Ever Wonder If…
Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina, any of its characters, or any thing Love Hina-ish. Ken Akamatsu does. So thank him for creating this awesome manga series.
A/N: All right, this is the last part in the arc…err…I actually meant it to only last one or two chapters, but things never go like we want them to, otherwise there'd be world peace. So for this Christmas edition of Ever Wonder If…, enjoy! You know what, I just wondered if they celebrate Christmas in Japan…but since it's connected with America (i.e. they sell us the crap they make) I guess they do. I was only wondering because I realized China doesn't really celebrate it. Of course, the ultimate clincher is that they celebrate it in the Manga, which is good enough for me! Please R&R, it always helps!
"…" Denotes speech
Italics Denotes thought
Bold Denotes sound effects
Certain Sounds: (Just in case you're confused)
GOOMPH! Means fainting
DOONG! Means shock. Just something that I like to do!
::blah:: Denotes time/time change
------------- Denotes scene/scene change
######### Denotes daydreams and sleeping dreams
Chapter 9: Christmas, Exam Scores, and PMS?? Part 3
--------------Hinata-sou Living Room---------------
::December 25th, Christmas day, 5:00 AM::
"Is it time?" Su giggled to herself. "Yes it is!" BREEEEEEE! BREEEEEEEE! HONK! HONK! HONK!!
"HOLY EMPEROR OF JAPAN, WHAT IS THAT NOISE?!!!!" someone shouted.
"Su!! Turn that off, turn that off!" Keitaro said. Su giggled and hid. The alarms and noise makers continued to sound.
"Where is the switch, where is it?!" Keitaro frantically asked.
"URASHIMA! YOU ARE THE NOISE TROUBLEMAKER!!!" Motoko suddenly bellowed from the stairs where she saw Keitaro running around the living room.
"Wait, it wasn't–" Keitaro began, but Motoko had already whipped her sword in his direction.
"ROCK SPLITTING TECHNIQUE!!!" Motoko roared, and the ki waves slammed Keitaro into the wall, where, incidentally, the control panel to all the alarms were placed. BAM! BZZZT! The alarms died out. Su frowned from her hiding place.
"Rats," she said. Shinobu, Mutsumi, Tsuruko, Kitsune, and Naru came down. Most were rubbing their eyes.
"What was that all about?" Naru asked.
"Yaaayy!!" Su shouted, suddenly jumping from her hiding place. "You're all awake, let's open the presents!"
"Su? It's only five in the morning!" Naru shouted. Keitaro finally got up from the smoking pile he was in moments before.
"Well, we might as well open them, since Su's so hyper. It's not like we can go back to sleep," Keitaro said.
"All right!!" Su shouted, and she bounced to the tree that was flashing red, green, and blue lights. There were several presents underneath it.
"I'm sorry, Tsuruko-ne-chan, but I didn't get you anything that well thought out. I only received such short notice of your arrival, you see," Keitaro explained.
"Why, that's no problem, I didn't expect anything, but if you got me something I'm overjoyed!" Tsuruko said.
"Don't you feel any shame?" Naru asked Keitaro. "You're so caught up with Motoko's sister. I mean, you're a girl too!"
"What?!! I'm not doing anything of the sort!" Keitaro said.
"Oh, no, I'm sure Keitaro is just being courteous," Tsuruko said, smiling.
"Hmmph!" Naru grunted.
"Well, how shall we do this?" Shinobu asked.
"Give me all mine first!!" Su shouted.
"Su!! Don't be so greedy!" Motoko shouted.
"Okay, I'll give Su a present," Keitaro said.
"Yay! For me!!" Su bounced around joyously crying this. Keitaro took a present from under the tree. It was wrapped in banana wrapping paper and on it was a tag that said "For Su." Su started to rip the wrapping paper off.
"Hey! Wait, don't you want to guess what it is?" Keitaro asked. "I wrote the clues there!"
"No, I don't want to guess at all," Su said, a frown apparent on her face.
"C'mon, Su, don't be a spoilsport," Naru said.
"Fine, what's the clue?" Su asked.
"Well, first the present is yellow, and–" Keitaro began.
"Is it bananas?" Su asked, clearly bored.
"Uh…maybe, but–" Su ignored him and ripped open the present. It was a banana takoyaki maker.
"So you did get something other than bananas," Naru said.
"Well…you were right, of course," Keitaro laughed. Su looked over it curiously.
"But I can just go down to the stand downtown and–" Su started to say.
"Su! Be grateful! Think about it, this way, we don't have to go downtown," Shinobu said.
