A/N: Wow what can I say your reviews were great. I hope I don't disappoint with the rest of the story and sorry it's taken so long.
This is written about 4 years after Love Hina Again so:
Keitaro is 25
Naru 23
Mitsune 25
Motoko 21
Shinobu 19
Su 19
Sara 13
Seta 34
Haruka 33
Mutsumi 27
And I haven't a bloody clue about Kanako
Although I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time
Disclaimer: You'll never guess what, but I don't own Love Hina or any of its characters. All original characters are mine, ALL MINE MWAHAHAHA
"Gomenasai, Narusegawa I can't stay here" he whispered, lights came on inside the Inn "It's not safe for you or any of the girls to be around me"
"Keitaro why?"
Some muffled shouting, Motoko's voice, the entrance door being thrown open
"Gomenasai, I have to go now, but I promise I will come back one day" then he pulled the hood over his head, turned and fled
It was a cold autumn evening with the very first hint of winter on the air. Naru was out in front of the Inn sweeping the leaves. She hated this job; it gave her too much time to think.
'Baka why did you leave us, why did you leave me'
It had been four years since Keitaro had left, she shivered as she remembered that night, that night that had caused her so many nightmares and was the reason why she still wouldn't go out at night alone.
A lot had changed in four years. Kanako had been the first to leave "looking for her Onii-Chan" she had said. No one had heard from her in over three years. Su had been next to leave; she had stopped being her normal energetic self and had become depressed after Keitaro's departure. She had returned to her home to be with her brother and sister. Then Haruka had married Seta and she and Sara had left with him on one of his digs leaving Mitsune in charge of the Hinata Cafe. Mitsune had readily accepted the challenge and almost immediately moved in. She admitted that Hinata-Sou held too many memories of Keitaro for her to be comfortable there anymore.
'Given the chance I probably would have done the same' thought Naru
Shinobu had stayed, studied hard and had taken the Tokyo University entrance exam and had passed with one of the best scores in the country. Naru couldn't help thinking of how proud Keitaro would have been had he known. In her spare time Shinobu helped Mitsune at the Teahouse and between the two of them it had become a great success.
'Mitsune as the host and Shinobu as the cook it was a wonder the place wasn't full to bursting every night' thought Naru with a small smile to herself
Motoko had also taken the entrance exam and passed with good marks. She was trying to juggle that with the running of her family dojo in Kyoto. Between the two she hardly spent any time at Hinata-Sou. Mutsumi and herself had both graduated from Toudai. Mutsumi was a medical student although she spent more time as a patient than a student, but considering that she worked really hard and was good at what she did. And she had… had... She paused, what had she done?
'Apart from a few classes I teach I've not done anything really'
She became aware of a voice. No two voices, both trying to get her attention.
"Hey Naru, you still with us"
"Naru-sempai are you ok"
Naru shook herself out of thought and became aware of Mitsune waving a hand in front of her face while Shinobu stood by looking worried
"Gomen. Hai, hai I'm ok" she replied
"You were thinking about Keitaro again" stated Mitsune
"No, I wasn't" she replied
"Course you weren't, that's why you've been sweeping that same spot for half an hour" responded Mitsune with her foxy grin
"Naru-Sempai, its ok we know you miss him, we all do" said Shinobu quietly. Naru noted how observant Shinobu had become lately.
The three of them became aware of the sound of footsteps
A large figure, no two figures, two men, were climbing the stairs to the inn both with a large bag slung over a shoulder. They reached the top of the stairs and just stood there staring at the inn
"Hinata-Sou, just as I remember" spoke an all too familiar voice
Naru's heartbeat doubled instantly "Keitaro?" she said, hoping against all odds it was
The men froze and slowly turned to face the three of them. "Hai. Narusegawa, Shinobu, Mitsune, I'm back"
Mitsune stared in shock at Keitaro.
'I can't believe he's finally back' thought Mitsune
She continued to stare thinking this must be a trick or something and noticing that this was a very different Keitaro than the one she knew. His skin was pale and he seemed taller, and trimmer than she remembered. He was wearing trainers, tan cargo pants, a grey hooded sweatshirt, gloves and sunglasses even though it was nearly dark.
The other looked like he had lived a rough life, heavy boots repaired with duct tape, trousers with patches on the knees, his belt just a length of cord, a vest that was once white before it fell to all the stains, and jacket that was once blue but was now the colour of smoke. He also had two long curved knives hanging from his belt
'Looks like he's been living rough for a while' thought Mitsune
Keitaro seemed to be staring at Naru but it was hard to tell with the sunglasses, Naru stared back obviously trying to form a coherent sentence. Mitsune turned to look at the other guy, and found him staring at Shinobu who Mitsune noticed had met his gaze.
'Now there's something, they can't keep there eyes off each other' Shinobu started to blush slightly
He seemed to feel Mitsune's gaze and she found herself staring into his eyes. Grey she noted, like the eyes of a blind man but he was clearly looking at her with them. He looked about 19 – 20 but with the deep lines etched across his face and the vivid scar under his right eye made it hard to be certain
"How about introducing your friend Keitaro" said Mitsune
"Hai, Everyone this is Akimoto Sanjuro" said Keitaro without taking his eyes off Naru "Sanjuro this is..."
"Narusegawa Naru, Konno Mitsune and Maehara Shinobu." Finished Sanjuro "You talking your sleep Boss" he explained
Sanjuro gave each of them a polite bow
"Sempai, where have you been for four years?" asked Shinobu
Keitaro frowned; deep in thought "Pretty much everywhere" he finally answered
"Why?" was the quite question from Naru "Why did you leave us? Why did you leave me?"
For a few moments there was absolute silence whilst Keitaro scratched the back of his head nervously, the wind whistled mournfully
"You'd better tell them boss" said Sanjuro "Or I will"
"Tell us what?" asked Mitsune one eyebrow raised Spock style
Keitaro sighed and took off his sunglasses, his eyes reflecting the fading light unnaturally "I… I'm a vampire" he said finally
Mitsune blinked "A vampire?" Keitaro nodded and shuffled his feet nervously "Are we talking Dracula here?" Keitaro hissed at the name. Mitsune noticed his fangs; a gasp from Shinobu told her that the younger girl had seen them as well
"He calls himself Alucard nowadays" stated Sanjuro "We don't talk about him much"
Mitsune noticed his fists clenching and unclenching
"And are you a vampire too?" asked Mitsune
"No, but I'm not human either" answered Sanjuro, he turned on the spot and stalked away into the dark
Keitaro turned back to the girls and gave them a sheepish grin for a few moments before frowning "Where's Shinobu?"
A/N: Please Read and Review, and sorry for taking so long
