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Divided Attentions
A Love Hina fanfic
By Exar

***

Love Hina belongs to Ken Akamatsu, not me. I'm just
playing around with his characters a bit. I promise
I'll take care of them and put them back when I'm
done.

***

Chapter Three

***

Mutsumi Otohime climbed the stairs of Hinata House slowly,
pausing to catch her breath every four or so. She had
learned from painful experience not to pass out on them.

She looked down at the steps and noticed that they were
due for a sweeping. Dirt and leaves had accumulated on
them in an untidy fashion. A refreshing breeze blew through
her hair, giving her the energy she needed to continue.

Finally she reached the top and meandered in to the dorm.
Motoko was in the foyer, talking on the phone when the
anemic girl entered. She finished her conversation shortly
and hung up.

"Mutsumi, it is pleasant to see you. Yesterday was a very
trying day. Your gentle spirit may be the balm we all need."

The older girl blushed prettily at Motoko's statement.

"Oh my, Motoko. You are too nice."

Motoko suddenly blushed herself as Mutsumi started leaning
forward, eyes narrowing and lips pursed. Motoko remembered
Naru's story. She knew what was coming, yet couldn't seem
to force her limbs to move. The Okinawan girl pressed her
lips against Motoko's and all the kendoka could think of
for several seconds was how incredibly soft the other woman's
lips were.

Mutsumi broke the kiss and giggled lightly.

"Oh my, I've gone and done it again. Please don't be offended,
Motoko."

Motoko's cheeks still burned. That had been a lot nicer
kiss than that stupid cherry machine of Su's!

"It is all right, Mutsumi. But please do not make a habit of
it. It would not be proper."

Mutsumi's cheerful expression never faltered. "Oh? It wouldn't?
Then I supposed I had better not, then. Thank you Motoko."

The excess blood drained from the kendoka's cheeks slowly and she
asked Mutsumi, "You are here to visit Urashima, yes?"

"Oh my, yes. I was hoping to see him and Naru if she is back
yet. I brought some watermelons for them."

Motoko didn't see any bulges in the other woman's bag that
could be watermelon sized, but chose not to press the issue.

"Yes, well. Urashima is having a difficult time right now. Naru
returned yesterday, but when she did, she and Seta announced
that they were dating. As you can imagine, Ura..."

The raven haired girl trailed off as she had to leap to catch
Mutsumi, the Okinawan girl having fainted where she was
standing. She cradled the larger woman in her arms, Mutsumi's
long braid dangling to the floor. Motoko picked her up like a
small child and carried her to one of the couches.

Mutsumi stirred almost immediately. Her large, expressive
eyes opening and locking on to Motoko's own.

"Thank you Motoko. I'm sorry to be so much trouble."

Motoko gave her a reassuring smile and a pat on the shoulder.

"I'll fetch Keitaro for you. Just stay here and rest now."

Motoko ascended the stairs and walked to Keitaro's room. She
knocked softly on the door and was answered quickly with
Keitaro's, "Come on in."

She slid the door open and walked in, taking a long look at
the man inside. He was wearing his pajamas still, not having
bothered to get dressed today, and his hair was a mess. The
room smelled of stale sweat and an unwashed body. He was
sitting at his kotatsu drawing. Motoko's heart sank when
she saw it was a sketch of Naru.

She strode over to stand next to him, a slight expression of
concern on her face.

"Are you angry with her yet?"

Keitaro looked up at her with a confused look on his face. His
eyes were still red and puffy. He had the beginnings of dark
circles under them.

"How could I be angry with her, Motoko? I did this, somehow.
Something I did or said drove her away."

Motoko looked stunned for a moment, then snapped at him.

"You are wrong, Urashima. Dead wrong. This was Naru's choice,
and your actions did not cause it."

She turned on her heel and stomped out of the room.

"Now get dressed and come downstairs. Otohime is here is visit
you."

She slid the door shut forcibly and stormed away.

***

It was a more presentable manager that turned up in the foyer
a few minutes later. He had taken the time to wash his face,
so his eyes were not as puffy and red as they had been, and
the dark circles under them were somewhat diminished. His hair
was combed, though he had a noticeable cowlick that seemed to
be defiant of gravity and comb alike. He was dressed in his
favorite striped sweater and slacks.

Mutsumi rose from the couch and grabbed him in a warm embrace.
She wrapped one arm around his neck and the other under his
arm. Her cheek rested against his and he could feel the cold
tracks of a few tears there.

After a moment, she pulled away slightly and rested her
forehead against his, looking his straight in the eye.