"Hmm…okay! Thank you, Keitaro!!♥" Su shouted, hugging him.
"Eep!" Keitaro said.
"Oh me oh my!" Mutsumi giggled, holding a hand to her mouth. Su let go.
"Heh heh, okay, who's next?" Keitaro asked.
"Why I have a gift for my sister!" Tsuruko said. She took a gift and handed it to her sister. RIP! RIP! Motoko ripped open the wrapping.
"A Todai test book?" Motoko asked.
"Well, I know you want to go here, so this might help with your studying when you reach this stage. I read that it's the best one out there, for aspiring Todai students," Tsuruko smiled. What?!! Motoko wants to go to Todai? Keitaro and Naru thought, mouths open.
"Ah…thank you ne-chan," Motoko said, and she put it down.
"Who's next?" Keitaro asked.
"U-um…Sempai, I would like to give you my gift," Shinobu stuttered nervously.
"Eh? Why thank you, Shinobu," Keitaro said. He took the gift from Shinobu. "Should I guess what it is?"
"Ah, no, I don't have anything planned," Shinobu said. Keitaro listened closely and shook it. Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!!
"Seems like something…something," Keitaro said. SHAKE! SHAKE!! SHAKE!! "I have no clue what it is." Keitaro opened the box. It was a Palm Pilot.
"Wow, Shinobu, where did you find the money to buy this?" Su said. She took it from Keitaro. "Oo, it's the brand new version! This is the really expensive one!"
"N-noo! It was just something, cheap, something I found on sale!" Shinobu protested.
"Thank you anyways, Shinobu, I really appreciate it," Keitaro said smiling broadly. Shinobu smiled.
"Ah-ah, your welcome," she smiled back. She didn't get as nervous anymore answering Keitaro in these situations, probably due to the fact of his femininity.
"Ok, I'll give one next," Keitaro said. He reached under the tree and took out a bottle shaped present. He offered it to Kitsune. "This is for Kitsune. Guess what it is."
"Oh, come on now, with that, shape, there's no way it's not sake!" Kitsune said. She giggled. "But you know, Keitaro, I have enough as it is."
"Wrong! It's not sake!" Keitaro said. Kitsune was shocked, though she tried not to show it.
"Ah, well, hmm. Then it's…a sake maker?" Kitsune guessed, thinking about Su's gift.
"No," Keitaro said. "You're wrong!"
"I don't know!" Kitsune said, exasperated. Now she really had no clue what it was.
"Fine, I guess you can open it, you spoil-sport," Keitaro said, sighing.
"Whoopee!" RIIIIIIPP! Kitsune ripped open the present. It was a sake bottle filled with chocolates.
"Those chocolates are the ones with wine inside of them," Keitaro said. "Sorry if you have enough, eh he he," Keitaro nervously laughed. Kitsune examined the bottle curiously. Naru watched her best friend. Is she happy or not? Naru asked.
"Thanks Keitaro!♥" Kitsune said, coming over.
"Heh heh, you're welcome," Keitaro laughed again. SMOOCH!♥ Kitsune kissed Keitaro on the forehead. He blushed red and opened his eyes in shock.
"Ah…" Keitaro stuttered. An awkward silence followed. Naru was in shock too. When did they become so friendly?!! She thought furiously. Does Keitaro have no shame at all, acting just like a guy!!! Her face drooped. Then again, he is a guy…
"Ahem, I, urm, have a present for Su," Motoko said. "It is probably not as creative as Keitaro's but hopefully you will like–" RIP! RIP!! RIP!! Su had grabbed the present and ripped it open.
"AWEsome!!!♥ Thank you, Motoko, I love you!!!" Su squealed, and she hugged Motoko for all she was worth, while Tsuruko just held her hand over her mouth and said "Oh my" while laughing. Ahem! Hem! Motoko just coughed nervously.
"What did Motoko-chan get?" Shinobu asked curiously, peering through the wrapping paper. Su jumped off Motoko.
"Well, it's a top of the line computer game that has the most advanced graphics and you can do all types of cool things in it like blah blah blah," Su blabbered on, most of it (read: all of it) going over people's heads.
"Well, I have a gift for Na-chan!" Mutsumi suddenly said, and brought out a gift that was curiously shaped like a ball.
"Don't tell me, Mutsumi-chan, that this is watermelon?" Naru asked, her face apprehensive.
"Oh of course, Na-chan!" Mutsumi said, smiling and clapping her hands together. Naru unwrapped it. It was a watermelon. "I got watermelons for everyone! See?" Mutsumi said, pointing to a big pile of round huge objects wrapped up. "They're all fresh from Okinawa!"
