Love Hina – New Management
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Two – Those are the Breaks
Monday Evening
Shinobu timidly moves towards Keitaro as the others watch.
"Uh, this is your sketchbook. Y-you forgot it the other day.
Keitaro walks over and takes his book.
"Thank you for returning it. I'm sorry if I frightened you."
"Th-that's all right. I was just a little surprised."
Su leaps over and tries to peek in Shinobu's backpack.
"Did ya bring us something to eat? It's Naru's turn to cook today. I aint gonna say her cooking's bad, but the others usually skip dinner."
Naru runs to the door.
"Dinner! I forgot all about it! My meatloaf is going to be ruined!"
The residents gather in the kitchen as Naru pulls the desiccated meat from the oven. The smoke slowly dissipates as she works to save the meal.
"I'll just marinate it with some vinegar, that'll cover the burned taste. After I scrape the blackened parts off it'll be good as new! Maybe I can use the scrapings to make the gravy."
Kitsune covers her mouth and stomach and runs from the room. Mutsumi takes a closer look at the pitiful meatloaf.
"Oh my!"
And then she faints. They carefully carry her into the common room and lay her on the couch before returning to the kitchen. Naru moves to one of the pots on the stove and lifts the cover.
"At least the mashed potatoes are okay."
She proudly displays the lumpy mass and Su taste a spoonful.
"Ya boiled the taters in tea again, didn't ya? And I detect the distinct flavor of mayonnaise and horse radish. Not too bad, actually!"
Kitsune, who had just re-entered the kitchen, turns and runs out again. Keitaro looks around.
"Did you make any rice?"
Naru scowls at him.
"Of course I made the rice. It's in the cooker. Can you check to see if it's ready?"
Keitaro opens the cover. The rice appears normal, except for the fact there are a few shattered eggs mixed in with it.
"Narusegawa, did you put these eggs in here?"
"Yes. I thought that I could save time if I cooked the eggs with the rice. I put some asparagus in to bottom, too!"
Kitsune doesn't even make it through the door this time before turning around.
"Oh my god! We're gonna starve!"
Shinobu surveys the culinary devastation and moves to the stove.
"We can still save this. Do you have any more fresh vegetables?
Naru runs to the refrigerator.
"Urashima-san, can you boil some water and make more rice?"
"Right away!"
An hour later, they all are lying on the couches and chairs in the common room. Shinobu, a damp towel on her forehead, looks at the others.
"I'm sorry. I thought that I could save the meatloaf. I guess it was too far gone for even me to help. Aaauuuuu!"
Keitaro, the only one able to stand, moves around the room checking on the girls.
"You couldn't know that Narusegawa mixed baking soda into the meatloaf."
Naru turns her head and looks at Shinobu.
"Why does it say baking soda if you're not supposed to use it?"
"Aaauuuuu! You didn't need to use the whole box."
Keitaro smiles at Shinobu.
"If it wasn't for your delicious tempura, dinner would have been a total loss."
Shinobu blushes at his compliment.
"Th-thank you, Urashima-san."
A sound at the door causes Keitaro to look up. A young woman in a dark blue shirt and skirt stands there with a large bag over her shoulder. He shakily walks towards her.
"Can I help you?"
Motoko surveys the scene. Drawing her sword, she drops her bag and runs towards Keitaro.
"You foul, vile, lecherous male! How dare you come in here and enact your evil upon my friends. Whoever you are, my blade shall bring you to justice!"
Keitaro stares at her, unable to understand what she is about to do.
"I'm just helping them, that's all. There's no reason to get angry."
She leaps from the foyer and charges him.
"SHINMEI SCHOOL SECRET ARTS! ROCK SPLITTING SWORD!"
Naru raises her head over the top of the couch in time to see Motoko launch her attack. Her plea goes unheard.
"Motoko-chan! He didn't do anything! It was an accident!"
Chi swirls around her blade as flames leap from her eyes. As she swings, the vortex forms, hurling its entire force directly at Keitaro. The maelstrom slams into him, driving his body into the coffee table. Keitaro and the shattered table are flung towards the far wall, slamming into a support pillar along the way. A wet breaking sound echoes in the room as Keitaro's right leg strikes the pole. His scream is cut short as he slams into the wall and slides to the floor.
Kitsune struggles from her chair and moves to Keitaro.
"Motoko, are ya nuts? Why'd ya do that?"
"I will not allow a male to come in here and attack my friends."
As Kitsune reaches him, she pulls up short and places her hands to her mouth.
"Oh my god!"
Naru and Mutsumi stagger next to her. They stare at Keitaro's unconscious body, unable to speak. His right leg, just above the ankle, is bent at a painful angle and a few drops of blood start to soak through the leg of his pants.
