Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Great White Hunter: Keitaro ❯ GWH:K Hard Truth ( Chapter 2 )

GWH:K Chapter 2

Hard Truth

 

“Well, Keitaro, your test results are encouraging. You're healing nicely from the peritoneal irrigation tap. The scar tissue is unfortunately permanent, but you'll have stories to tell. I'm going to have more blood drawn so we can continue to monitor your recovery. I also want to start you on physical therapy sessions so you can recover use of your muscles. You had some good reconstructive surgeons from the look of things. They've reattached your tendons and your muscles are starting to knit back together again. You're lucky you didn't lose the leg. How does your shoulder feel? Can you move it comfortably?” asked the serious young doctor.

 

“It hurts,” Keitaro admitted.

 

“Well, you did get some damage to the joint. You'll probably need some followup arthroscopic surgeries to remove bone fragments and diseased tissues. We'll keep an eye on things. You show real improvement over your case files from Kenya. You might want to consider relaxing in a hot bath a few times a day. I understand from your aunt that you happen to have one at your residence?” he asked. Keitaro nodded.

 

“Good, consider that doctor's orders. Here's your prescription for pain medications and I'll want to see you in a couple days. I'll call you tomorrow with your test results if there's any radical changes, okay? Is it okay to leave a message? I have to ask.” Keitaro considered. Would the others use this info against him? No, for once they were all hoping to see him get better.

 

“Yes, any of my residents can take a message if you happen to miss me. We've got an actual hot spring at the dorm.”

 

“Lucky you. If possible, try to move around in the water, and be gentle with any stretching. Consider this as part of your therapy. Well, I'll see you in a couple days then. See the nurse at the front desk on your way out,” he said, then wandered off to the next patient. Haruka looked at Keitaro.

 

“Hot springs eh? This is going to be interesting,” she smiled.

 

“Yeah, I can't wait,” bemoaned Keitaro, imagining Naru punches and cries of “Pervert!” echoing across the grounds.

 

 

Dinner that night was pleasant, less formal than their lunch had been and the girls were a little less tense. Keitaro felt better than before and was in less pain. Being home really did help him. He also felt a great deal of love looking at each of the girls being… themselves. Su was fiddling with a remote controlled robot Turtle that carried around the soy sauce across the table. It would stop when it encountered an obstacle, a first since most of her gizmos destroyed things. Shinobu fussed over dinner, running off to the kitchen every few minutes before returning again with dishes of food or more hot tea. Kitsune was sipping sake in a surprisingly reserved rate, sharing it with Motoko, currently attending cram school for Todai between kendo training sessions. Kitsune had an article to write so she was quietly musing on the subject to herself rather than playing pranks on the others. Mutsumi had also arrived, learning late that Keitaro had returned from Africa. She was as beautiful as ever, a bountiful dream of womanhood. Sometimes, seeing her made Keitaro swoon. She was so NICE. And then there was Naru, hiding behind her coke-bottle glasses and Salem sweatshirt. Keitaro would have to talk to her, one on one, if he could corner her long enough. She was avoiding him at present. It was hard, being stuck in a wheelchair for the meantime. Once his leg healed up enough he'd be on crutches again and able to walk around the apartments. Well, hobble around the apartments anyway.

 

“Girls, I saw the doctor today. He wants me to soak in the hot springs at least twice a day for my physical therapy. Would you be willing to allow me exclusive use of it during those times or are you willing to consider co-ed?” he asked the assembled women. Conversation screeched to a halt.

 

“Co-ed?” asked Naru.

 

“Co-ed!” agreed Su and Shinobu, the both of them looking unpleasantly eager. Motoko silently nodded.

 

“I think we can all share you,” suggested Mutsumi quietly, enjoying the furious blush this generated in Naru.

 

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!! PERVERT!!” Naru shouted, bouncing to her feet and pointing angrily at him.

 

“How dare you suggest that! They're too young and innocent to be exposed to your filthy perverted,” she started to rant when Kitsune laughed out load, halting the rant.

