought...!" Kitsune started.
"What's a sadist? Is it yummy?" Su asked innocently.
Keitaro looked at her and sweatdropped. "I thought you were out of that phase, Su."
"You..."
"Well, think about it." Keitaro interrupted. "You guys punish me so much, you seem to enjoy my pain. Besides, when I see your faces when you hit me, it look like you're getting a rush."
All they did was hang their mouths agape. Keitaro sweatdropped again. "You guys okay?"
Motoko drew her katana and bared it at him. "Urashima!!"
Keitaro whipped out his free hand and pointed it at her. "You promised you wouldn't beat me!"
"I never said..."
"Bull! I don't care if you didn't yourself. But Sarah did, and no one disagreed so I expect it from you too."
This was not expected by them, so it was enough for Motoko to calm down. Usually Keitaro was stuttering and apologizing by now, so his new attitude was surprising them all. The aura he was giving off still held his kindness but there was a coolness along with it also. To put it simply, Keitaro had become more...suave.
"And we'll leave it at that," Haruka said.
"Thanks, Haruka. Now, anything else? Shinobu?"
"No, sempai," she shook her head. "There isn't anything I need to know. Is there anything I can get you later?"
"Umm...I don't want to sound selfish...but if you have any of your cookies, I'd really enjoy those. I still remember how good they tasted from the first time I came here."
"Of course, sempai!" Shinobu blushed happily. "I don't have any now, but I'd be happy to make some more if you enjoyed them so much."
"Wait, Shinobu!" Keitaro cried out. "That's not..." But it was too late, she had already rushed into the kitchen. "...necessary. Heh." Keitaro let his head hang down. 'She's so eager to please.' Sudden thoughts crossed through his mind and he mentally slapped himself. 'Bad Keitaro! Man, sometimes I really am a pervert.'
"Okay, and you, Mutsumi? Anything you want to know?"
"Oh my, no, Urashima. I'm fine."
"Okay, that's good. I was starting to get tired. The medicine is finally beginning to kick in." He yawned loudly and briefly licked his lips. He looked at Naru with half-lidded eyes and said, "Naru, think you could help me upstairs and back to bed. I still feel pretty weak."
"Mighty eager to get alone with Naru, aintcha Keitaro?" Kitsune grinned."
"You know, Kitsune," Keitaro said tiredly. "Someday I really am going to seduce Naru and you're going to eat those words."
Silence reared its ugly head again for the second time in the past five minutes. They all stared and blushed at him, Naru being the reddest. His bangs covered his face, so they couldn't see his expression. Suddenly, they head him snorting. He look up with a look of merriment on his face as he laughed.
"Hee, hee. You should see the looks on your guys' faces." He grinned a duplicate of one of Kitsune's patented fox grins. "It's a perfect Kodak moment." He said as he shook with soft laughter.
"What?"
"Guys, it's a joke." He held his hand in front of his face in a effort to stifle the laughter. He didn't do a very good job at it. "You know what would happen if I did. I'd lose as many body parts as she could rip off. He then gave Naru a sly look. "But that doesn't mean I still won't try," he said in a voice meant only for her.
If it was even possible, Naru blushed even brighter and redder than she was at that moment. She glanced at him. He winked. She looked away. An not once during that entire conversation did she feel the need to pummel hem. Instead, she found a comforting warmth from his attentions that usually warranted him a smack in the face.
"Well," Keitaro said. "Think you could help me get to my room?"
"Wha? Oh, sure." And with that, Naru slung her other arm around Keitaro's waist as she half walked, half carried him up the stairs. The rest of the Hinata House just stared in awe at what had just occurred. A few minutes passed by before anyone said anything.
"Did all of that just happen?" Said Kitsune, amazed. Not once had Keitaro thrown off one of her off-color remarks. Not only did he do that, but he retorted with one of his own. And boy, was it a doozy.
"I believe it did," Motoko stated.
