Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ A Fragile Love ❯ Episode 2: Catching Up ( Chapter 2 )

A Fragile Love

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Episode 2: Catching Up

Legend

Word denotes character thought

Word denotes setting, time

-Word- denotes a sound effect

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Timeline: June 1, 2000 AD; 4:00 PM, afternoon

Location: Hinata-Sou

"You came back," Naru quietly spoke. She laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes, trying hard to control the tears flowing out.

 

"Shh… don't cry," Keitaro cooed, embracing back. He felt his chest wet by her tears. He gently lifted her chin to see her face, wiping off her tears with his hand. He flashed a smile at her to cheer her up. She smiled back and laid her head against his chest once more.

 

The rest of the girls had agape mouths on their faces.

 

"Well what do you know… you came back," Mitsune remarked. Apparently, the sight of Keitaro made her forget her thirst momentarily. One thing she noticed from him was well-developed muscle on his body. Her eyes drank in him.

 

Mmm… I never thought he'd turn out to be such a hunk.

 

"Urashima-sempai! Welcome home!" Shinobu exclaimed. She felt her heart quicken at seeing him again. She felt jealous of Naru being embraced by her sempai.

 

"Hey Keitaro! Does that mean you'll be playing with my inventions from now on?" Suu asked, who was jumping up and down in joy.

 

Huh? I'm getting a strange feeling. He seems to resemble that of my long lost brother.

 

She stopped jumping and eyed him longingly.

 

"Ara, Ara… it's good to see you again, Urashima-kun," Mutsumi said with her trademark smile. She felt envious of the position Naru settled in. Deep inside, she missed him badly. On her shoulder, Tama-chan flapped her flippers happily.

 

Kei-kun… I missed you a lot.

 

"It's good to see you again, Urashima. Where have you been for the past year?" Motoko asked. She inserted her sword back in its sheath and crossed her arms.

 

Hmm, there's something about him that I can't put my finger on it.

 

He definitely has physically built himself, judging from those hardened muscles running from his arms to his chest… What! Why am I having perverse thoughts about him?

 

A rosy blush came on her cheeks, and she quickly shrugged off thoughts of Keitaro.

 

"I'll be happy to answer your question, Motoko. Um, Naru, can you let go of me please?" Keitaro asked the relieved girl still embracing him.

 

"Oh! S-Sorry!" Naru released her hold and stood a few steps from him. The first thing she noticed on him was his chiseled body and muscles.

 

He really improved his look, I say.

 

As her eyes traveled up and down on his body, she couldn't resist the urge to imagine feeling his body.

 

What's wrong with me all of a sudden?

 

Wait, I really did feel him when I laid my head against his chest…ayah! Why am I thinking about him like that?

 

She covered her face with her hands, trying not to show her blush brighten.

 

"Naru, you ok? Why are you covering your face?" Keitaro asked, puzzled by her shy and embarrassed behavior. He looked to the other girls to find them blushing as well.

 

Why are they acting like that? Oh, whoops. I'll have to get some clothes on first.

 

He then realized his almost naked state.

 

"Ha, ha… before we continue this reunion, let me put on some clothes. Why don't you girls wait at the living room? I won't take long."

 

They nodded in response, their eyes glued to him. Keitaro smiled and walked casually to his room upstairs. As soon as he was out of sight, the girls regained their composure.

 

"Is he the same Keitaro we know?" Naru asked. She was surprised by his new behavior.

 

"Either my eyes are getting delusional from my thirst, or I'd say he turned out to be quite a hunk. Looks like you can't stop thinking about him, eh, Naru?" Mitsune winked at Naru, juggling her eyebrows up and down.

 

Naru felt her face turn beet red.

 

"Mitsune! I-I-It's not what you think!"

 

In her mind, she couldn't help but become fascinated at his new look.

 

It's been only 2 years since he left, and now he comes back like this! He really looks more handsome than before.

 

"Urashima sempai has changed… I wonder why?" Shinobu wondered.

 

"Maybe he's eating a lot!" Suu chimed.

 

"Ara, Ara… Kei-kun…" Mutsumi said quietly to herself.

 

"I agree with Shinobu. Hmm… he acts somewhat different… compared to before. Well, let's not mope around here, and wait for him to get dressed," Motoko concluded.

