Love Hina – The Forgotten Ronin

Fanfic

"The rest of you can just stay here and enjoy your warm and caring company." she says sarcastically, facing the other girls. "Kei deserved better treatment than what he's gotten from most of you." Puffing her cigarette, she adds, "And if any of you so much as shows a shadow down at the Tea House tonight, unless the inn is on fire or one of you is dying, you will have to deal with me!"

Walking to the foyer, Haruka puts her coat on, grabs Keitaro's shoes and jacket, and heads for the drying deck.

Chapter Three – Christmas Eve, late

With the snow coming down thicker now, Keitaro stares across the snow-covered city while leaning on the rail of the laundry deck; unmindful of the fact that he's been out here for the last ten minutes, and he has no jacket on and is wearing dorm slippers instead of shoes.

(Am I really such a failure as a manager and a friend?) he thinks to himself. (It just doesn't make any sense. I do everything they ask and more. I try to be friends with them, but, it's like they go out of their way to exclude me from trying to fit in, and criticize all the work I do around here.) sigh (I guess I was just kidding myself when I thought I could do this job. What was Granny thinking?)

"Maybe it would have been a good idea if you did run away this morning. At least then you wouldn't feel as crappy as you do right now." Keitaro turns to see Haruka standing at the steps to the deck, his jacket and shoes in her hands. Stepping over, she hands them to him. "Put these on. After nearly freezing this morning, the last thing you need is to be out in the cold again."

Accepting the clothes with mumbled thanks, Keitaro puts his shoes on and wraps his jacket around himself and continues looking over the city. After a few moments of silence, Haruka softly says "Um, Keitaro. Isn't this the point where you turn to me and say you could never leave your tenants as long as they need you, blah, blah?" concern apparent in her eyes. (Damn it! Have those girls already pushed him too far?)

Smiling slightly and blushing, Keitaro looks at her. "Well, to be honest, I was just thinking along those lines, but you interrupted me before I got to the usual part where I talk myself out of it." Rubbing his hands together before putting them in his pockets, he continues. "I don't know if I'd ever really do that to the girls. I hate to think of what kind of manager they'd end up with if I weren't around."

Haruka tilts her head and says sarcastically, "Well, maybe they'd be content with Kanako, huh?"

Keitaro stares at Haruka for a few seconds, before realizing she is only kidding. Laughing weakly, he replies, "That's a scary thought. I don't think I could put the girls through that, either. Although, it could be fun to watch, until they decided to kill me for it."

"Keep it in the back of your mind in case of an emergency, Kei. You never know when you may need to get away on your own for a while, and I've got no desire to manage the dorm again. I have the Tea House to run, you know." Haruka tells him.

The smile fades from Keitaro's face as he glances out to the city again. Haruka, noticing this, says, "Let's to go down to the Tea House. I told the girls not to bother us unless it's an emergency."

"No." Keitaro answers her. "I can't let them be alone on Christmas."

Haruka bites down on her cigarette before asking, a hint of anger in her voice, "Why not? Those girls obviously don't appreciate you. It was more important to them how much you spent on presents than the fact you got them anything at all. You're their manager, they shouldn't have expected presents from you, but you went out of your way to get them all wonderful gifts. Twice! And what do you get for your troubles? You get used, abused, ignored, accused of things you have no control over, beaten for breathing wrong, and absolutely no thanks for anything you do."

Keitaro sighs. "Haruka, Granny didn't pick me to win any popularity or friendship contests, I understand that. She wanted me to be the manager here." Pausing a moment, Keitaro looks around to make sure they are alone. His continues in a subdued voice, "D-don't ever tell this to any of the girls. I…I try to do everything expected as the manager and then some. But nothing I do is ever quite enough. I do more that I should, hoping they'll appreciate it….well, you see the results. But, it's my responsibility, I can't ignore them, they're my tenants, and, believe it or not, I consider all of them my friends. If it's a choice between my wants and theirs…" Keitaro shrugs his shoulders, leaving the obvious unsaid. To himself, however, he thinks, (Here I am, surrounded by people I honestly care for, yet I feel alone all the time. Even when they do act nice towards me, something always happens and I end up disappointing them all over again).

