Hello again! Time for another chapter, I see… Um, not much to say except… Um… I found $5 behind my bed today. That makes a total of $37 total that I have right now. I'm just a few dollars away from being able to buy the Steel Angel Kurumi box set. Anyway, let's get on with the story!

---Kouji Tamino

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Love Hina Next: Second Phase

Chapter 28: "I Don't Want Your Help!!"

It was a rainy Autumn day, Junko was walking Naoko home from school. The younger sister smiled, her head covered by an umbrella. "Junko, you didn't have to walk me home from school! I can do it myself!"

Junko shook her head, soaking wet. "No, it's too dangerous these days… All sorts of creeps roaming around…"

Naoko looked up and nodded. "But… Are you sure that you don't want me to share my umbrella with you? You might catch a cold or something!"

Junko smiled, looking down at her sister. She knew good and well that that umbrella would not be able to shelter them both. "No, that's okay… It's like I said before, I'm a tough girl… I don't get colds…"

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Junko, now in the bathroom at the mansion, began to sneeze and sniffle. "God damn it, I can't believe I caught a cold…" She coughed, her eyes getting red. "I'm feeling really crummy right now…"

"Junko!" Naoko yelled from the other side of the door. "It's time for dinner!" She frowned, knocking on the door. "Are you all right in there, big sister? You're not constipated again, are you? You really should eat more fiber…"

Junko sweat dropped. "No!! Damn it, don't say that out loud! I don't want the others to know about my 'problem'… Look, I'm fine… I'm just not hungry right now…" She was partially telling the truth… She really wasn't hungry. In fact, she felt that if she took one bite, she would vomit right then and there. 'Damn, this cold is getting worse… I hope I'm not getting sick…' She sighed, opening the bathroom door. Fortunately, Naoko was not there. She decided to walk up to her room to get some rest. She groaned as Sakura began to walk downstairs, probably coming up from her room to go into the dining room to eat.

Sakura gave Junko a look of sincere concern. "Hey, you all right? You're not looking too hot right now…"

Junko walked past Sakura. "And what's it to you?"

Sakura put her hands at her hips, frowning. "Hey, I was just trying to be nice! Fine, be that way!"

Junko sneered. "Ugh, I hate her so much…" She muttered to herself, walking up the long staircase. She began to breath heavily. "Geez, what's wrong with me? Never had trouble walking up here before…" Her head began to painfully throb, and she grabbed it with one hand on the railing. "Oh god, my head feels like it's going to explode!" She began to sweat intensely, getting more and more dizzy with each step. Her grip became weak, and her sweat soaked hand lost it's hold on the railing. Weakened, all she could do was fall backwards. She then fell unconscious.

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When she awoke, she was in her bed. Dressed in an over sized t-shirt and light green pants, she slowly looked around. She was all alone. "Figures… I'd expect them to not watch over me… But Naoko…"

The door opened, and Shinichi walked in. He smiled. "Hey, you're finally awake! How are you feeling?"

Junko glared at him. "I feel like shit…" She quickly covered herself up in her sheets. "Now leave me alone…"

Shinichi chuckled. "Well, sorry to hear that… Are you hungry, Ms. Junko?"

Junko popped up from the covers. "No. Go away." She quickly popped back under. "Wait…" She began, slowly rising from beneath her sheets. "How did I get here? And who dressed me?! Was it you?!"

"Ack!" Shinichi screamed. "No, it wasn't me! Sakura picked you up and took you to your room after you fell down the stairs! I'm guessing that she was the one that dressed you…"

"Oh…" Junko said softly. "She did that… for me?"

Shinichi sat at the end of her bed and looked to her. "Does that surprise you?"

Junko nodded slowly, rubbing the back of her head. A small bump had formed. "I mean, we never get along and--"

"But you don't truly hate each other, do you?" Shinichi asked, interrupting.

"…Actually…" Junko began, looking away with a sad look on her face. "… I hate her guts…"

Shinichi sweat dropped. "Oh… Well um, she doesn't hate you…"

Junko looked back to Shinichi. "Really? Even though I've verbally abused her several times?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Um, yeah… It kind of confuses me, too…"

Junko sighed. "Actually, I am kind of hungry…"

Shinichi smiled. "I knew it… I'll um… Make some soup or something…"

Junko tilted her head. "Where are the others, anyway?"

Shinichi counted off on his fingers. "Naoko went to go get medicine, Megumi is asleep, Sakura went to go get some other stuff, and Ami's going over to Hinata House until you get better… She says that she's dangerous when she gets sick and she didn't want to destroy my house… Whatever that means… And of course, Kairi is up on the 3rd floor…"

Junko blinked rapidly. "Oh…"

"Anyway…" Shinichi began, getting up and walking toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Junko began.

"To get you your soup, silly…"

"Oh…"

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A little while later, Shinichi came up with a bowl of soup on a gold platter. "Um, here you go! I'll bring it over to you and--"

"No no, that's okay!" Junko yelled, waving her hands in front of her.

Shinichi raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

"Yeah! Just leave it on the ground, I'll get it myself! You can leave! Knowing your luck, you'll probably spill it on me or something…"

Shinichi frowned. "Oh, I see… Oh well then, all right…" He set the soup on the ground and slowly closed the door.

When she was sure that he was gone, she got out of bed. She was still a little woozy, but she managed to pick up the platter and bring it to bed with her. As she ate her soup, she couldn't help but think about the look on his face as he left. "I think I may have hurt his feelings…" She sighed. "But what do I care? He's just a sad excuse for a man…" Her expression softened, her voice become softer than usual. "But… He's always been so nice to me… Maybe I should apologize to him the first chance I get…"

Suddenly, Shinichi poked his head in. "What was that?" He screamed as a bowl of soup hit him in the face. He fell to the floor in pain. "Ow, that's hot…" He muttered from the ground.

