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Loss and Redemption	By : hawker748 Category: +G to L > Love Hina Views: 24934 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Disclaimer: See Prologue.

Any comments, complaints, complements,
flames, and credit card numbers can be sent to: hawker_748@hotmail.com Feedback and
reviews would be greatly appreciated.

Once again, I would like to thank all
reviewers for the feedback that was provided.

This fanfic is based on the manga and anime and
borrows facets from both of them.
p>

�*� Spoken words

�*� Thoughts

Love Hina

He wanted to kiss Motoko, but doing it like
this went against his philosophy and he was certain that neither Motoko or Naru
would be happy about it. Thinking about Naru sent his thoughts into a mess of
spiraling confusion. He decided that there was no way he was going to get
anymore sleep today, and if he was up, he might as well do something. He
carefully pulled his left arm free, getting only a brief fright when she made a
move to grab it, which he managed to avoid. Quietly getting up off the futon,
he pulled on a pair sweats and a shirt. �Maybe a run will clear my head,� he
pondered as he walked out of the room and quietly closed the door.

If he had waited a moment longer, he would have
heard Motoko quietly call out for him in her sleep.

***

At this hour the streets were virtually
deserted and Keitaro was grateful for that. He preferred the privacy, and his
only companions were his own thoughts. This wasn�t a jog he was on; this was a
frustration fuelled run. He was moving at a pace far faster than he had run
before and despite his burning lungs he felt no urge to slow down. The run also
allowed him the time to sort out the confusing feelings he was having towards
Naru and Motoko.

A month ago his romantic situation was a lot
clearer, even if seemed that the relationship between him and Naru couldn�t
decide if it was coming or going. Now he found his thoughts drifting between
Naru and Motoko, and he had no idea how to handle this. He had vowed to Motoko
that he�d get her reinstated and he fully intended to keep that promise if he
could. However after last nights massage and some dreams that were on the far
side of steamy, part of him was wondering if maybe staying with Motoko was the
better option.

But Naru was still in his life, sort of. When
she returned, she�d probably be happy to hear about how hard he was working to
get out of the marriage. He did care for Naru, and spending the rest of his
life with her was also an appealing option. She had never scorched his dreams
the way Motoko done last night, but she was still beautiful and she meant a
great deal to him. He had been through a lot with her, and through it all they
had maintained a tempestuous relationship that went from tenderness to all out
war and back in the blink of an eye.

Kitsune saw that the truth was sinking into
Naru and she decided that now was the best time to let the other shoe drop.
�It�s lucky you came back when you did. Another month or so and I think you�d
been outta luck.�

�What do you mean?�

�I mean, they�ve been living together, sleeping
in the same room, although I don�t think they�ve had sex, and they�re starting
to get closer.�

�How close?�

�They�re not at the �Kei-kun� or �Mo-chan�
phase yet, but it could happen soon. If you�d stayed, not much would have
changed, but Motoko is beautiful, just in case you haven�t noticed, and they
spend a lot of time together.�

�But, but Keitaro and I worked together for a
long time to pass the Tokyo University entrance exam�� Naru stammered.

�And right now Keitaro and Motoko are working
together to impress Tsuruko,� Kitsune shot back. �Don�t worry though, how much
could two people learn to care for each other in a year?� Kitsune saw Naru
flinch at that, and she knew that her words had cut her to the bone. �I hate
having to do this Naru, but if you don�t do something, you�ll lose him!�
Deciding that now was the right time for a gentler approach, Kitsune said,
�Listen Naru. Keitaro isn�t Motoko�s, but he may not be yours either. If you
want him, you�re going to have to try to win him.�

�How?� Naru replied softly.

&n

�How? How�d you do it the first time?�

Naru rubbed the back of her head and chuckled
nervously. �I�m, I�m not really sure��

�Then just be yourself.�

�I�ll try.�

�Good. I should warn you though, I�d be careful
around Motoko now.�

�What do you mean?�

�Remember that slap you gave her before you
left?� When Naru nodded, Kitsune continued. �Well, she might not just stand
there and take it like she did then. I�d say she�s becoming attached to him,
which means possessiveness and jealousy may be a factor from now on.�

Naru thought about what Kitsune had told her,
and what she had done during the past two months. After a few minutes she
sighed and said, �I�ve really screwed up haven�t I?�

�Yes, you have,� Kitsune replied in a
matter-of-fact voice. �But it�s not too late, and there�s still a chance.�

�Thanks Kitsune,� Naru replied with a faint smile.
�I think I�ll start tomorrow.�

�Why not now?�

�Let me get settled first,� Naru replied as she
walked out and headed for the bath.

