Chapter 2

Hinata Inn: Tea House

"Keitaro Urashima, loves me?"

As Naru pointed out that question, Haruka continued to smoke her cigarette. The shocked Naru sat there gazing at her green tea.

"Naru? Are you going to drink your tea?"

No response came out of the beauty's mouth. The steam from her tea had disappeared. Haruka sat there, watching Naru.

"Your tea has gotten cold."

Naru didn't say anything. All she did was stand up and leave the place. Haruka threw away her cigarette and drank her own tea. Outside, Naru walked slowly, thinking. She increased her pace and it became a sprint.

"I have to find out for myself."

Hinata Inn: Kitchen

Meanwhile, Shinobu was cooking some fish. The young girl had removed the bones, allowing the fish to be eaten with ease. The young cook squirted a lemon, watching the drops go into a saucer of a small amount of butter. She stirred it together, making it into a yellow liquid.

"Perfect. The grilled fish with lemon butter is ready. The rice is cooked and all that's left is the vegetable egg rolls."

The rolls were already done, they were just cooking in a pan. Shinobu removed them and placed them in a saucer. A knock on the wall disrupted the making of the feast.

"Who is it?"
"It's Sara. Can I come in?"
"Sure."

Sara McDougal, a California girl. She had become Su's best friend and the two always created twouble.

"Su's hungry, is there something we can eat for now?"
"Here."

Shinobu handed her four eggrolls.

"There's plenty, don't worry."
"Thanks Shinobu."

Sara quickly left, meeting Su in the hall. Shinobu went over to the dining table, placing napkins at every seat. Then placed a pair of chopsticks on every napkin.

"Dinner is almost ready. I better tell everyone else."

Though the female chef couldn't for she had to continue cooking.

Hinata Inn: Hot Springs

Motoko and Kitsune resided in the hot springs. Laying in the water with towels wrapped around them. Motoko let out a sigh, one that meant something was wrong.

"Motoko, what's wrong?"
"Oh. It's nothing. Just Keitaro."
"What is that landlord doing anyway?"
"Probably slacking off like the weakling he is."
"What do you have against him Motoko?"

The samurai stopped, thinking about what Kitsune said. All Motoko had done was boss him around, but for what reason? It ouldn't have been for thinking he was a weakling.

"I-I-I don't know."

Kitsune stood up, done for the day. The alcoholic was making her way to the door when she turned to Motoko.

"Go easy on him."

Kitsune left the hot springs, closing the screen door behind her. Motoko sat there, taking in what the alcoholic told her.

Hinata Inn: Keitaro's Room

Keitaro Urashima remained in his room, now asleep. Pils of books surrounded him, making it looklike a bed. He continued to sleep peacefully, gripping his pillow. The idiot then felt a wet spot on his pillow. He awoke to find himself drooling. Keitaro wiped off the drool and sat there, thinking. He turned around, finding Sara and Su at his door.

"Ewww! How disgusting!"
"I don't know Sara. It's just weird."
"What are you two doing here!"

The two girls ran away, before ending up in the retard's grasp. Keitaro turned around, finding Naru before him.

"Narusegawa?"
"Keitaro."

The two stood there, a few feet away from each other. They both stared at each other. Suddenly a tumbleweed passed by during the scene.

"Hey! My tumbleweed!"
"Su! Come back here!"

The foolish girl picked it up and ran away. Sara followed her, a bit irritated. Both Naru and Keitaro laughed at the sight. Though the beauty returned her glance to the retard. The idiot stopped and looked at the "A" student.

"Why is she so silent? What is she thinking?"
"Ok, I'm going to say it. Here I go!"

Naru took a deep breath, feeling the pressure increase. Keitaro fidgeted and shook, feared of what she might do. Naru then loked at him.

"Keitaro, I-"
"-Ring- -Ring-"

The beauty was interrupted by a rining bell.

"Dinnertime."

After Shinobu called out, everyone but Naru and Keitaro, headed to the dining room. The two still stood there, staring.

"Naru, I-"
"Let's go eat."

Keitaro had been interrupted by Naru, wo left to go eat.

"Narusegawa, what's wrong?"

Keitaro quickly followed, interested in eating a wondrous feast.

