Love Hina

Chapter 3

Gambit

Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.

Same great story, now with half the cussing.

I would like to first personally thank all of those reviewing my stories. I enjoy reading your comments, and try to correct the grammatical errors I miss with my final read-through as well as my spell checkers. The suggestions you all make will help make this story better for everyone to enjoy, as well as allow my to fix some plot holes I may unintentionally leave.

If you like, please review, as well as let me know of any spelling errors. I will then re-upload this chapter when I do my next upload.

If you like, check out my other stories.

I find that if I let things sit for a while in my head; I can play them out farther. Plus by trying and keeping my chapters between 2500 and 3000 words, it helps keep me from making the story slide out of control, turning a diamond to a pile of shit.

I also plan to start sending these out to have someone else proofread them before I post them. Volunteers are welcome.

Also, it may be a while before my next update. I just lost my father Monday, and need to deal with that first. Thank you for your patience.

Now, on with the show.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keitaro dialed in a number he had spent the last few minutes looking at, making certain he was doing the right thing. It has to be done. I've run away from this for far too long.

The call was finally answered by a young woman, who Keitaro instantly recognized. He cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and began to talk. "Hello Rei."

"Oh my god, is that you Kei?"

"Yeah, it's me. How are you doing?"

"How am I doing, I went to try and visit you today, but when I got there, these guys were working on your house, they had no idea where you went, where are you?"

"I had to leave home for a while, my grandmother decided to put me in hell, which is about where I'm at right now. Maybe I'll tell you before I hang up."

"Kei, you're starting to worry me. Is everything OK?"

Keitaro began to explain his current situation, never telling her that he was now in Hinata City. He explained about his grandmother tricking almost every relative out of Japan, his parents' joy at having a vacation and having a safe place for their son, his arrival here, his discovery at what his grandmother had done, the letter, and what would happen if he didn't stay.

"My God, I remember you telling me how hard she was on you sometimes, but to go this far. She really sealed you up."

"I know. But that wasn't the reason I called you Rei. I wanted to talk to you about what happened four years ago."

"..."

"We need to talk about it Rei."

"I know. It's just that I'm a little surprised. You had four years to talk about it. So why do you wish to talk about it now?"

"For one, I need to start dealing with this. In this house, I can't believe another accident won't happen. Two, I need to deal with what we did. Three, if you figure out where I am; you know you would be coming over."

"..."

"I take that as a yes."

"Is it wrong to not want to be near my best friend my confidant, my first?"

"That is why we need to talk. Rei, I will admit, I really liked you when we were in school, and I was glad that I kept you as a friend after my curse surfaced. But what happened that day..."

"I told you I was sorry. I just didn't want them thinking you were a freak."

"But I am!"

"No, you aren't. No matter what the curse does to you, you are still the same Keitaro Urashima that I grew up with, that helped me out with my studies, who helped me when my great grandma passed away. I will never see you as a freak, and neither should you."

"It would have been easier to believe that if the handcuffs weren't there."

"I got rid of those two former friends of mine after I got out of the hospital. Those weren't part of the agreement. I was just supposed to spend the night in your room. I wasn't planning on getting close enough for your AME to get me."

"AME?"

"Alpha Male Effect. I thought it up in the hospital afterwards. When another male touches you, you see it as a challenge of your dominance, if a female touches you, you see if as a desire to mate. Alpha Male Effect. Get it?"

"I get it, I just don't like it. It makes me seem, I don't know, not normal."

"To be honest Kei, you weren't really normal to begin with."

Keitaro leaned back against the wall. "You have a point."

"Kei, why didn't you call while I was in the hospital? Your parents visited, that I understood, but why didn't you call?"

"And say what, 'Sorry I raped you for a whole day, hope you feel better'. My mom had to stay with me for a few days because I tried to kill myself."

"Please tell me you're joking."

"No, I tried to slash my wrists when my mother found me. She watched me like a hawk for those first few days. I never blamed you; I took all of the guilt on myself."

"I'm so sorry Kei, I never knew."

"That's why I avoided you afterwards, and barely spoke to you on the phone, it was all I could do not to break down and go running into the kitchen for a knife."

