Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina it belongs to it's great creator and I thank him for the many hours of enjoyment his characters have given us.

Warning; This story contains nudity and sexual situations, if you are offended by such material leave now. To those who wish to read on enjoy what I like to call tasteful smut.

Searching

"Why would you do that to him Motoko," Naru cried out continuing a long winded diatribe that had lasted a good ten minutes now, even Kitsune was starting to lose interest. All the Hinata residents, minus their currently absentee landlord, were in the living room trying to piece together what had happened the night before. Things were not going well, Naru had sat stone faced until the end of the tale when Suu admited to kissing Keitaro and then Motoko's admission of giving him yet more frequent flyer miles. This was followed by Naru going ballistic only to be shouted down by Keitaro's adopted sister Kanako which ended with the two former rivals almost coming to blows. Now Naru had gotten back on track and returned to the matter at hand.

"He was trying to molest Suu," Motoko explained for the fourth time in the past fifteen minutes, "I could not stand by and let him besmirch her honor."

"But Keitaro wasn't besmirching me Motoko," Suu spoke up for the first time since this argument had started, "I was smooching him."

"See Motoko," Naru insisted pointing at Suu, "She even admits it."

"What would you have done Naru if you had seen them instead of me," Motoko growled wanting to put a stop to this argument here and now.

"She probably would have belted him even farther," Kitsune muttered into her sake before taking a long drink.

"What me and Keitaro do is none of your business Motoko," Naru countered avoiding the question.

"It effects us too Naru-Sempai," Shinobu spoke for the first time since the shouting began drawing everyone's eyes to the sixteen year old, "We all live here too, and what happens to Sempai affects all of us. I know it might not be the same but everyone here cares about Keitaro in their own way. All of us know something bad must have happened the other night when you two went out, otherwise Sempai would never have been gone this long. I don't know what happened to you Naru-sempai but I do know that we need Keitaro-sempai here. We shouldn't be here fighting over who did what, we should be out looking for Sempai. What if he's hurt and all alone?"

Shinobu's speech stopped everyone in their tracks. Naru stood there with her mouth wide open ready to retaliate but merely shut it as she considered the young woman's words. Motoko flushed guiltily for the first time feeling ashamed not only for her actions the night before but her behavior this morning. Suu and Kitsune remained quiet while Kanako brooded over the fact she hadn't thought of the idea to go looking for Keitaro first.

"Well, no use sitting around here," Kanako said rising and heading towards the front door she cast one scathing look back over her shoulder, "I'm going to go find my Oni-chan."

"Seconds to that, without all that dark and gloomy stuff," Kitsune announced grabbing her jacket.

The rest of the Hinata Inn residents followed suit.

I hope that idiot's all right, Naru thought darkly, That way when I find him I can kill for putting me through all this.

As it turned out Keitaro, at that moment was alive and well currently sitting at a table in his aunt's tea house sneezing violently while nursing a cup of green tea. He had trudged here earlier that morning just as Haruka was opening up for the day after having spent the rest of last night wandering around the hot springs town in a daze. The older woman had quickly taken him in hand getting him a change of clothes, a bite to eat, and currently a sympathetic ear.

"I just don't know what to do or feel anymore Haruaka," Keitaro sighed careful to use her first name to avoid yet another buffet to the head, "No matter what happens it's always my fault. In fact right now I bet Naru and Motoko are together planning how punish me for kissing Suu even though she is the one who kissed ME! Bad enough Motoko already sent me flying once but now I know I'm doomed to further beatings. Worst of all Naru's just going to be mad and we won't ever get to talk about what happened in Tokyo the other night. I wish for once we could just talk about our problems instead of things ending up like this every time."

"You could always stop her from hitting you nephew," Haruka put in leaning on the table with her hand resting in her palm talking through her ever present cigarette, "I know Seta taught you more than you've let on."

"I can't do that Haruka," Keitaro said dismally, "Not only would I never want to hurt her in any way, but could you imagine how much more afraid of me she'd be if she knew she couldn't hit me anymore. That'd be the end of our relationship. If it's not over already, that is."

"Keitaro, do you love Naru," Haruka asked bluntly.

"Of course I do," Keitaro said frankly startled at the question.

"Then go to her," Haruka ordered holding up a hand to stop her nephew before he could interrupt, "If you are really serious about her you have to face this head on, no half measures. Love is not easy Keitaro, it's hard and you have to be willing to take the bad with the good. You have to be strong nephew and be up front with Naru. You may have to tell her things she won't like and make her confront her own fears and insecurities. I know it's not an easy thing to do but sometimes you really do have to hurt the ones you love."

"But, what if afterwards she hates me," Keitaro asked staring into his tea.

"If Naru truly loves you in return she'll see you really do have her best interests at heart," Haruka explained patiently."

