Innortal: I always enjoy talking back to my reviewers. It lets you know that I actually care what you think. I'm just glad that you care about my words as well. I'm also happy that my character sketches are good too. Thank you for caring and thank you for the kind review
Malcolm Yuy: hmmph, a reviewer that agrees with my beliefs on the whole relationship thing...cool! Yeah, headstrong girls are nice sometimes. You know that they'll actually give you a decent argument and not just agree instantly. The battle's half the fun! (laughs) and the self-loathing part? That's often used to describe me as well. In any case, thank you so much for the review. I will continue this fic to the end
Duo the Ecchi Sessha: spell-check, eh? Eh, I do that. But I gave up on the pre-reader because it often took too long for them to get back because they can't just drop everything to read my fic, you know? Anyway, thank you for the review. Glad you like the storyline
Hanku Royiaki: fell on your ass laughing? Well...that's good! (laughs) glad you like the story! It might take a while for the next update though but you can keep yourself busy with the other stories I'll be updating soon. Enjoy! And thank you!
ShadeXH: hmmph, I know it takes a while to update. The one bad thing about my writing is I have no structure to it. I write whenever I have the chance and when inspiration hits. Sometimes I write several chapters in one go, sometimes I can barely do half of one. It all depends on whether I want to or not. sorry! But thanks for the review
NefCanuck: uh-huh, the whole "gain a spine" thing has always made me wonder too. Focused? That's actually a pretty good term to describe Keitaro with. He never really knew what the hell he was doing, did he? I am thankful for this review, that I am (winks)
Saraton: actually, your English isn't that lousy. Especially considered to today's American generation. Half the stuff I don't understand at all! Hell, I start spouting gibberish whenever I get excited. Still, thank you for the review. The fact you find the characters more fascinating is awesome
TornadoReviewer: hmm, I like my new Naru a lot more. I couldn't stand the fact that she was so damn unsure of her feelings. There will still be "Naru punches" and screaming though not nearly as severe as the manga shows. I like Mutsumi too. She's just too cute for words! (laughs)
zornoid13: thank you. I will as soon as possible
petran: it's when people like you that gives me such a detailed review on what they liked in my fic, I can't help but feel proud. Really, you don't know how much joy your review brought to me. I appreciate that you liked the fact that I actually gave a telling of how Kei decided to become landlord. I always wondered how he could decide just like that. And the photo booth? Just inspiration. I love it when that happens. Anyway, thank you so much for the review. I'll update as soon as I can. Thank you! (bows)
Zefrn: coffee? Uh-uh, no thanks, I hate the stuff. It never really works on me anyway as I seem to have natural energy all the time. Just depends on what time of the day it is. And don't worry, I wasn't sick. Well, I was but it was just a combination of several things at once, like I said in the author note. Unfortunately, ALGO will not be updated as soon as I hoped. I've had a little bit of writer's block on it but don't fear! I'm writing other stories as well! Hope that you'll enjoy them! Thank you for the review!
N: thanks for liking the new way I'm writing LH. It's a nice change from just humor.
Wonderbee31: thank you for the review. I never liked the fact that Haruka played such a small part in both the manga and the anime. This time around, her role will grow exponentially. Go Haruka! And like I said before I also hated Naru's wishy-washy nature, drove me insane! Ugh! And the story will turn out a lot sooner, around the end of the fourth volume when a certain event takes place. To all those manga readers, you know what I'm talking about! Thank you for the review!
Godsbane: thank you so much for the review! Another person who thinks this is the best romance fic! I am so very flattered! (laughs) Subtle, huh? I've never been one for subtlety but I guess that all changes when I write? Heh...And you like the wording too? Well thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Urm...thank you! (laughs)
Thank you to all of my reviewers!
Disclaimer: I, in no way, shape or form, own any of Love Hina. Ken Akamatsu does and I highly doubt he will ever give me the rights to it. So all I can do now is write stories based on Love Hina. Please do not sue! Because if you do...then I probably won't be able to do anything about it at all.
A Moment Worth A Lifetime
By Yamiga'sLight
Chapter 4: Learning About the Landlord
"Man, such a strange day..."
Keitaro was once again in the landlord's room, now his own. He was quite surprised by the reactions he received after he revealed he was going to be living there as the new owner and manager of Hinata House. After overcoming their shock at his confession the girls were amazingly submissive to what his new job was. They merely whispered a little to each other before telling him that they would allow him to stay, but only if he never performed any of the acts he had done before or else he'd have to resign. Keitaro readily agreed, knowing that he was lucky enough to be accepted. His slight inferiority complex also had something to do with it but he wasn't just about to tell them that.
However, and this was what he was afraid of, little Shinobu did not seem to be able to forgive him for his past transgressions. She had stayed behind after the others had gone back inside, staring at him with the same teary, betrayed expression she had owned when he first left.
He made a motion, hoping he could somehow apologize, but the moment he moved towards her, her face burst into tears, and she ran past him holding an arm to her eyes to soak up her show of sadness. Keitaro felt his heart break as the fact that he had hurt such a sweet and innocent girl registered properly. He knew that he had to make it up to her somehow, but...
In any case, that was done and he had to worry about the present at the moment. He had called his apartment building, regretfully informing Mr. Tanuka that he would no longer be lodging there. Tanuka was a bit disappointed that one of his longest-staying tenants was leaving so suddenly, but was also rather pleased that Keitaro held the same job as he did. He had even made the sly joke of Keitaro "getting it on" with one of the tenants to which Keitaro only laughed in embarrassment.
Luckily, and this made the new landlord very happy too, when he asked if Tanuka would be so kind as to pack his belongings and send them to his current stay of residence, (with him paying the older man for his services, of course), Tanuka had said that it was no problem and that he would even do it for free.
"After all," Keitaro remembered the hint of mirth in his voice over the phone. "It's the least I could do for the young man who's been with me the longest and has always been quite a joy to talk with. Just try to keep in touch with me, okay?"