"Uh, thanks, Mutsumi-chan," Naru said.
"Heh, I got Keitaro something!" Kitsune suddenly said. She handed Keitaro a box. He took it nervously.
"Uh, there's nothing badin here, right?" Keitaro asked.
"Of course not!" Kitsune said. "My my, so accusatorial!" Keitaro ripped it open and peered at it.
"It's a bra," he stated.
"Tada! Aren't you happy?" Kitsune asked. "Here, show everyone what type!"
"It's a lacy bra. I don't think I'll be wearing this anytime soon, Kitsune," Keitaro said. "Honestly, I don't want to be flaunting anything in this manner."
"Kitsune! Why are you always so indecent!!" Naru asked.
"Kitsune, you should learn to give useful items," Motoko said.
"Well, I got one for you too, Motoko," Kitsune said.
"Eh?!! I don't want something like that!" Motoko protested.
"C'mon, you also just wrap them up and never wear anything! You should flaunt what you have every once in a while," Kitsune said.
"Where did you get that crazy idea?!!" Motoko asked.
"It's true, of course. Otherwise, you will never get any men!" Kitsune said.
"Not that you have any," Keitaro mumbled to himself, putting the bra away.
"I heard that!" Kitsune said.
"What?! Heard what?!" Keitaro asked. "I didn't say anything," he lied.
"Liar!" Kitsune shouted, launching herself at Keitaro who tried to get away. No success, as Kitsune landed on him and started to tickle him.
"Ah-ha ha ha! Heeelp!" Keitaro gasped. "Ha ha ha ha! Heeelp!"
"Ignore him. Here, Shinobu, I got something for you," Naru said, while Keitaro was under the mercy of Kitsune.
"Oh, thank you," Shinobu said. She opened it, and it was a long pretty dress, the type that you wear for dates or dances. Shinobu gasped. "I-it's so pretty!" she exclaimed. The color was a dark navy blue, so dark that in bad lighting it looked black and was made of velvet. "And the material is so…soft!"
"Well, just think of it as a small thanks for cooking everyday plus a Christmas present," Naru said, smiling.
"Eh?" Keitaro said, when Kitsune finally stopped.
"No more rude comments now, right?" Kitsune asked, waving a finger.
"No!!" Keitaro said, cringing.
"Ha!" Kitsune said while Motoko sighed in the background. Keitaro noticed this.
"Oh, Motoko, I got you something!" Keitaro suddenly remembered.
"What? Urashima, I don't need gifts from you," Motoko stated.
"C'mon on, you haven't even looked at it yet!" Keitaro said. "Though I have to admit, you're really hard to shop for."
"Urashima…" Motoko growled.
"Motoko-chan, you shouldn't be so rude! I mean, if someone gave you a gift then you should accept it happy that that person cares enough to give you one!" Tsuruko said. Cares enough? Urashima, do you care? Motoko asked herself. Keitaro handed her a long box. Motoko eyed it suspiciously.
"What is this?" Motoko asked. "Do I have to subscribe to the same guessing game as the others?"
"Of course!" Keitaro told her, saying it like it was as obvious as the tree behind him.
"Hmm…it is a broom stick," Motoko guessed.
"Don't be silly, I wouldn't get you something like that," Keitaro said. Motoko was reminded of Kitsune's "gift" to Keitaro and herself. Perhaps he is trying to make me more feminine as well, that no good for a manager! Motoko thought angrily. What girly object could fit in this box? She pondered.
"Okay, you're so bad at this, that you'd better just open it," Keitaro finally said.
"Thank you," Motoko said, ripping it open. It was a sword.
"Merry Christmas, Motoko-chan!" Keitaro exclaimed.
"You got me a…sword?" Motoko asked, either shocked from anger or happiness. Is she happy or mad? Keitaro mused.
"Not just any sword. While you carry around your precious katana that I wouldn't try to replace, this sword is a Chinese blade. It is not meant for heavy brute smashing but delicate moves and swift footwork. It takes a lot of skill to master a Chinese blade, but I'm sure our Motoko-chan can do it, right everyone?" Keitaro asked, smiling.
"Of course!" everyone agreed.
"But you got…me…a sword?" Motoko kept on asking.
"Motoko-chan! Be happy!" Tsuruko said, patting her on the back.
"Um…okay, thank you Urashima," Motoko said. How did Urashima afford this blade? It looks quite expensive, Motoko thought to herself while Keitaro was laughing. Suddenly, she thought of something. More delicate moves…that sounds suspiciously like trying to make me more feminine!! He must be on with Kitsune!
