A/N: This story is not dead. I have been fighting plot bunnies, and I have another fic that is flowing better. BUT… I need to get back to this story as our couple is about spend a weekend together. I apologize for the wait. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: Love Hina is the brainchild of Ken Akamatsu. I just believe that Naru's character was a HUGE mistake.
My Turn
Chapter 7: Atami Panic!
Passing by Odawara, the last city of any size on the JR train from Hinata City to Atami, Shinobu leaned against her boyfriend with a contented smile on her face. She believed that she had successfully managed to divert the other girls from her and Keitaro's weekend escape plan. Each had a different place to go. Shinobu was visiting her parents in Tokyo (separate addresses, same city) and Keitaro was to go to Kyoto to visit his parents. Seemingly, everyone took the bait and the house relaxed.
Keitaro, on the other hand, was sure that Shinobu's plan, while good, did not eliminate the Kaolla Factor. Despite wanting to be married to both Keitaro and Shinobu, Kaolla Su could be bribed to engage her Keitaro Tracker for enough food. Each time that he had tried to escape in the past, the girls had enlisted the Molmolian princess' technical wizardry. 'I won't believe that we are home free until we pass through the gates to the estate,' he thought to himself.
As the scenery whizzed by, Shinobu began to recount the even that led up to this outing. Naru launched Keitaro into LEO for no reason. Shinobu decided to bring matters to a head. Naru dumped Keitaro and the petite chef made the first move. The other girls declared their intentions. She took her Sempai on a date, and he accepted her confession. 'Not the way that I hoped that my love story would go, but beggars can't be choosers.' It was a long, strange trip to this weekend when she and her beloved Sempai would become one. 'We WILL be losing our virginity this weekend or I will kill some people.'
In the next car behind them, three Hinata girls shivered with an ominous sense of foreboding. The fourth, Mutsumi, was shooting the bluenette death lasers, thinking, 'That should be me on his arm, preparing to give him my maidenhead. I cannot believe that I was so short-sighted and let him think that I was friendzoning him. That Thieving Cat better watch out.'
The other three girls were trying to look at Shinobu and Keitaro as little as possible because it was too painful. Kitsune was reading a newspaper, Motoko was meditating, and Kaolla was watching Rosario+Vampire on her iPad. Mutsumi snorted derisively at them, "Don't you all realize what is at stake here? We cannot allow them to be alone this weekend!"
Kitsune sighed, "Of course we do, Sugah, but rushing in right now would spoil everything. If ya were looking at Kei-kun and not at Eep-chan, you would've noticed that he is on alert and looking for us."
"As much as it galls me to agree with Kitsune, she is correct, Otohime-san," Motoko added. "It is almost as if he can sense us. We must be subtle and strike at the right moment or all is lost."
Mutsumi flounced back into her seat, growling, "I will be the one taking Kei-kun's virginity on this trip, not that thieving little cat."
Kaolla's ears perked at the spiteful name by which the Okinawan had referred to Shinobu. "My Shinobu is not a thief or a cat. Keep calling her that and Molmol will declare war on you!"
"Melon Babe, do ya know how crazy that you've been sounding since Keitaro and Shinobu started dating. Ah almost wonder if ya need ta see a shrink like Naru-chan does," the resident fox drawled.
Mutsumi turned red and whispered, "I am not fucking crazy. Go crawl back into your favorite sake bottle, you alcoholic bitch!"
In an instant, Motoko leveled her bokken at the melon lover, and whispered warningly, "That will be enough of that unladylike language, Otohime-san. Neither Su nor I need to listen to profanity. If you have nothing intelligent to contribute, maybe you should refrain from speaking for a while."
Mutsumi glared at her, then with an evil look on her face, opened her bag, releasing Tama. "Tama-chan, Aoyama-san would like you to sit on her lap." The hot springs turtle cooed and began to fly toward the now-panicking Kendo Girl.