Su crawls over and stares at him before turning to Motoko.
"Ya broke him!"
"As I said, I was just acting to protect all of you."
Shinobu, eyes wide, peeks over a chair.
"Aaauuuuu! We'd better call a doctor! Where's the phone? Where's the phone?"
Shinobu leaps from the chair and runs around in circles until Su rolls over and grabs her feet.
"Stop spinning your wheelies! The phone's on the counter!"
Shinobu runs over to the counter and searches for the telephone. Su looks at her and corrects her mistake.
"It's on the other counter."
Motoko stares at the unfamiliar girl running around the room.
"We should just dump him at the bottom of the hill."
"Aaauuuuu!"
Shinobu jumps over, grabs an item, and starts pressing buttons. Su walks over and corrects her again.
"That's the electric thermos. The phone is behind it."
"Aaauuuuu!"
Grabbing the real phone Shinobu furiously begins dialing. A calm voice answers.
"This is the Goddess Relief Office, if you state your . . . . ."
Shinobu shakes the receiver.
"No, no, no! Aaauuuuu! I wish I lived here so I'd know where to find things in an emergency!"
She slams the receiver down and tries dialing again.
On a higher plane, Urd looks at the silent phone in her hands and then checks Yggdrasil's Wish List.
"She was right on time. Okay Maehara Shinobu, your wish is approved."
She looks at her watch and then scratches a name off her clipboard.
"It's time for my coffee break."
In Hinata-sou, Shinobu grips the phone, waiting for someone to answer.
"Hinata Clinic, Doctor Ishido Hikari speaking."
"Doctor, come up to Hinata-sou, quickly! Urashima-san has a badly broken leg and he's bleeding!"
"I'll be up right away! Don't move him unless it is absolutely necessary!"
A few minutes later, Shinobu opens the door and lets the doctor enter. As she leads her to the common room, the others look up from their positions around Keitaro. Motoko stands in the corner with her arms crossed.
"Will someone please explain what this, male, is doing in our home?"
Naru looks up at her.
"This is Urashima Keitaro. Granny Hina picked him to be our manager, but he turned down the job. I invited him here to study with me. He was taking care of us because we ate, ah, we, uh . . . . ."
Kitsune finishes for her.
"It was Naru's turn to cook today."
Motoko's eyes widen as she understands.
"Food poisoning."
Hikari quickly checks his injury and prepares to set his broken leg.
"I will require assistance. Someone must hold his leg steady while I move his foot back into place."
Naru kneels next to her.
"I'll help you. He never would have been hurt if I hadn't invited him here."
The other girls step into the dining room so they will not have to watch. A few minutes later, Naru calmly walks upstairs and enters the bathroom. The sound of her retching can be heard downstairs and Kitsune goes to check on her friend. Shinobu and Su slowly walk back into the common room as Hikari prepares to place a cast on Keitaro's leg.
"Aaauuuuu. Will he be okay?"
Hikari turns to them as she mixes some plaster.
"It was a clean break, fortunately. However, he will need to a few days of complete rest to make sure he begins healing properly. What room does he stay in?"
Su slides over and looks in the pan of plaster.
"He's just visiting Naru. He don't live here."
Mutsumi enters the room and sits near the doctor.
"I'm the new manager. Urashima-kun can stay here as long as he needs to. There aren't any other rooms ready, so I will let him stay in my room so someone will be nearby to take care of him."
Hikari smiles at her.
"That is very kind of you. It would be best not to move him from Hinata-sou for at least a week. Narusegawa-san said his name is Urashima Keitaro. Is he related to Haruka-san?"
"Yes, he's her nephew and Granny Hina's grandson."
"Please contact Haruka-san and let her know what has happened. I'll trust her to notify anyone else, since Urashima-san is still unconscious."
"I'll call her right away."
As Mutsumi moves off to call Haruka, Motoko walks over and looks over Hikari's shoulder.
"Did I hear you correctly, that you wish for this, male, to remain here?"
The doctor responds as she wraps Keitaro's leg.
"That is correct. He must be moved as little as possible."
Motoko turns and walks towards the stairs.
"That is not acceptable. An all girl dormitory is no place for a man."
"He is injured, and you are the one responsible. Do you not feel any compassion for him?"
"That is none of my concern. If he had not been here, none of this would have occurred."
Upstairs, Kitsune leans against the wall outside the bathroom.
"Are ya'll okay in there?"
Naru opens the door. She pats a towel on her face as she walks into the hallway.
"I'll be all right. I wasn't prepared for what I saw, that's all."