"Urashima!! I have caught you red handed!!" Motoko suddenly bellowed.
"Eh?" Keitaro asked.
"DIE!!!" Motoko shouted. She took the Chinese blade that was in her hands and swung, summoning her ki. BAMM!! Keitaro got hit in the face by a thin blade of ki and was slammed to the ground.
"Eh? Where is the huge blast of ki that we're so used to," Kitsune smirked.
"Well, err…I don't know," Motoko stuttered. Tsuruko took the sword from Motoko and swung it around a few times.
"This is a really good blade. The ki was not as big, but if you work at it, it could contain all the same amount of ki. That means that is will be almost 100 times as powerful as your normal blast if you hit your target," Tsuruko commented. "Where did you get this, Keitaro-kun?"
"Ow…" Keitaro groaned. He got up, shaking. "Oh, yeah, I bought it online! From…let's ," (A/N: I don't know if this is an actual site, I made it up and if anyone owns this, I'll give that person credit right now. That person owns it, and I don't, whoever it may be.)
"My my, that was a good choice," Tsuruko said. Keitaro rubbed his forehead where you could actually see a black mark from the ki.
"That hurt," Keitaro said. Motoko turned away.
"Motoko! I have a gift for you too!" Su shouted. She brought out a box. "I made it, so you know it's good!♥" Su said.
"Uh…" Motoko stuttered. She unwrapped it. BZZZT!! BEEP BOOP BEEP! A metal…something was in it, beeping.
"It'll help you get over your turtle fear, because it's a metal turtle that is so adorable that you can't help but love it!!" Su shouted. "It has organic parts so it's virtually a real one, too!"
"T-turtle?!" Motoko stuttered. "I HATE turtles!!" she cried. She drew her sword.
"No! My turtle!!" Su shouted.
"Grab it!"
"Watch out!"
"Waaaaah!!" BOOOOOMM!!!
::An hour later, around 6:45 AM::
"Well, I guess that's it!" Keitaro said. "Finally!" He lay back onto the ground. Naru looked at him. She looked at what he had given her. A diary, with a lock. A heavy duty lock. She looked at him again suspiciously. Does he want to make sure he doesn't look in my diary…or lull me into a false sense of security?
"Oh wait, I forgot to give one to Shinobu-chan!" Keitaro said, bolting upright. Shinobu, who had been secretly moping to herself because of this, immediately brightened. I knew he didn't forget me! She told herself happily.
"Here, Shinobu-chan," Keitaro said. "I was told that it would fit you perfectly."
"Thank you, Sempai!" Shinobu said, hugging the box. She nuzzled it some more.
"Ah, are you going to open that, Shinobu-chan?" Keitaro asked.
"Yes…" Shinobu said, realizing what she had been doing and quickly stopped. She opened it, and a beautiful necklace made of gold with a gem dangling from it that was a deep purple.
"It's to match your pretty eyes," Keitaro said, nonchalantly. Shinobu blushed. Did Semp-pai say pretty eyes? She thought nervously. What is that idiot doing? Naru asked herself.
"They match you perfectly, Shinobu-chan! You look so much more beautiful!" Keitaro said, taking the necklace and attaching to her neck. "There, see?" Shinobu blushed even more. She couldn't take it.
"E-excuse me, Sempai!!" Shinobu cried, running away and wiping tears of joy from her eyes. Everyone stared at Shinobu and then gawked at Keitaro. Was he that oblivious?
"Huh? Is she okay?" Keitaro asked. GOOOMPH! They all fainted.
"IDIOT!" Naru shouted, and she punched Keitaro. BAM!!
------------------Motoko's Room----------------
Motoko was putting away her gifts. She reached Su's, the metal turtle. It sat there, doing nothing. What was she thinking, anyways? Motoko thought, and quickly covered it. She reached the sword that Keitaro had got her. He must have spent a lot on this… Motoko gazed at it. The sword looked beautiful – the head had a ornate gold plated dragon on it and the sword had Chinese characters engraved on it. They were very similar to Japanese kanjis. She guessed that they said, "peace," "honor," and things like that. She turned the blade over and there was a delicately carved dragon on it. She took the sheath and attached it to her belt, right next to her katana. It deserves to be there, she thought. She sheathed the sword and looked in the mirror. That looks…awesome… she told herself. This must be expensive, I still can't believe that he got it for me. She exited her room and went to Su's. SLIDE!!
