This is really ch.2 but hopefully this will be the version that is complete and as I intended it, because fanfiction's uploading thing is being mean to me...

Disclaimer: Though I'm sure you could figure this out without even me writing it, I do not own Love Hina, though I bet I could make a lot of money that way. It belongs to Ken Akamatsu and all sorts of companies. I unforunately, am not he, nor am I a company. But now you know.

Stuff in italics are the thoughts.

"Stuff in quotes" are the speakings.

And finally, this fic is based off the manga. I like it better than the anime. Not that I don't like the anime, I just prefer the original version, which also in my opinion is the "true version" of the story. But anyways...

Ch 2.

Hinata Inn - Kitchen, Sunday Morning

Groggily Keitaro sat himself down at the table along with the rest of the residents. Naru, of course, sat down next to him, and they smiled affectionately at each other. Motoko couldn't help but look away as her face turned red in embarrassment, jealousy, and what she thought afterwards might've been a pinch of anger as well.

"Okay, everyone, breakfast is served!" Shinobu smiled brightly as she set the meal onto the table. Today's meal was simple: rice, miso soup, and daikon, but because of Shinobu's expertise in the kitchen, every meal was something good to remember.

"Thanks for the meal!"

Everyone began to eat. Su voraciously gobbled up her share, Kitsune ate slowly and carefully as to no exert too much on her stomach, and Motoko and Shinobu ate calmly and quietly. Conversation started slowly, first were comments on Shinobu's gourmet cuisine, and slowly onto other things. Motoko noticed from the other side of the table that Keitaro and Naru were strangely quiet, as if they were both contemplating something silently, yet together. Motoko stared intently for a few seconds, but broke her gaze away violently. She turned to Shinobu.

"So, Shinobu, how are you liking Todai so far," she said with a smile. "You've completed your first semester, right?"

Shinobu nodded happily. "The classes are hard, but thanks with all the study habits I learned because of Senpai and all of you, I've been doing pretty well!"

Motoko smiled warmly. "Have you decided what you want to study yet?"

"No, not yet. I've thought about it a little, but..."

"Well there's no need to rush things, at least in your first year."

"That's right, Shinobu-chan," said Keitaro fondly. "Although most students have an idea what they want to do towards the end of high school, it's not required. Take your time and find out naturally. Look how long it took for me to get into archaeology." He gave her a thumbs-up. "I'm sure you'll figure it out soon enough."

He gave her one of those heart melting smiles he had grown to become so good at, though he didn't realize it. Shinobu blushed so deeply that she had to shoot herself up from the table and start on the dishes, to try and hide it from him and Naru.

"I-I've g-g-g-gotta c-clean up!"

Keitaro, with the warm smile still on his face, turned to Motoko.

"Speaking of Todai, how are you doing, Motoko-chan? Do you know what you want to do?"

Also falling to Keitaro's unknowing charm, Motoko turned crimson and couldn't seem to make eye contact. She glanced for a split second at Keitaro and followed by staring at the piece of floor to the right of her. She managed to stammer out:

"I...I...th-think...that I-I...will s-t-t-study...the...Lib...Liberal Arts..."

Keitaro, not noticing anything odd about the way she answered him, gave another smile. "That's a good idea. You seem to have a knack for writing."

Motoko blushed deeply again. I forgot that he knew about my...romance novels...He hasn't...He... wouldn't have gone through them... could he? Does he know that I write about... him? Oh no...her thoughts grew darker and more violent...Going through my writings...the fury she once had for Keitaro erupted again out of nowhere...I'll kill him!!

Motoko jumped up and grabbed the sword Tama-chan had conveniently been holding behind her. "Urashima, how dare you go through my personal belongings? You shall pay!!"

The warrior drew her sword in a flash. "Shinmei-ryu...Hiken Zankuusen!!"

"But I didn't do anything like tttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!" Keitaro tried to say as he was hit mercilessly and sent through the kitchen wall and into the stratosphere.

Naru, smiling fondly the whole time, looked out through the whole in the wall. She giggled lightly. "Wow, Motoko, you really got him good. That's the furthest he's been sent in a long time." She frowned slightly. "And he had an announcement to make too..."

The others, who had been vaguely listening as they finished up whatever they might've been doing, all ran up to Naru so fast she had almost fallen out the window.

"WHAT?!?!?!?!"

Naru, slightly alarmed, tried to pacify the other tenants. She held up her hands weakly. "Calm down you guys. When he finds his way back, I'm sure he'll tell you all right away."

Motoko peered at her intently. "'You all'? Hmm..." She began to glare at her and reached for her sword. "You obviously seem to know what this is all about. Couldn't you enlighten us, Naru-senpai?"

She smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Motoko no can do. Keitaro really wants to tell you all himself. I promised him I wouldn't say anything."

Shinobu looked nervously at Naru. Can't you at least give us hint? What could be that important that he made you promise to not say anything? Is it...bad news?"

"No, no, of course not Shinobu-chan." Naru smiled sweetly. "Of course not. Just important. As soon as Keitaro finds his way back here, we'll gather you all together and tell you. Now come on you guys, I'm sure you have better things to do than weasel it out of me."

