Love Hina – Restoration to a Time Past

Fanfic by Steven Biggs

Chapter Two – Landlord's Orders

Monday Afternoon.

Haruka looks at Keitaro as he stops in front of the Tea Shop.

"Are you sure that you want to go up there by yourself?"

Keitaro looks at the folder in his hands.

"I'll be alright as long as I can avoid Motoko-chan."

"Well, let me know if you need any help."

"Thanks, Haruka-san!"

Keitaro continues up the steps, taking it slowly as he holds one hand against his stomach. Near the top, he cautiously peeks over the last step. Seeing no one around, he makes his way to the door and slides it open. In an almost inaudible whisper, he speaks.

"Is anyone here? Can anyone hear me?"

Slipping out of his shoes, Keitaro quietly walks up to the second floor. He slides open the door to the manager's room and moves inside. He spots his backpack in the corner, slips it over his shoulders, and adjusts the straps. He picks up the folder and tucks it into his coat. Looking around the room one last time, he backs into the hallway and closes the door. He stops moving when he hears someone cough. Looking to the left, he sees Naru and Su. Looking to the right, he sees Shinobu and Kitsune. Not daring to look behind, he ducks his head and slowly sneaks down the hall towards the steps. Naru reaches out and places her hand on his shoulder.

"Keitaro, what are you doing?"

He leaps to the right, presses his back against the wall, and then slowly continues shuffling to the steps.

"I, I was just getting my stuff! I'm leaving, really! A pr-promise is a promise."

Su crawls along beside him and taps the top of his feet every time he takes a step.

"Ya is our manager. Why are ya gonna leave? What about us?"

"I'm not the manager anymore."

Kitsune walks along with her hands behind her back.

"If ya'll is worried about getting hurt, we voted to be nice to ya from now on. Ya'll need to stay here so we don't have to leave."

He gazes at Motoko for a moment and then looks back to the stairs.

"I bet not everyone voted yes."

Motoko raises her palms to him.

"Urashima, the vote was unanimous in your favor. We guarantee your safety and well-being."

Keitaro shakes his head.

"I'll be safe as soon as I get out of here."

"Aaauuuuu, Sempai! What'll happen to us without you as the manager?"

"I'm sorry, Shinobu-chan, I really am. But that's no longer my problem."

Naru, still touching his shoulder, pushes him gently against the wall.

"You can't leave. We need you here to take care of us."

"I decided to take care of myself from now on, and that means getting out of here so I won't be your punching bag anymore."

Motoko takes a few steps towards him.

"Urashima, your leaving would be difficult. Without a manager, some of us would have nowhere to go."

Keitaro starts to move down the stairs.

"Would all of you just listen to yourselves? You're more concerned about what will happen to you. Don't you care about anyone else? Did I hear anyone say, 'hey Keitaro, how're you feeling', or how about, 'please sit down and rest' maybe?"

He looks at them as the silence drags on.

"I didn't think so."

The girls follow him as he walks to the foyer and Naru stands next to him as he slips his shoes on.

"Keitaro, are you really leaving us?"

He looks at her and thinks for a moment.

"I don't want to be a total disappointment to my grandmother. I may be back some day, when there is no longer anyone here to hurt me."

He straightens his shoulders and walks through the door.

They watch as the setting sun breaks through the clouds, illuminating Keitaro as he walks towards the steps. He turns for one last look and slips in the snow. Before the girls can run to him, he raises a hand.

"I'm okay, don't worry about me!"

Brushing himself off, he continues out of sight. Kitsune wipes away a tear.

"Now that was a classic Keitaro-san exit."

Shinobu drops to her knees and covers her face.

"What are we gonna do now?"

Su kicks at the snow on the porch and then walks back into the inn.

"Do ya think he really hates us too much?"

Naru turns to Motoko.

"Why didn't you tell him?"

The sword master shakes her head.

"He would not have believed me."

"But, it really was an accident Motoko-chan! Even though you were mad, you didn't really mean to hurt Keitaro like that!"

Motoko looks down at her empty scabbard.

"How could I tell him that he was seriously injured because I slipped on the noodles that he threw on the floor? After the way we treated Urashima since he arrived, do you believe that he would accept such an explanation?"

Naru turns to look at the empty steps.

