Okay, this is a story I've had sitting on my laptop for some time now. I figure I've been here long enough that I can post something. Here we go. It's about five years after, Shinobu's relationships, and how the whole Love Hina thing messed her up. Tell me what you think.
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LOVE HINA: WARPED DEVOTIONS
CHAPTER ONE: THE FIRST NIGHT
A beautiful eighteen year old girl is walking up the hallway of the apartment dorms at Tokyo U. She has a content smile on her face and is lost in the memories of her wonderful afternoon. Her hair appears to be a dark shade of blue, almost black. Most people say that she dyes, and while dark blue hair is uncommon, this young beauty obtained that unique touch naturally. Her eyes are blue, not a light, sky blue, but a dark, deep shade of the color. She is wearing a knee-length light green skirt and a matching t-shirt, with a light blue vest over it. She has a small black leather purse slung lazily over her shoulder. She swings a wicker basket, upon which is a checkerboard table cloth, in the hand that isnÆt holding the purse. The sky behind her is speckled with clouds, none of which threaten rain. Saturday was a perfect day for a picnic lunch, the young girl thinks. Her name is Maehara Shinobu.
She fished around in her purse for the room key to 426, her apartment that she shared with her boyfriend. Her delicate hand grasped the knob, and turned it open. She stepped inside and with a cheery voice proclaimed, ôIÆm back Sean.ö after setting her purse and vest on the rack, and the basket on a table beside the door. There was no answer, so she walked over to the kitchen, where she saw Sean looking in the fridge. He closed the door and looked at her with cold eyes. Before she had time to move, his arms shot out and grabbed her by the shoulders. He threw her backwards with all the force he could muster. She hit the wall and bounced off before falling back onto it.
Shinobu slid down the wall and looked up at her boyfriend, Sean, He was another Toudai student and they had been dating for roughly six months. Sean was an American transfer student and decided to go to Tokyo University to get his Psychology degree. He was tall, raven haired, well-built and in short, a foreign hottie. In high school, he was a football and baseball player, as well as a good student. He wasnÆt the brightest, but neither was he a lumbering oaf. He did have one major defect though, he was gung-ho for ædiscipline.Æ
ôWhat were you doing with him Shinobu? Huh?ö he screamed at her. Shinobu knew where this was going. She knew that seeing her Senpai for lunch would not be good if Sean found out. ThatÆs why she went somewhere secluded, but the fact that she had æsnuck awayÆ to enjoy herself with another man somehow managed to reach SeanÆs ears. Sean had a high belief in discipline, and a rigid moral code for his girlfriends, and she had been out with another man.
ôItÆs obviously been too long since last time Shinobu. I hate to have to do this, but youÆve forgotten your lessons again. Time for your punishment.ö Shinobu knew what was going to happen; it wasnÆt that Shinobu didnÆt have time to get up from where she fell; it was that she didnÆt want to. He removed his belt and raised it above his head. The only thoughts Shinobu had were that Sean would be showing that he loved her again. This was his forgiveness; this was his proof of affection. She felt elated.
Shinobu hadnÆt always thought like this. When she was a little girl, she had read many fairy tales where the prince and princess lived and loved happily ever after. She used to actually believe that love was something like that, something pure and unique, that when people found the one for them that they would know it. Once she understood that love was very little like the fairy tales she read as a child, she started to wonder, like many other children, what love really was. And, like many other little girls, she looked to her parents. Unfortunately for Shinobu, that was a big mistake.
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Shinobu had gone through a painful childhood. Her father was a drunkard, not only that, but he was a violent drunk. So much so that many of the bars refused to give him service. So to get his fix of the liquid courage, he stockpiled a rather large amount of various kinds of alcohol at home. In the privacy of his home, he would imbibe until he had his full. That would usually entail him being drunk enough to become a violent whirlwind. The only sense of preservation he had was to try not to break his possessions. Instead, his violence was directed towards his wife. Luckily for Shinobu, even in his liquored up stupor, she was always ædaddyÆs little girl.Æ
Several nights each week, Shinobu could hear her mother pleading with the monster her father would become under the influence of that hateful liquid. All the while wondering why, when the two were alone, they kept saying that they love each other. Shinobu once asked her mom why daddy hit her. Her mother replied, ôBecause he loves me, itÆs how he shows he cares.ö Thus Shinobu grew up with a warped idea of love.
