Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Keitaro the Artist ❯ Painting Kitsune ( Chapter 2 )

[Painting Kitsune]

 

“Say, how about you paint me for a month's rent?” Kitsune teased, waving her sake bottle at him with a wink.

 

“You wanna pay me a month's rent to paint you? I was willing to do it for free, but if that's what you want,” he offered, teasing her back. Kitsune worked her jaw up and down, wondering how that could possibly have backfired.

 

“Well, come on. No time like the present,” he said. She quietly followed him back to his room.

 

“Okay. You want to do this clothed or nude?” he asked. She gulped, just a little tipsy from the sake and remembered how she felt working with him that first time. She wanted that feeling again.

 

“Nude,” she said. She stripped. He stared, observing her as her clothes, her protections and frailties, dropped to the floor beneath her. Soon, it was just her, him, and the easel.

 

“Stand there,” he ordered, readying a large pad and his charcoals. “Now, hold still.” He began with wide sweeps of his arms, then small scratching strokes. She couldn't see what he was doing but it was intriguing. She was surprised just how much of a turn on it was to be nude, stared at so intently, yet not touched. He finished the charcoal, then tore it loose and set it aside, asking her to change position and began again. A few more minutes and he finished this one, more simplified but more sure.

 

“Is it hot in here?” she asked. He peeled off a third sketch and asked her to lie on her side, then offered her a sheet. She fussed with it awhile before arranging it just right. He stared intently, then nodded approval.

 

“Perfect. Now I begin,” he said, picking up the pastels this time and quickly working. He was intense and sweat poured off of them both in the small sweltering room.

 

“Sempai…?” called Shinobu, suddenly opening his door. She was hit with a blast of hot sweaty air and then saw Kitsune, almost naked, and Keitaro, painting. She felt a strange weakness in the knees at that.

 

“Is this how he looked when he painted me?” she wondered silently.

 

“Thank you Shinobu. It was getting really hot in here,” said Kitsune quietly. She was a grown woman, with all a woman's curves. Shinobu felt shy and embarrassed but resisted the urge to flee. She watched him work, standing in his doorway. He continued for some time. Then stopped.

 

“I'm done,” he announced. Kitsune rose, wrapping the sheet around her shyly before approaching to look at the easel's contents. She sharply drew in a breath.

 

“Is that really me? Do I look like that?” she asked.

 

“When you're not paying attention,” he said. Shinobu cautiously entered to stare at the painting, gasping aloud.

 

“Sempai… that's… wow. So beautiful. She looks so noble,” she exclaimed. Kitsune nodded in approval. He'd managed to show her beauty without going for the cheap angle, like so many men. She'd posed before, once and the photographer had been a lecher, wanting nasty nudes to sell on the internet. She'd punched his lights out and torn the film out once she realized, but it had hurt her to be used like that. He wasn't looking at her like a sex object. This painting captured a different quality she wasn't used to admitting, something not based on lust and sex appeal.

 

“I want to photograph that later,” she said after some thought. She wanted to preserve this permanently. She wondered if she still had the good film for her 4x5 Speedgraphic box camera. It deserved the high quality color slide film. She thought she had some in the freezer downstairs. Probably. A question occurred to her.

 

“This is a beautiful painting, Keitaro. Are you gay?” she asked. Shinobu yelped at looked between the two of them, frightened at the question, moreso at the potential answer.

 

“No, Kitsune. But I am a artist,” he blushed, seeing her as a naked woman finally. “I just don't think about anything but truth while I'm working.” She looked down, as he was fully focussed on her exposed cleavage, licking his lips like a starving man. She smiled.

 

“Shinobu, would you excuse us, please?” asked Kitsune.

 

Shinobu backed out of the room, shutting the door.

 

“Now, where were we? Ah, yes. That's right,” she said. Kitsune dropped the sheet and advanced on Keitaro.

 

“You just earned yourself some gratitude,” she said. “And its my treat.”

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&& &

 

Sometime later Kitsune sauntered down to the baths where a blushing Shinobu shivered despite the heat. She looked like she hadn't been there very long. Kitsune was completely relaxed and washed herself carefully, not scrubbing too hard on her tender flesh. She sank into the water, wincing slightly at the waist before finally coming to rest.

 

“Wasn't that the most beautiful painting you've ever seen?” she said to Shinobu. The girl nodded tightly.

 

“Did you and Sempai?”

 

“Hush, girl. You can't help being curious. And you've got plenty of time to grow up properly. Don't rush yourself,” suggested Kitsune. Shinobu finally stopped shaking and quickly rubbed herself, then gasped before sinking down in relief. Kitsune opened her eyes slightly, then shook her head.

 

“Shinobu, can I tell you a secret?” asked Kitsune. The dreamy girl murmured assent.

 

“I knew Keitaro when I was a girl, back when my family stayed here when it was still an inn. I'm the one he made his promise to,” she said.

 

“Does that mean you want to be… are you his girlfriend?” asked the girl finally, managing the words. Kitsune just smiled.

 

“I'd like that. I think so. If he'll have me,” she said.

 

“But didn't you just? And doesn't that mean?” asked Shinobu, more confused.

 

“Shhh. Things between men and women are rarely as simple as that,” said Kitsune. Shinobu darkened considerably at that statement.

 

“That is true,” she said quietly serious, remembering her parents divorce. They sat together for a while before withdrawing from the heat, rinsing off and turning to their respective tasks.

 

Keitaro, sitting in the furo above, stared into space, lost from the sex and from her confession.

