Su's Note: shhh. Slippy's finally gots this chapter finished. Me and Kitsunes done proof-readed it, and her ya goes. Shinobus even helped out, making us some sandwiches whiles we worked. Come 'ere, Shinobus and says 'Hi' to everybody.

Shinobu: Uh, hello. Aaauuuuu!

Kitsune: (whispering) Yeah, and that baka Slippy tried to password protect the file, but Su fixed that right quick! Hope ya'll likes it, I get a few more lines in this one, for a change. Slippy even let me think some slightly naughtier thoughts about Keitaro, and he stole kisses from some of us in this rewrite. Keitaro, not Slippy. Yay!

Keitaro: B-but, Kitsune! That's not exactly true, I mean, that is (Kitsune grabs Keitaro's face and kisses him)…..GACK!

Shinobu: S-Sempai's b-blood? Aiiiiieeeee! (THUNK!)

Su: (poking the unconscious ronin with a stick) Dang, ya broke him, agains. And Shinobus gone la-la land, agains. Ya know, I coulda hads more lines, but I was busy making a mecha-slippy to take overs the writings when Slippy's ignoring his duty to the readers.

(A scream echoes from the backyard as Slippy runs from a two foot-long, robotic weasel, flames pouring from its mouth.)

Kitsune: Maybe ya'll should have used more typing fluid and less napalm as a lubricant if ya'll wanted that thing to write stories, Su. Oh, and Slippy tightened up some lines in the other chapters. Doesn't change the story, really, just lets it make more sense. Well, enjoy everybody!

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Love Hina – Blind Love

Fanfic

Chapter Four –

"And one more thing," Haruka's voice goes hard, "the accident that cost Keitaro his sight fifteen years ago happened right here at Hinata-sou, out by the hot springs. So I imagine he may become a bit distressed as he recovers from the sedative, and the realization that he has just been attacked in the same place that cost him his eyesight kicks in. So tread lightly on anything you say about that subject!"

Everyone prepares their plates in silence, and Shinobu readies a tray laden with food for Haruka and Hikari, and liquid refreshments for Keitaro; the residents then follow the two women to see Keitaro.

Friday, lunchtime, Hinata-sou

At Keitaro's door, Haruka pauses and knocks. "May we all come in, Keitaro?"

"Yes, please." he answers.

Haruka slides the door to the side, and gestures for the residents to enter. "Please, seat yourselves comfortably around the room, eldest to Keitaro's right. Hikari and I will sit beside him as we are known to him. Shinobu, please bring the tray over here, I'll just set this table on Keitaro's left, and you can serve him."

Having asked Hikari to retrieve a spare pair of opaque glasses from his backpack before they went downstairs, Keitaro sits on the futon, legs beneath him, his jaw bandaged, his left arm in a brace and sling, bound against his chest. He smiles as he tries to appear calm, but he is nervous all the same, with just a touch of fear. As Haruka prepares his table, the girls use the opportunity to examine him.

Kitsune- (No surprise that Keitaro-san seems so worried and afraid of us. We'all beat the heck outta him! Why else should he act otherwise?) Noticing his face clearly for the first time; (Ya know, he's kinda cute, though, in a beaten-up, puppy-dog kinda way. He might be fun to tease, if he weren't just visiting. Oh Spit! I forgot he can't see me when I put mah babies to work.) Grinning mischievously, the Fox thinks (Well, there are other ways to get a man's attention. I wish he didn't wear those dark glasses all the time. I wonder what color his eyes are.)

Su-(Poor guy, he gots all busted up by Punch Lady and the Stick-waving Momma before anyone elses had a chance to plays. He seems friendly. I wonders if he'll come back and plays with me after he gets better? And those dark wrap-around glasses is way cool. I wonder what color his eyes are.)

Mutsumi-(Ara, he's not bad looking, if you ignore the bandages and bruises. And those glasses make him look so mysterious and yet somehow familiar. I wonder what color his eyes are.)

Motoko-(How can that, that male, just sit there? He must be thinking of something extremely vile and lecherous and perverted, that deceitful male. And how could he possibly have recovered so quickly? Does he practice some type of martial art? Such an individual would make an excellent training partner, uh, if he wasn't male, that is. And if he were to remain here for a short time after he recovers. However, with those glasses, he gives the appearance of someone with something to hide. He might look better without them; That is, I mean, I wonder what color his eyes are?)