 

“Naru honey, aren't Kaolla and Shinobu around the age you were when you got that crush on Seta?” she asked, throwing the fact onto the table like a lit stick of dynamite. Naru paused, connipted before finally sputtering out a response: “Well that's exactly why they shouldn't!”

 

“Who's a pervert?” asked Motoko dryly, raising an eyebrow at Naru.

 

“Its six to one, the hot springs are co-ed while Keitaro is recovering,” announced Su cheerfully before leaping out of her seat with a banana. “Yay!”

 

“I'll see you in the springs, Sempai,” said Shinobu. She rose, collecting dishes and vanishing into the kitchen to clean up the feast. Keitaro, Motoko, Kitsune, and Mutsumi all turned to regard Naru's frozen outrage.

 

“I… I…I… I'm going to study,” she announced, crestfallen and defeated, rushing off to her room.

 

“That didn't go as smoothly as I'd have liked,” said Keitaro, a little sad. “But that's Naru. I'm going to need someone's help to change out of these clothes, and get to the springs. There will be… some nudity involved. You'll also be the first to see my wounds. You're all mature women I respect, and I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't know you could do it. Before you answer, I am going to say right here and now, that I love each of you for your respective selves and I'm attracted to each of you as well.” There was a gasp.

 

“But, why tell us this now?” asked Kitsune.

 

“Because when I was about to die, it was my single greatest regret that I never told you, that I would die without you ever knowing my feelings. And if you help me take of my clothes, I'm likely to get the expected male reaction. Pervert is a joke around here. You've all known me for years. Only Naru thinks I'm a pervert. You've already proven you know that I'm not one by accepting co-ed bathing. I realize this is a big change from the past but I almost died. I was nearly eaten by a wild animal and I can't bear to let my emotions stay bottled up anymore. I love you. You are each wonderful and perfect women. And you deserve to know that,” he said, breaking down into sobbing. Then he cried at the table as the girls looked on, not sure what to say.

 

“Kei-kun? I've loved you since we were little. I still feel that way. I don't tell you that enough and I'm sorry,” said Mutsumi, firmly staking her claim.

 

“Keitaro. I'm sorry for all the times I've teased you. I… I'm interested too. Just so you know. I've given Naru 4 years to make up her mind. If she can't grow up in 4 years then she never will. I care for you too. Just so you know,” she admitted, hands shaking. She poured herself a small cup of sake and downed it quickly. “And I can't believe I finally admitted that.”

 

“Urashima… Keitaro. I have abused you with my Shinmei-ryu school secret techniques. I have injured you on countless occasions. I have often accused you of perversion. I know I did these things because I blamed men, and therefore you, for my sister's betrayal of my ideals. I know that isn't fair. Over the years I've watched your endless forgiveness, your boundless faith, and your integrity with increasing admiration. I have fallen in love with you Keitaro. When I heard you'd been injured, I cried myself to sleep. I know the dangers of wild beasts better than the others, so I understood just how great a challenge you faced. I feared you would never know of my love for you, that you would die without my confession. Forgive me. I will help you recover to the best of my ability, if you allow me. And I… and I won't call… call you … pervert!” she finally choked out, weeping silently ashamed.

 

A few minutes later Shinobu found the four of them weeping quietly around the table and stopped still, moved almost to tears herself at the sight of them.

 

“Sempai?” she finally asked, eyes wet with incipient tears of her own. She rushed to his side and he held her awkwardly around the wheelchair.

 

“Shino-chan. Forgive me for not acknowledging your affection years ago,” he managed to gasp between quiet sobs.

 

“I love you sempai,” she cried. “I know I'm too young for you, but I won't be too young in a couple years. Haruka told me a long time ago that some loves aren't meant to be, so I accept this feeling. Thank you.”

 

“Thank you for everything, Shino-chan. You're a sweet girl. And wise beyond your years,” he added. He finally got his tears under control and Shinobu pulled away, wiping her eyes.

 

“Are we all going to the hot spring?” she asked, looking around the table at various red eyes and wet cheeks. Nods all around.

