'Love Hina: Adventures in Morphing!
Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: Myu! Myuuh!
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'Episode 5: Adjustment: Murder Spree? Sayoko
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My name is Sayoko.
It had been a week since Tact and David's mother was killed. It was also a week since we'd actually seen him. Any of us.
Keitaro seemed to take Tact's disappearance as a sign that he needed, at least for now, to be alone. He was the kind of guy who recognized when someone needed to sort out their feelings, and also the kind of guy to not meddle unless it was needed. It was, obviously, an admirable set of qualities.
David seemed pretty quiet. I mean, quieter than usual. He'd stayed nearby the Hinata Sou, sitting on the steps, seemingly waiting.
And what was I doing? Well, since I graduated from high school, I decided to take up residence in the Hinata. I'd made this decision before that night: I'd been expecting to move to Hinata Springs the day after, and I still did. My mom and sisters had made a big show of affection, crying, and I cried a little too. But I went. I had gotten good at hiding what I really felt.
That, too, came with the territory of an Animorph.
And so, I stood, looking out one of the windows of that anceitn dormitory, watching David sitting on the steps, waiting. I sighed deeply.
"I do not like him," came a cool, soft voice behind me. I blinked, and turned my head slightly. A tall, beautiful young woman, with long black hair and dressed in a martial arts outfit, sat at the kitchen table, scowling out the same window as I was. The blonde woman, Kitsune Konno, looked over at the samurai girl, smirking.
"You don't like any men…"
"He bothers me. His aura is dark," Motoko scowled more deeply, sipping her tea. To Motoko's left, Kanako glared at the samurai.
"You don't even know him," Kanako hissed. Motoko glared back at Keitaro's little sister.
"I know enough."
"What? That he's male, and that he actually looked at you? Hmph, yes, very threatening," Kanako sneered. I gave her a look, to which she glared and turned back to Motoko.
"What's the matter? Tired of just picking on my brother? Is that it?" I gritted my teeth. I'd tried to be understanding, but really…
"Kanako, calm down," I said, looking pointedly at both. "Fighting doesn't help anyone."
"It seems to be all they know how to do," Kitsune murmured. Kanako bristled.
"Shut it, fox!"
"Kanako! Look, stop acting like this. So you're worried about Tact - We all are. Don't let that rule your-"
"Oh, stuff it, Sayoko," Kanako growled, standing up from the table and stalking off. "I want a lecture, I'll go to the university." I sigh deeply, putting a hand to my eyes.
"She really liked this Tact guy, huh?" Kitsune interjected, to which Motoko huffed. I nodded, smiling slightly. I still didn't know anyone here, aside from my fellow Animorphs, very well. But, building a stronger relationship with them was on my to-do list…
"Likes. He's still out there," I replied, smiling confidently. I mean, yes, I knew… his condition out there, no, but still…
"Hm… I wonder why someone would want to blow up his house?" Kitsune mused aloud, swishing the small bowl of sake around in her palm. I shrugged.
"Tact and David's mom was respected as a lawyer… Maybe a crime lord? I don't know…"
"An honorless dog, whoever it was," Motoko spoke up, narrowing her eyes. "Someone who could use a good thrashing."
"No argument from me," I stated, narrowing my eyes. The bear DNA in my blood stream roared, wanting to be let loose, on the murderers. Who were they, anyway? Where'd they get the ability to morph? And moreover, where had they gotten those bizarre, giant invisible morphs?
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I later found Keitaro standing outside on the deck, hanging his laundry with Shinobu helping. I couldn't help but smile at them both. Shinobu, so eager and helpful, and Keitaro looking down on her with such affection, they could have easily been mistaken for brother and sister.
Brothers…Damnit, enough of that!
"Need some help?" I offered, holding up a basket of clothes pins. Keitaro turned back and smiled, reaching out.
"Yes, thank you," Keitaro replied, taking the basket. I followed, pulling out a pair of Keitaro's boxers. He stiffened slightly, and Shinobu blushed, but I didn't care. Laundry was laundry, really.
"Ahem… Shinobu, we can finish up here. Why don't you go and relax before making dinner?" Keitaro asked, giving her a wide smile.