After a particularly violent night, ShinobuÆs mom finally had enough and shot ShinobuÆs father. Fortunately enough for Shinobu, she was at a friendÆs slumber party when this happened. Shinobu went to her fatherÆs funeral, her mother went to jail for a time, found guilty of first degree murder, but the judge could not bring himself to force the death penalty, since the killing was really retribution. Shinobu had nowhere else to go, her fatherÆs side completely cutting off from her, seeing as how her mom had killed their golden boy, and her mother was an only child.
ShinobuÆs maternal grandparents tried to take care of her for awhile, but they later heard about an all-girlÆs dormitory, the Hinata Sou. Her grandparents covered the costs of rent so that Shinobu wouldnÆt have to worry about that, and after a one week trial period, Shinobu was accepted by the rest of the residents.
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Shinobu remembered her initial visit to the Hinata Sou, it was an ancient and enormous building, at least three stories tall and built more than a few centuries ago, when the Urashimas were a very powerful family. It was an inn after the family suffered much internal strife, and the current manager, Hina Urashima, decided to convert it into an all-girlÆs dormitory. It was built very tall and had a high, swooping roof. The halls were very long; the place easily had twenty rooms for each of its three floors. The cherry blossom trees lining the long stone staircase were in full bloom and the sakura petals made everything look pink and hazy, like a good dream. Shinobu felt very depressed that she left that place, she remembered the first night of her trial week like it was yesterday, even though it was almost five years ago.
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ShinobuÆs first night there was chaotic. She barely had time to put down her bags in the foyer when she found a passing tenant. Unfortunately for Shinobu, she had run into the most rambunctious foreigner ever. The young child was just barely older than Shinobu, but was clearly not anywhere as mature. She was of dark complexion, but with hair that didnÆt quite look blonde, but it was definitely yellow. She had a red dot in the middle of her forehead and when asked about it, refused to speak on the matter. She apparently liked to wear her middle-school uniform all the time, especially since the clothes that the natives of her home country wore offered little protection against the elements.
After introducing herself as Kaolla Su, the young gaijin lead Shinobu to her room. It was literally a rain forest, the carpet was grass and dirt, and there were trees everywhere, except for a small corner that consisted of a worktable and toolbox. It was there that Su led Shinobu. Su told all about how she liked to create various mechanical things and inventions and proceeded to show off most of her work. After the fourth one blew up in her face, Su asked if Shinobu would like to meet the rest of the house. After a very fast, loud, and desperate yes, Su practically dragged Shinobu off to find another tenant.
As Su was flying down the ancient halls of the Hinata Sou, another occupant was awkwardly trying to carry a laundry basket full of clean clothes. Su saw her and she never had a chance.
Su couldnÆt pass up the chance to demolish whoever was hiding behind the clothesbasket. As Su ran to deliver her jumping kick greeting, she let go of Shinobu. Su jumped into the air, foot forward looking like any generic karate master doofus. The unsuspecting victim, who didnÆt seem as unsuspecting as was to first be assumed, stepped to the side of SuÆs special greeting as though she could see Su through the clothes. Shinobu, who managed not to observe the subtle side step, grabbed Su in a futile attempt to get her to stop the drop kick of doom. It would have worked, except for the fact that it didnÆt. Su used Shinobu as an anchor in midair to turn herself back towards the person who was carrying the basket, knocking her down.
In a rain of clothing, Shinobu caught a glimpse of the person who was holding the basket. She had very long black hair and light brown eyes. She was wearing a white gi with red hakama pants, she also had a katana tied to her waist. She was obviously into kendo, but working hard every day hadnÆt detracted from her beauty, it enhanced it. She was slender, but toned. She also appeared irritated, understandable, since the clean clothes she was carrying would have to be rewashed, re-dried, and then refolded. The hallways were very dirty, no one having cleaned them since the manager, Grandma Hina, left a little over a month ago.
ôSu, do you have any idea how long it will take to get all this clean again?ö the kendo girl asked, irritated.
ôNope,ö replied the little middle schooler, ôhave you met our newest resident?ö Su gestured towards Shinobu with a smile on her face as she jumped up.
ôNo I have not.ö The swordswoman stood up and extended her hand to assist the new face to her feet.
ôHello, IÆm Maehara Shinobu,ö stated the young girl, albeit with some hesitation, since she was unsure of what to expect. She grasped the kendo girlÆs hand and let herself be pulled up as the young woman introduced herself.