 

They went back to the living room and sat themselves down, waiting for the dorm manager.

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A few minutes later…

 

In his room, Keitaro changed into a fresh set of clothes he brought from his stay in America. He checked himself on a tall mirror posted on the wall and combed his hair. Taking a last check at himself, he headed downstairs to the girls.

 

"Hello ladies, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Alright, where do we begin?" he started, sitting himself down on the couch in the living room.

 

"Where have you been for the past year?" Motoko started.

 

"Before I answer that question, please hear what I have to say, ok?" Keitaro asked them. They nodded in response.

 

"First off, before I left the last 2 years, I was thinking about myself. I decided that I needed a break and get away from my routine here in Hinata-Sou. Not that it had anything with you girls in particular, but I just wanted time by myself."

 

"Why? Are you saying you don't like it here?" Naru asked.

 

"No, Naru, I'm saying I needed a break, to get away from here and rethink my priorities."

 

"How and where did you take this 'vacation', Urashima?" Motoko asked. Her arms were crossed and she sat down on her knees. Her sword was laid next to her.

 

"I presumed Haruka-san told you during my absence," Keitaro wondered.

 

Strange, she would have told them for their sake. Could it be that she had kept it hidden until now?

 

-SLAM-

 

On cue, Haruka arrived. She went up to Keitaro and gave him a warm hug.

 

"Huh? H-Hey! Ok, ok, Haruka-san, please let go now!" he protested, surprised by his aunt's action. She obeyed, letting go of him. He arranged his composure and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

 

Funny, she hugged me! She'd usually whack my head for my absence.

 

"What's with “Haruka-san”? Where's “Aunt Haruka”?" Haruka demanded. She was much astounded by the changed look and behavior of her nephew.

 

Why is he formal with me? I'd expect him to call me Aunt usually.

 

"Well, calling you 'Aunt' would make you sound like an old hag, so I decided to call you by formality instead," Keitaro quickly ducked a punch aimed on top of his head coming from her, "besides; I think it sounds fine enough to me."

 

"-Sigh- One moment you come up with something serious and the next thing I know, I get a farewell letter from you. What made you change your mind and come back here?" Haruka asked.

 

"I think you better let them see the letter for curiosity's sake; I think that would answer some of their questions." Keitaro suggested.

 

"What farewell letter, Haruka-san?" Naru asked.

 

"Yes, Haruka-san, what letter did he left you?" Motoko joined in.

 

Haruka tossed the letter she had a moment ago into the girls' hands.

 

"Read it for yourself."

 

The girls gathered around and read it carefully. Haruka came toward her nephew and lowered her voice for both of them to hear.

 

"Upstairs, in your room, after this."

 

Keitaro closed his eyes and adjusted his eyeglasses.

 

"Fine. Oh, I'll prepare us some tea to go along."

 

His aunt nodded in response. They looked at the curious group who was almost done reading the letter.

 

"America? Hey, not bad, Keitaro! But how did you get some money to afford yourself a ticket?" Mitsune asked the 3rd year ronin.

 

"I was able to go to America thanks to Seta-san. He was the one who offered me a trip to there. He planned to go there for archeological exploration," Keitaro rolled his eyes over and noticed an intriguing look on the fox lady's face. From the looks of it, she was planning another scheme in her mind.

 

Mental note: stay away from Mitsune when her face reminds that of a fox, he thought.

 

"Is something in your mind, Mitsune?"

 

"Um, it's nothing! Hee, hee, hee," Mitsune flashed a mischievous grin at him.

 

"Where did you and Seta-san stay there, sempai?" Shinobu asked.

 

"Well… we went to this state called California. In there, we stayed in a city called San Francisco. When I set foot there, I was completely lost. Luckily, Seta-san knew a close friend who's also an archeologist like him. We met him at the local museum, and I found out that he's also working as a curator as well."

 

Keitaro took a deep breath before continuing.

 

"Well, my first priority for me was finishing my education of course. I didn't come along with Seta-san just for vacation, though we spent the first few weeks relaxing and enjoying our stay there. Oh, speaking of which, here are some photos we took together in our stay."

 

He took out a few pieces of photos out from a small envelope he carried with him, and gave them to the girls. He could see amazement in their faces as they took a look at them.