Haruka, figuring she isn't going to talk Keitaro out of anything, again, decides to go along. "Alright, so you won't leave, not even for a vacation, and you refuse to saddle the girls with someone else as their manager. Well then, BE the manager, damn it!" she says with asperity in her voice. "You were personally selected by Granny, and the inn and the lands around it do belong to you. Now," seeing the look in his face, "I'm not saying you should kick them out. I'm just saying make it clear to them that YOU are the manager, not them! Insist on the respect your position gives you!" Haruka finishes, her hands crossed in front of her.

Keitaro listens to her, as turns to face her and leans back against the rail. When she finishes, he gives her a wry smile, "And just how long do you honestly think I'll survive if I even had the courage to say something like that? I couldn't run fast enough to evade one of them when they are angry, what makes you think I could avoid all of the en masse?" Keitaro shudders a bit at that thought, and a bit from the cold that had started to creep into his bones for the second time that day.

Haruka nods. "I keep forgetting I was around before any of the girls showed up, so they accept my authority. You were kinda just dumped on them. Sorry, forget I suggested it." She replies, trying to think of some way to ease the tensions in the dorm that wouldn't require someone being beaten or leaving.

Keitaro stands straight and moves away from the rail with a slight shiver. "Let's get back inside. The cold is starting to get to me again. Maybe we're both worrying too much about it, and it'll all settle down on its own." He says, not really believing his own words, but putting on a smile to assure his aunt. However, Naru's words still echo painfully in his mind; "Like any of us want to be stuck with anything of yours! Merry Christmas, you bastard!"

Haruka looks at him, not fooled at all by his comments, but nods anyways "Yeah, maybe you're right. Well, since it's your decision, let's get downstairs. I asked Shinobu to prepare a plate of the special foods she made, since I noticed Motoko stare you down every time you made to try some." She flicks out her cigarette before continuing down the steps with Keitaro.

meanwhile,

Kitsune waits until Haruka leaves the room, then she heads for the stereo to start some music. Tuning to a radio station playing instrumental holiday tunes, she sits on the couch beside Naru, who is sitting still as a stone, the blanket still clutched in her hands, her gifts from Keitaro beside her.

Kitsune picks up her sake and says, "Kami, what a Christmas this turned out to be! Poor Kei! He really wasn't trying to run away, and we'all treated him like crap! And then he goes out and spends what little money he musta had left to buy us replacement gifts for the ones he probably thought we threw away." Kitsune holds the sake in her hands, but her conscience refuses to drink, preferring to make her wallow in the guilt most of the girls share.

Glancing beside her and seeing the look in her friend's eyes, Kitsune offers Naru the sake, "Here ya'll go, Naru. Ah think ya'll need this more than Ah do." She says, softly, but with a hint of her normal playfulness in her voice.

Naru nods her head in thanks as she accepts the proffered glass and sips at the strong liquid. Finishing it, she holds it out for a refill. Kitsune, figuring it'll help her friend relax, and believing Keitaro will not be back that evening to have to face a plastered Naru anyway, tops off the glass, and she sips some more.

Naru lifts her head and stares at the wall across the room, slightly newer shades of paint testament to where Keitaro had to make repairs after one of his many 'accidents'. Inside her minds, a battle rages between her self-protective side, and her compassionate side. (If Keitaro had been man enough to just put the damn presents under the tree in the first place this morning, none of this would have happened!) Attack! (Yeah, right. You would have found some other reason to beat up on Keitaro, you always do!) Counter-attack! (Well, he's always doing something to deserve the punishment he gets!) Block! (You just keep telling yourself that. But you saw the look in his eyes. Did he deserve that?) Strike to the heart! (What do I care about that baka? What does he mean to me, anyways?) Attempt to parry! (I was about to ask the same questions. Care to provide the answers? Or maybe what Keitaro might feel about a certain violent-tempered girl we both know?) Fatal blow!