Keitaro had whole-heartedly agreed, glad to be able to keep in contact with a...friend. Tanuka said he'd deliver his belongings the next day, obeying Keitaro's request of dropping them off in Haruka's teahouse. The conversation ended on a light note when Keitaro dropped the honorific on Tanuka's name, making the apartment manager absolutely delighted that he was finally being treated intimately.
Keitaro sighed and grabbed the cup of tea waiting for him on the table and took a sip. He grimaced at the bitterness from the leaves. He needed to buy some new ones – these were starting to get old. That, and he needed to buy ones that he didn't get for fifty-yen a pound.
Leaning back, he closed his eyes, contemplating on all that had just happened within the last twenty-four hours. He had arrived at Hinata house, met each of the inhabitants in individual undignified ways, accidentally lied his way in, stayed most of the day, had...He paused for a moment, blushing at the memory. Had a somewhat passionate encounter with Naru, revealed who he truly was, left only to find out he had inherited the inn, and was now the landlord of the entire place. Not bad for a reclusive two-year ronin who had no real contact with other people, even his family, for the past five years.
"I still don't understand why Grandma just handed me the inn out of the blue...One moment she's inviting me over to see her after a long time, and the next moment I find out I'm going to run an all-girls dormitory." A thoughtful look came onto his face as he cupped his chin. "Come to think of it, I have to be one of the first men to do such a thing. Only more of a reason to try and prove that I can do a good job."
"Or that you could try to initiate a steamy affair with one of the residents. More specifically a young woman with hair that matches her anger and passion."
Keitaro chuckled quietly as the little voice in the back of his mind took its chance to speak. I'm sure that Naru-dono would rather give me a punch than a kiss.
Didn't look that way this morning...
"Uh-huh," he mumbled, a slight tint to his cheeks. Even though had evolved only from his loneliness and sorrow while on the streets, it had managed to grow into a more permanent fixture of his psyche. It wasn't as though he was schizophrenic, he wasn't, but the voice had become a basic part of his life, one that gave hints or helpful gestures whenever he wanted or needed them. It wasn't a major component of his mind, but it did always manage to see through his disguises and right into his heart. It only spoke the truth, whether he liked it or not, (usually the latter) and still helped him gaze past his insecurities to what he could really be.
C'mon man, it looks like that girl really has a thing for you. Go for it!
Naru-dono would never allow it. Besides, I'm not...
Not worthy, right? Jeez, still using that same old excuse?
But it's true. Someone like me does not deserve someone like her.
Ugh, sometimes I wonder why I even bother...Fine, if that's how you're going to act, then don't. But know this, if you don't try, you'll never succeed...
He slumped forward, looking down into his lap after the last words of advice from his mind's voice. It was gone for now, but he knew it would come back. After all, it was a part of him – not like a part of himself could just wander off without him noticing it. But...maybe he should follow its advice. Maybe he should...
"No!" He lightly slapped each of his cheeks with his hands. "I can't be thinking of things like that! It's vulgar and wrong. Besides, I can't be slacking off! It's almost November and I still have the IQ of a sponge! I've got to buckle down and study hard. If I don't..." He shook his head, not even wanting to think of what would happen, and grabbed one of the few study-books he had brought along with him and a pencil before beginning to write.
It wasn't long before a knock came from his door, prompting Keitaro to break from his work and answer it. "Yes, come in." The door slid open, and he turned his head to see who it was. "Oh, hello, Kitsune-dono."
The aptly named "fox woman" sauntered in, her trademark smirk lit across her face. Keitaro grew anxious, as he knew that whenever she owned this devious look something bad was sure to follow. The woman didn't even return his greeting before summoning him with a crook of her finger. "I wanted to ask a favor of you, landlord. Could you come with me, please?" Not waiting for a response, she spun back around and walked back into the hallway.
Too confused by her mysterious actions, Keitaro could do nothing but follow her. As he walked a few steps behind her, his anxiety slowly grew when he recognized just where Kitsune was leading him to. "Urm, Kitsune-dono, where exactly are you taking me?"
"To the women's bath."
He stopped dead in his tracks. "The...the women's bath?"
"Uh-huh." She grabbed his hand and literally dragged him through the opening to the changing room. "Now come on! You can't very well change in the middle of the hall." She snickered at his shell-shocked form. Good, phase one was going along fine. It was time to begin phase two. "Let's get this shirt off of you." This was the only warning she gave before beginning to undo the buttons of his long-sleeve shirt.
Keitaro tried to struggle out of her grip, but found his muscles abnormally weak and hard to move. It was as if the woman had cast a spell on him, making him unable to resist her advances. In reality, it was more likely his hormone-addled brain shutting down his bodily functions. What he could do, though, was to shout out his alarm.
"What...what are you doing!"
"Aww, big boy can't do his own buttons?" she giggled. "Too hard?" Kitsune looked up at his face from her position at chest level. A coy and inviting look shone from her open eyes. Keitaro was mesmerized by them as each of his fasteners came loose, one by one.
Right before the last came off, he recognized the expression. It was the same one she had worn when she had tried to seduce him. Not a very successful encounter, but at least it assisted Keitaro in realizing what was going on. Whether as a joke or in total seriousness, Kitsune was up to. It clicked just as a part of his apparel was about to. Wanting to be firm yet not rude at the same time, he gently pried her fingers from his shirt and backed away. Even if he had figured it out, he was still embarrassed, characterized by slight panting and blush.
Keitaro quickly buttoned his shirt back up, noticing the disappointed look on Kitsune's face. Why? He did not know but he was determined to find out.
"Kitsune-dono, what do you think you were doing?"
She frowned. "What do you think? I was getting you undressed so we could get you into the hot springs."