Hinata Inn: Dining Room

Everyone was eating and enjoying a gracious meal cooked by the charming Shinobu. Each person had a saucer of three eggrolls, a saucer of lemon butter, a lunchbox full of steamed rice, and a plate of boneless grilled fish. Sara, Su and Shinobu had a can of soda for their beverage. Keitaro, Naru and Motoko had water. Haruka had a cup of tea. While Kitsune had the usual... a bottle of sake.

"Ah Shinobu-chan, that was most delicious."
"Though it wasn't spicy.
"You like to have your meals spicy, right Su?"
"Yeah. You don't Sara?"
"I don't mind. Just as long as it's not too spicy.
"Well, I'm done. I'll get the dishes."
"I'll help you Motoko."
"You're too drunk, Kitsune."
"Nonsense Naru."

Kitsune stood up but suddenly fell to the floor. Motoko ignored her and gathered the dishes. Shinobu helped Motoko, while Sara and Su tried to help Kitsune get up.

"Naru, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Uhh, sure Haruka-san."

The two ladies left and headed to the lounge. Keitaro sighed and went to the kithcen to help wash the dishes.

Hinata Inn: Lounge

"What do you need Haruka-san?"
"Is something wrong Naru?"
"No, not really. Why?"
"I saw you eating. You didn't seem very pleased."
"Oh...well..."

Naru tried to remember what she was depressed about. Though it never came up. Haruka took out a cigarette, lit it and put it in her mouth.

"Is there something you want to tell me, Naru?"
"Well...the thing is..."

Naru began her explanation to Haruka-san. She told the smoker how hard it was to confess and tell her feelings to Keitaro. The beauty finished explaining, ending up lying on one of the sofas.

"I see. Well, what are you going to do Naru?"
"I don't know."

Hinata Inn: Kitchen

Keitaro was busy washing the dishes, Shinobu dried them and Motoko put them away. The samurai looked at keitaro, noticing his depressed face. The swordswoman told shinobu to clean up the rest of the table. Motoko stood beside the fool, grabbed a towel and began drying the wet dishes.

"What's wrong Urashima?"
"Oh...it's nothing Motoko."
"Something is on your mind, tell me."
"Heh I guess I can't hide it anymore."

He turned off the faucet and turned to Motoko.

"Well, the thing is..."

The ronin told the samurai that there were weird things going on with Naru. Keitaro thought that Naru hated him and that was why he was feeling down.

"Are you sure Naru-senpai hates you?"

The retarded ronin stopped thinking that she hated him. The fool began to think about if she hated him or liked him.

"No, I guess I'm not sure. Excuse me Motoko-chan."

He turned around and entered the dining room and then to the lounge.

Hinata Inn: Lounge

Keitaro entered the lounge, ignoring Naru and Haruka. He ran upstairs, heading to Naru's room.

"Keitaro, where are you going?"
"What's rong with him, Naru?"
"I don't know. Excuse me Haruka-san."

The beauty ran up the stairs, in pursuit of the retarded fool. Haruka sat there, smoking her cigarette.

"-sigh- Kids these days."

Haruka remained sitting, still smoking.

Hinata Inn: Naru's Room

Keitaro reached the beauty's room, an excited feeling down deep in his gut.

"NARUSEGAWA!"

He opened the screen door but finding the room to be empty. Naru's Lido-kun was in the center, where it always was. The idiot stood before it, leaving out a sigh. Keitaro fell down, ending up in a sitting position. He sat there, staring at the toy.

"Naru-chan where are you?"
"I'm right here."

He turned around, finding Naru standing at the entrance of her room. She quickly ran to him but slipped on a book that was on the floor. Sh landed in Keitaro's arms but something unexpected happened. The two were kissing, for a long and passionate time. Though they had two unexpected guests.

"Naru, Keitaro, way to go!"
"Kitsune, what are you doing here?"
"Urashima, I can't forgive you for this!"
"Aaah! Wait Motoko! It's not what you think!"
"Cherry Blossom Profusion Strike!"

Cherry blossoms blew, blasting Keitaro into orbit.
...The next day.

Tokyo U: Front

Keitaro and Naru were having their picnic under the cherryblossom tree. They ate and laughed, enjoying their day.