"Huh? Oh, hi, Motoko! Where is the mecha-turtle I made you?" Su asked.
"Uh…sitting in a box," Motoko answered wearily. "Anyways, can I use your computer?"
"My computer? Why?" Su asked.
"Because I want to check something online," Motoko said.
"Oh…do you know how to?" Su asked.
"Of course!" Motoko responded. She sat down at Su's computer. "Ah…what do I use to get on?"
"Well, you could use Internet Explorer™, but it stinks and has tons of bugs so you should use Safari™," Su said. "And this is the new OS, so the icons are at the bottom at a little pop up bar, see?" Motoko took all this in and after a few tries and explanations started up Safari™. (A/N: I don't own any of those tmed things, Apple and Microsoft do. By the way, I'm a PC user, but hate Internet Explorer cause it's so slow and bug-ridden. I use Mozilla Firefox, which you should too if you don't have a Mac and can use Safari. Bleh, Microsoft Internet Explorer…) Motoko typed in to the address bar " and pressed enter.
"Oh, you want to buy a different one?" Su asked.
"No…" Motoko said, clicking through the pages, searching for the one that looked like hers. Motoko gasped. She found hers.
"Woah, that's expensive!" Su said. It listed itself as ¥25,912.5. (A/N: I went to some website to find the exchange rate, and this is approximately $250 US dollars)
------------------Kitsune's Room------------------
Kitsune was also doing the same thing as Motoko. She had gotten several lovely items, which included a book of gambling games from Naru. She perused through it.
"Ah, I'll have to try these games later," she said to no one (because there was no one there). The sake bottle full of chocolates stared at her. "Time to try one!" She popped open the bottle and took one out. It was wrapped with a silver and golden foil. She quickly unwrapped one and put it in her mouth. WOAH!!! Kitsune thought. This is one HECK of a chocolate!! She looked at the bottle which had interesting facts upon it, one of which was "each piece of chocolate is estimated at ¥156." And there's a bottle full of them? Kitsune started counting and doing the math.
"This cost like, 11,660 yen!! Is he mad, spending that much?!" Kitsune exclaimed. (A/N: For the Americans, each chocolate is $1.50, and I figure perhaps 75 chocolates fit in a bottle so the estimated cost is about $112.50)
"And that's only the worth, not counting the markup!"
--------------------Naru's Room----------------------
"Idiot, why did he get me this?" Naru asked herself out loud. She was talking about the diary Keitaro had gotten her. "Why do I need a fancy locked diary?" She took it out and opened the lock.
"Eh?" she asked. The diary was electronic!
"Please speak for voice recognition," it said.
"What?!" Naru asked.
"Thank you. Please state name," it asked. Naru looked quizzically. Oh well, it can't hurt, she decided.
"Narusegawa Naru," she said.
"Thank you. Recording…please state password," it asked again. Naru thought for a while.
"Keitaro is a big fat idiot!"
"Done. Welcome to Narusegawa Naru's diary," it said. The screen slid back and paper was shoved forward.
"Woah, that was cool," Naru said. She immediately began writing things down.
------------------------Keitaro's Room------------------
Keitaro had been overjoyed that the girls had gotten him gifts. Finally, he was counted with them! He cried in joy while he took out Shinobu's PDA that she had gotten him.
"Hmm…I guess I should start filling things out," Keitaro mused, then started to put addresses and phone numbers (the few he knew) in it. After a short while, he was done, and he started to put other things in it. SLIDE! His door opened and he spun around to see who it was.
"Urashima!" Motoko shouted, appearing in the doorway.
"Hmm? Oh, hi, Motoko-chan!" Keitaro greeted.
"I cannot accept your present!" Motoko said.
"What?! What are you talking about, Motoko-chan?" Keitaro asked. "Of course you can!"
"But…it was so expensive! I do not wish to put such a dent in your wallet!" Motoko stated.
"Motoko-chan Motoko-chan, have you not learned anything?" Keitaro asked.
"What do mean, learn anything?" Motoko asked.
"It doesn't matter how much I spent, but how happy you are. If, let's say, it cost only 500 yen, and you were still overjoyed, then I think it was worth it. But if it cost ten thousand yen, and you are happy, then I still think it's worth it. Are you happy?" Keitaro asked.
"Yes, but–"
"Then it was worth it," Keitaro finished. He went back to entering data on his PDA.
"Darn it, will you put that thing down and listen to me?!!" Motoko shouted.
"What? What's wrong?" Keitaro asked. Motoko breathed in.
"I–"
"KEITARO!!" a voice yelled.
