Love Hina – I, My, Oh Dear Me! Scrambled Strawberry Eggs
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Two – Girl Talk
Tuesday Morning.
Shinobu opens her eyes as the morning sun brightens the room. She looks up at Keiko and smiles.
"Thank you for letting me sleep here last night. I, I hope that I wasn't a bother. Did you sleep well?"
Keiko, his eyes dark from the lack of sleep, forces a smile.
"I am fine, just fine. I am glad to have been of assistance."
Shinobu stands and exits the room. Keiko crawls over to the desk and pulls himself into the chair. He looks up and looks at his reflection in the mirror.
"I look like something the cat dragged in. I'd better take a bath. That always helps me on days like this."
He goes to the closet, pulls out a robe and towel, and heads down the hallway to the bath barrel.
(At least I can still use the barrel, it'd be trouble to bathe in the hot spring.)
A few seconds later, he stands where the barrel used to be. The porch is now occupied by a garden table and some chairs.
"My, my barrel! Its gone!"
"Keiko! Keiko-san!"
Keiko turns and looks for the person calling. Naru, wearing just her towel, is in the hot spring waving at him.
"Na-na-na . . . . ."
"What are you doing up there? We all take our baths in the hot spring. Come on, the temperature is perfect today!"
"Gack!"
Keiko heads back inside and walks towards his room.
(I can't! They'll find out who I am for sure!)
He looks up and sees Haruka rushing towards him.
"Aunt Haruka! Ooooph!"
"Don't call me that!"
She looks at her nephew.
"I'm glad I caught you in time. I think we both overlooked the fact that you would have to join the girls in the hot spring sometime. I have what you'll need."
He follows her into his room. After she slides the door closed, Haruka hands him a small package.
"Use this. It will help keep your identity a secret while you bathe."
Keiko opens the bag and stares at the contents.
"I can't use this! It's bad enough pretending to be a woman, but I won't wear a bathing suit!"
Haruka shakes her finger.
"You are going to have to use the hot spring sometime, that's unavoidable. And you can't just wait until the girls aren't using it. You know that their schedules are unpredictable."
"But, but, but . . . . ."
"No arguments. You're going to have to do it sometime and may as well do it now."
But, Haruka-san, how can I hide my, uh . . . . ."
"Look in the bottom of the bag. It will, cover you."
"Hmm? A supporter?
Haruka leaves he room, turning for one last comment.
"If you screw this up, we'll both be looking for new jobs!"
Keiko sits in his room for a few minutes thinking to himself.
(Maybe it will work. Haruka's right, I gonna have to go in there or the girls will get suspicious.)
(The only one using it right now is Narusegawa.)
(These clothes look like they'll work.)
(Narusegawa is taking a bath right now, alone.)
(I have to do what it takes to prove that a man can be a good manager for Hinata-sou.)
(Narusegawa is all alone in the hot spring, taking her bath.)
A minute later Keiko, smiling, walks downstairs to the hot spring. He places his robe in one of the baskets in the changing room and then heads outside.
"Good Morning, Miss Manager!"
"Gack!"
Keiko freezes. All of the residents are in the hot spring waving to him. Naru skips over and grabs his hand.
"Come on! Everyone is here this morning. Usually, we can't all make it. However, we agreed since this is your first day. We can all get to know each other better."
Mutsumi walks over and takes his other hand.
"Yes, do join us! We haven't played in the water together since we were children! I'll even scrub your back if you'll scrub mine! Oh my!"
Su stares at his bathing suit.
"That's kind of old fashioned, don'cha think?"
Motoko leans against a boulder as she pats her cheek with a cloth.
"If Urashida prefers to wear a bathing suit, then I think we should all respect that."
Kitsune places her hands against her own towel and lifts her breasts.
"Darn! And I was looking forward to having a competition with ya!"
Keiko struggles feebly as the girls pull him into the water.
