-Ten-Faced Paladin
Love Hina Redux
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 15: Together Forever
It had come.
The day had finally arrived. The day that both Keitaro and Naru had both studied so hard for. This was the day for the Tokyo U entrance exams. Today would determine if the efforts both applicants had put into their studies were going to be worth it or not. For Keitaro, it meant if he was going to be a ronin again or not. For Naru, it meant if she was going to become a ronin for the first time. To say that they were both feeling somewhat tense was somewhat of an understatement.
Keitaro was currently wolfing down his breakfast at a pace that would make Su stop and stare. He just wanted to get a good meal in before the mounting pressure made him so nervous that his stomach started being affected. When he finally finished, he leaned back with a sigh.
"Holy cow there stud," Kitsune smirked. "You even taste any of that?"
Keitaro laughed, "Sorry. I'm just kind of nervous. I didn't want it cramping my stomach yet."
"Hmm," Motoko pondered. "I do not see why you should be nervous Urashima. You have already been through this twice haven't you?"
"True," Keitaro nodded. "That doesn't make it any easier though."
"Well...good luck Sempai," Shinobu spoke from her seat.
"Thanks Shinobu," Keitaro smiled, making the younger girl blush. he then looked around, noticing that someone was missing. "Hey, has anyone seen Naru?"
"I think she's still in her room," Kitsune reported while she reached for her glass of sake. "Come to think of it, she might be more nervous than you right now. It being her first exam and all."
"You have a point there," Keitaro sighed, leaning onto the table with his elbows. "Think I should go up there and get her? It's about time for us to head out anyway."
He stood up to leave and headed through the kitchen. Along the way he grabbed some stomach medicine. No doubt that he was going to need it later. Heck, he'd probably use up the entire bottle before the day was through.
He made his way upstairs and straight to Naru's room. He didn't waste any time getting down to business as he knocked on the door.
"Naru?" he called. "You still in there?"
"Go away!" she shouted back.
"Naru are you okay?" he asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
"I'm fine!" she souted again. "Now go away!"
"Uh," Keitaro began. "You do know we have to leave, right?"
A kind of silence came from Naru's room. It was kind of unnerving. The next came a large amount of crashing that Keitaro could remember sounded similar to the noises he heardbefore the 'kotatsu incident.' Finally, Naru slammed open her door. She looked a little pale. She was also holding her stomach.
"Stomach cramps?" he asked.
"Forget it," she sighed. "Let's just get going already."
Keitaro followed while gripping the bottle in his hand. After he saw how miserable Naru was looking, he pressed the bottle into her hands.
"Here ya go," he smiled. "Try to leave some for me would you?"
Naru looked down at the bottle and smiled. As they walked she unscrewed the cap and looked as if she was going to take one. That assumption was tossed out the window as she promptly poured over a dozen pills into her mouth.
"Woah!" Keitaro gasped. "Take it easy will you?"
"Oh relax," Naru gulped as she swallowed the pills. "I'm nervous okay? It's causing havoc with my stomach. Now let's get going!"
Keitaro shook his head as Naru broke into a run, "I'll never understand women."
He then broke into his own run to catch up with her.
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Later, both of them were at Tokyo University and had been led to the testing room they were going to be seated in. By sheer luck, they were both placed in the same room. Keitaro took a seat on one row of tables while Naru sat a row back from him. While he was getting his things out, he checked out the competition. Most of them seemed pretty smart and that intimidated Keitaro. It was putting a lot of strain on his nerves.
'Okay,' he thought. 'Just keep calm. Don't go freaking out. You've prepared for this. You even have everyone at Hinata House rooting for you. Just keep calm.'
He looked down and saw that he had been writing 'keep calm' on his spare sheet of paper over and over. He stopped himself and sighed. He was in for a stressful day.
Naru had been watching him and dealing with her own concerns. She had been working for a long time to get here and today was when her dreams were all going to come true. She only hoped that Keitaro was going to do well as well.
'He's been working for three years at this,' she thought. 'He's long overdue for a victory. He's been working pretty hard for this too. If the dope would just calm down then he might have a chance.'
The teacher overseeing the exam coughed loudly to catch everyone's attention. When he was sure that everyoone was watching him, he began to speak.
'Well then," he spoke. "Shall we begin the test?"
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Back at Hinata House, the girls were not sitting around idle while their friends took the exams. All day they had been busy setting up for a celebration. Shinobu was cooking all sorts of treats and snacks for everyone. Kitsune was supplying drinks for the occasion. Some of it came from her personal stash. She didn't use any of that for just anybody. It was her best friend and her favorite stud after all. Motoko and Su were busy setting up everything else. Su was only confused about what banner to use. 'Congratulations' or 'Better luck next year.'