"Are you going to be okay, Kei? I'm so sorry about what
happened."

He took hold of her shoulders and favored her with a small grin.

"I think so, Mutsumi. I have a lot of friends that care about
me, and they've been a big help. It's so good to see you."

He pulled her in for another hug, and she took the opportunity
to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. They slipped out of each
other's arms and sat on the couch. A certain amount of redness
stained Keitaro's cheeks.

They sat and chatted for quite a long time before Shinobu came
and called them to lunch.

***

After lunch, Mutsumi decided to go for a soak in the hot springs,
so Keitaro set out on a walk, figuring some air would do him
good. It was a warm midsummer afternoon, and the sun was
shining brightly. There were no clouds in the sky, and it felt
like a great day to be alive. Keitaro's spirits were buoyed some
by the majestic weather and the splendid view from the hill on
which Hinata House was built.

He had been in the woods behind the inn for nearly half an hour
when he heard the distinctive swish of a bokken slashing through
the air. He moved in the direction of the sound and found Motoko
standing on a large gray stone, practicing a sword form. Despite the
tiny space she had to place her feet and how slippery the rock
must have been, her motions were smooth and fluid. Her steps
never wavered as she went through the motions of attack and
defense. She finished the kata and placed the bokken in her belt,
then hopped off the stone, landing directly in front of Keitaro.

"While I am glad you are feeling well enough to venture out of
the house, Urashima, that does not give you license to spy on me."

She grasped the handle of her practice sword threateningly while
she glared at the manager of Hinata House.

He threw up his hands in a warding gesture and closed his eyes.

"No, Motoko! I just didn't want to disturb you while you were
practicing! I was just waiting to ask you something!"

When no retribution seemed forthcoming, he dared to open his eyes.
Motoko stood before him with a neutral expression.

"Well, Urashima, I'm waiting. What is your question?"

He lowered his arms and walked forward, circling around the
black-haired girl and leaning against the gray stone. Its smooth
bulges, shaped by water, pressed into his back.

"I don't understand what you said earlier. If I didn't drive her
away, why did she leave?"

Motoko sighed.

"Urashi- no, Keitaro, Naru was following her heart. It led her to
Seta, just as yours led you to her. It wasn't anything you did, or
even anything she did. Few people, if any, have control over their
hearts."

"It must be nice to be one of those few. I bet you are one, Motoko.
You always seem to be in control of those emotions."

Motoko's cheeks colored and she marveled at the landlord's
obliviousness.

"I wouldn't say that, Urashima. I wouldn't say that at all."

Keitaro scratched the back of his head nervously and chose to
leave that one alone.

"So if it was beyond her control, why should I be angry with her?
You seemed to expect me to be."

Motoko frowned, and her eyebrows moved close together on her forehead.

"Because she hurt you Keitaro! She was thoughtlessly cruel to you,
her and Seta both! You may be a pervert at times and a man of
questionable usefulness, but you still deserve better than that."

Keitaro's head drooped, stretching the back of his neck and causing
his bangs to cover his glasses.

"Kitsune said something like that last night. I tried to believe
her, but it's hard."

Keitaro stiffened in shock as Motoko grabbed two big handfuls of his
sweater and hauled him roughly to his feet. She pinned him with a
fierce look and with her face at most 3 centimeters from his, she
said, "Then you had better listen this time, Urashima! You deserve
to be happy!" Then she crushed his lips against hers violently.
Passionately, she stole a kiss from the stunned young man. He was
totally unable to respond, his mind whirling in disbelief. Her
lips were soft and tasted of sweat. It was unlike any kiss he'd
had before as she sucked hard on his bottom lip. He thought with
a strange detachment, 'I hope it doesn't bruise.'

She pulled away and let go of his shirt, letting him fall back against
the rock. He let out a soft grunt as his back bounced off the hard
stone.

"Motoko, what? I," he stammered, still in shock.

"Forgive me, Urashima. I got carried away. I will leave you in peace,
but do not forget what I have said."

***

Keitaro stayed where he was, leaning against the stone. It was
still cool despite the midday sun shining down.

Keitaro's brow furrowed in thought for a moment. If his mental
math was correct, he'd received more kisses in one 24 hour
period than he had since he entered Todai.

"Aw, who cares. Even if they did like me, it's only a matter of
time till I drive them away somehow. The promise girl left me,
hell, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if she begged her
parents to move away just to escape my company. Kanako left me
to travel with Grandma. My parents made me leave. Naru left me.
What is it about me that makes people hate me so much?"

