Okay, time for another chapter. Blah. As you may have saw from the previous chapter, seems to be screwing up again… Hopefully it's only temporary. But if not, eh, I won't let it get to me… It could have been worse.

Kouji Tamino

Love Hina Next: Second Phase

Chapter 51: Rise Up! The Stand Against Saki!

It was morning. Junko opened her eyes as the sun peered through a crack in the shades. She winced as the sunlight flashed in her eyes. She turned in her bed so she wouldn't be facing the sun, when she felt something wet on her pillow. "Ew, is this drool?…" She bit her lip slightly as her memories of last night returned. "No, they're tears… Tears for Shinichi…" She smiled grimly. "Never thought I'd ever truly cry over him… His words hurt me so much that night…" she held her chest. "But mine probably hurt him worse… We had such a wonderful night, but both of us had to ruin it all with our anger… I… told him that I hated him… I didn't mean it…" She groaned, setting herself flat on her back. "Why does my chest hurt so much! Why does just thinking of him make my heart pound?"

"It's because you love him…" Kairi muttered, floating into the room. She sighed. "I… I felt the same way when I met… him…"

Junko rolled her eyes. "Oh, that's reassuring… We all know how that relationship turned out…"

Kairi giggled. "Oh, you're right! That's a horrible example! Sorry…" She went over to Junko and 'sat' next to her. "Junko, you know what you have to do, right? You have to tell him how you feel…"

Junko shook her head. "No way! Not after the way I talked to him last night…"

Kairi sighed again. "I saw the whole thing… While what you said to him at the end of the incident was bad, he had no right to touch you like that… Tough girl or not, Shinichi's been getting stronger…"

Junko rubbed her still sore wrist. "Yes, you're right… He seriously hurt me when he did that… It shocked me and even scared me a little…" She glared. "It's that damn woman…"

Kairi sweat dropped. "Oh boy… I came to cheer you up, but it seems that you're angry again…"

Junko calmed down a bit, smiling at the ghost. "…and I thank you for that, Kairi-san… But I will never forgive her for what she did…" She looked toward the ripped in half pictures on her desk. "Ever…"

-

Meanwhile, Naoko was sitting alone on the bus. She giddily read a copy of 'Josei Desires', a magazine filled with smutty romance manga. Sakura had bought and recommended it to her after she had revealed her secret to the woman. The target audience was actually a few years older than Junko, but she didn't really care. The pink on her face slowly became red as she turned each page. "Oh my…" she swallowed as her breathing became more heavy. "This is much more heavy stuff than I'm used to…"

Just then Kenji sat next to her. He smiled. "Hey babe, what's up?"

Naoko squealed, slapping the magazine shut. "Nothing! Nothing at all!" She glared at him. "And don't call me 'babe'… I have a name, you know…"

Kenji gave her a sly grin. "Okay, sorry… But Naoko, it sure doesn't look like you're doing nothing…" He chuckled, whispering into her ear. "You're reading that H stuff again, aren't you?…"

Naoko pouted. "It… It's not hentai…" Naoko said softly. "It's… just a little smutty, that's all…"

Kenji laughed. "Nah, I was just kidding with you…" He smiled at her. "Besides, I think it's cool…"

Naoko blinked. "Really?"

Kenji nodded. "Really…" he blushed. "Oh, and Naoko… About the other day… When we tried to-"

Naoko silenced him with a finger. "It's all right… To tell you the truth, I… kind of enjoyed the kiss…" She paused for a moment before giving him a mischievous grin. "And maybe, someday, we can continue where we left off…"

Kenji gulped. "Um… Heh…" 'Oh crap, I think I corrupted her… or something…'

-

Sakura walked into Ami's room, where Megumi and Ami were talking. She held up an envelope. "Hey guys, guess what I got my hands on?"

Megumi sweat dropped. "Shinichi was right… No one ever knocks around here anymore…"

Sakura smacked her forehead. "Oh, I knew I forgot something! Sorry…" She walked out of the room and closed the door. She then knocked on the door.

Ami Megumi stared at the door. "Um…" Ami began. "Come in?"

