A/N: I do not own Love Hina or any components of it. However, I do own the rights to this fanfiction and the characters in this story.
Well I hope you guys enjoyed my last installment. School is starting to get more and more difficult, so writing will be less. I am open to any and all ideas. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 4: A Buried Treasure from Within
The couple started walking back towards the inn. Holding hands, they felt that an eternity passed before they arrived at the front of the inn. They slowly walked to the front doors and opened it together. They walked into the vast entrance room, and said together, "We are home!"
They were greeted by a vast number of questions, left and right about what had happen while they were gone.
"Naru what happened?" asked Shinobu.
"Keitaro, I take it you didn't break her heart," Motoko said, while preparing to take out her sword if he did not give her a good answer.
"Are you two okay, it was raining quite hard," replied Su.
"Let's get to the point. Are you two engaged?" inquired Kitsune.
The couple looked at each other and said, while Naru showed her hand to everyone, "We are engaged and we are getting married." The gang stared at the gleaming ring, and marveled at its shine.
"Wow that ring is stunning," Shinobu said, "I wish I had a ring like that." "Wow you really know how to treat a girl right," Motoko said. "I want some bananas. I'm getting really hungry now," exclaimed Su. "That brings up a good idea," Kitsune said. "Let's have one of Hinata Sou's famous parties to celebrate Keitaro's and Naru's engagement. While you two go and enjoy yourselves, we will plan the party ourselves," Kitsune said, while she was pushing Keitaro and Naru out of the front door. "But we need to get our coats..." Keitaro said. Suddenly the door open and they threw both of their coats at them. Keitaro placed his hand behind his head and said, "Well I guess we will have nothing to do till the party huh?" His fiancé blushed and said, "I guess we don't have anything to do till then." They stared at the sky, as it cleared up and started to show a bright and sunny day. Keitaro suddenly looked at Naru and said, "So where do you want to go Naru?" as he pulls her closer to him. He gave her a soft kiss on the lips, and then he pulled out of the kiss.
She replied, "Well since everything is closed, how about we walk around the park. That should be fun." Kei replied, "Okay lets go." They left holding hands together, as they enjoyed each other. Little did they know, there was someone watching them from the windows of the inn. The sly Kitsune quickly closed the curtains behind her, and walked down from her room.
"Well the two love birds are gone," Kitsune said. "What are we going to do for the party?"
"I know, I know," said Su in utter joy. "We should serve lots and lots of bananas."
Everyone said in unison, "No!"
"We should have a party with good food and drink," Motoko suggested.
"Well I can cook up a few good meals by the time they get back," replied Shinobu.
"I can bring out a few sake bottles that I've been saving up for a while. It's my secret stash," replied the dorm drunkard. "I'll get a few more things for the party. I'll be back in a few hours." Kitsune took her coat, and left. Shinobu withdrew to the kitchen and began to cook. Su, with a large smile, went to her room and decided to build a gift for the new couple once they arrive home. Motoko resumed on her daily training, and went outside.
The newly engaged couple started to walk towards the city. They were holding hands and talking about their new life together.
"When do you want to get married?" asked a very happy Naru.
"Well not in this type of weather," joked Keitaro.
"I was thinking that we should get married in the spring, when the cherry blossoms are maturing," replied Naru.
"I don't know, but we will sooner or later decide on a date," replied an uneasy Keitaro.
The two of them walked down the city sidewalks, and kept on talking. They started to get hungry, since the last time they ate was at breakfast. They strolled into a nice little bakery. The aroma of the sweet pastries filled the room. They saw sugar sprinkled deserts, chocolate covered brownies, and even Naru's favorite, Lidu-kun shaped cake. The couple started to drool just looking at the wonderful pastries. They ordered a few pastries and decided to go to the park.
They walked a few blocks before reaching the entrance to the park. With the recent storm, the grass was still wet. They found a relatively dry bench to sit and eat. The new fiancé grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket and started to wipe down the bench so they could eat. Placing his soaking wet handkerchief into his pocket, they started to eat.
"You know I saw a sign back while we were walking that there is a festival later tonight at the other side of town," Naru said.
"Well we did promise the gang that we would go to their party later tonight," replied Keitaro.
"Well it's just a thought," replied Naru.
The couple, enjoying their company, ate quietly as they listened to the birds sing, while the rain clouds blew further and further away.
