Disclaimer:

I do not own anything from Love Hina or any copyrighted material. Any other characters used in this fic are mine, however.

Chapter 11 – Confessions

It had been nearly two hours since Kitsune left the dorm with Keitaro leaving soon afterward in an attempt to find her. Inside the Tea House, Naru hand Haruka sat in across from each other, contemplating today's events. The young Toudai-aspirant made her way down there in an attempt to reason out why things are what they are. After filling in all the details to the older Urashima woman, Naru sat in her chair uneasily.

"I still don't get it," said Naru, her gaze turning to her tea.

"Get what Naru?" asked Haruka, taking her cigarette out of her mouth.

"Well…I just don't understand why Kitsune just left without saying much," she said.

Haruka shook her head and sighed. "I think one reason why she left is because…

"Is because…of what?" asked Naru.

"Well…because of you."

"Huh?!" said a surprised Naru. "What are you are talking about?"

Haruka sighed. "I shouldn't be the one to tell you, but ever since high school, Kitsune had always tried to help you out in any way she can…even if it meant putting her own feelings aside."

Naru sat there, absorbing what she has just heard as Haruka continued. "There were a few instances that I know of when she confided to me her feelings that you two shared for the same person. She'd always asked me for advice…but in the end she decided to solve it the only way she could…by letting you find happiness at the expense of her own."

Naru turned her gaze to the older woman. "Huh? She'd do that…for me?"

"Look – I've known you two since you guys were starting high school…so much so that it's hard for any of you girls to hide your feelings from me," said Haruka. "Do you remember what it was like for her during that time?"

Naru just sat there, thinking about their time in high school. Memories began to drift in and out of her subconscious as she remembered specific aspects about her close friend. Naru had always felt that Kitsune was the most socially active of all of the other girls that she knew…this made her a little envious at times. Naru also knew that it gave her a bad image of her character in the end.

Haruka put another cigarette in her mouth and lit it. "You know that Kitsune had a bad rep in high school…about how forward she supposedly is to guys?"

"Yes," answered Naru. "Whenever I asked if it bothered her, she'd laughed it off and said that it wasn't a big deal."

"That's what she said," commented Haruka, "but in actuality, Kitsune felt a bit hurt having that kind of reputation…she felt that she could never get close to any guy and have a serious relationship."

"I…I had no idea," replied a surprised Naru. "You mean during that whole time…"

"Yeah," said Haruka, blowing a puff of smoke in the air.

"Why are you telling me this, Haruka?"

"Well…I sort of promised Kitsune that I wouldn't," she replied. "But given the circumstances, I thought it'd be best to let you know."

Naru nodded as her eyes drifted toward the scenery outside. The rainfall began to strengthen – the sound of heavy raindrops hitting the roof echoed all around them. The young girl began to think about Keitaro and Kitsune…both out there, somewhere in this weather.

"For everyone's sake," commented Haruka, "I hope that things will work out for those two."

She stamped out the cigarette butt in a nearby ashtray, the smoke gradually dissipating in the air. All that either of them can do now is sit and wait to see what happens next…

Keitaro walked around aimlessly as the rain began to pour. His clothes were soaking wet chilling him to the bone…but he didn't care. Things for him, at this point of time, didn't matter – all he could think about is Kitsune. Taking shelter in a doorway, he sighed.

"Kitsune…where are you?"

At that moment up the street Kitsune stepped out of a small bar, her mind running a mile a minute. In an instant, her body was covered in the cascading water from above causing her to shiver slightly.

"So much for a drink to put me in a better mood," she sighed, swinging her bag over her shoulder.

Kitsune had been having second thoughts about her vacation ever since she left. It seems the farther she got from the Hinata Sou, the harder it was to leave. An hour ago, the fox girl ducked into a bar hoping that a few stiff shots of liquor would help her ease her apprehension – the only thing that it accomplished is a sizable chunk of her own cash going into booze. Sighing she began to walk down the street hoping to catch the next cab to the airport, her mind shutting out the world around her.

'I…I know this is for the best,' she thought, 'but…why does it hurt so much?'

Just then Keitaro left the relatively dry doorway and began walking…unknowingly toward Kitsune. He was oblivious to her presence as the distance between them closed. As his eyes lifted upward, he stopped dead in his tracks – a wave of emotions flowed through him at once.

"Kitsune!" he exclaimed.

"Huh?" she replied, looking up. "Keitaro?"

"Kitsune," he said, moving quickly toward her. "I've been looking all–"

Before the young man could finish, a door from one of the shops swung open as several customers filed out. In an instant Keitaro was smacked in the face with a considerable amount of force.

"ACK!"

"Are you all right?" said Kitsune, rushing to his side.

"I…uh…ouch," he muttered.