"Shouldn't they be back soon?" Kitsune asked as she brought out some bottles.
"They should be," Shinobu answered. "The text ended a while ago."
"Should we use this banner?" Su asked while flashing the 'Better luck next year' banner.
"We do not know if they passed or failed yet Su," Motoko explained. "Best we save both of them for now."
Further speculation was halted as the doors to Hinata House could be heard opening. Everyone forgot their tasks for the moment as they raced to the front door. They were met by the sight of Keitaro and Naru walking in and removing their shoes. Both of them had a red hue to their faces.
"Woah," Kitsune grimaced. "Did it go that badly?"
"Well...," Naru reluctantly spoke. "The test was fine but I totally embarrassed myslef thanks to this idiot."
"You're embarrassed?" Keitaro asked. "I'm the one who humiliated myself."
"What happened?" asked Shinobu curiously.
"Let's say I discovered that eating quickly along with stress do not go together very well," Keitaro sighed.
"What did he do?" Motoko asked Naru, fearing the answer.
"He farted," Naru replied. "Loud and long. It echoed through the room."
There was silence for a moment. Then snickers from Kitsune and Su. Finally they just broke out into full-blown laughter. Shinobu blushed while Motoko grimaced at the thought. Keitaro's face turned crimson.
"That's how everyone else reacted too," he sighed. "Then Naru had to stand up and call me an idiot in front of everyone. The instructor really let her have it."
Kitsune struggled to keep her laughter under control, "Well, no helping it now. Come on. We've got partying to do."
Both Tokyo U applicants then were dragged into the living room where they began their party. It was somewhat fun for Keitaro. He never really went to parties while he was in school. He was sittingn near Kitsune who he chatted casually with. Naru helped herself to some sweets with Shinobu while they avoided Su who was leaping wildly everywhere with a smile on her face. Eventually Motoko even loosened up and took her own seat next to Keitaro. She actually tried too strike up her own conversation with him. At some point, Naru stepped out to get a phone call. Motoko decided she was thristy and went to examine the snacks and drinks that were left out. Kitsune, seeing an opportunity, went for it.
"Hey Keitaro," she smiled, her eyes opening slightly. "It's a nice night out. Wanna take a walk with me? I need to clear my head."
"Uh..sure." Keitaro nodded.
The two of them quickly and quietly exited Hinata House just as Naru was coming in. Keitaro noticed that she had a small smile on her face. They both grabbed their coats and stepped outside. Kitsune stepped onto the opene ground and heaved a huge sigh.
"Ahh," she smiled. "Now I feel better."
"Not too much sake I hope," Keitaro laughed.
"Naw," Kitsune smirked. "There's no such thing as too much sake."
"If you say so," Keitaro smiled.
The two of them continued down the long rows of stairs. They didn't talk too much. They were just enjoying the quiet and each other's company. When the came to the bottom, they found themselves at a small playground. Keitaro's eyes widenes when he saw the small sandbox.
"Well what do you know?" he breathed. "It's still here. I don't believe it."
"Huh?" Kitsune asked.
"This is where I made that promise with that girl I told you about," Keitaro explained.
"Really?" Kitsune asked, her right eye opening slightly. "I used to play here when I was four. I've lived in Hinata all my life anyway so I know this spot pretty well."
"Cool," Keitaro smiled. "I could only come here every summer. I guess you had plenty of friends aroud here."
"Actually no," Kitsune replied as she crouched down and dragged her fingers through the sand. "I was pretty shy when I was little. Naru was pretty much my only friend. Then she moved away for a while and I was pretty much alone."
"Really?" Keitaro asked in surprise. "What broguht the change in attitude to who you are now?"
Kitsune broke into her foxy grin again, "Well, it began when my boobs started coming in I guess. I had boys drooling everywhere I went and decided that I liked the attention."
Keitaro's eyes widened in surprise, "Are you serious?"
Kitsune started giggling, "No." Keitaro sweatdropped at the answer. "I'm not really sure. I just got some more confidence somewhere."
She stood up again and began walking over to the swings. Keitaro slowly followed. As Kitsune took a seat on the swings, she looked at Keitaro as he took a seat next to her.
"You know, you and Naru have something in common," she smiled.
"What would that be?" Keitaro asked. "Tokyo U?"
"Not that," she said, beginning to smirk. "The promise of getting in."
"Huh?" it was Keitaro's turn to be confused.
"Naru made a promise to some guy to get into Tokyo U," Kitsune explained. "Maybe she's your promise girl."
