-Ten-Faced Paladin
Love Hina Redux By Ten-Faced Paladin Chapter 2: Life in a Girls Dorm
Keitaro lay on the floor of the landord's room that his grandmother used to occupy. Everyone had agreed that since Granny Hina was on her world-wide sightseeing tour and she wasn't using it for the moment, Keitaro could stay in there. He scratched his head while he thought about the girls he had just met.
"Kitsune, Su, and Shinobu are pretty nice," Keitaro muttered to himself. "Naru and Motoko seem a little high strung but I don't think they're bad people."
Shrugging, Keitaro hoisted himself off of the ground and steppped onto the balcony which gave him a full view of the setting sun. He smiled at the pretty sight.
"I haven't been this comfortable around girls in while," he smiled. "Not since that girl from fifteen years ago. I wonder what she looks like now."
Keitaro felt a pair of arms wrap around his chest in a loose embrace. It was rather unexpected for him and he jumped to the side but actually managed to trip over his two feet. He landed on the wooden floor with a loud crash. He sat up to see the laughing Kitsune standing there.
"Jeez Kitsune," Keitaro smiled. "you scared me."
Kitsune smiled as she opened her right eye a little, "Hey, you remembered my name. Good job," she helped Keitaro up from the ground, "My real name's Mitsune Konno, otherwise known as Kitsune."
"I'll keep that in mind," Keitaro smiled. "So, what can I help you with?"
"Oh, nothing much," Kitsune grinned mischeviously. "What were you talking about just now? A childhood sweetheart?"
Keitaro blushed slightly at the words, "Not exactly but pretty close."
"Oh?" Kitsune leaned in, eager for the tidbit of news. "Well, feel like sharing?"
"She was a friend of mine about fifteen years ago," Keitaro explained, a small flush on his face. "I guess you might call her a childood sweetheart if you think about it the right way. We were pretty good friends and I guess she was about the only person I could play with at the time. I don't think there were many other kids to play with."
"Oh," Kitsune smiled."I guess that does make her a sweetheart."
Kitsune then leaned against the railing as she began gazing at the sunset with Keitaro, "So you're applying to Tokyo U even though you failed twice?"
"Yep," Keitaro nodded. "I almost passed last time so I'm feeling pretty good about this year."
"Oh really?" Kitsune asked innocently. "Do you know how close you were to getting in?"
Keitaro rubbed his chin as he recalled the memory, "Yeah, I was about ten points off. I had forgotten to study a certain part and it turned out that part made up an important part of the exam."
"Oh, bad luck there," Kitsune laughed. 'Hmm, just ten points off. He could really do it this year. A Tokyo U student and his grandma owns the dorm. He's even a cutie to boot. This could be a solid investment for my master plan."
Kitsune glanced at Keitaro before allowing a blush to come to her face. She then leaned a little so that their arms were touching. Keitaro didn't fail to notice this, and he edged to the side a little.
"Say Keitaro," she began shyly. "Do you have a preference when it comes to girls?"
Keitaro glanced at the sunset feeling a little uncomfortable, "Well, uh, no."
Kitsune smiled as she took his hand, "That's good. Do you have a girlfriend?"
Keitaro looked at the ground before removing his hand from Kitsune's, "Nope. I've never been that great around women to be honest."
Kitsune's left eyebrow rose in confusion. "You don't seem all that bad to me."
Keitaro nodded, "Yeah well, you know that girl I mentioned?" he waited for Kitsune to nod before he continued. "Well, she was one of the few girls that I could actually feel confortable around. I'm not really sure why. Maybe I'm just insecure or we just didn't have aything in common."
Kitsune's mischevious smirk returned as her eyes opened slightly to gaze into Keitaro's, "Well then Keitaro. You came to the right place if you want to get over that. I can help no problem."
"Well, I can honestly say that I have no problem being around you," Keitaro smiled. "I guess it was saving me from immenent death that helped with that. Speaking of which, what is the problem Naru has with me? She was a total ice queen."