"I would seem that my nephew is finally starting to mature into the man he is." They looked at her. She sweatdropped. "Oh, come on. Technically he is twenty-one!"
Attracted by the noise, or lack therefore of, Shinobu popped her head out of the kitchen. "Is anything wrong, guys?" Huh?' She noticed the absence of two people. "Where's sempai and Naru?"
Kitsune sighed. "Who wants to be the one that tells her?"
Shinobu tilted her head. "Tell me what?" She asked perplexed.
Sarah piped up. "Well, it's like this..."
*****
As Naru helped Keitaro walk to his room, she looked down at him. His head was hanging a little to the side, his eyes were slightly, and his feet were dragging somewhat along the floor. She felt a sudden need to comfort him. She gripped the arm around her neck a little more and tightened her arm around his waist. He look up at her and smiled sleepily. Her heart skipped a beat.
'Idiot!' She thought to herself. 'Why are you acting like this? It's just Keitaro for God's sake!'
'That's just it,' a little voice inside of her said. 'IT'S KEITARO.'
'You shut up!'
'No,' it responded. 'You can't deny it. I know how you feel.'
'Shut up!!'
"Naru?" Keitaro's voice broke her train of thought. For once, she was thankful.
"Yes?"
"We're here." They were standing outside the door to his room.
"Oh."
"You can let go now. I'm fine."
"No!" She said a little too quickly. 'What am I saying!?' "I mean, you look like you're about to collapse at any second. Let me at least help you into bed."
Keitaro blinked, then smiled softly. "Thanks, Naru. That's really nice of you." 'She seems really nervous.' He blinked again. 'Maybe I should tell her about that dream? I can't believe that I actually recovered some of those old memories.'
"Keitaro? Keitarooo..." He snapped out of his thoughts to find Naru waving a hand in front of his face. She had a worried look on her face.
"Yeah?" He managed to say. The medicine was taking full effect now, and he was finding that his actions were beginning to become sluggish and that it was hard to move or think. His eyes felt like lead weights and his body felt like it had balls and chains attached to it. If he fell to the ground at that moment, he wouldn't of cared.
"You okay? You kind of zoned out for a while."
"Sorry, just thinking."
"Don't do that. You had me worried."
"Huh?"
"N-never mind!" Naru blushed. ' How could I say something like that! It's a good thing he's so out of it.'
"Think you could...?" He nodded his head towards the room.
"Oh! Sure!" Naru again helped Keitaro to move. This time however, she more dragged him than anything else. When they made it to his futon, Keitaro's legs totally gave out. He collapsed onto his futon, bringing Naru along with him. Naru looked up from the floor and bit back a yelp as she saw the awkward position they were in.
She was straddling his waist with her thighs on either side of him. Her hands were placed on his chest where she could feel him breathing in and out. Keitaro groaned and shifted underneath her, eliciting a response that made the blood rush to her and her heart beat like a jackhammer.
Keitaro groaned again and opened his eyes. "Sorry, Naru." His muddled brain did not even register where she was and so he went back to his primary directive: make the girls happy. He shifted again, trying to the weight that plagued his body. Naru yelped this time, and quickly rolled off him to the side. Her head wouldn't stop pounding and she had a warm, fuzzy feeling in the pit of her stomach. The last time she had nearly felt this way was when she had first seen Seta.
'But that means...' She mentally slapped herself. 'No! I refuse to believe that I am attracted to this idiot!"
Keitaro looked at Naru through his blurry vision. Her face was contorted into a mixture of fear, disgust, and...affection? Since when did she ever look at him with affection? His mind was barely able to piece together when a huge yawn wracked through his body, dispelling it like ashes in the wind. But a lingering feeling to touch her stayed.
He raised his hand and gently placed it against her cheek. Her eyes widened as he gently smiled while rubbing his thumb on her face. "Naru," he said. "Thank you."
