Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Love Hina.
Pre-Read by: DeathofHell & HinaGuy749
Keitaro...I'm Pregnant: Meeting The Parents
Watching everything glisten from the sun on the bus ride back from school, I prepare what I want to tell my parents about their little girl being pregnant. I've been dreading to do this, not because I am going to be yelled at, but because my parents are so close to getting back together that if I tell them this, they might blame each other for letting me live here and they may never get back together. I let out a few tears before feeling Tsuyoshi's arm around me.
"You all right?" I nod my head, wiping my tears.
"I'm just nervous, you know." Tsuyoshi's comfort eased my mind. I'm glad someone is going to be with me when I tell my parents that I'm pregnant. Keitaro offered to do it, but I might accidentally slip up to reveal that he did it. "I really wish I had your strength."
"Strength? You're the one with the strength. And courage. I still haven't told me parents about the dojo situation."
"I know you will. You just need to see me do it first." I giggle, holding his hand. I feel guilty for having another guy besides Keitaro holding me like this. It's like I'm cheating on him.
Once we're at our stop, we leave the bus and go up the stairs. The walk up the stairs is long and making me tiresome that by the time we reach the top, I already want to take a nap.
"I'm going to be the first one to meet this Raymond guy?" Tsuyoshi ask, walking towards the front door.
"Yes. Everyone else will meet him Saturday after school." Like a gentleman, he opens the door, letting me in first. We take off our shoes, heading towards my room when we hear a loud burp.
"EWWW! That's gross Raymond." I hear Motoko yelling.
"Well sorry for drinking that can of soda, but Kaolla drank all the juice in the house!"
"Don't be blaming her for this. You're the one that belched."
"Well then...ex:burp:cuse me!" Raymond storms out of the dining room, looking angry and upset. I know it's all an act he's doing just to annoy the others.
"Is that the guy that impregnated you?" Tsuyoshi ask.
"Yes. That's him. That's Raymond."
"Hey Shinobu," he says walking by us with a calmer look. Then he stops, slowly turning around. "Say, who's this guy? A friend of yours?"
"Yes. This is Tsuyoshi Ho." Raymond walks up to him, extending his arm.
"Hi there. I'm Raymond Ancheta." Tsuyoshi extends his arm, shaking his hand.
"I know." I feel trouble in the air as both guys look at each other, not letting go of the other's hand.
"Boy, you have a strong grip on you." They shake for few more seconds before Raymond lets go, shakes his hand and goes up the stairs. We follow, but walk towards Keitaro's room to borrow his cell phone, which he bought when we came back from San Francisco. I could use the one in the hall, but I want some privacy. Once we're at his room I knock on the door.
"Yes?"
"Sempai. It's me." I hear footsteps coming from his room before opening the door with a bright smile on his face.
"Hi Shinobu. Oh. Hi there Tsuyoshi."
"Hello Keitaro-san."
"Sempai, you think I can borrow your cell phone? I need to call my parents."
"Oh sure." He reaches in his pants pocket, pulling it out. "Here you go."
"Thanks. I'll return it when I'm done." With a smile, he closes the door.
Tsuyoshi and I head towards my room to make the call. I decide to call my mom first, since I know she'll be home. I dial the first three numbers before my fear comes back again.
"I don't know if I can do this." I say, putting my head down. I want to cry, but I feel Tsuyoshi holding my hand.
"Don't worry, I'm here for you." With his encouragement, I dial the rest of the numbers. Putting the phone next to my ear, I wait patiently for my mom to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Huh?" I'm surprise to be hearing my dad. I check the number to see if I accidentally dialed his number, but it shows my mom's. "Dad, is that you?"
"Shinobu?! Oh my. Honey! It's Shinobu." I can hear my mom talking in the background, but I'm not able to understand. Then I hear another click on the phone.
"Shinobu?" I hear my mom, speaking like she's in a distance.
"Mom?"
"Oh Shinobu! It's wonderful to hear you again!"
