[Zero Eiyuu]

Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina

-/-/-/-/-/ = Change of place

Love Hina: The Path of Love

Prologue: The Bright Young Man

A man dressed in a black tuxedo was trying to fix his tie in front of a circular mirror. He didn?t seem to be doing that great, in fact he was struggling with it. He looked to be about the age of 19, but he looked a little bit older than that. Besides the stressed looks he was giving from his tie he was actually a very happy, joyful, and calm person. He fixed his glasses right after he finally fixed his tie.

?Ah-hah! Success!? He said in triumph when he was finally able to do it. He gave a cool smile at himself in the mirro. ?Hello my name is Keitaro Urashima, nice to meet you.? He talked to his own reflection as if it were another in that empty room. ?Hmm?that sounds just about right.?

?Oy! Keitaro-kun!? Keitaro slowly turned his head and looked at a man dressed much like himself in the doorway. He looked the same age as Keitaro but he had smaller glasses?much smaller glasses, the type you only use for reading. ?It?s about to start. You?d better get in place.? He spoke with sincerity and calmness to Keitaro and kept a smile on for his dear friend.

?Ah, thank you Haitani-kun. I must?ve lost track of time. ? Keitaro looked back into the mirror at himself and fixed his hair. Haitani walked beside him and looked at himself in the mirror as well. ?This is it.?

?Are you nervous?? Keitaro-kun?? He asked just to make sure he was okay.

?Just a little bit. I mean with IS a wedding. I would be lying if I said I didn?t. He replied casually.

?Well Keitaro-kun I really hope that this girl is really the one for you. I mean I don?t want you to get hurt you know??

?Don?t worry about me, I?m certain she?s the woman for me.? Keitaro?s eyes started to sparkle with joy. ?I really love her, and we?ve been together for three years now." Keitaro faced Haitani. ?How do I look??

?Like a man who?s about to get a ball and chain locked on his leg. ?He joked and patted his shoulder.

?Perfect.? Keitaro gleamed happily. Well then, let?s go?my best man.? And with that final comment they both nod and leave together.

-/-/-/-/-/

Keitaro stood by the altar of the church with the best man standing beside him and the bride?s maids on the other side of the altar. There were many friends and family members who came to attend this wedding from both sides of the families. There were at least 150 people. In the front row of the groom?s side sat Grandma Hina, his mother, his father, and his adopted sister Kanako. They all waved at Keitaro standing there happily waiting for his bride to be. The minister was of an old age, possibly 65 but he looked like he really enjoyed marrying people. He was highly recommended by many people.

And thus the music begins?the classical ?Here comes the bride? song is being played behind the minister on a pipe organ.

A young and beautiful woman begun to slowly walk down the aisle dressed in a gorgeous white wedding gown that started at the side of her shoulders all the way down into a long flowing dress like shape. She held onto a bouquet of flowers close to her heart. Her veil covered her face but anyone could see through it and the massive blush she had on her face. She had short brown hair which stopped down to the bottom of her jaw from the sides and back, the front of her hair barley touched her eyebrows. Her eyes were of a dark brown which from far away looked like black eyes. She looked very beautiful walking down that aisle. Her ages was of the same as Keitaro though she was 2 months younger than him. She was just about 5 cm smaller than him.

Keitaro looked at her with nothing but happiness glowing in his eyes. The quests all stared in awe at her at how gorgeous she just was. Many of the girls couldn?t help but feel jealous, especially her close friends who were her 5 bride?s maids.

She suddenly stopped in her place half way down the aisle. A look of shock was on her face.

?Huh?? Keitaro took a single step towards her. ?What?s wrong, Yu-chan?? He couldn?t see her face, she lowered it so her hair covered her eyes from his sight. ?Yu-chan?? She stayed in her spot, silence filled the room, not a sound was made.

Out of the silence? weeping takes place. It was the bride, she was crying.

?K-Keitaro?I-I?m sorry.? She managed to say very quietly.

?What?? Keitaro took a couple more steps in her way again. ?Come on Yu-chan?this is our big day together. Don?t be nervous.? He held out his hand to her with a caring smile. She nervously walked up to him and gently grabbed her hand. She paused though, Keitaro could feel something being put into his hand. ?Yu-chan??

?I?m so very sorry Keitaro??

And she ran?dropping her bouquet?she ran and never looked back.

?Yu-chan?? He opened his hand and his eyes were in shock at what he saw. It was the engagement ring that he had proposed to her with. The entire situation then came and struck him down and he had realised what had just happened. ?YU-CHAN!? He wanted to run for her, he wanted to bring her back and tell her everything was all right, he wanted her to stand by his side, but he couldn?t?he couldn?t do anything. He couldn?t do anything but fall to is knees and cry. His heart had been broken. ?Yu-chan?Yu-chan?? Haitani walked to his friend?s side to comfort him.

?Keitaro-kun?? He tried to find the right words to cheer up his dear friend, to make him happy again. But nothing he could say would cheer up the broken down man. He was much to hurt.