Naru-(What is that pervert thinking? I have to make sure he thinks he's the one at fault; it's the only way to get my ass outta the sling with Haruka. Why does he have to smile like that? Although, if he weren't wearing those glasses, he might look kinda cute) The self-preservation side of Naru's brain gets up and kicks the legs out from under her compassionate side and holds it down (for a pervert, that is! I wonder what color his eyes are.)

Shinobu-(Aaauuuuu! Did he just smell my food and smile? Does he think it's good? And I get to serve him? I'm gonna pee! He looks so cute, but those glasses kinda scare me. I wish he didn't wear them.) "I wonder what color his eyes are. Did I just say that out loud? Aaauuuuu!"

All the girls gasp, hearing Shinobu voice almost their exact thoughts.

Keitaro sits quietly, listening to the movements around him. He tries to keep the grin off his face as he hears Shinobu comment. (Why would anyone care what color my eyes are?) He shifts nervously, hearing the others settle into position on their cushions around his futon.

Haruka, having seen to Keitaro's table, lays a hand on his arm. "Keitaro, let's get the girls introduced to you, then it'll be your turn. We'll start on your right." Haruka gestures to Mutsumi to begin.

"Ara, I am pleased to meet you, Keitaro-san. My name is Mutsumi Otohime, I am 20 years old, and I was born on Okinawa. I am a prep school student, and I am trying to make it in to Toudai for the second time. I like kotatsu tables, watermelons and turtles. I live next door in room 203. My hobbies are studying, canoe rides, and dressing up." Mutsumi, her turtle Tama-chan on her head, bows to Keitaro, who has turned towards her voice and bows as she finishes speaking. Tama-chan responds "Mew, mew!"

"Pleasure to meet ya'll, Keitaro-san. My name is Mitsune Konno. Ah am 20 years old, and Ah was born in Osaka. Ah am a freelance writer. I like sake, dancing and having fun with my friends. I live in room 205, just on the other side of here. My friends call me Kitsune. Ya'll can call me anytime ya'll wants. My hobbies are gambling." Kitsune grins and winks, forgetting that Keitaro cannot see her, and she bows. He nervously returns her bow. "Uh, okay, er, yeah."

"My name is Naru Narusegawa, Keitaro-san. I am 19 years old, ouch!" Kitsune elbows the honey-haired girl "I, uh, that is, I mean I am 17 years old. I will be 18 on my next birthday." (What kind of idiotic statement was that?) "I was born in Kanagawa prefecture. I live right upstairs in room 304. I consider myself very smart and I want to go to Toudai. I received the top score in the last nationwide practice entrance exam. I have to wear glasses because I've studied so much." (Oh, great, now I sound like I'm bragging. And why did I tell him I wear glasses? Like he'll ever see them) "My hobbies are shopping, relaxing in the hot springs, studying, karaoke, and bowling." Naru, her babbling completed, bows slightly as Keitaro returns her bow, a strange look on his face. (What is that baka thinking? Why is he making that face? I bet he's already singled me out to blame for what happened earlier. Well, we'll see who blames who, Mr. Urashima!)

Her sword on her lap, "Greetings, Urashima-san. My name is Motoko Aoyama. I am 16 years old, and I was born in Kyoto. I am a twelfth generation sword master of the Shinmei School. I am a freshman in high school. I live upstairs in room 302. I detest turtles. I wish to become the greatest master of the Shinmei-ryu School. My hobbies are practicing with my sword, watching anime, and bathing in the hot springs here at Hinata-sou." Despite her resentment towards him, Motoko performs a respectful bow in his direction. Keitaro bow towards her as well, again a strange look on his face. (Spirits! Naru is right! That look! Urashima must have identified me as one who participated in the attack on his person, and is contemplating his revenge. I shall not be intimidated by a, a MALE!)

"Howdy Keitaros! My name's Su Kaolla. I'm 14 years old, and I was born in my home country. I lives up in room 301. I wanna rule the world someday. I'm a freshman in junior high school. I like bananas, sliding, and turtles, stewed. That is, if I can ever catches that flying soup base. I got lotsa hobbies, but my favorites is inventing, having fun, and eating. Do you think you could plays with me before ya leaves?" She performs a bow, a slight grin on his face.