"Oh Naru?" Kitsune asked. "I wouldn't worry about it. She was just pissed that you saw her naked. She's a really sweet person when you get to know her."
"I guess you're right," Keitaro nodded. "Being blown into someone's bath isn't the best way to say hello is it?"
"No, I don't think so," Kitsune laughed. Keitaro couldn't help but join her.
As they finished laughing he sighed as he looked to Kitsune, "Ahh, I can tell you're something else, but I don't quite think I'm ready for a relationship just yet," he then stood up and bowed to the fox-eyed girl. "Sorry."
Kitsune smiled and waved off the apolgy, "It's no problem. I'm a patient girl so if you want to try dating or something then just let me know. I'm not attatched either so feel free to ask anytime."
Keitaro smiled gently as he nodded, "Thanks. I'll definitely keep that in mind."
Kitsune smiled as she walked away for the stairs. She may have looked calm, but her mind was whirrling again, 'Oh he is the genuine article. Guys like him don't come by often, if ever. I'd better set my claim before anyone else,' another foxy grin came to her face, 'He'll be a real challenge too."
Keitaro smiled as he watched Kitsune leave, "You know, Maybe a date with her wouldn't be that bad. Who knows? We might actually hit it off."
Scratching his head, Keitaro made his way downstairs to see if anything interesting was going on. He actually found Shinobu working on supper. She was going pretty fast and also seemed to be going about a mile a minute. She was so immersed in her work that she didn't notice Keitaro walking in.
"Oh, hi Urashima-san," she smiled.
"Hey Shinobu," Keitaro smiled. "Need some help?"
The younger girl shook her head, "No thank you. I'm fine. I'm good around the kitchen so don't worry," she looked to the ground before a small emberrassed flush came to her face, "Um, do you...do you think you could check my homework though? A..after dinner or something?"
Keitaro smiled at the young woman's request, "Not a problem Shinobu. I'd love to. How about in the courtyard after dinner? After I help do the dishes of course."
Shinobu's smile turned bright enough to light up the entire room, "O-okay! Thank you Urashima-san!"
Keitaro stepped up to the young woman and ruffled the top of her head, "You don't have call me Urashima-san. I thought we were friends by now. Just call me Keitaro."
A red blush came to Shinobu's face as she smiled again and straightened her hair, "Okay, um, Keitato."
xxxxxxxx
Dinner rolled around and Keitaro quickly learned that just like the girls living here, dinner was anything but normal. Su inhaled so much food that it was a wonder that the little girl didn't expand like a balloon. Naru just sent glares at the young Urashima which sent chills down his spine.
'Man she can hold a grudge,' Keitaro shuddered to himself.
Motoko ate quietly. She didn't really try to make conversation and only gave one word answers to Keitaro's questions whenever he did try to start conversations with her. Kitsune sipped from a small cup filled with sake. She didn't eat much, but she was sure the life of the dinner table. Keitaro did notice that of all of them, Shinobu was the shyest. She didn't speak as much as Kitsune did, but it was a bit more than Motoko did. She gave one word answers too, but she did so because she probably didn't know what else to say. Motoko just didn't seem to want to talk to him.
Soon dinner was finished and everyone quickly left to do whatever it was they did after dinner. Only Keitaro and Shinobu remained. They each gathered up the plates and set to work about washing them.
"So Shinobu," Keitaro spoke. "Do you still want me to help you with your homework?"
"Ah!" Shinobu gasped. "Um..yes please. I..if it isn't too much trouble that is."
Keitaro shook his head, "Not at all. Like I said before, I'd be happy to help. Why don't we finish up here and I'll meet you outside. Okay?"
"Okay!" Shinobu smiled brightly.
A few minutes later, Keitaro and Shinobu were sitting outside going over her homework. He pointed out some mistakes and helped her correct them. He even helped her with problems that she didn't understand.