?I thought?we?d be together forever. I though?he?d have an eternal love together?? Keitaro unconsciously dropped the silver ring onto the ground and was lost in his own thoughts.

On a close up of the silver ring, on the inner part of it was the words;

?Eternally yours ? Keitaro Urashima.?

-/-/-/-/-/

The next day Keitaro went over to Yu-chan?s family home to speak with Yu-chan about the events that occurred personally. But he received news from her mother that she had left with no way of tracing her and knowing where she was. Her family deeply apologized for what had conspired and decided that they?d pay for the entire wedding expenses as a sort of ?sorry?. That didn?t bring any happiness to Keitaro though. Money was the least of his worries.

Keitaro returned home, there was nowhere else he wanted to be right now. He sat at the kitchen table on one of the 4 chairs, looking at the engagement ring in his hands, reading over and over the words he had inscribed into it. Doors opened and Haitani entered with a friend of both Keitaro and himself. He was shorter than he was and bared the same type of glasses. He was dressed in a green winter jacket and jeans, Haitani was dressed the same except for a red jacket.

??? Keitaro said nothing to them but just kept staring at the ring.

??? The friend looked at Keitaro with sadness. ?Keitaro-kun?I?m sorry I wasn?t able to make it to your wedding?? He waited a couple of minutes.

??It?s okay?Shirai-kun.? Keitaro managed to fake a smile at both of them. ?How was your vacation at Okinawa?? Shirau and Haitani seemed a bit joyed.

?It was actually pretty nice. While I was there I met this really nice girl who showed me around. It was great?you should go there sometime Keitaro-kun.?

?Yeah?maybe someday??

They were quiet once again. Shirai decided to break the eerie silence engulfing the room.

?Sorry that she left yo-? He was silenced by Haitani who smacked the back of his head.

?Idiot!? Haitani hissed at Shirai in anger. Shirai quickly realised that he was just making Keitaro feel worse. He really did love that girl.

?Thank you?? Keitaro closed his eyes and put the ring away in his pocket.

At this time Kanako had made her entrance into the kitchen dressed in a long black coat which stopped to her knees. Yes it is very called outside but it isn?t winter.

?Good evening Kanako.? Both Shirai and Haitani greeted.

?Good evening you two.? She directed her attention to Keitaro as he didn?t seem to notice Kanako just yet as he stared off into space. ?Oniisan?? That caught his attention.

?Hmm? Yes Kanako?? He stared at her with lifeless eyes, this was starting to worry her.

?Grandma Hina wants to have a word with you.?

?Is that so?? Keitaro looked behind Kanako from his seat. ?Where is she now??

?I?m right here.? Shirai and Haitani shot back in shock gripping their hearts when they saw Grandma Hina suddenly in the seat across from Keitaro. Keitaro slowly moved his eyes to her. ?Did I surprise you??

??No not really.? He answered her like he was half asleep.

?YOU SCARED US!!!?

?YEAH YOU ALMOST SCARED US TO DEATH!!!?

?Oh my, I?m so sorry about that. But it?s not my fault you weren?t paying attention.? She laughed.

?What did you wish to speak to me about anyway?? Keitaro spoke out. Kanako went over beside Keitaro to his left and faced her grandmother as well. Shirai and Haitani stood behind their friends.

?Well I was going to return to Hinata Sou today in a couple of hours and I was thinking.? She looked seriously at Keitaro. ?I want you to come with me.? Kanako twitched.

?W-what? But Grandma Hina.? Kanako silenced herself as she knew not to speak against her elders.

?Hinata Sou? That sounds so very familiar.? Shirai wondered. ?Isn?t that where Keitaro made that promise??

?Now that you mention it. It was also a really big house.? Haitani added.

Keitaro thought for a moment all the while looking at his grandmother. ?Okay?I?ll go with you. I need to get away from this place for a while anyway?? Keitaro sighed and reached into his pant pocket and fiddled with the ring. ?Might be a good opportunity to do some studying for Todai.?

?Ah then it?s settled then!? She looked at Kanako. ?Do you want to come too Kanako??

?Huh?? Actually that would be great if I could go with Oni-san?but I have something important to do. ?No thank you but I must stay here for a while. I may come on my own later.?

?Well then we?ll be seeing you right Keitaro-kun?? Shirau patted Keitaro?s shoulder.

?We?ll still hang out together right?? Haitani patted his other shoulder.

?Or course we will?you?re my friends after all.?

?Come on Keitaro.? Grandma Hina got off her chair and walked towards the door. ?We have things to do before we go.?

?Okay, coming.? Keitaro got off and followed her. Haitani, Shirai, and Kanako waved to him as he left the door. They stood there for minutes only thinking of Keitaro. They were all very worried about him and his well being. It was painful for them to see Keitaro?s heart get broken in such a way.

And that was all that was left of the bright young man. He has been left with a big hole in his heart that may never recover. But maybe?just maybe?Hinata Sou could help mend his wounds. This?is the story of his path to love.

End Prologue.

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina, that belongs to Ken Akamatsu and no one else!