Naru's lower lip trembles as she looks at Kitsune, the battle in her mind not resolving her conflicting emotions, and just leaving her more confused, angry, and ashamed than before. In addition to her being slightly drunk.

Motoko holds her book, gloves and incense holder. (Urashima, as much as it goes against what I believe about males being in charge of female dormitories, I wish you were here now so that I might offer my apologies.) Carefully setting her items on the end table, she turns to the others and asks "Would anyone like a cup of tea? I think we could use something to calm our nerves about now." She frowns slightly at Kitsune offering sake to their friend, but decides not to intervene after seeing the look in Naru's eyes.

Shinobu finishes preparing two heaping plates of some of the special items she made that evening, and also an extra bowl of pork fried rice, knowing it is one of her Sempai's favorite dishes. Covering everything in a carrying tray, she gently places it on the counter as Motoko walks into the kitchen.

Almost in a whisper, she tells the older girl "I, I was just finishing what Miss Haruka asked me to do, Motoko-sempai. Can I help you with anything?" Shinobu wipes her hands on a towel, carefully folds it and returns it to the counter top.

Motoko asks the young cook, "If I may have your assistance, Shinobu-chan, to prepare some more tea? We need something to relieve the tension that Urashima's actions today have caused." Immediately, Motoko wishes she had not laid the blame for the day's miss-steps solely on Keitaro's head, but force of habit beats her conscience to her mouth.

Shinobu stares for a moment at the sword maiden before bowing, "Hai! I think that's a good idea." (Poor Sempai, even when it isn't his fault, it ends up being his fault.) Shinobu restrains herself from speaking out loud, not wanting to anger her friend by disagreeing with her, while another side of her, a nearly silent side that has grown a bit louder over the past two months, wants to speak up for her Sempai.

Next to the refrigerator, Su has prepared a platter of chocolate-smothered bananas, strawberries, cherries, and nearly any other small edible item from the kitchen she could fit in her new chocolate pot. Picking up a chocolate-covered banana and placing it in her mouth, she swings the platter off the counter and bounds through the door to the dining room on her way to the common area "Heyas, everybodies! I's gots lotsa choco-fruitses fer yas, get 'em while they're getting' good!" Placing the chocolate mystery items beside the other platters of treats Shinobu made, Su grabs a double-handful and bounds over to the empty carpet and sits cross-legged munching on her feast. Her festive pose cover her thoughts (I wish Keitaros was here. It just wouldn't be right, him leaving us on Christymas Evenings. Nobody here looks likes they wants ta plays.)

Motoko and Shinobu soon follow the tanned girl to the common room, a tea tray carried by the young cook while the sword maiden carries several glasses. An uneasy time passes while they wait for Haruka to return for the tray of treats Shinobu set out for their kanrinin to enjoy at the Tea House. Conversation starts and stops in sputters.

Kitsune gives it the old school try by pulling Shinobu to her feet and trying to teach her some of the less 'provocative' dance moves than what Kitsune would usually show-off. Shinobu blushes, as most of the dance moves Kitsune knows are more daring than she'd have the nerve to try.

Su tosses chocolate-covered cherries at Naru's and Motoko's heads, trying to encourage them to catch the fruit in their mouths, with little success. Motoko fishes a cherry out of her tea, while Naru absent-mindedly brushed two out of her hair.

"Well," Kitsune says, placing her hands on her hips as Shinobu sneaks away to hide behind a cup of tea, "I guess this is gonna be another bummer holiday. Ya'all are getting into a rut. Where's ya'alls holiday happiness?"

Shinobu lies, "I-I'm happy. I'm having a wonderful time." as she holds the un-drunk tea in her hands.

Naru, half drunk because of the sake, grumbles, "It went ou' the door when thash baka left. Good shriddance! I don' need him 'round me no how, he'd jush try ta remave …romeve …pull mah panties offun me. Wha kind of party holiday would thash be?" She looks down at her empty cup, a tear falling from her eye. In a quieter voice, she mumbles in a whisper, "'Shides, what have we done ta deshert … dessert … desherve a happy holiday? Oh, Keirato! I'm shorry! I'm sho shorry!"