"Eh?" Keitaro and Motoko both asked, turning towards the door.
"What…is this?" Naru asked. She pointed at the diary that Keitaro had given her.
"Uh…your Christmas present?" Keitaro asked, clearly confused.
"But…what is this?" Naru asked again, pointing to the back where a badly scratched off tag revealed a price. It was expensive, about ¥15,000.
"Oh, are you bothered by that?" Keitaro asked.
"Yes! You aren't allowed to spend this much on me!" Naru shouted.
"Why not?" Keitaro asked.
"Tell him, Naru, he wouldn't listen to me either," Motoko said. "He spent too much."
"Hey Keitaro!" Kitsune greeted, poking her head in. "Woah, it's a party!"
"Why are you here, Kitsune?" Keitaro asked. Su and Shinobu came in too.
"Erm…Sempai, I want to ask you something…" Shinobu asked.
"Yeah, me too Keitaro!" Su chanted.
"Ara, everyone's here when I wanted to talk to Kei-kun," Mutsumi said, holding her hand to her head.
"Okay, what are you all here about?" Keitaro asked. Shinobu poked her index fingers together.
"Um…well…" Shinobu stuttered.
"C'mon, we all have the same question, don't we?" Naru asked.
"Ara? We do?" Mutsumi said, confused.
"How did Keitaro get so much money to spend this Christmas. Each gift he gave was 10,000 yen and above!" Naru said.
"Hey, why are you guys so hung up on the money? It's Christmas!" Keitaro said.
"But why did you spend so much? Everyone would have been content if you had given less expensive gifts!" Naru told him.
"Well…I wanted you guys to be happy," Keitaro said.
"Yeah…but…why didn't you spend it on yourself?" Naru asked. "If I had that much…"
"Jeez, you guys shouldn't worry about this type of stuff! It's Christmas, the time of giving! So I wanted to give!"
"But where did you get all that money?" Kitsune asked.
"Well…if you really want to know…" Keitaro started.
"Where? Where?"
"I worked for it starting November, because I wanted to get you guys something nice this Christmas for being so understanding," Keitaro said. "Happy?" Everyone was shocked. Since November? Au, Sempai is so hard working and kind! Shinobu thought.
"Shouldn't we all be getting ready for the party tonight?" Keitaro suddenly asked.
-----------Hinata-sou Living Room------------
::6:00 PM::
POP!! "Let the party begin!!!" everyone cheered. Haruka and Tsuruko even joined in with the festivities.
"Here are the cookies," Shinobu said, brining out a plate of cookies that she made. Each one was crafted, it seemed, with a lot of skill and talent and heart put into it.
"Cookies!!" Su shouted. "I want cookies!!" She jumped and grabbed a couple. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!
"Eh? Who's that?" Naru asked. "Keitaro, go get it."
"Huh? Get what?" Keitaro asked.
"The door!"
"The door?" KNOCK KNOCK!! "Oh." Keitaro went to the door and slid it open. It was Shirai and Haitani. "Hey, it's…who are you again?"
"Don't we go to the same school everyday?!!" Haitani asked loudly.
"Don't we fail all the time!!"
"Don't we–"
"Okay, I'm sorry, Haitani and Shirai!" Keitaro said.
"But you're looking lovelier everyday!" Haitani said.
"YOU PERVERT!!" Naru suddenly shouted, and smacked Haitani in the face. BAM!!
"Ah…" Keitaro and Shirai sweat-dropped.
"Narusegawa?" Keitaro asked.
"Hmmph!" Naru said, and she left Haitani in a smoking wreck on the ground.
"What was that for…" Haitani said.
"Kei-kun, who is there?" Mutsumi asked. Haitani suddenly stood up straight.
"Ah, greetings Mutsumi-chan!" he said.
"Ah hello…what was your name again?" Mutsumi asked.
"It's Haitani!" Haitani said perkily.
"Who are these people, Keitaro? Why don't you introduce us?" Tsuruko said, coming into view.
"Oh, Tsuruko-ne-chan, these are my friends, Haitani and Shirai from prep school," Keitaro said. He made a motion to his friends. He turned to look at them. DOONGG!! Haitani and Shirai was in shock.
"So…so beautiful…" Haitani gurgled.
"So…lovely…" Shirai mumbled.
"Oh ho ho! We can't have that, I'm already married!" Tsuruko said. Haitani just stood there along with Shirai not moving.
"Tsuruko-san, you probably shouldn't stay here with these perverts, you never know what they might do," Naru said.