"I'd like that, Miss Koala, if I'm still around after I get better." He replies as he bows.

"Hey, I ain't no psychedelic tree-climbing teddy-bear. The names Kaolla, but ya can calls me Su."

"O-Okay, Su-chan."

"That's better. I likes ya Keitaros. I hopes ya can hangs around for a while."

Naru thinks (Yeah, like I'll ever let that pervert stay here any longer than it takes Hikari to pack him off to the hospital. He can recover there as easily as anywhere.)

"And lastly, at your left here is our resident cook and your server for today." Haruka nods to Shinobu.

Blushing, the young cook introduces herself. "M-my name is Shinobu Maehara. I am 13 years old now, but I'll be 14 in a few weeks. I was born here in Hinata City. I am a freshman in junior high school, but I'm not very smart. I like sitting in the sun, and reading. I live up the hall in room 201. I want to own a nice restaurant someday. My hobbies include cooking, cleaning, and stuffed animals." She bows towards Keitaro who, as he also bows, bumps heads with the youngest resident.

Sitting up quickly, Keitaro rubs his forehead. "Ow! Oh, I'm so sorry Maehara-san, please forgive me!"

"N-no, please, don't apologize Mr. Urashima. You couldn't have known. It was all my fault, I forgot you were blind and…Aaauuuuu!" Shinobu's hand covers her mouth; afraid she has insulted him by forgetting something that he lives with everyday.

"Maehara-san, please. Don't worry about it. I've been blind since before you were born, so I'm used to it. I don't suppose you've had to deal with too many blind people as a junior high school student. It must be uncomfortable for you."

Shinobu nods her head as she whispers "M-maybe just a l-little, sorry." She bows again.

"I'll tell you what. You just call me Keitaro and we'll consider it all forgotten. What do you say we shake on it?" He leans forward and holds his hand out in the direction of the young cook. However, since she has bowed to him again, his hand slides down the back of her shirt.

"Aieeeeeeeeee!" Shinobu clasps both hands over her mouth to stifle her inadvertent yelp as she rapidly sits up. Keitaro, however, not realizing where his hand is, finds it caught as she leans back, and he is pulled forward to fall on top of her. "Aaauuuuu!" (H-he's on top of me! H-he's pressed against me! He's, he's so warm! A-and he smells nice, too!)

Naru and Motoko, believing he is attempting to molest their young friend, stand and stalk toward them.

"Hey you filthy pervert! Get off her! She's only a middle school student, you dirty lowlife!"

"Release Maehara-san immediately, Urashima! Then my sword shall bring justice upon you for attempting to defile this young maiden!"

Keitaro, rising quickly as he realizes what just happened, instinctively pushes Shinobu behind him as he turns in the direction of Naru and Motoko's voices. Having a good idea what is about to happen, he shields the young girl with his body as he turns towards them. "Please, you've got it wrong! I didn't mean to do anything, it was an accident!" He puts his good hand up, hoping to calm the two young women as he steels himself, mentally preparing himself for another attack.

Naru rears back, ready to deliver a Naru-punch as Motoko raises her sword.

"STOP, DAMN IT, THE BOTH OF YOU!"

Haruka's yell stops the pair in their tracks. She has risen to her feet, her eyes like flame. "Just what the hell are you two thinking? Kami-sama, if you had attacked Keitaro right now, what do you think would have happened to Shinobu?"

The girls look and see Shinobu, trembling like a leaf, desperately clinging to Keitaro's bandaged left arm, her eyes wide with fear as she stares at his attackers from behind the young man. Keitaro reaches down and places his good hand over hers.

Haruka calms a little, but not much, as she stares at the two assailants. She continues. "If you would have stopped for a second, you would have realized Keitaro accidentally fell over. And, when he realized he was about to be attacked again, he pushed Shinobu behind him to cover her with his own body. So tell me, who was protecting who from whom?"

Adjusting her cigarette, Haruka goes on. "Keitaro may be able to handle it, but Shinobu wouldn't stand a chance if your attacks slipped past him. So just SIT DOWN!" Haruka stands there, her arms crossed, until the two girls back-down and return to their cushions.