"P-p-please, take it easy. I am not quite used to this."
Shinobu claps her hands as Keiko walks next to her.
"Wow! Your figure is so, strong and full! I wish I can have a body like yours when I grow up!"
Keiko briefly closes his eyes as he settles into the water.
(Don't wish on my body! It'll bring me bad luck!)
Motoko nods her head.
"Yes, you do seem to be rather athletic. It would benefit me greatly to have a training partner, and I would be honored if you would agree to assist me."
Falling into old habits, he responds without thinking.
"Sure, I would be glad to!"
The self-preservationist side of Keitaro's brain walks over and kicks the stupid side.
(You idiot! What were you thinking?)
Motoko reaches up and adjusts her towel.
"Then shall we begin after breakfast? That is, if you do not have any duties lined up yet."
The self-preservationist side of Keitaro's brain, still trying to think of a way out of the mess the other side just got him into, stands and makes a diving leap, but is unable to subdue the stupid side in time.
"Okay, I have nothing planned yet."
(Aw, spit! You just let a chance to get out of that slip by! Whatever Motoko-chan says next, just say no!)
The sword master motions to Shinobu and they head out of the water to prepare breakfast. She turns to Keiko as she reaches the door.
"Urashida-san, I have an extra gi, would you mind wearing it when we practice?"
"No."
The self-preservationist side of Keitaro's brain goes into the corner and sucks its thumb.
(I'm an idiot. Just paint a bull's-eye on my forehead and give me a sign to hang around my neck.)
Su pats Keiko on the shoulder.
"That's very considerate of ya to help Motoko. She hasn't been really happy since she chased Keitaro away. She said that she wished he tried to stay longer so she could have some real sport beating his quote, 'vile, lecherous, deceiving male butt' every day."
Keiko whispers.
"I just made her wish come true."
"What's that?"
"I, uh, think that's a strange wish to do!"
A few minutes later, Shinobu calls everyone in for breakfast. After Keiko quickly exits the spring and heads for his room, Kitsune leans next to Naru.
"I'm not sure, but didn't Keiko-san's breasts look a little bigger after she got out of the water?"
Naru tilts her head.
"I didn't really notice. She was in such a hurry to leave."
Mutsumi smiles as she walks by.
"Oh my! Maybe Keiko-san is part sponge!"
Up in his room, Keiko cautiously looks out the window. Assured that no one can see, he holds his pads out the window and squeezes the water out of them.
"I'd better check with Haruka to see if she has any of these that are water-proof."
After breakfast, Keiko returns to his room and changes into the gi that Motoko gave him. As he slips the white shirt on, he can smell the light fragrance of incense.
"This smells like she did when we fought on the roof. I didn't really think about it before, but it is kind of nice."
He walks over and looks in the mirror.
"I look pretty in this. It hides my figure, but that's kind of sexy."
". . . . ."
"WHAT am I saying?"
Keiko walks up the stairs to the outside platform. Motoko sits there meditating. As he approaches, she stands and bows to him.
"Thank you, Urashida-san. I thought that we would start with just some simple sword maneuvers."
Motoko hands him a training sword. He looks at it carefully.
"Isn't this dangerous?"
"Not at all. We will practice with the blades in their scabbards. I would not wish to accidentally harm you."
Keiko looks around.
"I thought that the others would be up here to watch."
Motoko ties her hair back and looks at him.
"I requested that they allow us some privacy for our first session. I would not want you to be embarrassed or distracted by observers."
Keiko bows to her.
"Thank you, that was most thoughtful. What should I do?"
"Just keep the sword raised and attempt to parry my swings. I shall start slowly to allow you to become accustomed to the flow of the contest."
They face off in the center of the platform. The wind blows a few leaves through the air. One gently falls between them and as it touches down, Motoko begins.
"Guard!"