"I might be a complete and utter moron when it comes to the antics of females but I am not stupid when I suspect I am being tricked or manipulated. Now..." He folded his arms and stared at her questioningly. "What did you bring me here for?"
She puffed out her cheeks and tapped her foot. "Hmph, you're no fun."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I did not realize I had to be fun. I am now your landlord and so must act in the proper way."
"Oh, fine!" she huffed. She turned tail and stomped into the hot spring. "Follow me and I'll tell you what needs to be done."
Keitaro sighed as he watched Kitsune make her annoyed exit. It wasn't as if he liked acting so cold and sterile. But there were various reasons as to why he had to do so. One, he'd rather be seen as only the manager and not as a friend or comrade because he would fail if he even tried. Two, as long as he remained impersonal towards them, he wouldn't grow to care, and as long he didn't care, he wouldn't have to worry about losing another loved one again. A rather morbid and pessimistic view on the world, but it had taken too long to just begin to heal the unseen scars of his battered soul to bother with this type of interaction.
He sighed once again and stepped cautiously onto the slippery rocks of the springs, wondering why Kitsune had tried to trick him into getting him in there. It hardly seemed worth it, but he wasn't about to delve into the mind of the woman, worried of what he might find. He was surprised, however, when he found that the rest of the tenants, minus Shinobu, were waiting for him along with Kitsune. He tilted his head a little in befuddlement. "What are the rest of you doing here? I thought only Kitsune-dono needed to see me."
"Well I did, but so does everyone else who lives here."
"We needed to tell you what duties you now have as landlord," Motoko added.
"In fact..." Su hopped up next to him and linked an arm through his. "Your first job is to wash the entire outdoors bath!" She waved her around, exaggerating the point of her statement. She then grinned and looked up at Keitaro. "Aren't you lucky!"
He untangled his arm from Su's and stepped forward, taking in the expansive area of the bath. It was rather large, spanning a good twenty yards in any direction from its center. It would probably take a couple of hours if only one person worked on it, but luckily for Keitaro, he wasn't a normal person. He turned back around to face them, his eyebrow quirked. "Is that all?"
"What do you mean, 'Is that all'! Can't you see how much you have to do!"
He blinked. "It's not like I haven't done this before."
Kitsune blinked also, but more in surprise than Keitaro's confusion. She took a step towards him and craned her neck to gaze at him. "What? You've done this before? When?"
"Sure," he nodded. "When I lived here Grandma made me do nearly all of the chores. The only one I wasn't allowed to were the repairs because she was afraid I would hurt myself. In fact, now that I'm older, I can probably do all of the chores a lot easier and quicker, including the repairs. You wouldn't believe how tough it is to use tools bigger than you." He paused for a moment as he rolled up his sleeves and pant-legs of his cargos. "Now, if you will excuse me, I believe I have some work to do."
-
"Wow! Look at him go!"
"He is quite fast, isn't he?
"Is it even possible to make a turn like that?"
"..."
Mixed feelings running throughout them, the girls watched in mingled awe and amusement as Keitaro plowed through his job of cleaning the bath. It was surprising that he had yielded to their orders so easily, as he had just become the manager and was now being told to do one of the least favored tasks of the dorm. It wasn't because they wanted him to leave forever and never return. In truth, each of them had become accustomed to his presence, whether it be a little or a lot. But the principle of the matter was that he was still the male landlord of a girls dormitory. The current tenants had to make sure he was worthy of such a title. If he could prove himself, he could stay. If not, they would make his life as miserable as possible as long as he remained.
However, he had been doing a rather good job so far. Without even a complaint he had jumped into cleaning the vast expanse of stones that made up the hot springs. It was intriguing to watch the young man nearly glide over the ground as he pushed the broom in front of him. A smile had formed on his face, which was strange as menial work was not exactly a fun task, especially for any of them.
Keitaro only smiled, unaware of their watch, only focusing on the task at hand. It had been a while since he had last cleaned this place. The design had changed dramatically. Hinata had knocked down the barrier separating the men's from the women's bath, creating one large one. He supposed it was no longer necessary as only the fairer sex would now live there. But still, the springs had an almost...quaint feel to it now. Ah well, that's what time did – it changed things.
He made a last pass around the springs before slowing down and viewing his work. His face was flushed and his breathing heavier than before but the satisfied grin on his face proved it all to be worth it. Shouldering the broom, Keitaro walked back over to the girls and gave a small bow. "It would seem I am done. I hope it is satisfactory."
Kitsune walked around a bit before squatting down and wiping her finger across the ground. Rubbing her fingers together, she exclaimed, "You missed a spot." She grinned suddenly. "Do it over!" Keitaro frowned at her critically as it was obvious she was just picking on him. She merely winked in response to his expression.
Shaking his head in disbelief, Keitaro let out what sounded like a chuckle. "Very well, Kitsune-dono. I shall do it again."
Motoko observed the young man begin to sweep the area all over again before turning to Kitsune. "Was that really necessary?" she asked, a bit of exasperation in her tone. "There really was no need to. We already decided to let him stay, and he hasn't done anything to prove us wrong in our decision."
"I know, I know," Kitsune laughed at the younger girl. "But he's just too cute when he's trying so hard like that; it's simply irresistible to tease him." Her eyes twinkled and she playfully elbowed Motoko in the side. "Don't you think he's cute, Motoko?"
She coughed at the implication. "That is still no reason to do so." But if one had been paying close attention, one would have noticed the tiniest hints of a blush fading away from her cheeks after their sudden entrance. Luckily, Kitsune's attention was more on the new landlord and less on the young kendoist to notice.
After another cleaning of the hot spring and another attempted judgment by Kitsune (he had politely refused to repeat the job, and was quickly backed up by both Motoko and Naru) Keitaro found himself seated by the edge of the hot springs with a hyper Su clinging to his back. She had seemed to become attached to him after discovering that he had almost as much energy as she did. Currently he was trying to avoid being put into a headlock by the rambunctious junior high student.
