Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Love Hina.
Pre-Read by: DeathofHell
Keitaro...I'm Pregnant: The Little Feeling
The unusually silent around the dinner table is strange for me. This peacefully calm atmosphere doesn't seem to fit the home I am used to at the Hinata Sou. None of the girls are yelling at Raymond about anything lately. I wish I could be fine with that, having some quiet time here, but seeing Keitaro's sad expression and him not holding my hand, I really can't enjoy myself, always wondering how he's feeling.
Keitaro has been depressed ever since my father told Raymond that he would never agree to us being marry, which was a week ago. What my father said is actually fine with Raymond and I, since we are seeing other people; but Keitaro knows that what my father said was to him. He doesn't seem like his enthusiastic self, always moping around the apartment and ever in school from what Raymond had told me. I have tried everything I know to get him out of this, but nothing has worked. I feel like he's pushing me back for what has happen to me, even those I told him it was also my decision to go through with it.
"Oh. I almost forgot to tell you Shinobu," Mutsumi says, interrupting my thoughts. "Dr. Nagura called to remind you about your sonogram tomorrow and drink plenty of water."
"Oh...all right." With Keitaro being depressed, it slipped my mind.
"Hey Raymond. Why don't you go with Shinobu?" Naru ask.
"What for?" He says, taking a sip of his soup.
"Because it's also your kid, remember?"
"Fine. Whatever you say." Picks up his bowl and puts it away in the sink. Soon, everyone else finishes dinner, leaving me to wash the dishes. Keitaro does help me clean them, but doesn't talk or have a little water fight that I'm so used to having with him.
Once we're done, we go straight to our rooms. I flop myself onto my bed, feeling helpless that I can't do anything to cheer up Keitaro. I have a big day tomorrow, so I try to fall a sleep when I hear three quick knocks on my door.
"Come in." When the door opens, I get up out of bed, not excepting him. "Raymond! What brings you by?"
"Can we talk about tomorrow?" I nod my head. He walks over to me and we sit on my bed. "I know you want Keitaro there instead of me. So...any ideas?"
"No. You have any?"
"One. I'll leave a note saying that I have to assist in a photo shoot."
"What time would you be leaving?"
"A little before 6 am."
"That early? What are you doing to do?"
"I should have told you this earlier, but I didn't think you should know. At least until now. Some of my friends are here, living at the student apartment just outside the campus. Since I haven't seen them in about two weeks, I thought I can go there and hangout with them."
"That's a good idea, but how come you didn't want to tell me this?"
"Because of the situation between you and Keitaro. I just happen to get involved and I don't want me friends involved since they don't know what's going on."
"I see. Speaking of Keitaro, have you come up with a plan for him to come with me tomorrow?" Raymond lets out a sigh.
"That I haven't thought up yet. It took me this long to come up with the other plan." I let out a smile, putting my arm around him and giving a little hug.
"Then don't worry about it. I'll come up with something. You have done enough thinking and planning for both Keitaro and I."
"Thanks. But please don't do this! You'll make him jealous." I giggle, releasing him. He stand up, looking at me. "I trust your judgment, so I won't be worry what you tell them. I'm going to make pancakes so you don't have to cook tomorrow."
"Thanks, but don't make any for me. I have to have water for my sonogram."
"All right. Do you want your water plain? With ice? How about a little lemon wedge?" I giggle a little harder from the expression he's doing as he ask when kind of water I want.
"Some plain. Some with ice."
"How many glasses?"
"How about five of each?"
"Damn! You need that many?"
"Nope. But I'm not sure how many glasses of water I really need."
"OK then. Ten glasses of water, five of which are with ice for you. I'll probably see you tomorrow night." We wave good-bye before he leaves. I get under my covers and try to think of how Keitaro can come with me tomorrow.
=)
I slowly open my eyes, trying to get out of bed. My body feels weak like it didn't get any sleep, even those my mind tells me I'm fully rested, ready to tackle the day. I reach for my glasses, put them on and finally get out of bed. I really wish I didn't. I been down on myself ever since Shinobu's dad told Raymond that he'll never consent to marrying his daughter. I know that he said it to Raymond, but that was for me. I mean, I'm the one that got Shinobu pregnant. I'm the father of her baby. I want to marry her once my life is in order, but not to have the consent of her parents? That's really hurts.