Turning, she continues in a gentler voice, "It's okay now, Keitaro, you can relax. You too, Shinobu. You can let go of his arm now."

Keitaro turns and gently pries the still trembling girl's hands from his arm. She immediately grabs his waist in a bear-hug and whispers "T-thank you for protecting me, Sempai!"

"I'm just glad no one got hurt again, Maehara-san." Sliding his hand up her arm to her head, he pats her gently.

Looking up into his dark glasses, she says "P-please, call m-me Shinobu. And d-don't hate Naru-sempai and Motoko-sempai, they w-were only, uh, that is, they've always taken care of me."

Thinking about what Shinobu called him, Keitaro tilts his head. "So, since I protected you, I'm a sempai as well, huh?" He smiles.

Releasing Keitaro, she backs away slightly and explains, "W-well, Naru-sempai and Motoko-sempai take care of all of us. So they are both sempai. But, you protected me, so you are MY Sempai." Shinobu says timidly, risking a look up at Keitaro.

Keitaro rubs the back of his head as he says, "I understand. Thank you, Shinobu-chan, I am honored." He puts his hand out in front of his body and moves it around. Not feeling anyone there, Keitaro smiles lopsidedly and then bows to Shinobu. "Better safe than sorry, right Shinobu-chan?" Shinobu giggles at his precaution and silliness.

He turns and raises his head in the direction of the two girls, a more serious look on his face, "And since Shinobu-chan doesn't blame you, it's only right that I forgive you. And that leads to why I wanted to talk to all of you." Keitaro kneels, bowing as low as his injuries allow, causing the residents to gasp; "I beg all your pardons; I didn't mean to intrude while you were bathing. I'm sorry that I caused all of you any distress. And for what happened, I don't hold any of you responsible. I understand you were just trying to protect each other, to take care of each other. Please forgive me."

"S-Sempai? But, how can you…? After what happened?" Shinobu whispers. (H-he's so kind and gentle and nice. I wish I had someone like him to take care of me.) Realizing what her thoughts implied, the young girl wails; "Aaauuuuu!" (I think I pee'd!)

Keitaro sits up and rubs the back of his head. Before he can reply, the girls all start speaking.

Kitsune stares at the young man. "Beggin' ya'lls pardon, Keitaro-san, but are ya'll sure that ya didn't hurt your head when ya landed? I mean, we did attack ya'll!" she asks, surprised not only that he holds them all blame-less, but that he is actually apologizing to them for what happened! (He's kinda sweet, in a clumsy and clueless kinda way.)

"Oh my! You are such a sweet young man! Would you like to taste my melons?" Mutsumi exclaims airily, holding a melon in one hand as the other goes to her cheek while she looks at Keitaro. Keitaro blushes slightly at her words, a hint of blood trickling from his nose as he quickly pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket to cover his nose. (Oh dear, he is really very cute!)

Su stands on her head and claps her feet, "Ya is alright in my books, Keitaros! I hopes ya can stays around for a while and plays with me! Can ya? Can ya?" (I thinks you look cute, Keitaros. You remind me of my brother, in a weakling kinda way.)

Motoko and Naru are speechless. After having prepared themselves to lay all the blame on Keitaro, and then almost attacking him again, he stuns them by accepting full responsibility for everything.

Motoko squirms on her cushion, thinking to herself; (I do not understand! Urashima should have been furious with us for attacking his person, yet he forgives us AND asks our forgiveness? Is he a spineless weakling trying to protect himself? Or, does he truly mean what he is saying?) She forces herself to look at the young man, wondering what the truth is.

Naru, having returned to her cushion, stares at her hands in her lap; (How can he just forgive us? We nearly killed him, not that he didn't provoke us…..) She looks up and sees Keitaro face, a kind and gentle smile beaming at them from behind his dark glasses. (And how can he smile at me, uh, I mean us, like that?) she thinks, her hands going to her chest.

Haruka raises her hand to quiet the girls. She glares at Keitaro, although she knows he cannot see her. "I honestly don't understand how you can say that, Keitaro. You were in no way at fault for what happened today."

