Love Hina – I, My, Oh Dear Me! Scrambled Strawberry Eggs
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Three – Rematch
Tuesday Morning.
As flames leap from her eyes and the vortex rolls from her blade, Motoko lunges towards her target.
"URASHIMA!!!"
Keiko retreats, forgetting about the fatal fall behind him. He loses his footing and spins over the edge.
"NOOOOO!!!"
A sudden jerk halts his fall and he feels the back of his shirt caught on the lip of the roof. His long, black hair whips around as the vortex crashes through the air, just inches over his head. A scream pierces the air, followed by a flash of red and white in front of Keiko's eyes. Instinctively he reaches out and his hands tangle themselves in Motoko's gi as she plummets past him. Her body slams against his legs as he struggles to maintain his grip.
"Motoko-chan! Motoko-chan! Are you okay?"
Sword still in hand, Motoko looks up and her eyes slowly focus on him.
"Urashida-san! What, what did I do? For a moment I, I thought you were someone else. I am so sorry! Please forgive me, but it was so familiar somehow."
Keiko strains to hold onto Motoko with one hand as he reaches up to grab the roof.
"Hold on! I will try to pull us up! Do not worry!"
As he reaches up, his shirt begins to tear. Slowly, he lowers his arm.
"Motoko-chan, you have to use me to climb back up. If I try to turn to grab the roof, we may both fall."
Motoko nods, quickly understanding their situation. Tucking her sword in her gi, she slowly pulls herself up his body. As her face passes his chest, she can see inside the cut her sword made. Her eyes widen for a moment as she spots the pads underneath his bra. In a voice so soft that Keiko cannot hear, Motoko whispers.
"It is you, Urashima Keitaro."
They both shake as his shirt tears even more from the strain.
"Motoko-chan! Hurry and save yourself! My shirt is ripping faster! Please hurry!"
Motoko pulls herself up and grips the roof. As her stomach slides over the edge, Keiko's shirt fails. As he starts to fall to the ground, a hand wraps around his wrist. Motoko, sweat dripping from her brow, fights to keep from sliding back off the roof.
"Motoko-chan! Let me go, or you will fall again!"
Ignoring him, she grits her teeth even as she slides closer to the edge.
Seeing her plight, Keiko responds the only way he can think of.
"You stupid Kendo-Girl! Let me go!"
The sword master's eyes snap open and silent flames begin to build in them. After a moment, she blinks twice and tilts her head. Summoning her strength, Motoko manages to pulls Keiko's hand up to the roof. He gets a firm hold, raises his other hand, and pulls himself to safety. As they lay there panting, Keiko rolls his head over and looks at Motoko.
"You idiot! You could have died!"
Motoko opens her eyes and stares up into the sky.
"Why are you here? Why did you return to Hinata-sou?"
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"I swore to kill you if you ever came back. Why would you save me?"
"I, I do not know what you are . . . . ."
She turns her head sharply and looks into his eyes.
"I know now who you are, Urashima Keitaro. That is why our contest seemed so familiar. One cannot easily disguise their fighting form."
Keiko's fingers touch the charm on his neckband. He sits up and speaks in his normal voice.
"I had to, Motoko-chan."
"Why did you have to return?"
Keitaro shakes his head.
"No, I mean that I had to save you. Do you think that I would allow you to fall just so I could keep this job? As you've said, I may be a vile, lecherous, perverted male, but I couldn't let you fall, no matter what you swore you would do to me."
Motoko sits up and straightens her gi.
"You attempted to infuriate me, so that you would fall and I would remain safe."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do. If we had slid any further, you would've fallen with me."
"Are you here to play some kind of trick on us for chasing you away from your grandmother's inn?"
Keitaro shakes his head.
"No, this isn't a prank. I just wanted to prove that a man could be a good manager for Hinata-sou."
He stands up and starts to walk back down to the platform. As he reaches the rail, he pulls off his wig.
"I'll leave. I promise that I will never come back again. And, since I failed, I'll accept whatever punishment you girls decide for me."
As he steps onto the platform, Motoko calls out to him.
"You look better with the wig on. I suggest you replace it before any of the others see you."
Keitaro turns and looks up at her.
"What?"
Motoko stands and smiles at him.
