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: Alright, this is chapter 13. Nothing much to say, because in the last one was ultra lame. This should be better. That's it. Although recent reviews have expressed their inherent dislike at Motoko's loss, I say that it is hard to comprehend what is so unbelievable. Without spending too much time on it, however, I will say this: if you cannot accept the fact that Motoko lost to Keitaro, remember that Keitaro had an ultra-cool ninja technique (which came from the ultra cool Naruto that right now is not so ultra cool) to beat her and she did come back to own Keitaro, so nothing's really lost! Anyways, on to chapter 13! Please R&R!

"…" Denotes speech

Italics Denotes thought

Bold Denotes sound effects

Certain Sounds:

GOOMPH! Means Fainting

DOOONG! Means Shock

:blah: Denotes time/time change

A scene/scene change is denoted by an extra line. (Because doesn't keep the formatting I like to use)

Chapter 13: The Failure of Success! Kanako comes to visit!

"Where is my beloved onii-chan!" Kanako shouted, grabbing Keitaro. Keitaro swallowed because he had forgotten all about Kanako and all about what he had planned to say. Several things were wrong with this scene – first, he was slightly flustered by the position he was in, and second Kanako now was holding Keitaro by the neck and shaking him. "Tell me!" Keitaro didn't know what to say except what he was thinking right at that moment.

"Don't kill me!" he yelped. Kanako shook him up a bit more. "Please!"

"Then you will tell me where your manager is!" Kanako burst out, and she quickly tied him up. "Urashima interrogation bind!"

"Ah…" Keitaro stuttered when he saw that Kanako had tied him up. Of course he was used to being tied up, but since he had transformed he hadn't really been tied up and the things on his chest were…bothersome.

"Now," Kanako said, pacing around with a whip in her hand that she had obtained from thin air, "You will tell me where Urashima Keitaro, the manager of this inn, is. Otherwise I might have to hurt you." She was very blunt and Keitaro was shaken to his bone. "I know he hasn't left and let some stupid looking girl like you in charge. Who are you, anyways? I don't remember you. You must be new."

"Uh…"

"It doesn't matter anyways. The only responsibility you have is to tell me where Keitaro is. Where is he?" Kanako asked. Keitaro backed away as best he could while he was tied up in a chair.

"Right here?" he asked, not knowing if he should make something up.

"Wrong!" Kanako said, flicking the whip down. CRACK!

"Ackk!" Keitaro yelped, recoiling back from the whip.

"If he was here he would have greeted me by now!" Kanako said. Suddenly Keitaro began to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, which did not help to lighten the mood that Kanako was in, which, by the way starts with a P and ends with an MS. CRAAAAACCCKKK!

"OW!" Keitaro yelped again. Kanako looked smug.

"Tell me!" she said again, and Keitaro finally said something intelligible.

"Ah, wait, Kanako, I'm right here! I'm your onii-chan!" Keitaro said. Kanako swung at him, and he dodged narrowly by shifting his weight so the chair tilted to one side. CRACK!

"Lies!" she cried. Keitaro continued to explain.

"No no, it's true, I was turned into a girl by a genie!" Keitaro insisted. Kanako brought the whip back. "It's TRUE!" he said, accenting the last word because Kanako this time landed a blow.

"Don't lie!" Kanako shouted. "Don't be ridiculously absurd! My brother is a GUY!"

"Kanako, it's true!" Keitaro yelled.

"No it's not! And how do you know my name!" Kanako shouted back. She swung again. CRACK!

"Kanako! It's me! It's me!" Keitaro yelped, dodging by a fraction.

"Oh yeah? Prove it!" Kanako said. Keitaro thought fast.

"Remember that time when we went swimming right after you ate those buns and you got a cramp and forced me to carry you home?" Keitaro asked. Kanako paused for a second. "And then on the way home I tripped and almost landed on you right in front of our bakery store, and mom and dad almost skinned me alive? And then there was the time that we were all in the park and you wanted an ice cream really bad, and dad forced me to go all the way to the ice cream store and buy you some?" Kanako started slowly nodding. "Plus you have a birthmark on your butt." Suddenly Kanako blushed red and swung the whip at Keitaro.

