Mirrors

Andrew Joshua Talon

DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Love Hina. Bummer.

"So, Mo-chan? How do you like them?"

"It's... Er..."

"C'mon babe, tell me... I can take it," grinned Confident Keitaro, to the furiously blushing Motoko. The two were standing in the local department store, clothing section, in front of the changing rooms.

And Confident Keitaro was standing in front of a beet red Motoko Aoyama... In tight, leather pants. And, to make matters worse, he was grinning at her.

"Um... Ah... They're very..." Revealing, an inner voice said in delight. So revealing, mmm... He's been working out...

"Very... Nice..." Motoko squeaked, trying valiantly to resist the impulse to jump him right there. Confident Keitaro, however, wasn't helping things, by wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close, nuzzling her.

"Mmmm... To be honest, I'd much rather wear you..."

"K-Keitaro!" Motoko forced out, shaking slightly. "You-It's-"

"I know, Mo-chan... I know you're not comfortable with your feelings for me," Confident Keitaro murmured into Motoko's ear. "But... Why don't you take a few steps with me, mm?"

"... I... I can... Uh..."

Just let go... said part of her mind.

No... no! I must...

"Mm? Motoko?" Motoko's eyes widened at a familiar voice, as Keitaro raised an eyebrow over her shoulder. Motoko was praying to Kami-sama, praying to God, praying to anyone up there for some mercy...

"And Urashima... Well, I must say, Urashima... Nice pants."

"Sister?!"

"Keep on with the force don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough," Sang the Fun-Loving Keitaro, grinning and dancing on stage as the rest of the karaoke bar cheered and laughed. Fun Keitaro proceeded to moonwalk, pulling down an imaginary fedora over his eyes.

"Ara... Fun Kei-kun is very confident, isn't he?" Mutsumi observed to Kitsune and Timid Keitaro, the three sitting at a table near the front as Fun Keitaro continued the show. Kitsune nodded, grinning behind her large bowl of sake, as Timid Keitaro simply sighed, fidgeting.

"Ara, Kei-kun? Would you like to try some karaoke?" Mutsumi asked, smiling at the timid version of her promised one. Well, to her, her promised one, you see. And Naru's promised one as well. Part of Mutsumi idly wondered how the promises they'd made would be affected by Keitaro's change. Part of her, perhaps selfishly? Hoped that the Keitaros remained as they were. She wouldn't recall the original Keitaro looking this happy, ever...

The timid Keitaro, however, shook his head, nervously looking around.

"I... I don't sing well."

"What, are you nuts? C'mon, look at your, er... You know, I haven't figured out how to relate all of you to eachother," Kitsune noted, narrowing her eyes in thought. "Duplicates?"

"Ara, no... That implies that they are all the same," Mutsumi vetoed, holding Timid Keitaro's trembling hand in her own. His shaking slowed slightly in her grip, but just as quickly increased frequency.

"Um... Brothers? Though I imagine that Kei's parents will be surprised to see that they have sextuplets," Kitsune pointed out, taking a possibly unhealthy gulp of her sake.

"That seems to be more accurate... Ara, Kei-kun, the other Kei-kun is now done. Let's go sing," Mutsumi said, switching gears and smiling kindly at the shaking Keitaro. He gulped dramatically.

"Uh... I don't... I mean..."

"It would make me very happy if you did," Mutsumi said softly, smiling in encouragement. This Keitaro, she mused, wasn't so different from the original. His fears were more pronounced, but that spark she'd fallen in love with remained.

"I... Um... Okay," Timid Keitaro stuttered, letting Mutsumi pull him up to his feet, and leading him to the karaoke machine. Fun Keitaro, still bouncing after his spirited performance, slid in next to Kitsune at the table and grinned at her.

"Wow, that was great! I can't recall having this much fun singing at the karaoke bar!"

"Well, you never have," Kitsune said smugly, pushing a mug of beer that Timid Keitaro had neglected the entire time they were here. "The only time you've sang for us was at home, and you were never this good."

"That was the old me, Foxy Lady," Fun Keitaro proclaimed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders suddenly, causing the usually flippant Kitsune to flush.

"I've decided to let go," he continued, pulling her a little closer and looking her deep in her eyes. "And I want to stay like this."

"What about Naru?" Kitsune blurted, the thought suddenly coming to mind. It was obvious that Naru loved Keitaro, though she'd always been too proud to express it. But, all six of the Keitaros were now thinking away from Naru. Kitsune herself wouldn't admit it, but she had felt envious of Naru and Keitaro, at least, Keitaro's affection for Naru. When things were like this...

"That was the old me. Hey, I still like her... Maybe even love her," Fun Keitaro confided, smiling roguishly. "But hey... Until I make up my mind about love, and she grows up... I think I'll think of other things... Don't you want the same?"

"I, uh," Kitsune stumbled, kind of shocked. She shook her head vigorously, to clear her senses, before smiling almost shyly at Fun Keitaro.

"Why not? I always need a new drinking buddy, Heaven knows..."

"No one's able to match you?"

"Is the Pope Catholic?"

"Hm... Well, pretty lady, prepare to meet your match!" Fun Keitaro said, waving to a waiter. "Yo! I need a bottle of hard vodka and two shot glasses, please!" Kitsune's eyes opened fully, as she did her fish impression in disbelief.

"Wh-WHAT?! You're joking!" Kitsune cackled, grinning. "NO ONE can beat me, shot for shot!"

"No one until today," Fun Keitaro returned, as the bottle of vodka arrived with the two shot glasses. Thanking the waiter, Fun Keitaro pushed one shot glasses towards Kitsune, a challenging look in his hazel eyes.

"You'll be sucking the floor before the end of tonight!" Kitsune returned haughtily, crossing her arms and grinning her fox's grin. "But, if you want to embarrass yourself Urashima, I'm game!"

"I have not yet begun to drink, Konno! You're going down!"

Once again, sorry it's so short. College stuff, you know...

Anyway! Next time, Tsuruko and Confident Keitaro meet, while Motoko dies of embarrassment. Mutsumi and Timid Keitaro have their duet! Evil Keitaro meets Seta! And Haruka and Brainy Keitaro have an... Interesting encounter. R&R!