Keitaro shook his head, "I don't think so. She's too young to be that girl. As easy as it is to think that. It isn't the case."
"Oh," Kitsune sighed. "Too bad. Wanna give me a push?"
Keitaro looked over to the blonde girl and shrugged. He stood up and got behind her. Placing his hands on her back, he then gently began pushing her.
"You know," Keitaro laughed. "You've actually got better chances of being my promise girl. Being closer to my age and all."
He couldn't see her face, but Kitsune started blushing, "I'd like that,"
"Huh, what was that?" Keitaro asked. "I didn't hear you."
"N-nothing," Kitsune quickly replied. 'Almost let something slip. He's getting better but I'm not quite sure if he's ready for no-holds-barred flirting yet. When he is though, he'd better watch out!'
A gust of wind blew by and both of them shivered. Keitaro stopped pushing and Kitsune quickly came to a halt.
"Wanna head back in?" Keitaro asked.
"Sure," Kitsune agreed. "It is getting nippy."
The two of them began walking back to Hinata House, taking their time. Kitsune, despite feeling cold on the outside, felt warm on the inside. She liked spending time by herself with Keitaro.
'Point to me Motoko,' she thought idly. 'I'm in the lead.'
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Inside Hinate House, Motoko was practising some drunken katas. She had gotten too much sake into her system after only a few drinks. Two to be exact.
Low alcohol tolerance, thy name is Motoko.
As she finished a chop that almost knocked the food off the table, she sneezed.
"Another cold coming?"a sober Naru asked her friend.
"Nnnno," Motoko replied slugishly. "Someone musht be talking 'bout me."
Naru sweatdropped as Motoko went back to her drunken katas. No doubt that the girl was going to end up sleeping on the floor. Su and Shinobu were already there after all.
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The next day brought three refreshed bodies and three hangovers. Surprisingly, Kitsune wasn't one of the latter three. She was up bright and early with Keitaro and Naru as they began to get their things together to leave. Shinobu, Su, and Motoko were sleeping off their hangovers.
"Well," Kitsune smiled as she watched her two friends get ready. "good luck to the both of ya. We'll have food ready when you come home."
"Thanks Kitsune," Naru smiled. "We'll try to be home on time."
"You never know with these exams though," Keitaro laughed while rubbing the back of his neck.
Kitsune waved them both off. As they vanished down the stairs she just felt a smile creep onto her face. She had enjoyed the time she had with Keitaro and was wondering if she should go for two nights in a row or let Motoko have a turn.
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As Keitaro and Nar stepped off the bus for Tokyo U, Keitaro turned to look at Naru and smiled. Naru gave him a strange look.
"What?" she asked with a frown.
"I heard you made a promise with a guy to get into Tokyo U," Keitaro smiled. "Is it true?"
"HAH!" Naru gasped, her face turning red. "How did...Kitsune."
"Well?" Keitaro asked while Naru frowned at her friend, her blush still not vanishing.
"...yeah. It's true," Naru replied timidly. "It was when I was younger. I had such a huge crush on him. I was kinda hoping at the time that if I got in then he'd go on a date with me."
"Oooh," Keitaro smiled. "Kitsune thought that you might be my promise girl."
"Well then she'd be wrong," Naru sighed as they continued for the exam room. "I was a sophomore when I made that promise. I was two years old fifteen years ago. How could I make a promise like that?"
"I thought that might be the case," Keitaro nodded. "Then again, you wouldn't remember even if you did make a promise like that."
"Maybe," Naru frowned as she thought about it.
The two of them stopped outside the examination room. Keitaro looked at the clock and saw that they still had some time before the exam would start. He looked at naru who seemed to have paled slightly. Keitaro smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at the older boy.
"Can't back out now," he smiled. "Come on. We have some promises to keep."
Naru nodded. Both of them then took a deep breath and headed inside. It was on Febuary 26th that both Naru Narusegawa and keitaro Urashima began the second day of their examinations. Taking the first steps (or third in keitaro's case) towards their futures. A future that they wouldn't forget as it became their past.
End of Book 2
A/N: Finally! Book two is finished! Yahoo! Now only twelve more to go! As long as you guys keep giving me good reviews and letting me know you like the story then I will keep writing it. I know I got the beginning of book three in here too but that was for continuity. I got the Love Hina novels recently. They're pretty good. If anyone wants something from there in here then all you have to do is ask. I also want to say one thing. YOU GUYS ROCK! Thank you so much for supporting me and my work. your reviews really brighten my day whne I think I screwed up somewhere.