"Stupid onii-san!" she cried. "Saying that so loud!" CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

"Ahhhhhh!" Keitaro cried, and crouched low into a defensive ball. However, no more blows landed causing Keitaro to look up.

"So…it's really you, onii-chan?" Kanako asked. Keitaro swallowed again and nodded slowly.

"Ye-yes," he replied. Kanako started to wail.

"Nooooooooo!" she cried. "How could this happen? How could you turn into a girl! What happened to the onii-chan that I know and love! This cannot be!" She sank to her knees in despair.

"K-kanako, don't worry!" Keitaro said, getting up very worried about her.

"Waaaaaaaahhh!" Kanako cried. "My onii-chan is gooooneeee!"

"Kanako, I'm right here! Don't cry!" Keitaro said, and he held Kanako to his chest.

"Wah!" Kanako cried again, but it was less. She sniffed in an effort to calm herself down.

"Kanako, just because I changed sexes doesn't mean I'm not your brother anymore! I'll always be here for you!" Keitaro said. He patted her head and looked at her. "Don't cry, Kanako." At that point Kanako knew it was still him and even though, as he said, he had changed into a girl he was still her brother…err…sister.

"O…okay," Kanako said, wiping her tears away.

:Later that Afternoon, 2:00PM:

Outside the Hinata-sou…

"Ah!" Naru sighed, stretching her arms. "We did a lot of shopping today." Kitsune, who was walking right next to her, shrugged.

"I don't know, it didn't seem like we bought a lot," she said.

"But don't you know that shopping is more like looking through stuff? You can only buy a small amount of items; otherwise you're going on a shopping spree. There is more window shopping, but at least we have the money to buy stuff. Speaking of which, I need a job this summer. What about you?" Kitsune snorted.

"A job? No thank you, I'd rather just have Keitaro do stuff for me," Kitsune said. Naru shook her head in wonder.

"I don't know how you manage, Kitsune. How do you even manage to pay the rent if you don't have a job and I know your parents don't send you money, or at least not enough money," Naru asked.

"Secret!" Kitsune said, wagging her finger.

"What, do you do some secret agent work?" Naru asked sarcastically.

"I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you," Kitsune joked back. They entered the Hinata-sou.

"Keitaro! We're back!" Naru shouted throughout the inn.

"Yo! How about you do something for me and get me a bottle of sake?" Kitsune shouted after Naru. There was no response.

"Hmm…" Naru said. "You'd think he'd be dying for us to come back." Kitsune shrugged.

"Maybe he's in the bathroom," Kitsune said. "Or maybe he took the time to take a bath since everyone's out." They walked to the entrance of the bath.

"There's no sign," Naru said. "He's not that dumb anymore; he usually leaves a sign on the door telling us that he's in there."

"Well, maybe he forgot when we were coming back," Kitsune said. Suddenly they heard a voice from the bath.

"No! This isn't okay!"

"Don't worry, it's perfectly fine, we're both girls anyways. No one will ever know!" Kitsune and Naru both immediately gasped.

"That perv! It sounds like he dragged another girl in there!" Naru said. "I can't believe he would sink this low…and right after—boy I'm going to kill him!" She slammed the door open and rushed in. "KEITAAAAROOOO!" she yelled.

"Huh?" Keitaro asked, turning to face Naru. Naru suddenly saw Kanako washing up a tied up Keitaro. The worst thing was, both were in the buff.

"Kanako?" Naru asked.

"Narusegawa! Help me!" Keitaro cried. Kanako, who was already red, stood in front of her brother and clenched her fist.

"No! Naru, do not interfere! We are merely bathing together like we always have!" Kanako said.

"You can't do that!" Naru replied hotly. "You're both adults!" Suddenly Kitsune came in with only a towel on.

"Oh? I thought it was going to be a party," Kitsune said. Naru sweat-dropped.