His eyes burned, but he rubbed his arm across them, unwilling
to cry again.

He sat there for a long time, turning his anger and sorrow on
himself. It was nearing dark when Motoko found him and told
him to come to dinner.

***

As Shinobu flitted around, clearing the table after dinner,
Kitsune walked up behind Keitaro and slipped her arms around
his shoulders, rubbing her chest into his back sensually.

Keitaro could feel her underwire pressing into his back through
their shirts, and felt the motion of the soft orbs it contained
against his shoulder blades. His face lit up a bright crimson.

She breathed on his ear. Her breath was hot and stirred the hair
around his ear, tickling it.

"So Kei, do you want to go out for a drink again tonight?"

He twisted around a bit so he could see her face. This did
extremely interesting things to her chest that he was trying
very hard to ignore.

"You want to?"

She relaxed her embrace and smiled at him. "Yeah, Kei. I want
you to feel better, and cheer up. Besides, it'll be fun. You're
good company."

He looked doubtful, but said, "Sure Kit, we can do that."

The phone rang in the hallway, startling everyone. Shinobu ran
to get it. She came back a minute later with a frown on her face.

"That was Naru. Seta got called in to a meeting and she has a
stomachache. They won't be coming over tonight."

Kitsune grumbled, "That little... running away again." She bit
her lower lip and exhaled noisily.

Keitaro patted her arm and said, "Kitsune, it's okay. She
doesn't have to come here if she doesn't want to."

Kitsune looked and him in disbelief. Her jaw hung loose for a
moment before she rounded on him.

"Keitaro, dammit! Show some spine! She treated you like gum
she was scraping off her shoe! You deserve a better
explanation than she gave you last night. Even if she does love
Seta, there was no call to hurt you the way she did."

Shinobu looked a little fearful at the older girls outburst,
but added in her opinion.

"Mitsune's right, Sempai. Naru was mean to you, and she had
no right to do it. I'm really, really, very cross with her."

Motoko weighed in with her usual crisp intonation.

"You know my opinion on the matter, Urashima. Narusegawa was
out of line."

Su chirped up, "What's out of line? Is it delicious? I just
want Keitaro to be happy again so he'll play with me. He's no
fun this way!"

"But it's my fault she left. I drove her away."

Kitsune hauled off and slapped Keitaro across the face, hard.
Total silence reigned in the dining room, and the other
residents could hear echoes of the impact reverberate around
the room. A bright red hand print graced his left cheek.

Kitsune grabbed Keitaro by his shoulders and shook him, her
face red with anger.

"I told you I would do that if you started badmouthing my
friend again! Now listen here, Keitaro, and listen good!"

"THIS WAS"

She shook him again to make sure he was paying attention.

"NOT YOUR FAULT!"

Kitsune dropped him into a chair and glared at him.

"Naru was selfish and inconsiderate. Not your fault. Naru
fell for Seta. Not your fault."

She cupped his chin in her hands, forcing him to make eye
contact.

"Now stop being angry at yourself, Kei, and start being
angry at the people who deserve it. The girl who left you
and your teacher who stole her from you."

A single tear ran down his face and pooled in her palm, as
he stared into her eyes and tried to form a sentence.

"It really wasn't me? It wasn't something I did? It wasn't
my fault?"

"Really, Kei."

The two of them heard three voices echo "Really."

"Okay. I'll try to stop blaming myself, Kit. Thanks."

She gave him a hug. It was warm and comforting, in total
contrast to her teasing embrace just a few minutes earlier.

"Sure thing, sugar."

***

Much later, a slightly drunk Keitaro and Kitsune could be
seen walking down a street in Hinata. They were crossing a
bridge and holding hands. If one were to pay close attention,
they would notice that Kitsune was holding Keitaro's hand.
He wasn't really grasping hers back, but neither was he
shaking her off.

A trio of old men walked past. As they reached the other
end of the bridge, they each said one word.

"Friendship."

"Love."

"Healing."

A low gong echoed over the district.

***

The pair of tipsy twentysomethings made their way to the base
of the stairs to Hinata House. Keitaro started to head up
them, but Kitsune tugged on his arm.

"Hey, I'm not ready to head in just yet. There's a bench
over there, you want to sit and look at the stars for a
minute?"

Keitaro shrugged and followed her lead to a small park
bench across the way. It had wrought iron sides and was
missing a plank from the back. Keitaro thought he remembered
breaking it with his head once. They sat down and Kitsune
kept hold of his hand. Keitaro looked up at the sky,
realizing that it was indeed a lovely night. The sky was
free of clouds, and Hinata had never had a lot of light
pollution.