"Ya don't have to talk about it. I'll get some tea or sake if you like."
"Let's go back. Hikari may still need some help. I'll have some tea now, but a glass of sake sounds good when this is over."
They meet Motoko as they walk towards the stairs.
"Naru-sempai, I do not agree with the idea of letting this man stay here. Hinata-sou is no place for a male."
Naru stares at her.
"What are you saying? We can't throw an injured person out, especially when we are responsible."
"But, Naru-sempai, he is a, a man."
Kitsune rests a hand on her shoulder.
"It's only for a while. It'll do ya some good to have some male company. Don't be such a prude!"
Motoko ponders the situation for a few moments.
"I will endure it for the time being. However, he must leave once he is able. I will not tolerate any delays in his departure."
As Motoko heads up to her room, Naru and Kitsune continue back to the common room. Hikari is finishing applying the cast to his leg as they enter. She rubs the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and looks up at them.
"The plaster will set in about thirty minutes. We can then move him into Otohime-san's room."
Naru nods in understanding.
"That is the closest room. Where'd Otohime-san say she would move to?"
"She will remain in the room to care for Urashima-san."
"Oh, that's very nice of . . . . . She what?"
Kitsune grins at the doctor.
"That guy's pretty fast! First Shinobu, now our new manager!"
"Kitsune, that isn't funny. We can't let him stay in the same room as Otohime-san! It isn't, well it just isn't right!"
Kitsune turns her grin on Naru.
"So, he should stay in your room then."
"Yes, I mean no! He should have his own room! Otohime-san can stay with one of us while he gets better."
Hikari stands up and faces Naru.
"He needs someone nearby, at least for a day or so, until he adjusts to wearing the cast."
"We can take turns checking in on him. That should be enough, right Hikari-san?"
Mutsumi leans on Naru's shoulder.
"Oh my! Does that mean we will have to share him?"
Hikari purses her lips and thinks for a moment.
"I suppose so. I will stay here until he can be moved upstairs."
The front door opens and Haruka runs inside. She looks around, spots Keitaro still lying on the floor, and quickly rushes over to him.
"Hikari-san, how badly is he hurt? What happened?"
"It was a bad break, but I have reset the bones and placed a cast over the leg. He should fully recover."
"How did it happen?"
Naru hesitates and then answers.
"It was an accident. Keitaro was taking care of us and when Motoko-chan returned, she mistook his actions. I'm really sorry, Haruka-san. I promise that we will take care of him."
The girls sit around Keitaro discussing the arrangements for his care. After Hikari judges that the cast has set enough, they carry Keitaro upstairs and carefully place him in the manager's room. After tucking him into the futon, he starts to regain consciousness.
"Wh-what happened? I feel like a train ran over me. And then it backed up and finished the job!"
Hikari gently presses his shoulder to keep him from rising.
"I am Ishido Hikari. You right leg was broken and I have placed it in a cast. The residents here have agreed to allow you to stay until you recover."
Haruka leans over and smiles at him.
"You'll be fine here, so don't worry."
"What happened? The last thing I remember is some fearsome kendo-girl swinging her sword at me."
As he speaks, Motoko enters the room. Hearing him call her 'kendo-girl', she draws her sword and advances on him.
"How dare you speak about me in such a manner? I am a twelfth generation sword-master of the Shinmei School, not some pathetic stick swinging adolescent!"
She places the tip of her sword against his throat as she snarls at him.
"You will renounce your words or face my wrath!"
Keitaro reaches up and pushes her blade away.
"Don't you know that it's rude to point?"
Motoko stares at him.
"You dare to defy me?"
He points at his leg.
"You're the one that did this to me. Why?"
Motoko steps backwards.
"Because it appeared that you were preparing to perform some type of mischief upon my friends."
He smiles up at her.
"Then I don't need to ask for an apology. You were just doing what you thought was right. But I do apologize for calling you a kendo-girl."
Motoko blushes, unused to such a considerate reaction from a male.
"I, I still do not believe that Hinata-sou is any place for a male. Please recover quickly so that you may leave."
As she leaves the room, Naru looks from her to Keitaro.
"That was a little surprising. I thought for sure that Motoko-chan wouldn't rest until you were at least four kilometers from here and we had the inn disinfected."
Kitsune moves towards the door.
"I could use that glass of sake right about now. Ya wanna join me Doc?"
Hikari smiles at her.
"That would be nice, thank you."
Naru, Mutsumi and Haruka are left in the room with Keitaro and his aunt kneels down to adjust his blanket.
"I'll call the HDC in the morning and let them know that you were injured. Maybe they'll hold your position until you can work again."
"One day on the job and I have to quit already. My luck has been pretty bad since I came here, hasn't it."