"See? Kitsune doesn't mind, so why should you?" Kanako asked. Naru's face contorted into furrows and she started to sputter.

"Ki-kitsune was merely confused. In fact, right now she's leaving, right Kitsune?" Naru asked, throwing a dangerous look at her.

"Uh…" Kitsune stuttered, for she was originally not going to, but… "Right." She turned around and left.

"Kanako!" Naru shouted.

"It doesn't matter anyways if he sees me naked!" Kanako shouted. "We're like sisters now! Would you stop sisters from bathing together!"

"But he isn't a girl! He's just a guy in a girl's body! It isn't right!" Naru cried out.

"He is mine, so there's nothing you can do about it," Kanako said.

"Oh yeah?" Naru retorted angrily.

"Yeah!" Kanako said. She crouched into a fighting position.

"HOLD IT!" Keitaro shouted. Both offending parties stopped their quarrel. "Look, both of you aren't going to solve anything, so Kanako, please untie me and let me go! Narusegawa is right; we are brother and sister and it must be like that! My love for you is only platonic." Kanako put her head down in defeat.

"I submit this time, onii-chan!" she cried, and left running.

"Um…" Keitaro said.

"Kanako! Wait!" Naru cried, and ran after her.

"Um…help?" Keitaro asked, still naked and still tied up.

:Later…:

Living room of Hinata-sou

Kitsune was lying down on the sofa, taking all of the seats and watching TV. Surprisingly, she was not watching horse racing, but a movie, though it made little difference on the amount of sloth she was exuding. Naru came in, but she merely sighed as she saw the pathetic sight of Kitsune lazing about on the couch.

"Maybe Keitaro's right," Naru said. "About you being too lazy." Kitsune turned her head towards Naru while pausing the movie.

"What? Do I want to end up like him?" Kitsune asked, pointing to the hallway. Naru turned.

"Kanako!" Keitaro cried, running away. "Don't do anything rash!" Kanako was chasing him up and down the Hinata-sou with a piece of rope in her hands.

"But we have to, onii-chan!" she shouted, following him down the hall.

"Well," Naru said. "No."

"There," Kitsune replied, resuming the movie. Naru watched a bit of it as it played.

"Hey, when do you guys get your Todai results?" Kitsune asked. Naru scratched her head.

"Tomorrow," she replied.

"Heh, then it's the big day!" Kitsune said. She turned around again. "We should party!" Naru shook her head.

"No way! I remember what happened the last time we did that!" Naru said.

"Oh, come on, you know that it was fun!" Kitsune replied.

"Fun? I do not call that fun!" Naru cried.

"It was amusing when you almost kissed Keitaro though!" Kitsune said.

"No it wasn't!" Naru said, blushing red. She had tried to forget that, but had never succeeded fully.

"Oh well, you party pooper," Kitsune said, and turned back to her movie. Naru put her hand on her chin.

"Well…it would be ok to go out for karaoke after we receive our results, if they're good," Naru said.

"Great!" Kitsune said. "Finally thinking about having some fun! Then afterwards we should all go on a vacation! I'm tired of this place."

"Vacation?" Naru questioned. "It's not like I have any money…"

"Keitaro will have some, after all," Kitsune said. "And since we pay him, he should take us all out on a vacation."

"Oh," Naru commented. The door swung open and Su and Shinobu came in, back from their camps.

"Ah, hello Naru-sempai and Mitsune-sempai!" Shinobu said, waving. Su bounced up and down around the room.

"Hello Naru and Kitsune!" she cried happily.

"Hello. Was it fun?" Naru asked them both. Su immediately launched in to a description.

"Oh, yes it was lots of fun Naru! You should have seen it! They had gadgets everywhere, from wall to wall every day! There was so advanced equipment even I hadn't seen most of it!" Naru laughed at her enthusiasm.

"Well it sounds like fun. How about you, Shinobu?" Naru asked.

"Um…" Shinobu stuttered. "Well…it, ah, was fun." She didn't seem to want to explain more.

"A lot of people always come back at once, I guess," Motoko said entering the living room as well.