Love Hina: The Path Of Love

Chapter 1: The Great Hinata Sou

?So you?re just going to site there and do nothing Keitaro?? Grandma Hina stated. Keitaro was seated on a long wooden bench looking at the sketch book he brought with him with his suitcase brown suitcase beside me. ?Don?t you even want to at least look around? Maybe get to know the area again??

?It?s okay?? Keitaro gripped his book tightly but not tight enough to crumple it. ?I?ll be fine right here for now, you don?t have to worry about me.? Keitaro still couldn?t forget about the events that transpired yesterday and it ate him inside. Deep down inside Keitaro, with the forgiving soul he possessed, wanted to see his fianc??s face again and tell her that everything was okay. He wanted to tell her that he still loved her.

?Oh Keitaro?? Grandma Hina twirled around and took a couple of steps away from him before she stopped. ?You remember the way to Hinata Sou from here I assume.?

?Yeah I remember. That?s something I couldn?t forget.? He said with a small smile. That place holds great memories that I would cherish. And of course that?s where I met that girl who I made a promise too. I wonder if I?ll ever see her again.

?Okay then. When should I expect you to be there??

?About 20 minutes, maybe less. I don?t know, I just want to relax for a while.?

?Well if that?s the case then take your time.? She turned her head just enough to see Keitaro. ?There will definitely be a warm welcome for you waiting at Hinata Sou.? She walked away carrying her own big bag of items. It looked pretty big and heavy but every time Keitaro would offer to carry it she would not let him. It was amazing that she could?ve carried it, the size was too different, and it must?ve been 3 times bigger than her.

Keitaro relaxed and took in a deep breathe. ?It?s been so long since I?ve been here.? Keitaro Reminisced about past memories he had of this place of the good times he?d spent with a very special girl that he made a promise too. In his life he had never forgotten that promise and still holds to keep it. That was just the type of person he was. But as luck would have it he never got into Tokyo University, in fact after 2 tries he still hasn?t passed the entrance exams. ?Don?t worry?I?ll keep that promise.?

A cold wind blew across his body.

The girl flashed through his mind, the girl from 15 years ago when he made the promise. He took out his sketching pencil and opened his book to a blank page near the center. He started to sketch what he had just seen. Keitaro kept it as a daily routine to draw as much as possible of the girl whenever he had the chance. He couldn?t exactly remember how she looked like but he tried. But then another thought crossed his mind while he was drawing.

Yukari.

His fianc? that he was about to marry. When Keitaro was 16 he met her at school while they were paired together to do a project. One thing led to another and they become good friends, then soon girl friend and boy friend. Keitaro fell in love with her the second he laid eyes on her He really thought that she would change his life for the better, and it was like that for a while. He then remembered something that made him angry.

He saw himself alone at the altar.

Rage filled him instantly. He broke his pencil lead from pressing too hard, seems that he didn?t realise how hard he was pressing it. The picture looked just like the girl that flashed through his thoughts. Except that there was a lot of broken pencil lead all over where the face should be. He tried to brush it off with his hand lightly but it only smeared it black. He couldn?t make out her face anymore. Feeling defeated and stressed him but the book on his lap and pulled out a pencil sharpening and started sharpening. Another cold wind, this time it was stronger, blew across him. The wind blew the pages until it stopped near the beginning of his book at a picture of Yukari in a wedding dress. He instantly closed the book in 1 second.

??? I?m feeling so angry right now. But I can?t be mad at her, she must?ve had a very good reason for this? Keitaro smiled with a sad look. Maybe she just needs some time?I?m sure of it? Feeling a bit calmed down he opened his book again to another blank page next to the one he just drew. Might as well draw something else since my pencil?s sharp. But what?

To Keitaro?s luck he noticed a girl sitting all the way to his left on a separate bench much like his. She looked down at her own feet in sadness in her green dress-like shirt. This girl had short blue hair with her bangs moving slightly to the sides of her cute face to let her blue eyes show off. She looked to be around 12 by Keitaro?s guess. Something really bothered him though; she looked extremely depressed and sad.

That?s so depressing? is that how I?ve been looking all this time? Without really thinking he begun to draw the girl?s face on his page. He would once in a while glance at the girl then back at his book to get a better picture. That?s when the girl noticed that he was looking at her. She saw him out of the corner of her eye.

What is he doing?? He eyed her again and resumed drawing. He had on this intense look of concentration. Is he drawing me?? She noticed that Keitaro had a small smile now. He looks like a suspicious person?I?m scared?

He had just completed his sketch of the girl. The picture took up the whole page and was really well drawn. The girl was smiling cheerfully in his picture, the complete opposite of what he saw. Happy with his work he put his pencil back into his pocket and when he did that another wind blew across him. The pages flipped to a picture of Yukari hold out her hand to him with a happy smile. Something snapped in Keitaro though, something made him go crazy. For some reason the sight of Yukari enraged him so much that he wanted to punch through a wall and scream at the top of his lunges. His eyes widened, he grabbed his book and slammed it right into the ground with all of his might. He grinded his teeth fiercely while never keeping his eyes off the book.