Kaolla matched Mutsumi's evil smirk when she saw the turtle and began chasing it. "If I can catch it, then Shinomu will make me turtle soup when she and Onii-chan get back!" Tama squeaked, and flew back to the antenna-haired Okinawan, who allowed the terrified animal to hide in her bag.
Mitsune had had enough, "You all need to calm down now! We are goin' ta be discovahed if y'all keep this up," she hissed. "Let's just pretend that we are good girls until we get ta where we are goin'.
Motoko, after having recovered from her turtle trauma, remarked sagely, "Good thinking, Kitsune-sempai. Let us just sit quietly and plan our next steps." The discussion continued until the train arrived at Atami with nothing decided except that they needed to pry Keitaro from Shinobu's side prior to anything happening.
Both Mutsumi and Kaolla wanted to kidnap Keitaro, but Kaolla wanted to take him back home to Molmol and Mutsumi wanted to take him to her family's mansion in Okinawa. Kitsune wanted to whisk him away to a bar and get him drunk enough that he passed out so they could take him to a love hotel, take turns having their way with him, and use photographic evidence to force him to break up with Shinobu. That plan was rejected because of the hurt that it would cause their favorite blue-haired domestic.
Meanwhile, the happy couple was completely unaware of the mischief being plotted in the next car. Shinobu smiled at her boyfriend, wondering what the Kami would require of her for granting her dearest wish. 'I have dreamed of being his girlfriend for so long, and in a few hours we will really become one.'
The train arrived at their destination and everyone got off and Keitaro led his girlfriend to an awaiting limousine to take them to the estate. The others called a taxi and asked the driver to follow them at a discreet distance. Unfortunately, the girls were too preoccupied to notice the lovely ocean scenery unfolding around them. They passed by the luxury resorts and were headed south through the more student budget-friendly beachfront motels. They soon noticed that they were moving along the coastline and were completely out of town. The limousine stopped in front of a humongous, gated mansion with the Urashima crest emblazoned on the iron fence at decorative intervals. The electric gate opened and the limo disappeared. After a few moments, the car reappeared, leaving through the gate.
Kitsune whistled, "Holy crap, that place is huge! It looks secure too. Su, do you think that you could get us in there?"
Kaolla, disinterested, spat disdainfully, "Who do you think I am? Of course I could. It would be a piece of cake, but I wonder why I should prevent my best friend's special night."
Thinking quickly, Mutsumi pulled a huge stalk of bananas out of her purse and waved it under the princess' nose. As Kaolla's mouth erupted with drool, the Okinawan smiled evilly, "You can have all of these if you get us inside."
"Nice thinkin', Melon Girl!" Kitsune exulted. Everyone knew that bananas were Kaolla's weakness.
Motoko nodded, "That was very well played, Otohime-san."
The women watched intently as the genius inventor fought an internal war. She wanted to protect Shinobu's time with her boyfriend, but she wanted the bananas more. 'Bananas, friendship, bananas, friendship,' she thought. Making her decision, she yelled, "BANANAS!" and grabbed the stalk from Mutsumi. Between bites, the Molmolian said, "This security shouldn't be too difficult for me to crack. It looks an early 1990s system. I'll have it done in less than thirty seconds."
True to her word, the blonde unlocked a side door, giving the group access to the compound. "It's HUGE!" Exclaimed Kitsune. And it was as the resort was twice the size of the Hinata. There were two hotels that had a luxurious, upper-class appeal, a humongous water park, and a large section of private beach. It made the seaside resort that they had spent a couple summers at look pathetic. "Whoa, the Urashima own this?" Kitsune asked, blown away. "Why does Kei-kun work so hard if his family is so rich?"
"Kanrinrin-san works so hard because it is his family that is wealthy, not him." Motoko replied sagely. "It is admirable that he wishes to make his own way in the world. I wish that I had seen the strength of his character sooner," the swordswoman finished wistfully.
Kitsune put a hand on her shoulder, "We all do, Sug. That's why Eep-chan was able to win his heart. She was the only one that saw the man for who he truly was, not what we thought a man of his age would be. He is really is one in a billion. That is why I haven't given up and why we all are in love with him."
