Disclaimer : However I wish, sadly I don't own Love Hina, any name brands that might be mentioned in this story is purely for story telling purposes and in no way is an infringement on their copy rights.
Arthur's Notes : This takes place during the events of Keitaro's return trip home from America.
Chapter 1
Homecoming
The night sky from thirty thousand feet looked peaceful through the window in business class. Keitaro head was resting on a pillow, and his seat was tilted back some. 'Six months...', he thought, 'So much time wasted before I left, but I won't waste anymore.' He settled himself better in the chair. 'I hope that Haruka got my fax and is up when I get there.' The silver bird glided through the clouds onward towards its destination, as its occupants sleep.
A gentle nudge awakened the young traveler from his would be slumber, the ever smiling flight attendant coming into focus as his eyes blinked the short nap away. "You need to fasten your seat belt and sit up right sir, we are preparing for landing." Her soft and gentle voice instructing him. He looked at his watch as it read one am in the morning. 'That would put me at Hinatasou at about two am or so.' he thought to himself, now if the packages arrived yesterday, then all should be set. He took one last look out the window as the lights of Tokyo were growing bigger in the window, he closed the shade and tightened his belt, landings were never his thing.
The bedside alarm clock buzzed noisily, until a swift hand came down and slapped it off, Haruka arched an eyebrow at the time. She pulled herself out of bed, running her fingers through her hair and yawning, 'Just got to come in on the night flight, don't you...' She went into the living room of the upstairs apartment, where four boxes stood, and a fax on top of them. She grabbed the fax and sat back down to read it again.
Dear Haruka-san
Seta and I have finished the preliminary work for his excavation here in America. So I'm heading home! Now before you run up and tell the others, there are a few things I'm going to ask. First of course is that you don't tell anyone I'm coming home just yet. I have bought a few surprises for everyone and I want to hide them before I get jumped and mugged. You should be receive them by freight with in the next couple of days, please hide these for me, (and your present is on me, so don't go opening the boxes).
I should be arriving Thursday morning around 2am, sorry about the time, but it was the earliest flight I could get. I was hoping that you would let me stay in the other guest apartment for the night.
The thing is this, I have had a lot to think while here in America, and things are going to be changing, in a good way I hope.
Love your nephew
Keitaro
ps Seta says kisses and he has a 'present' for you as well.
She wondered what was going to be changing, 'Maybe he will turn the dorm into a disco club, and make me the DJ', she chuckled to herself and said, "Like that would ever happen." She got up and went downstairs to make a pot of coffee, 'He should be here soon, might as well find out what his plans are.'
About half an hour later a taxi pulls up at the steps of the old Inn, and a young man gets out. Handing the driver some money and retrieving his bags from the trunk, (boot for those of you not living in America), he made his way to the café. The light was on, and the door was locked, but he could see his aunt sipping from a cup. He tapped on the glass to get her attention, as she looked up, he gave her a smile.
Unlike the stoic person he remembered, she opened the door and gave him a hug. "Well you wanted play cloak and dagger, now get in here and tell me what's going on." She closed the door, locking it and drawing the long shade so that no one could see in. She turned to see her nephew in the light, and he sure had changed. His overall demeanor had changed, he stood a bit prouder and more confident. His physical appearance had changed as well, his hair was cut shorter, cropped on the sides and a bit spikier on top, he wasn't wearing glasses, his face had a more chiseled appearance, and his upper body had an angler shape to it.
She pointed out the chair opposite where she had been sitting and she grabbed another cup for him. "Well, first things, first." he said as he opened up his carry on bag and removed a small gift wrapped box. She looked at it on the table, picking it up she said, "You know you didn't have to get me anything." He just blushed and waved her off saying, "Now it wouldn't be fair if I got everyone else something and didn't think of you as well."
She pulled the ribbon and let the bow untie, and then neatly took the paper off. Underneath was a wooden box, engraved with the name 'Alfred Dunhill', she lifted the lid to reveal a blue velvet interior and a gold lighter inside. Her fingers were trembling as she picked it up and looked at the engraving on the front, "Haruka" it read with an open fan under it, on the back it read "Oba-san". A tear formed in her eye, as she held the lighter tightly in her hand. Then she produced a fan and struck Keitaro in the head. He only smiled, "I'm glad you like it."
"Now as far as everything else is concerned, we can talk about that tomorrow," as he yawned. "But I'm going to need everyone out the inn tomorrow for about two hours, and it would be nice if everyone returned at the same time." He got up, letting Haruka think about how she was going to get everyone out.
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The next morning at breakfast all the girls were eating and chatting away as normal, when Haruka came through the door. "Good morning Haruka-san, said Naru, "You look like you didn't get much sleep." Kitsune nodded in agreement to this. "Would you like a cup of coffee? Haruka-sempai?", inquired Shinobu. The elder woman, shook her head no, and sat down at the table.