 

“I will help you dress, Keitaro-san,” declared Motoko. The others nodded assent.

 

The wheelchair proved to be one challenge too many in a complex filled with stairs and narrow hallways with no elevator and no wheelchair ramps. Keitaro found himself requesting his crutches sooner than expected. Surprisingly, it hurt a lot less than he thought it would to stand. He'd had a lot of pain in his lower leg on the flight but it seemed to be better now.

 

His balance, however, wasn't perfect. Tottering unsteadily he yelled, falling backwards towards and unknown fate he grabbed a girl in each hand for support. A second after his fall was halted he found himself with one hand on Motoko's gi, exposing a bra covered bosom and the other hand likewise with Mutsumi's gown, now ripped beyond repair. His eyes looked fearfully from one to the other. Motoko was warring between eyebrow twitches and furious blushing and Mutsumi looked quietly pleased with herself.

 

“My, Keitaro, you DO get off to a good start. You must be feeling MUCH better than before. Ahm sorry I wasn't standing closer,” Kitsune remarked dryly from behind him.

 

“Uhh... this isn't how it looks,” he started to apologize.

 

“How unfortunate,” said Motoko, finally recovering enough to make a joke, one of the first jokes he'd ever heard from her lips. She smiled, blushing shyly but did nothing to cover up. Keitaro eyed her loveliness as he was helped upright.

 

“Thank you, both. That was… nice,” he said finally. Motoko gently straightened her gi and Mutsumi excused herself to change.

 

“Now, if we could climb the stairs to my room?” he asked. It was a struggle, awkward in various ways and Kitsune caught him as he was about to fall twice, bouncing against her chest rather effectively. She held him warmly each time, a little longer than she needed to. Motoko was understanding of Kitsune's affection. They had, after all, admitted their feelings. And they'd been friends for FAR too long to abuse each other. Adults can't go around acting like… Naru. That would just be sad, if they did. Finally, arriving at his room, both women followed him in to help him.

 

“Kitsune, it isn't necessary for you to assist with this. I don't want to frighten you. There are scars and… well it's not pretty,” admitted Keitaro. Her reaction was not what he expected.

 

“Well, that's a fine how do ya do. I'm gonna see ya in all yer glory in the hot springs in 10 more minutes. What's the difference if I see ya now?” she pointed out, hands on hips and a look of fierce determination. Motoko smiled out of view of Kitsune, covering her mouth cutely. Keitaro wasn't sure what was more confusing: Motoko being feminine or Kitsune offering to do an ugly job.

 

“So, this is what happens when you're in love,” he muttered as if to himself.

 

“Okay then. Bathrope first. Gently, lift it away from the shoulder. There are still a few stitches there and it is very tender,” he added. Motoko was surprisingly gentle. His surprised looked generated an explanation as she read his thoughts.

 

“The Shinmei-ryu is a school of practical swordsmanship to battle against demons and evil. We have to know healing arts as part of our practical training,” she explained.

 

“Ahh. I see.”

 

The two women slowly removed outer clothes, then got to the inner ones, stained with various bad smelling fluids.

 

“Oh. Keitaro, this is stuck to your skin. How do I remove it?” asked Kitsune, looking green but determined.

 

“I'll need a basin of warm water and a washcloth. If it won't come off, we'll cut it.”

 

“Really?” she asked.

 

“I've been through a few dozen pairs of pyjamas so far. Because of the infections they had to do a lot of things to help.”

 

“I have only seen scars and wounds like this in books, Keitaro,” admitted Motoko. “And the smell is… not pleasant. Like week old carrion.”

 

“Yes, not pleasant at all, and I'm sorry,” he admitted. When his shoulder was exposed, the line of punctures and the stainless steel staples with livid scars and weeping wounds was nauseating. “The flight was very long and I usually bathe these twice a day. They're actually quite a bit better than I expected, funny thing.”

