Disclaimer: I own no part of Love Hina.
Sorry for keeping you waiting, but having 4 tests, 4 quizes and both an English essay and an Excel project due in the span of a week, it doesn't leave too much time to write. Anyway, I finally got this done. I hope you like the direction this goes.
* * * Chapter XVII: A New Beginning * * *
Monday, 10/1 1:26 PM
Haruka sat at one of the tables of her then empty tea shop, sipping a bit of the merchandise. Business had usually been slow at this time of day, since most people were at either school or work. A while back, some of the girls told her that Sean had taken a temporary leave of absence, and she couldn't help but wonder why, as none of them gave any details. "There's something they don't want me to know," she muttered to herself. "I'll have to get to the bottom of it pretty soon." Nobody had told her about Sean's abilities yet.
Her musings were interrupted when she saw a girl walk past the door. She looked like a American girl in her late teens, wearing a yellow blouse and blue jeans and carrying a couple of suitcases with her. Intrigued, Haruka walked out to meet her. "Hello."
The girl turned her head in Haruka's direction, her long blonde hair twirling about, partially covering her face. She set the suitcases down and brushed the strands out of her line of sight. "Uh, hi."
"Who might you be?"
The girl raised an eyebrow. "Just someone looking for a place to stay." She gestured to the building up the steps.
"Well, I can see that. How about a name?"
"And why might I tell you?"
Haruka was a bit annoyed. "Because Hinata-Sou has been in my family for many years and we'll be seeing more of each other in the future. You're name, if you please."
"You first."
"Urashima Haruka."
"Alicia Dove."
"Nice to meet you." Haruka hid the bit of sarcasm in her voice.
"You too; sorry for being a bit of an upstart, but I just don't trust those I don't know."
"Understandable."
"I guess I'll see you later then," Alicia lifted her luggage, and seemed to struggle a bit in doing so.
"Here, let me help you with those." Haruka grabbed a suitcase out of her hand; it was surprisingly heavy.
"Thank you. I'm not really built for this sort of thing. It would be pretty tough to lug these things up all those steps by myself." Haruka and Alicia then started up the steps.
---
Kitsune wandered around Hinata House, drinking some sake. "I… am so… fucking… BORED!!! I never thought I would miss Sean this much. When he left, I lost my favorite target. It's just not the same messing with the others, especially Keitaro. He caves in so easily, there's just no fun in it. At least Sean provided a challenge; he always had a strong will and it would take me great lengths to get to him, but when I do, it's always worth the effort. SEAN, YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARD! I WANT YOU BACK!!"
"Is that right?"
"Wha--" Kitsune turned to find Haruka in the entryway behind her, accompanied by a girl she had never seen before. "Oh, hey Haruka. Who's that?"
"This is Alicia, your new roommate. Alicia, this is Mitsune."
"Hello, Mitsune."
"Hey, Alicia. Call me Kitsune; everyone else does."
"Alright. Haruka, thank you for helping me with my things. I think I can handle them from here."
"Alright. Kitsune will show you to your room." Haruka turned to Kitsune. "That room on the second floor is still empty, right?"
"Yeah, I know the one."
"Okay, then. I have to get back to the shop now. See you later."
"See you, Haruka," Alicia said. "and thanks again."
"Anytime."
"I guess I should help you unpack," Kitsune said, reaching for one of Alicia's bags. "Holy shit, how much do you have in here?! Ever think about traveling light?"
"Well, this isn't exactly a vacation."
"Right, right. I'll show you to where you'll be staying. Follow me."
Alicia's room was located on the second floor, next to the landlord's room. "Well, here it is; home sweet home. Where should I put the suitcase?"
"Just put it anywhere. I don't plan on messing with these stupid things for a while. Besides, I'm getting pretty hungry."
"Me too. I'm going to give you the grand tour of this place, starting with the kitchen."
After getting something to eat, Kitsune showed Alicia around, presenting her with the locations of the bathroom, living room, dining room, steps to the roof, and so on.
"…And last but not least, one of my favorite places here:" Kitsune opened the door and Alicia stared in wonder. "The hot spring."
"You mean you all bathe together?"
"Sometimes. We come here not only to wash, but to relax, to talk, or to do whatever."
"Oh. I guess I'll pay this place a visit after I get unpacked later on. Carrying those heavy suitcases has made me a bit tense, but it's nothing that can't wait a while."
"Well, that's it for the tour. What do you want to do now?"
"I don't know. How about a game of cards?"
"It's better than nothing, I guess."
--- 2:09 PM
Keitaro, Naru and Mutsumi opened the front door and heard two voices; one they recognized, one they didn't.
"I'll take three cards," the mystery voice said.
"Okay, I'll have two," Kitsune responded. "What have you got?"
"Two pair."
"Flush!" Kitsune said triumphantly; a bit too much so for comfort.
"Do I have to do this?"
"You knew the rules when you agreed to it."
"What's going on?" Naru asked as the three of them entered the living room to see a startling sight. Kitsune was sitting on the couch, her legs propped up on the table, watching something with great interest. She was in her bra and underwear. The subject of her gaze was standing a few feet in front of her, completely naked. She held her panties in her hand, which had apparently been removed from her body moments before.
When Alicia heard Naru's voice, time slowed down. She moved her head in the direction of the sound to see three people standing there, but one in particular caught her attention. Time snapped back to normal when she screamed and hid behind the far side of the sofa.
"Is something wrong?" Kitsune asked.