"Asshole!" Junko yelled. "You were spying on me, weren't you?!" She gasped as she realized what she had done. She got out of bed and rushed over to him. "Oh god! Shinichi, are you okay?! I didn't mean to do that, it was just a reflex!" She leaned down and took the bowl off of his face, looking at him carefully. "I didn't leave any burn marks, did I?"

Shinichi took the bowl off of his face. "Um, I'm all right… I've suffered worse things than this in my life…" He blushed as he saw that Junko was right over him, getting an accidental view down her shirt. 'Ack, no bra…'

Junko gave him a quizzical look as his attention diverted downward. She looked down to where he was looking and gasped, her face turning red. "Hey! Stop looking, you pervert!" She bonked him in the head, hard.

Shinichi grabbed his head in pain, but realized that there was none. His eyes widened. "Wow, getting sick has really made you weak…"

Junko scrunched up her nose. "Weak?! Oooh, once I'm better I'll…"

Suddenly, the two of them heard a yawn from behind. They both looked toward the door to see Megumi, who was grinning. "Junko, I thought you were sick… But I guess that was just an excuse to get some alone time with Shinichi… Naughty girl."

Junko glared at the busty woman. "I am sick! There was just an um… accident with some soup and I was helping him…"

"Accident? You freaking tossed a bowl of hot soup into my face!" Shinichi yelled.

"Shut up!" Junko yelled. She screamed as a woman floated right through the wall, but quickly sighed in relief as she realized who it was. "Geez Kairi, you shouldn't scare people like that!"

Kairi giggled, a hand to her mouth. "Oh my, did I really scare you? I'm sorry!" She smiled, putting her hand to the side. "So, Ms. Junko… Are you feeling better?"

Junko nodded slowly, getting up. "Yeah, a little bit… Thanks for asking…"

Shinichi stood up and looked at his soup covered clothes. "Eh, better get changed…"

Junko blushed in embarrassment. "I'm really sorry, Shinichi… That was really uncalled for… And after you've been so nice to me…"

Shinichi, Megumi, and Kairi looked on in surprise. Junko was actually being… nice. Maybe it was her condition? Maybe she was dying and wanted to be nice as her last act? Maybe the planets had aligned in some freaky way and were affecting her current behavior? Whatever it was, it was scaring them. Shinichi waved his hand in front of Junko's face. "Um, you feeling okay?" Shinichi was taken aback by the saddened look on Junko's face. "Well that was an awfully rude thing of you to say… I'm human too, you know… Can't I be nice for once?"

Shinichi sighed. "I'm sorry, Junko… It's just… I've never seen this side if you before… It's nice… I like this personality a lot…"

Junko smirked. "Well enjoy it now cuz when I'm better, I'll be back to my old self… Except…" She began, smiling cutely. "Maybe I'll be nicer to you and Sakura…"

Shinichi blushed. "Heh, really?" 'Wow, Junko can be really cute when she wants to be… I can now see how her and Naoko can be sisters…'

Kairi and Megumi giggled. "Well, we'll just leave you two alone for now…" The half American and ghost woman left the room, in the same way they had come in.

Shinichi sighed. Geez, what a day… And I still need to get changed…"

Junko nodded. "I cannot tell you how sorry I am about the soup thing…" She walked toward her bed, but got another dizzy spell and fell over.

Shinichi, thinking quickly, caught her in his arms. "Whoa there! Are you all right, Ms. Junko?"

Junko blushed, nodding. "Yes, thank you…" She could feel his slightly muscular arms holding her body. 'Whoa, he's definitely been working out! He was a scrawny little thing when I first met him…' She smiled at him. 'He just needs to lose those huge dorky glasses and he'd be quite handsome…'

Shinichi turned red again as Junko smiled at him. "Well um…" He walked over to her bed and gently set her down. "I'm going to go get changed and take a bath… Will you be all right?"

Junko nodded. "Thanks, Shinichi-kun… For worrying about me…"

Shinichi chuckled. "No problem…" He then walked out of the room and closed the door, leaving Junko alone in bed to absorb everything that had happened that day.

Junko laughed softly. "Wow, Shinichi has really proved me wrong recently… He can be a good excuse for a man when he wants to be… He'll make a good husband to some lucky girl one day… He's not a submissive wimp… He's loyal, gentle, kind, and not bad looking if I might say so…" She sweat dropped as she thought of something very horrible. "…Am I falling for him?" Everything was silent. Well, aside from the faint screams from Shinichi of 'Holy Shit, this water is too hot!' Junko shook her head as she came to a conclusion. "Naaaah!" She yelled, laughing as she covered herself up.

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"We're back!" Naoko shouted happily, taking off her shoes and walking into the building. In her hand was a small bottle, the medicine for Junko to take. Sakura quickly followed, carrying a variety of sodas and other things for Junko while she was sick. They quickly ran upstairs and went into Junko's room. They quieted down as they saw Junko asleep. They smiled and set the stuff on a nearby table. Naoko kissed her on the cheek. "Get well, big sister…" They tiptoed out of the room and quietly closed the door.

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The next morning…

"I feel great!" Junko yelled at the top of her lungs, running downstairs into the kitchen. Ami was still away, and the others…

"Achoo!" Naoko sneezed, wiping her nose.

Sakura glared at Junko. "Good for, choo!, you…"

Naoko sweat dropped, rubbing the back of her head. "Um, sorry?"

End of Chapter 28

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And there we go! I think Junko was trying to get back at me for making her sick… Halfway through this thing, I started getting a headache. P Anyway, seeya next time!

---Kouji Tamino