"Motoko!♥" Su cried, and she hopped up immediately.

"Hello, Motoko!" Naru greeted, waving.

"Greetings Naru," Motoko responded. "Where's Urashima?" Upon hearing this question, however, Kitsune spun around.

"Aha! Caught you!" she said.

"What!" Motoko exclaimed startled.

"You were asking for Keitaro can only mean one thing…love!" Kitsune said.

"Wh-wh-what! Ridiculous!" Motoko said, getting flustered. Suddenly Keitaro ran in with Kanako close behind.

"Wait, onii-chan! What if it really wasn't you!" Kanako shouted.

"Kanako! It's mee!" Keitaro could only respond. However, he was not looking where he was traveling and ended up hitting Motoko. Kanako also toppled over and a big pig pile of Keitaro, Motoko, Su, and Kanako was the result that was gratifying to no one.

"GET OFF!" Motoko shouted very loudly. Su sat on top of the whole pile and started to jump.

"Whee!♥" she cried in joy.

"Su!" Naru yelled in frustration.

"Su!" Motoko yelled as well.

"Aww…" Su pouted as she got off. Kanako was now on top.

"Um…Kanako, can you get off?" Keitaro asked after an uncomfortable moment had passed.

"Well…" Kanako said. "I am testing whether you are really my onii-chan, because he wouldn't get uncomfortable."

"Yes he would!" Naru and Motoko shouted together.

"Kanako, be reasonable," Naru asked.

"There are other good ways to test out whether he's really Keitaro or not, anyways," Kitsune said, putting her two cents of advice in.

"That's right!" Kanako said, and suddenly she jumped up and off of Keitaro. "I'll be back!" Keitaro got up and offered out his hand to Motoko.

"I don't need it, Urashima. I can get up by myself," Motoko said, and she did. "What is she doing here, anyways?" Keitaro scratched his head.

"I don't know. All of a sudden she popped up and since then I've been trying to convince her that I'm me, though she's been using scary tests to say that I'm me. I mean really spooky," Keitaro said, and he shivered.

"Like what, Sempai?" Shinobu asked. Keitaro just shook your head.

"Shinobu, you're too young to hear this," Keitaro said.

"What!" Naru asked.

"Something perverted!" Motoko yelled in horror. "DIE!"

"Wait…it was her idea!" Keitaro responded but it was too late.

"ROCK SPLITTING TECHNIQUE!" Motoko bellowed, slicing down with her sword. BAAAAM!

"AIEEEEEEEE!" Keitaro cried, and several Keitaro-shaped holes appeared in the roof.

"Um…" Naru said.

"Yes?" Motoko said, sheathing her sword smoothly.

"Never mind."

:Dinner:

"ITADAKIMASU!" Su cried before anyone else had even sat down. The others sighed.

"Su, if you eat so much you'll get fat," Motoko said. She picked her own pair of chopsticks and started to eat.

"Yeah, and then no guys will come after you," Kitsune commented.

"That's alfright!" Su said, swallowing. "I can just kidnap one of them to be my husband!"

"Like you almost did with Keitaro?" Naru asked.

"Yah!" Su sang, and stuffed another mouthful into her mouth.

"Where is Urashima anyways?" Motoko asked. Kitsune shrugged.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since Naru punched him," Kitsune said.

"Au! What if Sempai's in trouble!" Shinobu cried.

"And I haven't seen Kanako either!" Kitsune said. "Did they?"

"Oh no!" Naru exclaimed, and she bolted out of the room.

"Um…where is she going?" Motoko asked.

"Probably to find them. Who knows?" Kitsune said, shrugging. She continued to eat.

"But her food will get cold!" Shinobu cried out.

"Don't worry!" Su said, and slid all the food from Naru's plate to her own.