"Yes, there's something wrong! Three complete strangers just saw me naked!! And why is one of them a guy?!"
"Oh my," Mutsumi said. "What horrible timing we have, huh?"
"That's putting it lightly," Alicia added. "Could someone hand me my clothes, please? God, this is humiliating."
"Of course," Naru said as she gathered the newcomer's discarded clothing and handed them to her, making sure to keep her bare body out of her line of sight.
"Thank you," Alicia said, then bolted out of the room, her garments held tightly in her arms.
"Uh, who was that, Kitsune?" Keitaro asked after he regained his composure, not to mention stifle his sudden nosebleed.
"The newest member of our little family, that's all." Kitsune replied, her usual grin on her face. She made no effort whatsoever to get dressed.
Keitaro sighed. "I guess I should go talk to her; being the acting landlord, it's my responsibility."
"Oh, no," Naru said. "You're not going anywhere. I won't let you try any of your perverted antics on her."
"Well then, go with me, cuz I'm having a talk with her whether you want me to or not." Keitaro started to walk out, but stopped short. "Um, which room is hers?"
"That empty one next to yours," Kitsune said.
"Thanks." Keitaro left for the stairs with Naru following shortly afterwards.
"To think I almost made this day a write-off," Kitsune said.
---
Alicia walked into her room, closed the door and immediately threw her clothes angrily against the wall. "I don't believe this. I've been here less than an hour and I've already been put on display. I'm beginning to think this wasn't such a good idea after all."
Suddenly, she heard a knock at the door. "Who is it?"
"Is just me," a male voice said.
"What do you want? You want to see me naked again?"
"No no, I just want to talk to you. Are you decent?"
"No, I'm not."
"I'll keep the door closed, then."
"What do you walk to say to me?"
"I just wanted to apologize for what just happened. It was completely inappropriate and I hope you can forgive me."
There was silence for a moment. "Don't worry about it. You didn't know I was there until you showed up. Besides, it was my own fault for letting Kitsune talk me into playing strip poker in the living room in the first place."
"To be completely honest, the experience was a bit refreshing."
Alicia was confused by that statement. "What do you mean?"
"In the past, whenever things like that happen--and it happens quite often--I get beaten up soon afterwards."
"What exactly happens to provoke such attacks?"
"Him being such a pervert, that's why!" A somewhat distant voice said.
"Naru, please. I'm always accidentally finding them in the hot spring or tripping and landing in places I shouldn't."
"Ah, so you're just some unlucky klutz."
"To say I'm accident-prone doesn't do me justice, I'm afraid."
The door opened and Keitaro saw Alicia standing there in a light pink, spaghetti-strapped dress. "Alright, I'm dressed now. Let's talk face to face." She poked her head out to find Naru standing there; she didn't look pleasant. "Alone." She grabbed Keitaro by the shirt and dragged him in, shutting the door quickly afterward.
Naru was surprised by this action. "I hope she knows what she's doing."
When Keitaro got his bearings back he noticed that the new tenant's room was quite plain, but he could understand why, since she had just moved in and the room had gone unused for who knows how long. "We'll have to brighten this place up a bit later on," he commented. As he scanned the room, he saw the clothes she had lost in her card game piled up against the wall, underwear included. Fortunately, Alicia's voice reached his ears before certain thoughts could make themselves known.
"So why are you here?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a guy to be living in a girls' dorm."
"Well, I'm the acting landlord right now, so I have that obligation."
"'Acting landlord?'"
"Yeah. The regular manager has taken some… time off and he has left his duties to me for the time being."
"You mean there's another guy living here?"
"That's right."
"How can the other girls stand it?"
"It's easier than you think. When I'm not involved in incidents, I'm actually a very nice guy. Oh, by the way, my name's Urashima Keitaro."
"Alicia Dove." The two shook hands. "You want to help me unpack?"
"Sure!" Keitaro said, eager to get on her good side. He quickly walked to Alicia's bags, not realizing he was still holding her hand until it was too late. When he got to the limit of his reach, his advance was halted, jerking him around, pulling Alicia toward him in the process. The two collided into each other and fell to the floor, Alicia landing on top of him. Both of them were dazed to the point that neither were aware of where Keitaro's hands ended up.
Alicia was the first to regain rational thought, and the first thing she noticed was the landlord's hands holding her breasts. She started to blush; not at the action itself, but how it felt. "Um, Keitaro…"
This snapped Keitaro out of his stupor. Realizing what he was doing, he immediately let go. "I'm sorry," he said, hoping his good luck in escaping without injury would continue. "I didn't mean to--"
"Don't. I know you didn't do it on purpose, but I can see how the others could see it as being perverted. Honestly, I don't see what's wrong with it as long as it's truly accidental."
"Well, that's your opinion. There are a couple girls here that take grave offense to these things, and also the reason why I get hit so often."
"Are they always accidents?" Alicia said, getting up.
"Yes, but they think it happens too often for it to be that way." Keitaro grabbed Alicia's outstretched hand and she helped him to his feet. Afterwards, he made sure to let go.
"If you are beaten up so often, then why don't I see any bruises?"
"I tend to heal very quickly; it's been a blessing I've come to be very grateful for, since I probably wouldn't have lasted this long if I didn't."
Alicia placed a hand on Keitaro's cheek. "You poor thing. Did the other landlord have to go through the same thing?"
"He used to, but he takes steps to prevent it. Also, he isn't nearly as clumsy as I am, so accidents are rare, if they happen at all. I'm glad for it, because he isn't as… well, let's just say that he can't take a punch as well as I can."
