A/N - I apologize for the length of time between this update and my last, but there were a few things I wanted to have beta-read before I posted this, since the way this chapter comes out will determine the rest of my story. This is the last of the completed chapters. The original ending to the fic is now in the in-progress Chapter 8. I've already got my girlfriend and a couple of other people to beta-read, but if anyone else desperately wants to, I'd be more than happy to oblige you. The more the merrier, is how I see it. Updates will come fairly slowly after this one, but I will finish this fic.
I hope you enjoy this chapter. Once again, I'm not lucky enough to own Love Hina: Akamatsu is in that enviable position.
Chapter 7 - Anticipating Toudai
On the day before the examination, Shinobu took the advice of her seminar instructors, and rested. Keitaro had to assist Seta in cataloguing a set of Bronze Age Hellenistic artifacts, so he couldn't spend the day with her, but he promised that he would take her on a date that evening, and secretively suggested that she dress nicely for it, as he left.
Kitsune overheard, and came down the stairs into the lobby, grinning. "Shinobu," she said, "How about you and I go shopping, since this is your first real date with Keitaro?"
Shinobu smiled at the older girl, and said, "That sounds nice. I need to get a dress for tonight, because I don't have anything very... well, dressy."
Kitsune laughed. "I'd loan you one of mine, but I don't think that's what you want. And I think it'd make poor Keitaro's brain shut down."
Shinobu smiled. "I'll remember that for some other time, Kitsune-san," she said conspiratorially.
The two of them went down to the city, and browsed. Despite her personal tastes in clothing, Kitsune actually had a fairly good eye for fashion, and she quickly picked a set of dresses that Shinobu liked. While Shinobu went to try them on, Kitsune sat and browsed through a catalogue. Shinobu came out with a dress in her hands, and Kitsune smiled inwardly. She'd chosen a simple, knee-length, sleeveless satin dress with no adornment at all. It was a rich, dark red, almost the color of a fine claret, and was cut low, but not so low that it was of questionable intent. All in all, it was a very subtle, mature choice, and Kitsune approved greatly.
"I like this one best, but I can't afford it," Shinobu said, sadly, as she went to return it to the rack.
Kitsune smiled and placed her hand on Shinobu's shoulder. "Perhaps not, but don't worry about that. I'll take care of it."
Shinobu looked up at Kitsune with surprise. "Really? You'd buy this for me? Why?" she asked.
Kitsune smiled and leaned over, looking into Shinobu's eyes. "Think of it as my gift to you and Keitaro. People like you are what's right with the world."
Shinobu felt herself tearing up, and hugged Kitsune. "Thank you so much, Kitsune-san!"
Kitsune hugged her back and said, "You're welcome, Shinobu. Now you take this dress, and you wow him. Make him realize every second just how lucky he is that he's with you."
Shinobu smiled and said, "I will, Kitsune-san. Oh, and Kitsune?"
"Yeah?"
"I know he likes you. Seta-san, I mean. He's a little... slow, but he'll get it, someday," Shinobu said.
Kitsune smiled at her. "I know he will, Shinobu. I can wait as long as I need to."
The girls went around picking out other incidentals for Shinobu's date: a pair of matching shoes, a small handbag, and, at Kitsune's urging, garments that made Shinobu blush almost as red as her dress. She tried to tell Kitsune that she wasn't sure if they'd be needed, or even appropriate, but Kitsune smiled and said, "No one said you had to do anything with them now. Someday, maybe, but they'll be your own secret, to reveal when you feel the time is right."
When they got back, it was already early afternoon, and Shinobu hurried off to her bedroom to prepare. She felt more nervous about the upcoming date than she did about her exams, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling, she mused, as she put her hair up with a pair of silver-tipped ebony hairsticks. She heard a soft knock on her door, and said, "Come in!"
Motoko opened the door, silently, and padded in. She sat down and smiled. "You look very nice, Shinobu-chan," she said.
Shinobu giggled softly. "Thank you, Motoko-san. Did you want to ask me something?"