Fancy Restaurant in Town

"Yes, sir, and would you like any appetizers beforehand?" a waiter asked. Keitaro shook his head. Of course, that was about the only movement he could make seeing as he was currently tied up by Kanako. And he was called sir because Kanako had used her famous disguise power to make Keitaro look like Keitaro – and he was slightly out of it because of that. He used to command more respect by being a cute, or at least cuter, female but apparently as a guy again no one paid a second look at him except those that were paid to, like their waiter.

"Okay. Then I'll give you a few minutes to decide what to order," the waiter said, and he left.

"Now wasn't this a good idea, onii-chan?" Kanako, opposite from Keitaro, asked.

"Kanako, what is this supposed to prove!" Keitaro asked.

"That you're my onii-chan, a guy of course!" Kanako responded.

"Well, Kanako, I know you may not like it, but I have something call breasts now and guys don't have that!" Keitaro shouted, getting angry for the first time at his sister.

"But…I want you to be my onii-chan…" Kanako said, dropping her head.

"Look, Kanako, nothing's changed except physically! I'm still Urashima Keitaro! Do you understand that? Look, look at me," Keitaro said, and Kanako did. Keitaro had slid out of his ropes and ripped off his mask. His face was not changed much from the mask – the eyes still carried that over-zealous strength to persevere through anything and kindness and caring for everyone, and Kanako saw that too. "Just because I'm a girl," Keitaro said, "doesn't mean that I won't stop loving you like a sister, Kanako."

"Onii-chan…" Kanako whispered to herself, "I want you to love me more than just a sister though!"

"And," Keitaro continued, not hearing her, "We can be best of buds, alright? Seriously, nothing's changed. So stop being so weird and stuff, ok?" Keitaro walked up to her and kissed her on the forehead.

"Alright," Kanako said meekly. Keitaro sat back down. "But one last question!"

"Huh?" Keitaro answered. "What? Can't we just enjoy a dinner as siblings?"

"What," Kanako asked, "Is your progress with Naru?" Keitaro suddenly started to fluster and dropped the fork he had been fiddling with.

"Why would you ever ask a question like that?" Keitaro said. He looked around nervously, just in case someone heard something.

"You mean you haven't done anything since I left!" Kanako exclaimed. She stood up. "Onii-chan, we will practice. Hold on while I go change!" Kanako left to go towards the bathroom. Keitaro got up from his seat to follow her.

"Wait! Wait!" he cried. "I don't want to practice! What do you mean by practice?" They reached the bathroom and Kanako entered. Keitaro followed. PUNCH!

"What are you doing following your sister into the bathroom? OUT!" Kanako cried as she slammed a fist into him and he went flying out the way he came. He landed on the floor by his chair.

"Ouch…" Keitaro said, "Kanako's punches hurt more than Narusegawa's punches. Probably because she usually doesn't punch me." He sat on the chair and retied his hair into a ponytail. SNAP! "There, that's better," he said. He looked at his fingernails – they were painted a deep red. He hadn't ever been able to do anything that girly, like put on something revealing or paint his nails. He was violently opposed to painting his nails. But that only spurred Kitsune on to paint his nails while he was asleep and dress him in offensive clothing, or cosplay if she felt up to it. One day he had woken up looking like a nurse and had been the laughing stock of the whole inn. Even Shinobu had laughed at him!

"I guess I should buy nail remover," Keitaro said, though he didn't want to because he didn't know how to use it and felt silly if he asked someone.

"Yes, you should," someone said. Keitaro looked up and saw Narusegawa in the chair in front of him! …Wait, no, this must be Kanako because she said we had to practice… Keitaro thought.

"Kanako, I don't want to practice anything," Keitaro said.

"Kanako? Where's Kanako?" Narusegawa answered. "I'm just here to bring you back, but since this is such a nice restaurant, I thought we could eat together. But if you don't want that…" Narusegawa (A/N: or is it Kanako?) started to stand.

"No, sit down!" Keitaro said, worried that Kanako had started to get angry again and was going to leave. Naru sat down.

"So what's up?" she asked.

