Yet another chapter. Thank you to all those of you who reviewed (wow so many –sarcastic-) I am surprised by the lack of suggestions thoughâI do need help!
To Jack B. Quik: Old Habits die-hard. Dan will confront his past soon enough. Or more technically said, his past is going to confront Dan. However we are still in the introductory chapters. Things will pick up after chapter 10. I promise!
To HinaGuy749: Thanks for the vote of confidence! Thanks for all the Reviews! Thanks for the encouragement!
To Captian for the King Of Blades(): Well, someone's a little critic. You know what, I don't care that you don't like self-insertion fics, cause this isn't one! I am inserting my own characters yes, but not myself. Naru and Kei will probably not be appearing in this fic. But the Kitsune and Mutsumi will have appearances latter on. Shirai and Haitani have no connection to any of the characters and therefore they won't get any appearances.
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Love Hina, it all belongs to Ken Akamatsu, although I would love to own all, and I mean all, of Motoko's fine behindâ-ahem- on with the fic! –dodges bokken and runs for motorbike, irate Motoko in hot pursuit-
Chapter 6: Meia's Makeover January the 11th
Dan was wandering around Hinata, his mind miles away. He had finished his chores for the day, and couldn't clean the hot spring because most of the residents were bathing. He rubbed the bump on his head; he had forgotten that it was Sunday, and thinking that all the girls would be at school or university, he had entered the baths without checking if they were inhabited. Shinobu screamed, and Dan's stammered apology and attempt at retreat hadn't gone well; Wu's halisen and Motoko's sword had blasted Dan through the doors, and only a skilled roll had halted him by the front door. Sighing heavily, Dan remembered the night (or early morning) that he and Wu had come home.
After saying goodnight, he had quickly entered his room and immediately dropped the shopping bags, and stripped his shirt. Pulling out his first aid kit, he had attempted to bandage his wounds. He had been surprised when Wu had fallen through the hole in the roof, right into his lap.
"Whaâwhat are you doing?" he had managed.
Wu had blushed prettily, "Just enjoying my situation" He quickly picked her up and moved her away from him. That's when he saw what she was wearing; black lace lingerie. 'Thank god for black lace lingerie!' Dan prayed quickly.
"Whaâwhat are you wearing?" Dan had spluttered.
"Well" she trailed off when she saw his bruises and cuts. "Oh my god! Where did you get those?"
"From those guys in the mall," he replied sheepishly. "I must be getting out of shape, some of those actually hurt," he chuckled.
"Here, let me" Wu said tenderly as she saw his clumsy attempts at bandages. "Don't worry I did a first aid course." Dan flinched as her cool hands touched his skin, but soon relaxed as she expertly probed and prodded his injuries, applying the necessary treatment. 'He went through all of this for me. And he still smiles about it. Likes it nothing. He should be in hospital with a concussion at least!' Wu thought to herself as she worked on her patient.
"Hey Dan-kun, the actual reason I came down here" Wu started and stopped when she saw him sleeping peacefully, his head in her lap. She first twitched from anger, and she already had her halisen out before she stopped herself. A mischievous gleam came to her eyes and grinned evilly as she pulled some rope from out of nowhere, 'Maybe I can get kinky tonight!' she excitedly thought to herself, planning on which bondage positions to use. Then she looked again at his face. He was resting so peacefully. She lowered her rope, "Maybe it's better this way" she said, lifting his head and placing a pillow under it. "Good night, Mr Landlord. I'm giving you tonight offâunlucky for both of us!"
Dan had had strange dreams that night. A woman was chasing him, with rope, and he couldn't get away from her, no matter how hard he ran, or how fast he drove. She always caught up to him when he slept.
"DAN!" Meia yelled into his ear, bringing him back to the present. His eyes snapped back into focus, as he looked around his surroundings. He was in Meia's room, mainly because she was the only one not in the bath at this time. She wore her usual glasses that covered her brilliant blue eyes. Her long black hair had been drawn into pigtails, and obviously hadn't been washed in a while. She was also wearing a ratty old t-shirt and track pants. But Dan looked past all of that, he knew she was beautiful and he was going to make her realize it. Even if it killed him, or got him killed by the other residents.
"So why did you want to see me?" Meia asked, "I've got to study."
"Sorry, just curious how you spent your Saturdays." He said, falling to her floor, and taking note of her room. Books littered every possible position, and half-eaten food was likewise scattered amongst the piles of books. He reached out for the nearest one, and found himself looking at a German novel named 'Dracheneitter' by Cornelia Funke. He opened to a random page and started reading.
Meia huffed annoyed, but slightly proud that she had managed to hold a normal conversation with a male for once, instead of cowering like a mouse in it's hole. "Can you even read?" she asked, well aware of Dan's complete lack of education.