Sakura opened the door and walked in. "Hey guys, guess what I got my hands on?" Ami and Megumi face faulted. Sakura shrugged, opening the envelope. "Take a look at these babies…" She pulled out some photographs. The photos showed Saki and her failed attempts at ruining the girl's dates with Shinichi. "Looks like Saki was busy yesterday…"

"That witch!" Ami shouted. "She's the one who scared me with that fake spider!"

Megumi grinned. "Sakura, you're a genius!" She chuckled evilly. "So, that's why you didn't go on a date with Shinichi…"

Sakura sighed. "Yes… I… had to give up my chance in order to bring down the evil known as Saki… So, how should we go about this?"

"I don't know…" Ami began. "If we reveal this all to him so soon, it will break Shinichi-kun's heart…"

"His heart will be broken even more if he marries that wretched woman and later learns that she's a total bitch!" Megumi screamed. "I won't let that happen!"

Sakura smiled. "Well then… Shall we get started with 'Operation: Saving Private Shinichi'?…"

-

Junko sighed sadly as she stared at her reflection in the water. She had decided to take a bath to try and relax. She brushed a hand through her hair. It now goes a bit past her shoulders. "I'll… have to tie it up… or something…"

Shinihi gasped as he walked in, wearing nothing but a towel. "Ms. Junko…"

Junko's eyes widened. "Shi- Shinichi-kun…" She backed away from him a bit, covering herself.

Shinichi frowned, grunting a bit. He still threatened her a bit. 'I don't blame her…' "Ms. Junko… It's okay… I… I'm not angry anymore…" He stepped into the water and walked towards her slowly.

Junko frowned, backing away some more. "Please, just stay back…"

Shinichi growled in annoyance. "Junko, this is ridiculous! You've never been this-" His eyes widened in realization. "I get it now… You're scared of men, aren't you?"

Junko looked away. "…Maybe…"

"And that's why you're so obsessed with getting stronger…" Shinichi said slowly. "So you can protect yourself from men that would abuse you…" He frowned sadly, looking down. "And I've become one of them…" He looked back to her. "Oh, Ms. Junko… I'm so sorry… It was completely-"

"No…" Junko interrupted. "I had it coming… Despite my fear of being abused, that gave me no right to treat you the way I did before… When I first arrived…"

Shinichi burst out laughing. "Oh, so that's it! I was your whipping boy to take out your frustrations on abusive men!"

Junko smiled a bit as well. "Yeah, it does seem really silly…"

Shinichi sighed, stepping out of the bath. "Well, I'll let you cool down a bit more and leave you alone…"

Junko nodded. "Yeah… Seeya…" She thought for a moment before speaking up again. "Oh, and Shinichi-kun?"

"Yes, Ms. Junko?"

Junko smirked. "Don't call me Ms. Junko, okay? Otherwise, I'll pound you…"

Shinichi chuckled. "Okay, Junko…"

-

Saki walked through the hallway, when she bumped into Shinichi, who was putting on his shirt while walking. "Oh! Sorry, Sa-chan…"

Saki nodded slowly, walking into her room. She sat on her bed and stared at a picture of herself, Megumi, and Shinichi as children. She sighed, glaring. "I'm sorry, 'dear parents', but I'm sick of hurting others… I… I just want Shinichi-chan to be happy…" She took a suitcase out of her closet and began digging through it. "I'm… going to fix things…"

-

All of the girls, including the back from school Naoko, stood outside, completely and utterly confused. "Um…" Ami began. "Anyone else get a strange note from Saki?"

Megumi nodded. "I wonder what the witch is up to? I haven't seen her all day…"

"Yeah, me neither…" Sakura muttered.

As if on cue, Saki walked up to the group. She was dressed in a red t-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. Everyone raised an eyebrow at her change in dress. "Hello, everyone…"

"What are you up to this time, witch?" Ami asked, crossing her arms. "I'm not in the mood for your crap…"

Saki shook her head. "No, it's nothing like that… I've come to make a peace offering…"

"What! After what you've done to us!" Junko screamed. "How dare you!"

"Of all the nerve…" Megumi sneered.

