Author's Notes: I don't own Love Hina. Yet this is still my fiction. So if you wish to use it, please contact me first and ask for permission.
Sorry if you had to endure the repetitive first chapter of the story. Honestly, it seemed too similar to the LH version, right? Well, first off, I read through it and found it to be very similar to the LH version. I took some time to rethink it, but found it's because the LH version captured the entrance of all the characters rather well, so I used it. But now that we're warmed up, it's set for change. This is the 'Enter Shinobu' episode equivalent. This one I took more liberties with, because it was much more easier to convey than Chapter 1. Depending on how much you liked the Shinobu episode, you might find this one similar, but different in an entertaining way.
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Chapter 2 - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Good Food: Cooking
Two people are seen in a restaurant after hours yelling at each other. They seem to be a bickering pair. Out of all the talking, a little girl is sitting on one of the chairs, resting her head upon the table.
"What's wrong with you?! Sheryl goes with me. You have no prospects and don't have the will to take care of my daughter!"
"This isn't going to work. You don't make enough money to take care of everything!"
They continued going at it for an hour. Amidst the argument, the girl gets up and walks to her room which is above the restaurant. Her two parents saw her walk upstairs and paused for a second and continued fighting. The next day, Keaton woke up and got dressed, leaving his apartment room to go to the main lounge, where everyone hanged out. When he arrived, he saw everyone sitting at the couch watching television and doing random nonsense.
"Good morning."
"Hey, the landlord woke up!" yelled Kara.
"Please, call me Keaton."
"And you can call me Kara, then!"
They paused for a second, and Kelly's stomach started rumbling. She stood up and jumped on top of Keaton, riding on his shoulders. Keaton's knees almost failed him for a second when he finally regained his composure with Kelly on him.
"Oy! I'm hungry! Keaton, you're gonna get us some breakfast right?" Kelly yelled with her carefree voice.
"Huh? What? Breakfast?"
"Yeah, I have to go to school. A girl can't go start the day without some energy, y'know?"
"And what money am I going to use?"
"Yours, moron." said Natalie.
"Yeah, hope ya can cook as good as Granny Heather did, though!" yelled Kara.
"We have to go to school now. See ya, Keaton!"
Keaton looked down and thought to himself 'How can I tell them I'm clueless about cooking?' Kelly picked up her backpack and ran out of the lounge. Natalie stood up, picking up her backpack and walked out quietly. Keaton turned back to Kara who was switching channels and she looked back at him.
"Is there somethin' on my face?"
"No, no. I just didn't know that Natalie still went to school, though."
"Yeah, she's still 17. Natalie's trying to get into NYU."
"Oh, I see."
"But hey, aren't ya gonna go get some food?"
"Huh? I'm supposed to feed you, too?"
"Granny Heather did. Why doncha go grocery shopping or something. I'd go with ya, but I'm no good at that sort o' thing."
"Right."
He walked out of the room and headed to the bar next door. Kara continued to flip the channels with her remote when she stopped for one second and thought, scratching her head in the process.
"Doesn't he have classes to attend? Hmm..."
Keaton walked next door where he entered the bar and saw many drunk men fighting each other. Keaton saw Hayley stand up and attempt to break up the fight. When they got angry, they started throwing punches at Hayley, who dodged them and fought back with martial arts. She yelled to Keaton 'Open the doors!', which he did. One by one, she threw them out into the street. Once everything cooled down, Hayley wiped her sweat off with a towel and goes back to bartending. Keaton walks to the front of the counter and leans on it.
"Oh hey Keaton. What can I do for you?"
"Aun- Miss Hayley. Am I really supposed to COOK for the tenants too?"
"Well, it's what your Grandma Heather did."
"I have no idea how to cook!"
"You're on your own. I'm too busy."