Haruka pats him on the shoulder and then rises and moves to the door.
"Things always have a way of working out. You'll be okay, don't worry."
Mutsumi pulls another pillow out of the closet and sets it next to Keitaro.
"I'll stay here to take care of you. If there is anything you want, just ask."
Naru grabs the pillow and Mutsumi's arm.
"I think that he'd rather sleep by himself. He needs to rest peacefully."
"I suppose you are right, but I would have been fun. I could be the mommy!"
Naru turns to him as she pulls the manager into the hallway and closes the door.
"Get some rest Keitaro. I'll bring some tea up later."
Keitaro looks at the closed door as their footstep echo down the hallway.
"I don't mind if someone stayed here with me."
"Ya gots your wish!"
He quickly turns his head towards the voice. Su, a bunch of bananas in her arms, is perched on the railing outside the window.
"Su-chan! How did you get up there?"
She leaps down and sits next to him.
"Like everyone else would, I guess. Wanna banana? They're good brain food!"
Keitaro props himself up and smiles at her.
"That's very nice of you, but my stomach still hasn't recovered from dinner."
"S'okay, though I'm surprised that you were the only one of us that was still able to stand up after that meatloaf from Helsinki!"
He laughs at her words.
"I think you meant to say meatloaf from hell."
Su tilts her head.
"Ya never has been to Helsinki! Here's a travel tip for ya. Don't drink the water! I wouldn't want ya to get sick or anything."
"I wasn't here long enough before, but I can see now that you really are very sweet."
Su stares at him and blushes.
"Keitaro, thank you. That's the nicest thing I've heard in a long time ago."
She curls up on the floor next to the futon.
"I'll whip up something in my lab to help ya out, tomorrow."
Keitaro smiles at her.
"You don't need to trouble . . . . . Su-chan, are you asleep already?"
He looks at the small, sleeping girl.
"She's purring!"
In the distance, a girl's scream pierces the night. Keitaro struggles to pull himself over and opens the door. The sound of running footsteps echo from upstairs. He spots Motoko as she leaps down to the second floor, her eyes wide and an empty scabbard in her hands. She trips once and continues scrambling up the hallway. She sees Keitaro peeking out the door and runs towards him.
"Urashima!"
Before he can react, Motoko dives through the door, wrapping her arms around him as she enters. Tears roll down her cheeks as she buries her face against his neck. They tumble backwards and land on the futon.
"Help me! It came into my room and attacked me! It is horrible!"
"M-motoko-chan, what is it? What's wrong?"
Motoko clutches him, her body covered in a cold sweat. She shivers and pulls the blanket over their heads.
"It is, it is a t-t-t-turtle! EEEEEIIIIIAAAAA!"
Keitaro peeks out from under the blanket in time to see a small turtle fly through the door. As it spots him, it lands and raises a flipper.
"Mew?"
"It's just a turtle. A flying turtle, but otherwise a normal little turtle. Why are you bothering Motoko-chan?"
"Mew!"
"Don't you know that it isn't nice to scare girls?"
"Mew, mew."
"I wish I knew what you are saying. Do you live here too?"
"Mew!"
He reaches over and grabs one of Su's bananas.
"If I give you this, will you leave Motoko-chan alone?"
She nods her head.
"Mew!"
"Okay, go play nice somewhere else."
Tama-chan takes the fruit and flies through the window. Keitaro pulls the blanket off Motoko to show her that the turtle has left. She raises her head and looks up at him.
"Thank you, Urashima. I, I am so ashamed. I have a great fear of t-turtles and did not know what to do. I apologize for imposing upon you in this manner."
"That's okay, Motoko-chan. I think that she understood what I told her. It should be safe to go back to your room now."
"I thank you again. But I am still a bit shaken. I shall remain here for a few minutes to compose myself, if you do not mind."
"Take as much time as you need. I'll watch out for any turtles for you."
He looks down. Motoko's eyes slowly close and her head falls on his left shoulder.
"She must have really been scared. I'm just glad it was a turtle and not a cockroach."
Su, still purring, slides over and clutches to his right arm. Keitaro finally realizes the position he is in and starts to blush.
"Maybe getting hurt wasn't such a bad thing after all."
The door slides open. Naru, carrying a pitcher of tea and two glasses, walks in."
"He is some tea, Keit . . . . ."
Kitsune peeks over her shoulder.
"Wow! Now he's got Su AND Motoko! Keitaro, you stud!"
In the silence, Keitaro thinks he can hear the vein throbbing in Naru's forehead.
"Oh no. Why is she getting so mad?"
The tea falls to the floor.