Once I pack up my beddings and get dress, I go downstairs to the dining room where Shinobu and Mutsumi are already having breakfast. I didn't realize that Shinobu didn't cook until I enter the kitchen and see about 25 stacks of pancakes. This must be the handle work of Raymond, but he'd usually be eating his at the table. I wonder where he is? Oh well. I grab four stacks of pancakes and join the girls at the table. I put some butter and maple syrup before most of the girls come in.
"Raymond cooked again?" Motoko ask.
"Yes he did," Shinobu says after finishing her glass of water.
"Doesn't that boy know how to cook anything besides pancakes?" Kitsune complains.
"I don't know, but we do get them once in a while and they're great, if you ask me," Mutsumi argues, taking another bite out of the pancakes.
"Hey Shinobu! Are you going to have all those glasses of water?" Su ask. I turn to Shinobu and see about ten glasses!
"Yes Su. I can only have water before my examination."
"Speaking of that, where's Raymond?" Naru ask.
"I'm not sure. He left to go to a photo shoot." I has my piece of the pancakes almost in my mouth when the rest of the girls scream.
"What do you mean left?"
"I mean, he left the apartments. Here the note." She hands the note to Su who reads it out loud.
"Shinobu. Sorry to do this to you, but I forgot that I had to assist in a photo shoot and can't be there for your sonogram examination since I don't know when it'll end. Raymond." The other girls each take turns reading the note to themselves before Motoko crumples the note, fiercely throwing it into the living room.
"WHAT A JERK!" She screams. "I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE DID!"
"Me either." Naru adds. She goes around the table, walking towards Shinobu. "If you like, we can go with you for support."
"Thanks for the offer, but I would actually feel better if Sempai would actually come with me." I drop my fork, hearing it rattle when it hits my plate. I'm a little surprise to hear this.
"You want Keitaro to come to your sonogram?" Kitsune ask.
"Yes. Don't get the wrong idea, but I just don't want the doctor or anyone else in the hospital to think that the guy who impregnated me didn't care. At least with Sempai, they think a guy cared." From what she says, I think her and Raymond planned to have me come over to her sonogram. I got to hand it to them. They're clever, but her logic of explanation doesn't mind sense.
"But you're just lying to people Shinobu," Naru comments. "Not only are you making Keitaro involved without his permission, but you're making people assume that he's the one them impregnated you. That's not right." Shinobu slams her glass on the table.
"I know, but Raymond is a good person! I know he wants to be there with me, but he has other priorities! I don't want people to think that he's a bad person just because he can't be there." She puts down her head on the table, covering it with her arms as we hear her cry. Motoko comes closer to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Listen Shinobu. We know what you're going through..." Shinobu immediate grabs her hand and throws it off her shoulder as she lifts her head. I can only see the back of it, but from the sound of her cries, it seems her tears are flowing down like a waterfall.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING THOUGHT!" She yells. This kind of scares me since I never seen Shinobu act like this before.
"Shinobu, just listen..."
"NO! YOU LISTEN! ARE YOU PREGNANT? HUH? ARE ANY OF YOU PREGNANT OR HAVE GONE THOUGHT PREGNANCY?" All the girls nervously shake their heads. "THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING THOUGHT!" She grabs another glass, chugs it down and slams the glass harder then the last one. I'm surprise that neither glass broke with all the anger she's displaying. "AND DON'T YOU EVER SAY THAT AGAIN UNLESS YOU HAVE GONE THOUGHT THIS! NOW IF YOU WILL ALL EXCUSE ME, I HAVE TO GET DRESSED BEFORE I GO TO THE HOSPITAL!" All the girls move away from Shinobu as she walks past them.
"Boy, she sure is moody," Kitsune says.
"Yeah, but I think Raymond has some sort of hold on her or something," Sarah adds. "She was never like this before." Most of the girls agree, but Mutsumi argues that it's just love that none of us have experienced yet.
Listening to them talk between the so-called relationship between Shinobu and Raymond, I think about what they did for me. They know that I been feeling down for the past week because of her father. Both of them, especially Shinobu, have been trying to cheer me up. I guess they're doing this for that reason. I still feel bad for what I have done to Shinobu, so this would be a nice opportunity to repay her back. Once I finish my pancakes, I speak up.
"I'll do it." I notice all the girls turn their heads towards me.
"You'll do what?" Su ask.
"I'll take Shinobu to her sonogram."
"What?" Naru hysterically yells. "Why? It's Raymond's responsibly to take Shinobu there."
"But if he can't be there, I'll take his place since that what she wants."
"But Keitaro...I...huh..."
"What is it Naru?" She seems very distort that I'm agreeing to this.