"It wasn't you're fault Kei. I risked going up there, I risked bringing them with me. I thought I would be safe since you were asleep. It wasn't until I woke up and saw the handcuffs they put on me that I began to get scared. I was trying to get them off when you woke up. If anyone is to blame for that, it was them."

"Do you want to know what they asked me when they came and visited me in the hospital? 'How was he? How big is he?' I was nearly killed because of their stupid prank, and all they cared about were the details. I would have died if you didn't use those five minute windows to help me, and all they cared about was what we did."

"I figured that was why they kept hanging around outside my house."

"Kei, I won't lie. I was hurt, but I think I understood. I knew about your curse, so I figured you would either hate me for using you like that, or hate yourself for the same reasons. But I do really care for you. It wasn't your AME that made me keep hanging around, it's because I really care for you. If you need help, you know I'll be there. If you want, I will avoid your zone like the plague. But I won't pressure you into telling me where you are. But I want you to know I will help you in any way. Just please, don't ever think of taking your life again!"

Keitaro closed his eyes, trying to focus. He had no idea why he was even considering this, but knew he needed as many on his side as possible, if he were to survive Hina's little trap. "I'm at Hinatasou. Just be careful." He hung up the phone and cried; not for the mistakes he had made, but because he wasn't feeling so lonely anymore. At least I didn't make the promise. I am breaking too many as it is now.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motoko had been especially quiet during dinner. She had heard of Keitaro's story, seen the eyes behind the male, and reading Hina's letter, hearing Haruka speak to Hina on the phone, she could not fault him.

But he is a male. All males are perverts.

Keitaro was far from a pervert. Every move he made was designed to keep distance between him and others. He wasn't worried about seeing women naked, he was worried about proximity.

All males are perverts; they are only after one thing.

Keitaro had the perfect weapon to get that one thing, a weapon that no woman could resist. Even she felt curious for a moment at what the perfect love his zone placed on those in it would feel like, but quickly shook that thought away, for she wasn't a pervert either. Keitaro never used his curse for his own happiness. From what Haruka had said, whenever his curse got him near or attained for him that one thing, he always ended up trying to kill himself. He had no desire for that one thing; for he would always see it as a reminder of how weak he was against the curse.

All males are perverts; they only care about themselves and their needs.

Not Keitaro. He considered their needs, offering to live in the woods away from the house so that they would all be safe. As soon as he discovered what Hina had done, he made certain that they all knew what was happening, what their risks were, and tried to make it so he would be no bother to them. He had broken down, revealing his sins, his idea of retribution for them, saying he would rather die than put anyone in danger.

Males have no honor.

Keitaro had honor. His curse had destroyed his chances at a normal life. But still, he tried to maintain his honor. He maintained his promises, except for the one he made fifteen years ago, something even Haruka hadn't even known about.

A male took our sister away from us and made her weak.

But Keitaro wasn't going to take anyone away from her. He wouldn't even make a move towards one of them. His curse had spurned him of having a happy life, of meeting someone to marry. He would be alone forever. He preferred it that way, for everyone to be safe from him.

As the dishes were cleared, she went outside and sat on one of the benches. Keitaro was a tortured soul. He was under the control of a demon, which had made his life hell, destroyed the lives of many others, and now he was being threatened by Hina. He would have to move around, talk to the residents, and would not even be allowed to die if he sullied them, if they fell into his zone.

What would happen if one of them needed his help, what if he was needed to save their lives? Could he help them, could he save a life, when getting close might hasten their end?

In the end, I have only one option, one I hoped not to use, for fear I would be seen as weak.

But this problem is beyond my experience to solve. I just hope that she can help him.

And after he is cured, if he does something perverted, I will use my attacks on him to teach him a lesson.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The girls had finished their meal in silence, each one assuring Haruka that they would help Keitaro. She had finished returning from his room with his dishes and phone, making a mental note to get him a phone extension kit for his room. Walking into the kitchen, she found Shinobu humming to herself while doing the dishes. I guess helping Keitaro feel less lonely helped her out as well. She seems happier than I've seen in months.