:A couple minutes earlier:

Naru raced down the streets in the biggest hurry of her life. She didn't know why she was hurrying, or even why she had to run at all. In fact, why was she even going? Knowing Kanako, she'll try to do something indecent! Naru thought, clenching her teeth. She had already checked two restaurants, but he wasn't there. Maybe he went somewhere fancier… Naru thought. Even though they had never gone somewhere fancier than the restaurants she had checked. Why did Keitaro always have to go to such lengths? She turned a corner. Perhaps Keitaro is only waiting for me to confess… Naru thought, but she shook that thought away. Right now she had to find them…suddenly Naru came to a screeching halt as she spotted Keitaro and Kanako. She then saw Keitaro kiss Kanako.

"What is that idiot doing!" Naru shouted to herself, scaring nearby pedestrians and potential customers. Her face was unashamedly pressed up to the glass as she watched them go into the bathroom.

"What is he doing now! I better go get him!" Naru cried again as she saw them both enter. Suddenly Keitaro came flying out of the bathroom and landed by his table. "I'm going in." Naru entered into a red carpeted restaurant. There was a small podium where a man in a tuxedo stood. There was a seating area where many couples sat and Naru felt self-conscious as she walked up to the man.

"Hello, and welcome to Watanabe's. Do you have a reservation?" the man asked.

"Ah…" Naru stuttered.

"If you don't, there is about an hours waiting time," the man replied, taking out a card with the number forty-five on it. "We will call it out and you may sit down and rest here, ma'am, or you may come back in about an hour if you wish."

"Actually," Naru said, refusing the card, "I just want to go in to see my friend."

"Oh, I see. I had no idea you had a reservation," the man said, taking back the card. "Meeting your boyfriend?" Naru blushed.

"N-no, I don't have a reservation," Naru told him.

"You don't?" the man asked.

"But I know someone in there and I want to just pop in and say hi," Naru lied. What she really wanted to do was go in there and drag Keitaro back.

"Well, usually you need a reservation to go in, but since you seem like a pretty lass I'll let you in. What is the name of your friend?" the man said. Naru blushed slightly, but this didn't faze her.

"Urashima Keitaro," Naru replied.

"Ah…yes, he's at table forty-nine. I can have a waiter take you there if you wish," the man said.

"No, no, that's okay, I can find it myself," Naru said. She could already see the table.

"Nonsense. The place is quite big and it would only be right to have someone take you there. Shinichi!" the man called. A short man, shorter than Naru at least, appeared. "Please take this miss to table forty-nine."

"Yes, sir!" Shinichi said. He bowed politely and pointed with his hand the way. "If you would follow me, miss." They walked over to where Keitaro sat down muttering to himself. Approximately ten feet away, Naru thanked the waiter and sat down.

"I guess I should buy nail remover," Keitaro said to himself, not noticing Naru. He was looking at his nails.

"Yes, you should," Naru agreed, noticing that his nails were painted a deep red and was not the best thing that fit on Keitaro. He looked up and saw Naru finally. He didn't say anything at first, but Naru noticed him thinking.

"Kanako, I don't want to practice anything," Keitaro finally said.

"Kanako? Where's Kanako?" Naru asked. She looked around her but Kanako was nowhere to be seen. Not seeing her, Naru decided to stay. It was a nice place, anyways and plus she was sure she could get Keitaro to pay for it all, since he was such the gentleman. "I'm just here to bring you back," Naru said, "but since this is such a nice restaurant, I thought we could eat together. But if you don't want that…" Naru started to stand, knowing this would definitely make Keitaro want her to stay.

"No, sit down!" Keitaro said hastily. Naru sat down.

"So what's up?" she asked, glad it worked. "Have you ordered?"

"Ah…" Keitaro replied. I see, Keitaro thought, Kanako wants to pretend that Naru is on a date with me, so she dressed up as her and is pretending she isn't here. Well, I guess I have to play along, Keitaro thought.

"No. Do you want something?" Keitaro asked. "It'll be my treat."

"Oh," Naru replied, glad. "That would be delightful." And she flashed a smile for Keitaro. Keitaro's brain turned to mush.