"Su-dono," he groused, managing to slip out of her grip for the dozenth time in the past several minutes. "Won't Motoko-dono become angry with me if she sees how much time you're spending with me?"
"Nahh...don't worry, ronin." Keitaro blanched at the amusing (and insulting) nickname the young foreign girl had bestowed upon him. "Motoko's really straightforward with her feelings. If she were angry with you, you'd be off in space right now." He gulped, remembering the reaction she had had towards him when they had first met. That was true; if she held any ill will towards him at least he would know of it.
Deciding to take advantage of his disjointed attitude, Su tried to get Keitaro into another headlock. Wrapping her legs around his neck, she pinned him down to the ground, gleeful that she had finally succeeded in trapping the young man. It took a moment for Keitaro to realize what had just occurred. When he did, he flushed horribly when he saw that the hold Su had put him on him gave him a rather perverted view of her panties.
With an imminent nosebleed arriving, Keitaro twisted his head not only to avoid staring but also to try and disrupt the balance that Su's legs had on him. Finding that his movements had made a gap, he slipped through it and flipped away onto one of the boulders scattered around so as to avoid any retaliation.
Holding a hand to his chest, his face a blazing crimson, Keitaro panted at his daring escape. "Su-dono!" he cried in minor annoyance. "What was that for?"
Su grinned, ecstatic at the way her new playmate had gotten away from her. "Wow! You're really good!" Tilting her head in mock innocence, she said, "Not even Motoko can get out of my holds when I really get serious. And you did it like it was nothing. That's so coolies!"
Keitaro closed his eyes and gave a flustered smile. "Urm, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not but thank..." Seeing another attack was coming from the sudden flash of the tanned girl's aura, he flipped backwards without even opening his eyes onto the ground. "...you."
Su grinned ferally at how close he had cut it before jumping away from her. She hadn't had this much fun for a while as Motoko would never play with her like Keitaro did but rather act like a punching bag for her hyperactivity. This didn't mean she didn't love Motoko any less, but it was more fun to play with someone who would do more than stand around and take the brunt of her antics. Choosing to try and get him again, Su leaped off of the boulder at Keitaro.
Some people will never learn... He laughed softly to himself and took a step back just as Su was about to latch onto him. Unfortunately, he failed to notice the bucket he had just been using to clean the hot springs with. With his foot now stuck in it, Keitaro was unable to keep his balance and fell backwards into the spring. A giant splash later, and he was soaked from head to toe.
"Nya ha ha!" Su laughed, pointing at the waterlogged Keitaro. "The ronin's all wet!"
Keitaro lowered his head into the warm water, gurgling in irritation. A fox in human guise, a shy little flower, the human embodiment of the Energizer Bunny, a modern-day samurai, and a girl who couldn't seem to escape his thoughts. They were all people that he would have to acquaint himself with as the new landlord. He gazed at Su, watching as she hopped back over to the others, pointing and laughing at him as she did.
Well, at least my life won't be boring anymore...
-"Hmm...got a sore back..." Keitaro reached behind him and pulled his arms together, cracking his body as he did. He rolled his shoulders to rid himself of the tingly feeling, the slight burn in his muscles something he found pleasing. "Haven't done work like that for a while. Feels good, though..." He let out a small groan of comfort before falling on his back. It was nice to let his muscles ache after a good day's work, it meant that he had worked hard. He sighed and opened his eyes.
"What the...?" He sat up quickly in disbelief, ignoring the snippets of pain that resulted from his body's unwanted movements. Right above his head was a giant hole in the ceiling. He couldn't believe this defect had evaded him for so long. How could he have never noticed it? Such a hazard to the residents of the inn should have been his first priority.
"This is a pretty big hole. Wasn't here when I left..." Looking around, he took hold of his table and positioned it under the hole. "Might as well fix it. It is my duty as landlord after all." Pushing off of the table. Keitaro gripped the edge of the hole and pulled himself up. He was soon stopped when his head came into contact with something. "Huh? Is this a lid?"
As he moved to push it away, a sudden realization came to his mind. This was a girls dorm now, not a coed inn, so any room he entered other than his own might be one of the female tenants. Not only was this rude but also hazardous to his health as it was proven that the girls were rather territorial, and if he invaded their privacy while they were doing something it was more than likely that they would try and punish him for it.
This did not appeal to Keitaro, both with the fact that he might be harmed in the process of entering and also the idea that he might dent their dignity and pride with his unapproved intrusion. But since he couldn't tell if someone was actually in the above room as his aura skills tended to be greatly diminished within the walls of the dorm, he decided to simply knock and hope someone would answer.
Rapping lightly on the wood, he was glad to hear someone walking across the room to the hole. The said person muttered something under their breath before removing the cover. Their eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Keitaro's face popping up from the hole. "K-Keitaro?"
"Naru-dono?"
The two just stared at each other, an unknown air of awkwardness appearing out of nowhere. Naru was the first to regain her composure and take control of the situation. "What are you doing?"
His eyes cleared a bit at her question and, after shaking his head to calm his thoughts, answered. "There's a hole in my ceiling. I came to investigate any problems it might cause." He gestured upwards. "Unless I'm intruding, I would like to come up and check it out."
"S-sure."
He nodded in gratitude and pulled himself up and through the hole that connected their rooms. So this is Naru-dono's room, he mused absently. After climbing, he settled down next to the hole and began to examine. "This is some pretty rotten wood," he stated. He turned to the ginger-haired girl. "Naru-dono, why did you not have this hole fixed? You could be hurt quite badly if you don't pay attention."
She shrugged, feeling a little anxious of the concern he was directing at her. "I never really had any need to. Mrs. Hinata and I used to talk to each other all the time through it. It holds a lot of sentimental value for me." She smiled at the memories brought up from the conversation. Hinata had become like a second mother to her, helping her out in her times of troubles and when it was most needed.