"So I won't have to worry about him, then," Alicia said. "Just you."
"You don't have to. I've gotten used to it by now."
"But that shouldn't happen; it's not healthy for someone to take so much abuse."
"There's nothing I can do. Sean wasn't able to help, so what makes you think you can?"
"Sean?"
"That's the manager's--our friend's--name."
"Oh. I don't know if I can do anything, but I'll certainly give it a try. In the meantime, I think you should go."
"What about me helping you unpack?"
"I can handle that myself. But I have to think of some good excuse for you to leave…" Alicia thought it over for a bit, then snapped her fingers. "Got it. I apologize in advance for what I'm going to do, but I mean nothing by it. I hope you understand."
"Um, sure, but what exactly are you going to…" His words got stuck in his throat as he saw her hand grasp his.
"We have to make it look like another one of your mishaps--that won't be too hard considering it actually happened. Just act as you normally do." She saw Keitaro blush as she raised his hand towards her.
---
Naru stood by the door, waiting for Keitaro to leave. She was starting to be surprised at how silent it was on the inside and was just about to head off to her room when she heard a loud scream.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to--"
"Yeah, right. That girl out there was right; you're just a no good pervert!"
"But it was an accident!"
"Like I'm going to believe you!" The door opened and Keitaro was forced out. "I would think twice before trying a stunt like that again if I were you!" Alicia slammed the door shut.
"What did you do this time?" Naru asked. As if she needed to ask.
---
"Things like that shouldn't happen to such a cute guy," Alicia thought as she started to unpack her clothes and put them in the dresser and closet.
--- 6:33 PM
Shinobu walked toward a certain room. She had heard of the new girl's arrival, but had not seen her yet. "I wonder what she looks like," she muttered to herself. Nervously, she knocked on the door.
"Yes?"
"Um, I just wanted to tell you dinner's ready."
"Thank you." Moments later, the door opened and Alicia stepped out.
"Oh my," Shinobu thought. "She's as pretty as the others…" Her thoughts started to trail off.
Alicia noticed a bit of sadness on Shinobu's young face. "Is something wrong?"
Shinobu continued to look at her. "I wish I was pretty like you."
"Who told you you weren't?"
"Nobody, it just that…" Shinobu looked at her own less-than-developed figure.
"Is that all?" Alicia was relieved to find her new friend's problems were superficial. "Trust me, you look just fine that way you are right now, and it should only improve with age. Besides, growing old isn't all it's cracked up to be. The things us girls have to go through I wouldn't wish on anyone. I wish I was young like you again, with hardly a care in the world."
"Really?"
"Yes. If I could relive my childhood years again, I would. Take advantage of your youth while you can; you won't get a second chance."
That seemed to cheer Shinobu up. "Thank you."
"I know how it feels to be jealous like that. I've met Kitsune."
"Maybe when you get to be her age, you'll look like her, too."
"How old is she?"
"18."
Alicia snorted. "So am I."
Shinobu was surprised. Alicia looked no older than Naru; she was a couple inches shorter than her and had about the same bust size. "You don't look 18."
Alicia rolled her eyes. "I know. I must have a late development schedule or something. Oh well, I'll just have to make the best of the cards I've been dealt, just like you have to." As an afterthought, she added, "I never caught your name."
"It's Shinobu."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Alicia."
The two were walking and talking at the same time, and they suddenly found themselves nearing the dining room. "I guess it's time I met everyone else."
"Who do you know already?"
"Kitsune and Keitaro; I've seen a couple others, but I don't know their names."
When they entered the dining room, all conversations ended and everyone's attention was drawn to the newcomer.
"Um, hi everyone," Alicia said nervously.
"Hi, Alicia," everyone at the table responded.
Alicia took a seat at the table. She noticed the girl next to her had a sword at her side.
Keitaro noticed Alicia's worried expression. "Don't worry. She only uses that thing on me."
A look of shock washed over Alicia's face. "What?! She attacks you with that?!"
"Only when he's being perverted," the swordswoman said.
Alicia cringed at the thought of Keitaro being sliced in half.
"I told you I heal quickly," Keitaro said.
Alicia looked at him wide-eyed. "Now I believe it."
Dinner went by very peacefully, with everyone introducing themselves and their place in Hinata House: Motoko, swordswoman and member of the Pervert Elimination Team; Suu, machine-crazy foreigner; Kitsune, all-around party girl; Naru, Tokyo U student and other member of P.E.T.; Keitaro, Tokyo U student, interim co-landlord and eternal victim of P.E.T.; Mutsumi, Tokyo U student, and kind-hearted airhead; Shinobu, interim co-landlord and resident cook.
"I guess it's time I told you about myself," Alicia said after everyone else had their turn. "My name is Alicia Dove, I'm 18 years old, and have been living in Japan for about 4 years. Before that, I lived in southern California. As part of some sick and twisted joke, my parents decided to move here."
"What do you mean 'sick and twisted'?" Shinobu asked. "Don't you like it here?"
"It's not that I don't like it, it's just the darn school system here. Do you have any idea what it's like to go to high school and be two years older than everyone in your class? It made me feel stupid. Thank God I graduated last year, cause I probably couldn't stand it for much longer."
"Do you plan on going to college?" Naru asked.
"Heck no. I'm done with school for good."
"Amen to that," Kitsune said, raising her glass.
"That reminds me; Kitsune could I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"When I first walked in the door, I heard you screaming something about wanting Sean back. Is he your boyfriend or something?"