"Ah...um…yes…" Keitaro stuttered, not saying anything coherent at all. Suddenly he shook his head to clear up the situation. That's Kanako over there, but that smile…she's got it perfected because I almost swore that it was Narusegawa smiling instead of Kanako, Keitaro thought. Keitaro coughed.

"What do you, ah, want to order?" Keitaro asked. Naru picked up a menu. Keitaro's heart started to beat a little faster. Even though I know it's my sister…when I see that face I can't help but get excited! Keitaro thought.

"Look," Keitaro said suddenly, while Naru was looking through the menu. "Why are we doing this?" Naru put the menu down.

"Why are we doing what?" Naru asked.

"Pretending," Keitaro replied. He decided he just wanted to enjoy a meal with Kanako as herself.

"Pretending…?" Naru asked. She was confused.

"Look, I'm going to say this and you had better listen. I just want to enjoy a meal without any deception and perhaps you'll be reasonable after this. Now," Keitaro said, looking around. "You're the only one I can tell this to. I can't have you repeating it. It would be bad." Naru felt touched. I'm the only one he can tell a secret to? I'm listening Keitaro! I won't tell anyone! Naru thought. Unless…it's something incredibly stupid.

"I'm listening," Naru said.

"Good. Okay, this it how it goes. I love you," Keitaro started. Naru was taken aback. Love? He loves me? And he says it so freely? But…this kind of situation!

"I love you," Keitaro repeated, "So we don't have to keep on this deception. Now I need you to tell me if you love me too, then we can continue." It is! Naru thought in horror. He wants me to confess! I can't I can't! Naru shook her head to clear it.

"Well?" Keitaro asked. Naru shrunk—when had Keitaro been so bold? First freely declaring his love for her and then now he was demanding a response. What should she say? She didn't hate him…but love? It was too early, too early! And he was still a girl for crying out loud! Did he want to look like "that?" Perhaps to be safe Naru should say she didn't. But that would crush him, wouldn't it? Doesn't he love her so dearly? It seems that he does because right now he's putting everything on the line for an answer. And maybe…just maybe, Naru admitted to herself, Maybe I do love him too.

"Ke-Keitaro I love you too," Naru said, admitting it to herself for the first time as much as to Keitaro.

"Well that's…" Keitaro started but suddenly he turned around. Naru looked up and saw herself. An exact replica.

"Huh?" Keitaro asked. "Two Narusegawas? Then which one's Kanako?" Keitaro asked, turning from one to the other. Suddenly the romantic atmosphere around table forty-nine crashed as Naru realized everything. Keitaro had said things so freely because he had thought he was talking to his sister! Everything made sense. But she already confessed! What, what was going to happen now?

"Onii-chan!" the Narusegawa standing up cried. "I go away for a few seconds and you already invite the real Narusegawa? I hate you!" And ripping her mask off she ran away.

"W-wait Kanako!" Keitaro cried realizing his mistake. But he did a double take – hadn't Naru said just know that she loved him too? Even though when he said I love you he meant towards Kanko as a sister, Naru had thought it was real and had replied likewise! His head was reeling. Suddenly the real Narusegawa stood up.

"I can't believe you're out and was going to pretend that Kanako be me!" Naru shouted. "You're despicable!" And she left running too.

"Waaaaiiit!" Keitaro cried, but no one heeded his words. He was left alone at his table. Suddenly the waiter came by.

"Are you ready to order, miss?" he asked. Keitaro slumped over.

Outside the restaurant

What am I doing? Naru thought as she sprinted as fast as she sprinted to the restaurant away from it. She wasn't really offended; she just had to get away from it. Had she confessed? Perhaps this was a dream, or someone had implanted a false memory. She pinched herself.

"Ow!" she yipped. Not a dream, she thought. But then what was it? A horrible mess, that's what it was. Perhaps Keitaro hadn't actually heard anything – that would be the best. Had Kanako heard though? That would not be good at all! She would report and tell everyone back at the Hinata-sou! She started to run harder. But it wasn't any good she knew. Kanako would reach there first and her life would be over. OVER! She thought miserably. But was it? Perhaps it was a good thing.