"That's how it's done," Ketaro smiled as he handed Shinobu's textbook back to her.
Shinobu took back the textbook with a cute smile on her face, "Thank you so much Keitaro," she then looks to the ground with an unsure look on her face. "Um...could I ask you something?"
"Sure," Keitaro nodded. "What is it?"
"Promise not to laugh?" Shinobu askes quietly. Keitaro nodded. "What..what's it like to at least try to get into Tokyo U?"
Keitaro scratches his head in thought. Every time he was in the exam room he hadn't really thought about how it felt. He had always been more concerned about what was on the test itself. He hadn't really gotten a chance to answer before Shinobu started talking again.
"I'm just horrible at studying and my grades have been pretty bad. They've been that way since I got into middle school. I'm probably not even smart enough to even get to the actual exam like you did," Shinobu sighed while bringing her legs to her chest.
"Now that's not true," Keitaro frowned. "I'll bet you can not only get to the exam, but pass it too!"
"But..that's easy for you to say. You got to the exam twice already," Shinobu sighed again.
"You can't just give up before you try something Shinobu," Keitaro smiled slightly. "If you give it your best shot then you really could get into Tokyo U! Heck, you'd probably do it on your first try."
"Wow! Really?" Shinobu gasped. She then trapped Keitaro in a hug. "I feel way better Keitaro. Thank you so much!"
The heartwarming moment was suddenly interrupted when Keitaro suddenly felt something tapping him on his head. It sort of felt like a broom. There was also an irritated voice speaking along with it.
"Ahem, ahem," Naru spoke as she tapped his head even harder.
Shinobu and Keitaro seperated with a surprised gasp, "Woah! what are you doing here?" asked Keitaro.
This question spurred a glare from the long-haiired girl, "Making sure you don't do anythig to Shinobu, that's what."
"But, Keitaro is only helping me with homework!" Shinobu spke urgently. "Honest!"
"Oh?" Naru asked, looking at the middle schooler. She then turned back to look at Keitaro with a smile appearing on her face, just not a nice one. It seemed more like Kitsune's. "Then maybe he can help me too."
Naru then rached into her pocket and pulled out a small, but rather thick booklet. She looked at Keitaro with a fake sweet smile as she produced it.
"With this," she smiled. "Think you can give me the answers?"
"Oh, last year's Tokyo U exam questions?" Keitaro spoke, his eyebrows rising in mild surprise.
Naru handed him the book while crossing her arms in confidence. She also had a smug look on her face, "I mean, even if you failed twice, I'm told you just barely failed. So I figure they ought to be a snap for you."
Keitaro shrugged, feeling his annoyance with the girl rising. He opened the book and skimmed over the first couple of questions. He could recall these questions pretty easily. He had used some of the answers as study material. He snapped the book shut and handed it back to a rather confused Naru. He had barely looked at it.
"The first answer's C and the second is B," Keitaro replied.
"Huh! Wha-! C and B!" Naru gaped as she flipped to the answer section.
"The next is D and the fourth is A," Keitaro finished. "How'd I do?"
Naru finally found the answer section and took a moment to check the answers. After a moment she started trembling slightly and she adopted a look of complete surprise as she sweatdropped slightly, "N...no way...They're all correct."
"That's amazing Keitaro!" Shinobu gasped in glee. Keitaro just allowed himself a small smug grin.
"H-how did you...? And barely even looking...," Naru trailed off. She was definently not pleased. Impressed, but not pleased.
"Wow Keitaro!" Shinobu smiled as she walked over to Keitaro with stars in her eyes. "Can..can I call you sempai?"
"Sempai?" asked Keitaro, shocked. "No one's called me that before. I guess it's okay if you did."
Keitaro looked up to the quickly darkening night sky as the stars slowly began to appear. He sighed in tiredness as looked back to the two girls in front of him.
"You know," he spoke. "I think I'm going to head to my room. I'll probably turn in pretty soon anyway."