Naru slowly placed her hand on Keitaro's as a comforting warmth spread throughout her body. Her eyes softened, and a smile tugged at her lips as she looked at her landlord before her. "For what, Keitaro?" She whispered.
"For everything. What you and the girls have done for me, I can never forget. I can only hope I can repay for what you guys did for me, and not screw up anymore. I love all of you so much."
"Oh, Keitaro..." She closed her eyes and felt the tender ministrations he made to her face. The warm feeling was becoming even stronger now. She had an urge to do nothing but fall on him, to hold him in her arms, to feel his lips upon hers. She blushed slightly at this thought. It didn't seem as bad to her as it used to.
"Naru, there's something I have to tell you. Before I go to sleep."
'Oh, no! He's not going to say what I think he's going to say is he!? If he does, I don't know what I'll do!'
'Say it back, you idiot!' Said the other voice.
"Naru...I...I..."
"Yes, Keitaro?" Naru gulped.
"I really think you should smile more. You're really very beautiful when you do."
Naru let a huge amount of air out of her mouth. "Oh, Keitaro," she giggled. "You silly boy. You silly, silly boy..." She breathed as she leaned over Keitaro closing her eyes
Keitaro became confused. "Naru?" He whispered. His mind was in total chaos from his cold, the medicine, and now, Naru's strange behavior and actions. 'What is she doing?' He thought.
"Shh...just..." Naru whispered back. She trailed off as she neared his face. Her lips were a moment from touching his when a scream was heard, reverberating through the dormitory.
"WHHAATT!?!? SEMPAI!?"
Keitaro turned his head, and Naru placed a tender kiss on his cheek. She lingered a moment before she realized what had happened. Her head snapped back before Keitaro noticed. He was too busy listening to the commotion going on downstairs.
"Was that Shinobu?"
"Semmpaii...!"
"I guess it was." He felt a tingling on his cheek and put a hand to it. It felt warm and slightly moist to the touch. He looked at Naru who was blushing profusely. "Naru, what was that?"
"N-nothing." 'I can't believe I did that! What was I thinking!?' She pulled the covers around him and tucked him in. "Go to sleep."
"Okay," Keitaro smiled. He yawned again. "But I meant that. You really are beautiful, and not just when you smile. I..." But before he could finish, he was carried off into the realms of sleep, a gentle smile adorning his face.
"Oh, Keitaro..." Naru took Keitaro's hand and put it against her face again as she nuzzled into it. 'You're so sweet..." She looked at him then bent over him again. Her fingers brushed away the bangs covering his face as she planted another kiss on his forehead. She stayed for a moment, taking in his comforting scent before she head back.
'He really is sweet, isn't he?'
'Ha, didn't I tell you so?'
'Not you again! Go away!'
'No. I won't. Not until you admit it.'
'There's nothing to admit!'
'Yes, there is. You. Love. Him.'
'No...' She thought somewhat hesitantly. '...I don't...'
'C'mon! Except for his klutziness and perverted tendencies (which really aren't that bad) he's the perfect man. He's sweet, caring, and would do anything for you. Not to mention he's cute.'
'No he's not!' Thought Naru vehemently.
'Hey! You said yourself you though he was, and I quote, "...pretty cute without his glasses."'
'Well those eyes of his..."
'And you seem to like how he feels against you considering how you reacted towards him when he wasn't even trying.' It said coyly.
'Now that...!'
'Naru Narusegawa!' Her other voice shouted at her. Her voice went silent. 'For once, think with your heart and not with your brains, you idiot!'
'But...' She though. 'But what about Mutsumi?'
'Then you better go talk to her shouldn't you?'
Naru sighed again. Yes, she'd better. She placed Keiatro's hand on his chest as she watched him curl up for warmth. She let out a giggle and pushed herself off of the floor. She walked to the door and slid it open. She stepped outside and spared one last look at Keitaro before she shut the door.