"Well...it's just...we don't want those people to think the wrong thing...you know."
"Then let them think that. They must have no lives if they're wonder about other people. Don't worry. Everything will be fine." I take my plate and head to the kitchen to clean. When I'm done, I walk over to Shinobu's room and knock on her door. I hope she isn't angry or sad.
"Come in." I open the door and see her sitting on her bed, smiling at me like nothing bad happen at breakfast.
"Uh...Shinobu, if you want, I'll take you to the hospital."
"Great!" She gets up and grabs her purse. "Let's go before I'm late." She takes me by the hand, leading me out.
We take the bus to the hospital, sitting far away from everyone as possible. I feel her soft warm hand touching mine, but I do nothing, but stare out the window.
"Say Keitaro, what did you think of my performance?" Surprise by this, I turn to her with a startled expression.
"Performance? You mean what you did in front of the girls was all acting?" She nods her head which makes me slap my forehead in disbelieve. "Well, you sure fooled me!" I hear her giggling a little, leaning closer to me.
"After watching enough of Raymond's acting, you tend to pick up a few tricks." I feel her head on my shoulder, but I brush her off.
"Please don't." Her expression of happiness changes to disappointment, dropping her head and turning away from me. I didn't want to do it. But it still bothers me what her father told Raymond.
It takes about half an hour to reach the hospital. We take the elevator to the fourth floor and check in. Well, she checks in, I just sit patiently for her examination to be done with. There aren't many people in the waiting room for this exam, but they all are staring at Shinobu since she's the youngest.
"Ms. Maehara, Dr. Nagura will see you now," a nurse say. I was about to pick up a magazine while I feel her grabbing my hand.
"I want you to come with me!" She continues to pull me as I resist. I look around seeing everyone still staring at us. Since we're causing a seen, I give in and go with her.
In the room where the examination will take place, I look around seeing things I never seen in a hospital room before. I also wait for the doctor to come as Shinobu changes into a gown in another room. When she returns, she twirls around the room, showing off her gown like fashion model on the runway. She takes a sit on the examining table, kicking her feet in the air. I feel a little bored, wishing I grabbed a magazine when the door opens, popping out a middle age woman with short black hair and eyeglasses in a white coat.
"Hello Shinobu."
"Hi Dr. Nagura!" As the doctor walks towards her, she notices me.
"So, is this the man that got you pregnant?" I almost fall out of my chair by her comment.
"Actually, he and his...uh...fiancée...yeah; fiancée are trying to have a baby of their own." I'm a little shock that she actually lied to her doctor about me. "I asked him to come by so he knows what to except when he and his fiancée do this."
"Oh. So where is your man?"
"He's out doing a photo shoot."
"All right. Sir, why don't you join us?" I really don't want to, but seeing the look on Shinobu's face changes my mind. I get up from my sit and stand next to Shinobu. The doctor lifts her gown and put some sort of jelly-like substances on her stomach, causing her to laugh.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Oh nothing. It just tickles." Shinobu replies.
The doctor pulls out a device from the machine and rolls it over her stomach. Immediately, I hear these high frequency sounds that sound like heartbeats.
"And their is your baby Shinobu." I look over to the screen. It's not much, just a bunch of light gray shapes that I don't understand. But when the doctor points to where the baby is, it hit me: I'm going to have a kid. I'm going to be a daddy.
"Can you tell how long she's been pregnant?" I ask.
"Sure. By the looks of things, it seems she's 9 weeks."
I'm still in amazement that the screen is showing the baby. Our baby! This feeling I have now isn't the one I been having for the past week. This feeling...is unexplainable. And I like it.
"I'll give you two some alone time." Dr. Nagura says. I hear her walking away, but stop suddenly. I don't turn away from the screen to see when she is. "You know, we all due respect for the people your dating, you two make a cute couple." I smile from the doctor's comment as she leaves the room, still looking at the screen thinking that this is the biggest moment in my life. Even bigger then passing the Toudai exam. Nearly lost in thought, I feel Shinobu's hand holding mine.
"Keitaro. I want you to know that we have a future together. I don't want someone like my father or someone from the Hinata Sou to discourage you for what we have. No matter what you're going through, I share the same feelings you have and I will help you any way I can because I love you and I will always be there for you." I felt her grip getting tighter with each word her tells me. But what I fell more is this heavy burden lifted off of me. I realize now that she's right. No matter what the future lays ahead of me, I can always count on her to be there in my time of need. I turn away from the screen, looking into her eyes.