Motoko shook her head and said, "It's been such a long time since any of us went on a date, I thought it would be interesting to see what it was like."
Shinobu smiled and said, "I hope you're not jealous, Motoko-san."
Motoko blushed slightly, and said, "Don't worry, like everyone else, I wish you the best of luck. I do wish I were in your position, though."
Shinobu laughed and said, "What, you mean nervous and anxious and about ready to jump out of my skin with anticipation?"
Motoko smiled. "Actually, yes. Dates are not something with which I have had much experience."
Shinobu lightly patted the older girl's hand. "Don't worry about that. You're more of the courtly-love type, anyway, Motoko-san." She smiled.
Motoko laughed softly. "I think you're right. Thank you, Shinobu." She turned her head to the door. "And I think Urashima-san just returned. I'll go tell him that you're almost done preparing."
Shinobu smiled. "Thank you, Motoko-san." As the older girl left, she smiled and thought, Of course, I'm more of the courtly-love type, too. That's why we both fell in love with Keitaro. He's such a wonderfully old-fashioned gentleman. She stood up, and returned to her mirror, making sure everything looked just right, attempting to avoid thinking about putting on the unmentionables that Kitsune had talked her into getting.
-----
After Motoko told him that Shinobu was almost ready, Keitaro went to his room and picked out a dark-grey suit, white shirt, and (on the orders of Kitsune) a dark red tie. He wasn't particularly pressed for time, but hurried through dressing all the same, because the anticipation of his date with Shinobu was almost unbearable. He dressed quickly, and half-walked, half-ran downstairs. He paced back and forth in the lobby, until he heard a soft voice say, "Kei-kun? I'm ready."
Keitaro's head whipped around so fast, he almost injured himself. Shinobu stood on the stairs, her hands clasping a small handbag that matched the deep color of her dress. Her hair was up, except for two locks that fell forward, along the edge of her neckline. If she was wearing any makeup other than lipstick, he couldn't tell. It's the same lipstick as she wore that first time, he thought, or the same shade. God, she's beautiful. He found that his mouth was both wide open and utterly dry, and he couldn't say a word.
Shinobu giggled softly. "Goodness, I wasn't expecting that sort of reaction. I was going to ask you what you thought, but I've got an idea." She came down the stairs and leaned up, gently pressing her lips to his cheek. "I'm ready to go when you are, my Kei-kun."
Keitaro cleared his throat a couple of times before he trusted himself to speak. "Um. Kentaro let me borrow his car, I hope that's alright."
Shinobu smiled. "Kei-kun, anything is alright, as long as it's with you." She paused, and laughed. "Wow, that sounds incredibly cliched, doesn't it?" she said. "And yet, it's exactly how I feel. Maybe it's cliched because people who've been in love all feel that way."
Keitaro smiled and kissed her hand. "Shall we, milady?" he asked, sliding the door of the Hinatasou open, theatrically. Shinobu smiled and nodded, and they walked out to the lot, where Kentaro had left his car. He helped her into her side, and got in. "Now, just to reassure you, I am a better driver than Seta-san," he said, as he pulled out, and started driving down the hill.
Shinobu laughed and said, "Kei-kun, Tama-chan is a better driver than Seta-san." They talked as he drove, and she realized that he was driving away from Hinata, towards Tokyo. Shinobu looked over curiously. "Senpai, where are we going?"
Keitaro smiled and reached into his pocket, producing two tickets. "This, first."
Shinobu took them from him and read them over. "Oh! We're going to the theatre at Ginza? What are they putting on tonight?"
Keitaro grinned. "They're putting on several one-act plays, as always, but we're specifically going to see the performance of Act Three of 'Benten Kozo'. Would you like to know why?"
Shinobu smiled. "Aside from the fact that it's one of the great kabuki plays, you mean?"