"Um… Are you sure, Urashima-sempai? I mean, I'm willing to stay-"
"Relax, kiddo, I've got it," I said gently, giving the little blunette a comforting smile. "I've been told by Keitaro that you nearly single-handedly keep this place going all by yourself. Take a break!" Shinobu blushed again, looking awkwardly at Keitaro and myself.
"Um… That's… I just… Cook and clean…"
"Relax, Shinobu, you've earned it," Keitaro replied patiently. At his affirmateive nod, Shinobu smiled shyly back, before turning and walking down into the Hinata. Keitaro resumed pinning up clothing, as I helped him out.
"Nice girl… Too bad she's too young for you, eh?" I gently teased, causing Keitaro to blush. Poor guy… Lead us fearlessly for four years of war, and the man still hasn't a clue about women! Actually, it's not that surprising, but still…
"Um, nah, Sayoko… Really! I mean… why would she like me?" I rolled my eyes.
"Good greif, Keitaro…"
"I mean… Okay, I'm nice, and, I guess… Not hideous-"
"Keitaro, get over this! Really!" I barked sharply, causing Keitaro to jump slightly, looking at me in shock. I don't know why, but the words pop out of my mouth of their own accord.
"You're sweet, charming, determined, cute, handsome, and brave. You're also selfless and compassionate, not to mention smart. So listen to me, pal, and listen good," I growled, pouding the center of Keitaro's chest with a finger.
"You. Will. Not. Debase. Yourself. In. My. Presence. Again," I state, punctuating each word with a poke. Keitaro keeps looking at me, surprised, before smiling slightly.
"I though I was the leader," he mused, his smile growing again. I'm suddenly aware of how close we are, but shunt that aside.
"Even leaders can be idiots," I retort, smiling. "And you need to be reminded of that."
"How much of an idiot I am? Or how attractive I am to the opposite sex?" Keitaro asks, looking cheeky. I narrow my eyes.
"Both."
"Ah… Thanks." Damnit… I'm getting the distinct impression I'm flirting with him. And he's flirting back. Oh God… I push back, taking a deep breath, and looking Keitaro straight in the eyes.
"All right. No." He blinks.
"No? No what?"
"You know… No. No more."
"No more what?" I sigh, feeling slightly stupid, but I press on anyway.
"Look, Keitaro-This won't work."
"Um… Sayoko, you've lost me. Can you tell me what we're supposed to be talking about?" I blink, before blushing, and turning away. Damnit! I jumped to conclusions, oh great…
"It's, er… Nothing. I'm fine." Why is my heart beating so fast?
"Sure?"
"Um, yeah… Just, you know… Tact." Keitaro sighs deeply behind me, and I swear I can hear his forehead wrinkle."He'll be back."
"I know…"
"Just keep telling yourself that… It's what I have to do," he sighs. With a twin sigh, I turn back and start helping him finish the laundry.
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David
Where the hell is my pizza?
I look at my watch, and growl. Stupid bastard delivery boy… How hard is it to get to a big, honking ancient dormitory on top of a freaking hill? Really? I've found my way to this place based on a picture on a postcard!
"Finally," I mutter, as a delivery bike putters up to the curb. I walk out to meet the guy, some tall, cocky-looking footballer from my old algebra class. He looks at me with a smirk.
"You paying for this? Or are you going to trade me your…" He looks me up and down nastily, "shoes."
"Just give me the pizza, moron, so we can both get on with our lives," I sigh, pulling it away from the jerk and stalking off.
"HEY!"
"What?""Where's my pay?" I don't even turn back on him, just to piss him off.
"You're thirty minutes late. You don't get anything." I hear him get off his bike, stalk up to me, and spin me around to face him.
"I don't think I heard that," he growls, narrowing his eyes. He stands level with me, a compact, muscular jock. I recall that his specialty off the field is to shove smaller kids into lockers for fun.
"Need your ears examined, soccer boy?" I ask mockingly. His eyes flash.