"Thanks. Is dad with you?"
"Yes Shinobu. Oh, Sweetie. Can you please hang up the phone and use this one?" I hear another click before footsteps in the background.
"Hello there!" My dad says, sounding like he's also in a distance.
"Hi dad. Huh...are you two sharing a phone?"
"We're on speaker phone."
"Oh. How come your at mom's place?"
"I got the week off and been spending time with you mother."
"I'm actually glad you called Shinobu. I was going to call you later tonight, but since you called, I might as well tell you now. Your father and I are going to be coming over to see you this Saturday."
"You are?!" I'm excited that they're coming. I haven't seen them in a long time. But I guess my other friends won't be meeting Raymond. "That's great! I can't wait to see you."
"I'm glad your happy; but why did you call?"
"Oh that." Now I'm even more nervous to tell them. They sound so happy to hear me and they seem to be getting along. I look at Tsuyoshi who seems concern. He leans towards me and whispers something in my ear.
"There is nothing you need to be fearful of. You can tell them." Taking a deep breathe, I tell them.
"Mom. Dad. I'm pregnant." I expected them to be silent, somewhat shock and taking in the news of what I told them. Instead, my dad screams over the phone. I have to put the phone away from my ear because he's so loud.
"PREGNANT?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN PREGNANT?! WHO DID THIS TO YOU? WHY? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" He's so mad at me that I drop to my knees, about to cry.
"Yuichi!" My mom says to my dad in a serene tone. "Calm down. Just calm down! Please let Shinobu explain." I can hear my dad heavily breathing.
"OK Aya. Shinobu, I'm sorry for losing my temper. Can you tell us what happen?" I hold back my tears, trying to explain myself.
"Well...you see...it happened in San Francisco..."
"Wait! San Francisco?" My mom asked.
"Yes..."
"KEITARO!" My dad yelled out. "WHY I OUGHT..."
"Dad! No! It wasn't him." I keep forgetting that everyone knows Keitaro took me to San Francisco.
"He wasn't? But you said..."
"I know. I meant to say that I met him in San Francisco." I can hear my heart beating fast as I explain everything to my parents from how we met, what we did that night to him living at the Hinata Sou, with no interruption. Once I'm done, I wait nervously from the silent on the other side of the phone.
"So...he's living in Japan now?" My mom softly says.
"Yes." I can hear my parents calling to each other, but it's all gibberish.
"Shinobu sweetie, do you think we can meet and talk to this guy when we come over?" My dad ask. I hesitate to give them my answer. I'm really not sure what to tell them. I don't want to put Raymond in this situation, even those he volunteered to help us. I think about it quickly before I decide they can. I mean, they are coming to see me in a few days. Why not meet him?
"Yes dad. I'll go and tell him that you two want to meet him."
"Thanks Shinobu. We'll pick you up at your school Saturday. Is that fine?"
"Yes. I can't wait to see you two again. Goodbye!" I wait to them to tell me their goodbyes before hanging up the phone. I almost forgot that Tsuyoshi is with me until I turn towards him.
"So, how did it go?"
"They sound all right with it. They were going to come over Saturday to see me anyway, so they're also going to meet him."
"Oh. I guess the rest of them won't be meeting Raymond."
"Yeah." I walk over to Tsuyoshi and give him a hug. "Thank you for helping me out."
"Don't mention it." I look up at him, smiling. "I better get going. Otousan doesn't like it when Hideki or I are out past six on a school night." I release him from the hug and walk him to the door. We tell every other goodbye as I watch him leave. Once he goes down the stairs, I close the door and prepare dinner.
Dinner was normal. The girls argue with Raymond about anything they can think of; he argues back; Keitaro secretly holds my hand on a few occasions. It was easy to do at since both guys sit between me.