"Actually, he's my boyfriend." Alicia was shocked by who said it.
"Shinobu, how did--"
"It's a long story."
"And to think you're jealous about how the others look, when you've already got a man. Uh, how old is he, anyway."
"He's 22."
"My. He can't be the good guy I've heard him to be if he's going out with someone half his age."
"He is a nice guy. He doesn't do anything perverted to me; he's willing to wait until I'm the right age to do anything--"
"But he still has those certain urges," Kitsune interrupted. "That's where I come in."
"Something tells me I don't want to know more, so I'll just stop you right there," Alicia said. By that time everyone had just about finished eating. "Thank you for the delicious meal. I'll be in my room for a little while longer if anyone wants me."
"You mean you haven't finished unpacking yet?" Kitsune asked.
"Well, you know how heavy my bags were. Besides, I'm just about done; just a few finishing touches is all." Alicia bowed and left for the kitchen, taking her dishes with her.
"Well, she sounds nice," Suu said.
"Yeah, I agree," Mutsumi added. "Is something wrong, Motoko?"
The swordswoman had a slight look of confusion about her. "I don't know. There's just something about her that's doesn't seem right, but I can't put my finger on it."
"It's probably nothing," Keitaro said.
"Maybe you're right." Motoko said, "But I just can't shake the feeling that there's something more to her than meets the eye," she thought.
--- 7:02 PM
"Well, moving in took longer than I thought it would, but I'm glad it's done," Alicia said as she surveyed her new room. "I hope I won't have to do something like that ever again." Her muscles were a bit sore, so she decided to take a trip to the hot springs.
After she changed into a towel, she opened the door to the spring to find the other girls there--all of them. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know there was anyone else out here." She had been so consumed by her thoughts that she failed to notice the other piles of clothes in the changing room.
"Don't worry about it, come on out," Naru said as Alicia started to close the door.
"It's just that I'm not used to bathing in front of others." Alicia said as she stepped slowly towards the water, holding her towel close to her and a blush on her face.
"You'll get more comfortable after a while."
"What brought you to Hinata-Sou, Alicia?" Motoko asked.
Alicia stepped into the water and sat down before she responded. "Well, after I graduated from high school, I started to slack off. My parents finally got sick and tired of it, so they kicked me out. I heard about this place and figured it was as good a place as any to crash until I got my life on track. I hope I haven't inconvenienced you or anything."
"Actually, since Sean left, things were starting to get quite tedious," Kitsune said. "I'm glad you showed up."
"I've heard about this 'Sean' character a few times. What kind of guy is he, exactly?"
"Oh, he's just the best," Shinobu chimed in. "You have no idea how much he does for us."
"Yes," Motoko agreed. "He is always willing to listen to our problems and tries to keep us happy at all times; one way or another." She blushed a bit after that last part.
"Do you mean he--"
"He'll please us from time to time," Kitsune said. "But he's determined to save himself for Shinobu."
"Yeah, you mentioned that earlier. It's amazing; I never heard of a guy willing to hold himself back like that for so long."
"Well, Sean isn't your normal guy. How about you? Have you ever had a boyfriend?"
"A few, but I always seem to pick the wrong ones. Every one of them ended up cheating on me. There's one in particular that stands out in my mind; it was guy that I was going out with for a couple months. I thought everything was going fine until I found him making out with another girl."
"What did you do?"
"I did what any self-respecting girl would have done; I kicked his ass."
"Funny," Motoko said, "you don't look like someone who's prone to violence."
"I'm not, but there are those few things that can get you to do almost anything, you know?"
"Do you ever think you'll find your one true love?" Shinobu asked.
"I don't know. I've been disappointed so many times, I'm thinking I might just quit trying to find the right guy."
"Don't do that. I'm sure there's someone out there that's right for you."
"Maybe." Alicia closed her eyes as the water relaxed her muscles, along with the rest of her. After a few moments, she started to lean towards Motoko, much to her surprise.
"What's up with her?" Naru asked, curious about Alicia's odd behavior.
Motoko caught Alicia in her arms. "I think she's asleep." Sure enough, light snoring could be heard. "Today must have taken a lot out of her."
"Considering how much stuff she brought with her, I'm not surprised," Kitsune said.
"I guess we should get her to bed," Naru suggested.
"I'll take care if it," Shinobu said, getting up and walking to the changing room. She returned minutes later fully clothed and carrying Alicia's clothes with her. "I'll see you in a bit." She rested a hand on her shoulder and both Shinobu and Alicia vanished.
--- 9:42 PM
"Wh-Where am I?" Alicia asked herself as she woke up.
"You're in your room," Kitsune said.
Alicia sat up with a start. "How did--"
"You fell asleep in the hot spring; we brought you up here."
"I guess that place is more relaxing than I thought."
"Seems that way. Are you up for doing anything tonight?"
"Nah, I think I'll just get some sleep. It's been a rough day for me."
"I know. See you tomorrow, then." Kitsune started toward the door.
"Uh, Kitsune, could I ask you a favor?"
"Anything."
"Next time you want to play cards, could we not do it in the living room, please?"
Kitsune laughed. "Sure thing. Goodnight, Alicia."
"'Night." Kitsune left, closing the door behind her, and Alicia laid back down on her bed, drifting off to sleep.
* * * End of Chapter XVII * * *
There you have it. It may not be all that much, but that's what happens when you bring in someone completely new. In case you're wondering, I plan on reintroducing myself in Chapter 19. (yes, I've thought things out that far ahead) Tell me what you think of what I've done. See you later!