Su sits silently on the carpet, her chocolate projectiles forgotten. "Keitaros woulds at least plays with me. But, nobody heres seems like they wants to be happy tonights."

Motoko, sipping her tea, nods. "As much as I dislike admitting it, Kitsune is correct. We have falling into the habit of just putting up a few decorations and treating holidays like any other evening. Although, it had appeared that this time might have been different, somehow." The sword maiden shifts in her seat, her mind uncomfortable with the thought struggling in the back recesses (It would have been different if Urashima were here!) Motoko shudders and squashes the thought back to her subconscious.

At the sound of feet on the steps, everyone turns towards the stairwell. Haruka appears and walks over to the table, where she prepares a glass of tea and turns back to the girls.

Kitsune asks, "Uh, where's Keitaro? I thought you were going to take him down to the Tea House? He…. He didn't…." she leaves the sentence unfinished.

Haruka looks at the Fox, and lights another cigarette. "No, he didn't 'run away', if that's what you're trying to say. Keitaro said he needed to get something from his room before coming down. And he refused to go to the Tea House. He said some nonsense about responsibilities and being with his friends. Although, the way you all act most of the time, I can't really imagine he's talking about any of you."

It takes a few seconds for her words to sink in. Naru jumps up, reacting first. "Whoa, wait a shecond! Wha' do you mean he refushed? He'sh shtaying here?" the honey-haired girl shakes her head to try clearing it, and immediately regrets standing suddenly and shaking her head. Everything swirls for a moment as the room seems to tilt, and she grabs her stomach to control the sudden nausea that threatens to overwhelm her (Oh no! Kami! Don't let this happen! Don't let Keitaro see me like this!) Only through sheer force of will does Naru control herself enough to settle her stomach a bit.

Shinobu, her eyes going wide at Naru's drunken observation, looks at Haruka. "I-is that true, Miss Haruka? Is Sempai staying here?" she asks, a flicker of hope in her eyes.

Putting her hands up to forestall any more questions, Haruka says, "Yes, that's exactly what I said. Keitaro said his place is here, with all of you. Stupid idiot must have landed on his head one too many times, if you ask me. But, it's his decision. I just hope he doesn't regret it." The last part is said as she favors Naru, Motoko and Kitsune with harsh glares until they all nod in understanding.

A few anxious minutes later, the girls, standing around the common room, turn as they hear another set of footsteps coming down the stairs. A pair of black boots appears, followed by bright red pants, a bright red jacket, and the face of Keitaro, wearing a Santa hat.

The bright colors assail Naru's throbbing head, and her stomach makes another attempt to relieve itself.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Keitaro rubs the back of his head. "Uh, sorry, I know the costume is a little late, since everyone already got their presents." he apologizes.

Kitsune rushes over and hugs her kanrinin. "That's alright, Keitaro, Ah mean Santa. Ya'll still haven't gotten all your presents; we never gave ya any thank-you kisses for those gifts you gave us. And Ah mean ALL the gifts. Please forgive us for being such a pack of bitches." She begs, planting a kiss on the surprised young man's cheek. After a few stunned seconds, Keitaro, his arms stiffly at his sides, manages to give her a light hug back.

Kitsune backs away, her blush equaling that of the manager in front of her, but far from rivaling that of Shinobu's, who is right behind her. Stepping around the Fox, the young cook grabs Keitaro around the waist, her grip tight. "Thank You, Sempai-Santa! Thank You for staying with us and for the cute gifts you bought. We're sorry for what happened today."

Keitaro, relaxing slightly, puts his hands on the young cook's shoulders and looks her in the eye. His smile, spreading slowly from ear to ear, greets Shinobu's upturned face. "That's okay, Shinobu-chan. I probably shouldn't have tried to keep everything so secret this morning. It's my fault things went the way they did today."

Everyone turns at the sound of a loud hiccup. Naru, her eyes wide but blurry, blushes three shades of red. "No! It'sh not your fault, Keirato, I mean Keitaro! We should have ashked you firsht, inshtead of jusht, well, instead of …" Naru pauses, partly in embarrassment, partly while trying to bring her stomach under control again.