?Ah!? The girl screamed out when he did that. Keitaro snapped out of his anger and realized what he had just displayed. He calmed down and tightened his fists.

Just what the hell am I doing? Keitaro looked at the girl who looked very scared and now looked directly into Keitaro?s eyes. I scared her? she probably thinks I?m some crazy freak now? ?S-sorry.? Keitaro ran away after grabbing his suitcase and leaving from the scene without his book.

?Sorry?? She stood up and walked towards the book. His eyes? they looked like he was in so much pain, but he had a look of sincerity. She was about to pick the book up when the wind blew again and flipped the pages to his picture of her. She gasped at the perfect sketch of her face. He got every feature right about her. This is me? Smiling?? She tried to copy the image of herself but hesitated for a second several times. But she eventually smiles just as the picture showed. This is so nice?I feel so happy? She looked into the direction of where Keitaro went. ?I wonder who he was. I?d like to meet him again.?

-/-/-/-/-/

??? Keitaro slowed down and started walking instead. He looked at the suitcase in his left hand and sighed. Just what was I thinking? I must?ve looked like some kind of pervert or stalking to her. I hope I didn?t scare her too much?I feel bad. He stopped and looked at his watch on his left wrist. It was 8:22 and he had told Grandma Hina he would be there in 20 minutes 22 minutes ago. ?What else is there to do?? He thought for a moment then decided. ?I?ll go pay Aunt Haruka a visit! Her shop should be near here.? Keitaro began walking again in the direction of where Hinata Sou was located. It?s a good thing her place is on the way there. He wasn?t paying much attention when he was walking and accidentally walked into someone. To his surprise he had just walked right into Haruka. He gave a quick look at her. She was wearing her work apron which said ?Haruka?s Teashop? on it. Under that she was wearing an ordinary brown shirt and jeans. Keitaro noticed one very important thing about her. ?No cigarette today, Aunt Haruka??

She hit him over the head. Keitaro already knew why she hit him, it was because he called her ?aunt?. He knew how much she hated it and did it on purpose. She truly hated being called aunt by him because she was still fairly young. ?It?s good to see you too Keitaro.? She was actually on her way to buy some cigarettes actually before she bumped into him. She fully knew what had happened to Keitaro as she was actually attending the wedding secretly. ?How have you been??? It took Keitaro a couple of seconds to collect his thoughts.

?I could be better. How are you?? He asked without changing his expression.

?I?m just fine?? She smiled at him and looked behind herself. ?Did you come here with Grandma Hina??

?Yeah actually.? He looked behind her in the direction of Hinata Sou. ?She wanted me to live with her at Hinata Sou for a while.?

?Oh?? She said with interest and eyed him. ?For how long?? And I wonder if she told him all ready?

?No idea. I was thinking maybe a couple of weeks, that?s all. I just need to relax here.? Keitaro sighed. ?She really wanted me to come and live there. I sure hope it hasn?t changed.?

?Hmm?? I guess she DIDN?T tell him. Guess it?s my job too.

?Something on your mind??

?No?nothing really.? Actually he can find out on his own. That?s what he gets for calling me ?aunt?. ?You should get to Hinata Sou and talk to Grandma Hina ASAP.?

?Why is that??

?No reason. See you later.? And before he knew it she was out of his sights before he could try and pry information from her.

Too late?ASAP huh? Wonder what?s going on? While he wondered just what she meant he continued on towards Hinata Sou. It wasn?t much further from his current location and would only take minutes to reach. He wondered to himself just how Hinata Sou looked, he hadn?t been there for a good 15 years now and memories didn?t serve him well. He?s never been back there since that time he made that promise to the girl. He still couldn?t remember how this mystery girl looked like, or even her name. Memory?didn?t seem to take a liking to him?not at all.

Keitaro stopped at the foot of a very long set of stone steps leading all the way up a big hill. It?s pathway on the sides were full of thousands of cherry blossom trees that just made the whole scenery so beautiful, so serene, so very peaceful. It made him feel like he wanted time to just stand still as he witnessed this scene. He took his sweet time to walk up those steps to admire the falling cherry blossoms, a peaceful smile on his face the entire time. It brought back great memories for him.

When he finally got to the top he couldn?t help but marvel at the place he knew has Hinata Sou. He awed in amazement on how big it was. In the past he knew Hinata Sou was big and he thought it?d seem smaller when he got older? but it still gave him that feeling that he was so very small.

?I guess some things never change.? He felt very nostalgic at the sight of it. He quickly ran up to the house in excitement and entered the place. There was no one in his sights, he couldn?t even hear anything. It was as if it was completely empty, and that?s what he thought.

This is where memory is on his side slightly, he vaguely remembered everything from Hinata Sou from when he was a kid. As Keitaro walked around Hinata Sou to get his memory jogging he begun to remember everything about Hinata Sou. He took a quick glance at the hot springs, walked into the kitchen to see what there was. He gave a quick overview of the complete first floor basically. He headed for the 2nd floor and he knew where Grandma Hina?s room was and headed straight for it, ignoring any other room.