Sorry for keeping you waiting, but having 4 tests, 4 quizes and both an English essay and an Excel project due in the span of a week, it doesn't leave too much time to write. Anyway, I finally got this done. I hope you like the direction this goes.
* * * Chapter XVII: A New Beginning * * *
Monday, 10/1 1:26 PM
Haruka sat at one of the tables of her then empty tea shop, sipping a bit of the merchandise. Business had usually been slow at this time of day, since most people were at either school or work. A while back, some of the girls told her that Sean had taken a temporary leave of absence, and she couldn't help but wonder why, as none of them gave any details. "There's something they don't want me to know," she muttered to herself. "I'll have to get to the bottom of it pretty soon." Nobody had told her about Sean's abilities yet.
Her musings were interrupted when she saw a girl walk past the door. She looked like a American girl in her late teens, wearing a yellow blouse and blue jeans and carrying a couple of suitcases with her. Intrigued, Haruka walked out to meet her. "Hello."
The girl turned her head in Haruka's direction, her long blonde hair twirling about, partially covering her face. She set the suitcases down and brushed the strands out of her line of sight. "Uh, hi."
"Who might you be?"
The girl raised an eyebrow. "Just someone looking for a place to stay." She gestured to the building up the steps.
"Well, I can see that. How about a name?"
"And why might I tell you?"
Haruka was a bit annoyed. "Because Hinata-Sou has been in my family for many years and we'll be seeing more of each other in the future. You're name, if you please."
"You first."
"Urashima Haruka."
"Alicia Dove."
"Nice to meet you." Haruka hid the bit of sarcasm in her voice.
"You too; sorry for being a bit of an upstart, but I just don't trust those I don't know."
"Understandable."
"I guess I'll see you later then," Alicia lifted her luggage, and seemed to struggle a bit in doing so.
"Here, let me help you with those." Haruka grabbed a suitcase out of her hand; it was surprisingly heavy.
"Thank you. I'm not really built for this sort of thing. It would be pretty tough to lug these things up all those steps by myself." Haruka and Alicia then started up the steps.
---
Kitsune wandered around Hinata House, drinking some sake. "I… am so… fucking… BORED!!! I never thought I would miss Sean this much. When he left, I lost my favorite target. It's just not the same messing with the others, especially Keitaro. He caves in so easily, there's just no fun in it. At least Sean provided a challenge; he always had a strong will and it would take me great lengths to get to him, but when I do, it's always worth the effort. SEAN, YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARD! I WANT YOU BACK!!"
"Is that right?"
"Wha--" Kitsune turned to find Haruka in the entryway behind her, accompanied by a girl she had never seen before. "Oh, hey Haruka. Who's that?"
"This is Alicia, your new roommate. Alicia, this is Mitsune."
"Hello, Mitsune."
"Hey, Alicia. Call me Kitsune; everyone else does."
"Alright. Haruka, thank you for helping me with my things. I think I can handle them from here."
"Alright. Kitsune will show you to your room." Haruka turned to Kitsune. "That room on the second floor is still empty, right?"
"Yeah, I know the one."
"Okay, then. I have to get back to the shop now. See you later."
"See you, Haruka," Alicia said. "and thanks again."
"Anytime."
"I guess I should help you unpack," Kitsune said, reaching for one of Alicia's bags. "Holy shit, how much do you have in here?! Ever think about traveling light?"
"Well, this isn't exactly a vacation."
"Right, right. I'll show you to where you'll be staying. Follow me."
Alicia's room was located on the second floor, next to the landlord's room. "Well, here it is; home sweet home. Where should I put the suitcase?"
"Just put it anywhere. I don't plan on messing with these stupid things for a while. Besides, I'm getting pretty hungry."
"Me too. I'm going to give you the grand tour of this place, starting with the kitchen."
After getting something to eat, Kitsune showed Alicia around, presenting her with the locations of the bathroom, living room, dining room, steps to the roof, and so on.
"…And last but not least, one of my favorite places here:" Kitsune opened the door and Alicia stared in wonder. "The hot spring."
"You mean you all bathe together?"
"Sometimes. We come here not only to wash, but to relax, to talk, or to do whatever."
"Oh. I guess I'll pay this place a visit after I get unpacked later on. Carrying those heavy suitcases has made me a bit tense, but it's nothing that can't wait a while."
"Well, that's it for the tour. What do you want to do now?"
"I don't know. How about a game of cards?"
"It's better than nothing, I guess."
--- 2:09 PM
Keitaro, Naru and Mutsumi opened the front door and heard two voices; one they recognized, one they didn't.
"I'll take three cards," the mystery voice said.
"Okay, I'll have two," Kitsune responded. "What have you got?"
"Two pair."
"Flush!" Kitsune said triumphantly; a bit too much so for comfort.
"Do I have to do this?"
"You knew the rules when you agreed to it."
"What's going on?" Naru asked as the three of them entered the living room to see a startling sight. Kitsune was sitting on the couch, her legs propped up on the table, watching something with great interest. She was in her bra and underwear. The subject of her gaze was standing a few feet in front of her, completely naked. She held her panties in her hand, which had apparently been removed from her body moments before.
When Alicia heard Naru's voice, time slowed down. She moved her head in the direction of the sound to see three people standing there, but one in particular caught her attention. Time snapped back to normal when she screamed and hid behind the far side of the sofa.
"Is something wrong?" Kitsune asked.
"Yes, there's something wrong! Three complete strangers just saw me naked!! And why is one of them a guy?!"