"What? We're not that bad!!" Haitani exclaimed, suddenly breaking out of his stupor. Naru sniffed in disdain. Keitaro suddenly remembered something.
"Hey, how did you do on your mock exams?" he asked Shirai and Haitani.
"Well…" Haitani began, "I can proudly proclaim that I got a B minus! That's right, a B minus! Who'd thought I be that good?"
"And I got a C!" Shirai said. "What, did you fail again?" he asked, upon seeing Keitaro's face droop.
"Haha, well actually…I GOT AN A!!!" Keitaro bellowed suddenly,
"WHAAATT?!!! YOU LIE!!" Haitani shouted, grabbing Keitaro and choking him.
"Errkk!! It's true!!" Keitaro gasped.
"That's right!" Kitsune said. "And we still haven't heard Naru say what she promised to."
"What did I promise to say?" Naru glared at Kitsune.
"That's right!" Keitaro said. "You promised that you would admit that I'm not a dumb fool!"
"Oh…"
"And that he was smarter than you," Kitsune said. "Plus you said that you'd be his servant for a day!"
"I don't remember that!!" Naru said.
"Well, you obviously have a bad memory," Kitsune smirked.
"I admit that Keitaro is not dumb git, since he got an A, and yes," Naru said, and seeing Kitsune staring, continued, "He was smarter than me on that test, but I will NEVER be his servant!"
"That's okay, Narusegawa!" Keitaro said. He was crying from happiness already that Naru had said he was smart. Then maybe finally I'll get into Todai!! He thought.
"We'll see about that," Kitsune smirked.
"Yeah, right!" Naru shot back.
"All right, let's go sit down," Keitaro said, laughing.
::Later::
"Keitaro, how are your fighting skills?" Tsuruko asked. Tsuruko, Keitaro, Naru, and Motoko were sitting on a couch chatting while Haitani, Kitsune, Shirai, and Mutsumi were all drinking. Shinobu and Su were in the kitchen making something (Shinobu was actually doing all the baking while Su was tasting ingredients and generally bothering Shinobu).
"Eh? What do you mean?" Keitaro asked.
"Well, I couldn't help noticing when I first came here that you had some ninja skills," Tsuruko asked.
"Oh you mean that. Well, heh heh, I just, uh, you know…read a book," Keitaro said, face dropping down.
"A book? My my, that is quite a feat," Tsuruko said.
"Well, I was trying to practice some self-defense, and was going to buy a book about kendo fighting that I was learning from Motoko, when I saw a book titled The Way of the Ninja – The Many Forms of Jutsu. It looked interesting, so I picked it up and boy it seemed so cool that I had to try it, so I got one down, but haven't really looked at it in a while…err…and that's it," Keitaro said.
"Which one did you learn?"
"Oh, the one where you create clones," Keitaro said.
"Can you show me?" Tsuruko asked. "I would like to see it."
"Okay…err…ahem," Keitaro coughed, and he stood up. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" POOF! POOF!
"Eh? There are three Keitaro's now," Shirai said, pointing a finger.
"No, you're just drunk," Haitani said.
"No, look!" Shirai said again. Haitani turned around.
"Woah! I must be drunk too!" Kitsune looked also.
"No, Keitaro can do that, make clones of himself. But you're both still probably drunk anyways," she said.
"Woah, now there are six Keitaros!" Shirai exclaimed.
"Yep, they're drunk," Kitsune confirmed.
"So…this is it," the first one said.
"That's all there is," the second one agreed.
"Yeah, but one punch and the clone disappears," the third one pointed out.
"True, true, but a good trick," Tsuruko said. "And, ah, did you beat Motoko with this technique?" POOF! Two Keitaro's disappeared and he sat back down.
"Err…maybe…" Keitaro said, clearly not wanting to start anything as he looked worriedly at Motoko.
"Oh ho ho, it looks like someone lost to the resident landlady!" Tsuruko said.
"I! I beat him!" Motoko blurted out.
"Oh?" Tsuruko asked.
"It's true," Naru said. "Some how this talent-less guy beat Motoko, but then Motoko beat him again."
"Mm-hmm," Tsuruko affirmed.
"It seems that he's getting better at his studies, too," Naru commented. The was a break in the conservation.
Tsuruko paused and then finally said, "Okay, Keitaro, I wish to fight you."
"Whaaaat?" Keitaro asked, shocked. "W-why would you want that?"
"Oh…for fun," Tsuruko said.
"Err…" Keitaro stuttered.
"Let's go!" Tsuruko commanded, and she started walking outside dragging Keitaro behind her.