"Okay Sempai," Shinobu smiled as Keitaro waved to both her and Naru before heading in.
Keitaro just finished going through a small round of studying. he didn't want to goof up like he did last year. With a tired yawn he leaned back and looked at the celing again. His eyes landed on a huge hole in the celing.
"Woah," Keitaro gasped. "How'd I miss that?"
He stood up and examined the hole. He couldn't quite reach the hole on his own. He grabbed the nearest chair he could find and he hoisted himself up to the hole. He reached inside and found that it went clear through to the floor above him. He also discovered that there was a lid on the other side.
"Okay," Keitaro muttered to himself. "How could they just leave this?"
Keitaro was about to push it aside when he remembered where he was. He didn't want to accidentally end up walking in on one of the girls while they were changing. That was all he needed, to get branded as a pervert after trying so hard to get their trust in the first place. Listening to his common sense, Keitaro knocked on the lid.
"What?" Naru's voice replied.
"Oh, this leads to your room?" Keitaro asked through the lid.
"Yeah," Naru replied. "Hey, do you think I could come down to your room?"
Keitaro blinked in surprise. Naru's voice sounded gentle and kind. Not at all like the girl he had gotten to know in the past twenty-four hours. He was afraid that something was bugging her.
"Yeah, sure. Come on down," Keitaro replied.
The lid slid off as Keitaro backed away. Naru's legs could be seen dangling out of the hole before the rest of her followed through. She landed on her own two feet before she looked at Keitaro.
"Look," she huffed. "I just wanted to say something so don't get any funny ideas."
"No worries," Keitaro replied. "I'm listening."
"Okay," Naru replied, an embarrassed flush coming to her cheeks. "I kind of owe you an apology. Shinobu told us some of the stuff you said to her. To be honest she hasn't been smiling like that for a while. We have you to thank for that."
"Well, it's no problem," Keitaro shrugged. "I just did what I thought was right."
"Yeah, okay," Naru nodded. "I guess you aren't such a bad guy after all. At least you aren't as perverted as most guys."
"Gee, thanks," Keitaro smiled. "I mean that too."
"Just don't think you're off the hook yet!" Naru spoke, getting up to Keitaro's face. "You're still a guy in a girls dormitory so just remember that I've got my eye on you. Any funny stuff and you're outta here!"
"Sure," Keitaro nodded. "To be honest, I'm flattered that a girl as pretty as you has an eye on me. I've never had luck like this before."
"Hah!" Naru gasped, her face turning beet red. "D-don't get any funny ideas mister! It's not like I'm attracted to you or anything. I'm just making sure you don't turn into a super-perv on us. Get it!"
"Don't worry," Keitaro nodded. "You won't have to worry about me doing anything like that."
"Okay," Naru nodded. "I'm glad we're in agreement."
With that Naru stood on the chair and prepared to heft herself up into the hole back to her room.
"Hey Naru?" asked Keitaro. The red head looked back at him, the impatient look still there, but to a lesser degree. "Thanks."
"No problem Ronin," Naru smiled mischeviously. "Just behave yourself or else."
Naru then slipped back up to her room with a small grunt. Keitaro yawned as she slid the lid back onto the hole that connected their rooms. As he made his way over to his dresser a thought came to his mind.
"Kitsune was right," Keitaro smiled. "Naru really is a sweet person."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next morning came and Keitaro discovered that breakfast was the same adventure that dinner was. Everyone eating calmy and at their own pace while Su was like a whirlwind with the way she ate. After everone finished, Keitaro stood up and stretched his back.
"Thanks for the meal Shinobu," Keitaro spoke. "It was great."
"T,thank you Sempai," Shinobu stuttered with a red face while she looked at her plate. "I-I'm happy you liked it."
Keitaro nodded as he headeed for the door. Kitsune's eyebrows shot up as she watched him head for the way out of Hinata House.
