Disclaimer:
I do not own anything from Love Hina or any copyrighted material. Any other characters used in this fic are mine, however.
Chapter 3 – An Unexpected Gift
"Time to get up Kitsune," said a voice. "Come on, rise and shine."
Kitsune slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes. As her vision came back into focus, she sees Haruka standing over her. The older Urashima woman cracked a rare smile at her.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," she simply stated. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah, until you woke me up," said Kitsune. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Around four," she replied. "Looks like you've been working hard, what with moving into Keitaro's room and all."
Kitsune ran her hands through her hair and sighed.
Haruka furrowed her brow. "Is something wrong?"
"Just a queasy stomach."
Before Haruka could respond the front door swung open, grabbing their attention in full. Keitaro stepped into view carrying a shoebox-size package under his left arm. He then proceeded to remove his coat before turning to the two Urashima women before him.
"Hi guys. Hope I wasn't interrupting anything."
"Nope," answered Kitsune, getting up. "What's that you got there?"
"I dunno," he answered, setting the box down on the coffee table. "It's from Grandma Hina and my sister."
"Oh yeah," said Haruka, "she did mention that she was gonna get you something that may be of some use to you."
"Really?" questioned Kitsune, raising an eyebrow. "Looks like there's only one way to find out."
Keitaro nodded in agreement. Picking up the pair of scissors from a nearby desk, he proceeded to cut away the many layers of packaging tape. Once the box was free of its bindings, he opened it up and dug around the unnecessary amount of packaging peanuts. Finally grasping something solid, he pulled out what looked to be some sort of baton, a foot in length that was rounded on both ends – several symbols were etched all around the circumference.
"What the heck is this thing?" asked Keitaro, handing it to Kitsune.
"Well it's definitely not a baseball bat," the fox girl commented, tossing the object in the air and catching it. "It does have some good weight to it. We could probably use it crack open some nuts or something."
Haruka began to snicker and shook her head. "Oh god – I told her to get you guys something more traditional."
"Um...do you know what this thing is for?" asked Keitaro.
Haruka smirked. "Well, let's just say it's suppose to help your chances of having...you know."
"What!" exclaimed a shocked Keitaro. "You mean that thing is for–"
Kitsune eyes grow wide and nearly drops the object, surprised about its true intentions. Haruka quickly raised her hands before things start to go out of hand.
"No, no it's isn't for that," she says, "it's suppose to bring a couple good fortune when try to you know, start a family."
Kitsune stared at her in disbelief. "That's what it's for? Why would Grandma Hina send us something like that?"
She shrugged. "Well, I guess she wanted to be able to experience the joy of being a great-grandmother."
Just then the door opened yet again – a sure sign of the other residents returning from a long day. Kitsune placed the object back in the box and unceremoniously slid it back underneath the coffee table. Naru was the first one to appear before them, followed by Motoko, Su, and Shinobu.
"Hey guys," said Naru, and noticed their rather subdued demeanor. "Did we interrupt something?"
"No, not really," answered Haruka. "We were just discussing the virtues of family life."
"Well, if that's the case," commented Motoko, "we'll all just go about our own business until it's dinnertime."
"We are?" asked Su.
Shinobu nudged the foreign girl's side. "Of course we are Su – besides I need to start dinner soon anyway."
With that the four girls went off to do their regular thing – except for Su, who was determined to sample and add her own ingredients to the resident cook's meal for tonight. Haruka rubbed the back of her neck and began to make her way to the front door.
"Better get ready to for the evening rush," she comments.
"See you later then," said Keitaro.
"Yup," replied the older woman, then walked off.
Kitsune turned back to Keitaro and sighed. "I still can't believe Grandma Hina sent us that...thing."
Keitaro smiled. "I'll be the first to admit that she isn't like any other grandmother...but that isn't necessarily a bad thing is it?"
Kitsune shook her head and smirked at him. "Nope – that's what makes the world go round."
The next morning, there was more activity around the Hinata Sou as the residents prepared for the new day. Kitsune watched from the living room couch as the others milled about in an excited fashion.
"Can't believe today is the last day of the school year!" exclaimed Su.
Motoko nodded as she picked up her bag. "Indeed. Seems as though time had gone by rather quickly than ever before."
"I can't believe that you're graduating this year," added Shinobu. "Thinking about applying to go to a University?"
"Of course."
"That great to know," commented Naru. "Anywhere in particular?"
"To be honest Naru, I was thinking of trying to get into Toudai," Motoko said, "and, that you and Urashima are students and all..."