She headed back to the living room to return the phone when she spotted Motoko standing by the phone charger. "You need something Motoko?"

Motoko looked up from the ground towards Haruka. "Yes, I need to use the phone; I need to talk to my sister."

"You plannin' on leavin'?" Haruka lit up another cigarette, preparing to have to tell the others of Motoko's decision.

"No, I merely need to discuss something with my sister. If we were in the habit of doing such things, I would offer you our support in killing Hina. For her current transgression, she must be punished."

"Hmm, I never knew the day would come when you would help a male."

Motoko blushed a little. "It had nothing to do with him being a male. He is a person who is cursed by a demon. My sister merely has had more experience in dealings with such things, so I wish to seek her advice."

Haruka was slightly pleased. Of all the girls here, besides Naru, Motoko would have been the most adamant about Keitaro being there. But the kendo girl apparently felt some pity for her nephew. If this led to an uneasy friendship or even a cure, she wasn't opposed to it. She just hoped the cure didn't involve her running a sword through Keitaro. "Here you go. Put it back when you're done."

With that, Haruka left, suddenly needing to be in her tea shop.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After dinner, Kaolla Su had run to her run and dove inside, heading to her computer. She began entering in data that she had.

The new guy can turn me into my adult self, and I didn't feel any pain. I was completely aware of what was going on.

This is great magic! I must know how it works!

Then when I get Keitaro cured, he can play with me. I wonder if he really is immortal like his aunt said.

It will be really fun to find out.

But first, I must test the patient. I wonder if I should use that alien thing. But it only seems to work in one place. Ewwww!

I know; I'll build a Keitaro Tester. It will tell me everything about him.

Maybe I can use the data to create the same effects. He is kinda cute.

With that, Kaolla began to construct her new device, but a question always kept coming to mind. Where do I install the self-destruct system?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shinobu had finished the dishes, making certain everything was ready for breakfast tomorrow. She had some homework that she wanted to finish tonight, and didn't want to bother Keitaro until tomorrow when he promised to help her.

He is a nice man, and doesn't try to make others feel bad. He is even kinda cute.

That last thought made the young girl blush. I shouldn't be thinking of him like that. I bet that Rei girl did, and look where they are now. No, I will be his best friend. I know we can't do things like hug, or even be close. I know he'll never invite me to go anywhere with him.

But that is because he can't, not because he won't. He really cares for me, my safety, and my happiness.

How often do you find a guy like that?

Shinobu thought back to all the boys in her school. When she was depressed, none of them wanted to be anywhere near her. They always went after the girls who were always flirting, a skill not taught to her by her mother. Not that she minded, whenever her parents talked to her, it was almost always a precursor to a fight.

But Keitaro listened to her; he appreciated what she had done for him, moving him to tears. He didn't laugh at her. He honestly cared about her.

For now, helping him would be enough for her. It gave him a reason to be happy.

Which was the reason she was happy.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mitsune was sitting on her bed, trying to figure things out. But no ideas were coming to her head. Hina had always been lenient with her when it came to rent, allowing her to slide the occasional month, which helped her splurge occasionally on a more expense brand of liquor or sake.

But a male landlord would be a little trickier.

Her first instinct would be to seduce him, flirt until he got hot under the color, and maybe blackmail him for money and rent.

But she couldn't do that to this guy. He was different.

He actually cared what happened to her, to all of them, but especially to her.

No one, not even her family, had shown her that.

He offered to leave, to make everyone's life better, for us to be safe. After I first saw him with Naru, I thought she had snuck in a hot boy and wanted a little alone time. I went to tease her and ended up saving them both. Then all this curse shit happens, added to Hina's little hand, and he is stuck here. He will be having a nervous breakdown trying to keep us safe, trying to keep us happy, and trying to be our friends.

He is trying to make the best out of a situation that must be hell for him.

And all I can think about is my own selfish needs, money, and what am I going to do.

He is trying to make certain we don't have to go home, to return to the hell we each left.

And with what I saw, I know he has 'other' good pints.