He answered distractedly, "No need to be insulting, of course I can read. School isn't the only place you learn things you know?"
Meia didn't answer and sat back down at her desk and started studying again. She felt uneasy after a while. "Look I'm sorry about that, but I'm not used to talking to men."
"And defiantly not stupid ones right?" Dan said, mildly amused.
"Well, you didn't go to school?"
"And how much do you learn at school?"
"Wellâlot's" she said hesitantly.
"Really?" Dan asked, not looking up. Meia thought about it for a while and realised that Dan was right. She didn't learn that much at school. Sure she went, but more to help Wu-chan then anything else.
"Sorry, that question was wasn't very well thought out. Sorry, Meia-san," Dan said getting up. "But you can't spend your entire life in a book, then you'll miss the most important stuff."
Meia took off her glasses to rub her tired eyes. 'What on earth does that mean? You'll miss the important stuff. I don't get it,' she returned to the present shocked to see Dan merely inches from her face, studying her carefully.
"What is it?" she asked testily. She wasn't used to guys staring at her like that and she replaced her glasses. Dan looked at her for another couple of minutes, and then slowly removed her glasses again. "What are youâyou doing?" Meia asked, shocked. Her fantasies overwhelmed her, 'Maybe he wants to kiss me? Yeeeesss! No! Why would he want to do that when Wu-chan is all over him? I swear, if had more guts I'd make a go at him myself. But girls as ugly as me don't have a chance, all we can do is hope for someone who respects us for our brains' she thought, oblivious as Dan pulled her out of her room, and out of Hinata. She snapped back to the present when he revved his motorbike. 'Oh Kami, what is he doing?'
"Where are you taking me? I still have to study today! Let me goooaaahhhhh!" She screamed as Dan took off at record speed.
There was a strange gleam in his eye as he said, "Somewhere important."
Meia looked around in panic as they entered the shabbier areas of Tokyo. 'He's not going to take me to a love hotel is he? I'm not ready for that yet! I'm only 17!' she thought to herself in panic. She was close to full-blown panic as the skidded to a halt outside of a shabby shop. Meia didn't have anytime to see anything else, as he pulled her into the shop.
"Hey, Shinto? Cyclops? Are you there?" he called out into the empty shop. Meia shrieked as a giant of a man, with only one eye came out of one of the back rooms. His face was covered with scars and his muscles were huge.
"Dan-kun, is that you?" Shinto yelled, before embracing Dan in a huge bear hug. 'He's bigger than Dan,' Meia thought numbly, 'he must be a giant.' Dan choked slightly, lacking oxygen.
"Hey, I need to ask you a favour," Dan said, seemingly casual after he regained his breath.
Shinto immediately stopped being friendly. "You've run out of favours," he said coldly.
"Ah, come on. Who got those pimps away from your younger sister?" Dan asked.
"Yeahâtrue," Shinto said slowly.
"And it's not for me, it's for this girl," Dan said indicating Meia, "I reckon it'd suit her perfectly."
Shinto looked at Meia critically. "How old is she?"
"17"
"Hmm, really that's too young for the 'laser'" Shinto said.
"Well, couldn't you use the plastic?"
Shinto looked deep in thought as Meia's mind whirled. 'Kami, they want to use me in a sex video? Did I annoy him too much? But, 17 is too young! And what's 'the plastic'? Could they mean condoms? And what in God's name is the 'laser'? ' Meia was too scared to resist as Shinto grabbed her gently, and lead her into a back room. Meia's eyes immediately stared at the chair in the middle of the room and started struggling.
"Are you sure she wants this?" Shinto asked, holding the struggling Meia in the chair.
"Don't worry, she'll like it, she's just got to get use to it. She hasn't had it done before."
"Okay, them," Shinto turned to Meia, and took off her glasses. And let out a slow whistle. "You're right, she's perfect. You won't need these anymore," Shinto said, placing her glasses before injecting her with a syringe. Meia passed out.
When she came to, she was lying on a bed. It was soft. It had white linen. 'Why am I here? Meia thought groggily. She sat up quickly and looked around her surroundings, remembering what had happened. 'Dan sold me to some pornographer! But then why do I still have all me clothes on?' Meia thought, looking for glasses, before finding them and putting them on. The world went blurry. She took off her glasses again. She could see without them? Dan came into the room at that moment.
"Ah, great to see you're awake! Did you feel anything, Meia-san?" he asked kindly.
She rushed at him, trying to punch him, "You sold me to a pornographer!" she screamed. Her fists pounded on his shoulders as she cried. "But I wanted to lose my virginity to someone I love, not some guy paid to have sex!"
"I can understand that," Dan said, raising his hands to defend himself from her barrage, "That's why I just"
"You just what? Huh? You just what!" she screamed at him, not letting him get a word in.