"If you are brave enough to attempt something this outrageous, you deserve a fair chance to prove yourself as our manager. Also, I will not forget what you did this day. You may think that I am just, some Kendo-Girl, but I recognize honor. Please, resume your disguise. I shall do what I can to protect your secret."
"Motoko-chan . . . . ."
"Do not misunderstand me. I still do not approve of the idea of a man being our manager. I still intend to protect my friends and you must follow any directions that I relay to you. Now that I know you are not a female, certain tasks will be forbidden."
She pulls her sword out once more.
"But, be warned! If you are discovered or if you tread where you should not, my sword will bring you to final justice!"
Keitaro replaces his wig and touches the neckband once more. Keiko smiles at Motoko.
"Thank you. I hope that your trust will not be wasted on me."
Motoko walks down to join him. As she reaches the railing, she looses her footing and flips over onto the platform. Keiko dives over and softens her fall with his body. They tumble to the floor and roll towards the center of the platform. Keiko, his arms at his sides, lies frozen as Motoko's lips accidentally press down against his own. They lay there for a few seconds, not daring to move. The sound of a sharp intake of breath causes them to look towards the stairs. Naru, her hands to her mouth, stands there staring at them.
"M-Motoko-chan! Wh-why were you k-kissing the manager?"
Shinobu peeks from behind Naru.
"Aaauuuuu! The lilacs are blooming!"
Author's Note: Lilacs are symbolic in some anime for female-to-female love. In other words, Shinobu is saying that Motoko is showing lesbian tendencies. ^_*
Motoko, blushing, leaps to her feet and holds out her hands.
"This is n-not what it seems! We, uh, just fell while practicing!"
Keiko rolls over and pushes himself to his feet.
"Motoko-chan is correct. It was entirely an accident. I tried to block her fall, and we ended up like that. That is all there is to it."
Naru brushes at her forehead.
"Thank goodness! It would be a problem if we had, one of those here. It would almost be as bad as having Keitaro back!"
Motoko nods her head.
"I am in total agreement with you, Naru-sempai!"
Shinobu releases a breath.
"I'm glad you're still normal, Motoko-sempai! And I'm happy that Sempai is normal too. If she wasn't, I would have been in trouble last night."
Motoko looks at her as she walks towards the stairs.
"What do you mean, about last night?"
Shinobu kicks at a leaf as it blows across the floor.
"I was afraid of all the thunder and lightning last night, and our new manager was kind enough to let me sleep with her."
Motoko looks back at Keiko and he can see her tighten her grip on her sword.
"Really? That was rather considerate of her. However, you must not impose upon her in such a manner in the future. She, must keep her mind focused upon her allotted tasks. And nothing else."
Keiko feels his blood run cold as Motoko, followed by Shinobu, turns and heads down the steps. Naru walks over to him and says something; he shakes his head and looks at her.
"I am sorry, what did you say?"
"Since I mentioned Keitaro, I thought I should tell you that I may invite him over to study with Mutsumi and I. I feel a little guilty that we forced him out of the job that Granny Hina left for him."
"I thought that you didn't want a man here?"
Naru shakes her head.
"We don't want a man as our manager, that's true. But it wouldn't hurt if we let Keitaro come over and study with us in the common room, sometime."
Keiko smiles at her.
"Thank you! That would be very nice."
Naru tilts her head.
"Why should you thank me?"
"Well, uh, it, ah, it would be good for Hinata-sou if people knew that the residents were such nice people!"
Naru smiles and heads downstairs.
"I never thought about it like that, but I guess that you're right. I'll tell Keitaro at class today that he can study with us. I'd better hurry or I'll miss the train."
Keiko smiles as he watches Naru leave.
"She really is kind of nice."
"Oh my god! I forgot about prep school! I had better head to the Tea Shop so I can change!"
Keiko rushes through the inn and leaps off the front porch. Su, sitting on top of the entrance, watches him run down the front steps.
"She sure is in a big hurry to get where ever she has to be going to! Oh well, back to the soup! I don't know where ya come from, but I has gots to try ya!"
Tama-chan, tied and hanging above a stew pot, looks at her.
"Mew?"
"Shuddup and simmer! This is gonna be good eating!"
Mutsumi leans out the window and grabs the little turtle.
"Oh my! There you are! Stop bothering Su-chan and come inside."
Su looks at the empty window and then her stew pot.
"Shucks! Tin foiled again!"