Motoko rushes towards Keiko and raises her sword. In an exaggerated movement, she brings it straight down. Keiko easily has time to react and holds his sword to deflect the blow to the side. Motoko follows through by spinning to the left. Keiko quickly moves his sword to the side to catch the return swing. The clatter of the swords echo in the silence as they trade blows. After a few minutes, Motoko signals for a pause.
"Very good, Urashida-san. If you feel ready, I shall increase the speed and power of my attacks. Call for a break if you feel that I am exceeding your abilities. Shall we continue?"
Keiko nods his head.
"Yes, I am ready."
Motoko leaps towards him and begins raining a fury of strokes. Keiko manages to intercept them, but is forced backwards to the railing. A sweeping strike at his legs causes him to jump over the railing and onto the roof. Buoyed by his success so far, he smiles and taunts Motoko.
"Is that the best you have? I am surprised they even allow you to hold a butter knife during meals!"
Motoko returns his smile.
"Ah, the novice believes herself to be invincible! Very well, let us take it to the next level!"
Leaping the railing, Motoko quickly forces Keiko to the peak of the roof. A few of the blows get past his defense, but do no real harm. He attempts to catch Motoko off guard with a spinning move, but the sword master intercepts his blow and knocks his sword away. He watches as it clatters down the roof and lands on the platform. Keiko smiles and turns back to Motoko.
That was pretty good! I thought for sure that I would score a . . . . ."
Keiko stares at Motoko. Her smile replaced with a scowl, she stands there with her sword unsheathed, the blade glinting menacingly in the sunlight. In a quick motion, she swings and cuts through Keiko's gi, barely missing his abdomen.
"M-Motoko-chan! What are you doing?"
The sword slices through the air again, causing Keiko to back up to the edge of the roof. He looks backwards at the deadly plunge behind him before spinning and holding his hands up to Motoko.
"That is enough Motoko-chan. I think we should stop for today!"
Motoko raises her sword again. Chi swirls around the blade, and Keiko can feel the wind bending to its force.
"No, we are not finished, Urashima Keitaro!"
End of Chapter Two.
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Two – Girl Talk
Tuesday Morning.
Shinobu opens her eyes as the morning sun brightens the room. She looks up at Keiko and smiles.
"Thank you for letting me sleep here last night. I, I hope that I wasn't a bother. Did you sleep well?"
Keiko, his eyes dark from the lack of sleep, forces a smile.
"I am fine, just fine. I am glad to have been of assistance."
Shinobu stands and exits the room. Keiko crawls over to the desk and pulls himself into the chair. He looks up and looks at his reflection in the mirror.
"I look like something the cat dragged in. I'd better take a bath. That always helps me on days like this."
He goes to the closet, pulls out a robe and towel, and heads down the hallway to the bath barrel.
(At least I can still use the barrel, it'd be trouble to bathe in the hot spring.)
A few seconds later, he stands where the barrel used to be. The porch is now occupied by a garden table and some chairs.
"My, my barrel! Its gone!"
"Keiko! Keiko-san!"
Keiko turns and looks for the person calling. Naru, wearing just her towel, is in the hot spring waving at him.
"Na-na-na . . . . ."
"What are you doing up there? We all take our baths in the hot spring. Come on, the temperature is perfect today!"
"Gack!"
Keiko heads back inside and walks towards his room.
(I can't! They'll find out who I am for sure!)
He looks up and sees Haruka rushing towards him.
"Aunt Haruka! Ooooph!"
"Don't call me that!"
She looks at her nephew.
"I'm glad I caught you in time. I think we both overlooked the fact that you would have to join the girls in the hot spring sometime. I have what you'll need."
He follows her into his room. After she slides the door closed, Haruka hands him a small package.
"Use this. It will help keep your identity a secret while you bathe."
Keiko opens the bag and stares at the contents.
"I can't use this! It's bad enough pretending to be a woman, but I won't wear a bathing suit!"
Haruka shakes her finger.