Motoko steps forward and bows slightly to Keitaro. "Naru is correct. We all started off the day on the wrong foot, so to speak. Please accept our sincere apologies for misinterpreting your actions."

Always fearful when the sword maiden is polite, Keitaro returns her bow, making his much deeper. As he bends over, Su leaps across the room and locks her legs around his waist, straddling his back like a rider on a horse. "Yippee! Hi-yo Keitaros! Up up and aways! Now we can celebrates Christymas like there is no Wednesdays!"

Unbalanced from the sudden shifting weight on his back, Keitaro stumbles forward, his hands outstretched to break his fall. Unfortunately, what stops him from landing face-first on the carpet is a double handful of Naru's skirt.

There she is, her skirt down around her knees, Keitaro's face planted against her stomach. Su doesn't help any, locking her arms around Naru's neck while still holding Keitaro with her legs. Naru can't back up, and Keitaro can't push himself away.

Seconds go by. Then a few more. "Oh Spit!" Kitsune mutters, "This ain't good! Uh, Naru? Keitaro? Are ya'll okay?" Seeing the look on the girl's face, Kitsune rushes over to the closet to grab one of Keitaro's cleaning buckets.

Su twists as she releases Naru, causing Keitaro to flip and fall onto his back as she leaps away, his head at Naru's feet. Crossing his arms over his eyes, Keitaro figures he has about three to five seconds, and running would just prolong the agony. "Please forgive me, it was an accident Narusegawa!"

When ten seconds go by and he realizes he is still breathing, he dares a look. Blood spurts from his nostrils as he stares up at Naru, her skirt still at her knees.

Naru, fighting the resurgence of nausea from Keitaro's face smacking into her distressed stomach, closes her eyes and fights the urge to retch. After a few moments, the pressure at her belly is relieved, and she stands there, eyes still closed as she calms her violently rebelling stomach. Hearing Keitaro beg forgiveness, she waits a few more seconds and then dares a look down.

She sees the blood on his face. That triggers the tidal wave.

Dropping to her knees, she releases the contents of her stomach. Kitsune, although anticipating her reaction, doesn't get the bucket in front of her friend before the first heaves. Kneeling quickly, she places the container below Naru's head as she puts a hand on her friend's back to give her moral support.

Keitaro, seeing the condition Naru is in, leaps up and rushes to the kitchen. He brings back some cold cloths, a hot water bottle and a towel, and some water and aspirin, figuring Naru'll need the same treatment Kitsune sometimes has required, once the nausea passes.

After a minute or so, Naru is reduced to dry heaves, her stomach emptied thanks to the sake-induced headache and nausea. Her eyes closed, she lets Kitsune take care of her.

Keitaro, extreme worry in his face, looks at Kitsune, who nods her head. Keitaro helps Naru to a sitting position, lifts her and gently sets her on the couch, placing the cold cloths on her forehead.

Kitsune smiles in spite of the situation, recognizing Keitaro offering the same care to Naru that he has given to her on several occasions. (What would we do without ya'll, Keitaro?) the Fox thinks, taking the hot water bottle, wrapping it in the towel, and placing it on Naru's solar plexus to relax her strained stomach muscles.

Laying there, drained of energy, Naru can only think (I can't believe Keitaro saw me like this! What is he going to think of me now?) Feeling fingers gently easing her hair off her forehead, and then the welcome coolness of a cold cloth, Naru opens her eyes slightly. Expecting it to be Kitsune who carried her to the couch, she is surprised that it is Keitaro kneeling over her and not the Fox.

Keitaro doesn't notice Naru's barely open eyes watching him as he tends to her. (Actually, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Keitaro always tries to do what he can for us all.) Naru thinks to herself, her eyes closing as weariness sets in, the hot water bottle soothing her strained belly. She gives in, with barely a conscious argument, as Keitaro tends to her.