Hikari speaks up. "She is right, Keitaro. We knew you were going to be here, although I admit you are a day early. We should have told the girls several days ago that you were going to be visiting Hinata-sou at your grandmothers' request. They would not have reacted as they did if they were expecting you."

Haruka gets a thoughtful look in her eye, as if disagreeing with Hikari's statement. "I rather doubt it would have made any difference to Naru or Motoko." she says to herself. Keitaro turns towards her, a slightly surprised look on his face.

"You don't mean that, do you Aunt Haruka?" A paper fan makes itself known to the back of Keitaro's head.

"Just call me Haruka. And remind me not to talk to myself while you're around, Keitaro. I keep forgetting how good your hearing is. And yes, I meant every word." The girls look from Haruka to Keitaro, wondering what it was she said that Keitaro disagreed with so strongly.

Keitaro reaches out with his good hand, and Haruka takes it. "Haruka, we both know how clumsy I can be. I have to give them the benefit of the doubt. What kind of person would I be if I blamed everything that happened to me on somebody, anybody, else?" Grimacing at the memory, "I met too many people like that at the Institute; torn up inside with anger because they couldn't handle being blind, and had to make everyone around them feel guilty because of it. I refuse to end up like them!" he finishes, a hint of determination and conviction in his previously meek voice.

"I'm just worried for you, Keitaro. You are my favorite nephew, you know." she says with a slight smile on her face.

"Uh, I think I'm your ONLY nephew, Haruka." Keitaro replies, a laugh in his voice.

"That doesn't change how much I care about what happens to you." Haruka states firmly. Keitaro rubs the back of his head, blushing somewhat at her concern.

"Now that everyone's settled down," Haruka gives Naru and Motoko a stern look, "I think we need to let Keitaro introduce himself."

"Yes, of course." Bowing towards the girls, Keitaro says. "My name is Keitaro Urashima. I am 19 years old, and was born in Hinata City. My goal is to make it into Toudai, even though my studies aren't going well, in fact I've failed the past two years." The girls are surprised. They had not expected a blind man his age to have completed secondary school, let alone that he is trying to get into Tokyo University. "My hobbies are collecting photo stickers, cooking, drawing, and writing."

(He failed two times to get in? He…He's a ronin! A blind, perverted ronin!) Naru thinks.

Before she can speak up, Kitsune replies. "Hold on a minute, Keitaro-san. Ah don't understand; Ya'll collect photo stickers AND ya'll like to draw? Forgive me for sounding like an idiot, but, ya'll are blind, aren't ya?" she says, blushing slightly at mentioning the young man's' condition. The others hiss and shush her for being so dense, although they were wondering the same thing. Expectantly, they all look at Keitaro.

Keitaro grins "It's alright, Konno-san. I get that reaction all the time." Tilting his head down a little, he replies, "I guess you might say I have a very, well, active imagination. I can remember what some things look like, in general, because I haven't been blind all my life. And I found out long ago that, if I concentrate, I can draw what I see or imagine in my mind, if I have a clear enough picture of it. I've been told that my drawings are pretty good," Keitaro blushes, "but I know people are just being 'kind to the poor blind man' when they say that."

Lifting his head up and turning on his smile, he says, "I mean, think about it; how good do you really think a blind person can draw?" He grins and chuckles, the girls giggling as they also see the humor in what he says.

"S-Sempai, but what a-about collecting photo-stickers? Forgive me, please, but, if…that is, ah, if you….." Shinobu falters, embarrassed at asking the question.

Keitaro, blushing slightly, rubs his neck and grins, "I guess that would have to be my optimism to blame for that habit, Shinobu-chan. When I go to places I haven't been to, I ask where the photo booths are."

Keitaro's voice drops a bit, " Even though the doctors have told me that I'll never see again, I hope inside that, someday, I will. So I collect photos, so one day I'll be able to look at them and 'see' where I've been, not just how I imagine it might have looked like. It's as simple as that. Kinda silly, huh!" Keitaro finishes, nervously rubbing his right hand on his neck.

A few moments of quiet contemplation pass as the girls, their mouths open, stare at the young man before them.