"You are going to have to use the hot spring sometime, that's unavoidable. And you can't just wait until the girls aren't using it. You know that their schedules are unpredictable."
"But, but, but . . . . ."
"No arguments. You're going to have to do it sometime and may as well do it now."
But, Haruka-san, how can I hide my, uh . . . . ."
"Look in the bottom of the bag. It will, cover you."
"Hmm? A supporter?
Haruka leaves he room, turning for one last comment.
"If you screw this up, we'll both be looking for new jobs!"
Keiko sits in his room for a few minutes thinking to himself.
(Maybe it will work. Haruka's right, I gonna have to go in there or the girls will get suspicious.)
(The only one using it right now is Narusegawa.)
(These clothes look like they'll work.)
(Narusegawa is taking a bath right now, alone.)
(I have to do what it takes to prove that a man can be a good manager for Hinata-sou.)
(Narusegawa is all alone in the hot spring, taking her bath.)
A minute later Keiko, smiling, walks downstairs to the hot spring. He places his robe in one of the baskets in the changing room and then heads outside.
"Good Morning, Miss Manager!"
"Gack!"
Keiko freezes. All of the residents are in the hot spring waving to him. Naru skips over and grabs his hand.
"Come on! Everyone is here this morning. Usually, we can't all make it. However, we agreed since this is your first day. We can all get to know each other better."
Mutsumi walks over and takes his other hand.
"Yes, do join us! We haven't played in the water together since we were children! I'll even scrub your back if you'll scrub mine! Oh my!"
Su stares at his bathing suit.
"That's kind of old fashioned, don'cha think?"
Motoko leans against a boulder as she pats her cheek with a cloth.
"If Urashida prefers to wear a bathing suit, then I think we should all respect that."
Kitsune places her hands against her own towel and lifts her breasts.
"Darn! And I was looking forward to having a competition with ya!"
Keiko struggles feebly as the girls pull him into the water.
"P-p-please, take it easy. I am not quite used to this."
Shinobu claps her hands as Keiko walks next to her.
"Wow! Your figure is so, strong and full! I wish I can have a body like yours when I grow up!"
Keiko briefly closes his eyes as he settles into the water.
(Don't wish on my body! It'll bring me bad luck!)
Motoko nods her head.
"Yes, you do seem to be rather athletic. It would benefit me greatly to have a training partner, and I would be honored if you would agree to assist me."
Falling into old habits, he responds without thinking.
"Sure, I would be glad to!"
The self-preservationist side of Keitaro's brain walks over and kicks the stupid side.
(You idiot! What were you thinking?)
Motoko reaches up and adjusts her towel.
"Then shall we begin after breakfast? That is, if you do not have any duties lined up yet."
The self-preservationist side of Keitaro's brain, still trying to think of a way out of the mess the other side just got him into, stands and makes a diving leap, but is unable to subdue the stupid side in time.
"Okay, I have nothing planned yet."
(Aw, spit! You just let a chance to get out of that slip by! Whatever Motoko-chan says next, just say no!)
The sword master motions to Shinobu and they head out of the water to prepare breakfast. She turns to Keiko as she reaches the door.
"Urashida-san, I have an extra gi, would you mind wearing it when we practice?"
"No."
The self-preservationist side of Keitaro's brain goes into the corner and sucks its thumb.
(I'm an idiot. Just paint a bull's-eye on my forehead and give me a sign to hang around my neck.)
Su pats Keiko on the shoulder.
"That's very considerate of ya to help Motoko. She hasn't been really happy since she chased Keitaro away. She said that she wished he tried to stay longer so she could have some real sport beating his quote, 'vile, lecherous, deceiving male butt' every day."
Keiko whispers.
"I just made her wish come true."
"What's that?"
"I, uh, think that's a strange wish to do!"
A few minutes later, Shinobu calls everyone in for breakfast. After Keiko quickly exits the spring and heads for his room, Kitsune leans next to Naru.