ôMy name is Aoyama Motoko. I am sorry about Su, she isàexcitable. If youÆll wait, IÆll get everyone together in the living room so you can meet us all in the proper manner. ItÆs too bad that Grandma Hina is away, but Haruka can probably tell you where your room will be. The living room is just to your right as you exit the hallway. Su, can you help me find everyone?ö Su, who had been standing there the whole time jumped onto MotokoÆs shoulders the moment her name was called.
ôOkies! IÆll see you later Shinobu.ö
Shinobu walked down the hallway and wondered who the next weird person she would meet would be. She got in the living room and saw someone sprawled out on the couch. She was dressed in grey capri pants with a similar colored tank top. She had a small cup of sake in one hand, and a bunch of racing tickets in the other. Her eyes were squinting, but it didnÆt look like she stressed to keep them that way. She had short cut grey hair, but it didnÆt make her look old, just mature. She opened one eye all the way and Shinobu found out that they were a lovely shade of blue, just like hers.
ôHello, and who are you, young lady?ö her voice had just a hint of a southern drawl, enough to be cute, but not annoying.
ôMy name is Maehara Shinobu,ö she replied.
ôWell, nice to meet you Shinobu, IÆm Konno Mitsune, but you and everyone else can call me Kitsune, you know, like the fox. Speaking of which, have you met everyone else?ö As she spoke, she set down what she was holding and sat up to shake hands with Shinobu.
Shinobu thought that Kitsune had quite a strong grip to shake her arm like that, but she still managed to squeak out a response, ôI think so. IÆve met Su, Motoko, and now you. Is there anyone else?ö
ôYou havenÆt even met Naru? Where is that girl?ö As if in answer to her question, a voice came out of the kitchen.
ôDarn, not again. Kitsune get the number for that pizza place, weÆre gonna need it.ö
Shinobu walked into the kitchen eager to meet the last resident of the crazy house, when she smelled something burning. Shinobu often had to cook the meals of the house, since her mother would have sore hands, and her father was usually out drinking. Regardless of the circumstances, Shinobu knew how to cook, and how to cook well. She was basically a master and her dream was to open a restaurant. Shinobu took little notice of the auburn haired teenager next to the stove as she ran past and grabbed the skillet from her hand. Shinobu put it back on the stove.
ôItÆs not totally ruined, I can still save it. Do you have any paprika?ö
ôUh, yeah, itÆs over here with the rest of the spices.ö The young woman that one could only guess was Naru pointed over to a cabinet above the stove. Shinobu went to the table and grabbed a chair to stand on to open the cupboard. She fished out several spices, lowered the heat, cut some extra vegetables, and put them into the skillet with the beef and noodles. Naru backed out of the kitchen, a little in awe, a little in fear, and told Kitsune to hold off on the pizza order.
Several minutes later, most of the house was gathered in the dining room patiently waiting for dinner.
ôBut I wanna eat nooooowww!ö whined Su as she was swaying, threatening to topple Motoko.
Ignoring SuÆs protest, Kitsune said, ôSo she just barged in there, grabbed the pan, and started throwing stuff in? That right?ö
Naru shrugged her shoulders and said, ôYeah, thatÆs about the extent of it. But, if sheÆs bluffing, keep the number handy, k?ö
ôOkay everybody, dinnerÆs ready!ö shouted Shinobu from the kitchen entrance, ôWeÆre having the Maehara Surprise.ö
Su climbed down off of Motoko and asked, ôWhatÆs a Maehara surprise? Can I eat it?ö
As Shinobu started spooning up platefuls of her noodle dish, she smiled and replied affirmatively; unknowingly setting off a new habit for the foreign genius. Shinobu looked at everyone there and finally got a good look at the person she essentially shoved out of the kitchen.
Naru had long brown hair, with two unruly bangs in front, framing her face. She wore an orange sweater and short red skirt. It was more than a little difficult to see her hazel eyes behind her round, thick, glasses. Shinobu let out a little giggle, because she could see Naru looking like that really smart girl from Scooby-Doo, Velma.
The girls looked at each other and wondered exactly how the food would taste, since it was burning earlier. Shinobu looked around the room and watched everyone; she was waiting for them to start eating before she did. They were watching for her to start so they knew the food was safe to enjoy. Su finally had enough of all the waiting.