End of Chapter Two.
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Two – Those are the Breaks
Monday Evening
Shinobu timidly moves towards Keitaro as the others watch.
"Uh, this is your sketchbook. Y-you forgot it the other day.
Keitaro walks over and takes his book.
"Thank you for returning it. I'm sorry if I frightened you."
"Th-that's all right. I was just a little surprised."
Su leaps over and tries to peek in Shinobu's backpack.
"Did ya bring us something to eat? It's Naru's turn to cook today. I aint gonna say her cooking's bad, but the others usually skip dinner."
Naru runs to the door.
"Dinner! I forgot all about it! My meatloaf is going to be ruined!"
The residents gather in the kitchen as Naru pulls the desiccated meat from the oven. The smoke slowly dissipates as she works to save the meal.
"I'll just marinate it with some vinegar, that'll cover the burned taste. After I scrape the blackened parts off it'll be good as new! Maybe I can use the scrapings to make the gravy."
Kitsune covers her mouth and stomach and runs from the room. Mutsumi takes a closer look at the pitiful meatloaf.
"Oh my!"
And then she faints. They carefully carry her into the common room and lay her on the couch before returning to the kitchen. Naru moves to one of the pots on the stove and lifts the cover.
"At least the mashed potatoes are okay."
She proudly displays the lumpy mass and Su taste a spoonful.
"Ya boiled the taters in tea again, didn't ya? And I detect the distinct flavor of mayonnaise and horse radish. Not too bad, actually!"
Kitsune, who had just re-entered the kitchen, turns and runs out again. Keitaro looks around.
"Did you make any rice?"
Naru scowls at him.
"Of course I made the rice. It's in the cooker. Can you check to see if it's ready?"
Keitaro opens the cover. The rice appears normal, except for the fact there are a few shattered eggs mixed in with it.
"Narusegawa, did you put these eggs in here?"
"Yes. I thought that I could save time if I cooked the eggs with the rice. I put some asparagus in to bottom, too!"
Kitsune doesn't even make it through the door this time before turning around.
"Oh my god! We're gonna starve!"
Shinobu surveys the culinary devastation and moves to the stove.
"We can still save this. Do you have any more fresh vegetables?
Naru runs to the refrigerator.
"Urashima-san, can you boil some water and make more rice?"
"Right away!"
An hour later, they all are lying on the couches and chairs in the common room. Shinobu, a damp towel on her forehead, looks at the others.
"I'm sorry. I thought that I could save the meatloaf. I guess it was too far gone for even me to help. Aaauuuuu!"
Keitaro, the only one able to stand, moves around the room checking on the girls.
"You couldn't know that Narusegawa mixed baking soda into the meatloaf."
Naru turns her head and looks at Shinobu.
"Why does it say baking soda if you're not supposed to use it?"
"Aaauuuuu! You didn't need to use the whole box."
Keitaro smiles at Shinobu.
"If it wasn't for your delicious tempura, dinner would have been a total loss."
Shinobu blushes at his compliment.
"Th-thank you, Urashima-san."
A sound at the door causes Keitaro to look up. A young woman in a dark blue shirt and skirt stands there with a large bag over her shoulder. He shakily walks towards her.
"Can I help you?"
Motoko surveys the scene. Drawing her sword, she drops her bag and runs towards Keitaro.
"You foul, vile, lecherous male! How dare you come in here and enact your evil upon my friends. Whoever you are, my blade shall bring you to justice!"
Keitaro stares at her, unable to understand what she is about to do.
"I'm just helping them, that's all. There's no reason to get angry."
She leaps from the foyer and charges him.
"SHINMEI SCHOOL SECRET ARTS! ROCK SPLITTING SWORD!"
Naru raises her head over the top of the couch in time to see Motoko launch her attack. Her plea goes unheard.
"Motoko-chan! He didn't do anything! It was an accident!"
Chi swirls around her blade as flames leap from her eyes. As she swings, the vortex forms, hurling its entire force directly at Keitaro. The maelstrom slams into him, driving his body into the coffee table. Keitaro and the shattered table are flung towards the far wall, slamming into a support pillar along the way. A wet breaking sound echoes in the room as Keitaro's right leg strikes the pole. His scream is cut short as he slams into the wall and slides to the floor.
Kitsune struggles from her chair and moves to Keitaro.
"Motoko, are ya nuts? Why'd ya do that?"
"I will not allow a male to come in here and attack my friends."
As Kitsune reaches him, she pulls up short and places her hands to her mouth.
"Oh my god!"
Naru and Mutsumi stagger next to her. They stare at Keitaro's unconscious body, unable to speak. His right leg, just above the ankle, is bent at a painful angle and a few drops of blood start to soak through the leg of his pants.