"Even so..." Keitaro replied uneasily. He bent over and carefully scrutinized the damage, allowing Naru to get a good eyeful of him. He picked up his head and grinned at her. "I would be sad if you got hurt knowing that I could have prevented it." Naru blushed suddenly, something that he did not understand. "Naru-dono? Are you all right? Your face is bright red..."
"I...I'm fine! There's no need to worry!" The way he had said he would be sad had made her heart flip inside her chest. Not only that but...he was also really good looking all of a sudden. Before, at the bath, she hadn't been wearing her glasses, so he had been mainly a blur to her, and when she was wearing her glasses his clothes had covered too much of his body to see how he was built. But now, with the young man changed into a cotton tank top and sweatpants, she could easily see the taut physique he had trained for so many years. Add to the fact that his face held an innocent air and he became simply adorable.
Keitaro noticed how her eyes wandered from his to various parts of his anatomy at random intervals. His face flushed in embarrassment when realizing how he was dressed. "Ahh...Forgive me, Naru-dono. I had to change after falling into the spring."
Broken from her thoughts by his childish humiliation, Naru laughed when remembering just how he had fallen in. "I saw," she said, her laughter trickling off. "Su's seems to have taken a liking to you. It's funny; not many people are able to keep up with her."
He nodded back, not angry that she had laughed at him. He had laughed at himself after the event, as it was hard not to see the humor from his accident. Slapstick was the core of all comedy, he assumed. "Su-dono is a very sweet girl, even if she's a bit...eccentric." The two shared another laugh as the blatant understatement.
"Well..." Keitaro stood up and brushed off his backside. "I better get back to work. It looks like I have a lot to relearn about this place." He slipped his legs into the hole and spared Naru one last glance. "It was nice to talk to you, Naru-dono. And please, whenever you decide to have the hole fixed, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll repair it as soon as I get the materials."
"Sure." He smiled and fell back into his room. Soon afterward, Naru replaced the lid over the hole. She then put her Liddo-kun, a strange stuffed animal that resembled a rabbit spliced with a mouse and squirrel, on it to weigh it down. Somehow...she didn't want the hole to be closed off anytime soon. Because if it was...he wouldn't...
"Enjoyin' yourself there, hon?"
Naru's head snapped in the direction of the voice. There stood Kitsune, leaning against the doorway, one of her numerous fox-grins plastered on. She strolled into the room and grinned even wider, a knowing glint in her eyes. Naru recognized that look and knew exactly what it would lead to. Cutting straight to the chase, she said, "Kitsune! How long were you standing there!"
"Ohh...long enough," she responded. "You seem to be getting really friendly with our landlord there. Sure there isn't anything going on between you two?"
Naru blushed as she remembered the one thing that had transpired between them but she knew that if she told Kitsune this she would never hear the end of it. "Of course not! Why would I want to do anything with him!"
"Okay, okay," she shrugged. "But you know..." She leaned over and looked her friend in the face, smirking. "If you don't, then I will. He's quite the catch if you get my drift." Kitsune put a hand to her face in a demure manner. "Such a manly little boy...Wonder if he's as manly in other areas as well..."
Naru's patience finally snapped.
"KITSUUNEEE!"
-Keitaro's eyebrow rose as the cry of anger went through the air. "What was that?" He shook his head and opened the file that contained the floor plans and list of residents that Haruka had given him earlier. "Oh well, none of my business." His fingers traced their way along the blueprints, taking note of who was in what room. Let's see...Naru-dono is above me, Kitsune-dono is next to me, Shinobu-dono is down the hall, and Su-dono and Motoko-dono neighbor each other on the second floor. He sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back. I'll have to be careful around their rooms. Don't want to be seen as improper if something happens.
Keitaro crossed his arms, planning on what to do next. There's really not all that much to do...I've already cleaned the hot springs, but other than that I don't know what to do next. I'll have to ask Haruka later today what my jobs are and where I can buy supplies for repairs. That much was true. Since he had become landlord just that morning, he had no idea where and what damages to the inn were, or where he could get tools and materials to fix them. Maybe I should go over now...
Deciding to do just that, Keitaro grabbed a sweatshirt and shoes before putting them on and making his way out of the inn. On the way down he came across Shinobu who, upon noticing him, immediately burst into tears and ran in the opposite direction. He could only imagine how much anger and hate she felt towards him. However, he could only blame himself for what happened. It was his fault for betraying her trust like he had. Although this was probably an over-exaggeration on his part as Keitaro always found himself guilty for others' sadness, no matter how much of a role he had taken in it.
After a little self-chiding, Keitaro finally made it to the teahouse. He went in, the small tinkling of the doors' bells celebrating his arrival. "Haruka! You in here?"
Steps coming down the stairs answered his call, and Haruka walked into the room, her customary "Café Hinata" apron fastened around her body. A smile lit across her face when seeing who it was. "Hey, Kei. What are you doing back so soon?"
He sat down at one of the tables and folded his hands. "I needed to ask you some questions about being landlord since you were the previous housemother and all."
His aunt joined him at the other end of the table, crossing one leg over the other as she did. "Go ahead, shoot."
"First, what jobs do I have? Other than cleaning the hot springs and repairs, that is?"
"Well..." She leaned back in her chair and tapped her cheek. "Cooking and washing clothes are done on a rotation schedule. Each of the girls take a turn to do them so I don't think you have to worry about that. Keeping Hinata House in shape like cleaning the windows, waxing the floor, etc. and taking care of the finances is really all you have to do. The records for the inn should be in that file I gave you."
"They are. Thanks." He sighed, grateful he wouldn't have to do everything single-handedly. He had grown used to just taking care of himself, and now he had to take care of five girls? It might be difficult but at least he was always up for a challenge. "Second, where can I get materials and tools for the repairs?"