As she made it down the hall, she wondered what she was going to tell Mutsumi. O Mutsumi, guess I didn't you, but Keitaro's your promise boy. But that's too bad because I really like him and I'm going to steal him away from you. No that wouldn't work. Maybe...Mutsumi, I'm really sorry but I really like Keitaro and even though he's your promise boy, I want him to be mine. No, that wouldn't work either. Argh! What was she going to say?
As she made her way down the stairs, she came upon a very interesting scene. Kitsune was holding a crying Shinobu while the rest of the girls were all around them. It seemed like Kitsune was trying to comfort her from something.
"Shinobu! It's all right! It was just a joke!" Kitsune said while rocking a bawling Shinobu back and forth.
Sarah raise an eyebrow. "Man, this is really affecting her, huh?"
Kitsune gave her a death glare. "Well maybe she wouldn't of if you hadn't embellished the story!"
Sarah glared right back. "Embellished? What did I embellish?"
"Not only did you say that he said he would seduce her, but you also added that they went upstairs so that he could follow through with his threat!"
Sarah huffed. "Well, isn't that why they went?"
"I would hope not!"
They look up to see Naru at the foot of the stairs with her arms crossed in front of her. Her eyes were glaring so hard at Sarah, she withered and mumbled a sorry as she backed away.
"Naru!" Shinobu cried. She ran over to her and tackled Naru in the stomach. She wrapped her arms around her waist and buried her face into her chest. Shinobu sobbed a little while Naru stroked her hair. She raised her tear-streaked face and asked, "Is it true, Naru? Did semapi really seduce you?"
"I don't think he would have been able to if he tried. He was so wasted from his cold and the medicine, he basically collapsed in his room." 'But that doesn't mean I didn't try,' she thought sheepishly.
Shinobu hiccupped and nodded. She buried her face again as she tightened her hold on Naru's waist.
Naru smiled gently and loosened Shinobu's grip on her before she turned to Mutsumi. "Mutsumi," she said. "Can I talk to you? In private?"
Mutsumi smiled slightly. "Alright. But about what, Narusegawa?"
"It concerns..." She glanced at the others nervously. "Liddo-kun."
Mutsumi tilted her head in confusion before her eyes widened in recognition. "Oh," she said. "Okay, Narusegawa. Where do you want to talk about it?"
"How about my room?"
"Okay." Mutsumi nodded and made her way towards the stairs. Naru moved out of Shinobu's hug and quickly followed Mutsumi, stopping at the foot of them. She turned and stared threateningly at Kitsune.
"And if you even think," she said, pointing a finger at her. "Of eavesdropping on us, I swear I'll use one of the moves I usually reserve for Keitaro." She cracked her knuckles and Kitsune and the rest of them gulped. Naru was scary, that enough was true. It was wise not to anger her. They nodded, Naru flashed a grin, and then she ran up the stairs following Mutsumi.
*****
In her room, Naru motioned Mutsumi to sit down. She did so and Naru followed quietly after, taking a seat across the table from Mutsumi. Neither of them talked for a while. Naru nervously twiddled her thumbs while Mutsumi absently stared around the room. Finally, Mutsumi stopped looking around and focused her attention on Naru. "Well, what do you need to say about Urashima?" She asked quite bluntly.
Naru gulped. "Ahem, well there's a couple of things I need to tell you."
Mutsumi smiled innocently. "Oh, really? What are they?"
"Well..." Naru tried to open her mouth and speak, but her mouth was too dry to continue. She tried again. Nothing. God, why was it so hard!? "I don't know how to say this, but...do you remember telling me about that boy from your childhood that you made that promise to go to Tokyo U. together to?"
"Why yes, Narusegawa," replied Mutsumi dreamily. "I remember him very well, he was my first love after all."
Somehow, this made it even harder for Naru to continue. "Well, what if I were to say that he was very close to us?" Her heart was starting to feel cracks and tears were threatening to appear in her eyes.