Keitaro smiled. "Say no more – if you need help studying, feel free to ask either of us for help."
Motoko couldn't help but smile. "Thank you for your support."
After hearing this, Kitsune perked up in interest. She needed an excuse to head into town to see the doctor without arousing Keitaro's suspicion. Sitting up, she put on her trademark foxy grin.
"Well, given how important the day is for you Motoko," she comments, "I think that a small 'reception' is in order for the young girl."
"Kitsune, you don't mean another party do you?" inquired Motoko.
"Oh, nothing like that," she answers with a grin. "Just something that you'll be able to look back on years from now."
"Alright, enough chit chat," said Naru, "it's time for us to get going!"
"Have a good day everyone," said Keitaro, show the girls out.
Kitsune stands up and stretches. "So what's on the agenda for today?"
Keitaro reached in his back pocket and pulled out his workbook. "Nothing major, really. The only real thing that needs to be taken care of is the onsen – that shouldn't take very long."
"Well if that the case, then I hope you won't mind if I head into town," comments Kitsune. "Need anything while I'm out?"
"Not really," he answers. "Gonna get a few party favors or something?"
"Something like that."
"I see," said Keitaro, and smiled. "Just be careful, okay?"
"Don't worry," she replies, "I'll be fine."
The young woman gathered up her coat and purse from their room. As she did so, the fox girl felt a bit guilty for not telling him the other things she'd be doing in town. But she knew that he'd worry if she told him that she was going to the doctor. Having her husband stressing over something as dumb as food poisoning was the last thing she'd want to do to him.
Later that afternoon, Kitsune sat in the waiting room flipping through another magazine that was about a year old. Sighing she tossed it back on the large pile of dog-eared, wrinkled magazines before her.
"Jeez, you wait her for an hour so the doctor can see you for fifteen minutes," she whispered to herself, glancing at her watch. "How messed up is that?"
The door on the other side of the room swung open. "Mitsune Urashima."
Kitsune got up and walked over to the nurse. "Yes?"
"The doctor will see you now," she said, "Right this way please."
The nurse led her down a short corridor, examination rooms on either side. After being lead into one vacant room she was instructed to take a seat. A few minutes later Doctor Laura Haruna, stepped in. The woman, nearly in her late forties, has been Kitsune's primary doctor ever since she started living in the Hinata Sou. She always gave her a good checkup whenever one was needed along with giving some helpful advice from time to time. This made the fox girl comfortable – the Doc reminded her of her mother in a way.
"Hello Mitsune," the Doctor said, smiling. "I see you've gotten back from your honeymoon in good health. How's everything going?"
"Everything's going okay," she answered.
"How's married life?"
"Could be any better," she answered.
Doctor Haruna sat in a nearby chair and pulled out a chart. "So what brings you here today?"
"Well," said Kitsune, "I've been feeling a bit ill lately. A little nauseated too."
"Ill?" inquired the doctor. "When did this start occurring?"
"A couple of days ago," answered Kitsune. "Me and Keitaro just got back and decided to eat out with the others at this new ramen place downtown."
"Oh yeah, I know which restaurant you're talking about," commented Doctor Haruna. "Really good noodles."
Kitsune laughed lightheartedly. "Well, since then I've been having nausea for the past few days. It come sand goes, but every time I get it, I just feel like throwing my guts up."
"I see."
Kitsune sighed. "I just hope it's nothing to really worry about. The last thing I want to do is stress out Keitaro over this."
"That what we're here to find out," replied the Doctor. "We'll start out with a few tests."
After a preliminary checkup, Kitsune gave Doctor Haruna a blood and urine sample for analysis. Kitsune was then made to sit in the examination room until the urine test was completed, assured that it wouldn't take very long. During that time alone the young woman hoped that it wasn't anything too serious.
"Gotta remember to get some stuff for the party tonight," she said to herself.
The door opened and in stepped in the Doctor, test results in hand. Kitsune's anxiety shot up through the roof at that moment as the doctor took a seat in front of her.
"I think I've found out what's causing you illness Mitsune," said Doctor Haruna, "just as I had suspected."
A/N – That's one more chapter down, several more to go. I'm sorry for how late it took me to write another chapter, but schoolwork here at MSU had gotten my full attention for the two weeks. Rest assured, though, I haven't abandoned this story and I plan on finishing it as it progresses!
That's all from me for now – please by all mean read and review and I'll try to get chapter 4 up ASAP!