Hey there! I'm back for another chapter. This chapter officially ends the 'Meiruuna arc', and in a few weeks the main story will be back on track. I'm pretty happy with how this turned out, and Shin has been a blast to write for. Maybe I'll find a way to write him back into the story one day, eh? ;)
---Kouji Tamino
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Love Hina Next: Second Phase
Chapter 39: Goodbyes and a Proper Wrap-Up.
Shin groaned, lying on the couch and holding his stomach. "Ami's cooking day… As good looking as the girl is, she can't cook to save her life…" He yelped as a pillow was tossed at his face. "What the bleeper?" He took the pillow off of his face and looked into the eyes of an angry Ami. "Hey there… Um…"
"Jerk!" Ami screamed. "Liar!! You said that you liked it! You swore that there was nothing wrong with it! I know that my cooking is bad, you don't have to sugarcoat it!!"
Shin nodded, putting his hand up. "Say no more. I apologize and I will totally honest with you from now on…"
Ami smiled. "Good!" She held up a plate of rice balls. "Want one?"
Shin stared at the rice balls suspiciously, then back at Ami. He had heard of her occasional 'evil spells' from Meiruuna, and was hoping that he had not brought a well hidden one about. "…They're not poisoned, are they?"
Ami frowned. "That's just horrible, Shin…" She sadly turned around and walked away.
Shin sighed. "Ami, I… I was just joking! I'm sorry!"
Ami turned back to face him. "Really?"
Shin nodded. "Really… Feel free to zap me as many times as you wish for me to make up for it."
Ami giggled. "Awww, that's so sweet…" She grinned evilly. "You may regret that offer…"
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Meanwhile, Shinichi was taking a bath. He sighed, easing into the warm water. "Wow, this is great… I haven't had a peaceful bath in a while…" He rolled his eyes in sudden realization. "But peace never lasts long in this house anymore… I'd bet that something crazy will happen right about--"
"Oh, Shiniiichiii…" Meiruuna called softly, in a sing-song voice.
"…now…" Shinichi groaned. "Um, hello Ms. Meiruuna… Er… What are you doing here?"
Meiruuna smiled, taking off her towel and slowly stepping into the water with Shinichi. "I'm going to help you wash your back, silly…"
Shinichi blushed. "N-no! That's quite all right, Ms. Meiruuna! I can wash my own back!" He began to slowly back away.
Meiruuna chuckled. "How cute… You're trying to escape… I don't think so…" She held a hand out and brought him closer to her. She picked up a washcloth, forced Shinichi to sit, and began to wash his back. "Wow, such nice shoulders…"
Shinichi quickly grabbed a towel to cover himself up. "Um… Thank you… I've been working out recently…"
Meiruuna nodded. "I know…" She quickly grabbed his waist and pressed herself against him, her bare breasts squishing against his back. "Okay, let's quit with the innocent stuff… How about we have a little 'fun'?" She reached under the water and began to feel around.
Shinichi began to have a nose bleed. "Ack! Meiruuna, I don't think that you should do tha-- Wha?!" Shinichi yelped as a hand grabbed his 'you know what'.
Meiruuna grinned, her own cheeks flushing red. "It's so big already… Maybe I can make it bigger?"
"Make what bigger?" Sakura asked, walking into the bathroom. She gasped. "Meiruuna, you hussy! I was going to sedu-- er, wash his back! Damn you!"
Meiruuna chuckled again. "Oh come now, Sakura… You know as well as I do that you also wanted to try and screw Shinichi right here in the bath… You kinky little thing…"
Sakura smirked. "Y'know what, you're right…" She crossed her arms. "Meiruuna, we both want Shinichi, right? How about we take turns with him and let Shinichi decide who he likes better?"
Meiruuna's eyes widened in amusement. "Wow, you really are kinky! Heh heh, I like that idea… We'll get started right away…"
Shinichi waved his hand timidly. "Um, don't I get a say in this?"
"No." Both women said plainly.
"Stop right there, you sexually deprived fiends!" Everyone turned around to see Megumi, who was standing on one of the lion statues. Or at least trying, that is. She was currently trying to keep her balance but was having a lot of trouble. She would speak, pause briefly to regain her balance, then continue her speech. "As Shinichi's best friend, I-- I cannot allow you two seduc-- seductresses to further corrupt his-- innocent mind!" She screamed as she completely lost her balance, falling headfirst into the tub.
Everyone sweat dropped, and Shinichi gasped as the water around her turned red. "Megumi!! Oh my god!"