Breaking the silence, Mutsumi exclaims happily, "Ara, that is such a wonderful outlook on life. You are so sweet, Keitaro-san." Mutsumi crawls over to kneel beside him and takes his head in her hands. "And you have such a darling face!" she kisses him on the lips. Keitaro sits there, his face blushing red.

"Mutsumi!?!" Naru leaps over and drags the Okinawan by her arm back to her cushion. "What do you think you're doing? Leave Keitaro alone!" she yelps, not noticing the blush that is rapidly rising on her own face.

Kitsune rubs her chin and looks at Keitaro, whose right hand has risen to his rapidly blushing cheek. "O-Otohime-san?" he sputters, a drop of blood appearing at his nose.

Crawling over rapidly, the Fox plants herself next to Keitaro. "That has got to be the brightest outlook on life Ah've ever heard, Keitaro-san!" Kitsune grabs his head and plants a kiss on his lips. "Ah think Mutsumi's got something there. Ya'll is kinda cute, Keitaro-san."

"Ko-Konno-s-san?" Blood drips faster as Keitaro's head tilts back, his face blushing three shades of red.

Rubbing her chest against his right arm, Kitsune grins slyly as she wraps her arms around the helpless ronin, "Hey, ya'll can just call me Kitsune. I think ya'll and me are gonna be real 'good' friends, Keitaro."

"GACK!" Keitaro freezes as blood gushes from his nostrils.

"Aaauuuuu! S-Sempai's bleeding again!" Shinobu grabs a napkin to assist Keitaro, but trips over her cushion as she rises, crashing against Keitaro, knocking him out of Kitsune's grip. The young cook lands on top of him as he falls over. "Sempai?" she whispers worriedly. Staring at his face, her sub-conscious mind rapidly runs through her options.

1. Pee.

2. Faint.

3. Pee and then faint.

4. Kiss the prone man beneath her.

(Number 4! Number 4! Fight, Shinobu, fight!) her thoughts scream at her.

Hearing her whisper, he replies. "Shi-Shinobu-chan?" Keitaro stutters, his hand reaching up her arm to find her face, where he touches her cheek.

"Aaauuuu!" Shinobu squeals as she jumps up (Sempai touched my arm! Sempai touched my face!)

Number 3 wins.

"I-I pee'd!"

THUNK!

"Hey, does that tastes yummy?" Su asks, jumping over and grabbing Keitaro by his shoulders. She lifts his head up and plants a loud kiss on his face. "Smack!"

"Hmmm. Kinda likes marshmallows and fried rice. Not bads." Su leaps back over to her cushion.

"S-S-S-S-Su-ch-chan……" Keitaro's mind goes blank and he flops back to the ground as she releases him, with only his right foot twitching to show he is still among the living.

Motoko looks from the four girls, to Naru, and then to the prone figure of Keitaro. (This cannot be happening! Urashima must not be allowed to force his perverted ways on us!) she thinks. Blushing slightly, the sword maiden says, "This is not the proper way to act towards him, I mean, towards us! That is, we must restrain ourselves! No, I mean you, YOU must restrain yourself, Urashima. We, uh, we should not be taking advantage of you this way, I mean, you should not..." Motoko sputters as her brain and mouth argue over what she is trying to say.

Naru sits there, still holding Mutsumi's shirt-sleeve as she watches the others kissing Haruka's nephew. Her mouth drops open and she stares as Keitaro collapses to the floor. (Why that, that lousy, two-timing, perverted ronin! I outta….Oooooh!) Naru grits her teeth. (Wait a minute! Why should I care? He's nothing to me. He'll be leaving me, I mean, he'll be leaving here soon anyway.) Naru bites her lip, a small shiver running up her spine.

Hikari holds her hand up to her mouth and giggles, "Well, Haruka. That took less time than I thought it would."

Haruka looks around at the girls. "I should've known. The first time we have a man visit Hinata-sou, and the lot of you can't keep your hands off him. It looks like I'm going to have to hire some security for Keitaro." she says. "I suggest everyone keep their hands AND lips to themselves so Keitaro can recover a bit and have a chance to eat. He IS hungry, you know."

Kitsune, her mouth open to reply, gets a stern glance from Haruka.

"What?" the Fox says, a wicked gleam in her eye. "Ah wasn't going to say anything."