Keiko, panting, runs in the door of Hinata Tea Shop. Haruka looks up from arranging the chairs.
"Keitaro, what's wrong? Why are you wearing a gi?"
"Motoko talked me into helping her train. I have to get ready for prep school! I completely forgot about my classes!"
"Well, your regular clothes are in the back. You'd better hurry, the train leaves in about ten minutes."
Stripping off the gi, Keiko heads for the back room.
"Oh, by the way. Do you have any pads that are water-proof?"
Haruka laughs at him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't consider what would happen when you get wet. You must have gained one cup size at least! I'll get you a pair for the hot spring today."
Keitaro continues talking from the back room.
"Naru is going to invite me over to study. I think that's great!"
Haruka stops moving the chairs around.
"How are you going to explain why your Keiko half has to leave whenever Keitaro shows up?"
"I'll think of something. It shouldn't be too difficult."
His aunt adjusts her cigarette holder as he enters to front room.
"How about her absence while you're at school?"
Keitaro stops in his tracks.
"That is going to be tough! I guess I didn't think everything through when I agreed to work in disguise."
"Maybe you can tell them that Keiko has a grandmother to check on every day. It's kind of lame, but they should buy it."
"Thanks. If I can't think of anything better, I'll use that. Well, I'm off! See you later!"
"Keitaro."
He turns back to Haruka.
"What is it?"
She points at her neck.
"The charm. You forgot to take it off."
He quickly pulls the neckband off and tosses it to her before running out the door.
"Thanks! I'd be in trouble if I wore that to school. Bye!"
Haruka puts the neckband in her pocket and finishes moving the chairs. She walks into the back room, places it on the desk, and then picks up Keitaro's glasses.
"Oh no."
She heads to the front door and spots Naru as she runs by on her way to the train.
"Oh spit."
A few minutes later, Motoko walks into the Tea Shop. Haruka looks up and sees a troubled look on the sword master's face.
"What's wrong, Motoko-chan?"
"Haruka-san, I must talk to you about your nephew. I discovered that he is Keiko-san."
"Oh heck."
Motoko reaches up and touches her lips with her fingertips.
"And, I believe that, I am, I am falling in love with him."
"Oh hell!"
End of Chapter Three.
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Three – Rematch
Tuesday Morning.
As flames leap from her eyes and the vortex rolls from her blade, Motoko lunges towards her target.
"URASHIMA!!!"
Keiko retreats, forgetting about the fatal fall behind him. He loses his footing and spins over the edge.
"NOOOOO!!!"
A sudden jerk halts his fall and he feels the back of his shirt caught on the lip of the roof. His long, black hair whips around as the vortex crashes through the air, just inches over his head. A scream pierces the air, followed by a flash of red and white in front of Keiko's eyes. Instinctively he reaches out and his hands tangle themselves in Motoko's gi as she plummets past him. Her body slams against his legs as he struggles to maintain his grip.
"Motoko-chan! Motoko-chan! Are you okay?"
Sword still in hand, Motoko looks up and her eyes slowly focus on him.
"Urashida-san! What, what did I do? For a moment I, I thought you were someone else. I am so sorry! Please forgive me, but it was so familiar somehow."
Keiko strains to hold onto Motoko with one hand as he reaches up to grab the roof.
"Hold on! I will try to pull us up! Do not worry!"
As he reaches up, his shirt begins to tear. Slowly, he lowers his arm.
"Motoko-chan, you have to use me to climb back up. If I try to turn to grab the roof, we may both fall."
Motoko nods, quickly understanding their situation. Tucking her sword in her gi, she slowly pulls herself up his body. As her face passes his chest, she can see inside the cut her sword made. Her eyes widen for a moment as she spots the pads underneath his bra. In a voice so soft that Keiko cannot hear, Motoko whispers.
"It is you, Urashima Keitaro."
They both shake as his shirt tears even more from the strain.
"Motoko-chan! Hurry and save yourself! My shirt is ripping faster! Please hurry!"
Motoko pulls herself up and grips the roof. As her stomach slides over the edge, Keiko's shirt fails. As he starts to fall to the ground, a hand wraps around his wrist. Motoko, sweat dripping from her brow, fights to keep from sliding back off the roof.
"Motoko-chan! Let me go, or you will fall again!"
Ignoring him, she grits her teeth even as she slides closer to the edge.