"I'm going to need everyone down at the café at about four o'clock this afternoon." Haruka stated. The reactions were immediate and the same.
"Why?"
"I have an exterminator coming at about four thirty, and they don't want anybody here after they spray for about an hour. So I figured that I would treat everyone to dinner." The collective gasp at the table was immediate as she never offered to 'treat' ever. This once in a life time event was something none of the girls could or would pass up.
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Keitaro, slides out of bed around noon, the jet lag playing havoc with his system. He sneaks downstairs, hoping to get a cup of coffee and maybe something to eat from the refrigerator. Haruka heads him off, telling him to get back upstairs and she would bring him something.
A few minutes later, the black, hot, liquid of life seeps into his system, and the two rolls he devoured stopped the stomach growls. Haruka was sitting across from him drinking from her cup, "So you going to tell me what you have planned, or should I make a little trip up the house?" The not so implied threat registered quite clearly on the still drowsy brain cells. Keitaro put his cup down, and leaned closer to his aunt. His face took on a serious tone.
"The past three years here, have been great, and I want to continue the relationships I have with the girls, but I came to a lot of conclusions out there. The first month or so, all I did was think, about everyone, especially about you know who. And then everything started to fall into place, and I realized that I was blind to so much going on around me." Haruka just nodded and continued to listen. "When the realization hit me that each girl up there has some kind of feelings for me, I panicked. I mean how was this girl going to react if I showed feelings for that girl, and would this other girl ever talk to me again, and so on. I was about to stay in America and just hide out, then I figured if I did that then each of those girls would go on waiting on me to return." Keitaro, shifts his weight some in the chair, "So for the next month all I could think about was, who am I going to hurt. And one morning while training with Seta it all became clear to me." Haruka had moved to the edge of her chair waiting for the answer. "I never thought about what would make me happy, I was too worried about everyone else. I spent the two months just trying to figure out what I wanted, and now I know, and tonight everyone will know."
"What about the other girls, the ones that will be hurt?" Haruka said with knowing look.
"Well they will either accept it or they won't. Each present has a corresponding letter with it that explains how I feel, my true feeling are in each one. They may get mad, or even angry at me, but it will be the truth, and I owe them that much." Haruka couldn't believe what six months away had did for her nephew, he left a confused boy, and return a man. "Well, they are going to meet me here at four pm, so you got til about six to get everything done." She stood up to go back down stairs, but before she left the room she said, "Whatever you decide, I'm proud of you."
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Around ten minutes before four, the girls started to show up. First came Mitsune, with Su and Sara, then Naru and Shinobu, and finally Motoko entered the café. As Haruka left by the front door, with the gang in hand, Keitaro exited the back door pulling a trolley up the hill.
Into each room he went, leaving their wrapped present and a letter in the center of the floor so that they couldn't miss it. He then went downstairs and placed several bottles of sake and glasses up, along with some snacks. Looking at his watch he still had plenty of time, he turned and headed towards the hot springs for a relaxing dip, before the chaos would begin.
The girls were taken to a buffet style restaurant, mainly because Haruka knew that Su would break her otherwise. Everyone was having a great time talking and sampling several dishes as they went. Haruka couldn't help but look around the table and wonder what the reactions were going to be tonight, and if these girls would ever be a group like this again. Suddenly she had a thought, that this was the last supper of innocence these females would have.
Keitaro had soaked for about twenty minutes before getting out of the springs, he was in his room now, how he had missed it while he was gone. Taking in the simple furnishings and the test guide books that filled his bookcase he felt somewhat nostalgic, he closed his eyes and let the memories fly through his head before he started to get changed.
All the girls were heading back to the Inn. They were in good spirits and joking around with each other, even the normally serious Motoko was smiling and being playful. As they reached the steps of Hinatasou, Haruka felt a sense of dread, or more like the calm before the storm was about to happen, but regardless of what happens, she only hoped that everyone would remain together.
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Keitaro could hear the key in the lock, his heart raced, he knew he would never be the suave type, but he still hoped that he could pull off the first part. The girls came in and turned towards the living room, and stopped cold, to see several trays of snacks and bottles of liquor sitting on one of the tables. Mitsune was the first to say something, "Ok who's throwing the party?"
'POP', the cork from the champagne bottle sounded behind them.
"I am!" Stated Keitaro.
All of the girls turned their heads in slow motion, towards the sound of a familiar male manager's voice. Each of them couldn't believe their eyes at what they were seeing. Leaning in the doorframe, was a well dressed man, taking a sip from a champagne flute. He broke the silence between them, "What? No welcome home hug? Or kiss?"
End of chapter 1
Author's Note : This was something that I had thought of one night while experiencing some writer's block, the funny thing its all but finished, so I figured go ahead and post it. Thanks for the reviews and the next chapters will up shortly.