"You know, the New Year is coming up soon, we have to go to the temple and get our fortune as always," the eager Naru said.
"I never liked going to the temple and getting my fortune. I always seem to get bad fortunes, and they normally end up being worse than what the actual fortune said," replied an uneasy Keitaro, as he remembered all the other times he went to the temple to pick out his fortune.
"Awww come on, what's the worst that could happen?" Naru asked.
"Well I just have a bad feeling about it," Keitaro answered.
They finished their snack silently and decided that the party would be ready when they went back home. They started to walk back to the inn afterwards. They walked through the front doors, refreshed and waiting for the party to begin. They open their mouths large and wide, staring at the damage that was done to the main living room.
"WHAT HAPPENED HERE!" cried Keitaro.
"Su decided to make a gift for you two, and guess what happened, it malfunctioned and destroyed half of the living room," Motoko sighed as she helped cleaned up the room.
"I'm so sorry that we could not get the party started Sempai," Shinobu confessed.
"Darn, I was so close too," replied Su.
"I missed the party already?" asked Kitsune as she came in behind the couple.
"Well Keitaro and I saw a year-end festival happening at the other end of town, maybe we can celebrate there instead," responded Naru.
Everyone looked at each other and they all agreed to go after they finished cleaning up.
"Ah I think that's the last of it," exclaimed Kitsune.
"Alright let me get into my party clothes, and we can go," Shinobu said.
"Me too," replied Su and Motoko.
"I guess I'll put on some party clothes too," Naru said as she put a small smirk on her face.
"I guess I'll be waiting outside," replied a puzzled Keitaro.
Keitaro walked outside and leaned on the railing right outside the inn doors. He stared up into the sky and looked at the stars. He wondered how something so wonderful be so far away at the same time.
Sighing, Keitaro replied, "Am I really ready to start a new part of my life so suddenly? Am I ready to even support us two? Am I the right person for Naru?"
Someone walked out from behind and placed his coat on him. "Hey here is your coat, I don't want you to get sick before the festival. Hey is everything alright?" asked Naru. "Everything's fine, just thinking," replied Keitaro as he turned to give her a kiss.
"Alright we're all ready to go!" Su said ecstatically. Everyone started walking towards the van, when Keitaro realized that everyone was wearing a big heavy coat. "What's with all the heavy coats?" Keitaro asked. "You'll see," giggled a blushing Naru. They all entered the van and headed towards the festival.
The bright lights filled the night sky. The sound of talking and laughter could be heard everywhere. Everyone was dressed in festive attire. Everyone could feel the joy in the air as they all anticipated the New Year; however, one person could not feel the festivities in her heart. She seemed happy, but deep inside she was in distress.
Naru strayed away from the gang and started to think. "Wow I am really getting married," thought Naru. "I am so excited about this, but yet, why am I so unhappy on the inside?"
She started to reminisce about her life at the Hinata-Sou, remembering all the times she had with her friends.
"Naru lets go!" exclaimed a very, very, young Kitsune. "I know you will enjoy your time here." "I don't know," replied Naru. "I don't think I'm ready for a life without my parents." Reluctantly, Naru went with her best friend ready to take on a new journey at the Hinata-Sou.
"Hey look we have a new resident!" Kitsune said. The shy swordswoman slowly entered the inn with hopes of improving her swordsmanship. "Hi, I'm Motoko, who are you?" asked a nervous Motoko. "I'm Naru, and this is Mitsune; nice to meet you. Welcome to the Hinata-Sou." Naru said as she led Motoko inside.
A shy girl, hiding behind her parents, walked up the stairs towards the huge inn before her. "Wow this place is so big! I'm not sure if I can live here without my parents," cried a very young Shinobu. "Hey don't worry, you will be with friends," replied Kitsune. "You'll love it here!"
"I think I'll love it here," replied Su as she flew straight into the inn. "I need a break from the boys from Mol Mol." She took a step out of the plane, and walked into the lobby carrying three bundles of bananas, and some bags filled with wires and other electronics.
"PERVERT! A PERVERT! THERE'S A PERVERT!' exclaimed Naru as she saw Keitaro for the first time. Minutes later, "EAT MY PUNCH!" yelled Naru as she punched Keitaro out of the inn.