 

“I came to Tokyo U to find her, and just by looking, I did. I am the luckiest man alive.” Keitaro grinned widely.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

“Kitsune?!” called Keitaro from her door, sliding it open. She looked up from her camera, a large baffle extended.

 

“What is it, Keitaro-kun?” she asked.

 

“I… I overheard you in the springs. Is that true?” he asked. She stared at him with her slitted eyes thoughtfully, debating lying then gave up. She nodded.

 

“Yes, it was me,” she said.

 

“Will you be my girlfriend?” he asked recklessly. Her eyes opened and blinked a bit before closing back down.

 

“If you paint me again, yes,” she said finally.

 

“Just like that?” he said, a little confused. For some reason he thought things like this were supposed to be long drawn out complicated messes. Like it was something which would consume years of his life agonizing over.

 

“Yep, just like that.”

 

“Wow. Why?” he asked. She blinked at him again and gestured to have a seat. He sat.

 

“Keitaro, I like passionate men, but I like passionate men who aren't ruled by their passion. Your painting proved you could put truth first instead of be a pervert like every other guy I know. You saw ME, not some sex object. That earned my respect. I want to be captured that way. I want to be looked at that way. I want to be understood that way. We were kids a long time ago. I'm surprised you still remember that promise. Shocked even. But you did. And you cared enough to try for Tokyo U, even if you're not really suited to be a lawyer. Your paintings are too good to waste time in pointless garbage like law. I can scarcely imagine what you can do with oils, clay, or bronze. I think I'd like to be there. So yes, I will be your girlfriend. I know what we did earlier was your first time. We'll do that again too,” she said. “I'll help you be a better artist. Tokyo U isn't the right place for you, but there are other schools, and you've found me, so we're going to be happy. Okay?”

 

He nodded. She blinked again, returning to work on her camera, dragging out a heavy aluminum tripod and some lights.

 

“Help me with this, would you please, Koibito?” she said purring like a cat. Keitaro shivered in pleasure at the word, then helped her. They methodically setup the lights and tripod, lighting his painting properly. She photographed it several times, just to make sure, then followed up with a more traditional 35mm camera with slide film. She'd have to take it to a friend's lab to develop it herself. She didn't trust this work of art with anyone else. Labs always kept copies of the good stuff. And this was very good. They shut things off and put stuff away before heading downstairs to dinner. Kaolla stuffed herself. Shinobu smiled quietly at the couple and Naru pondered her best friend and the manager holding hands. Clearly, they were a couple.

 

“Motoko comes home tomorrow,” announced Naru after a while.

 

“Oh boy,” cheered Kaolla. “My sleeping friend!”

 

“What?” asked Keitaro, confused at the phrase.

 

“I have nightmares so Motoko sleeps with me. She's very strong. You're very durable. Would you sleep with me, Keitaro?” she asked innocently. Kitsune and Naru both grimaced for different reasons.

 

“He's a Man, Su! Of course he can't sleep with you!” yelled Naru.

 

“He'll be sleeping with me from now on,” said Kitsune, clearing the air of that subject. Naru glared.

 

“Is he your boyfriend? Is he your lover? Are you going to get married? Are you going to have children?” asked the hyperactive blonde. Kitsune smiled.

 

“Yes to the first two, we'll see about the rest,” she answered. Keitaro was floored. She grasped his hand tightly under the table. Naru snarled.

 

“I can't believe you! You just met him!”

 

“Seta,” said Kitsune quietly. Naru shut up instantly. Keitaro looked back and forth between the two women.

 

“Keitaro, dear?” said Kitsune sweetly. “I don't mean to be rude, but would you excuse us for an hour? Naru and I need to talk about some things.” He looked back and forth, then nodded.

 

“Thank you for dinner, Shinobu. I'll see you all later,” he said.

 

Keitaro wandered out of the Hinata Sou in a daze, descending the stairs and stopping to look into the Hinata Tea House, still open for the evening customers.

 

“Hi Keitaro, you look… ah, I know that look. Have a seat. I have a special tea just for that. Let me get it for you,” she said, smiling with a truly happy smile, the first he'd seen on his grim aunt in many years. She tended to the needs of a few customers before bringing a small pottery tea kettle and pouring him a cup. She sat down opposite him. He sipped, enjoying the flavor. If anything, it made the feelings in his body and mind more intense.

 

“She loves me,” he finally said.

 

“Good. Which she?” he said.

 

“Kitsune,” he said.

 

“Good, you found your Promise Girl. I'm glad. I wasn't sure if she'd admit it or not. She swore that whole thing off years ago. I guess you convinced her. How'd you do it?” she asked.

 

“On the floor,” he said, sipping a bit more of the tea. Haruka giggled.

 

“Not where. How did you convince her?” she asked.

 

“She modeled for me. She liked the painting,” he said. “Now she's my girlfriend. They're talking about marriage and babies up there.”

 

“Good. I'm glad someone's thinking ahead. This is what you wanted, right?” said Haruka.

 

“Yeah. Yeah it is. Was it supposed to be this easy?” he asked.

 

“Does it feel right?” she asked. He nodded.

 

“Yes. Exactly right. Part of me feels like I've made a miraculous escape from some terrible fate,” he admitted.

 

“Well, you know what they say about a butterfly's wings,” said Haruka. Keitaro nodded in agreement.

 

“They can change the course of a typhoon,” he finished.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&

 

 

Author's Note:

I might write more on this, as its tempting to have him paint Motoko and Naru, though I don't think he'd be sexing them like Kitsune. I also consider him discovering sculpture but really this says what the AU needs to say as it is. So I think I'll stop here.

 

END