 

“Here's the water. I hope it's not too warm,” said Kitsune, returning. She spread a towel over his tatami, then moved the basic atop it. He maneuvered himself over the basin and she carefully soaked the blood and fluid soaked bandage a good three minutes before it weakened its hold on him and released. Nine times out of ten, a bandage like that would come away from him with scabs and a flow of puss. This was no exception. Kitsune went even more green, eyes showing from the usual slits. Motoko gently took the rag from her.

 

“Maybe you could use a moment to get some air, Kitsune?” she asked. The girl gratefully nodded assent and staggered out the door. A moment later he heard the sound of retching. Motoko looked fairly green herself.

 

“I'm sorry, Motoko-kun, this isn't exactly romantic, is it?” he asked. She paused and looked up at him.

 

“While the smell is unpleasant, I am helping to heal my love's broken body. What could be more romantic than that?” she asked seriously. She returned to rinsing his wounds and examining the drainage tube and the metal staples.

 

“A few days in the hot springs and you should be able to have this drainage tube removed. We're both aware of the power of this place, aren't we?” she pointed out. Keitaro nodded, admitting there was something magical about the Hinata grounds. He was just… stronger there. The others were a bit more than human as well. Something about the place made the improbable possible. Haruka had explained what little she knew once, something about the Hina, fallen gods of ancient legend, and the powerful energies they retained on the earth. Whatever it was, Keitaro hoped being there would help him recover fully. He wanted to live, to love these girls. As if understanding this, Motoko rose silently, meeting his gaze and slowly moved closer until they kissed. After a long moment she gently backed away once more, eyes dropping to sparkle in amusement.

 

“Well, I see you weren't exaggerating about your reaction to me,” Motoko smirked, blushing. Keitaro resisted the urge to blush himself but gradually failed. His little friend declined slightly.

 

“Looks like we'll have to work on your performance anxiety,” said a voice from the doorway, Kitsune said, holding a bottle of mouthwash. She gargled and spit over the balcony onto the walkway below.

 

“Kitsune! What if someone was walking down the steps?” nagged Keitaro.

 

“Then they'll be gingerly stepping around the remains of my dinner. Waste of good sake and a fine meal. Sigh,” she joked. “Are you ready to go?”

 

“Not quite,” said Motoko, pointing at his underwear.

 

“Ah, the moment of truth,” said Kitsune lustily. The two of them lunged at him, pulling his boxers away from Little Keitaro and peered inside, openly perving. Keitaro blushed furiously, stammering but unable to stop them. The two women looked carefully then nodded to each other, satisfied.

 

“The equipment appears undamaged. What a relief,” stated Motoko. Kitsune widened her eyes at the filthy comment and its implication.

 

“Why Motoko, I had no idea you felt that way,” noted Kitsune. “You're even more practical than I thought.”

 

“My school lost far too many men in battle. Sister taught us that when the time came, one must aggressively pursue love as a battle to the death, fearing nothing. It must be faced with total commitment.”

 

“So why all the `I hate men' speeches for the last four years?” asked Keitaro.

 

“Well, I … Umm… I … I'm a complicated girl,” she finally sputtered out. Kitsune smirked.

 

“That was a lame excuse. Off they go… my, this is an even better view,” she admitted. “You know, if not for the smell of these wounds I would be seriously tempted to do something very naughty to you, Keitaro,” Kitsune said, eyes not leaving Little Keitaro. He twitched and her smile got bigger.

 

“It seems almost a shame to cover this up, but…,” said Motoko and wrapped a white bathing towel around his waist, little more than a loin cloth over his front. Kitsune slid to the side, staring at his behind.

 

“It's so nice to openly enjoy the view. It's been three years, 8 months, and 2 days since I realized I liked you, ya know,” she admitted. Keitaro tilted his head, confusion abating his embarrassment.

 

“You keep that kind of a count? How… unexpected,” he said.

 

“It was a joke, silly,” she laughed. Motoko fished out his robe, which stank but it was all he had at the moment.

 

“This will need to be washed later. We'll need to get you into some clean clothes after this. Okay, give me a moment while I change. Kitsune?” asked Motoko, indicating that she should stay and keep him from falling down. Motoko slipped out and padded down the hall, heading for the stairs and her room to change. Keitaro was left alone, looking at Kitsune.