"No, I suppose not. No one could ever be that forgiving."

They all sit in the common room, but no one speaks. The room darkens as the suns sets, yet no one rises to turn on the lights. They hardly notice when the front door slides open and Haruka walks in.

"Are you trying to grow mushrooms in here? How about some light?"

Naru reaches over and turns on a lamp.

"Sorry, Haruka-san. We didn't notice it was getting dark."

Haruka looks outside.

"Getting dark? The sun set four hours ago."

They all stand up as she walks over. Kitsune clears her throat and speaks.

"I suppose that we're gonna have to start looking for a new manager."

Haruka shakes her head.

"I'm afraid that's going to be a problem. You remember that Granny Hina wanted Keitaro to be the manager."

"Yeah, but he's gone now."

"Well the landlord left specific instructions. Either Keitaro is the manager, or there will be no manager at all."

"But, w-without a manager, we're gonna have to leave!"

"Yes, I'm afraid you're right."

Naru jumps over and grabs Haruka's apron.

"Haruka-san! Isn't there anything that you can do? Can't you talk to Keitaro for us?"

She pats Naru on the shoulder.

"I know that it'll be hard on some of you if you have to leave. Even though I don't think it will change his mind, I'll speak with Keitaro whenever he contacts me."

Shinobu sits back on the couch.

"Aaauuuuu! Didn't Sempai tell you where he was going?"

Haruka shakes her head again.

"No, he didn't tell me where he was going to stay. I can't say when I will see him again."

Su reaches up and clutches Motoko around the neck.

"If Keitaro don't come back, when will we have to leave?"

"Without a manager, we'll have to close Hinata-sou at the end of the month."

Motoko stares at her in shock.

"But, Haruka-san, the end of the month is Thursday! That is only three days from now!"

She looks around the room.

"I really feel sad about this. I've come to like all of you and we've had a lot of fun. I'll let you know as soon as I can talk to Keitaro, but you should be ready to leave, just in case."

Haruka leaves and returns to the Tea Shop. The girls agree to spend the rest of the evening sitting in the common room to discuss what to do if they have to leave. As Haruka enters her shop, Keitaro looks up from his seat.

"You look as bad as I feel, Aunt Haruka. I'm already having second thoughts about this, even though it will be a good thing to do for them."

She sits next to him and places a hand on his shoulder.

"They were really shocked by our story. I'm going to feel guilty about this for a long time."

Keitaro opens the folder and taps the drawings.

"Hinata-sou really needs this remodeling. I was going to ask Granny Hina about it, but since she left me that money, I can start as soon as the girls are gone."

Haruka looks through the drawings again.

"You really should think about taking architecture when you make it into Toudai. These are good. I don't understand why you want to make a second hot spring though."

He points to one of the unused buildings.

"Since this building will be the new resort complex, I thought that it should have an outdoor bath close by."

"You never were a good liar. You just want the girls to have their same old private hot spring."

He blushes and pulls out another drawing.

"I'm that easy to read?"

Haruka rubs his hair.

"No, I was just guessing. Tell me, how did you fool them? I was worried that you wouldn't be able to pull it off."

Keitaro pulls his coat off the back of the chair and reaches into a pocket. He shows her a couple of clothespins.

"I had these clipped under my shirt. They hurt just enough to keep me from laughing or smiling."

He points to a list of supplies for the renovation.

"The contractor knows Granny Hina and agreed to give me a nice discount on materials and labor. We'll have thirty-million yen left over thanks to that. I was a little worried at first how I would be able to afford paying the people I'd have to hire until we started getting customers."

(AN: thirty-million yen = about $250,000)

Haruka pulls a page from the back of the folder.

"I noticed that you included the Tea Shop in your restoration plans."

Keitaro rubs the back of his head.

"I hope you don't mind."

"Keitaro, you're really a good man. Thank you."

He reaches into his coat pocket again and pulls out five keys.

"I uh, was wondering if you could give these to the girls."

"What are these for?"

He fumbles with the keys.

"Well, I feel kind of bad about tricking them to leave while I have the inn remodeled. I don't want them to worry about having a place to stay."

Haruka takes the keys and looks at them.

"So, you leased five rooms at the apartments near here. You really are looking out for them, aren't you?"

