Sorry for the delay, everyone. I have discovered Final Fantasy VII... And it rocks! XD
So... Damn... COOL! But hard... Oi. Anyway, to make sure I don't have a mob after me...
Mirrors
Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Love Hina. Bummer.
"Ahem... Ready, Kei-kun?" Asked Mutsumi, as both she and the shy Keitaro stood on stage. The karaoke machine was warmed up, the monitor primed, and the audience expectant. All that was left...
"Er... Um..." Timid Keitaro looked out over the audience, biting his lower lip. His nerves were shaking, his teeth were chattering-He felt faint...
"Kei-kun," Mutsumi murmured to him, slipping her hand into his. It was cold and clammy and spasming, but she held it firm. She looked him in the eyes. He felt like throwing up.
"M-M-Mutsumi... I... I..."
"Do you want to sing, Kei-kun?" Mutsumi asked quietly, her gaze calm and caring. Timid Keitaro couldn't help but feel relaxed as he stared into her eyes, warm, brown pools of comfort. He wanted to make her happy... To not be a loser... Not now! I won't b-b-be sc-scared n-now! I w-won't be a c-crybaby!
"I do," he said quietly, part of him idly thinking about another event where that particular phrase was often used. He took his microphone, took a deep breath, and began to sing.
" Somewhere out there,
Beneath the pale blue night,
Someone's thinking of me,
And loving me tonight..." Keitaro cut his part, as Mutsumi began hers.
"Somewhere out there,
Someone's saying a prayer,
Then we'll find one another,
In that big somewhere out there..." Keitaro stopped staring at Mutsumi long enough to start singing with her slightly offbeat, but he caught up in a hurry.
"And even though I know how very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star,
And when the night will start to sing
Its lonesome lullabye,
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the
Same big sky...
"Somewhere out there,
If love can see us through,
Then, we'll be together,
Somewhere out there, out where dreams, come true..." Both Mutsumi and Timid Keitaro couldn't keep their eyes from eachother's, locked together by sight, as they continued to sing.
"And even though I know how very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star,
And when the night will start to sing
Its lonesome lullabye,
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the
Same big sky..."
Though short, the song had held the club enraptured, and it's climax
was met by cheers and applause. And all the while, neither Timid
Keitaro nor Mutsumi could acknowledge anything but eachother. She shyly
smiled at him, as he returned the favor, a bit shakily though.
Their attention was returned to their surroundings by a loud crash! from the audience, and both turned to their original table, to see a smirking Kitsune with a passed-out Keitaro over her lap.
"Heh... Still a lightweight... Of course, it helps that I put some sleeping powder in there beforehand," Kitsune muttered, running her hands through the snoring Keitaro's hair. Everyone in range promptly sweatdropped.
"Ara... Kitsune, don't you think you should wait until you're at home for this?" Mutsumi asked. At the images that statement conjured, Timid Keitaro's nose began spurting blood in a torrent, as he fell back in a dead faint. Mutsumi smiled in embarrassment.
"Ara ara ara... Ara. This is not... Oh." SPLAT! Mutsumi joined Timid Keitaro on the floor, having fainted from overexerting herself once more. Kitsune winced.
"Aw man... Now I have to carry us all home..."
Kitsune gained an evil grin.
"Or, to a motel..."
"ARGHHHH! TONBERRY CLOUDS! WRETCHED OFFSPRING OF LUCIFER'S X-BOX!"
"Hm?" Haruka blinked, hearing the cry of her nephew... Well, one of her nephews, anyway. She turned and walked towards the source of the noise, rubbing her chin.
"Suu knows! Suu would use cheat, but Suu thinks that would be unfair!"
"It's incredible how you created a three-player Final Fantasy VII, Suu. You could master the video game market with your game modifying tool."
"Yeah! It's really cool!"
"Suu knows! Suu is always cool! ""... How can she do that 'smiley face'?"
"Beats the hell out of me," replied Brainy Keitaro, as Haruka walked in. All three were situated around a big-screen TV and holding Playstation 2 controllers. On screen was a busty young, brunette woman in a white T-shirt, shorts, suspenders, gloves, and boots jumping up and down, smiling, as a few male characters watched onscreen.
"Um... Suu, why are we in this cutscene?" Asked Kind Keitaro, studying the screen.
"Suu made new cutscene! Tifa works it for extra money in pub! "
"... Oh." Brainy Keitaro looked up at Haruka, and nodded politely. "Haruka. Pleasant to see you."
"Likewise..." Haruka replied, blinking at the screen. "Is that girl taking off her clothes?"
"Yes! Suu made lots of cutscenes! Will become rich!" Suu grinned, jumping up and down and giggling like the maniac she was. Kind Keitaro, though blushing madly, was unable to tear his eyes from the screen, while Brainy Keitaro got up and dusted off his pants.
"Haruka, I fear we may have... A problem," he said, looking up at his aunt. Haruka nodded to the hallway, and they both walked out.
"Yes?"
"Well," Brainy Keitaro sighed, pushing up his glasses. "My evil brother has apparently vandalized Professor Noriyasu's office, beaten him within an inch of his life, and defaced the Tokyo University clock tower."
"... Somehow, I'm not surprised," Haruka noted.
"Neither am I."
"Well, how could you be? You are him, in a manner of speaking," Haruka replied. Brainy Keitaro huffed.
"I may be a copy of the same man, but I am still my own individual. And I would never commit such atrocious actions."
"You say that now," Haruka returned. "He's got all your anger, all your rage and resentment. And it's without you."
"What do you mean, without me? He has his own intelligence and conscience!"
"Well, it doesn't seem to be working!"
"Apparently, it is," Brainy Keitaro said coldly. "Seta does not remember who it was who attacked him with Haruka bots-"
"Wait, wait-Haruka-bots?" Haruka interjected, blinking.
"Yes."
"Haruka bots."
"Indeed... Suu has made robot replicas of us all. Apparently, my brother created several copies of your in pursuing his own, twisted, ends."
"... And they couldn't figure out who was behind it? Is that it? How?!"
"My brother... Is cunning. Very, very cunning. In any event, we need to try and control his behavior, or else things may become worse... Much worse."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Haruka asked, crossing her arms. Brainy Keitaro took a breath.
"Kanako."
"... You should be re-named Crazy Keitaro, rather than Brainy..."
Next time: Evil Keitaro and Shinobu meet! Maybe Kanako won't be needed after all... Maybe. R&R!