Seeing her plight, Keiko responds the only way he can think of.
"You stupid Kendo-Girl! Let me go!"
The sword master's eyes snap open and silent flames begin to build in them. After a moment, she blinks twice and tilts her head. Summoning her strength, Motoko manages to pulls Keiko's hand up to the roof. He gets a firm hold, raises his other hand, and pulls himself to safety. As they lay there panting, Keiko rolls his head over and looks at Motoko.
"You idiot! You could have died!"
Motoko opens her eyes and stares up into the sky.
"Why are you here? Why did you return to Hinata-sou?"
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"I swore to kill you if you ever came back. Why would you save me?"
"I, I do not know what you are . . . . ."
She turns her head sharply and looks into his eyes.
"I know now who you are, Urashima Keitaro. That is why our contest seemed so familiar. One cannot easily disguise their fighting form."
Keiko's fingers touch the charm on his neckband. He sits up and speaks in his normal voice.
"I had to, Motoko-chan."
"Why did you have to return?"
Keitaro shakes his head.
"No, I mean that I had to save you. Do you think that I would allow you to fall just so I could keep this job? As you've said, I may be a vile, lecherous, perverted male, but I couldn't let you fall, no matter what you swore you would do to me."
Motoko sits up and straightens her gi.
"You attempted to infuriate me, so that you would fall and I would remain safe."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do. If we had slid any further, you would've fallen with me."
"Are you here to play some kind of trick on us for chasing you away from your grandmother's inn?"
Keitaro shakes his head.
"No, this isn't a prank. I just wanted to prove that a man could be a good manager for Hinata-sou."
He stands up and starts to walk back down to the platform. As he reaches the rail, he pulls off his wig.
"I'll leave. I promise that I will never come back again. And, since I failed, I'll accept whatever punishment you girls decide for me."
As he steps onto the platform, Motoko calls out to him.
"You look better with the wig on. I suggest you replace it before any of the others see you."
Keitaro turns and looks up at her.
"What?"
Motoko stands and smiles at him.
"If you are brave enough to attempt something this outrageous, you deserve a fair chance to prove yourself as our manager. Also, I will not forget what you did this day. You may think that I am just, some Kendo-Girl, but I recognize honor. Please, resume your disguise. I shall do what I can to protect your secret."
"Motoko-chan . . . . ."
"Do not misunderstand me. I still do not approve of the idea of a man being our manager. I still intend to protect my friends and you must follow any directions that I relay to you. Now that I know you are not a female, certain tasks will be forbidden."
She pulls her sword out once more.
"But, be warned! If you are discovered or if you tread where you should not, my sword will bring you to final justice!"
Keitaro replaces his wig and touches the neckband once more. Keiko smiles at Motoko.
"Thank you. I hope that your trust will not be wasted on me."
Motoko walks down to join him. As she reaches the railing, she looses her footing and flips over onto the platform. Keiko dives over and softens her fall with his body. They tumble to the floor and roll towards the center of the platform. Keiko, his arms at his sides, lies frozen as Motoko's lips accidentally press down against his own. They lay there for a few seconds, not daring to move. The sound of a sharp intake of breath causes them to look towards the stairs. Naru, her hands to her mouth, stands there staring at them.
"M-Motoko-chan! Wh-why were you k-kissing the manager?"
Shinobu peeks from behind Naru.
"Aaauuuuu! The lilacs are blooming!"
Author's Note: Lilacs are symbolic in some anime for female-to-female love. In other words, Shinobu is saying that Motoko is showing lesbian tendencies. ^_*
Motoko, blushing, leaps to her feet and holds out her hands.
"This is n-not what it seems! We, uh, just fell while practicing!"
Keiko rolls over and pushes himself to his feet.
"Motoko-chan is correct. It was entirely an accident. I tried to block her fall, and we ended up like that. That is all there is to it."
Naru brushes at her forehead.
"Thank goodness! It would be a problem if we had, one of those here. It would almost be as bad as having Keitaro back!"
Motoko nods her head.
"I am in total agreement with you, Naru-sempai!"
Shinobu releases a breath.
"I'm glad you're still normal, Motoko-sempai! And I'm happy that Sempai is normal too. If she wasn't, I would have been in trouble last night."
Motoko looks at her as she walks towards the stairs.
"What do you mean, about last night?"