"And if she doesn't," Keitaro couldn't do much more than whisper the question.

"Then she doesn't," Haruka shrugged getting up to go and wait on several customers that had just walked into the tea house.

Keitaro sat there at the table alone long after his tea had grown cold considering Haruka's last words. What would I do without Naru? he thought bleakly. Would his life revert to that sad pathetic state he existed in for so long before meeting her and coming to Hinata? It was a dreadful thought, and a fate that Keitaro feared more than anything. To wake up one day and find out all of this had just been a dream. No, Keitaro concluded finally, Me life wouldn't just revert to the way it was before. It would be over.

Kitsune stood by the open door of the Hinata Tea House absorbing everything she had just heard. When she had first spotted Keitaro sitting with his aunt Kitsune almost walked in and announced that they were all looking for him and then drag him back to the Inn, then she heard what they were talking about. Knowing the conversation would end if she entered the picture Kitsune ducked to the side of the door and put her fox like hearing to good use. If the look on Keitaro's face hadn't been telling enough his admissions to Haruka and astute observations about Naru sealed the deal about how precarious that relationship was at this point.

That was something Kitsune didn't like at all. Naru needed Keitaro whether she admitted it or not. The two of them were almost complete opposites in most respects but that was part of what made them such a great couple, they both complemented each other's strengths and made up for the other's weaknesses. Keitaro was able to give Naru and outlet for her emotions while she was a bedrock of strength for the easily overwhelmed manager. It was also cute beyond words to watch the couple when they were getting along, and entertaining to watch them stumble through any sort of romantic act. Not to mention Kitsune had worked far too long and hard to get them together to see it all unravel now.

Hinata-Sou would never be the same again if Naru and Keitaro went their separate ways. The relationship between the two was a given in the everyday lives of the other girls at the dormitory, Kitsune wondered what would happen if things changed. It would become a free for all, the fox eyed woman decided in the end, All of us love that idiot more than we're willing to admit. Shinobu fell all over herself trying to please her Sempai, Suu was willing to make the former ronnin into royalty, hell, Motoko even wrote lame fantasies concerning him. Only one thing stopped all of them from throwing themselves at the hapless manager; the fact that Keitaro was in love with Naru.

We all want to see him happy so badly we're willing to forgo our own chances with him, Kitsune concluded until one last question left her more than a bit disturbed.

Am I in love with Keitaro also?

"What is it with you people and blaming my brother for everything that happens around our Inn," Kanako raved now that she was safely away from Naru and free to vent her frustrations to her current companion Kaolla Suu. The pair was currently walking along the streets of the hot springs town looking for the missing landlord. Leaving Hinata they had all broken up into pairs to better search out their mutual object of affection even if the other didn't say it out loud.

Naru had chased after Shinobu to offer explanations and apologies, hoping to make it up to the younger girl. Motoko left with Kitsune both stating that they didn't trust the other, but over what neither would say. That had left Kanako to escort the ever rambunctious Suu through the crowded streets of mid-morning Hinata. It was not a task Kanako was enamored with but was willing to put up with if one of Suu's endless devices helped her find Keitaro first.

"I dunno," the younger girl mumbled through the stalk of sugar cane she was currently chewing on, "I think ole Keitaro is great fun."

"And for that matter," Kanako rambled on ignoring how Suu walked with her hands behind her head taking huge unbalanced strides, "What were you doing kissing my brother last night."

"He needed it," Suu said stopping just long enough to turn and regard the darkly dressed girl seriously for just a second before resuming her cheerful countenance.

"That's not an answer," Kanako said stopping the middle of the street, "You can't kiss someone just because you think they need it."

"Sure you can," Suu said spinning pulling the stalk of sugar cane from her mouth and thrusting it skyward triumphantly, "Keitaro needed someone last night, he didn't want to be alone. That's why he came home. I saw how he was hurting on the inside and let him know no matter what I still loved him. Mutsumi does it all the time for him when Ole Keitaro and Naru are fighting."

"What my brother's been kissing Mutsumi too," Kanako cried appalled, she had only recently come to terms with Keitaro and Naru's relationship. She didn't want to think about anyone else being placed higher in his heart than just Naru.

"Not kissing him silly," Suu chided waving the sugar cane in Kanko's direction before popping it back in her mouth, "Going over to her place for comfort. Although I'm pretty sure Mutsumi would kiss him if he asker her to. I think she loves him almost as much as I do."

"Wait, what your telling me is Keitaro is over at Mutsumi's pouring his soul out to her every time that violent woman hits him," Kanko stammered, this was just too much all at once, "Why wouldn't he come to me, I'm his sister."

"Prolly cuz you're all dark a gloomy," Suu explained walking ahead again, "While Mutsumi's bright and cheery like. Hey, you thinks ole Keitaro could be over there right now."