"Heh, I am their manager after all! You could tell them that the landlord set it up. If we start the renovations on Wednesday, before they have to leave, then their lease states that we are responsible for finding them other accommodations until the work is completed."

"You know, I like that idea. It'll take away a little of the guilty feeling for making them move out. How long is this job going to take?"

"They gave me an estimate of ten to fourteen days."

Haruka looks at the calendar.

"I'll start posting help wanted ads for the new staff tomorrow. You'll need a receptionist, a clerical assistant, a hostess, and a cook, plus someone to handle the maid service. I'll screen the applicants and send the ones that qualify to you so you can make the final choice."

"That's great! This is gonna be so cool! I can hardly wait to see their faces when the restoration project is done!"

"What about Motoko?"

"Huh?"

"She did hurt you. Are you sure you want to include her in your plans?"

"Haruka-san, we both know that she never liked me, but I can't really believe that she did that on purpose. She must have tripped or something. Or maybe she just ran into me when I stopped on the top step. Besides, she was willing to commit seppuku at the hospital, even if it was with a banana!"

"Are you telling me that you already forgave her?"

"Yes, but I didn't know how to tell her that. I was afraid that she might take it the wrong way, considering how sad she looked."

"Keitaro, you're one of a kind!"

As they continue looking over the plans, Naru leans back from the slightly opened door.

("So that's what this is all about! That sweet, lovable, idiot!")

She rushes back up the steps to the inn and throws the door open.

"Everyone! Come here! I've got some great news!"

The other girls run to the common room. Kitsune skids to a stop next to the couch.

"What are ya'll so excited about, Naru? Is Keitaro coming back?"

Naru motions for the others to sit.

"Keitaro never left!"

"WHAT?"

"I overheard him and Haruka talking in the Tea Shop! They're going to close Hinata-sou for a couple weeks to renovate it and they'll reopen the older buildings again and make a hot spring resort!"

Shinobu jumps up and down while clapping her hands.

"I knew that Sempai wouldn't leave me! I just knew it!"

Su jumps on Motoko's shoulders.

"Hurray! Hurray! Keitaro's comin' home again!"

Motoko shakes her head.

"But, why this deception? Couldn't he have just told us?"

Naru smiles and reaches for a glass of tea.

"You know what an idiot he is. He probably thought we would get mad if he told us to move out. He always messes up stuff like that. He even rented all of us some rooms in another apartment so we could stay near Hinata-sou."

Kitsune rubs her chin.

"But, if he makes this a resort, we're gonna have to share the hot spring with the guests. I don't know about ya'll, but I get a chill thinking about being in the water with wrinkly old men."

Naru shakes her head.

"They're going to make another hot spring for the guests. That sweet ronin didn't want us to have to give up our bath. Haruka is coming over in the morning to tell us that the landlord is going to start the work on Wednesday. We're covered by a loophole in our lease, and they have to house us somewhere while the work is being done. So we only have to move out for a little while!"

Motoko sips her tea and looks at the floor.

"You said that he made plans to take care of us all. I cannot believe Urashima intended to include me."

Naru smiles at her.

"Keitaro said that he already forgives you. He believes that it must have been just an accident."

Motoko's head snaps up.

"He, he forgave me? How is that possible?"

"It's because he is the sweetest idiot in the world!"

All of the girls sit quietly, smiling at the thought of their manager. Naru breaks the last bit of news.

"Haruka is going to advertise for the new staff starting tomorrow. I think it would be a nice surprise if we all applied for the jobs. Besides, the extra money we would make can come in handy, considering that Christmas is next month."

Su jumps on the table.

"Do ya think they'll give us a signing bonus?"

Shinobu looks at her hands.

"I'm not really old enough to get a job, what will I be able to do?"

Naru sits next to her.

"They're going to need a cook. It's what you do here anyway!"

Kitsune pours a cup of sake.

"What other jobs are they looking for?"

"Let's see, they said they'll hire someone for maid duty, an office assistant, a hostess, and a receptionist."

"That's settled then! With my charm and curves, I'll be the perfect hostess! Just think of all the sake those unsuspecting tourists will buy for me!"

Naru holds up a finger.

"We've got to be careful. If they find out that we know what they're doing, it'll spoil his surprise."

The girls huddle together and make their plans.

End of Chapter Two.