 

Hmm, I guess that they haven't been traveling to other places and seen much from them.

 

"Wow! The scenery looks breathtaking, sempai! What is this place?" Shinobu asked, pointing to a photo of Seta and him in a buddy pose within a distance from a huge bridge.

 

"That place is a tourists' observation area of a landmark called the Golden Gate Bridge. It connects the city to an island that led to that area. Seta-san told me there was another tourist spot nearby, but he forgot. I have to admit that bridge is wide and has a neat architectural design. Notice the shape?"

 

"What about this one? This looks like a museum of some sort," Mitsune said, pointing to a photo of him posing next to a skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur inside a museum.

 

"Ah that? That's the Museum of Natural History. It's just like any other museum in the world, but with the exception of having some highly detailed models of their exhibitions and lots of detailed info on them and other interests in the category. It was a haven to Seta-san… you should have seen the look on his face when we stepped in!" Keitaro chuckled at the remark. He gave a wink to his aunt, who was leaning against the wall and crossed her arms as she listened on.

 

She was puzzled by his action.

 

What's with the wink? Oh I see, unless it has something to do with that hard-working idiot, Seta.

 

She gave a low grunt and shrugged off the wink.

 

"A cable car? Don't we have these here in Japan?" Motoko asked, pointing out to a picture of him and Seta grabbing hold of the nearby handles inside a cable car, about to go downhill.

 

"Yes, we do, Motoko. What's odd in their city is that some parts of it are steep and jut downward as in a slope. These cable cars are part of the transportation to get around the city at that time of day. Oh, they are quite handy and affordable to ride."

 

Keitaro proceeded to describe the rest of the pictures taken during his stay in the city. They got more interested and comfortable with his new self. He recalled some of his experiences in his stay --- the joyful outburst of Seta who seemed giddy over history and archaeology; the welcoming atmosphere of the people he met and conversed with; the rest of his sightseeing in the city with Seta, and much more.

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The wall clock posted in the living room read 6:00 PM.

 

"I wish I could tell more of my trip experiences, but I have to resume my managerial job in this dorm. Thanks for listening. I don't want to keep you all busy with me, so please go on about with your business," Keitaro concluded, putting back all the photos back in the envelope. He looked at the kitchen.

 

"Ah, I should prepare dinner then."

 

Shinobu and Naru stood up from their seats.

 

"No, sempai, we'll prepare dinner. You should relax," Shinobu said.

 

Keitaro looked at them with a raised eyebrow.

 

Huh? Naru is helping her make dinner? Egad.

 

He shuddered at the thought.

 

"Well, ok. I've something important to talk with Haruka-san in my room. Call us if dinner's ready."

 

"Sure thing, Keitaro," Naru replied, puzzled by his behavior.

 

Why did he look at us like that? I can't seem to understand him well.

 

"I'll be doing some reading in my room," Motoko said, proceeding upstairs to her room.

 

"Same here, uh, but playing my guitar," Mitsune remarked, followed suit to her room.

 

"Ara, Ara… I wonder what's on for tonight?" Mutsumi asked, turning on the TV in the living room and started watching.

 

Keitaro walked towards Haruka, who was leaning against the wall, waiting for him.

 

"Wait here, Haruka-san. I'll make us some tea as promised.”

 

He went to the kitchen and made two cups of oolong tea. Placing them on a small tray, he carried it and went back. As he went back, he heard Shinobu and Naru exclaiming at each other.

 

"Why are the carrot pieces too big? Naru-sempai, did you cut them small and properly like I told you before?"

 

"Uh… yes! Even though this knife's sharp, I can't seem to chop these carrots smoothly! Some of them are hard as a rock!"

 

Keitaro looked up the ceiling and muttered a small prayer, hoping for a pleasant dinner. He gave Haruka her cup of tea.

 

"Thank you, Keitaro. Your room, please."

 

"Of course."

 

With that said, they went to his room upstairs. Keitaro placed his tea down on a small table inside and closed the door. Haruka seated herself down on one of his seat cushions scattered across the floor. He took his seat as well.

 

"Well, Haruka-san, I assume you have questions to ask me?"

 

Haruka nodded in response, drinking her tea.

 

"Yes, I do, Keitaro… some important ones in mind."