Megumi slowly pulled her head from the water, moaning in pain. "Oooowww… That really hurt…"
Meiruuna sighed. "Eh, forget it… I'm completely out of the mood, now…"
"Yeah, me too…" Sakura began to walk out, Meiruuna getting out of the bath and following.
Shinichi sighed, chuckling. "Thanks, Megumi… Your clumsiness sort of saved me from molestation…" He frowned as Megumi began stumbling around. "Megumi, are you all right?"
Megumi smiled. "I'm fine, Shinichi… I'm just feeling a bit light headed…" She fell over, her towel falling off and her large breasts pressing against Shinichi's chest.
Shinichi felt a bit of blood drizzle down his nose. 'Good lord, I'm a boob magnet today, aren't I?…' "Megumi… Are you sure you're all right?"
Megumi nodded, smiling. "You're so sweet, Shinichi… You've always been there for me…"
Shinichi blinked rapidly. "Me?"
Mwgumi giggled. "Yes you, silly… You were my first and only friend during my first visit to Japan… And then you let me live here… And those times that you risked your life to protect us…"
Shinichi laughed a bit. "Yeah, even though you all most likely don't need it…" He sighed. "I'm pathetic… I always need to be saved… Imagine, a group of girls and women rescuing a man like me…"
"Hey, hey… Don't put yourself down like that…" Megumi ran a hand through his hair. "You're a great guy, Shinichi… Polite, honest, always puts others before himself… You're just a erm, 'late-bloomer' when it comes to courage… But hey, you're getting there…"
"Really?" he asked, scratching the back of his head. "Most people would just call me a spineless wimp… a pushover… girly, even…"
Megumi raised an eyebrow. "Girly? Never heard that one… Well, who cares what others say…" She kissed him on the cheek. "I may tease you sometimes, but you're still my best buddy…"
Shinichi smiled. "Thanks, Megumi…"
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"…Bah… Shinichi…" Junko muttered, lying on her bed. "Stupid little wimp… God, he's so freaking pathetic… Whenever he makes progress, he always seems to go several steps back…" She sighed. "What am I saying? Shinichi's one of the nicest guys I know… I'm just jealous… I could never be like him, what with his letting Naoko and I live here after we tried to con him…" She smiled. "And he's been getting better… And he is kinda cute without those dorky glasses… Argh, I'm going around in circles! First I hate him, then respect him, then I had a little crush on him, now I don't even know…" She groaned loudly, rolling off of her bed. "God damn it… I really need to figure out my real feelings for this guy…"
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Shin crawled painfully into the kitchen, reaching toward Naoko. "Please… Help me…"
Naoko turned around and looked toward the ground, gasping. "Shin-nichan! Are you all right? What happened to you?"
Shin chuckled, flinching in pain. "I got on Ami's bad side… literally…"
As Naoko helped him and helped sit in a nearby chair, he patted Naoko on the head. "You're a real good kid, you know that?"
Naoko smiled. "Lots of people tell me that…"
Shin nodded. "Well, you keep that up… People like you are very hard to find."
"So, into little girls, Shin?" Junko muttered, walking in.
Shin screamed. "Oh my god, Junko! No, I wasn't doing anything!!"
"Why act so suspicious, Shin?" Junko asked. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're lying…"
Shin calmed down, standing up and chuckling heartily. "Actually, the reason that I am acting like this is because frankly you scare the hell out of me… I mean, I'm all for independent women and I find tomboys very sexy but no women should be as violent as you… Hell, no one period should be that violent… It's just wrong, so very wrong…"
Junko growled. "Don't tell me how to act! I'll kick the shit out of you, you bastard!"
Naoko covered her ears. "Junko-nesan, please stop cursing… I've tried to ignore it but it's becoming bothersome…"
"Yes, and do you have to be so hostile?" Shin asked. "I was just pointing out your flaws… You're very cute, Junko, but your attitude makes you a bit unattractive…"
Junko blushed. 'He called me cute?…' She shook her head, then sighed. "I'm… sorry… I'm just really confused right now…"
"Let me guess, boy trouble?" Shin asked.
"How did you-- I mean, no!!" Junko screamed. "Ugh, just forget it!!" She ran out of the kitchen, leaving a confused Naoko and a grinning Shin.
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On the third floor, Kairi was by herself, looking at an old photo of her and her husband. She glared. "It's that time of year again… I hope you're happy, you bastard…" She sighed, tossing the photo away. "Why?… I thought you loved me…"
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A few hours later, as the sun began to set, Ami and Meiruuna walked over to a gravesite of all the slain psychics. Ami looked at the hundreds of graves in disbelief. "Oh my god… How could anyone have killed so many people?"
