Author's Note: I'd like to thank everyone who's given me feedback about my stories. This is the first time I've actually written some real literary work and I'm glad a lot of you appreciate it. I'm actually a Keitaro/Naru fan but I don't want to completely dwell on that. Love Hina is, Shounen and I'd like to keep it that way. If you're not disappointed about it, read on. (

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Love Hina.

The walk back to the beach house was long. Keitaro usually found these trips relatively short when Naru held his hand in hers but somehow, this was different. Naru was happily enjoying the view while Keitaro was submerged in thought.

"What was Motoko thinking?" He thought. "I'm sure Motoko-chan is well aware of my relationship with Narusegawa."

Motoko was walking behind the couple along with the rest of the girls. She was silent the whole time, keeping her thoughts to herself while observing the couple ahead of her.

"I feel so much better now. These emotions--- I have kept them inside for so long--- I don't mean to jeopardize Naru-sempai's relationship with Keitaro but I had to tell him how I feel. The emptiness that I've been feeling inside--- its gone now. I only had to accept the fact that I do feel something for Keitaro-kun." Motoko told herself. "What am I saying?! It's impossible for me to go on feeling like this without jeopardizing Naru- san and Keitaro-kun's relationship! But I'm happy with the way it is now--- I'm confused--- Should I keep this feeling locked inside to preserve things the way they are or should I let it out?"

"Are you okay Motoko-chan?" Kaolla asked. "You seem to be troubled by something."

"Huh--- um--- don't mind me Kaolla-san, I just have a few personal insights that I need to deal with."

"Are you like that because Keitaro beat you?"

"No, but he did beat me---"she replied.

Motoko looked away and found comfort at the marvelous sight to her right. The sea was reflecting the rays of the sun with its deep blue hue. The sound of waves crashing against the shore provided comfort amidst her confusion. Her eyes let out a single teardrop that she tried so hard to conceal from the others.

"I had always convinced myself that he was nothing but a pervert, a failure with very little redeeming qualities. I realize I had purposely blinded myself from seeing his good side and the person underneath. I knew what I felt for him right from the very start but I denied myself the emotions that built within me. I am a warrior but I am also a woman. I would be denying my very essence if I were to keep my feelings inside. Now that I have confessed my feelings for Keitaro-kun, I feel complete. I'm sorry we had to fall in love with the same person, Naru-sempai. But I cannot allow these feelings to be suppressed any longer---"

The group arrived at the beach house a few minutes after. The time was roughly around eight in the morning. Shinobu went straight to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while Keitaro and Motoko headed to their respective washrooms to clean up. Naru and the rest of the girls helped clean up the place. This was their last day of operation and they were scheduled to return to Hinata Sou later on in the afternoon.

"Aahh--- nothing like a hot shower to soothe some aching muscles!" Keitaro commented. He took the empty seat beside Naru and waited for Shinobu to finish her preparations.

"That bruise looks bad." Naru was examining Keitaro's shoulder. "Let me go get some medicine and bandages just to make sure it doesn't become infected." She then ran off to get some supplies.

Meanwhile---

"Kitsune-san, um--- er--- is it okay if you lend me some of your clothes?" Motoko asked.

Kitsune gave Motoko a sly smile. "Hmm--- is it me or is the wind blowing from different direction lately? Was it something you ate?"

"Actually, its something I want to do for myself, Kitsune-san."

"Alright, I'll let this one pass without interrogating you. I have a feeling this will all manifest in due time. Come with me." Kitsune replied.

Naru returned with some medication and was treating Keitaro while Shinobu was on her way out, with a tray of food.

"Breakfast! Come and get it!" Shinobu called.

Like flies to a garbage can, the girls swarmed towards Shinobu's cooking. Everybody was happily eating when Motoko entered the area.

Heads turned and jaws dropped. Motoko was wearing a short one-piece dress that would make you forget she was a skilled master swordswoman. She gracefully glided towards the table and seated herself right beside Keitaro. Everybody was in a state of shock while Motoko carried on with her breakfast. Keitaro's nose started to drip blood at the sight of her. He immediately grabbed a piece of tissue paper and plugged his nostrils with it. Naru grabbed his head and turned it to face her. Keitaro had a ball of tissue plugged in each nostril and was wearing a silly smile.

"What are you thinking of, BAKA?!" Naru screamed. She then sent Keitaro flying off with her patented Naru-punch.

The sight of Naru hitting Keitaro was enough to shake everybody out of shock. The rest of the girls continued eating while Naru stared at Motoko.

"That's odd, you don't have your sword with you right now and you obviously didn't mind Keitaro staring at you. He was thinking perverted thoughts, you know." Naru suggested.

"The situation does not require the use of a weapon. From now on, I shall carry my sword only when necessary." Replied Motoko. "Besides I'm beginning to enjoy being the center of attention. Although I will never forgo my sword fighting skills, I have decided that I should learn to become both warrior and woman. I hope you don't find that objectionable, Naru-sempai."

"N--- No! Of course not!" Naru blurted out. "I just hope you don't start making any advances towards Keitaro." She thought.

The girls started packing their personal stuff in preparation for their trip back to Hinata Sou after breakfast. Keitaro was still nowhere to be found. Naru decided to fix Keitaro's stuff after she was done with hers. "That baka! I'm sure he'll catch up with us on the way. Hmm--- maybe he headed straight home already." She thought on the way to the room where Keitaro kept his things.