"Why didn't I think of that," Kanako sighed voicing her inner disdain aloud.

"I dunno but come on," Suu cried out shooting forward like a lightning bolt, "This'll be fun for sure."

"Hey wait for me," Kanako called out after the foreign girl who was darting through the crowd. Then Kanako broke into at run after Suu as another thought hit her.

"What do you mean you love my brother!"

Motoko was frustrated, which was an unusual state for the normally calm and in control young swordswoman. Most of said frustration was in regard to the fact the Motoko was rarely put on the defensive and very rarely wrongfully blamed for lashing out at her landlord. This morning alone she had been forced to defend her action against all comers with no one to back up her position. Even her normal partner against perversion, Naru Narusegawa, had been against her. It didn't help matters that everyone seemed angry at her for punishing Keitaro just because he had been gone for a few days. Motoko refused to believe that life at Hinata revolved around Keitaro.

So what if him and Naru had, had a fight. It shouldn't matter when Keitaro was obviously taking advantage of girl six years his junior. He was supposed to be in a committed relationship with Naru, not tramping around with the other Inn residents. What had made hitting him this one time so bad, Motoko sent him flying at least four times a week for his trespasses and lecherous behavior. And not a day passed that Naru didn't belt him at least once. They had all long ago accepted the fact that as clumsy and perverted as Keitaro was he was also near indestructible.

I doesn't matter that he passed the exams for Toudai and I'm still a failure and a ronin, that doesn't make him better than me, Motoko thought angrily whipping her sword through the empty air in frustration. And that was the crux of her anger, right there. For all his faults and frailties Kietaro had accomplished what she could not. He had surpassed her, beaten her without even trying. It was like competing with her sister all over again except in this case Keitaro didn't even know he was in contention. That made it hurt all the more to Motoko. It also left her with some troubling questions; Am I worth no more than that pervert? What happens if I fail again? Am I doomed to fail at everything unless I have his support and encouragement? Will I ever find someone like him to love?

These questions, particularly the last two had plagued Motoko for months now. Looking back on the last few years Motoko had been startled to realize that Keitaro had been by her side through every trial and triumph she had faced. They had grown from being near enemies to close friends and if it hadn't been for Naru Motoko was sure they would have become more. It was that specter of what might have been that hung like an albatross around her neck. Motoko understood that Keitaro was in love with Naru but there was that part of her deep down that wished things might be different. But, even without Naru Motoko knew nothing was certain, every other girl at Hinata was secretly in love with the manager. She hadn't been the only resident to try and get Keitaro to notice her.

This is where Motoko felt utterly incompetent. She knew next to nothing about love and laws of attraction. Half understood urges and lust filled dreams were all Motoko had to go on and against the competition for Keitaro's heart those were no where near enough. Where Shinobu and Suu were concerned Motoko wasn't all that worried, Keitaro would never survive the day if he fell for one of the high school girls, she would see to that herself. Kitsune was conniving, alluring, and experienced everything Motoko was not and she was glad the older woman wasn't overly serious in pursuing Keitaro. Naru of course owned Keitaro's heart and soul but the girl didn't seem to know what to do with it, let alone cherish it. That fact alone fueled a large part of Motoko's resentment and inner doubt, how could Keitaro be so in love with someone who rarely returned those feelings?

In the end though the one person Motoko feared the most when it came to the battle for Keitaro's heart was Mutsumi Otohime. Motoko was fairly certain that all the other girls were prepared to lose Keitaro to Naru. The match had been nearly ordained since the first day Keitaro had arrived at Hinata. Losing him to the Okinawan girl though changed the equation entirely. Not that Mutsumi wouldn't be a good mate for Keitaro, she was almost too perfect in fact, it was the fact that none of them would have seen it coming. There was also that nagging doubt in the back of Motoko's mind that knew she wasn't able to compete with Mutsumi either. Not that any of them, Naru included, really could. Mutsumi was perfect for Keitaro, kind, beautiful, smart, funny, and utterly charming. They had so much in common it was almost sickening. To top it all off Mutsumi had a body most women would cheerfully kill for and wasn't shy about letting Keitaro see every perfect inch of it.

"This is useless thought," Motoko ended up admonishing herself a moment later, "I must set myself to the task of finding Urashima."

Naru stood in front of the small apartment complex where Mutsumi lived trying in vain to figure out what she could say to Keitaro. I'm sorry, topped the list but after that all of her thoughts turned into a confused jumble. Should she rush into his arms crying, stand there waiting to be rebuked and forgiven? If her nerves had anything to say about it she just might end up making a mess out of Mutsumi's carpet. There was just no way to anticipate how Keitaro would react, especially if he was with Mustumi.