NO! Naru argued against herself. But her brain continued to tell her otherwise. Everybody knows that you are in love with him and have told themselves except you. You admitting was a good thing! No more deception as Keitaro said. Now you can officially be a couple! Naru suddenly started to shout.

"No no no! I can't I can't! That is not, too early!" Naru shouted. She hit her head as she reached the Hinata-sou. She opened the door and was shocked as she saw everybody waiting for her.

"Ah…" she stuttered.

"So?" Kitsune asked. She tapped her foot and everybody was waiting. What are they waiting for? I can't take it! Naru thought as she looked from person to person.

"No!" Naru shouted. "I didn't confess to Keitaro, I didn't! I swear I didn't!" With that, she ran up to her room. Kitsune looked puzzled as everybody turned to see Naru run away.

"What? We were just wondering if she brought back Keitaro," Kitsune said. "What's with all this confessing stuff?" BAM!

"Is Narusegawa or Kanako here?" Keitaro asked, panting for breath.

"S-sempai…" Shinobu stuttered, thinking the worst.

"Hey Keitaro, did Naru confess to you or something? We were just asking her whether she had brought you back when she shouted 'I didn't confess!' It was weird," Kitsune asked.

"Ah…confess?" Keitaro asked. "Well…I'm not sure what happened."

"Why don't you tell us the whole story then, Urashima," Motoko asked with her arms crossed. Keitaro stuttered at first, but eventually they heard the whole thing.

"You…thought it was your sister?" Kitsune asked when Keitaro finished.

"Yeah…well, she said practice and later did appear as Narusegawa! How was I supposed to know that it wasn't Kanako?" Keitaro asked.

"Perhaps you should have discerned that because you know both well," Motoko said.

"It's hard! I just thought Kanako was doing an exceptionally good job. Ever since she started this weird obsession…" Keitaro said, but trailed off.

"Keitaro, I don't know what to tell you," Kitsune said. "You said that you didn't hear any clear confession, but her reaction leads me to believe that she did actually confess. What you have to do is get her to admit it again! Obviously your attitude that night is a winner!"

"Kitsune! Don't you think we should wait?" Keitaro asked. "I'm still a girl!"

"Girl aside, this is monumental! Naru never admits something like that unless it's for real!" Kitsune said. "You can just put on that Keitaro mask that Kanako has."

"Kitsune!"

"Urashima, perhaps you should sleep on it. Then we can see what happens tomorrow," Motoko said.

"Good idea!" Shinobu agreed.

"Okay, fine, just ignore me…" Kitsune said sulkily and left. Everyone said their good night and left to their room. It was 11:00PM.

Keitaro's Room

Keitaro had a hard time sleeping. Had Naru said anything or not? He wasn't very clear about it and didn't want to remember something just because he wanted it to be true. He could ask Naru tomorrow…but what if Naru didn't say anything? Keitaro thought. That would be horrible. But what else was there to do? Maybe he should just postpone it until he was a guy again…but maybe that would never happen! He remembered Kitsune joking about a sex change operation, but that was just weird. However, he would do anything for Naru, if she actually had said something; even get a sex change operation. Maybe if he found another genie…of course that was impossible! He still thought that he would change back, but now it seemed a dismal possibility. Had it even worked? Sure he knew more about the physical things a girl has to deal with, but what about the emotional? Hah, I would need to get a boyfriend to do that! Keitaro thought. The idea, once so repulsive to him now seemed acceptable if he wanted to understand the emotions. Then he could truly be a good match for Naru, or any woman! A boyfriend…he thought and fell asleep.

A/N: Woo hoo, the 13th chapter is done! The recent reviews (and any of them, actually all of them) have spurred me on, though the updates will not be so good next time because I'm leaving for vacation. But prevail as you all have and I will continue. Dropping stories is not my style, so good good. But the most recent two reviews had some interesting ideas and perhaps I will use them. What do you guys think? Should Keitaro get a boyfriend:)? Please R&R!