Su crawls over and stares at him before turning to Motoko.
"Ya broke him!"
"As I said, I was just acting to protect all of you."
Shinobu, eyes wide, peeks over a chair.
"Aaauuuuu! We'd better call a doctor! Where's the phone? Where's the phone?"
Shinobu leaps from the chair and runs around in circles until Su rolls over and grabs her feet.
"Stop spinning your wheelies! The phone's on the counter!"
Shinobu runs over to the counter and searches for the telephone. Su looks at her and corrects her mistake.
"It's on the other counter."
Motoko stares at the unfamiliar girl running around the room.
"We should just dump him at the bottom of the hill."
"Aaauuuuu!"
Shinobu jumps over, grabs an item, and starts pressing buttons. Su walks over and corrects her again.
"That's the electric thermos. The phone is behind it."
"Aaauuuuu!"
Grabbing the real phone Shinobu furiously begins dialing. A calm voice answers.
"This is the Goddess Relief Office, if you state your . . . . ."
Shinobu shakes the receiver.
"No, no, no! Aaauuuuu! I wish I lived here so I'd know where to find things in an emergency!"
She slams the receiver down and tries dialing again.
On a higher plane, Urd looks at the silent phone in her hands and then checks Yggdrasil's Wish List.
"She was right on time. Okay Maehara Shinobu, your wish is approved."
She looks at her watch and then scratches a name off her clipboard.
"It's time for my coffee break."
In Hinata-sou, Shinobu grips the phone, waiting for someone to answer.
"Hinata Clinic, Doctor Ishido Hikari speaking."
"Doctor, come up to Hinata-sou, quickly! Urashima-san has a badly broken leg and he's bleeding!"
"I'll be up right away! Don't move him unless it is absolutely necessary!"
A few minutes later, Shinobu opens the door and lets the doctor enter. As she leads her to the common room, the others look up from their positions around Keitaro. Motoko stands in the corner with her arms crossed.
"Will someone please explain what this, male, is doing in our home?"
Naru looks up at her.
"This is Urashima Keitaro. Granny Hina picked him to be our manager, but he turned down the job. I invited him here to study with me. He was taking care of us because we ate, ah, we, uh . . . . ."
Kitsune finishes for her.
"It was Naru's turn to cook today."
Motoko's eyes widen as she understands.
"Food poisoning."
Hikari quickly checks his injury and prepares to set his broken leg.
"I will require assistance. Someone must hold his leg steady while I move his foot back into place."
Naru kneels next to her.
"I'll help you. He never would have been hurt if I hadn't invited him here."
The other girls step into the dining room so they will not have to watch. A few minutes later, Naru calmly walks upstairs and enters the bathroom. The sound of her retching can be heard downstairs and Kitsune goes to check on her friend. Shinobu and Su slowly walk back into the common room as Hikari prepares to place a cast on Keitaro's leg.
"Aaauuuuu. Will he be okay?"
Hikari turns to them as she mixes some plaster.
"It was a clean break, fortunately. However, he will need to a few days of complete rest to make sure he begins healing properly. What room does he stay in?"
Su slides over and looks in the pan of plaster.
"He's just visiting Naru. He don't live here."
Mutsumi enters the room and sits near the doctor.
"I'm the new manager. Urashima-kun can stay here as long as he needs to. There aren't any other rooms ready, so I will let him stay in my room so someone will be nearby to take care of him."
Hikari smiles at her.
"That is very kind of you. It would be best not to move him from Hinata-sou for at least a week. Narusegawa-san said his name is Urashima Keitaro. Is he related to Haruka-san?"
"Yes, he's her nephew and Granny Hina's grandson."
"Please contact Haruka-san and let her know what has happened. I'll trust her to notify anyone else, since Urashima-san is still unconscious."
"I'll call her right away."
As Mutsumi moves off to call Haruka, Motoko walks over and looks over Hikari's shoulder.
"Did I hear you correctly, that you wish for this, male, to remain here?"
The doctor responds as she wraps Keitaro's leg.
"That is correct. He must be moved as little as possible."
Motoko turns and walks towards the stairs.
"That is not acceptable. An all girl dormitory is no place for a man."
"He is injured, and you are the one responsible. Do you not feel any compassion for him?"
"That is none of my concern. If he had not been here, none of this would have occurred."
Upstairs, Kitsune leans against the wall outside the bathroom.
"Are ya'll okay in there?"
Naru opens the door. She pats a towel on her face as she walks into the hallway.
"I'll be all right. I wasn't prepared for what I saw, that's all."
"Ya don't have to talk about it. I'll get some tea or sake if you like."