"Mo--- Motoko-chan?!"

"Oh, hello Naru-sempai! I just finished fixing my things and so I thought I'd help Keitaro-kun pack up." Motoko coyly replied.

"B--- B--- But those are men's clothes! Don't you hate men?! A--- And why are you calling him Keitaro-kun?!!! Only Mutsumi does that!!!" Naru stammered in shock.

"I believe I have the right to call him anything I want as long as it does not offend him. And I have realized that in order for me to become a true woman, I must accept the fact that I have to deal with men. And I sense a hint of jealousy in you, Naru-sempai. May I ask what you're doing here also?"

"Er--- I was just going to do the same---" Naru replied, apparently confused.

"All right, well, its all done then! Shall we go? I'm sure Keitaro-kun will be at Hinata Sou even before we get there." Motoko handed Keitaro's clothes to Naru and left.

Meanwhile---

"Wow, Motoko-chan really looks good in women's clothing! She has to learn to stay away from those body wraps." He felt his nose starting to bleed once more. "But I still don't understand--- Maybe she's sick again. Or maybe it's the sea breeze--- I better head straight home. Narusegawa really hit me hard this time! It might take me longer to return to the beach house compared to Hinata Sou." Keitaro told himself.

Keitaro didn't have his wallet with him when Naru sent him to orbit. He had to walk all the way to Hinata Sou. As luck would have it, Keitaro landed around two towns away from the inn and he was in familiar surroundings. He trudged towards Hinata Sou and Keitaro used this time to think about the things that were currently troubling him.

"I guess I better start shaping up. With Narusagawa as my girlfriend, I have more responsibilities now. Most of them see me only as a failure and a pervert. I can't allow myself to forever live in the shadow that was cast over me. I have to stand up for myself and Narusegawa! Then, when we get into Toudai together, we'll get married and be successful!" he was almost crying now with tears of joy.

Two towns across---

"Its already nine in the evening! Where is that baka?!" Naru was obviously worried now. "Its been six hours since we got home from the beach and there's still no trace of him!"

"Naru-sempai, has Sempai arrived already?" Shinobu asked.

"No, I don't know why he hasn't called either. Why don't go ahead and get some sleep. I'll stay up and wait for him."

"Okay, I hope he's okay though---" Shinobu waved Naru goodnight and headed to her room.

"Keitaro, I'm sorry for hitting you--- please come home---"Naru whispered.

Just then, Keitaro appeared, crawling towards the entrance with his tongue hanging out. He was dirty as a rat from the sewers.

"Haah--- haahh---" Keitaro was panting.

"Keitaro!!! What happened to you!" Naru cried, running towards him. Just then, a strong gush of wind blew her way and the next thing she knows, Motoko is kneeling beside Keitaro, helping him to his feet.

"What the---? Motoko-chan!!! Why are you--- What are you doing here?" Naru was as surprised as Keitaro was. The two women helped Keitaro to the reception area where they sat him down.

"Where have you been and what happened to you?" Naru asked.

Keitaro couldn't answer. He was breathing from his mouth and frantically pointing to and grasping his throat. Motoko and Naru were playing charades with the poor guy, trying to decipher what he was trying to tell them.

"Oh, I get it--- you're thirsty and you want some water!" Naru exclaimed. "Wait here, I'll go get you---"

Motoko appeared behind her with a glass of iced cold water even before she could finish her sentence.

"Drink Keitaro-kun, you must be very thirsty." Motoko brought the glass up to his lips while Naru watched in disbelief.

Keitaro was impervious to the situation developing right in front of him. He was too busy quenching his thirst to realize that Motoko was now clamoring for his attention too.

"Motoko-chan? What are you doing? I'm the one who's supposed to be taking care of Keitaro!" Naru was now really confused.

"I have to practice my womanly skills, and since Keitaro-kun is the only male entity in this house, I have only him to practice on." Motoko replied. "I hope you don't mind---"

"What are you two arguing about?" Keitaro was totally out of the situation.

"Nothing!" Naru and Motoko simultaneously replied.

Naru grabbed Keitaro's hand and pulled him away from Motoko.

"Wait a minute---- Wha--- What's going on?!" Keitaro was completely unaware of everything that was happening around him.

"Why don't you get cleaned up, grab your books and meet me in my room after. We have some studying to do!" Naru instructed him.

"Okay, give me fifteen minutes." Keitaro obliged.

The young man then headed up to his private hot tub and cleaned himself of the day's dirt. He then headed to his room and changed into clean clothes, grabbed his books as ordered, and climbed up the hole between his and Naru's room.

"Narusegawa, are you decent? I'm coming up!" Keitaro warned. He made it a point now to make sure Naru knew he was on the way up.

"Okay." Naru affirmed.

Keitaro hoisted himself out of the hole and sat himself beside Naru. She was holding her books but there was no table where they could study.

"Eh, Narusegawa, I thought we were going to study?" Keitaro asked.

"We are. Come on!" Naru grabbed his hand and led him out of the room. "I'm taking you out for coffee. I know this new coffee place that's quiet enough for us to be able to study. I'll treat you out tonight."

"Wow, but it's almost ten in the evening! Do you think they're still open?"

"Don't worry, they're open twenty four hours, Stop whining and come with me." Naru then pulled him close and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Consider this a date." She smiled.

The couple then left Hinata Sou and headed for the nearby coffee place. As they disappeared into the night, Motoko follows them, keeping distance.