Keitaro nodded. "Yes, aside from that. You remember when Haitani and Shirai were in the plays with us at the Hinata Beach Tea House, right? Well, they decided to go into drama, and they're performing in it, tonight. Well, they're not both performing. Shirai's a wonder with tech and prop work, so he'll probably be behind the scenes. Haitani's got the right personality for acting, so he's actually landed the role of Benten Kozo Kikunosuke."
Shinobu blinked. "Um, doesn't that mean that he...?"
Keitaro laughed. "Yes, he's an onnagata tonight. But he got us some reserve tickets, so we'll be right up front. I would think he wouldn't want me to see him like this, because I might never let him live it down, but then, he loves what he does."
Once they got to the city and found a space in which to park, they went to the theatre. They found their way to their seats, and waited as others filed in. When the lights dimmed, Shinobu's eyes lit up and she leaned forward, watching intently. She had to restrain herself from delighted laughter as a barely-recognizable Haitani walked demurely onstage in a kimono, as Benten was impersonating the daughter of a samurai. The character's high, feminine voice was almost nothing like Haitani's own, and the accent was incredibly cultured. She watched as Benten pretended to steal cloth from a merchant and was accused of stealing. Benten demanded compensation for being falsely accused. When a passing samurai exposed Benten for the thief he was, and Haitani's voice returned to his own as he showed his tattoo, she was amazed at his ability to recreate the role with such precision. The act ended, and she turned to Keitaro and said, "Haitani's really good, you know."
Keitaro nodded. "I see now why he got such a famous role. I wonder if we can track him down and congratulate him?"
"I think I can help you with that," said a voice by Keitaro's shoulder.
"Hey, Shirai! How're you doing?" Keitaro said, smiling at his pudgy, bespectacled friend.
"I'm doing really well, actually. This is a great job," said Shirai. "Now, more importantly, you said you needed two tickets to this. I want to know: who's the hottie?"
Shinobu blushed until she was almost the color of her dress, and Keitaro said, "You know Shinobu, don't you, Shirai? You've met her dozens of times."
Shirai gawked. "Whoa! I didn't even recognize you! Wow, Keitaro, you're one lucky little son of a..."
Keitaro laughed. "Yeah, I am. So, will we get to talk to Haitani?"
"Yep. I'll get him after the crowd disperses. He was pretty damned good, wasn't he?"
Shinobu nodded and said, "Oh, my, yes. I've never seen someone do Benten's transition between woman and man so well before."
"Well, we do have you guys to thank for that. Kinkaku and Ginkaku were breakout roles for us. So, where are you guys going after this? You're on a date, I guess," he said, awaiting Keitaro's usual flustered reaction.
Keitaro shook his head and said, "It's a secret. And yes, we're on a date. Actually, we've been together for a while, but this is our first actual date."
Shirai growled. "Argh! You lucky little...! Always hanging around with beautiful women. I don't suppose any of the ones you know would be interested in..."
Keitaro patted Shirai on the shoulder, and said, sadly, "I've been trying, really. If I make any progress, I'll let you know. Hey, there's Haitani!" He waved, and Haitani came over.
"Whoa, Keitaro, who's the hot chick? Are you two together?" asked Haitani as he smiled at Shinobu, a flower popping up between his fingers.
Shinobu's blush, which had receded, came back even deeper than before. Keitaro laughed and said, "Shinobu. My girlfriend. You know her, remember?"
Haitani's reaction almost perfectly mirrored Shirai's. After he had been calmed down with further promises from Keitaro to try to fix him up with one of the residents of the Hinatasou, he said, "So, what'd you think? And don't poke fun at me for the role, I've heard enough about it from this guy." He poked Shirai in the ribs.
Shinobu said, "You were incredible as Benten, Haitani-san. Better than anyone I've ever seen in the role."
Haitani laughed and said self-deprecatingly, "Oh, I'm not that good, really. But it's a great role to play, and the history of the role kind of sweeps you up in it, you know?" Shirai nodded.
Keitaro said, "I agree with Shinobu-chan, Haitani. That was a world-class performance. I'm really glad you found a dream of your own."