He stood outside of her room and looked at the top. There was a sign that read; Kanrinrin. Keitaro could hear some moving around. Keitaro gently knocked on the door.

Knock Knock

?Come in.? the voice of Grandma Hina said. He slid the door open and walked in, sliding it closed behind him. He set his suitcase aside against the wall and looked at her. She was packing some things into 2 different suitcases. Looked mainly like clothes, magazines, and photo albums. Other than that the room was completely clean and everything was set away. ?Already done sightseeing huh??

?Yeah? I didn?t want to make you wait.? Keitaro sat down and leaned against the wall beside his suitcase. ?Planning on going somewhere Grandma Hina?? By the looks of her luggage it looks like she might be going for a long time.

?Well yes I am.? She closed both of her briefcases and looked at Keitaro. ?But I have to talk with everyone first. I hope you don?t mind.? If all goes according to plan, this will definitely help Keitaro.

?Not at all.?

?Well? is Hinata Sou just as you remembered??

?Yes it is actually. Everything?s the same.? Keitaro tried to look for his sketch book but then remembered of the recent event with the blue hair girl. He decided to forget about that and the whole thing altogether. ?So where am I going to stay? And how much do I have to pay you??

?Pay?? The mere mention of that word coming from her own kin brought chills through her body. She waved her hands in front of her. ?That won?t be needed Keitaro.?

?Are you sure about that? How are you supposed to make money letting people stay for free?? Keitaro said half jokingly and half serious.

?Of course, I?ll get by, don?t worry.? Seeing as Keitaro would never be able to win this conversation he decided to just give in to Grandma Hina?s word.

?If you say so.? She?s way too nice, makes me feel bad for staying over here, even though she invited me to come. I?ll make sure to sneak her a couple 10 000 yen into her suitcase, that?s the least I can do for now. ?Well then, where should I put my things?? Keitaro gave a quick glance at the only suitcase he brought.

?Oh you can just leave your things here for now, I?ll decide later.?

?Oh, okay??

?Hey I know, why don?t you go and take a nice relaxing bath in the hot springs??

?Hmm? Why do you say that?? Keitaro asked seeing as Grandma Hina seemed to want him out if his room.

?Well? you seem a little tired and restless, I?m sure the hot springs will make you feel better.?

??? Now that I think about it that doesn?t sound like a bad idea at all. ?Okay.?

?There shouldn?t be anyone in there right now so you should hurry. Hup to it Keitaro!?

?Right right?? Geez she doesn?t have to rush me like this. But what she just said? are there people in here right now? Hmm? I wonder who they are, I should really introduce myself to them. I AM going to stay here for a bit after all. But first, the hot springs!

-/-/-/-/-/

Keitaro slowly shank himself into the warm steam waters of the hot springs. He set aside his glasses on the floor next to his head. Tightening his towel around his waist, he laid against the rocks and finally, since the horrible tragedy, he relaxed.

Grandma Hina was right, there was no one to be found in the hot springs, in fact Keitaro didn?t even run into anyone in Hinata Sou. He was starting to think that everyone was out or something. But he did find it relaxing to have no one else distract or bother him.

?If there?s one thing in this world that can relax me, it?s this.? Keitaro?s whole mind was at ease. He could think of anything or anyone and not be anger by anything right now.

But of all the things he chose to think of? he chose to think of Yukari. He just couldn?t get her out of his head, she was his fianc?e and that was something big, REALLY big. It wasn?t easy for Keitaro to hold this burden within himself, it was impossible for him to forget about her. He still very much loved her in his heart; she always held a place in there. But the pain from her leaving had left a big hole in his heart that still very much tormented him.

Keitaro?s mind was clear, he wanted to just forget all his troubles? all of his pain? he just wanted to forget everything and lose himself in the hot springs. Before long he was slowly starting to fall asleep. But the sounds of foot steps? that kept him wide awake.

Quickly, Keitaro snatched his glasses off the floor and stood up looking around with his glasses on. He looked where he heard the footsteps and was completely dumbfounded at who was walking to him.

What the?! Who the heck is she?!

What he saw really surprised him. There, standing wrapped only in a towel, was a beautiful young woman who gave Keitaro a cute smile like he was his boyfriend. She looked around to be the same age as Keitaro, probably younger though. She whipped her long hair to the side and let her dark brown eyes sparkle. Keitaro was left in awe.

Wow? she?s so beautiful? Keitaro was too shocked and stunned to do anything in this situation. Sure he had a fianc?e and all and he was sort of used to things like this. But this? this had a different effect on him. What are you thinking Keitaro!? You?re still engaged you know that!? This is unacceptable! We gatta get out of here and fast!!!

?Ahh?? the girl sighs in relief right next to Keitaro.

?Eh??

The girl slowly sank beside him and laid her back against the rocks as well. She looked up at the sky with a calm and serene look as if Keitaro wasn?t even there. Keitaro controlled himself to not look at her body because up close like this he would practically see everything. And the funny thing was that she didn?t look like she minded at all. Keitaro decided that he should leave right now.

