A Love Hina Goodbye

Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina or any of the characters contained in here. Love Hina is owned by Ken Akamatsu. This FanFic is purely for the enjoyment of others...So don't sue!!!

Chapter 4:

Everyone turned to look at Keitaro. His face paled, and he started to stutter.

"I...I..." he mumbled.

"URASHIMA!!!!" Motoko bellowed. Keitaro threw his arms up in defense.

"Motoko! Wait a minute!"

But it was too late, the landlord was already flying through the air thanks to Motoko's attack. Naru watched in horror as he landed hard. She turned to the group with wide eyes. Shinobu had tears pouring down her face, Sara and Su were quiet for once in their lives. Even Kitsune had nothing to say.

"Guys, listen...." she started, but before she could finish the sentence Motoko interrupted her.

"Naru, don't worry. We won't let that pervert ever touch you again." she said with great conviction. Everyone in the room nodded, and then turned with judging eyes to Keitaro as he came staggering into the room. They all turned their backs to him and began talking among themselves.

"Listen everyone, its not what you think...Keitaro didn't..." Naru started but Keitaro interrupted her.

"I'm sorry Naru. I'm sorry everyone, I hope you can all forgive me for what I have done."

Naru stared at him in shock. He turned around and quietly walked out of the room. Naru jumped up and ran after him. He was halfway up the stairs when she grabbed his arm.

"What was that???" she cried. He just shook his head sadly.

"It was the only way. It was either that or tell them the truth."

"But at the cost of your dignity and reputation???" asked Naru, tears streaming down her face.

"I told you that I would protect you. And if that means that I have to take the fall, then so be it." Keitaro said.

He turned around and started back up the stairs. Naru just stood there and watched as he continued on to his room. Walking slowly down the stairs, she joined the others at the table. Shinobu jumped up as Naru entered, and seeing Naru's tears began crying herself. Naru wrapped her arms around the girl and gave her a quick hug then released her.

"I'm going to go out for a while." she murmured.

"Why don't we all go?" asked Kitsune, worried about her friend.

"Okay." Naru said quietly.

A short while later they were walking around. The group was doing their best to cheer Naru up, but they were also trying to get details and information out of her as well. Naru, for her part, remained quiet, not answering their questions. It wasn't until they got home that they decided to face Keitaro. They sent Kitsune up to get Keitaro, and moments later she came rushing in holding a piece of paper in her hand.

"He's gone!" she cried.

"What!" they all cried in unison. Naru jumped to her feet and grabbed the note from Kitsune's hand and read it out loud.

"I'm sorry for what I have done. I hope you can one day forgive me for my awful act. I can understand if you hate me, as I hate myself. Please take care of Naru. I'm leaving so that she won't have to see me and remember me for what I did to her..."

Naru's voice broke off in a strangled sob, and Shinobu helped her over to a seat, while Kitsune finished reading the letter.

"...I can't explain my actions, and I hope you understand why I am leaving you all. I will never be able to express how sorry I am. I hope to one day see you all again, but, again, I don't blame you if you hate me. Keitaro."

Kitsune dropped the letter on the floor and sunk to her knees. Everyone in the room was quiet, except for Naru, who was weeping softly.

"That bastard Urashima! He'll pay for what he's done! How can he think that he can run away from this and not be punished!!! I'll...."

Before Motoko could finish her statement, Naru interrupted her.

"No."

Everyone stared at Naru as she sat looking down at her hands which were resting in her lap. What was wrong with her? Didn't she want to get revenge on the guy that had attacked her?

"You don't understand. You can't blame Keitaro, he did nothing wrong."

"Nothing wrong!" cried Kitsune. She went to sit beside her friend and lifted Naru's chin. Her tears had washed away her makeup and the bruise was visible for all of its awfulness. Kitsune winced as she looked closely at it.

"How can you have this bruise and the cut on your leg and not say that he did anything wrong? Naru, what he did to you is unforgivable, and he has to be punished! We've got to call the police or something!" Kitsune pleaded.

"No."

Again, the quiet denial from Naru. What was going on?

"Naru, tell us what's going on. Why are you defending him? He attacked you and beat you up, yet you defend him. Why did he do this anyway? Why didn't you deal with him?"

"Because he didn't do this to me." was the quiet reply.

"What???" cried Shinobu and Motoko at the same time.

Sara and Su were sitting on the other side of the table, but came around to sit by Naru. Everyone gathered around her, trying to support her, but also wanting answers.

"Naru, tell us what's going on...please!"

"Keitaro didn't attack me. He was the one who took care of me after I was attacked."

As the group listened, she told her story. There were a lot of tears shed as she told them how she was attacked in the hallway and as she showed them her cuts and bruises. She carefully edited some of her story because of Su and Sara being in the room. She left out the part about the nightmare and her sleeping in his arms.

"So that's what happened. I didn't want to tell you guys because I was ashamed. Keitaro just took the blame because he was trying to protect me like he promised." she finished.

"Oh no! And we treated him so unfairly!" cried Shinobu, "We've got to find him!"

Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, and stood up. They had to find their manager and apologize to him.

Well, another chapter is up, and I want to thank everyone for their support and reviews. Special Thanks to: Gotenks01013, Keitaro411, Mantis Man, Zeshin-kun, and lhfan978. I appreciate the kind words. There are more of you to thank, but I'll do that next time. Keep an eye out for the next chapter! Ja Ne! Kellie

The limits of life can seem daunting at times, tying us down, confining our parts, but the Power of Love breaks free of all bounds, making rulers of us all through the strength in our hearts.