Suddenly he noticed his hand was somewhere very soft and
warm and he got the sneaking suspicion that Kitsune had no
interest in the stars.

He glanced over and as he'd thought, the blonde girl had
placed his hand on her breast, and was reaching across him
for his other one.

"Kitsune, what are you doing? I'm not giving you free rent
for this."

"Quiet, silly. I don't want free rent this time. I want to cheer
you up. I know you're a nice guy, but I also know that every
nice guy has a little pervert inside. So quit arguing and kiss
me, stupid."

Keitaro was sorely tempted, but held back for a moment longer.

"I don't think this is a good idea. I still love Naru."

She gave him a smoky gaze, while continuing to position his
second hand on her chest.

"That's why I want to do this, Keitaro. She never showed you
that she wanted you, but you're still hung up on her. I want
to help you, show you what you've been missing. Let you see
what it feels like to be wanted."

Keitaro's hands began to move, seemingly of their own accord.
One gently fondled Kitsune's breast while the other slipped
lower, stroking her tummy and slipping around behind her,
drawing her close.

Keitaro swallowed noisily, his mouth was dry.

"You... want me?" He whispered it, afraid if he spoke at full
volume he might shatter this wonderful moment.

Kitsune leaned forward and planted a kiss on him. Her tongue
darted into his mouth, dancing with his. He was overwhelmed
by the strawberry flavor of her lips and the intoxicating
smell of her lilac perfume. One of her hands stroked his cheek
and the other clamped on to the back of his head, twisting and
capturing his hair in a firm grip. She moaned into his mouth as
he kneaded her chest and he felt her breath tickling his cheek
as she exhaled out her nose. He felt his toes curling in his shoes
and a stirring in his pants that he was sure she would notice
shortly.

She broke the kiss and took a deep breath. Passion burning in
her eyes, she said, "What do you think?"

She turned to her right, lifting a leg and straddling his lap.
She leaned into him and seized his ear in her lips and playfully
nipped at it. His hands roamed freely over her body, caressing
and fondling as they went.

How long they stayed like that, they didn't really know. Time
seemed to stop as they got lost in each other. They were finally
brought back to reality by the sound of a duffel bag being dropped
and a gasping intake of air.

Kitsune pulled herself off of the manager and turned around. His
eyes went wide as his view became unblocked.

There at the bottom of the stairs, her bag on the ground beside
her, was Narusegawa Naru.

Her eyes were wide as well, shock written on her features.
Her fingers clenched into a fist, the knuckles popping audibly.
A red haze settled across her vision and she started taking
deliberate steps towards the pair.

Kitsune moved quickly to block Naru's access to the landlord.
"Naru, stop! You don't need to hurt him any more! You have no
right!"

Naru's eyes flashed with barely contained rage and she screamed,
"That pervert molests you and you dare tell me I haven't the right
to hurt him? What do you care, Kitsune? Why are you defending him?"

Kitsune spat at the ground. "He's my friend, Naru. That's why I
care. Don't do this."

"I'm your friend, too, Kitsune! He's just a perverted jerk who I
should have left a long time ago! Why are you taking his side?
We've been buddies forever!"

Kitsune's face was completely calm, and her voice totally flat.

"You're not acting like my friend right now, Naru. You're out of
line."

Naru blanched, some of her anger vanishing. "Kitsune! How can
you say that? This is that perverted bastard's fault! He's turned
you against me!"

Any rebuttal the ash blonde girl might have made was completely
drowned out by Keitaro. He roared wordlessly and charged around
the foxy woman, catching Naru flat footed with a right cross to
the chin. Naru was knocked right on her ass with a squeal of
surprise.

Keitaro's eyes were red and tears streamed down his cheeks. His
knuckles bled slightly from the force of impact on Naru's jaw.

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT, YOU BITCH!"

He dropped to his knees, sobbing. He held his head with one hand
and balanced himself with the other on the ground. It was warmer
than the air above it, still holding the heat of the sun.

"You did this. You made things this way! It wasn't me! It wasn't
me! Wasn't my fault!"

Kitsune carefully came up behind him, and seeing the fight was
out of him, pulled him into a tender embrace. She stroked his
hair and kissed the top of his head, letting him cry himself out.

Naru stood slowly, her balance thrown off by the force of the punch.
Her jaw hurt like blazes and she prodded it with one hand to see if
it was broken.

Kitsune looked up at her and snarled, "Just get away from him!"

Naru snatched up her bag and ran off into the night.

***

To Be Continued!

***

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