?You know I didn?t expect you to be in here alone, and so early too. Isn?t it better bathing together like this?? She kept looked up at the sky.

Is she talking to me?? Well duh! I?m the only one here; of course she?s talking to me?

?Hey Kitsune??

Kitsune?? OH! She thinks I?m this Kitsune person. Well we?ll be able to? WHOA!!!

This young woman completely revealed herself to him on purpose with a calm look.

?I think my breasts have gotten bigger.?

Holy crap! Who IS this Kitsune person?!

?Uhh?? Was all Keitaro could muster up.

?They?ll never be as big as yours though. Come on, let?s give em a squeeze!? She lunged herself towards him, but Keitaro finally snapped out and reacted and firmly grabbed her shoulders to stop her in her place. She looked at his arms in surprise and definitely looked confused.

?Excuse me but?? He calmly said, at the same time the girl slowly put a pair of round glasses on. Keitaro let go of her. ?There must be some sort of misunder-?

?KYAHHHHHHHH!? The girl closed her eyes and screamed in horror at the top of her lungs. Keitaro had to cover his ears to relieve himself from her blasted shriek.

?Hey! What was that for?! It was you who-?

?PERVERT!!!?

I?d better straighten this thing out pronto! I need to calm her down first!

?Excuse me ms but-? Keitaro didn?t even move an inch towards the girl.

?Don?t touch me!? She reeled back her fist and was ready to give Keitaro a major punch. Keitaro didn?t think this would hurt and continue to try and calm her down.

?Wait, you don?t underst-?

?NARU PUNCH!?

Naru punch?---GAHHHHHHHH!

Before he would react, she landed her fierce punch cleanly to the side of his face. The force of her attack sent him flying straight towards the change room, right through the door. He accidentally landed right on top of another woman wrapped in a towel. After he collected himself he got to his feet and grabbed her hands, helping her up.

?Sorry!? Keitaro gave a quick glance at the woman before him. She had short blonde hair, tall, and most likely was around his age. It took him a while to notice, but he was still holding onto her hands, he let go the second he noticed. ?S-sorry!? The girl just looked really confused.

?And you are???

?No time to explain!? Keitaro dashed right past the woman in a great speed, tightly grabbed into his towel to make sure it stayed in place. The girl who punched Keitaro right into the change room and confronted the girl. ?Who was that Naru??

?I don?t know Kitsune but he?s a pervert! You should?ve stopped him!?

?Pervert?? I don?t know about that... he doesn?t seem like the perverted type. Also? he looks very familiar.

?Come on, let?s get him!? The girl named Naru?s mood changed drastically, her eyes were filled with anger and bloodlust while she cracked her knuckles.

Back with Keitaro he managed to reach the side of the stairs that lead to the 2nd floor near the front. He was still only wrapped in his towel, and he was dripping a trail of water all across the floor with his own footsteps.

?Gees, that was crazy. I really need to talk with Grandma Hina about this.? Keitaro took a few steps up the stairs but stopped when he felt a strange feeling. It felt like there was a presence of great power near him and it wanted to do much harm to him. He looked around and saw a girl far away slowly walking towards him. She was dressed in a white and red kendo gi with a sword firmly held in her right hand. She looked right up at Keitaro with intense fiery eyes that would only come from someone who truly hated and despised men.

?Trespassing will not be accepted, prepare for the consequences.? Keitaro noticed that she wielded a very dangerous looking sword in her right hand, it was emitting a yellow electrical current through it from what he saw. ?Ougi Raimeiken!!!? The woman ran and jumped towards Keitaro slashing her sword right at him.

HOLY CRAP! He was fast and smart enough to run away from the attack upstairs. The woman slashed the stairs and broke the side bars. She held back her power the second she knew she would miss. Looking up the stairs at Keitaro she begun to run at him. Keitaro just kept running away up the stairs and down the halls. That was a Shinmeiryuu Sword Technique! If she knows the Shinmeiryuu style of kenjutsu then I?m in trouble!

?Get back here and receive your punishment trespasser!? Keitaro was fast and was running slightly faster than the woman who pursuited him. Keitaro turned a corning and begun to run again. The woman also turned the corner and realized that she wouldn?t catch up to Keitaro at this rate. Her sword was emitting a power again. ?Hiken Zankūsen!!!? She sent a large intensely concentrated ki straight through the hall. He won?t be able to dodge that. This won?t kill him, but it will hurt like nothing he?s ever felt before.

Did I just hear her say Hiken Zankūsen?! Crap! I got no choice then, I?m gonna have to do what sensei taught me! Keitaro skidded to an abrupt stop, turned around and held out his arms to block his body. Okay bring it on!

What is he doing? The woman watched curiously without moving.

The ki blast made a direct attack right in the center of Keitaro?s arms, cutting them slightly, and sent him straight down the hall like a bullet. He went extremely far and fast then bashed right through the doors of one of the resident?s rooms. He went about half way into the room before he came to a tumbling stop from the ki blast. Surprisingly after all of that his towel managed to emerge unscathed and still tightly wrapped around Keitaro.