"Oh my," Mutsumi said. "What horrible timing we have, huh?"
"That's putting it lightly," Alicia added. "Could someone hand me my clothes, please? God, this is humiliating."
"Of course," Naru said as she gathered the newcomer's discarded clothing and handed them to her, making sure to keep her bare body out of her line of sight.
"Thank you," Alicia said, then bolted out of the room, her garments held tightly in her arms.
"Uh, who was that, Kitsune?" Keitaro asked after he regained his composure, not to mention stifle his sudden nosebleed.
"The newest member of our little family, that's all." Kitsune replied, her usual grin on her face. She made no effort whatsoever to get dressed.
Keitaro sighed. "I guess I should go talk to her; being the acting landlord, it's my responsibility."
"Oh, no," Naru said. "You're not going anywhere. I won't let you try any of your perverted antics on her."
"Well then, go with me, cuz I'm having a talk with her whether you want me to or not." Keitaro started to walk out, but stopped short. "Um, which room is hers?"
"That empty one next to yours," Kitsune said.
"Thanks." Keitaro left for the stairs with Naru following shortly afterwards.
"To think I almost made this day a write-off," Kitsune said.
---
Alicia walked into her room, closed the door and immediately threw her clothes angrily against the wall. "I don't believe this. I've been here less than an hour and I've already been put on display. I'm beginning to think this wasn't such a good idea after all."
Suddenly, she heard a knock at the door. "Who is it?"
"Is just me," a male voice said.
"What do you want? You want to see me naked again?"
"No no, I just want to talk to you. Are you decent?"
"No, I'm not."
"I'll keep the door closed, then."
"What do you walk to say to me?"
"I just wanted to apologize for what just happened. It was completely inappropriate and I hope you can forgive me."
There was silence for a moment. "Don't worry about it. You didn't know I was there until you showed up. Besides, it was my own fault for letting Kitsune talk me into playing strip poker in the living room in the first place."
"To be completely honest, the experience was a bit refreshing."
Alicia was confused by that statement. "What do you mean?"
"In the past, whenever things like that happen--and it happens quite often--I get beaten up soon afterwards."
"What exactly happens to provoke such attacks?"
"Him being such a pervert, that's why!" A somewhat distant voice said.
"Naru, please. I'm always accidentally finding them in the hot spring or tripping and landing in places I shouldn't."
"Ah, so you're just some unlucky klutz."
"To say I'm accident-prone doesn't do me justice, I'm afraid."
The door opened and Keitaro saw Alicia standing there in a light pink, spaghetti-strapped dress. "Alright, I'm dressed now. Let's talk face to face." She poked her head out to find Naru standing there; she didn't look pleasant. "Alone." She grabbed Keitaro by the shirt and dragged him in, shutting the door quickly afterward.
Naru was surprised by this action. "I hope she knows what she's doing."
When Keitaro got his bearings back he noticed that the new tenant's room was quite plain, but he could understand why, since she had just moved in and the room had gone unused for who knows how long. "We'll have to brighten this place up a bit later on," he commented. As he scanned the room, he saw the clothes she had lost in her card game piled up against the wall, underwear included. Fortunately, Alicia's voice reached his ears before certain thoughts could make themselves known.
"So why are you here?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a guy to be living in a girls' dorm."
"Well, I'm the acting landlord right now, so I have that obligation."
"'Acting landlord?'"
"Yeah. The regular manager has taken some… time off and he has left his duties to me for the time being."
"You mean there's another guy living here?"
"That's right."
"How can the other girls stand it?"
"It's easier than you think. When I'm not involved in incidents, I'm actually a very nice guy. Oh, by the way, my name's Urashima Keitaro."
"Alicia Dove." The two shook hands. "You want to help me unpack?"
"Sure!" Keitaro said, eager to get on her good side. He quickly walked to Alicia's bags, not realizing he was still holding her hand until it was too late. When he got to the limit of his reach, his advance was halted, jerking him around, pulling Alicia toward him in the process. The two collided into each other and fell to the floor, Alicia landing on top of him. Both of them were dazed to the point that neither were aware of where Keitaro's hands ended up.
Alicia was the first to regain rational thought, and the first thing she noticed was the landlord's hands holding her breasts. She started to blush; not at the action itself, but how it felt. "Um, Keitaro…"
This snapped Keitaro out of his stupor. Realizing what he was doing, he immediately let go. "I'm sorry," he said, hoping his good luck in escaping without injury would continue. "I didn't mean to--"
"Don't. I know you didn't do it on purpose, but I can see how the others could see it as being perverted. Honestly, I don't see what's wrong with it as long as it's truly accidental."
"Well, that's your opinion. There are a couple girls here that take grave offense to these things, and also the reason why I get hit so often."
"Are they always accidents?" Alicia said, getting up.
"Yes, but they think it happens too often for it to be that way." Keitaro grabbed Alicia's outstretched hand and she helped him to his feet. Afterwards, he made sure to let go.
"If you are beaten up so often, then why don't I see any bruises?"
"I tend to heal very quickly; it's been a blessing I've come to be very grateful for, since I probably wouldn't have lasted this long if I didn't."
Alicia placed a hand on Keitaro's cheek. "You poor thing. Did the other landlord have to go through the same thing?"
"He used to, but he takes steps to prevent it. Also, he isn't nearly as clumsy as I am, so accidents are rare, if they happen at all. I'm glad for it, because he isn't as… well, let's just say that he can't take a punch as well as I can."