Mutsumi tilted her head. "What do you mean, Narusegawa?" She asked, clearly confused.
Naru found it harder to breathe. "I mean that he lives with us."
"And who would that be?"
"Mutsumi..." The cracks were becoming jags, the tears were collecting fast, and her breathing was becoming rapid. She was close to an emotional collapse and just start to bawl at any moment. "That person would be...Keitaro."
"Urashima?"
Naru did nothing but violently shake her head up and down as she gathered her knees into her chest while she rocked back and forth. Jags were becoming canyons, pools became reservoirs, and breathing was almost non-existent. Gasps were escaping from her as she willed herself not to cry. She would not cry. She would not cry.
"But how?" Mutsumi's face was a mixture of fear, sadness, and hope.
"The...picture...from...last night." Naru was able to gasp out.
"Okay." Mutsumi leaned forward. Her face was etched with worry and anticipation. "And what was the other thing?"
"I...I..."
'C'mon, girl! Say it! Say it!' Her inner voice cried.
"I think...I...think...I..."
'Naru...don't you dare chicken out on me, you idiot!'
"No...I do...I love him! I love Keitaro!"
Her heart shattered, the dams flooded open, and her lungs became a vacuum. She hid her head inside of her knees and tears streamed down her face. She cried. Naru, the first0time ronin and strong-willed, hard-headed girl of the Hinata honeys cried. She cried, and cries, and cried. She cried until her tears ran dry. An all the time, Mutsumi just sat there and watched with a sad look on her face.
She watched one of the strongest people she knew break down into a little baby. She saw her rock back and forth on her heels as she bawled. Finally, her heart couldn't take it anymore. She moved over the room to Naru and enveloped her in a motherly hug. She softly rocked her back and forth, cooing soft words of comfort until the girl's heart-wracking sobs became small hiccups and sniffles.
Eventually, Naru raised her head and looked apologetically at Mutsumi. "God, I am so sorry so, Mutsumi." She gasped out.
Mutsumi was a little taken back. "What ever for, Narusegawa?" She quipped.
Naru closed her eyes and sniffled sadly. "He's been your forever and I had to go and fall in love with him like the idiot I am!" She buried her face back into the older girl's shoulder and sobbed some more.
Mutsumi smiled while rubbing her hand up and down the younger girl's back. "It's okay, Naru," she said quietly. Naru stopped hiccupping when she heard Mutsumi drop the honorific on her name. What was she going to do? "You can't help falling in love. It's a fact of life." She sighed and looked up. "Well, I guess it's been decided."
Naru looked up from her shoulder. "What's been decided?"
"At who gets Liddo-kun," Mutsumi smirked at their little joke.
Naru nodded sadly. "Yeah," she agreed forlornly. "It's you, isn't it?"
Mutsumi sighed. "I'm not so sure."
Naru's eyes widened at this statement. "What do you mean?"
"Naru," she smiled. "When I first met you and Urashima, it was obvious that he like you." Naru gasped silently. Did he really like her from that long ago? "Especially after the fact that he told me his feelings for you. Unfortunately, I got a little tipsy and the my way to tell you didn't go exactly as planned."
Naru flinched. She remembered the 'bathroom incident.' After Mutsumi's klutziness, both natural and by her intoxicated state, left her and Naru in an odd position (think the basic man's finest fantasy), Naru was already rather miffed. Alright, she was pissed at finding first-hand the female clone of Keitaro. Then Keitaro came rushing in because of the yells of surprise and giant crash, finding them in their risqué state. He then did what any other hot-blooded male would if he came upon a scene like that. He had a nosebleed. Shortly after, he encountered one of Naru's super attacks and was flung from the room.
"And when I came back," Mutsumi continued. "It was somewhat obvious that he was already in love with you. I could tell that you like him too, considering how jealous you got when I made any advances on him what-so-ever.
"But..." Naru hiccupped. "You're his promise girl."