"Hey, where ya goin' Keitaro?" she asked. "Ditchn' us already?"
"No way," Keitaro laughed as he grabbed his shoes and slipped off his slippers. "I just thought I'd head to town and see if I could find a place that could help fix up that hole Su and I made."
"Ah," Motoko nodded. "That is very responsible of you Urashima."
Keitaro shrugged as he finished tying his laces, "I'll be back later so see you then."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Keitaro found the town pretty quiet. It hadn't taken him long to find a hardware store and he quickly purchased some boards so that the wall Su blasted him through would only be a memory. As he stepped outside he quickly found a print club booth that he hadn't gotten in his notebook yet. He readied himself and smiled at the camera while making a 'V for victory' sign with his hand. As the camera readied to take a picture, somone suddenly came into the booth with Keitaro and wrapped and arm around his shoulder and pressed their cheek next to his. The camera took the picture and Keitaro could finally see who had jumped in with him.
"Kitsune!" he gasped. "where'd you come from?"
The fox-eyed girl grinned mischeviously as she let the boy go.
"Oh, I was just on the town and saw you come into the booth," she smirked. "I thought I'd at least let you get a picture with a girl in it with you, you print club otaku."
Keitaro blushed as he rubbed the back of his head, "Well, I've been at it since I was a kid, but this is the first picture I got that has a girl with me in it. Thanks Kitsune."
Kitsune's eyebrows rose in surprise, "So you are a print club otaku? My my Keitaro, I never pegged you as that kind of fan."
Keitaro shrugged as the two stepped out of the booth. Keitaro looked to the where the photos came out and he wasn't disappointed when the pictures did come. He quickly grabbed the sheet and examined them. Kitsune peered past his shoulder and glanced curiously at the pics as well.
"Well, I take a good picture after all," Kitsune smirked. "You aren't half bad looking yourself."
Keitaro blushed heavily and looked to the ground in embarassment. Kitsune smirked and giggled merrily at his expense. He was even cuter when he was embarassed.
"Oh come on stud," Kitsune giggled. "That couldn't have been the first time a girl told you that."
Keitaro shook off the blush only to see Kitsune snatch the small page of sticker photos away from him. She examined them again before peeling off one and firmly sticking it on Keitaro's shirt.
"Well then, you can't be so tense around girls," she smirked. "Otherwise you'll never be comfortable around women, much less find a girlfriend."
Keitaro shrugged, "I guess you're right."
Kitsune smiled as she leaned on Keitaro's shoulder with her right eye opened slightly, looking in his eyes. She was about to say something before she was suddenly interrupted by someone familiar.
"Well, you seem to be getting along well with Kitsune," Haruka spoke.
Keitaro and Kitsune looked and saw Haruka coming towards them from across the street. She didn't seem overly happy about something. Her face had a look of concern as her gaze landed on Keitaro.
"Glad I managed to find you kiddo," she spoke as she removed her cigarette. "Granny sent us a fax and it has your name on it. Don't know how she knew you were here."
She handed a bunch of papers over to Keitaro who immediately took them. He adjusted his glasses as he read over the papers. Kitsune peered over his shoulder and read what was written as well. After a moment, Keitaro's eyes bugged out to the size of saucers. Kitsune gasped as her eyes opened widely.
"Is this for real!" Keitaro gasped.
"Yup," Haruka nodded. "It's all official as well. Granny has officially given Hinata House to you, provided you become the landlord. In all honesty, we probably need one."
Kitsune's eyes were still open as she looked at Keitaro and then back to the paper. She had only enough senseto really say one sentance.
"Naru is not going to like this."
To Be Continued
A/N There's chapter two for you. I'm trying to stick as close to the manga as I possibly can while keeping the characters as close to normal as I can. I haven't made a real decision concerning pairings just yet. Naru, Kitsune, or Motoko. I could consider Mutsumi but she's a little too spacey for my tastes. If you reviewers have any suggestions then feel free to speak your mind