Keaton folded his arms and left the bar, walking to the local store. Having no idea on what to cook, he thought about his mother making chili. He went and bought ingredients he thought he needed. Cheese, chili powder, beef, milk, green peppers, onions, soda, tomato sauce, pasta, instant noodles, eggs, junk food, toilet paper, and alot of salad (Which he knew was easy to prepare). Taking the shopping bags in his hands, he walks out of the store with no idea on what to cook. Keaton thought about ordering food from a restaurant and bringing that back to the apartment. He walked his way to the 'New York Bistro' restaurant and ordered food at the counter. The cashier took the money and delivered his order to the kitchen in the back, where they began making his meal to go. While waiting, he sees a pair fighting and yelling at each other. He identifies it being marital problems and continues looking at them. His attention is then diverted by a young lady who is running down the stairs crying. She runs towards the direction of the door and sees Keaton standing there. She looks at Keaton while running and halts her crying for a second. When she exits the door, she initiated crying again all the way down the street. The two people saw her exit the door and yelled 'Sheryl!' in unison. Keaton received his meal from the waiter shortly afterwards and ran outside to see where the girl went. When he exits with the bags in his hands, he sees Sheryl running down the street to the park near the Hinata apartments. He quickly chases after her dodging the cars and walks into the park area. He runs in front of Sheryl, who was sitting on the bench. Keaton dropped his bags and panted heavily looking at Sheryl. She looked up at him with tear-strained eyes and smiled at him. She looked back down and continued crying.
"Oh... Hi. I noticed you running out of the restaurant there. I thought there might be something wrong." said Keaton, not able to control his habit of helping random people.
"I see. If there's anything I can do for you, you can find me at the Hinata apartments right down there. I'm Keaton."
He pointed at the rather small building, which stood out anyway, despite it's size. She looked up at him pointing at the apartment and stood up from the bench. He gave a warm-hearted smile and bowed to Keaton.
"Sorry, sorry. My name is Sheryl."
"Nice to meet you, Sheryl."
"You too, Mr. Keaton. I remember you. You drew that picture of me yesterday."
He backed up in shock, thinking something bad was going to happen to him.
"It was beautiful. I've never seen an artist so gifted before."
Keaton put his hand behind his head and smiled, obviously being embarrassed.
"You think so? I never thought I could make something out of my drawings."
Keaton put his hand on Sheryl's shoulder and smiled saying 'If you ever need somewhere you can relax and take off tension, please come to the Hinata apartments.' He picked up his bags and was about to walk off when she stops him with a loud 'Wait!'
"I still have your sketchbook at my room."
"Oh... Well, you can keep it if you want."
"It's yours, I don't want to keep it from you."
"Hehe, ok. I'm sort of busy at the second, maybe you want to stop by sometime and drop if off for me?"
"Sure."
She bowed and ran off. Keaton walked back to the Hinata apartments where he plopped all of the groceries in the kitchen. He began sorting the supplies and putting it away. Kara shimmys her way over to the kitchen where she sees Keaton unpacking the groceries.
"Got any food?"
"Yes, I got some food from the New York Bistro."
"Sweet. I didn't have ANY breakfast."
Keaton grabbed the food and brought it to the lounge, where they both sat and ate. Later that day, Natalie and Kelly returned home. Kelly jumped across the stairs and went into her room, where she spended most of her time calling birds, watering plants and playing video games. Natalie also walked into her room and opened many study guides, one could she see spends most of her time looking at the books. Later at sunset, Keaton was being pestered to cook dinner. He walked to the kitchen and looked at the supplies he set out. Clueless on what to do, he turned to run to the bar, but remembered the it was Happy Hour, where Aunt Hayley was most busiest. He looked back at the supplies and tried to remember what ingredients his mother put in when making chili. A spark fired in his head and he pulled out a saucepan, getting to work. In the 2nd floor of the New York Bistro, Sheryl can be seen holding onto Keaton's sketchbook, mustering up confidence to give it back to him. She walked down the stairs hearing her parents yelling at each other again. Sheryl walked out the door and travelled to the Hinata apartments where she smelled something horrible. She covered her nose and walked to the door, ringing it. Kara answers the door with her nose plugged. Smoke billows out from the door and out all of the windows as did the horrid smell of whatever crime was being made in the kitchen.
"Hey, I'm here to return this to Keaton."
"Eh? The landlord? GIve it to him yerself! I'm not going in that kitchen!"
"He's cooking?"
"Yeah! And whatever it is, I'm not eating it!"
Sheryl ran into the house, guided by Kara into the kitchen. As soon as they arrived near the kitchen, Kara ran off, leaving Sheryl alone to walk in there. She slowly inched her way into the kitchen where she saw Keaton in the far corner of the room, tossing onions at the stove and saucepan, which seemed too monstrous to go near. Seeing a vent, Sheryl flips a switch and the smell vents out of the kitchen and to the outside. With the smoke cleared, Keaton can be clearly seen with a knife in one hand and two onions in another. Keaton was startled to see Sheryl as she ran towards the saucepan to rescue the meal. Keaton also went with her as she observed the boiling pan.