"B-but, it's cold and dark outside…"
"No matter."
--------------Outside the Hinata-sou---------------
"Keitaro! Are you ready?" Tsuruko asked.
"Tsuruko-ne-chan! I don't think this is a good idea!"
"Defend yourself!!" Tsuruko shouted, and lunged.
"Ahhh!" Keitaro shouted. She was way faster than Motoko and disappeared in an instant. "Eh? Where is she?" Keitaro held his sword at ready position. "KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" he shouted and multiple clones appeared.
"God's Cry School: CUTTING EVIL LEVEL 1!!" Tsuruko suddenly shouted.
"Jump!!" Keitaro shouted, and all the clones leaped into the air.
"Go Keitaro!!" Su cried. Everyone from the party was out watching.
"Hey, Motoko, can he beat your sister?" Naru asked.
"Nope. No way," Motoko said.
"How bout we bet about it?" Kitsune asked, an evil grin spreading across her face. WOOSH! The huge ki wave missed all of the clones.
"Fine! If he loses to my sister, then I'll do anything you wants," Motoko said.
"Heh," Kitsune said.
"But if my sister wins, then you have to do anything I want," Motoko said.
"Sure," Kitsune said.
"Isn't it impossible for Keitaro to win?" Naru asked. Kitsune ignored her.
"Take this!" Keitaro shouted, and all the clones lunged at the source of the ki.
"Haha, you can't get me that way!" Tsuruko said, and immediately she disappeared.
"Eh?" the clones asked.
"ROCK SPLITTING TECHNIQUE!" POOF POOF! POOF!! Three clones were hit and disappeared while only two remained.
"Where are you?" Keitaro asked.
"SPIRIT CLEAVER!" BAM!! The last clone disappeared. POOF!
"Ow!!" Keitaro cried. He had also been hit.
"Ho ho ho, Keitaro-kun," Tsuruko laughed from somewhere.
"Ah…so I lost?" Keitaro asked.
"God's Cry School Hidden Technique: THUNDER SWORD STRIKE!" BAAAAAAM!!!
"AIEEEEEE!!!!" Keitaro cried, and he flew into the distance. PING! Tsuruko watched the form disappear into the sky.
"I knew it was impossible," Motoko said.
"Rats," Kitsune said. GRAB!! Suddenly Keitaro grabbed Tsuruko from behind and wrenched her to the ground. He hit her elbow with his hand and grabbed both swords and pointed it at her while she was on the ground.
"EEEEEHHHH??!" Motoko asked astounded. Where the heck had Keitaro appeared from?
"Well, ho ho, it looks like the landlord is a skilled fighter," Tsuruko said. DOOOOONNNGGGG!!! Motoko's mouth hit the ground.
----------------Inside the Hinata-sou---------------
"Well, it looks like I'll be leaving tomorrow," Tsuruko said.
"Oh? That's too bad," Keitaro said. They continued to chat while Motoko's brain whirled. How…is it possible? After months, no years of training I cannot even come close to beating my sister! How did Keitaro manage it? ARGHHH!!! Now Keitaro is an even better fighter than me!! WHY?! WHY?! WHY?! I am FOREVER in SHAME!!!!! She grabbed her head and pulled her hair.
"?" went Keitaro. "Motoko-chan, are you all right?"
"ARGGHHHH!" Motoko yelled. "YES, I'M PERFECTLY OKAY!"
"Okay…well, I'm going to bed now…" Keitaro said, and did that. Everyone else had already gone to bed but Motoko had to talk to her sister.
"Ne-chan?"
"Hmm? What is it, Motoko-chan?"
"How did you lose to him?" Motoko asked.
"Well, I haven't been practicing for a while," Tsuruko explained.
"But he shouldn't even have come close! Why?" Motoko asked.
"Why what?"
"Why did you let him win? He can't possibly have beaten you!" Motoko shouted.
"Ah, Motoko-chan, I merely testing his strength," Tsuruko said.
"So you did let him win," Motoko said, relieved.
"No, I was testing his strength. Maybe when you're older you'll understand, good night Motoko-chan," Tsuruko said, and she went into her room leaving Motoko feeling very unsatisfied. ARRGHHH!!! Motoko thought.
A/N: Okay, I'm sorry if you think this chapter was poor quality ( I think it was), but I just wanted to end this arc and get on to the next part, which should be exquisitely nice. It probably wasn't funny, but sort of necessary…okay maybe not (maybe it's my rant on Christmas…no I'm joking). Please R&R, and I understand if you don't like this chapter, but the next one will be good.