"Let's go back. Hikari may still need some help. I'll have some tea now, but a glass of sake sounds good when this is over."
They meet Motoko as they walk towards the stairs.
"Naru-sempai, I do not agree with the idea of letting this man stay here. Hinata-sou is no place for a male."
Naru stares at her.
"What are you saying? We can't throw an injured person out, especially when we are responsible."
"But, Naru-sempai, he is a, a man."
Kitsune rests a hand on her shoulder.
"It's only for a while. It'll do ya some good to have some male company. Don't be such a prude!"
Motoko ponders the situation for a few moments.
"I will endure it for the time being. However, he must leave once he is able. I will not tolerate any delays in his departure."
As Motoko heads up to her room, Naru and Kitsune continue back to the common room. Hikari is finishing applying the cast to his leg as they enter. She rubs the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and looks up at them.
"The plaster will set in about thirty minutes. We can then move him into Otohime-san's room."
Naru nods in understanding.
"That is the closest room. Where'd Otohime-san say she would move to?"
"She will remain in the room to care for Urashima-san."
"Oh, that's very nice of . . . . . She what?"
Kitsune grins at the doctor.
"That guy's pretty fast! First Shinobu, now our new manager!"
"Kitsune, that isn't funny. We can't let him stay in the same room as Otohime-san! It isn't, well it just isn't right!"
Kitsune turns her grin on Naru.
"So, he should stay in your room then."
"Yes, I mean no! He should have his own room! Otohime-san can stay with one of us while he gets better."
Hikari stands up and faces Naru.
"He needs someone nearby, at least for a day or so, until he adjusts to wearing the cast."
"We can take turns checking in on him. That should be enough, right Hikari-san?"
Mutsumi leans on Naru's shoulder.
"Oh my! Does that mean we will have to share him?"
Hikari purses her lips and thinks for a moment.
"I suppose so. I will stay here until he can be moved upstairs."
The front door opens and Haruka runs inside. She looks around, spots Keitaro still lying on the floor, and quickly rushes over to him.
"Hikari-san, how badly is he hurt? What happened?"
"It was a bad break, but I have reset the bones and placed a cast over the leg. He should fully recover."
"How did it happen?"
Naru hesitates and then answers.
"It was an accident. Keitaro was taking care of us and when Motoko-chan returned, she mistook his actions. I'm really sorry, Haruka-san. I promise that we will take care of him."
The girls sit around Keitaro discussing the arrangements for his care. After Hikari judges that the cast has set enough, they carry Keitaro upstairs and carefully place him in the manager's room. After tucking him into the futon, he starts to regain consciousness.
"Wh-what happened? I feel like a train ran over me. And then it backed up and finished the job!"
Hikari gently presses his shoulder to keep him from rising.
"I am Ishido Hikari. You right leg was broken and I have placed it in a cast. The residents here have agreed to allow you to stay until you recover."
Haruka leans over and smiles at him.
"You'll be fine here, so don't worry."
"What happened? The last thing I remember is some fearsome kendo-girl swinging her sword at me."
As he speaks, Motoko enters the room. Hearing him call her 'kendo-girl', she draws her sword and advances on him.
"How dare you speak about me in such a manner? I am a twelfth generation sword-master of the Shinmei School, not some pathetic stick swinging adolescent!"
She places the tip of her sword against his throat as she snarls at him.
"You will renounce your words or face my wrath!"
Keitaro reaches up and pushes her blade away.
"Don't you know that it's rude to point?"
Motoko stares at him.
"You dare to defy me?"
He points at his leg.
"You're the one that did this to me. Why?"
Motoko steps backwards.
"Because it appeared that you were preparing to perform some type of mischief upon my friends."
He smiles up at her.
"Then I don't need to ask for an apology. You were just doing what you thought was right. But I do apologize for calling you a kendo-girl."
Motoko blushes, unused to such a considerate reaction from a male.
"I, I still do not believe that Hinata-sou is any place for a male. Please recover quickly so that you may leave."
As she leaves the room, Naru looks from her to Keitaro.
"That was a little surprising. I thought for sure that Motoko-chan wouldn't rest until you were at least four kilometers from here and we had the inn disinfected."
Kitsune moves towards the door.
"I could use that glass of sake right about now. Ya wanna join me Doc?"
Hikari smiles at her.
"That would be nice, thank you."
Naru, Mutsumi and Haruka are left in the room with Keitaro and his aunt kneels down to adjust his blanket.
"I'll call the HDC in the morning and let them know that you were injured. Maybe they'll hold your position until you can work again."
"One day on the job and I have to quit already. My luck has been pretty bad since I came here, hasn't it."