Once dinner is done and all the girls left, I ask both of them to meet me in my room while I do the dishes. Keitaro offers to help while Raymond quickly leaves, knowing that we want our quality time together since it's so rare. We playfully fight with each other, throwing soap suds or splashing water at each other. We do this a lot whenever we do the dishes together, but we have to do it quietly so the others won't come and see what's going on.
When we're done, we go back to my room where Raymond is waiting outside my door, reading his driver's manual. He told us that after his experience with Seta's driving and the fact that he's tired of taking the train, he'd like to learn how to drive in Japan. I'm not sure if that's a wise decision since not a lot of Japanese people drive. I think it's more of an American thing that he wants to drive.
Once he gets up, we all enter my room. Since Raymond is paranoid that there is some sort of security device still in his room and a hole connecting Keitaro and Naru's room, if we need to tell each other anything as a group, it's in my room. That's pretty good since none of the other residents think I am some sort of victim.
"So, what did you want to tell us?"
"Well...I finally told my parents about my pregnancy issue."
"It took you this long?" Raymond ask in a negative tone.
"Hey! Don't be bugging her like that," Keitaro coming to my defense.
"I'm sorry Shinobu. I'm just shocked that it took this long. But I guess everyone has their own timetable of telling things. Sorry if you took my comment to offense. I didn't mean to."
"That OK. But we have bigger problems."
"What do you mean?"
"I told them that you were living here and since they both were planning to visit me, they want to meet you."
"They...want to...meet...me?" His expression is like a deer caught in the headlights of a car, seeming to be sick by the news.
"Relax. You'll be fine," I tell him, trying to calm him down a bit.
"I don't know. I never done the 'in-law' thing before."
"Don't worry," Keitaro says. "I trust you completely in handling this."
"That makes one of us. So, when are they coming?"
"Saturday."
"This Saturday?" I nod, seeing him really upset.
"Raymond, what's wrong? Is Saturday a bad day for you?" His depressed expression changes to more of shock.
"No, no. It's alright."
"Wait. Raymond, didn't you have..." Keitaro begins
"I said Saturday is fine!" Raymond snaps at him, grinning his teeth. I've never seen him like this before. He's usually nice towards us. Was Raymond supposed to do something?
"Raymond, if you have any plans..."
"Don't worry about it. I was going to do nothing really." I look at Keitaro, who seem distort by his comment. What is Raymond hiding? "So, this Saturday huh? Well, at least it gives me a few days to think about what to tell them."
"Wait," Keitaro interrupts. "Shinobu, I thought your parents don't know how to speak English."
"They don't. I..." Before I can speak anymore, my mouth drops to the floor. Since Raymond can't speak Japanese and my parents can't speak English, I get what Keitaro means. "Oh. I understand."
"Understand what?" Raymond ask.
"My parents can't speak English."
"Then...what are we going to do?"
"I can interpret what you say to them," Keitaro offers.
"That would be great, but shouldn't Shinobu be doing that?"
"I don't think she can talk to her parents and interpret for you at the same time." He turns towards me. "Can you?"
"No, no." I wave my hands. "I'll leave that job to you."
"OK. What do you think, Raymond?"
"I think we have a plan. I just have to think of every possible question they might throw at me. Anyway, I'll leave so you two can have your private time." He pats Keitaro on the back before walking out. Keitaro walks up to me, rubbing my stomach.
"Private time he says." I giggle from his exaggerated tone, leaning over and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah! Private time!" He lets out a cheery smile before embracing me with a kiss on the lips. It's been a while since we have done this. It makes me cherish the time we have together. Suddenly, Keitaro pulls back, looking sadden.
"Maybe it's time that we tell everyone it was me who impregnated you." Quickly knowing my answer, I shake my head.
"Not yet."
"How come?"
"The girls have been trying to beat the snot out of Raymond for a while now, but he manages to avoid any physical fighting for them. With you, they'll send you to the moon."
"I guess, but Raymond avoids the fighting because he's been threatening them too!" I giggle again from her sarcastic tone.