"Oh, don't worry about that." Haruka jerked her thumb behind her at the staircase she had emerged from. "Mom made sure to stock up for your arrival so all the stuff you'll need is upstairs. If you ever do run out, there's a hardware store just down the street from us. The owner knows me quite well so just stay Haruka sent you and he'll set you right up."
"Thank you. I suppose that's it so I'll get..." He stopped in the act of getting up out of his chair as a thought resurfaced in his mind. Of course, how could he forget about that? "On second thought, there's one more thing I need to ask. Where's the nearest mechanic? My bike broke down and I'll need it in getting to and from places."
Haruka laughed, something Keitaro did not expect. "It depends. Would you rather lose your wallet or a limb?"
He blinked. "What kind of question is that?"
"Exactly what it means," she responded. "You can either go to one of the mechanics in town and get completely ripped off, or you can go ask our own little mad scientist and probably get blow up in the process."
Keitaro tilted his head to the side. "Mad scientist?"
"Uh-huh," she nodded. "Su." His eyes widened in surprise. An eighth-grader like Su...a mad scientist? "Her energy levels aren't the only things abnormal about her. Her intellect could easily rival the smartest minds of our country. You should see the creepy, little contraptions she has cluttered around her room. It's enough to give you nightmares." Haruka shuddered as she remembered the day Su had been brought home from school by her teacher when one of her inventions backfired and blew out the outside wall of her classroom.
"I'm sure she can't be that bad..." He gulped under the withering stare of his aunt. She looked at him as though he were the most ignorant man on earth. "Urm, but in any case I might have to ask Su-dono to fix it for me. I f I have the chance of getting the repairs for free I'll have to take it. I can't afford to just spend money."
Haruka shrugged. "It's your funeral." She smiled at Keitaro's hopeless look; he was so fun to tease. "But before you go, make sure to take the tools from upstairs. That way you can get started on the landlord work."
He smiled back and pushed himself out of his seat. "Thank you, Haruka. I think I'll do just that."
-
Several hours later a call for diner was heard throughout the house. Keitaro wiped his brow before coming down from the roof. He had been throwing himself into his duties as manager with a passion – cleaning the inn from top to bottom and fixing any holes or such he found along the way. Now he could take a much-needed break. He wondered how Tanuka had been able to do this by himself for his own apartment building for so long.
Yawning, Keitaro wearily walked down to the kitchen. Think I'll take a bath after this. He cricked his neck, imagining what it would feel like to soak in a warm pool of water. That should be nice...
As he went by the dining room, Kitsune looked up from her bowl to see him pass by. "Hey, landlord!" Keitaro's head poke out from the doorway, a confused look on his face. She grinned and beckoned to him. "Ain'tcha gonna come join us? Shinobu cooked tonight so it's bound to be good." She winked at the indigo-haired lass, who blushed at the compliment.
He shook his head at the offer. "That's quite all right, Kitsune-dono. I'm sure you and the others would have a much better time if I weren't there. Besides, I'm used to instant ramen so you don't have to worry about me." He bopped a fist into his palm and looked up. "Oh, almost forgot." He looked back at the girls. "Su-dono, may I have a moment of your time?"
"Sure, ronin!" Su made a jump from her chair to Keitaro that absolutely defied the laws of physics before latching onto his back. "Whatcha want?"
Keitaro gently pried her off and set her down to the pleasure of the others. "I was wondering that if it isn't too much trouble, you would be willing to fix my motorcycle." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Haruka said you're good with machines, and I'm totally hopeless with them." He chose to omit the fact that Haruka had also stated that any machine tinkered on by Su became a death wish to all who used it.
Su's eyes lit up like the sun at his request. "Really! You mean it? You want me to fix your bike?"
"If it's not an inconvenience." Keitaro smiled at her enthusiasm. "It's out in the parking lot when you have the time to."
"Are you kidding? I love machines! I'll fix it for you, no charge! In fact, I'll soup it up for you also! Let's see...There's a bigger engine, nitro injectors..." She counted several various parts on her fingers as she spoke. "...rocket boosters...Ooh! And lasers, can't forget lasers!"
Keitaro could feel his apprehension skyrocketing when the exotic youngster began to cackle maniacally. Maybe Haruka was right; maybe she really was crazy. What had he gotten himself into?
"Do not worry, Urashima." He looked over to see Motoko quietly eating at the table. She set down her cup of tea she had just been sipping on to look at him. "I will supervise her to make sure she doesn't gut your vehicle too much."
They all saw the young man visibly sigh in relief. "Thank you very much, Motoko-dono." He turned to see Su still muttering about machinery and whatnot. "Uh...and you too, Su-dono. Thank you." Keitaro bowed formally to them and smiled. "Good night to you, young ladies. I shall see you again tomorrow." With that he left, a sense of polite warmth remaining in his wake.
Su stopped in her ramblings when she discovered her new playmate was gone. "Huh, where'd Keitaro go?"
"That guy's quite the mystery, you know?" Kitsune said. "He flat-out refused to dine with a bunch of beauts like us. Most guys wouldn't pass up a chance like that." Her smile had grown sly at that point and her eyes danced with mischief. "Though he is quick when he wants to be. Just today he tried to seduce Naru."
Motoko's eyes darkened and she slowly drew her bokken. "He...what...?"
"Kitsune!" Naru slammed her hands on the table. "Stop saying that! All he did was ask about that hole in my floor and whether I wanted it fixed or not." she turned to Motoko, who seemed reluctant to put down her weapon. "Really, Motoko, he was a perfect gentleman." Motoko nodded in acceptance and placed her bokken back at her side.
"But you know, it's strange." The others turned to stare at Kitsune. She was balanced with her elbow on the table, her cheek in her palm. "Hinata never even said she had a grandson. And then Keitaro pops up and she expects us to just accept him. What's up with that?"
"Because she hoped he would get to be in a family again."