 

“I have a bit of a secret, Keitaro,” she said, more seriously.

 

“Yes, Mitsune?” he asked, using her real name.

 

“My aggressiveness is all an act. I am an unplucked flower, Keitaro,” she admitted quietly. Keitaro stared into her open eyes, staring back at him.

 

“Then we'll both have to be gentle the first time,” he finally said after some consideration. She gradually closed in on him and buried her head against his chest.

 

“I'm tired of hiding from life, Keitaro. I'm so lonely. If not for our friends here, I don't know what I'd do.”

 

“You don't have to hide anymore. We all love you, in spite of your tricks,” he pointed out, smelling her blond hair. She was very warm, very soft as she pressed against him, her arms around his crutches, stroking his back. Surprisingly vulnerable, in ways that reminded him of Naru. He stiffened. Then relaxed. She did a moment later as well.

 

“Does this hurt you?” she asked, misunderstanding.

 

“No, just thinking is all,” he evaded. He would have to talk to Naru soon. Motoko returned moments later.

 

“My turn,” they both said simultaneously. Kitsune released him, backing away shyly, an emotion he'd never seen from her before, and Motoko stepped in. She was slightly taller than Keitaro, so holding him found his head against her throat, smelling her scent as it rose from her breasts. She wore honest sweat, slightly trembling against him.

 

“What's wrong, Motoko?” he asked, as her trembling increased.

 

“I…I've never held a man like this before,” she admitted to the top of his head. He wrapped his right arm around her waist and pulled her tighter to him. Her shivering stopped and she relaxed.

 

“Oh. That's right,” she finally agreed. “So, that's why, sister….”

 

Moments later LK was rising with his pulse. He felt her stiffen against him, heart beating faster, then clenched him tightly and a “YIP!” passed through her vocal cords as she spasmed. A moment more and then she sagged against him. LK throbbed.

 

“Did you?…” asked Keitaro, not sure how to ask that sort of a question. He smelled a new pleasant musky smell, confirming what he'd thought. “Wow. You're even sexier than I imagined,” he said, looking up into her flushed face. They kissed deeply this time and continued until Kitsune returned. Her nose wrinkled and her lips betrayed a bit of a frown. We're friends. We all love him, she reminded herself. The hint of jealousy was still there, just the same. This was going to make things awkward.

 

“Well, think we're ready for the hot springs?” announced Kitsune, faking a cheery smile.

 

Keitaro and a dazed Motoko slowly worked their way down the stairs and out to the springs. Once there they disrobed their outwear the girls scrubbed themselves while Keitaro worked on what he could reach.

 

“I'll get your back, Keitaro,” offered Kitsune.

 

“Are you sure you can handle it?” jibed Motoko easily. Her usual tension had evaporated and her mood was much improved.

 

“Yes, I'm fine. You seem a little worn out. Allow me to serve him,” Kitsune replied, seizing her sponge and scrubbing his back. Motoko vied for his back as well and after thorough scrubbing by both girls, Motoko with a permanently plastered grin on her face, he was finally clean enough to enter the spring. He gingerly limped in with help from Kitsune and Motoko on either side, greeting Mutsumi and the other girls. Naru was conspicuously absent. The girls were also speculatively eyeing Keitaro's scars and his bathing towel rather closely. He felt embarrassed about Su and Shinobu doing that but the other girls were supporting this and he trusted them implicitly. LK had his own opinions of the attention and he eeped to himself and quickly got into the water. It was hot and pleasant and he could feel it flowing into his wounds. He just hoped it was as healthy as he remembered. His muscles started to un-knot and he noted Motoko sinking into the water beside him, only to lean her head against his right shoulder. Mutsumi looked slightly cross at this attention.

 

“Did something happen to Motoko?” asked Su cheerfully, finally turning her attention away from Keitaro and his scars.