Shinto came through the door, "Ah, I see the operation was a success. You don't have any favours to call in after that, okay Dan-kun?"
"Okay" Dan said.
"Operation? Is that what you sickos call sex movies?" Meia stopped mid-charade as both Shinto and Dan face planted before bursting out in laughter. "What's so funny?" she demanded. "You think it's funny to use a young girl?"
"No of course not," Shinto managed between gasps, "That's why I just performed laser surgery on your eyes, so that you'd never need to wear glasses again."
"You what? You" she turned towards Dan, "Youâdidâthat for me?" she asked, tears coming to her brilliant eyes.
"Yeah," he said uneasily, leading her from the shop, "Well the transformations not complete yet, we still got at least two more places to go!"
"Transformation?" Meia asked sweat dropping.
They sped through the streets of Tokyo, Dan always sure of his direction, and stretching the patience of any policeman that saw him. Although he did keep to the road laws. Most of them. Well okay, not many, but at least he didn't hit anyone. Meia relaxed this time on her ride with Dan, and started to enjoy it. She could understand why Wu had made such a big deal about Dan's motorbike. The wind ruffled her hair and blew all her troubles away. All to soon they halted outside a trendy hairdresser, and Meia was slightly disappointed that the motorbike ride was already finished. Dan confidently walked through the swinging doors, catching the attention of the predominantly female clientele.
"Oi, Raiji-chan are you there?" he hollered out, shocking many of the older woman, sending them 'tuting' under their breaths. There was a thrilled shriek from somewhere amongst the tables and a young woman flung herself into Dan's arms. Meia glared uncontrollably at the woman. She was pretty. Her pink hair was fluffed and looked artistic. Meia was also annoyed that Dan actually used the chan prefix with that woman, and not her. 'But at least he didn't use it with Wu-chan!' her mind told her triumphantly.
"Oh, Dan-kun I haven't seen you in years! What'll be? Finally going to change that wonderful hair of yours and do something with it, or just leave it hanging?" Raiji spoke in a unending flow, making it hard for Dan to get a word in.
"Actually I wanted you to help the girl," Dan said jerking his thumb at Meia.
"I have a name, Dan-kun, and jerk your thumb at me again" she caught herself. She never talked like this!
Dan sweat dropped, "Uhm yeah, so could you help Meia-san?"
Raiji walked over towards the younger girl, and looked at her hair critically. Taking a hold of some of Meia's loose hair, she studied it closely. "It'll need to be washed. At least. This may take a whileâbut I do love a challenge!" Raiji led her towards the back of the shop and started to thoroughly wash Meia's hair. Meia felt a strange sense of comfort wash over her, as Raiji's skilled hands massaged her skull and the warm water was soothing.
"How do you know Dan-kun?" Meia asked.
"Well, he saved my little brother," Raiji said proudly. "You've seen how he can handle that motorbike, there's no one in the entire Shinjuko area who can match him, or doesn't know him!" Raiji gossiped gaily.
"He lived in Shinjuko?" Meia asked incredulously.
"Oro, oro, he hasn't told you? Then I'd better keep my mouth shut!" Raiji continued to wash Meia's hair and skilfully dodged the prying questions that Meia attempted to ask about Dan. After one and a half hours, Meia was finally finished. Her long black hair had the feel of silk and was shiny. Raiji had simply used some simple hair clips to allow the hair to cascade down Meia's arm. Meia couldn't believe her eyes when she looked in the mirror. Dan let out a low whistle of admiration.
"Told you it was important Meia-san!" he said, grinning.
Meia was lost for words. 'Why was he doing all this for me? He thinks I'm pretty! Yeeeesss! He's mine! Suck on that Wu-chan!' Meia tried to stammer out a thank you, but Dan waved it away, lighting a cigarette.
"You don't need to thank me, I was just doing it to help you, Meia-san," he said casually as they left the store.
Meia snatched the cigarette out of his mouth, "You shouldn't smoke!" she said earnestly.
He looked at her blankly. "Why not?"
"Cause it increases the chance of lung and heart cancer! You could die!"
"We all die of something," Dan said philosophically.
"But you could die younger than you deserve!" Meia yelled. She stopped suddenly when she saw a deep sadness in Dan's normally smiling eyes. He looked away for a few moments, before smiling again, his old joyful self.
"There's still another place I need to take you!"
I seem to have gotten into a rhythm with these. This is planned by the way, to give more information about the inhabitants of Hinata and delve into their personalities. Meia gave me a lot of trouble. I was unsure how exactly to portray her. My intention was based around a very shy character, but that doesn't come out very much does it?
Anyway, please read and review! And post any suggestions!
-Jumps on motorbike- still gotta avoid Motoko-chan, so Ja ne!