"Naru..." Mutsumi sighed. "I might hold his memories, but you have held his heart long before I came back onto the scene. Now I would anything to have Urashima as my boyfriend, but it's pretty clear to me that I never will. I think I'll be happy enough to just be one of his best friends, and make it into Tokyo U. with him and you. But you are the one that will have him...and that's all that matters."
Naru looked at the slightly crying girl and flung her arms around her neck. Mutsumi did the same and they held each other dearly. "Mutsumi," whispered Naru. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Mutsumi sniffled. "You're welcome, Naru. Besides..." Mutsumi waved a hand to wipe a tear that was threatening to fall from her eye. "I always thought that you two made a cute couple." Naru giggled.
"Me and that pervert? You've got to be kidding me." She shook her head. "No, that's not true..." 'He's Keitaro. My Keitaro.' She smiled gently and softly. But then another problem came up that rocked her back to reality. "But wait! How am I supposed to tell him?"
Mutsumi smiled. "It's easy. Just tell him." A wicked smile flashed across her face before it melted back into her innocent one. "And I'll make sure no one interrupts your confession."
"How?"
"That's for me to know, and for you to wait here and find out."
*****
Naru was still waiting for Mutsumi when the aforementioned popped her head back into her room. "I got them all out," she said."
"How?"
Mutsumi grinned evilly. "I said I'd take them to a karaoke bar and pay for all of the expenses. Since that included drinks, Kitsune literally dragged them off."
Naru was shocked. "But Mutsumi, considering that it's Kitsune. Won't it be expensive?"
"It's okay," Mutsumi said. "I had Su print up some money for me, (A/N: Isn't that illegal?) so I think I'm good to go. But now it's time for you to shine. Go for it!" She gave a thumbs up and slid the door shut before Naru could respond.
'Mutsumi.' She smirked. She then shook her head and moved to the hole connecting her room to Keitaro's. She lifted Liddo-kun and the plyboard covering it, and peeked into Keitaro's room. "Keitaro?" She called down. "Are you awake?" Receiving no answer, she jumped down to his floor and made her way over to his futon.
She sat next to his sleeping form and took his hand in hers. She put it to her face and gently nuzzled into it like she had before. A smile flitted across Keitaro's face and she followed en suite. "Oh, Keitaro..." She sighed. "I wish you were awake so I could tell you how I can feel. The last time I felt this way was with Seta, but it wasn't nearly this strong.
"These feelings...I don't know whether they're love or not, part of me wishes they were. Because if I could love you and you for me in return, I would be so happy." She finished her speech as she put his palm to her lips and planted a kiss to it.
Keitaro opened one of his eyes. Naru's head snapped back and she dropped his hand. "My, Naru," he smirked. "I never knew you held such feelings for me. Frankly, I'm surprised." Naru just watched in shock as Keitaro sat himself up, supporting his weight on his hands behind his back.
"H-h-how long have you been awake?" She stuttered.
Keitaro let out a chuckle. "A little while before you came in."
"Then why didn't you answer me?"
"Wanted to see what you'd do," he shrugged.
"You...jerk!" Naru made as if she was going to leave, but before she could, Keitaro shot his hand out and grasped her chin in it. He pulled her a little closer, then gently cupped her face as he slid his thumb along her bottom lip. "Naru..." He murmured. "Don't you dare run away. At least not until you hear what I have to say."
Naru closed her eyes as she felt Keitaro's tender ministrations on her face. The warm feeling was back again, and stronger than before. She nodded silently, and whimpered softly as she felt the warmth from his hand leave her face. She opened her eyes to see Keitaro looking at her. His warm, brown eyes and smile projected such caring that she couldn't help it as a single tear fell down her cheek.