ôIf no one else wants to eat, I will start.ö Su lifted the chopsticks to her mouth and took a bite. It only took a few seconds for her to register the foodÆs taste as really really really really gooooooood. She started inhaling the food. Everybody except Shinobu blushed furiously at the embarrassment. Shinobu just smiled and started eating.
During the dinner, Shinobu received many compliments on her culinary talent, ranging from SuÆs near endless repetition of the word æreallyÆ before finally tacking on a good, and MotokoÆs eloquent mention of how the young lady transformed a nearly ruined dish into a gourmet masterpiece. Shinobu blushed to such a shade of red that a stop sign would turn green with envy. Once her raging blush calmed down to a minor tinge on her cheeks, Shinobu asked some questions about the house, where the manager was, who was running it since Grandma Hina was gone, where here room was, and so forth. She was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening.
Standing there was a woman in her late twenties, she wore a khaki apron with the works ôHarukaÆs Tea CafÚö across the top, it covered an olive-colored, long sleeved shirt and blue jeans. Her eyes were brown and seemed to convey a sense of calm aloofness, which were barely obscured by the white smoke wafting up from the cigarette jutting from her crimson lips. Her hair was the color of dark wood and cut short. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up to her elbows and she looked disappointed.
ôThe first time you gals donÆt order out in a week, and you donÆt even invite me to dinner?ö As she asked, the corners of her mouth turned up in a playful smile, ôWhoÆs this? A new resident?ö asked Haruka as she finally noticed Shinobu collecting everyoneÆs dishes.
ôI am Maehara Shinobu, and IÆm pleased to meet you,ö answered Shinobu cordially, ôAre you Haruka? If so, could you please show me to my room so that I can unpack?ö Haruka was taken aback a little; she hadnÆt expected a child so young to be so formal.
ôYeah sure, uh,ö she looked about in the pockets of her apron for a slip of paper, once she dug it out, she exclaimed, ôOh, yeah, your grandparents were in here a few days ago to set everything up. YouÆll be in room 201.ö
ôThank you very much Haruka-san,ö said Shinobu as she picked up her two small bags and dropped them off in her room, promptly after which, she returned to the dining room to wash the dishes from dinner.
And everything was fine. She didnÆt have any more questions about love; her time was occupied by cooking, laundry and school. She didnÆt really like any of the boys in her classes, mostly because they were still kids. But one must remember, while Shinobu is still a child physically, she has done an enormous amount of mental maturing.
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Shinobu was jarred back to reality by the rough hands of Sean hoisting her up from the floor.
ôDid you think that I wouldnÆt care since you went further away? Did you? Why did you go so far huh? Did you want to hide it from me? Well?ö he shouted at her. The veins on his neck stood out, every muscle in his body was tense. He was having a fight-or-flight response and he decided on the former. He lifted her up to her feet and raised his right hand, which held the belt. He looked at her and swung the belt in a wide arc, aiming for her arm.
The pain Shinobu felt from hitting the wall was dull around her back, him picking her up was only a light discomfort. She knew what was going to happen. She felt a mix of fear and joy. The hurt lasted, but it was the only way for him to love her. This time was no different, and like every other time, Shinobu cried, the tears streaming down her face.
She thought, I must be strong, like Senpai. When they hit him he didnÆt cry, he knew that it was love. ThatÆs why he couldnÆt love me. To distract herself from her boyfriendÆs painful love, she thought about the person who taught her the most about love, her Senpai, her first crush, her Keitaro.
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Yeah, it's dark and kinda twisted. Forgive me. It began as wondering exactly what kind of thing Shinobu would have thought of love if she observed what was going on at Hinata. It expanded from there. After this (and very likely this itself) needs some re-writing before I post it.
I'm just looking for what you guys think. Please correct me on anything that stands out, or any tips you have. Most everyone who writes here writes like pros, so I figure that you all will have something to say about this. Fire away.
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LOVE HINA: WARPED DEVOTIONS
CHAPTER ONE: THE FIRST NIGHT
A beautiful eighteen year old girl is walking up the hallway of the apartment dorms at Tokyo U. She has a content smile on her face and is lost in the memories of her wonderful afternoon. Her hair appears to be a dark shade of blue, almost black. Most people say that she dyes, and while dark blue hair is uncommon, this young beauty obtained that unique touch naturally. Her eyes are blue, not a light, sky blue, but a dark, deep shade of the color. She is wearing a knee-length light green skirt and a matching t-shirt, with a light blue vest over it. She has a small black leather purse slung lazily over her shoulder. She swings a wicker basket, upon which is a checkerboard table cloth, in the hand that isnÆt holding the purse. The sky behind her is speckled with clouds, none of which threaten rain. Saturday was a perfect day for a picnic lunch, the young girl thinks. Her name is Maehara Shinobu.