After a few minutes, she senses a movement beside her. Cracking her eyes open again, she sees Keitaro walk out of the room, to return a few seconds later with his cleaning equipment. She is embarrassed to see him kneel and start cleaning up her mess, especially since he shows no sign he regrets doing it.

Feeling a hand patting hers where they rest on the hot water bottle, she looks to see Kitsune smiling at her, a tear in her eye. Whispering softly so the others don't hear, the Fox says "Ah ain't surprised. Even after everything that we did to him today, Keitaro still thinks of taking care of us first."

Glancing back at the ronin, Kitsune continues in a quiet voice, "Why does he stay here, with us always treating him like we do? It'd be certain he'd be better off, physically and emotionally, anywheres else. There ain't anything holding him here, ya know. Although," she says mischievously, "Ah admit it's fun to tease the little panty-stealer sometimes." The Fox concludes with another smile and a wink, referring to the when Keitaro first came to the dorm.

For some reason, Kitsune's remark causes Naru's chest to tighten. "There ain't anything holding him here." (Keitaro not here? Not taking care of us?) She shudders involuntarily as the thought crosses her mind. Unable to hold her eyes open anymore, she whispers back, half-asleep "Don't scare me like that, Kitsune. Keitaro can't leave us. He can't leave me. He just can't."

An unknown amount of time later, Naru feels herself lifted again. Strong arms support her, and she can sense she is being carried up the stairs. Keeping her eyes closed, she smiles slightly (Keitaro is always there for us, for me. We don't deserve to be treated so nicely by him.) They stop, and she hears a door slide open. A few moments later, she feels herself being placed gently on a futon; hers to judge by the scent of the room.

After a pause, she hears her closet opened. (What is he doing? Oh, Kami! Don't tell me he's going to put my pajamas on me? What am I going to do? I, I can't let him do that, I, I don't think he should . . . but, he's never really done anything to me on purpose. No! I can't.)

Naru feels gentle hands tentatively unbuttoning her shirt. Her breath quickens. (He won't do anything! Keitaro is a gentleman! He's only trying to help me! He's a gentleman, he's a gentleman!)

When her shirt is opened, Naru reaches out and places her hand on the arm beside her, "Keitaro . . ." she whispers.

Beside Naru, Haruka says with a chuckle, "Keep your roaming hands to yourself, Naru, if you know what's good for you."

"Ah could go bring Keitaro up here, if you'd rather have him undressing ya'll." Kitsune laughs.

Naru looks around and she sees Haruka on one side, and Kitsune kneeling on the other, but no Keitaro. "Uh, did I say anything?" she asks.

Hearing a gasp at the door, she sits up and looks as Shinobu puts her hand to her mouth "You thought Sempai was u-undressing you? Aaauuuuu!" The young cook slides the door shut as she rushes away.

Naru reaches out a hand and says "Shinobu-chan, wait, it's not what you think!"

Kitsune laughs harder. "Why does this sound awfully familiar?"

Naru turns to Kitsune, "I didn't do anything!" Kitsune falls over to her side, holding her stomach as she laughs harder. Haruka giggles once, and then regains her composure. Naru grimaces, her head throbbing. "It's your fault for getting me drunk, Kitsune. I'm not responsible for what I say."

Kitsune pauses in her laughter and sits up. "Ah'm just joking, Naru, ya'll know that. Keitaro asked me to tell ya he hopes ya'll feel better later. He gave me this for the headache ya'll must be having about now." Kitsune offers her some aspirin and a glass of water. "Keitaro said to get some rest, and he'll check on ya'll first thing tomorrow morning."

Gratefully, Naru accepts the medicine and the concern from Keitaro. Lying back weakly, she allows the two older women to finish helping her prepare for sleep.

Turning off the light as she follows Haruka out the door, Kitsune turns back and asks, "Ya'll want me to send Keitaro up to give ya a good-night kiss, Naru?" The Fox nimbly dodges the slipper that is weakly thrown at her. "Alright. Maybe Ah'll give him a good-night kiss, instead." Another slipper, another dodge. Kitsune giggles, "Just playing with ya. Sleep well, Naru."