After all Naru was anything but stupid. She knew damn well where Keitaro skulked off to when he got upset. The only thing that kept her from shattering Mutsumi's door and a half dozen occasions was admitting to herself just how much it hurt to think of Keitaro going to Okinawan instead of coming to her first. It was a wound that had been festering for several months now. Naru was Keitaro's girlfriend, but Mutsumi was his best friend. That hurt, knowing Keitaro didn't trust her enough to come to her with his problems. She wasn't first on his list when it came to seeking solace. The worst part of the whole situation is that she had no one to blame but herself.

On the surface Naru wasn't above blaming Keitaro for being a two timing pervert, taking advantage of her temper and Mutsumi's kindness to have both of them. Except once again she damn well that Keitaro had done utterly nothing romantic with the alluring turtle girl. Mutsumi had admitted as much to her during a sake session in the onsen a couple weeks past. Which led her on a deeper level to blame Otohime for trying to steal Keitaro away from her. Again, though, Naru knew this wasn't true or if it was she'd have to murder all her other housemates for the same crime. So in the end Naru couldn't blame Keitaro, what with a house full of temptation he managed to control himself and stay devoted to her through everything she put him through. She really couldn't blame Mutsumi who was, after all, one of her closest friends. So, that left only one person. At the core of it all Naru had only herself to blame for her current situation.

"Looks like I'll go with 'I'm sorry'," Naru sighed, still hoping she didn't end up blowing chunks all over Mutsumi's wonderfully plush carpet.

Keitaro shut the door to Hinata Sou behind him and took his shoes off before proceeding into the living area of the old inn. Talking things out with Haruka had helped him greatly, the walk back had done even more for his state of mind as his determination crystallized. He loved Naru too much to let what happened in Tokyo get in the way of their happiness. He wanted to spend of the rest of his life with her, he could wait to consummate their relationship until she was ready. What they really had to work on as a couple was communication. Keitaro had come to realize this once the hurting stopped and he began to think logically. They needed to sit down and just talk more. Once they talked things out Keitatro was sure he could find that part of her that was still afraid of him and overcome it.

That was if he could find her. During his musing he'd managed to walk to the kitchen, check the upstairs landing where the laundry was hung to dry, and even dared peek into the deserted Onsen. Finally he took the direct approach and knocked on the door to her room. When he didn't get an answer he went back downstairs to his own room and dared to peek his head up through the hole connecting their rooms. He was willing to risk the beating if he could just talk to her. Balancing the board on his head Keitaro peered around the room and found nothing out of place other than the rooms occupant wasn't there.

It was only after jumping back down to his floor did Keitaro find the situation extremely odd.

Then it hit him.

"Where is everybody," he mused aloud.

"Sempai," Keitaro turned around just in time to feel Shinobu's slender arms wrap around him and for her to lean up and press her soft lips against his.

Naru has just knocked on the door to Mutsumi's apartment when Motoko appeared by her side. Lost her own thoughts and trying to keep control of her roiling stomach Naru failed to notice the appearance of the Kendoist until Motoko was standing right next to her. An extremely awkward moment passed between the two, both feeling guilty but neither willing to admit what for. Finally Naru broke the silence.

"What are you doing here," Naru asked politely not knowing what else to say.

"Looking for Urashima of course," Motoko answered briskly, "As Shinobu advised earlier I was seeking to ascertain whether or not he was alright."

Just as Naru opened her mouth to respond the door to Mutsumis apartment flew open with a loud bang. Surprised both women fell into their respective fighting stances ready to deal with whatever shrieking demon was upon them.

"Keitaro!" cried the shrill voice of Koalla Su as she was about to leap forward, only to stumble to halt when she found herself facing a battle ready Naru and Motoko.

"What are you guys doing here," Koalla asked before Naru gently pushed her aside and walked into the small apartment.

"I came to talk to Keitaro," Naru answered distractedly scanning the room for her boyfriend only to take in his sister and Mutsumi sitting at the kotatsu eating watermelon.

"My brother is not here yet," Kanako answered in her flat solemn voice.

"What do you mean he's not here," Naru creid out frustrated, "Where else would he be?"

"Ya'll mean Keitaro's aint here," the newly arrived Kitsune said from the door way.

"Ara," Mutsume responded to the look on everyone's faces when they all turned to her.

Naru suddenly had a very sinking feeling.

A/N:

You have no idea how long it took me to finish this chapter. I got about ¾ through it and hit writers block that's lasted for 6 months. Not to mention how busy I've been. But now that the summer slowdown is in full affect I've got time to think and write again. Anyways I'm just letting this story take me where it will, I have no more idea how it will end than you the reader does at this point. And yes eventually I'll have some more lemony material. Anyways enjoy, or not. Either way feel free to leave a review those always make my day.

Smack54