Mutsumi bristled, "I do not know what you all are talking about. I have known Kei-kun since we were really little and I knew that he has the biggest, kindest, sweetest heart in the world." Deflating, she continued, "I just wish that I had taken my chance instead of trying to help Naru, the ungrateful witch."
The three women stood outside the open door a few moments before realizing that they were missing someone. The fox asked the question that they were all thinking, "Where the hell did Su bounce off ta now? Let's go in and try to catch up to her."
Kaolla, in the mean time, had found Keitaro and Shinobu, playing in the water park. They were sliding down the water slide in tandem with the chef being held securely by her lover, his arms just under her breasts. They had been taking baths at the Hinata for years, but Su was shocked to discover that her friend's chest had gotten larger, much larger. Shinobu now easily rivaled Naru in breast size. 'Damn, she might even be larger than Naru-sempai,' she thought, looking at her own small, perky breasts with disgust. 'When did she pass me by?'
Shinobu was in heaven. Playing at the water park was fun, but having Keitaro's strong arms holding her from behind felt so good. Happy did not even describe how she felt, especially when she noticed his instant reaction to her rubbing her petite bottom against his groin as they prepared to go down the slide. 'He feels really large there. This might be a bit difficult,' she thought with a shiver of pleasurable anticipation.
The young woman was nothing if not practical, and she had heard from classmates that the act of losing one's virginity was more about the emotions than the pleasure derived from it. Each person reported that the first time was uncomfortable at best and excruciating at worst, depending on the care that the guy took in making love. Hasty guys were not someone any of girls wished on each other. They would be rough and hurt their partner. Feeling how Keitaro held and how he treated her, Shinobu had no worries about their first time, other than her housemates trying to crash the party.
For Keitaro, the water slide was unbearable torture. The knowledge that there was only a thin piece of clothing between him and Shinobu's lovely frame made his body react in an ungentlemanly fashion. 'Down boy,' he chided himself. 'I hope that she does not feel this. I'm so embarrassed. Girls have it so easy. They can hide their arousal. It's not fair.' His girlfriend chuckled softly as if reading his thoughts and repositioned herself causing her soft buttocks to rub his middle. His face went red, and he tried to think about anything but the beautiful, sexy girl in his arms.
Deciding to let her man off the hook, Shinobu announced that she was done playing in the park. "Would you like for me to make us something to eat, Sempai?"
"You don't have to, Shino-chan. We have room service, and while your food is the best that I've ever eaten, I would like to you to relax this weekend and be spoiled for once like you have always spoiled me," Keitaro said gently, causing his blue-haired lover's toes to curl.
Snaking her arms around his neck, Shinobu kissed her lover with a gentle passion that made his heart race, "And that is why I love you, you big lug! I want to cook for you because I love making you smile. It has always been my joy. Besides, I don't want to be disturbed by someone knocking on our door," she finished with a smile that held a lot of promise.
"Well then, I shall take you up on your offer Miss Maehara (the title and name said in English). Shall we retire?" Keitaro asked offering his arm. He led his girlfriend to their room, which was a suite generally reserved for visiting royalty. It was elegantly appointed with all of the necessary amenities, including a fully stocked gourmet kitchen and a large bathroom that featured a Jacuzzi tub.
Granny Hina had given him special permission to use it with the command to make her some "beautiful great-grandchildren." Her other suggestion involved making the relationship even more permanent, and to that end, she provided her favorite grandson a gorgeous engagement ring with which to propose to the young domestic. When he spluttered, "Granny, we aren't ready for that yet," the matriarch reminded him of his responsibilities to Shinobu and the clan should she become pregnant.
'I love her with all my heart,' Keitaro thought. "But are we ready for marriage? We haven't been dating that long and Shino-chan isn't eighteen yet. If I ask, would it scare her away?'
Little did he know that Shinobu was fighting the same battle. She had wanted to be with Keitaro since she was thirteen, and she had even fantasized about being his wife, but were they both ready to take the plunge? She knew that this weekend in and of itself was a commitment and that it was NOT a safe time for her cycle-wise, but she had conveniently forgotten the condoms back at the Hinata. 'I am not afraid to have his child.' Shinobu told herself. 'It is one of my dreams, but is it what Sempai really wants?'