All the tenants sighed. They all trudged away from Naru to different parts of the house. Shinobu went back to the kitchen to finish the clean up, Su went back to her room to finish her new Mech-Tama, and Kitsune went back to her room to sleep. All the excitement had caught up to her and her head hurt more than ever.

---------------------------

Keitaro flew far away into the nearby forest next to the Inn. He crashed through the tree tops and landed into a pool of water.

"Ah, jeez. Where the heck am I? I've got to tell everyone about me and Naru's plans..."

He picked himself up and looked around.

"Oh well. I'm sure Motoko-chan didn't mean any harm. But..."

He looked from left to right. He slumped his shoulders and a (figurative) sweat drop fell down the back of his head.

"Which way do I go now?"

-----------------------------

Late afternoon, Motoko's room

Motoko sat in meditation in front of the red suit of armor she inherited from her family's school. Though passed down from many generations, it still shone with a fiery gleam that reflected her school's passion, discipline, and honor in the Sword Arts.

The Shinmei-ryu...perhaps the single most powerful dojo in all of Japan's history. My school...it's been two years since it was declared a national landmark, but I know they've allowed it so that we can still continue learn and teach and refine our skills. When I visited the school, I had gone with the intention of inheriting it. Before I could make my purpose known to the elders and Tsuruko, she told me about the government taking control.

She opened eyes and took in a deep breath and looked to the top of the suit of armor. The tip of the helmet reflected the sun exactly and it burned her eyes to look at it for more than a few seconds. She exhaled slowly.

Tsuruko must've known why had come to the school. Did she simply not say anything and pretended she did not know my intentions? She must've...it's been too long since we last spoke to each other. If Tsuruko knew that I had come to inherit the school, then why hasn't she contacted me since? What if...

Her eyes widened at the sudden and painful realization.

Tsuruko knew that I was not ready to inherit the school. My skills were still not enough. I...had defeated her twice and even admitted my love for Urashima...I was at the top of my skills...and she could still tell that I was not strong enough...

She lifted herself up and walked to the window. She looked out at the sunset, which turned the sky vibrant with colors. She sighed, and exited her room. Though she was really wandering aimlessly, she found herself on top of the roof where she did her training.

Even the times I had defeated my sister...both times I had Urashima as my guide and helper. How could I possibly inherit the school now...

"Where do I find my strength now? Now that Urashima is gone..."

"Hmm? I haven't left yet. Hey, wait. I haven't even told you the news."

Motoko tensed and twisted herself around faster than the naked eye could register.

"Ur-Ur-Urashima? Wh-When did you get here?! I di-did not even sense your presence," she nearly shouted horror-struck.

Keitaro shrugged. "I don't know. Just know, really. I couldn't really hear what you were saying. Only that last part about me being gone."

"Oh, that." She laughed nervously, trying to think of a good alibi. "Ha ha ha ha. Oh, I was merely referring to the fact that you had not returned to the house yet. But...ha ha ha ha ha..." she forced more laughter..."but, uh, here you are."

Keitaro gave her a slightly confused look, but he dismissed these thoughts. "I came to talk to you about the announcement I was about to make at breakfast before you, uh..."

"Ah!" She bowed hurriedly. "Please forgive me, Urashima. I...overreacted. I'm very sorry."

Keitaro smiled. "Eh, don't worry about it. But for the record, I didn't go through your stuff, especially your writings. That's personal stuff; I would never go through it on purpose."

"Yes, I know you wouldn't. I... jumped to conclusions."

Keitaro placed his hand on her shoulder. Motoko felt her stomach drop in excitement from his touch. She tried to hide the red glow that spread from her cheeks and face.

"Hey, I said not to worry about it. Ok?"

She merely nodded. Keitaro took his hand off her shoulder. She felt relieved that he had not noticed her embarrassment and excitement, but already she missed the warmth of his touch.

She thought desperately how to break the silence. "Um...about the news you had? Doesn't everyone have to hear it?"

"Yes, well...I couldn't find everyone at one time when I came back, and I was running out of time. So I decided to tell everyone individually. You're actually the last one because I could tell you were meditating and I didn't want to bother you."

"Well, if it's important, then by all means you should've-"

"Yeah, well...this piece of news is really important, and it really is kind of hard to tell anyone, so I was really just delaying the inevitable at that point. I figured it didn't matter what order I went in, so I just gathered my courage and told myself, "The next person you would see you'd tell." And I did. But now the only one left is you, so..." he chuckled lightly, "I don't really have a choice now, do I?"

Motoko smiled weakly at the manager. "No, I suppose not. So...what's up?" It took her all her courage to say the last two words. He had told her it was big news, and news that you avoid telling people is usually not good news.

Keitaro sighed, and gathered up his thoughts.

"Do...Do you remember two years ago, when I was offered to work at Pararakelse with the Tokyo U research team?"

Motoko's heart fell. She already knew what this meant, but she managed to stammer a "Yes".

"Yeah, well...it's just like that, only this time I'll be working under Seta and along with Haruka and Sara. I passed on it last time, because I couldn't bear to leave you all, but-"

"You don't...have to say anymore...Archaeology is... your dream, correct? Therefore...it's only natural that...you would have to leave to work at it...eventually..."