"So I won't have to worry about him, then," Alicia said. "Just you."
"You don't have to. I've gotten used to it by now."
"But that shouldn't happen; it's not healthy for someone to take so much abuse."
"There's nothing I can do. Sean wasn't able to help, so what makes you think you can?"
"Sean?"
"That's the manager's--our friend's--name."
"Oh. I don't know if I can do anything, but I'll certainly give it a try. In the meantime, I think you should go."
"What about me helping you unpack?"
"I can handle that myself. But I have to think of some good excuse for you to leave…" Alicia thought it over for a bit, then snapped her fingers. "Got it. I apologize in advance for what I'm going to do, but I mean nothing by it. I hope you understand."
"Um, sure, but what exactly are you going to…" His words got stuck in his throat as he saw her hand grasp his.
"We have to make it look like another one of your mishaps--that won't be too hard considering it actually happened. Just act as you normally do." She saw Keitaro blush as she raised his hand towards her.
---
Naru stood by the door, waiting for Keitaro to leave. She was starting to be surprised at how silent it was on the inside and was just about to head off to her room when she heard a loud scream.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to--"
"Yeah, right. That girl out there was right; you're just a no good pervert!"
"But it was an accident!"
"Like I'm going to believe you!" The door opened and Keitaro was forced out. "I would think twice before trying a stunt like that again if I were you!" Alicia slammed the door shut.
"What did you do this time?" Naru asked. As if she needed to ask.
---
"Things like that shouldn't happen to such a cute guy," Alicia thought as she started to unpack her clothes and put them in the dresser and closet.
--- 6:33 PM
Shinobu walked toward a certain room. She had heard of the new girl's arrival, but had not seen her yet. "I wonder what she looks like," she muttered to herself. Nervously, she knocked on the door.
"Yes?"
"Um, I just wanted to tell you dinner's ready."
"Thank you." Moments later, the door opened and Alicia stepped out.
"Oh my," Shinobu thought. "She's as pretty as the others…" Her thoughts started to trail off.
Alicia noticed a bit of sadness on Shinobu's young face. "Is something wrong?"
Shinobu continued to look at her. "I wish I was pretty like you."
"Who told you you weren't?"
"Nobody, it just that…" Shinobu looked at her own less-than-developed figure.
"Is that all?" Alicia was relieved to find her new friend's problems were superficial. "Trust me, you look just fine that way you are right now, and it should only improve with age. Besides, growing old isn't all it's cracked up to be. The things us girls have to go through I wouldn't wish on anyone. I wish I was young like you again, with hardly a care in the world."
"Really?"
"Yes. If I could relive my childhood years again, I would. Take advantage of your youth while you can; you won't get a second chance."
That seemed to cheer Shinobu up. "Thank you."
"I know how it feels to be jealous like that. I've met Kitsune."
"Maybe when you get to be her age, you'll look like her, too."
"How old is she?"
"18."
Alicia snorted. "So am I."
Shinobu was surprised. Alicia looked no older than Naru; she was a couple inches shorter than her and had about the same bust size. "You don't look 18."
Alicia rolled her eyes. "I know. I must have a late development schedule or something. Oh well, I'll just have to make the best of the cards I've been dealt, just like you have to." As an afterthought, she added, "I never caught your name."
"It's Shinobu."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Alicia."
The two were walking and talking at the same time, and they suddenly found themselves nearing the dining room. "I guess it's time I met everyone else."
"Who do you know already?"
"Kitsune and Keitaro; I've seen a couple others, but I don't know their names."
When they entered the dining room, all conversations ended and everyone's attention was drawn to the newcomer.
"Um, hi everyone," Alicia said nervously.
"Hi, Alicia," everyone at the table responded.
Alicia took a seat at the table. She noticed the girl next to her had a sword at her side.
Keitaro noticed Alicia's worried expression. "Don't worry. She only uses that thing on me."
A look of shock washed over Alicia's face. "What?! She attacks you with that?!"
"Only when he's being perverted," the swordswoman said.
Alicia cringed at the thought of Keitaro being sliced in half.
"I told you I heal quickly," Keitaro said.
Alicia looked at him wide-eyed. "Now I believe it."
Dinner went by very peacefully, with everyone introducing themselves and their place in Hinata House: Motoko, swordswoman and member of the Pervert Elimination Team; Suu, machine-crazy foreigner; Kitsune, all-around party girl; Naru, Tokyo U student and other member of P.E.T.; Keitaro, Tokyo U student, interim co-landlord and eternal victim of P.E.T.; Mutsumi, Tokyo U student, and kind-hearted airhead; Shinobu, interim co-landlord and resident cook.
"I guess it's time I told you about myself," Alicia said after everyone else had their turn. "My name is Alicia Dove, I'm 18 years old, and have been living in Japan for about 4 years. Before that, I lived in southern California. As part of some sick and twisted joke, my parents decided to move here."
"What do you mean 'sick and twisted'?" Shinobu asked. "Don't you like it here?"
"It's not that I don't like it, it's just the darn school system here. Do you have any idea what it's like to go to high school and be two years older than everyone in your class? It made me feel stupid. Thank God I graduated last year, cause I probably couldn't stand it for much longer."
"Do you plan on going to college?" Naru asked.
"Heck no. I'm done with school for good."
"Amen to that," Kitsune said, raising her glass.
"That reminds me; Kitsune could I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"When I first walked in the door, I heard you screaming something about wanting Sean back. Is he your boyfriend or something?"