"What did you call me, gaijin?" He spits, baring his teeth. He shoves me backwards, knocking me back a meter, but I stand. He advances, raising his fist. I call upon the king cobra DNA living in my blood stream, as I take a step back. My teeth elongate, my eyes turn yellow, my face turns scaly and my body starts to shrink. I bare my fangs, grinning as the jock's eyes grow wide.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH! YOUKAI!" He shrieks, running back to his bike. He actually trips over it once, in a panic, before calmbering back on and speeding down the road, still screaming. As my jaw's become somewhat loose, my grin is wider than usual as I cackle.
"Ashhole," I lisp, as I start demorphing. When I'm fully human again I turn and start walking up the steps, taking a deep sniff of my pizza. I make a face.
"Ugh! Bastards… I told them squid, not fish!" I growl, stalking up the steps. Still, I'm hungry. And fish is actually one of my favorite foods. I guess I was just looking for someone to take out some anger on. Perfect… More crap for the shrinks to work out.
I make it to the top of the steps when I happen to look up. In front of me stands a beautiful, black-haired woman in a martial arts outfit. And she doesn't look happy. Her wooden sword - Forget what it's called - is leveled at me. Now usually, I wouldn't take a person waving a stick around very seriously, considering what I can do.
However, Keitaro's told me what this girl - this woman, Motoko Aoyama - can do with said stick. So I just take a deep breath, and try out a disarming smile.
"Hey."
"Why are you walking towards the Hinata Sou?" She asks, in a deep yet feminine voice. It's actually rather pleasant. More accurately, it would be pleasant, provided that she didn't have a generous helping of anger and suspicion behind it. I raise up the pizza.
"I was thinking of sharing my pizza. With Keitaro. And his friends." She still glares at me. I sigh, before taking a step further. She takes a step towards me.
"I have not given you permission to pass," she says coldly. I blink, and roll my eyes.
"Lady, look: I don't know what your problem is, but last I checked, Keitaro owns this place. Not you."
"He needs to be kept in line," she responds, still glaring. I raise an eyebrow, and step forward again, a little closer. She holds her ground. I look her straight in the eyes
"And me… Do I have to be kept in line too?"
"All men do… Since they don't do it themselves," she replies. I take a deep breath, and step to the side. She mirrors my movement. I look at her dubiously.
"Look… Motoko? I'm just bringing in a pizza. I'm not doing anything wrong. Keitaro knows me. And, if I do anything 'bad', I'm sure you're more than capable of beating the crap out of me. So, what's the problem?" She actually looks taken aback. I struggle to keep up my poker face, given how cute she looks that way.
"Logic thus dictates, to let me in," I conclude. Still glaring at me, Motoko steps aside. I walk past into the looming building, with the samurai girl following me.
"I'm watching you," she retorts. I roll my eyes.
"Whoop di doo…"
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Tact
"They were in here, last night. Two guys, in a jeep. One was short and fat, the other was taller and messy. I want answers. Now." The store clerk is staring at me in fear, and to be honest I don't blame him.
I've acquired the DNA of a WWE wrestler I met at an autograph signing, the DNA of a martial arts master, and the DNA of a messy, smelly thug in a back alley. You mix the morphs together, and you can have a pretty intimidating form to coax the locals with.
"Er… They… There are lots of men who come in and out of here," the store owner sys nervously. "I don't keep track of them all!"
"They were here last night, in a jeep. Tell me what they wanted," I growl, leaning over the counter and glaring down at the small man. He squeaks slightly in fear, before nodding his head rapidly.
"Yes, yes! They were here… They bought some pocky and soda! That's all I know!" I sigh deeply, before shooting the guy another glare and stalking off. Passing a few gawking bystanders, I slip into an alley and demorph. I morph to tiger, and take a deep sniff.
The two guys I smelled before… They were here, on the outskirts of Hinata Springs. I've followed the trail around the entire city, but the clues don't leave town. Ergo, the two assasins were locals.
However, I've yet to actually find out who they really were. I've been looking around, asking, sniffing - But no luck. What, did these guys fly in here?
… Wait. Fly. Does that mean that, there's no way to find out?
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Next time: Keitaro is confronted by Haruka concerning some of his "activities", while Kanako meets up with Tact on the hunt.
R&R!