Over time, Naru started to like Keitaro. "Hee… you're pretty cute without your glasses," Naru said. After several years spending time with friends, they were getting married. As Naru took the note from Keitaro's hands, she quickly wrote, "Keitaro I like you. I want to be with you forever 3."
Suddenly something woke Naru up. "Naru, what are you doing over here? Let's go back to the party," her fiancé said. "In a minute," replied Naru. "I guess what I am really afraid of is losing my friend after we get married," thought Naru. She quietly return back to the festival and the night continued.
After a few hours later, the gang decided to go home. On the way home Kitsune said, "Hey it's the New Year tomorrow; we have to go to the temple to get our fortunes told." "That reminds me, I have to go to the temple early in the morning tomorrow as well," replied Motoko. "How about we all go to the temple tomorrow early in the morning so we can get our fortunes read first," Shinobu said. "Well, I guess it is settled, we are going to the temple tomorrow," Keitaro said.
Naru, looking nostalgic, was reminiscing about the past still. She was thinking about her past, long before she had met Keitaro. She was depressed. She wanted to tell everyone, especially her fiancé what was troubling her, yet she couldn't for fear of hurting them. She kept all of her problems herself, until it was time to tell them what was going on in her life.
Everyone returned to the inn, and went straight to sleep. Everyone was asleep, but one other person. Naru, not being able to sleep because of her past, walked around the inn trying to find some answers, yet she could not find it. She wanted to much to tell everyone what was hurting her so deep inside, yet she feared what it might do to her friends and loved ones. She snuck into Kitsune's room, and stole a bottle of sake to make all of her troubles go away. She walked outside into the patio, and started to drink her problems away. Slowly, she fell asleep and started to dream.
Heavy fog covered everything. Visibility was very low. You could not see more than 2 inches away from your face.
"Hello? Where am I?" Naru asked.
Silence only replied.
The fog started to settle, and Naru was able to see again. In a distance, Naru could see a person, but couldn't make out who it was. She ran towards that person, hoping to find out what is going on. As she approached, it seemed like that person was Keitaro. She started calling to her love, "Keitaro, Keitaro! I'm so happy to see you." Keitaro didn't reply. As Naru grabbed his hand, she wanted to give her fiancé a kiss, even though she could not completely make out who he was. She knows for sure that it is her love. As she brought her lips closer to his, she saw the true identity of that person. It was the face of her former boyfriend.
Suddenly, she woke up from her stupor. She ran back to her room and began to cry. She cried herself to sleep until the morning.
The sun gleamed and it was a wonderful day. Keitaro got ready to go to the temple. As he was getting ready, he walked into the room of his love. He found her propped up in her futon crying. Quickly, he dropped his cultural clothing and ran to her aid. He asked her what was wrong, what was bothering her. All she did was cry. Eventually she embraced the one she loved, cried out her problems, and started getting ready too, all without saying a word to her love. She wanted so much to tell Keitaro her past, but she could not find the courage to be the one to break his heart.
After a wonderful breakfast, everyone met at the front door and started to walk towards the temple. When they arrived, there was a long line already. Motoko said, "Well we would have been here earlier if Suu didn't lose all of her clothing in her room. If only she cleaned it up once in a while, this problem wouldn't have happened." Shinobu replied, "Let's just be happy that we are here. It's New Years; we shouldn't start of the new year with an argument." Motoko said, "You are probably right."
About an hour later, it was their turn to get their fortunes read. Motoko went first, "Your life will be full of success. Never stop fighting for that dream." Shinobu went next, "Never give up on your dreams, your life will be full of prosperity." Kitsune went after Shinobu, "You are a person of great wisdom, share that wisdom to people who most need them." Suu went next, "Though your creativity is ignored, never give in to their negative criticism." Keitaro and Naru went together. They picked up their fortunes, and it both said the same thing, "You will find a buried treasure within, but beware of the treacherous path that leads you to it." They looked at each other and wondered what it could have meant.
After spending the rest of the day at the temple, everyone decided to go back and celebrate New Years at the inn. Naru, reluctantly but forced to, asked "Keitaro, I have to take a walk, do you mind coming with me?" "Keitaro said, "Sure, what's on your mind?"
The gang started back for the inn, while the two left them. "So what is bothering you?" asked Keitaro. "Well it was about last night and the incident this morning…"
A/N: Well I just graduated and it is the summer, so I will have much more time to write. Sorry for the very long wait, but I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