"I know that now. Thank you." I close my eyes and hug her. I feel her lips brushing my cheek, knowing that she wants a kiss. I slowly turn in the direction of her lips, feeling the soft gentle kiss that I have missed for a week.
Shortly after, the doctor comes back in and prints us (well, Shinobu anyway) a picture of the sonogram. Once Shinobu cleans up and is fully dress, we leave the hospital. Out the door, she hands me the picture. I still can't believe that this is what I made with her. It's totally unbelievable for me, a guy who has always been down on his luck with girls having a kid? WOW!
"This is still an amazing sight," I say out loud.
"I know."
"Guess we should go home now."
"Actually, can we get something to eat? Those glasses of water weren't enough to fill me up."
"Sure. What do you want?"
"Anything for two. I'm also eating for the baby."
We go to this restaurant near the bus stop. I'm not that hungry, but the smell of food convinces my stomach to have a light lunch. I know that Shinobu has to eat more then usually and should be more hungry since all her had was water, but ordering about three meals...and finishing them?! I wonder if this is what I should be excepting for now on.
Once we're done, we take to bus back home while holding each other's hand. There is a silent the whole ride back, but it was more of an understanding of togetherness that would only be spoil by words.
I help her up the stairs since she feels a little fatigue. It take us a long time to get up since we don't want our alone time to end. Once we do reach the top, we can hear yelling from inside, but can't make out the voices until we get closer.
"HOW COULD YOU PULL A STUNT LIKE THAT?" Naru yells.
"OH...SHUT UP!" Recognizing Raymond's voice, making me give an awkward expression before I turn to Shinobu who is giving me the same look.
"Guess he's home," she says before I open the door. We take off our shoes and see that everyone is arguing in the living room. No one seems to notice us for a few minutes until Raymond turns his head towards our direction.
"Oh! You're both home. How was it?"
"It was fine," Shinobu says "We got a picture of it. You want to see what you made?" He sighs, walking towards us.
"Now...why would I want to see some damn fetus?" He walks pass us and towards the stairs.
"How rude of you Raymond!" Su yells at him, but continues to climb up the stairs.
"Hey! Come back here and apologize to Shinobu," Motoko screams. Raymond actually stops, but doesn't come down.
"Why don't you come up here and KISS THIS?!" When he says the last two words, he lightly slaps his butt. It takes every gram of my body not to fall down laughing at this. I turn to Motoko, seeing her furious expression that I have only seen before I go flying into the air.
"OH...I'LL DO SOMETHING TO IT ALL RIGHT." She pulls out her katana, rising it above her head. "I'LL DEFINITELY DO SOMETHING TO IT. BUT IT WON'T BE KISSING!" She runs towards the stairs, but only take five step before Shinobu gets in her way.
"NO!" She screams. "I won't let you hurt him."
"But he insulted you."
"He might have had a bad time at the photo shoot. Or is angry about all of you ganging up on him and screaming at him for no reason. Now..." She stretches out her arms, yawing. "If you'll all excuse me, I'm feeling a little tired and need a nap. Sempai. You think you can help me up to my room?"
"Sure." I take her by the hand, leading her upstairs as the rest of the girls sit on the couch and watch TV. Once we reach the top, we see Raymond leaning on the wall next to the stairs.
"Thanks for sticking up for me. I couldn't understand a word you were saying, but I saw what you did."
"It's all right," Shinobu tells him. "You are always helping us out. It's the least I can do."
"And sorry about my comment."
"Now that I know you were acting." We all lightly chuckle, making sure that no one else hears us.
"You think I can see the picture?"
"Sure." She looks for it in her purse when I realize that I have it. I take it out of my pocket and hand it to him.
"Wow! This is...this is..."
"I know. I have the same thought you have," I tell him. He hands it back to me, but I notice him staring at us carefully. "What is it?"
"I don't know why, but this kid is going to have your eyes," pointing to Shinobu. "And your smile," pointing to me.
"What makes you think that?" Shinobu ask. "Do you have a sixth sense you didn't tell us about?"
"Nah. It's actually the voices inside my head that told me this." I want to laugh, but he looks very serious.
We tell him we'll see him at dinner and head towards Shinobu's room. I try handing her back the picture, but she insistent that I keep it. Putting it back in my pocket, I tuck into bed and kiss her on the forehead. Leaving her room quietly, I return back to mine, laying on the floor just staring at the picture of our baby.
GOOD OR BAD, PLEASE REVIEW =)