"Now do you see why I did what I did?" Meiruuna put a hand on Ami's shoulder. "I'm done with all that now, but it still makes me sick whenever I come here…"
Ami looked to the ground. "I wish we had brought flowers or something…"
"Maybe we can help?" Shinichi and the others walked up, all carrying bouquets of assorted flowers. "I… apologize if this was supposed to be private…"
"Now I can understand you, Meiruuna…" Junko said sadly, trying to hold back tears. "I would probably do the same thing…"
Meiruuna burst out crying, looking to Shinichi. "No, it's all right… Thank you so much, everyone!"
Shinichi and Shin walked up to the graves, placing their bouquets on them. Shin smiled grimly. "There are no words that I can use to express how sorry we are for what our father did…" Shinichi began.
"But you can bet that we'll have a long talk with him when he returns…" Shin added, glaring at no one in particular.
After Shin and Shinichi stepped away, Naoko came up. She set her bouquet down and hugged the grave stones. "Please don't be angry… Not all of us are bad…"
Everyone looked to Naoko and smiled at her innocence. Junko walked over, set down her own bouquet of flowers, and tapped her on the shoulder, signaling her that it was time to go. Everyone else began to walk off, the sisters quickly following.
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Meiruuna began packing up the few things she brought with her. She took one last look at the room that she had been staying in for the last few days. Kai, once again a bunny, crawled from under the bed. "Want me to help you with your things, Mistress?"
Meiruuna shook her head. "No, I think I'll do it myself… without my powers… And you can call me 'mommy' if you wish… I find it kind of cute."
"Yay! Mommy!" Kai hopped into Meiruuna's arms, licking her cheek. "So, where to next?"
Meiruuna giggled. "Who knows… I'm not going back to Hinata just yet, though…" Kai jumped out of her arms and she picked up her suitcase. She began to slowly walk downstairs, attempting to prevent herself from being spotted.
"Going somewhere?" a voice asked. Meiruuna suddenly froze in her tracks. She steadily turned around to see that everyone had caught her. "…Shit." She muttered.
Naoko became teary eyed. "You were going to leave without saying goodbye?"
Meiruuna sighed, walking over to the girl and patting her on the head. "It's not that I don't like you, kiddo… It's just… that I really don't like saying goodbye…"
Junko glared at her. "Why are you leaving, anyway?"
Meiruuna shrugged. "I like Shinichi and all, but I have no intentions on becoming part of his 'harem'… If I can help it, I'll get to Shinichi in my own way…" She grinned evilly. "Anyway, there's somewhere I gotta be before sundown… Ciao!" She opened the door, walking out, Kai flying after her.
Everyone waved goodbye, Ami smiling. "Goodbye, Meiruuna! Stay out of trouble, okay?"
Shinichi sweat dropped. "Is it just me, or did her comment about getting me in her own way freak anyone else out?"
Shin chuckled. "Yeah, let me know how that turns out! I've got to be heading off myself!" He grabbed Shinichi into a bone crushing hug. "I'll be seeing you, lil bro…"
Shinichi winced. "Ack, I'm dying…" After the initial shock of being grabbed in such a tight hug, he hugged back. "It was nice seeing you again, big brother…"
Shin let go of his little brother. He walked over to Naoko and patted her on the head. "Stay wonderful, kid…" Shin then winked at the women. "Seeya, gals… You're all beautiful." He chuckled as Megumi, Ami, and even Junko blushed. They all watched as Shin walked out the door.
Junko quickly slammed the door closed. "Yes! Finally! Things can finally go back to being semi-normal around here!"
"I dunno, things were kind of interesting when Meiruuna was around…" Sakura said slyly. "If it wasn't for the fact that we were both after the same goal, we could become the best of friends!"
"I'd ask what that goal was, but I think I know…" Junko said under her breath.
Ami gave a sad sigh. Shinichi raised an eyebrow. "Ms. Ami? Are you okay?"
Ami looked to Shinichi. "Yeah, I'm okay… It's just that all that's happened is finally starting to register… It's a bit overwhelming… I just want to be alone for a while, okay?"
Shinichi nodded. "Take all the time you need, Ms. Ami…"
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Ami sat on top of the roof, staring up at the gray sky. "So I have no family… Besides Meiruuna, that is… It's so depressing… Are my kind really that hated?…" She closed her eyes, then reopened them as something cold and wet hit her nose. She opened her eyes and saw that it was snowing. She smiled. "That's right… It's winter… My favorite month…"
End of Chapter 39
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Finished.
---Kouji Tamino