Shinobu kicks at a leaf as it blows across the floor.
"I was afraid of all the thunder and lightning last night, and our new manager was kind enough to let me sleep with her."
Motoko looks back at Keiko and he can see her tighten her grip on her sword.
"Really? That was rather considerate of her. However, you must not impose upon her in such a manner in the future. She, must keep her mind focused upon her allotted tasks. And nothing else."
Keiko feels his blood run cold as Motoko, followed by Shinobu, turns and heads down the steps. Naru walks over to him and says something; he shakes his head and looks at her.
"I am sorry, what did you say?"
"Since I mentioned Keitaro, I thought I should tell you that I may invite him over to study with Mutsumi and I. I feel a little guilty that we forced him out of the job that Granny Hina left for him."
"I thought that you didn't want a man here?"
Naru shakes her head.
"We don't want a man as our manager, that's true. But it wouldn't hurt if we let Keitaro come over and study with us in the common room, sometime."
Keiko smiles at her.
"Thank you! That would be very nice."
Naru tilts her head.
"Why should you thank me?"
"Well, uh, it, ah, it would be good for Hinata-sou if people knew that the residents were such nice people!"
Naru smiles and heads downstairs.
"I never thought about it like that, but I guess that you're right. I'll tell Keitaro at class today that he can study with us. I'd better hurry or I'll miss the train."
Keiko smiles as he watches Naru leave.
"She really is kind of nice."
"Oh my god! I forgot about prep school! I had better head to the Tea Shop so I can change!"
Keiko rushes through the inn and leaps off the front porch. Su, sitting on top of the entrance, watches him run down the front steps.
"She sure is in a big hurry to get where ever she has to be going to! Oh well, back to the soup! I don't know where ya come from, but I has gots to try ya!"
Tama-chan, tied and hanging above a stew pot, looks at her.
"Mew?"
"Shuddup and simmer! This is gonna be good eating!"
Mutsumi leans out the window and grabs the little turtle.
"Oh my! There you are! Stop bothering Su-chan and come inside."
Su looks at the empty window and then her stew pot.
"Shucks! Tin foiled again!"
Keiko, panting, runs in the door of Hinata Tea Shop. Haruka looks up from arranging the chairs.
"Keitaro, what's wrong? Why are you wearing a gi?"
"Motoko talked me into helping her train. I have to get ready for prep school! I completely forgot about my classes!"
"Well, your regular clothes are in the back. You'd better hurry, the train leaves in about ten minutes."
Stripping off the gi, Keiko heads for the back room.
"Oh, by the way. Do you have any pads that are water-proof?"
Haruka laughs at him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't consider what would happen when you get wet. You must have gained one cup size at least! I'll get you a pair for the hot spring today."
Keitaro continues talking from the back room.
"Naru is going to invite me over to study. I think that's great!"
Haruka stops moving the chairs around.
"How are you going to explain why your Keiko half has to leave whenever Keitaro shows up?"
"I'll think of something. It shouldn't be too difficult."
His aunt adjusts her cigarette holder as he enters to front room.
"How about her absence while you're at school?"
Keitaro stops in his tracks.
"That is going to be tough! I guess I didn't think everything through when I agreed to work in disguise."
"Maybe you can tell them that Keiko has a grandmother to check on every day. It's kind of lame, but they should buy it."
"Thanks. If I can't think of anything better, I'll use that. Well, I'm off! See you later!"
"Keitaro."
He turns back to Haruka.
"What is it?"
She points at her neck.
"The charm. You forgot to take it off."
He quickly pulls the neckband off and tosses it to her before running out the door.
"Thanks! I'd be in trouble if I wore that to school. Bye!"
Haruka puts the neckband in her pocket and finishes moving the chairs. She walks into the back room, places it on the desk, and then picks up Keitaro's glasses.
"Oh no."
She heads to the front door and spots Naru as she runs by on her way to the train.
"Oh spit."
A few minutes later, Motoko walks into the Tea Shop. Haruka looks up and sees a troubled look on the sword master's face.
"What's wrong, Motoko-chan?"
"Haruka-san, I must talk to you about your nephew. I discovered that he is Keiko-san."
"Oh heck."
Motoko reaches up and touches her lips with her fingertips.
"And, I believe that, I am, I am falling in love with him."
"Oh hell!"
End of Chapter Three.