 

“Perhaps so,” nodded Kitsune, sinking into the water beside him, giving him a good view of her profile. Wow, he thought. She's really hot. What an incredible body. LK was at full attention. Kitsune smiled back at him, wiggling eyebrows cheerfully looking through the clear water. Damn, he though, caught! Keitaro focussed on trying to concentrate on making LK go DOWN but wasn't having much luck with it. He'd been stuck in a hospital with no privacy for a month. Now he was back among a crowd of beautiful almost naked women who loved him. Control was asking a bit much. The fact that they were only wear towels also worked against his control. He finally gave up and closed his eyes, leaning back against a rock in the hot water and let himself relax. Ironically, that's when LK finally gave up and let him be. The girls were all chatting, letting him rest for now. The voices came nearer after a while and he opened his eyes to Su, Shinobu, and Mutsumi eyeing his scars carefully, questions on their faces.

 

“You weren't kidding about how bad the scars would be, were you, Kei-kun?” asked Mutsumi. Part of her chest was cheerfully floating in the water, which would generate a nosebleed if he had any to spare from his now abruptly reawakened LK. How could she be so amazingly sexy and so kind at the same time?

 

“Aww, Little Keikei wants to be my friend!” she exclaimed happily. And so naughty as well. Shinobu couldn't take her eyes off his towel and Su… Su looked hungry.

 

“You know, Keitaro, in MolMol, a normal girl my age has already been married for 3 years,” she casually dropped, openly staring as well.

 

“With my parent's permission, I could legally marry in a year,” muttered Shinobu. Somehow the pain in his shoulder seemed very distant at that moment. Shinobu was doing something under the water and he didn't want to look, focussing on Mutsumi instead. She was very easy to love. If she didn't faint, she'd be the perfect girl. She moved to sit beside him on the underwater bench, rubbing her generous hip against his own. Soft and generous. She leaned over and kissed him gently, deeply and with passion like it was nothing. It didn't feel like nothing. Keitaro experienced something he'd never had before. He went off at that moment, clutching her. She smiled gently.

 

“My, it's been a while, hasn't it, Kei-Kei,” she teased. He nodded, dazedly. She took his hand and held it in her own, eyes radiating love and total acceptance. He'd never met anyone like Mutsumi before.

 

There was a tiny shriek from Shinobu and then she burbled in the water, coming up a minute later with a big smile on her face. He felt a lot more relaxed now. Shinobu settled in on his left side, giggling to herself drunkenly. She leaned her head against the undamaged part of his upper arm, small hands holding him affectionately. Motoko watched it all through slitted lazy eyes, and Kitsune watched her watching him before turning to regard Mutsumi with a happy but possessive smile on her face. Kitsune felt that twinge of jealousy again. What was she going to do?

 

Half an hour later, after a good long soak, the women started to leave the pool until it was just Kitsune and Keitaro there. He looked more awake and embarrassed now. Kitsune came to sit opposite him, waiting.

 

“You're in great demand, I see,” she remarked.

 

“Yeah, I guess so. Now I understand how Seta feels,” he said without thinking about it first.

 

“You do, do you?”

 

“Sorry. It doesn't mean anything, Kitsune. Would you like to sit next to me?” he asked.

 

“I'm not sure it would be my place,” she accused pointedly. That woke him up.

 

“Oh dear. That sounds like jealousy. I told you I loved you. I do mean it,” he repeated. She shook her head sadly.

 

“Look at the mess you've made. None of us will settle for second. We all want you and we can't share a man between us. You've harmed the Wa of this household, Keitaro. So what are you going to do to fix it?” she asked.

 

“I have to choose,” he said simply, “and hope the others forgive me for loving one more than the rest.”

 

Kitsune thought about that for a while. “Just so we're clear, you're choosing one of us, not several or all. That kinda thing won't work in the real world, Keitaro.”

 

“Yes, I know. But it IS tempting…,” he teased her. She splashed him, getting his glasses all wet before storming off.

 

“That was so worth it,” he chuckled.

 

“I heard that,” she yelled from the changing room.

 

END PART 2