"Wait, Mr. Keaton. Please bring me some cold water and some onions. We might be able to save this."
Keaton ran off to the sink to get some cold water and tossed her the onions in his hand, which she caught and began slicing. Soon enough, a meal was prepared and set in the lounge. The tenants began eating at an appauling rate, all but Sheryl, who watched as they ate.
"Good stuff! I didn't know you could've rescued that thing! It smelled horrible!" said Kara.
"Thank you. There wasn't much wrong with the chili Keaton was making. The horrible smell came from the burning onions on the stove."
"You're a great cook, Ms. Sheryl. I'd be a happy man if I ate food like this everyday!" said Keaton in between bites.
Sheryl blushed and looked down in embarassment. Soon enough, they finished eating and Keaton was cleaning up the plates. He walked into the kitchen to set down the plates in the sink and wash them, when he saw Sheryl in the kitchen holding his sketchbook. Keaton set the plates in the sink and walked up to Sheryl, who gave him his book back.
"Thank you for the wonderful dinner and returning my book. I don't know how we can repay you."
"No, it's ok. You don't have to..."
"No really. Is there something I can do?"
She looked down with a frown upon her face. Suddenly, she ran up to Keaton and cried on his chest. Keaton, taken by surprise, paused for a second and hugged Sheryl. She looked up at him with a sad look upon her face.
"Please, let me stay here with you."
"Huh? Wouldn't your parents be worried about you?"
"They don't care!"
Keaton pulled her off and held her shoulders with both of his hands. He looked down and smiled at her.
"I'll go ask your parents for their permission."
"They're too busy fighting all the time! They won't listen!"
"I see. Your happiness comes first. I'll go see them now."
Keaton marched out of the apartments and towards the Bistro with Sheryl behind him. Kara, seeing them walk out, inform the other girls and they followed him quietly. When they arrived, Sheryl ran in first where she saw her parents looking at her.
"Why are you out so late, Sheryl?"
Keaton walks in and folds his arms, looking at them.
"That would be my fault. Sheryl needed a place to go. To get away from the fighting." he said.
"Huh? How do you know?" said Sheryl's father, looking at his daughter.
"I came here just today and saw the fighting. You know, when a family fights, the children also suffer."
"Listen, kid, you don't know crap-"
"Yes I do! When I was young, my parents used to fight all the time. They would go at it everyday. I always wished it would just stop. It hurts me that they were fighting my whole life."
"Sheryl is suffering because of your arguments."
Sheryl's father left the house with a fit of anger, going outside to take a drag on a cigarette, noticing three girls eavesdropping. Inside, Sheryl's mother walked up to Keaton, who is also sad with the memories of his parents.
"My friend." said Sheryl's mother. She tapped him on the shoulder and Keaton looked up to meet her.
"Yes?"
"You are wise beyond your years. Unfortunately, I cannot promise the argument will end right away."
"I see."
"Who are you?"
"I am Keaton, landlord of the Hinata apartments."
"I see. This might work out. Can you please take my daughter in? I'll pay for the rent."
Sheryl's eyes widened with joy when she heard her mother's words.
"I'd be glad to."
Sheryl's mother nodded and told Sheryl to start packing. Keaton leaves the Bistro and the three girls hide behind a trashcan. Kara turns to Natalie and says 'Maybe he isn't so bad after all.' Later that night, Sheryl is being dropped off by her father in front of the Hinata Apartments. Sheryl's father walked her to the front of the door where she was met by Keaton, who was standing out in the front. Sheryl's father shook hands with him and said 'Not many men make me reconsider the way I think. He's a special kid, Sheryl.' He walked off back into the car and drove off leaving Sheryl there blushing. Keaton opened the door and let Sheryl enter. Keaton took most of her bags and placed them inside, where she was greeted by the three other girls.
"Hi. I'm Sheryl. Nice to meet you. Please let me stay, I'll cook for you guys everyday!"
"Really? Kickass!" yelled Kara.
"Don't worry about it, your mother has taken care of everything." said Keaton.
Keaton took Sheryl through the stairs and up to her room, where she would stay. He set her bags inside and opened the shades so she could see outside.
"Well, this is it. You're one of us from now on, Ms. Sheryl."
Sheryl started getting tears in her eyes, which shocked Keaton. She ran up to him and hugged him. Keaton relaxed realizing it was tears of joy and eased into it.