Haruka was leaning against the wall, gone unnoticed by the others before she spoke up. Kitsune smiled wryly at the almost invisible-like woman. "Jeez, Haruka, you're always here when we start talking about your nephew. You stalking him or something?"
She frowned back. "Call it an intuition. But if you say anything like that ever again I'll call up all of your bar tabs. And you know you have enough to balance out the national deficit." Kitsune stuck her tongue out in immature defeat.
Haruka sighed at her reaction. "Listen, the truth is that Mom hasn't seen Keitaro for five years and I haven't for even longer. Hell, I haven't even spoken to him over the phone for that long either. Keitaro has been all alone ever since he left Hinata House."
"Well, what about his parents?" Motoko asked. "Surely they would take care of him."
Haruka shook her head, her face degenerating into sorrow. "He doesn't have any. His father, my brother, and his wife died in a car accident when an accused drunk plowed headfirst into them. Keitaro was only five." A small collective gasp came from the girls. To lose both parents at such a young age? That was... "Horrible. Keitaro had to watch his parents' mangled bodies get carried out of the wreckage. He was scarred for life because of it.
"After his parents' death, Keitaro got really depressed. He wouldn't talk to anyone – not his friends, not his teachers, not even to Mom or me. All he would do was sit in his room and cry all day. After a while he began to talk again but...his heart won't open up to anyone now. He's closed it behind a wall of politeness and isolation." Haruka sighed, rubbing an eye to prevent the tears from falling. This simple surprised the girls even more than what she had said. Haruka was always a woman of indifference, not seeming to be affected by anything...And now she was crying?
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves before continuing. "A few years after I left for college, Keitaro ran away from home. He's been living by himself ever since."
"So?" They all turned to look at Kitsune, who had an annoyed look on her face. "We've all been by ourselves for a while, too. We've been living here, away from our families. How's he any different?"
Haruka didn't bother to respond with a snide remark. She knew that Kitsune's and the other girls' home lives were nothing to be desired. Still, that didn't give her the right to say things like that without thinking them through first. "Maybe..." she replied. " But at least you have everyone else here, Kitsune. You might not be with your family, but at least you have friends. Keitaro no one...not to mention he lived on the streets – literally. From what Mom told me, he slept in alleyways with maybe a night or two in a hotel every so often until a couple of years ago." She walked over to Kitsune, a solemn look on her face. "Just answer this, Kitsune...After living here for so long, could you spend a night a park bench for years...willingly?"
The fox-lady's eyes widened as the full meaning of Haruka's words hit her. Could she, after living in such comfort for so long, truly begin to understand the trials Keitaro had to go through to get where he was today? Possibly...But she wasn't exactly eager to find out first-hand. "I...I'm sorry Haruka..."
"It's okay, Kitsune," the older woman smiled. "I know you've had your share of problems but please understand...Keitaro takes things a lot more seriously than most people would, so go easy on teasing him, okay?" Kitsune cracked a small grin at this request, glad that Haruka had attempted to put a playful spin on the situation.
Haruka turned to the rest and clasped her hands lightly in front of her. "Girls, I'm not asking that you love him or treat him like a relative...Just treat him with the respect and dignity that he deserves. And, if at all possible, treat him like a friend. Right now, he could use any kindness at all."
-
"Mmm...this feels nice..."
Keitaro sunk lower into the instant hot-water heater. After being told he wasn't allowed in the main bath just yet (something he wasn't sure was good or bad), he had been sent to the substitute bath. He wasn't complaining. Although the springs were nicer, being in an apartment with only a shower didn't make him picky; he could live with it. After all, even though he now owned the place, he was still new to it and needed to be accepted.
So this is what it feels like to own my own inn. It's an interesting change from just studying and training all the time. He groaned slightly, causing bubbles to rise from his underwater position. And I forgot to practice today. Ugh, I hope it doesn't throw me off or anything. Maybe I should just get up earlier and do doubles tomorrow. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.
The sounds of squeals and shouts of delight caught Keitaro's attention. Rising from the tub, he clothed himself in a towel and walked over to the railing that stopped him from falling off the balcony. He leaned over it and looked around the corner. Immediately, he blushed and slapped a hand over his eyes. What awaited his sight were the girls, bathing and without a stitch of clothing on them. He quickly turned around and was about to go back inside when he heard his name spoken.
"So, who would've thought that Keitaro guy went through stuff like that, huh?"
"Well, at least now I know why he was crying yesterday and why he seems to be so depressed at times."
Keitaro stepped back to the railing, making sure to avert his eyes. He wanted to find out just how much they knew about him.
"Still, Naru, you lost your mother, did you not? And Su and Shinobu are away from their families, too. They're younger than Urashima was when he ran away."
"Yeah, but I have you, Motoko! I might not be with my family but I have you guys around to have fun with!"
"And I was really young when my mom died. I barely even remember her."
"It's really kinda sad...Maybe I should listen to Haruka and stop teasing him."
"Don't do that, Kitsune! Then it'll feel like you're pitying him, and I doubt he'll want that."
"Oh, really? And when did you become an expert on our new landlord?"
"I...I..."
"I knew it! You do have a crush on him! How sweet!"
"Shut up!"
Keitaro sighed and ignored the rest of the conversation. Naru-dono had a crush on him? Hmph, not likely. Besides, he had more important things to worry about. Like how he was going to split his time between his studies, his training, and now his new duties as landlord. He had school tomorrow, so he guesses he would have to take the trolley to school instead. Oh well, it was only a minor inconvenience. And then there was the problem of dealing with...
"So, they know about me and my past. Haruka must have told them." He propped his elbows on the railing and looked up at the starry night sky. "Well, they were going to find out sooner or later. I just hope they don't pity me, like Naru-dono said." He laughed bitterly. "That's all I need – more people to feel sorry for poor, orphaned Keitaro."