So Mitsune turned to Kitsune and did what she did best, and thought would help Keitaro. She gathered her cooler with as much liquor as possible, and headed next door.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keitaro was staring at the wall, trying to figure out how he was going to deal with this. Since school was tomorrow, he would at least have the day to make repairs, assuming no one was sick or stayed behind. He doubted Kanako or this Mutsumi girl would arrive before dinner, but he was almost certain Rei would arrive sometime after lunch.

A knock distracted him. "Hey Keitaro, I'm coming in, you decent?"

Keitaro backed himself into the corner again, wondering what this girl wanted. The last one treated him with kindness and stayed away from him, maybe this one will too, after all, I am stuck here as much as they are. "Come in."

A girl he remembered as Mitsune came in, towing a cooler. She shut and locked the door, adding a bit of fear to Keitaro's eyes. Then she sat down next to the cooler, opened it up, and pulled a bottle of sake out of it. She rolled it over to him. "I think we both need this tonight, unless your curse doesn't like alcohol."

Keitaro simply grabbed the bottle, removed the cork, and guzzled half of it in one sitting. "You better have more than this," he said, a slight giggle in his voice.

Kitsune was surprised to say the least. I guess if you live the life of a shut-in, you tend to drink alcohol. "I always have more."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Naru was in her room, trying to study after dinner. But she found her mind kept drifting back to today. It was honestly the most outrageous day of her life. After coming back from school, she ended up nearly having sex with a cursed man, who had been sent here by Hina; someone who anyone would have thought of as a kind and decent person. Then she learned of his curse, and saw the resulting breakdown after calling him a pervert. This was followed by Haruka informing them all that tomorrow before school, they would all have to go to the clinic for birth control pills.

I feel sorry for the idiot. He didn't ask for any of this, and look at his life. He suffered so much, and after seeing him break down like that, hearing what his life was like, I almost felt sorry for him.

It was my own fault in a way. I saw the sign; I just thought it was a joke. I mean, Hina hadn't even been here for two months, and a sign told us to ask her if there were any problems. Because of my own stupidity, I was almost...

But those feelings, the feeling that consumed everyone in the zone. Pure love. I've never felt anything like that before. It was so powerful, so demanding. I didn't even know the guy and I was so willing to do all of that with him.

She blushed at the thought of what might have happened. And if we did, he would have tried and killed himself, because he knew it wasn't real. He is more of a victim than anyone. He doesn't even have the strength to fight it off forever; he can barely control himself when people aren't touching. And when I grabbed him by his...

Her blush deepened.

I couldn't really see anything without my glasses, just odd shapes. He didn't even try and cover himself. I guess I can understand that, considering what he was really trying to prevent.

But why am I so mad?

I feel like I should be beating him to a pulp, like he did something wrong.

But he didn't do anything wrong.

Except trust his Grandma Hina.

She betrayed him and all of us. Why? She knows what we know and we believe him. But she does this, it's like she doesn't really care for any of us, like she was helping us only to finally set up Keitaro. What that all this was, all of her kindness was just part of her plan to do this to her grandson.

But at least he is kind. At least he cares about us.

It was then she noticed the noises coming from Keitaro's room. She went to the plywood and removed her Liddo-kun doll. Then she proceeded to knock as loud as she could. The room below he became quiet for a moment, but then Keitaro responded. "You can open it, just don't jump through."

She removed the cover and peered into the room. Keitaro was in the corner by the window, as Kitsune was in the corner by the door. Each had an empty sake bottle to their sides, with a nearly full one in their hands. "Could you guys use some company, because after today, I really need a drink?"

"Sure," Keitaro said. He wasn't going to judge her and say she was underage and couldn't drink. His father had started him when he turned fifteen, saying it would help them talk about whatever was bothering them. "Just come through the door, and stay near Kitsune, you'll be fine."

"Sure thing, be done in a moment." Naru placed the board over the hole and placed her favorite stuffed toy on top of it. Might as well enjoy myself. After today, I doubt I'll be having the concentration to study for a while. Besides, the idiot might be able to help me on my entrance exam, considering it's the first time for each of us.

Her face became flushed, realizing the pun she had just made.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If I messed anything up, then let me know including typos.

Any suggestions on how I should continue the story or improve it would also be accepted.