He shook his head and got to his feet slowly. The wind was almost knocked out of him but his body was strong and he could take it. It?s a good thing I had training with sensei or else I would be seriously hurt? now? Keitaro looked at his surroundings with bulged eyes. WHERE AM I?!

Keitaro was surrounded by what looked to be a tropical jungle. Nothing but plants surrounded him. He looked behind but didn?t see where he came from. He was lost in this jungle; it was a whole new world for him. He needed to get out for he couldn?t grasp the dangers that awaited him in this jungle.

Okay Keitaro, just stay calm and everything will work out. Just gatta stay cool? Keitaro rested his arm on a large fully grown tree as he thought. He didn?t notice that the tree made a strange light buzzing noise, like a mechanical device. At least I?m safe from that Shinmeiryuu girl for now.

?INTRUDER ALERT?

?Hmm?? Keitaro looked at the tree. ?Did this tree just talk?? He removed his hand and realized he actually put his hand over a bug. He took a closer look and saw it was a mechanical bug with glowing red eyes. ?What the??

?ACTIVATING CAPTURE PROCESS? The mechanical bug said.

I got a bad feeling about this?

All around him in a big circle, the floor tiles opened up and huge mechanical arms stretched out all around Keitaro. All of them held very high-tech sci-fi looking guns all aimed right at Keitaro?s head. He froze up in place from fear; he couldn?t and didn?t want to move at all.

I got a REALLY bad feeling about this?

Behind him though a mechanical arm stretched out and held a small wooden mallet between its fingers. It hit Keitaro over the back of his head and knocked him out onto the floor. He was unconscious.

?Huh? Who?s this person?? A mysterious girl walked up to Keitaro?s unconscious body.

-/-/-/-/-/

Just about 10 minutes later Keitaro found himself lying in a bed, someone else?s bed. He slowly sat up and looked around; he was still surrounded by many plants and oddly enough tons of bananas. Off to his right side he could notice a large box that was labeled ?Hinarei?.

?Good, you?re awake.? A girl said softly. Keitaro felt the girl grab his hand from the other side of the bed, he looked over at her. She looked to be around 13-years-old, dressed in a sailor school uniform, had dirty blonde hair, and green eyes. She looked like a nice and calm girl. ?Oh, my name?s Kaolla Su, you can call me Su.?

Keitaro looked down at himself saw he was still wearing his towel. ?Oh? uhh? hi Su.? The girl named Su poke and prodded at Keitaro?s entire arm. ?Umm, what are you doing??

?Just checking up on you. By the way what?s your name??

?Umm? Keitaro Urashima. Wait a minute, I?m okay. There?s no need to check on me.?

?No, I know that. That?s what I?m amazed at. I saw my surveillance tapes of you and Motoko. Just how could you take such a attack I wonder??

?I don?t know, I?ve always had a strong body. And my sensei taught me a lot.?

?Well it?s decided!?

?Huh?! What?!? Su hugged Keitaro tightly suddenly.

?You?re gonna be my new test subject from now own Keitawo!? She yelled out with such happiness. It was certainly cute, but Su?s embraced on Keitaro was very tight. Plus the thought of being a test subject for whatever she had in mind didn?t really comfort

Just what the heck is the girl talking about?!

A familiar voice called out from the jungle in this room.

?Su! There?s a pervert in your room! Be careful!? It was definitely the girl who attacked Keitaro previously. The sounds of her slashing through bushes and leaves could be heard, and they were getting close. ?And tell me where you are! I?m lost!?

?Hmm? Is Motoko after you test subject?? Su asked innocently.

Motoko?! That must be Motoko Aoyama! I?m in big trouble if she finds me in here! Keitaro grabbed Su?s shoulders and shook her lightly. ?You gatta get me out of here Su!?

?Okay that can be arranged! Just stand right there!? Su pointed over beside the bed on the left side. Keitaro walked over and stood over a tile that had a yellow painted happy face on it.

?Right, now what??

?Now...? Su pulled out a simple remote with a simple red button on it. She lightly hovered over the button with her finger and smiled at Keitaro. ?YOU GO FLYING!!!?

?What?? Keitaro looked too dumfounded to fully grasp exactly what she meant.

The floor abruptly sprung up instantly about 5 meters up, sending Keitaro high up into the air and right through the ceiling.

?Try to land on the target!!!? Su yelled out to Keitaro.

?AHHHHHHHHHHH!?

Keitaro was launched high up into the air, way above Hinata Sou. From far away Keitaro would look like some kind of bird flying into the air and diving down!

?This isn?t good?? Keitaro started to fall on a different area of the place, he was headed straight for a big blue, white, and red target painted on the flat roof. ?If I land on that from here like this I?m dead!? What can I do what can I do?!

Luckily for Keitaro in the center of the target, a big air pad suddenly inflated right in a big boom. It was the size of the target itself and looked to be strong enough to take in Keitaro?s impact on it. He landed straight into the center of the pad safely. Rolling over on the air pad he faced up to the sky and sighed.