"I'm not sure, but didn't Keiko-san's breasts look a little bigger after she got out of the water?"
Naru tilts her head.
"I didn't really notice. She was in such a hurry to leave."
Mutsumi smiles as she walks by.
"Oh my! Maybe Keiko-san is part sponge!"
Up in his room, Keiko cautiously looks out the window. Assured that no one can see, he holds his pads out the window and squeezes the water out of them.
"I'd better check with Haruka to see if she has any of these that are water-proof."
After breakfast, Keiko returns to his room and changes into the gi that Motoko gave him. As he slips the white shirt on, he can smell the light fragrance of incense.
"This smells like she did when we fought on the roof. I didn't really think about it before, but it is kind of nice."
He walks over and looks in the mirror.
"I look pretty in this. It hides my figure, but that's kind of sexy."
". . . . ."
"WHAT am I saying?"
Keiko walks up the stairs to the outside platform. Motoko sits there meditating. As he approaches, she stands and bows to him.
"Thank you, Urashida-san. I thought that we would start with just some simple sword maneuvers."
Motoko hands him a training sword. He looks at it carefully.
"Isn't this dangerous?"
"Not at all. We will practice with the blades in their scabbards. I would not wish to accidentally harm you."
Keiko looks around.
"I thought that the others would be up here to watch."
Motoko ties her hair back and looks at him.
"I requested that they allow us some privacy for our first session. I would not want you to be embarrassed or distracted by observers."
Keiko bows to her.
"Thank you, that was most thoughtful. What should I do?"
"Just keep the sword raised and attempt to parry my swings. I shall start slowly to allow you to become accustomed to the flow of the contest."
They face off in the center of the platform. The wind blows a few leaves through the air. One gently falls between them and as it touches down, Motoko begins.
"Guard!"
Motoko rushes towards Keiko and raises her sword. In an exaggerated movement, she brings it straight down. Keiko easily has time to react and holds his sword to deflect the blow to the side. Motoko follows through by spinning to the left. Keiko quickly moves his sword to the side to catch the return swing. The clatter of the swords echo in the silence as they trade blows. After a few minutes, Motoko signals for a pause.
"Very good, Urashida-san. If you feel ready, I shall increase the speed and power of my attacks. Call for a break if you feel that I am exceeding your abilities. Shall we continue?"
Keiko nods his head.
"Yes, I am ready."
Motoko leaps towards him and begins raining a fury of strokes. Keiko manages to intercept them, but is forced backwards to the railing. A sweeping strike at his legs causes him to jump over the railing and onto the roof. Buoyed by his success so far, he smiles and taunts Motoko.
"Is that the best you have? I am surprised they even allow you to hold a butter knife during meals!"
Motoko returns his smile.
"Ah, the novice believes herself to be invincible! Very well, let us take it to the next level!"
Leaping the railing, Motoko quickly forces Keiko to the peak of the roof. A few of the blows get past his defense, but do no real harm. He attempts to catch Motoko off guard with a spinning move, but the sword master intercepts his blow and knocks his sword away. He watches as it clatters down the roof and lands on the platform. Keiko smiles and turns back to Motoko.
That was pretty good! I thought for sure that I would score a . . . . ."
Keiko stares at Motoko. Her smile replaced with a scowl, she stands there with her sword unsheathed, the blade glinting menacingly in the sunlight. In a quick motion, she swings and cuts through Keiko's gi, barely missing his abdomen.
"M-Motoko-chan! What are you doing?"
The sword slices through the air again, causing Keiko to back up to the edge of the roof. He looks backwards at the deadly plunge behind him before spinning and holding his hands up to Motoko.
"That is enough Motoko-chan. I think we should stop for today!"
Motoko raises her sword again. Chi swirls around the blade, and Keiko can feel the wind bending to its force.
"No, we are not finished, Urashima Keitaro!"
End of Chapter Two.