"That's true, but I don't want you hurt. We are pretty lucky that he came in the nick of time." I notice Keitaro still with his sad complexion. "Is something bothering you?"
"Oh no. No," he replies, shaking his head. "Just tired. That's all." He gives me a short kiss on the lips again before pulling back and walking to the door. "Gotta get some rest. And you should too." He points one finger at me, shaking it as if he's scolding a child. I can't help but giggle. "Well, goodnight."
"I will. Goodnight to you too. I hope you dream of someone special." He lets out the brightest smile I ever seen him show to me before stepping out of my room. I softly drop myself onto my bed and dreaming of what Keitaro and I will do in the future.
=)
I lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling of my room, wondering when Shinobu will be coming back. I can only imagine what the conversation between her parents and Raymond will go. I feel bad that he has to talk to them. I mean, I'm the one that got Shinobu pregnant. Plus, he said that he was going to hang out with his other friends (or the Teen Titans as I know them) tonight. He looked very upset that he has to cancel, but didn't tell Shinobu about it. I wonder why?
Suddenly, I hear a scream in the hallway. I jump off the floor, landing on my feet. I open my door and see Naru, Su and Sarah outside Raymond's door.
"Why in the world are you in your underwear?!" Naru ask, placing her hands on her hips. "What were you thinking?" I see him walking up to the group of girls with an unpleasant smile.
"Oh...I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was a crime for me being in my boxers in the privacy of my room all because you girls never learned how to knock before opening a door," he sarcastically tells the girls, making them turn away from him looking humiliated. "Get out of my room!" He slams the door so hard that it actually echoes in the hallway. She girls curse at him in Japanese before going upstairs.
Once I don't hear their footsteps anymore, I walk across the hallway and knock on his door. He violently opens the door, looking angry.
"Dammit! What do you..." His expression changes to surprise when he recognizes me. "Oh. Sorry for yelling at you Keitaro. Please, come in. I need your help." I walk in his room, hearing him close his door. When he walks pass me, he's still wearing his boxers.
"What do you need help with?"
"I don't know what to wear." I begin looking around his room, noticing that most of his clothes are scattered. I may not have a lot of guy friends, but I know none of them would ask me advice on clothes.
"Are you sure that you want my help?" Raymond walks to his closet and pulls out a white shirt that reads 'Fashion Police's Most Wanted'.
"Does this answer your question?" I let out a chuckle, wondering why he has that shirt. "Besides, I don't want to look bad in front of Shinobu's parents."
"Man! You really want to make a good impression on them, don't you?" Raymond looks at me with his glasses down (or what he calls 'the Superman look') with a grave expression. I know by this look that he's doing it for me, but can't really say anything because of his paranoia. "Alright. I'll help best I can."
We spend most of the time chasing Tama around because she kept flying around with some of his clothes. Once we get her out of the room, it only took ten minutes before we found him some clothes to wear: a blue short-sleeve dress shirt with black khaki pants. Finally dressed, we walk out the room and sit next to each other in the living room, waiting patiently for Shinobu and her parents to arrive. I have already told the other girls about the situation and unless someone was dying, for them not to disturbed us.
I look at the clock, noticing that Shinobu's school just let out. I look over to Raymond who is sitting quietly on the couch, looking pretty calm. I turn around at the stairs to see if the girls are spying on us before going to ask him a question that's being plaguing me since he agreed to talk to her parents.
"Raymond," he slowly turns his head towards me. "I appreciate you doing this and all, but didn't you have plans to hang out with your friends?"
"Yeah, but this is important. It can wait."
"But didn't you tell me that Saturday is the only time you can actually see them?" He lets out a sigh.
"I know, but they don't know about Shinobu." His expression change to bitterness.
"But..."
"No buts! I can see them another time." He turns away from me, giving the vibe that he doesn't want to talk. Since meeting his friends, he seems a little depressed when he's not with them. He told me that he usually hangs out with his friends all the time and wasn't used to not seeing them in the months before coming to Japan. We wait for what seems like forever in silence until Shinobu and her parents arrive.