Suddenly, he heard a cracking noise, and the wood supporting him gave way.
"Whoa!"
Keitaro looked down from where he was hanging, a good ten meters above the ground. His hand gripped the edge of the balcony tightly, determined not to let go for fear of plummeting to the ground. He looked at what remained of the railing that was both clutched in his other hand and also scattered about the ground. It was at times like this that he thanked God and his grandmother for giving him such quick reflexes. He could've been in a very painful situation otherwise.
Clambering back onto the balcony, Keitaro took another look at the pole that was once the protective barrier for the edge before sighing and tossing it away. It would seem Naru-dono's room isn't the only place with rotted wood. This place sure has taken a turn for the worse since I've been gone... He grabbed his clothes and made his way back to the room. "Maybe I never should have left in the first place..."
A/N: Huh, it's done...That's cool. Anyway, I'm sorry about this, but it's gonna be a while before the next chapter comes up. Please don't hate me! (screams like a little girl while random objects are thrown) I'm soooorrrrryyyy! I haven't written any new chapters in my draft notebooks so...tough! I have, however, done a couple of sheets of ALGO. So be happy with that accomplishment. Also, I'm writing a bunch of new stories, too. One of which isn't a romance fic! Shock! It's called "Tainted Soul" and it's a Love Hina fic. The basis of it is that the girls finally find out just what gives Keitaro his so-called "immortality." And trust me, it isn't a pleasant discovery... (shudders) Anyway, I'll talk to you about it more after the interview!
Yamiga: Heyo, people! Welcome back to our interview! How you all doing!
Non-existent Audience: ...
Yamiga: (sweatdrops) I guess no one likes this part. Ah well, too bad!
Chaos: Dude, calm down before you hurt yourself.
Yamiga: Sorry...
Chaos: (shakes head) Idiot...
Keitaro: Urm...can we get back to the interview, please?
Yamiga: (grins) Oh, yeah! That's right! So... (turns to everyone) How did all of you like it? Was it for fun?
Keitaro: I enjoyed myself. Landlord work is actually a lot of fun! And all of the young misses are very nice, too!
Naru: It was sorta fun. Kitsune wouldn't stop teasing me, though.
Kitsune: I couldn't help it! (grins) You are just too fun to tease! Not to mention it's also way too easy to do so, especially when you have a crush...
Naru: (blushes) Kitsune! How many times do I have to tell you to shut up!
Yamiga: (ignores the two; walks up to the others) How about you girls? Anything you enjoy?
Motoko: It was tolerable. Urashima is proving that he wasn't the big of a pervert as I though he was. However... (steals a glance at the feuding friends) Those two are making quite the big racket. What exactly did you do? (stares dangerously)
Yamiga: (begins to sweat) Err...Moving on! Su! How 'bout you?
Su: Keitaro fell into the springs! (laughs) That was really funny!
Yamiga: (sighs) Why am I not surprised you enjoyed that part?
Chaos: Because she's the one that caused it.
Yamiga: Eheh, right! Well...only one more person to ask. Shinobu, how did you like it?
Shinobu: (hides behind Motoko) ...
Yamiga: (tilts head to side) Shinobu? What's wrong, sweetheart?
Chaos: Yamiga? In case you forgot, she's afraid of anyone unknown to her. Remember? She doesn't trust anyone now at this point in time.
Yamiga: (smiles sadly) Oh, right. Forgot. I'll ask you again later, okay, Shinobu?
Shinobu: ...
Yamiga: (sighs) Ah well, she'll come out of her shell sooner or later. In any case, you all had an interesting time, right!
Everyone: Right!
Yamiga: And you can't wait for the next chapter, right!
Everyone: Right!
Yamiga: And we all know that Naru and Keitaro really, really like each other, right!
Everyone: Righ...Huh?
Keitaro and Naru burst into furious blushes as the others stare at them in utter shock. Yamiga and Chaos explode into laughter at the scene.
Yamiga: Ahahaha! Made you say you liked each other!
Chaos: (pokes Yamiga on shoulder) Dude, you are gonna die...
Yamiga: Eh... (looks to see a furious Naru crack her knuckles) Oh crap...
Naru: (grits teeth) Ya-mi-ga...
Yamiga: (laughs nervously) Eheh, well...look at the time! I've got to go! See ya! (runs off like the little wimp he is)
Naru: Come back here, you piece of filth! I'll teach you! (runs off after him)
Chaos: (sighs) Oh boy, he never learns...
Keitaro: Chaos-dono? Is Yamiga-dono going to be all right when Naru-dono catches him?
Chaos: Eh, don't worry about that idiot. Naru's been trying to kill him in the other fics but hasn't done so so far. He has the devil's luck with him. (coughs) In any case, since Yamiga ain't here I'm gonna have to ask you do to the honors. Would ya?
Everyone: Of course! (turns to audience – which doesn't exist, sob!) Please Review!
A/N: I swear, I've gotta learn to think before I speak or act. Naru nearly killed me that time. Ah well, que sera sera...Anyway, I've gotten this chapter done but it may be a long time before the next one is up as well. But never fear! I've got three more new stories lined up for after this one! Two LH and a "Threads of Fate" one! Yay! The next LH to come up will be the "Tainted Soul" one I was talking about earlier. It's really dark and I hope you'll enjoy it! Trust me, you'll see a whole other side to my personality... Buwahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHA... (author is whacked in back of the head) Urm...sorry. Anyway, please review, and remember, no flames!
Preview!
Next Chapter: Schooltime Daze
Keitaro looked over at the girl. Top of the nation? Hmm, she must have worked very hard to attain such a status. Still, there was something tugging at the back of his mind that he just couldn't shake. He could have sworn he had seen that girl somewhere before. But where? He peered into her aura, determined to settle the uneasy thoughts lingering in his mind. When he actually did recognize just who the person was, his eyes widened in surprised disbelief.
Naru-dono?