Shaking off those thoughts, Shinobu walked into the kitchen and nearly fainted. It was the kitchen of her dreams. All of the appliances were clad in hygienic stainless steel. The stove was actually a gas range that had an attached grill. The ingredients were fresh and finer than anything that she had ever worked with before. 'It would be shame to do something ordinary with all of this,' she thought excitedly. She set about making a dish that would have earned her a Michelin Star. The young chef had decided on making lobster paella and a black truffle panzanella salad with heirloom vegetables. For dessert, she made a Grand Marnier-infused chocolate mousse.
Keitaro was enchanted by the aromas emanating from the kitchen. After putting a bottle of Pinot Grigio and a bottle of Moscato on ice, he sat down at the table, marveling at the fine silver place setting. His mouth was watering and his stomach rumbled its approval as his lady love began to place the food on the table. Just as they were about to dig in, they noticed that they were no longer alone at the table.
"Kaolla?!" Shinobu gasped in surprise. "Why are you here? This is mine and Sempai's weekend away."
Turning puppy dog eyes on her best friend, the princess asked, "Can I have some, Shinomu? I love your cooking so much!" Shinobu sighed and made up a plate for her.
Keitaro was not as understanding and in an impatient voice asked, "Su, why are you here? Please tell me that the others are not here as well." 'There goes our special time,' he thought dejectedly.
"Well, Mutsumi-nee-chan gave me a stalk of bananas to get them in here because they wanted to stop you and Shinomu from having sex," the inventor answered while scratching her head.
Shinobu was furious, "Why the hell can't they leave us alone? Are they with you?"
Kaolla grinned broadly, "Nopes! I ditched them because they only paid me to get them in, not to find you!" She took a bite of her paella, and exclaimed, "This is so good, Shinobu! Marry me!"
Keitaro shivered, thinking, 'Kaolla Su, you are quite the frightening girl!' He shrugged and began to eat. "Whoa, this is incredible, Shino-chan! I've never tasted anything like this! You are even more amazing than I thought. Are you sure that you are not wasted on me?" A dull ache formed in his chest at the thought that she could do better than him.
Sensing her boyfriend's oncoming depression and ignoring her nosy friend, Shinobu walked over, sat in Keitaro's lap, grasped his face, looked him straight in the eyes, and replied, "No, Kei-kun, it is you who is wasted on me. If you were so worthless, would there be five women fighting over you? I don't think so. I love you, you geeky, low self-esteem having, gentle, kind, sexy man. I cannot do better than you nor will I look for someone else. I love you and I need nothing and no one else. Do you understand?" He nodded, transfixed. "Good boy," she purred as she kissed him, one hand playing with his hair and the other moving over his strong shoulders. When they finally separated, she noticed that Kaolla was red in the face and breathing hard. Shinobu smirked and then turned her attention back to Keitaro, "I think that it is time that we went to bed, don't you, Lover? Kaolla can see herself out, right Kaolla?" The Molmolian princess nodded vigorously and sprinted from the suite.
"I have never seen Shinobu look so beautiful," Kaolla said aloud as she ran into an elevator. "I hope that the others don't figure out that I know where Onii-chan is!" Just then the elevator door opened and the blonde was startled to see three really angry women. "Oops," she managed before being pulled out of the elevator, thinking, 'Oh shit…'
To be continued…
A/N: Sorry that it took so long to update, but the plot bunnies ate all of my carrots. I hope that it was worth the wait. By the way, there will not be lemons in this fic, limes yes, full on lemons, no. For those hoping for it, sorry. Please review and shout outs to those who reviewed: IdiAmeanDada, Shinobufan, Devil of Solitude, Laserai, mnemeth2000, JP Lake, Hektols, and a special thanks to MarioMan247 for reminding me of Shinobu's *Ahem* development. You all rock!