Thank god I?m alive? Wait a minute? is that? Keitaro looked into the distance and saw something flying towards him in the air. Su?

?Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!?

?Su?! What the-?!? Before he could even move, he couldn?t anyway; she landed right on top of Keitaro in a big crash. As a result of the force of her impact in combination of Keitaro, the entire roof under them collapsed and they both went crashing down through the roof. As the dust cleared from the wreck Keitaro got to his feet and looked at Su. She was lying on top of the deflated pad with a happy smile. Keitaro couldn?t believe it. ?Why did you do THAT for?!? Keitaro demanded an answer from her. This had better be good!

?Because it was fun!? She says happily like it was nothing.

What?? Okay that?s just too strange. He looked around at his surroundings and noticed they landed right in front of the Kanrinrin?s room. What luck for Keitaro, just where he wanted to be.

The door of the Kanrinrin?s room opened up and Grandma Hina looked straight at Keitaro standing there all disoriented. She threw him his clean clothes and felt her temples. ?You?d better get dressed.?

?Huh?? To Keitaro?s surprise? his towel was missing in action. ?Oh god! Sorry!?

?It?s okay it?s okay? just hurry up before anyone else see?s you.?

?There you are!? Too late, the group of girls came running into the scene. Keitaro was only able to put his pants on half way up, but he covered himself nonetheless. ?Su! Landlord! Step away from that male.? The woman held out her sword pointing at Keitaro.

?Oh so I see you?ve met my grandson.? Grandma Hina said to every one of the girls. The whole area becomes deathly silent for a couple of minutes.

?GRANDSON?!?

-/-/-/-/-/

Keitaro was seated on the very end of the table with the rest of the girls sitting across from him. All but Su were giving him some deadly stares that made him feel uncomfortable. Grandma Hina told them all to wait there while she got something important. Haruka was also there and in that time she also told Keitaro each of these girl?s names. Haruka stood behind Keitaro. She informed Keitaro of some very important details about Hinata Sou, the most important that Hinata Sou was now a all girls' dormitory. He was deeply surprised indeed.

Naru Narusegawa, the girl Keitaro was in the hot springs with. She was actually 17 years old and was aiming for Tokyo University. She was really smart according to Grandma Hina.

Mitsune Konno, a.k.a. Kitsune was the girl who Keitaro ran into next. Apparently she loves sak?, is a freelance journalist, and has a mischievous little habit to play pranks.

Motoko Aoyama, the sword wielding girl. To Keitaro?s surprise she was only 15 and had a great deal of knowledge of the Shinmeiryuu. She completely despises males for some odd reason that Grandma Hina doesn?t know.

Kaolla Su, Keitaro already knew a little about her. She is, according to Grandma Hina, very hyperactive, is a mechanical genius from an unknown foreign country that Su never told anyone.

Though Keitaro knew all of this he still found it hard to have a normal conversation with them. The atmosphere really was all to inviting, mainly to him.

??? Motoko didn?t stop on giving him such intense looks that made it clear that she didn?t like him at all. Him? A relative of such a saint such as our Landlord? This just can?t be?

?Sorry to have kept you waiting.? All attention turned over to Grandma Hina as she took a seat right beside Keitaro. She held some papers in her hands. She was smiling a little. ?Okay, I know you all would like to know why I?ve called this meeting.? Everyone was waiting; their silence showed that she was right. ?Well as you all know I?ve planned to travel around the world.? Everyone nodded to acknowledge her. ?And I?ve been thinking on who should be the new landlord while I?m gone.?

So this is why she called the meeting. No doubt Haruka will be the new landlord. Keitaro thought to himself. Grandma Hina held the papers towards what looked like Haruka.

?I choose you, Keitaro.? Keitaro was speechless, actually everyone was. But Haruka didn?t seem phased at this at all. ?This is the deed to Hinata Sou, I give it to you.?

Motoko and Naru looked like they were on the verge of blowing their heads. Their anger was quickly growing at all the problems with what their landlord was doing. How could she choose a male to run an all girls? dormitory like Hinata Sou? This was all too much for everyone.

This is completely unacceptable! I won?t accept this male as our landlord! I?d rather die than this! How could she do such a thing?! Motoko roared in her mind.

He?s a complete pervert! What is she thinking making such a guy our landlord! None of us is going to take this sitting down! Naru screamed in her thoughts.

Both Motoko and Naru stood up abruptly and took deep breathes to say what was on their minds.

BAMM!!!

?I will not accept!?

Everyone? even Haruka and Grandma Hina? were surprise at how Keitaro reacted to this. He had his fist tightly pressed against the table. His teeth were gritted so tightly. His eyes showed so much anger in them.

?But?? Grandma Hina felt hurt at this.

?I?m sorry Grandma Hina but I can?t!? Keitaro stood up and walked away. Before he left the room he muttered to himself but was loud enough for everyone to hear. ?I?ve had enough for today??

End Chapter 1