"Mom. Dad. This is Raymond Ancheta," Shinobu tells them.
Raymond immediately stands up and greets her parents with a hand-shake. I see that he shakes the mother's hand, but the father refuses, crossing his arms. This doesn't phase him, bowing instead. We watch the parents sit first before we take a sit ourselves. I feel a little odd having Raymond sit in the middle, next to Shinobu, but it wouldn't make any sense if they didn't sit next to each other.
"It's nice to meet you Raymond," Shinobu's mom says, translating the words to him.
"You too ma'am." Shinobu's dad uncrosses his arms and leans forward with his hand on his knees.
"I'm going to get straight to the point," he says. "What were you thinking when you knocked up my daughter?" His deep, angry voice when he asked his question took me by surprise, scaring me a little. His wife seems in shock by his question, looking very embarrass. When I turn to translate, I notice Shinobu looking embarrass herself. When I finish translating, Raymond slowly turns his head with somewhat of a smile, looking at me as if I was kidding. I shake my head before he turns back towards the parents.
"Well sir, it just happened." I hesitate translating his words. It doesn't seem likely that they'd believe him. I mean, I don't believe him. But I do it any way. I see Mr. Maehara mouth opening when Raymond continues speaking. "You see, one thing lead to another and before you know it, we were...well...you know." Out of the corner of my eye, I notice him blushing, turning away from them.
"That's not..." Shinobu's dad began, but is elbowed by her mom.
"That's a fine explanation. So tell us a little about yourself. What's your shoe size?" Raymond looks very confuse by this question that he actually excuses himself to check.
"I'm a size 8 in men."
"That's nice. How many kilograms of food do you eat in a day?"
"Hmm...Uh...I'm not sure. I don't weight my food before I eat it."
"Can you write your name using only your feet?"
"I never even thought of doing that before."
"How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"
"Uh...I don't know?"
"Ginger or Mary Ann?"
"Do I really need to answer that in front of your daughter?"
"No. I just want you to be relaxed with us. I remember when my parents were questioning Yuichi before we got married. He seemed very tense. I don't want that with you."
"Oh...thank you ma'am."
"That's all right. Anyway, Shinobu only told us that you came here to study photography."
"That's right ma'am. I am a photography major." He continues on by talking about how he got into photography in high school and how he has been doing in college. I was wondering what the SAT test is, but I have to remember that this is a conversation between Shinobu, her parents and Raymond.
"You have done so much in America."
"Thank you ma'am."
"So, why did you want to study in Japan?"
"Since going to college, I would always see flyers about studying abroad. I always thought it was a cool idea to be studying in another country."
"You're going to be staying here until you get your degree?"
"Yes ma'am." Shinobu's mom seems pleased by the way Raymond is answering her questions in a respectable manner. I don't think I would be able to handle it if I were the one talking to them.
"That's great. Education should always come first. So, what are you going to do after you get your degree?"
"Well...this is kind of embarrassing to tell you now, but chances are that I would bring your daughter back to America and we would live at my mom's place. Once I saved enough money, we would have a nice apartment outside of San Francisco and get married at City Hall."
If I wasn't hesitant about what Shinobu's dad had said, then I was about what Raymond just said. There is no way that either of her parents would accept this. Her dad is angry that he impregnated her to begin with. Now he's suggesting to take away their daughter from this country and move in with him? I know his intentions are good, but this will probably anger them.
I want to tell Shinobu's parents something else. I think back on what Ms. Maehara asked Raymond. With nothing coming to mind that would fit him, I translate what I would do once I graduated from Tokyo U.