Haruka pats him on the shoulder and then rises and moves to the door.
"Things always have a way of working out. You'll be okay, don't worry."
Mutsumi pulls another pillow out of the closet and sets it next to Keitaro.
"I'll stay here to take care of you. If there is anything you want, just ask."
Naru grabs the pillow and Mutsumi's arm.
"I think that he'd rather sleep by himself. He needs to rest peacefully."
"I suppose you are right, but I would have been fun. I could be the mommy!"
Naru turns to him as she pulls the manager into the hallway and closes the door.
"Get some rest Keitaro. I'll bring some tea up later."
Keitaro looks at the closed door as their footstep echo down the hallway.
"I don't mind if someone stayed here with me."
"Ya gots your wish!"
He quickly turns his head towards the voice. Su, a bunch of bananas in her arms, is perched on the railing outside the window.
"Su-chan! How did you get up there?"
She leaps down and sits next to him.
"Like everyone else would, I guess. Wanna banana? They're good brain food!"
Keitaro props himself up and smiles at her.
"That's very nice of you, but my stomach still hasn't recovered from dinner."
"S'okay, though I'm surprised that you were the only one of us that was still able to stand up after that meatloaf from Helsinki!"
He laughs at her words.
"I think you meant to say meatloaf from hell."
Su tilts her head.
"Ya never has been to Helsinki! Here's a travel tip for ya. Don't drink the water! I wouldn't want ya to get sick or anything."
"I wasn't here long enough before, but I can see now that you really are very sweet."
Su stares at him and blushes.
"Keitaro, thank you. That's the nicest thing I've heard in a long time ago."
She curls up on the floor next to the futon.
"I'll whip up something in my lab to help ya out, tomorrow."
Keitaro smiles at her.
"You don't need to trouble . . . . . Su-chan, are you asleep already?"
He looks at the small, sleeping girl.
"She's purring!"
In the distance, a girl's scream pierces the night. Keitaro struggles to pull himself over and opens the door. The sound of running footsteps echo from upstairs. He spots Motoko as she leaps down to the second floor, her eyes wide and an empty scabbard in her hands. She trips once and continues scrambling up the hallway. She sees Keitaro peeking out the door and runs towards him.
"Urashima!"
Before he can react, Motoko dives through the door, wrapping her arms around him as she enters. Tears roll down her cheeks as she buries her face against his neck. They tumble backwards and land on the futon.
"Help me! It came into my room and attacked me! It is horrible!"
"M-motoko-chan, what is it? What's wrong?"
Motoko clutches him, her body covered in a cold sweat. She shivers and pulls the blanket over their heads.
"It is, it is a t-t-t-turtle! EEEEEIIIIIAAAAA!"
Keitaro peeks out from under the blanket in time to see a small turtle fly through the door. As it spots him, it lands and raises a flipper.
"Mew?"
"It's just a turtle. A flying turtle, but otherwise a normal little turtle. Why are you bothering Motoko-chan?"
"Mew!"
"Don't you know that it isn't nice to scare girls?"
"Mew, mew."
"I wish I knew what you are saying. Do you live here too?"
"Mew!"
He reaches over and grabs one of Su's bananas.
"If I give you this, will you leave Motoko-chan alone?"
She nods her head.
"Mew!"
"Okay, go play nice somewhere else."
Tama-chan takes the fruit and flies through the window. Keitaro pulls the blanket off Motoko to show her that the turtle has left. She raises her head and looks up at him.
"Thank you, Urashima. I, I am so ashamed. I have a great fear of t-turtles and did not know what to do. I apologize for imposing upon you in this manner."
"That's okay, Motoko-chan. I think that she understood what I told her. It should be safe to go back to your room now."
"I thank you again. But I am still a bit shaken. I shall remain here for a few minutes to compose myself, if you do not mind."
"Take as much time as you need. I'll watch out for any turtles for you."
He looks down. Motoko's eyes slowly close and her head falls on his left shoulder.
"She must have really been scared. I'm just glad it was a turtle and not a cockroach."
Su, still purring, slides over and clutches to his right arm. Keitaro finally realizes the position he is in and starts to blush.
"Maybe getting hurt wasn't such a bad thing after all."
The door slides open. Naru, carrying a pitcher of tea and two glasses, walks in."
"He is some tea, Keit . . . . ."
Kitsune peeks over her shoulder.
"Wow! Now he's got Su AND Motoko! Keitaro, you stud!"
In the silence, Keitaro thinks he can hear the vein throbbing in Naru's forehead.
"Oh no. Why is she getting so mad?"
The tea falls to the floor.
End of Chapter Two.