"Actually, he's my boyfriend." Alicia was shocked by who said it.
"Shinobu, how did--"
"It's a long story."
"And to think you're jealous about how the others look, when you've already got a man. Uh, how old is he, anyway."
"He's 22."
"My. He can't be the good guy I've heard him to be if he's going out with someone half his age."
"He is a nice guy. He doesn't do anything perverted to me; he's willing to wait until I'm the right age to do anything--"
"But he still has those certain urges," Kitsune interrupted. "That's where I come in."
"Something tells me I don't want to know more, so I'll just stop you right there," Alicia said. By that time everyone had just about finished eating. "Thank you for the delicious meal. I'll be in my room for a little while longer if anyone wants me."
"You mean you haven't finished unpacking yet?" Kitsune asked.
"Well, you know how heavy my bags were. Besides, I'm just about done; just a few finishing touches is all." Alicia bowed and left for the kitchen, taking her dishes with her.
"Well, she sounds nice," Suu said.
"Yeah, I agree," Mutsumi added. "Is something wrong, Motoko?"
The swordswoman had a slight look of confusion about her. "I don't know. There's just something about her that's doesn't seem right, but I can't put my finger on it."
"It's probably nothing," Keitaro said.
"Maybe you're right." Motoko said, "But I just can't shake the feeling that there's something more to her than meets the eye," she thought.
--- 7:02 PM
"Well, moving in took longer than I thought it would, but I'm glad it's done," Alicia said as she surveyed her new room. "I hope I won't have to do something like that ever again." Her muscles were a bit sore, so she decided to take a trip to the hot springs.
After she changed into a towel, she opened the door to the spring to find the other girls there--all of them. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know there was anyone else out here." She had been so consumed by her thoughts that she failed to notice the other piles of clothes in the changing room.
"Don't worry about it, come on out," Naru said as Alicia started to close the door.
"It's just that I'm not used to bathing in front of others." Alicia said as she stepped slowly towards the water, holding her towel close to her and a blush on her face.
"You'll get more comfortable after a while."
"What brought you to Hinata-Sou, Alicia?" Motoko asked.
Alicia stepped into the water and sat down before she responded. "Well, after I graduated from high school, I started to slack off. My parents finally got sick and tired of it, so they kicked me out. I heard about this place and figured it was as good a place as any to crash until I got my life on track. I hope I haven't inconvenienced you or anything."
"Actually, since Sean left, things were starting to get quite tedious," Kitsune said. "I'm glad you showed up."
"I've heard about this 'Sean' character a few times. What kind of guy is he, exactly?"
"Oh, he's just the best," Shinobu chimed in. "You have no idea how much he does for us."
"Yes," Motoko agreed. "He is always willing to listen to our problems and tries to keep us happy at all times; one way or another." She blushed a bit after that last part.
"Do you mean he--"
"He'll please us from time to time," Kitsune said. "But he's determined to save himself for Shinobu."
"Yeah, you mentioned that earlier. It's amazing; I never heard of a guy willing to hold himself back like that for so long."
"Well, Sean isn't your normal guy. How about you? Have you ever had a boyfriend?"
"A few, but I always seem to pick the wrong ones. Every one of them ended up cheating on me. There's one in particular that stands out in my mind; it was guy that I was going out with for a couple months. I thought everything was going fine until I found him making out with another girl."
"What did you do?"
"I did what any self-respecting girl would have done; I kicked his ass."
"Funny," Motoko said, "you don't look like someone who's prone to violence."
"I'm not, but there are those few things that can get you to do almost anything, you know?"
"Do you ever think you'll find your one true love?" Shinobu asked.
"I don't know. I've been disappointed so many times, I'm thinking I might just quit trying to find the right guy."
"Don't do that. I'm sure there's someone out there that's right for you."
"Maybe." Alicia closed her eyes as the water relaxed her muscles, along with the rest of her. After a few moments, she started to lean towards Motoko, much to her surprise.
"What's up with her?" Naru asked, curious about Alicia's odd behavior.
Motoko caught Alicia in her arms. "I think she's asleep." Sure enough, light snoring could be heard. "Today must have taken a lot out of her."
"Considering how much stuff she brought with her, I'm not surprised," Kitsune said.
"I guess we should get her to bed," Naru suggested.
"I'll take care if it," Shinobu said, getting up and walking to the changing room. She returned minutes later fully clothed and carrying Alicia's clothes with her. "I'll see you in a bit." She rested a hand on her shoulder and both Shinobu and Alicia vanished.
--- 9:42 PM
"Wh-Where am I?" Alicia asked herself as she woke up.
"You're in your room," Kitsune said.
Alicia sat up with a start. "How did--"
"You fell asleep in the hot spring; we brought you up here."
"I guess that place is more relaxing than I thought."
"Seems that way. Are you up for doing anything tonight?"
"Nah, I think I'll just get some sleep. It's been a rough day for me."
"I know. See you tomorrow, then." Kitsune started toward the door.
"Uh, Kitsune, could I ask you a favor?"
"Anything."
"Next time you want to play cards, could we not do it in the living room, please?"
Kitsune laughed. "Sure thing. Goodnight, Alicia."
"'Night." Kitsune left, closing the door behind her, and Alicia laid back down on her bed, drifting off to sleep.
* * * End of Chapter XVII * * *
There you have it. It may not be all that much, but that's what happens when you bring in someone completely new. In case you're wondering, I plan on reintroducing myself in Chapter 19. (yes, I've thought things out that far ahead) Tell me what you think of what I've done. See you later!