"Well...this is kind of embarrassing to tell you now, but I will stay in this country and find a steady job here to support not only all three of us, but Shinobu's dream of going to Toudai. Once I know I'll be working for a long time, I'll propose to your daughter and save a lot of money so she can have the wedding that every little girl dreams of; provided that she says 'yes' of course." Shinobu's dad signal to her mom, whispering something. I turn over to Raymond, who still has his look of confident of lying to her parents, smiling at them. However, Shinobu looks in shock that I twisted the words around, eager to ask why I did that. I hear roughening from her parent. Turning my head, I see her father standing up.
"Thank you for taking the time to have this nice conversation with us. However, I can never forgive you for what you have done to my daughter. You mister, have taken away her future, causing her to grow up when it's clearly known in our society that she isn't ready for. I'm glad that you're willing to take care of her and the baby and willing to marry her. But let me make one point clear." He sternly walks to Raymond, getting close enough to be in his face. "You will never have my consent on marrying my daughter." Mr. Maehara turns away from him, looking at his daughter. "Shinobu, I will be waiting in the car. When you're ready, your mother and I will take you to dinner." With that, he walks away from us and out the door.
I feel deeply depressed at what Shinobu's father just told Raymond. I know that he said it to him, but it was directed towards me. I can't help but take what his said personal. He hates that his daughter will be a mother-to-be and must feel helpless that he could have done something to prevent this. He must have dreams of her becoming successful since he sounded very anger towards Raymond to begin. I'm not sure how Shinobu's dad feels, but he must be heartbroken that his only daughter is pregnant before graduating high school.
Not able to take this feeling of guilt and sadness any longer, I race up to my room and cry. I cover the noise of my cries with a pillow, in case Naru is in her room and hears me. I feel that whether it was Raymond, me or some other guy that got Shinobu pregnant, he would hate him for life for doing this to her.
"Keitaro?" I pull away from my soggy pillow to see Shinobu in the doorway. "You all right?" I nod my head. "Can you please come to my room for a bit?" I drop the pillow and walk to her to her room. Raymond is already there when we go inside.
"Hey man," he says in a weak voice. "Shinobu explained to me what happened. Are you feeling all right?"
"Yeah. Yeah I am."
"That's good. Can you please tell us why you changed my words around?" He seems not to be angry at me, but I feel I know better then that since he's a good actor. He must be furious at what I did.
"It's just...your explanation didn't seem all that thoughtful. I mean, you would actually take their one and only daughter to a foreign place that they may never see each other again?" Raymond looks like he was going to argue, but stops before speaking.
"I see your point. But them thinking I'd stay in Japan for the rest of my life to take care of her and the baby doesn't seem like me."
"I know. I took a gamble thinking they'd hate what you told them more then what I told them. But they hate me since I did this to Shinobu." I turn my attention to her. "I'm so sorry that I cause you so much pain." She surprises me by giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"You don't need to feel sorry about anything. I chose this for myself and I just happen to take you along with me."
"And besides, they don't know it's really you. They think it's me, remember?" Raymond added.
"Yeah, but what her father said was to me. ME! The real guy that impregnated Shinobu."
"Listen, if they knew it was you, they would have reacted differently. I don't think every parent likes it when they find out that their daughter is pregnant by some stranger."
"Your right," I tell him. "They would have killed me! They gave me the responsibility to watch her and look what I have done."
"I'm not so sure. Shinobu's mom just met me today and she seemed understanding. I think if it was you and explained yourself better then I did, then her dad would be understanding too."
"Yeah Keitaro," Shinobu adds in. "My mom seemed hellbound about Raymond on the ride over here. Now she thinks he's all right, even those I'm supposedly pregnant with his baby. Now, if you two will excuse yourselves, I have to change and get ready to have dinner with my parents. We have a lot of catching up to do." Letting go of me, I kiss her good-bye before Raymond and I leave her room.
"Keitaro. If you need to talk about this anything, you can. I'll be there for you," he tells me before we go into our respected rooms. I lie on the floor, knowing that those two are only trying to help me. But when the father of the girl I love hates what has happen, I can't help but feel ashamed for what I have done, crying myself to sleep.
GOOD OR BAD, PLEASE REVIEW =)