"Naru..." He so wanted to take the pain way, to make sure that she never had to feel pain ever again. Of course he wanted the same for all of the girls, but Naru was a special case. He just wanted to protect her from the world and let none of its problems get to her. He just wanted to hold her, and be with her. But that could wait until after he told her. "Look," he whispered. "I made you cry again. I'm sorry." He took his arm cuff into his hand and softly wiped her tear from her eye and cheek.
As he began to withdraw his hand, it was stopped by Naru as she grabbed it, putting it to her face and rubbing against it. "No..." She whispered back. "Please don't. Just...let me have this one thing. Just let me feel your touch."
"Naru..." He smiled. "Okay." Yes, this would be the moment he would tell her. "Naru...there's something I need to tell you about my past, about our past. When I had my dream, I found my promise girl." Naru's heart beat faster, but with sadness. "But it turns out I didn't have a promise girl." Her eyes widened. He continues, "I had two."
Her eyes widened even more. She began to speak, but was stopped when he put his thumb to her lips. "Shhh, it's okay," he said. "They were two of my best childhood friends. They were both very dear to me. Their names were Na-chan and Mu-chan, and to them, I was Kei-kun. Mu-chan was a little older than me, and she was a very energetic girl. She always used to carry a Liddo-kun around with her wherever she went.
"Na-chan was only about two years old. She was also very energetic, but unfortunately she used to get sick all of the time." Naru let out a silent gasp. She had a strange disease that always made her sick when she was a little girl. Was she...? "She couldn't talk that much either, and so me and Mu-chan were always trying to get her to say things.
"We all met at Hinata House. We used to play here all of the time, especially down in the sandbox. That's where I heard about the Tokyo U. promise. Turns out that Na-chan's parents got married there, and Mu-chan was the one who gave the details on the promise. But it was to Na-chan that I made the promise to. Mu-chan even gave me her Liddo-kun to give to Na-chan as a sort of engagement present." Naru tightened her grip on Keitaro's hand. Her eyes were shining with fear and anticipation.
Keitaro smiled and took Naru's face into both of his hands. He slowly pulled her face closer to his until their noses were touching. "Naru," he breathed. She giggled quietly as his breath tickled her face. "I believe that N-chan was you. I think that my promise girl is you from those memories I obtained. But that doesn't matter to me anymore." Naru's eyes began to tear. He didn't want her to be his promise girl? But didn't that mean that...? Her thoughts were cut short as he firmly pressed her forehead against hers. He took his hands off her face and moved them to her hands in her lap.
He took one of each of his and deftly interlaced his fingers into hers. He raised the hands to eye level and said, "Naru, do you know why I'm doing this?" She shook her head silently. "Last night, you told me I had to decide who I wanted to hold hands with. You or Mutsumi. Or, more importantly, you or the promise girl." He stared into her eyes as he leaned closer, his breath mingling with hers.
"Now that you're both, I wanted you to know something. My promise girl is nothing but memories, but you Naru, you are real. I want you for you, not the little girl you were, And so I've come to a decision. I'm sorry promise girl, but I want to hold Naru's hand.
"Naru, I love you."
An with that, he pressed his lips to Naru's. Naru gasped at first, but quickly closed her eyes as she fell into the moment. Her arms went around Keitaro's neck as one of his went around her back to push her closer to him. They both tilted their heads so as to deepen the kiss.
Naru felt Keitaro's tongue grace across her bottom lip, asking for permission into her mouth. She obliged quite willingly, parting her lips slightly as his tongue entered her mouth to meet hers. She could taste him, and she relished the sweetness as she opened her mouth even more.
Keitaro took the opportunity to memorize how the inside of her mouth felt. He moved his tongue around the contours of her teeth to feel how they went before going back to dance with her own tongue. He leaned back to lie on his futon and Naru followed to lie on top of him. She moved and straddled him once again. Keitaro smiled into her lips and put his other arm around her to crush her body to his.