Haitani laughed and said, "This is only part of my dream. The second part would be to be in your shoes, or maybe Mutsumi's arms..."
Keitaro grinned. "You guys should come up to the Hinatasou more often, then. Spend some time up there and get to know the girls better. They're the kind of girls who need to know a person before they date them, you know?"
Haitani nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right. It's worth a shot."
Keitaro looked at his watch and said, "Oh! We have to go! We don't want to miss our reservation!"
He and Shinobu quickly said goodbye to Haitani and Shirai, and hurried out of the theater. In the car again, Shinobu smiled. "Kei-kun, are you seriously thinking about getting the girls to date them?"
Keitaro laughed, softly. "They're not bad people. They just don't know anything about girls. Well, not that I do, either, but you know what I mean. They have their own style, and it's not going to get them anywhere, so maybe I can steer them in another direction."
Shinobu smiled and looked out the window as they drove through the city. Suddenly, they turned left into the parking lot of the Park Square Hyatt in Shinjuku. Shinobu vaguely remembered the hotel from sometime in her past, but she couldn't place it. Keitaro led her inside to an elevator, and she kept trying, unsuccessfully, to remember when she'd been here before. Shinobu watched the numbers climb, and they got off at the fortieth floor. She only knew of one restaurant on the fortieth floor of any hotel in Tokyo, and looked at Keitaro with her mouth agape. "You mean... Kozue? You reserved us a table at Kozue?"
Keitaro smiled at her and squeezed her hand, gently. "Well, I knew we wouldn't have much time to do this before your exam, and after your exam, the girls are probably going to want to have a party, so this was the only time I thought we'd definitely have to ourselves around now, so I made reservations for two at Kozue a while ago. The theatre thing just happened to work out."
Shinobu leaned up and kissed him, very softly. "You are the sweetest man I've ever met. But how long is 'a while?'"
Keitaro laughed. "Um, about five weeks."
Shinobu just blushed a bright red hugged him very tightly.
When they went in, they were shown quickly to a small table by one of the windows. Shinobu looked out over the city as the sun set, and smiled. "Wow," she breathed as the city lights started to come on. She could see a reflection of herself in the window, and wondered if the blush would ever leave her cheeks.
The sommelier came over and introduced himself, asked if they would be needing his assistance in choosing a wine with dinner. Keitaro looked at Shinobu, who shyly inclined her head to him, indicating that it was his choice. Keitaro said, "I don't think we'll have wine, tonight, but can you bring a bottle of the Kozue Daiginjo sake?" The sommelier smiled and hurried off to get some.
Shinobu smiled. "I've heard that it's some of the best sake in the world. Kitsune-san is going to have an absolute fit if she finds out I had Kozue Daiginjo before she did."
Keitaro laughed, and said, "Knowing her, once she finds out where we went, that'll be the first question she asks."
They sat and talked, each of them ordering dobin mushi, pouring the light soup out of the miniature teapots and eating it slowly, enjoying each other's company. Shinobu leaned over and softly said, "Kei-kun, this is wonderful. Thank you so much for bringing me here."
Keitaro smiled, and said, "I'm glad you like it, Shinobu." He blushed and asked quietly, "Erm, Shinobu-chan, I don't know as much as you do about good food, so can you recommend something for me?"
Shinobu thought for a moment. "Well, all of the articles I've read about this restaurant have been very complimentary of the seared fillet of beef in a hoba leaf, maybe you should try that."
Keitaro nodded, and when their waiter returned, asking what they would choose for an entree, he ordered that. Shinobu chose a simmered, miso-infused butterfish. When their food was brought to the table, Keitaro nearly burned himself on the charcoal that was searing the meat before Shinobu realized what it was and gently moved his hand away. "Why do they bring it like that?" he asked, looking at his reddened hand with confusion on his face.
Shinobu smiled. "That way, they bring it out very rare, and you remove the meat when you feel it is done to your taste. But be careful, because it's quite hot."