Kitsune helped the young man to his feet. "What are you doing Keitaro?"

"I was looking all over for you," he answered. "I…I wanna talk to you."

"Oh," she replied. "But…I, uh really need to…"

"Kitsune," he said softly, "please?"

Keitaro's last statement struck a deep chord within the young woman. Looking at his expression, she could see that he was serious at his request. Casting her gaze to the ground, she sighed heavily. Looking back at him, she nodded.

"All right."

The pair began to walk at a slow pace to know particular place. Despite the sounds of raindrops pelting everything relentlessly, an awkward silence seemed to hang all around them. Before either of them knew it, they found themselves back in the park – the bench where they sat and shared that particular moment that night seemed to beckon to the both of them. Keitaro took a seat and was soon joined by Kitsune. The overhanging branches shielded the pair from the rain, as if allowing both Kitsune and Keitaro a chance to sort out everything hey had on their mind. After what seemed like an eternity, Keitaro cleared his throat and spoke.

"This place…it seems to get more peaceful everyday."

"Yeah…it sure does," replied Kitsune.

"Kitsune…I feel that I need to…apologize," stated Keitaro.

"What? Why?" asked Kitsune. "What do you have to be sorry for? If anything I should be the one to apologize."

"N-No it's okay," he sighed. "I mean…I really should've talked to you…about…about my feelings."

"Huh," said Kitsune. "What do you mean?"

"Kitsune…I care for you and the other girls very much," Keitaro said. "I wouldn't want to do anything that'll hurt any of you."

Kitsune turned her gaze down slightly as he continued. "But recently…um…damn, how can I put it?"

"Keitaro…what is it?" said a concerned Kitsune.

"I have feelings for you – strong feelings," Keitaro sighed, and looked straight into her eyes. "I've fallen for you."

Kitsune was shocked at his confession, but was torn between relief and guilt. Turning her gaze away from him for a moment the fox girl tried to calm down, trying her best not to break down at that very moment. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to him, a small smile on her lips and her eyes shining with emotion.

"You know…at one point I was scared to hear those words from you Keitaro," she said.

"Is that why you left?" he asked. "Because of me?"

"No, no…it's more about me than you," Kitsune answered with a sad smile. "All my life, I believed that true love wouldn't happen to someone like me."

"Then why, Kitsune?" asked Keitaro. "Why?"

"Keitaro…I have feelings for you too," she replied, "but I was afraid of being hurt. I mean, you have a lot to look forward to in life and what do I have to offer?"

Tears began to well in the girl's eyes after her last statement. Keitaro was surprised – Kitsune was the last person he'd expect to see break down like this. Moving closer to her, he wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace.

"Kitsune," he said, "I would never do anything to hurt you."

Kitsune wiped away some of her tears. "Dammit…I told myself I wasn't gonna cry."

At that moment the rain began to loose its strength. The once-relentless storm had subsided and everything seemed to set itself right. Keitaro was the first one to notice the change in the whether – looking up, he nodded in self-satisfaction.

"Hmm…looks like things are clearing up for a change," he said softly.

"Keitaro…"

"Hmm," he said, looking back at Kitsune. "What is it?"

"Keitaro…what do we do now?" she asked. "What does this mean for us?"

"Well, now that we got to say what we want to say," he replied. "I think it's obvious what this means."

Keitaro then slowly took Kitsune's hand into his. "What do you think?"

Instead of answering, Kitsune wrapped her arms around him, giving him a hug that would've rivaled Su's.

"Does that answer you question?" said Kitsune, several tears streaming down her face.

"I guess it does," he replied, smiling.

Now looking at each other eye to eye, both could see the warmth and love within the other. Both Keitaro and Kitsune leaned slowly toward each other until their lips met. In an instant, all their worries, fears, and doubts about their true feelings were put to rest the moment they kissed. After what felt like an eternity, they broke lips and looked into each other's eyes.

"Come on Kitsune," let's head back to the dorm."

"Hehe…I can't wait to see the look on everyone's faces when we tell them the news," commented Kitsune.

"I love you Kitsune."

Kitsune smiled and sighed. "I love you too."

Picking up her bag, the happy couple began to walk back to the Hinata Sou. No longer afraid of their true feelings, both Keitaro and Kitsune felt as if everything was right one again in the world. Although they didn't know what the future holds for them, they were ready to see what lay in store for them.

A/N – Finally, chapter 11 is done and over with! I'm really sorry for my lack-of-updates…again, but my job along with real life in general to deal with had my full attention.

Anyway I have one last chapter left for this fic, and I have a real good idea how to finish this story! Just please, please, remind me to get off my lazy duff and finish it!

All right, enough of my ranting…you all know the drill by now – please read and review and I'll try, for the life of me, to get the last chapter up ASAP!!!