She turned away to hide the tears that were building up inside of her.

Keitaro smiled. "You're just like the others. I couldn't have asked for nicer or more understanding friends."

Motoko flinched at the word "friend".

Were you surprised by that, she questioned herself. You knew that; you always knew that. Why does it hurt you still?

She cringed internally, but attempted to continue the conversation as if nothing was wrong.

"And... the way Naru described it... I take it she's going with you..."

Keitaro looked at the floor and put his hand behind his head sheepishly.

"Yeah, you know... "

There was a silence that was unbearable to Motoko. She leaned on the railing on the edge of the roof, and after a moment Keitaro joined her. A few minutes pass in silence. Finally, working up the courage to speak again, Motoko opened her mouth and said:

"So...when do you leave?"

"Actually...well, you know how I said I was running out of time? We're...uh...leaving tonight. In fact, as soon as I'm done talking to you, Naru and I are going to gather our stuff and give our final farewell."

Motoko turned to Keitaro in a speechless shock.

Keitaro, not being that dense, sighed and said, "Yeah, I know. I didn't mean to procrastinate so much...that's why I wanted to tell you all at breakfast, so we could at the very least spend one last day to the fullest. But, like a lot of things I do, I screwed it up..."

It was Motoko's turn to provide support. "Don't say that. You may have made mistakes, but you always did your best to fix them. And that made them not as bad as a mistake as it could have been, right? And...that really was my fault..."

"Yeah, I guess. Thanks Motoko. I will be back you know. In about, I guess, six months to a year, and I'll be back to resume my duties as landlord. I won't be gone too long. "

Another minute passes in silence. The sun has nearly faded in the sky. The sky is dim, but as if in one, last defiance to the night, the last bit of light left was a shocking pink that made everything around them more beautiful than words could describe. But to Motoko, it was nothing but a pitiful attempt at trying to stop the inevitably of the night.

Keitaro sighed. "Motoko?"

She turned slowly. "Yes...Keitaro?"

"Before I go, I just want you to know one last thing."

Her eyes widened slightly and tried hard to control her emotions. Her heart was racing.

What could he possibly say? Could it be...No, it can't...Don't even get your hopes up...I know he loves Naru...but still...what if...

Before she could realize what was going on, Keitaro had wrapped his arms around her in a modest hug.

"I'm sorry."

Motoko was speechless. Her brain had shut down.

"Motoko...I want you to know I never, ever meant to hurt you or any of the others here at the Hinata Inn. And although I know there is nothing I could do to make this any better for you, I just need you to know that, alright?"

Motoko stood there in his arms completely lost for a few moments. Then, it dawned on her. She buried her face into his shoulder in one last, desperate attempt to control her emotions.

Keitaro stood there for a moment to try and calm her. He gently pushed her away from his body but kept his arms on her shoulders. Motoko slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze. She felt one tear fall down her cheek.

Keitaro let go altogether and used the back of his hand to wipe the tear away. He gently placed a kiss on the same cheek.

"Goodbye."

Keitaro knew that there was nothing more to be done or said, so he quietly left the room. Motoko stood there alone.

She slowly left the rooftop, and quietly entered her room, and shut and locked the door.

"Goodbye." He didn't just say goodbye. He didn't mean "Goodbye, I'll see you later." No...I know what he really meant...But...I knew this day would come... I knew it all along...They love each other...It... wasn't just a goodbye. He was...telling me to... stop living like I am...He was...making sure I didn't...keep going on...like this...He knew all along what...he was doing...no...what I was doing to me...

"I never, ever meant to hurt you..."

"I'm sorry."

"Goodbye..."

"Goodbye..."

"Goodbye..."

Motoko slowly laid down onto her futon. I can't do this to myself anymore. Even Keitaro doesn't want this for me...

She put her head on her pillow.

I suppose it's finally time...to move on...

She began to cry.

The sun had finally set.

A/N: Hoorah, another chapter complete. I apologize to the Keitaro/Motoko fans. I just can't do it. I want to...but I cannot. Please keep reading, though, if you think it has any other value otherwise. I atleast hope some of the Motoko fans are happy. It's all about her!

Please review if you can. Last chapter I accidentally turned the thingy on so only registered users could put reviews and I didn't mean to do that. But now I think everyone can review. Hoorah. In terms of reviews, give me all the feedback you want. One thing I want to make sure I am doing right is keeping on top of OOC-ishness. But be general. If you give me specific events and say "Out of Character!!!", well, guess what? I'm not going to go back and fix it and change the story around. I already wrote it, and this is my story. So there! :P In that regard, be somewhat general. Otherwise, give me everything you got.

I didn't notice until just now that a lot of the symbols don't work...Huh...too bad.

I am thinking about a pre reader or two, if interested put it in the review. I don't know if I will yet, but I'm thinking about it. If I do, it'll be firstcome firstserve. Of course, that's assuming if anyone offers to proofread...or even writes a review...please review. Many thanks to the two that did. Uh, I guess I'm all done. I hope you enjoy my work.

((review!!!! pleeze!))

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