Keitaro laughed, softly, and said, "Shinobu-chan, I'm beginning to think you know almost everything there is to know about cooking."
She smiled and said, "Oh, I don't know that much. It's just that growing up in a restaurant taught me all sorts of basic techniques, that's all." She reached over with her hashi, lightly picked a sliver of beef from his plate, and grinned. "Even something as fancy as this is based on the same principle as the beef in a beefbowl." With that, she popped the beef into her mouth and smiled.
They ate, quietly, and Keitaro was amazed at just how well everything was prepared. Shinobu sat across from him, and he could tell from her expression that she was analyzing every bite. I wonder if, next week, we'll come down to dinner and find dobin mushi set out for everyone. She's so good at this, he thought.
When their waiter came by to ask if they wanted anything after their entree, Keitaro looked over at Shinobu, who said, "No, thank you, senpai. I'd love to, but I don't think I should eat too heavily the night before my exams."
Keitaro nodded, and asked for the check. When it came, Shinobu had a burning desire to look, but knew that would be rude, and waited while Keitaro paid. They returned to the car, and as they drove back out of Tokyo, Shinobu looked back on the hotel, and she swore she could pick out the window where they had been seated. Every time I come by here, now, I know I'll look up and remember every second of this night, she thought.
They drove back to the Hinatasou in silence, neither of them needing to say a word. Shinobu leaned over and kissed Keitaro on the cheek, very softly, and sat back in her seat, watching the road. When they returned, it was getting late, and Keitaro walked Shinobu to her room.
When she came to her room, she picked up a robe and started to tell him goodnight. As soon as she looked at her bed, however, she stopped and said, in a nearly inaudible whisper, "No, I don't want to be here, tonight." She turned around and looked at Keitaro, and suddenly, her cheeks lit up a bright red, and she looked firmly at the floor. Oh, how do I ask this? I can't seem to get the words out! What do I do?
Keitaro leaned over and asked, "Is there something wrong, Shinobu-chan?"
Shinobu's eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed a few times. We've been dating for months, now, why is this so hard to ask?
Keitaro took her hands in his and squeezed them. "You can tell me anything, Shinobu. What is it?"
Shinobu smiled and whispered quickly, as though she were afraid of stopping halfway through, "May I stay with you, tonight, Kei-kun?"
Keitaro's eyes widened. "Shinobu, angel, do you mean...?"
Shinobu had been blushing before, but at this suggestion, she felt as if her cheeks were on fire. "No!" she said loudly, then took a deep breath to calm down. In a softer voice, she said, "No. I'm just not quite ready for that, yet, and certainly not the night before my exams. I just mean that I want to sleep, this night, wrapped in your arms. I want to wake up tomorrow morning, on the most important day of my life, with you there."
Keitaro blushed, and said, "I'd love that, Shinobu." He took her hand and led her back to his room, where he unrolled the futon. He turned around so that she could undress and slide under the duvet without him watching, and she giggled.
"You are such a gentleman, Kei-kun. I love that, and I love you." She slipped into the robe she'd brought from her room, and slid under the covers. As soon as she was under there, Keitaro began to undress, but looked over at her with a slightly hunted expression. Shinobu laughed in spite of herself, and a part of her decided to take advantage of the situation, despite the protests of her shy side. "Oh, I never said anything about me looking away, Keitaro. No, I think I'll enjoy this. Consider it my revenge for all the accidental peeks over the years." Keitaro blushed furiously, and undressed as quickly as he could, tossing his robe on and diving under the covers. Shinobu mock-pouted fiercely, but kissed his cheek as he settled in.
Keitaro stroked her hair back from her face, and asked, "Are you comfortable? I can get you another pillow, if you'd like."
Shinobu smiled. "No, you're all I need, Kei-kun," she whispered, before kissing him again. "Goodnight," she said, and burrowed her face into his chest. "Thank you for the most perfect night of my life."
Keitaro wrapped his arms tightly around her and said, "Goodnight, my Shinobu."