Saki sighed. "I knew it would be like this… That is why I'm going to let you all hit me… Take all your anger and pain out on me…"

Sakura glared. "It's a trick, isn't it?… We hit you, you cry to Shinichi, we get yelled at…"

Saki shook her head. "No, no tricks…" She smirked. "Besides, Sakura-san, you have pictures that could help your cause…"

Sakura gasped. "You know! How!"

Saki grinned. "Never mind that…" She held up a note. "At least give this to Shinichi… It explains the entire truth behind everything… Give this to him along with those pictures and- Actually, I think I'll stay… You girls do want to see his reaction towards me, right?…"

Junko raised an eyebrow. "Um… Are you feeling okay?…"

Saki nodded. "Yes… All my life, my father has told me that being cruel is the only way in life… I knew otherwise, but he would often shock some sense into me… literally…" She cried out. "So please! Just hit me! I want to pay for all I've done!"

Ami shook her head. "No… we won't hit you…"

Sakura gasped. "My pictures…" she searched herself. "They're gone!"

Saki held up the pictures. "Hit me, or I destroy the evidence…"

"I knew it!" Sakura screamed. "This is a trick!"

Junko growled, walking over to Saki and punching her right in the face. "You wanna get hit! There you go!"

Saki touched her face. She smiled. "Thank you, Junko-san…"

Ami smiled evilly. "Well then, since Junko got to deal with you, I want a turn!" She waved her hand and made Saki float in the air.

Saki burst out laughing as Ami began to mentally tickle her. "Nn-no! Stop, please! I'm… ticklish!"

Ami giggled. "Not until you promise never to listen to your parents again!"

"Okay, okay! I won't!" Saki shouted, struggling to talk.

Ami snapped her fingers, causing Saki to land square on her butt. "Ow…" she groaned, as she rubbed her sore bottom.

Megumi laughed. "Now, time for your real punishment…" She looked to the others. "Ready girls? Tackle her!" The girls all jumped Saki, pinching her and ruffling up her hair.

Shinichi, who had been watching for a while, laughed heartily. "You girls look like you're having fun…" He smiled. "See, I knew you could get along!"

The girls sweat dropped. "Um, yeah…"

-

And so, at the end of the day, all the girls relaxed in the bath. "You know…" Saki began. "This doesn't change how I feel about him… This is still a battlefield for his heart… Simply less hostile than before…" She smiled. "You see, I finally realized how close you are to him and vice versa… If I truly love Shinichi, I'll do all that I can to make him happy…" She frowned. "And he was definitely not happy the other night… I don't want to put him through that again, so I'll give you all a chance at him… But I'm not giving up…" She go out of the bath, put a towel on, and walked towards the door. As she was about to leave, she stopped. "And trust me, I will not lose…" She opened the door and left.

"Geez, she's still bitchy…" Sakura muttered.

"I don't trust her…" Junko muttered. "She gave up way too easily… It doesn't seem like her…"

"You know…" Naoko said softly. "I get the feeling that Saki's not our true enemy… Remember the assassin that came after the life of Shin-sama's father? We still don't know who was behind it… They could still be at large…"

Megumi raised an eyebrow in amazement. "Wow… That was awfully… perceptive of a 13 year old…"

"So, what will we do about those pictures?" Ami asked.

"Those are safely locked up in my room… Just in case she acts up again…"

-

Saki sighed as she sat on the roof, staring at the stars. Suddenly, she heard her cell phone ring. She answered it. "Hello?" she frowned as she realized who it was on the phone. "Oh, it's you… Look father, I'm completely cutting all ties not related to the wedding off with you… I'm no longer your little spy… I refuse to participate in this horrible plan of yours any longer… Goodbye…" She turned off the phone and was about to put it away when it started ringing again. She tossed it off the roof and gave a sigh of relief as she heard it smash into pieces against the pavement. She plopped backwards and lay on her back, once again staring at the stars. "Besides… It… might be nice to try and make friends for once… But… what if they don't accept me?"

End of Chapter 51.

All righty. So Saki didn't get punished. And she probably never will. Trust me, there will be plenty of people to hate even more later on. Heh, now I've got to work on making Saki a sympathetic character… Oh boy, I'm screwed…

Kouji Tamino