*Love Hina: Adventures in Morphing!*

Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: Myu! Myuuh!

**************************

Episode 2: Later That Night: Kanako's Blackmail! Fluff

**************************

            My name is Kanako Urashima. And man, was this the best opportunity for black mail photos ever since I'd come to the Hinata Sou. I had been snapping pictures since we got in (courtesy of a small camera in my pocket that I was able to morph), and had caught the coup de grace: Naru trying to kiss Haruka. Ah, vengeance is bliss.

            I had been at the Hinata for about a month now, trying (and failing) to get the girls already here to stop hurting my onee-chan so much. I mean, that bitch Narusegawa has the gall to knock him out the window just because he tripped into her. Unstable, un-disciplined-she's a little spoiled brat if I've ever seen one.

            It's even worse that my brother's infatuated with her. I'll never understand just what onee-chan sees in her. Sure, she helped him study for Toudai, and she could be nice sometimes, but that just didn't make up for the reverse domestic abuse she dished out to him day after day.

            "Heh heh heh, that's right Motoko-chan, just keeping dancing," I cackled wickedly, snapping photos of a very drunk samurai girl performing something along the lines of a jig.

            Aoyama also burned me up. If Narusegawa wasn't knocking my brother through the walls, this nutcase was picking up the slack. She took her damned sword everywhere, actually into the baths. My brother is no pervert; he's just, as Tact might say, "A walking disaster area". After what my brother had done for the Animorphs, for Earth, leading us fearlessly against the Yeerks for four years, they should be kissing his feet.

            I have to admit, I've been tempted to morph Komodo dragon or my preferred battle morph, Gaboon viper, after some of the things they've done to him. Yes, I have formidable martial arts ability, certainly enough to deal with the likes of Aoyama and Narusegawa as a human. But, coupled with the raw power and speed of my animal morphs, I'm unstoppable.

            I could imagine the look of horror on Narusegawa's face she would get when I showed up, a ten-foot long dragon, strong as one of the Big Cats and nearly as fast. Or, even better, watch the terror in her eyes as I reared up in Gaboon viper morph, the most venomous snake on Earth. I'd bear my 2-inch long fangs and hiss, before...

            But, each time I was tempted, Onee-chan always gave me that commanding look of his, and I backed down. His willingness to take this unjust punishment simply confounds me.

            Hey girlfriend, having fun? Laughed a familiar thought-speak voice. I turned and smiled toward the window, searching for the barn owl that Tact most likely was.

            Erm, behind you, he said. I turned, stooped down, and picked up little Tama-chan into my arms.

            "Myu!" Only it wasn't Tama-chan. The real Tama-chan had wandered off elsewhere into the house. This was simply Tact in morph.

            Like my new form? I thought the soft, cute, Poke'mon reject look would work for me, Tact said, looking up at me with Tama-chan's ever-smiling face. I glanced to the party again; Shinobu was retreating up the stairs, sighing loudly.

            "Maybe. Still, why are you here?" I muttered, setting Tact on a small table away from the remnants of the party. Naru was still trying to seduce Haruka, now giving my nearly emotionless aunt a lap dance. I snapped a quick picture before turning back to Tact.

            What? A guy can't visit his best friend? Well, my mom isn't home, so I thought I'd just waste some time with you guys, Tact answered, his small black eyes searching the room.

            Oi, talk about your disaster areas. No wonder Keitaro wouldn't invite me over for tea. I smiled slightly.

            "Well, if you knew what my onee-chan suffers through every day here, I doubt you'd want to come." Tact gave me as reproachful a look as a turtle can.

            Hey, I know. I've seen the poor guy fly over my house-As a human, no less. I just can't imagine why Fearless Leader, who's faced off against Vissers One through Ten (though we missed Four and Three), who's never let us down, lets himself get used as a punching bag. Geez, he's got a lion morph, for crying out loud. The king of the jungle and all that.

            "He's not the kind of guy to exploit his powers, remember? Even for his own good..."

            Yeah. Still, you have to wonder if he's peeked inside the hot springs as this lovely little creature here. I smirked.

            "If that was so, he'd never get put into orbit."

            Point taken. I sighed, slumping down in a chair. I really was tired, more than I had thought. Tact curled up in my lap, and I stroked his green shell lazily. Even Suu and Sarah were winding down into the cushions of the couch nearby.

            "I'm going to go to bed. See you in the morning?" I asked. Tact gave me a turtle smile.

            Of course you will. You know me, Mister Insomniac. With that (plus a "myu") Tact took off and flew into the night. I surveyed the scene once more: Narusegawa had collapsed at last, and Haruka (with an odd sort of smile) walked up to her own apartment after putting out her cigarette. Everyone else had passed out on the floor.

I yawned, and then reluctantly pulled myself up from my chair to the dormitories, holding my camera tightly in hand. I'd get the photos developed tomorrow…

****************

Sorry if Kanako's super OOC in this chapter; I've never written for her like this. Anyway, you could give me suggestions on how to improve her portrayal in the next chapters in your reviews!

Tact Meyers; I took your suggestion for Kanako's battle morph. More on it will be in chapter four, I think.