-----
The morning came far too quickly for either of them. Shinobu gently disengaged herself from Keitaro's arms, and kissed him softly until he woke up. "Good morning, Kei-kun. I have to start getting ready for my test. I'll be back in a bit," she said, and slid the door open and closed.
Keitaro sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He felt surprisingly content, and wondered if he were perhaps still dreaming. Naru's voice calling him from the room above convinced him that he wasn't, and he said, "Come on down, Naru-san."
Naru slid down the ladder, and sat down on the bottom rung. "How's she doing, Keitaro?"
Keitaro cocked his head. "You're not upset or anything by the fact that she and I spent the night together?" he asked.
Naru smiled, a little. "You'd think I would be, but I'm not, not really. It's odd, thinking that the two of you were right below me, but from what I can tell, you didn't do anything at all. I think that's very sweet, actually."
Keitaro laughed, a little uncomfortably. "I certainly hope you don't make a habit of listening in on what happens in my room, Narusegawa."
Naru blushed, and said, "No, I don't. I just happened to hear you two come back, that's all. I eavesdropped a bit, but I normally can't hear anything that's not shouted from down here."
"Alright, then," Keitaro said. "And Shinobu-chan is doing just fine. I think she's ready to get this over with, actually. Oh, I've been meaning to congratulate you on your acceptance to the graduate program in English. Good work!"
Naru smiled. "You know, I only applied for that because you and Mutsumi were going to be in graduate school, and everyone else was going to be there, assuming that Shinobu passes her test. That way, we really can all go to Toudai together."
The door slid open, and Shinobu came back in. "Oh, good morning, Naru-senpai," she said. "How are you this morning?"
Naru smiled. "I'm doing very well. I wanted to wish you luck on your exams, today."
"Thank you, Naru-senpai," Shinobu said, and ran off to make herself breakfast.
Naru watched her go, and said, "I think we should go down and make breakfast for her. After all, she made food for us when we had our tests."
Keitaro nodded, and they went downstairs to help. When they offered to make her breakfast, Shinobu thanked them, but protested that it helped her focus, so it wasn't long before they fell into their normal roles as assistants. Before long, they had made breakfast, and all the others were waiting for them at the table. Everyone wished Shinobu luck, especially Su, who could hardly be pried away from her.
Keitaro and Shinobu left a little early, so that Shinobu wouldn't have to worry about missing her test. They rode the train in, and Keitaro was amazed at how peaceful Shinobu looked. When he remarked on it, she smiled at him and said, "It's all a front, Kei-kun. I'm confident, but I can't help feeling scared to death at the same time, you know?"
Keitaro nodded. "I remember that feeling far too well," he said, as they arrived at Shibuya and hurried to catch the train to Komaba-to-daime. When they got to the Komaba campus, Keitaro gave Shinobu a reassuring hug, and kissed her, softly. "I'll be here when you get out, Shinobu-chan. Good luck"
Shinobu smiled, a little weakly, and went over to have her exam ticket checked. She turned and waved to Keitaro before she disappeared into the building where her exam was being held. When she got to her seat, she thought, I've done everything I can to prepare for this moment. The rest is up to fate. I wonder how Kei-kun felt when he was taking these exams? Probably as nervous as I feel. She looked at the forbidding blankness of the exam booklet in front of her.
"Please read the directions carefully, and mark your answers in the appropriate spaces on your answer sheets. Anyone believed to be cheating will be removed and denied a chance to re-sit this exam. You may open your exam booklets and begin," announced the proctor, marking off time on the board.
A/N - Just a little bit of trivia, but it seems that Kozue is the restaurant at which Naru and Seta met in the Christmas Special, though it's never explicitly stated. When Naru runs into the building, however, the sign outside reads "-ATT", which, in expensive hotels, can really only indicate a Hyatt, and the restaurant is on the very top, with the same window design, etc.
Also, an onnagata is a male actor who plays a female character in traditional kabuki.