Naru clung to him desperately to him, and let one tear to fall from her eyes down her cheek and into their kiss. Keitaro could taste the saltiness that entered his mouth. Finally, after an eternity passed, Keitaro loosened his grip and leaned his head back, breaking the kiss. Naru smiled and pressed her forehead on his as he did before. Keitaro saw the wetness on her cheek and leaned up to kiss away the tear's trail.
As he did this, Naru moved to his ear and blew on it. He shivered from the pleasurable feeling, and she giggled. "Kei-ta-ro..." She cooed. "I love you, too."
Keitaro cupped her chin and forced her a little away to look at her. He smirked. "I'm happy to hear that," he said as he pulled her down to capture her lips with his again.
***The End***
A/N: My...God... I'm finally done! I finally finished my very first fanfiction. I am so fricking happy! And I got so many good reviews! Thank you so much to all of my reviewers! And now, to the characters!
Naru and Keitaro are off in the corner of the room cuddling. Meanwhile the rest of the Hinata crew, me, and gloworm16 are watching with mixed feelings.
Motoko: (looks disgusted) Sickening...
gloworm16: Know how you feel. Geeze, can't they do that somewhere?
Me: You have no reason to say anything like that Glowy. I know how you are. You're like the loosest sixteen-year-old male I know of.
gloworm16: (sweatdrops) So?
Kitsune: Oh, c'mon, leave them alone. They've gone through a lot of crap. Let them have this one thing.
Me: (bows) Thank you, Kitsune!
Sarah: Yeah... (looks at the two) But did you have to make it so... sappy?
Me: I can't help it! (sobs) I'm a hopeless romantic! It doesn't help that at this point in my life my body is totally driven by uncontrollable hormones! (shakes fist angrily) Damn you, you fucking hormones!
Everyone around me facefaults. Even Keitaro and Naru look up long enough to sweatdrop at my sudden outburst. I sweatdrop at myself.
Me: Oops...
Shinobu: Yamiga cursed!
Me: Umm... heh. Whoops? (looks around at the shocked faces) My bad? (looks around again) Hey, where's Su? I don't see her anywhere.
Su: (pops up behind me) Right here, Yamiga!
Me: Ack! (puts hand to chest) Su! Don't do that!
Su: Sorry, Yamiga! (gets glint in eyes)
Me: (gulps) Aw, crap, Su. Not here...
Too late. Su jumps on and gives me one of her famous glomps. Everyone stares as she continues to squeeze harder. Motoko begins to look angry as Sarah, Shinobu, Kitsune, and gloworm16 get rather amused looks on their faces.
Me: Su...please let go or Motoko's going to kill me.
Motoko: (growls) Yamiga...
Su: Nuh-uh, Yamiga! I like you!
Me: (gulps) But Su, you like everyone.
Su: (giggles) No, I mean I really, really like you...
Me: Umm, okay...
Su giggles again and rubs her face against mine. Meanwhile, everyone has the weirdest look on their faces as Su continues to cling to my body.
Me: Well... (motions for everyone to come over; they do so and everyone lines up) I'd like to thank the entire Hinata cast for helping me, but not so much for Glowy because all he did was sit back and complain.
gloworm16: Hey!
Me: Shut up. (glares; gloworm16 backs away) Anyway, thank you everyone, my reviewers, the characters, my parents, and the many classmates who said I had wayyyy too much time on hands to write such a story. Thank you all. I already have a sequel lined up, and I will try to get it up and soon as possible. (grins at Hinata crew) I still have many adventures for you guys to do, so don't worry. And now...
Everyone: THANK YOU EVERYONE AND PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
A/N: Yes, I do have part of the sequel done. Just to tell you, it has the same plotline as the manga, but alters from it because Naru and Keitaro confess their love so early in the series. Just to warn you, there are limes and I'm wondering if I should put a lemon in too. I do want to, but I don't want to ruin the integrity of the story. So tell me if I should or shouldn't. I can go either way, and I just want to have the opinions of my reviewers before I do anything. Okay? Thanks. Please Review, and remember, no flames!