�O.K.� �Naru�s been through a lot hasn�t she?�
Kitsune mused. �She�s not as driven as she used to be, and I hope that doesn�t
hurt her chances.� Privately, Kitsune figured that it was a dead heat, and if
she�d been asked to make a bet, she couldn�t have decided on either Motoko or
Naru.

***

The second run of the afternoon, Motoko�s
�punishment� run, had been the hardest physical thing that Keitaro had ever
done. Crumpled on the ground outside Hinata House, his muscles almost audibly
screaming for oxygen, he reluctantly recalled the death-march Motoko had forced
on him. The distance hadn�t been too bad, about five miles, but it had felt
like fifty. She had run harder than she ever had before, to the point she was
struggling, and warned him what would happen if he didn�t keep up.

He had managed, barely, to keep pace, but it
had resulted in his body�s present state of physical devastation. He was
wheezing, unable to get his wind back no matter how hard he tried. He wanted to
get up and walk around to alleviate some of his discomfort, but his exhausted
leg muscles weren�t having any of it. He had to accept just laying there,
gasping for air like a freshly landed fish, only without the energy to flop
around. As he lay there, he recalled what had lead to this symphony of pain.

�I guess I shouldn�t have compared her family
legacy to leeches,� He thought bleakly. �I said that, and then Naru was there
and�Naru?! I forgot all about her!� he realized. Keitaro figured that this was
because his mind had been focused on keeping him alive during that run.

As his mind dealt with his body, it was able to
place more of its resources into insuring that he never provoked that reaction
from Motoko again. �After I said hello to Naru, Motoko reverted to her old
teaching style, only even worse.� Keitaro had suspected that Motoko was
probably developing some feelings for him, but this was the first time she�d
demonstrated any jealousy towards him. �Then again, until Naru came back, she
probably had no reason to feel jealous,� he mused.

Motoko was also reviewing her own thoughts.
�Why did I do this? We were getting along so well, and I go ballistic at an
innocent �hello!�� she raged. �I keep doing things like this, and I�ll drive
him back to Naru!� She gasped audibly as she completed that thought. �I, I am
jealous, aren�t I?� she reluctantly admitted. �I like being with Keitaro, and
I�m afraid of losing him to Naru.�

�Why don�t I just tell him? Yes, that�s what
I�ll do,� she vowed before her shyness took over. �But not here and now. Maybe
tomorrow, yes, we�ll go out, maybe a picnic, and I�ll tell him then.� She
nodded to herself, pleased at her decision. �With just the two of us, there
will be fewer distractions and interruptions.�

Keitaro was finally getting his wind back and
sitting up when Motoko sat down next to him, her face not showing anger, but
instead a mix of sadness and regret.

�Are you alright Keitaro?� she asked.

�Yes Motoko, I�ll be fine shortly. Listen I�m
sorry about the� leech comment,� he finished.

�No, no, I over reacted to the comment and
lashed out. I�m sorry. To apologize, would you like to sleep in tomorrow?�

�Sure!� he responded enthusiastically. Then he
had a second thought. �What�s the catch?�

�Just one,� she replied.

�What is it?�

�Join me for a picnic lunch,� she said softly.

lasslass=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>After a moments thought, Keitaro said �O.K.� He
noticed how Motoko�s face lit up at his answer. �Maybe we should talk
tomorrow,� he mused.

�Alright Keitaro, sleep late tomorrow, and
we�ll leave at eleven.�

�Isn�t that early for lunch?�

�I have a particular place in mind.�

�Alright then, let�s do it,� he said as the
corners of his mouth curled up.

�I have things to prepare then. If you�ll
excuse me, I�ll see you later Keitaro!� she called out as she practically
floated inside.

In spite of the pain he was in, Keitaro
couldn�t stop a smile from breaking out on his face.

End Chapter Five

And once again,
Thanks to Harvey Bautista for the pre-read.

If you�ve read this
far, you have no excuse to not leave a review.
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Loss and Redemption