She fished around in her purse for the room key to 426, her apartment that she shared with her boyfriend. Her delicate hand grasped the knob, and turned it open. She stepped inside and with a cheery voice proclaimed, ôIÆm back Sean.ö after setting her purse and vest on the rack, and the basket on a table beside the door. There was no answer, so she walked over to the kitchen, where she saw Sean looking in the fridge. He closed the door and looked at her with cold eyes. Before she had time to move, his arms shot out and grabbed her by the shoulders. He threw her backwards with all the force he could muster. She hit the wall and bounced off before falling back onto it.
Shinobu slid down the wall and looked up at her boyfriend, Sean, He was another Toudai student and they had been dating for roughly six months. Sean was an American transfer student and decided to go to Tokyo University to get his Psychology degree. He was tall, raven haired, well-built and in short, a foreign hottie. In high school, he was a football and baseball player, as well as a good student. He wasnÆt the brightest, but neither was he a lumbering oaf. He did have one major defect though, he was gung-ho for ædiscipline.Æ
ôWhat were you doing with him Shinobu? Huh?ö he screamed at her. Shinobu knew where this was going. She knew that seeing her Senpai for lunch would not be good if Sean found out. ThatÆs why she went somewhere secluded, but the fact that she had æsnuck awayÆ to enjoy herself with another man somehow managed to reach SeanÆs ears. Sean had a high belief in discipline, and a rigid moral code for his girlfriends, and she had been out with another man.
ôItÆs obviously been too long since last time Shinobu. I hate to have to do this, but youÆve forgotten your lessons again. Time for your punishment.ö Shinobu knew what was going to happen; it wasnÆt that Shinobu didnÆt have time to get up from where she fell; it was that she didnÆt want to. He removed his belt and raised it above his head. The only thoughts Shinobu had were that Sean would be showing that he loved her again. This was his forgiveness; this was his proof of affection. She felt elated.
Shinobu hadnÆt always thought like this. When she was a little girl, she had read many fairy tales where the prince and princess lived and loved happily ever after. She used to actually believe that love was something like that, something pure and unique, that when people found the one for them that they would know it. Once she understood that love was very little like the fairy tales she read as a child, she started to wonder, like many other children, what love really was. And, like many other little girls, she looked to her parents. Unfortunately for Shinobu, that was a big mistake.
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Shinobu had gone through a painful childhood. Her father was a drunkard, not only that, but he was a violent drunk. So much so that many of the bars refused to give him service. So to get his fix of the liquid courage, he stockpiled a rather large amount of various kinds of alcohol at home. In the privacy of his home, he would imbibe until he had his full. That would usually entail him being drunk enough to become a violent whirlwind. The only sense of preservation he had was to try not to break his possessions. Instead, his violence was directed towards his wife. Luckily for Shinobu, even in his liquored up stupor, she was always ædaddyÆs little girl.Æ
Several nights each week, Shinobu could hear her mother pleading with the monster her father would become under the influence of that hateful liquid. All the while wondering why, when the two were alone, they kept saying that they love each other. Shinobu once asked her mom why daddy hit her. Her mother replied, ôBecause he loves me, itÆs how he shows he cares.ö Thus Shinobu grew up with a warped idea of love.
After a particularly violent night, ShinobuÆs mom finally had enough and shot ShinobuÆs father. Fortunately enough for Shinobu, she was at a friendÆs slumber party when this happened. Shinobu went to her fatherÆs funeral, her mother went to jail for a time, found guilty of first degree murder, but the judge could not bring himself to force the death penalty, since the killing was really retribution. Shinobu had nowhere else to go, her fatherÆs side completely cutting off from her, seeing as how her mom had killed their golden boy, and her mother was an only child.
ShinobuÆs maternal grandparents tried to take care of her for awhile, but they later heard about an all-girlÆs dormitory, the Hinata Sou. Her grandparents covered the costs of rent so that Shinobu wouldnÆt have to worry about that, and after a one week trial period, Shinobu was accepted by the rest of the residents.
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Shinobu remembered her initial visit to the Hinata Sou, it was an ancient and enormous building, at least three stories tall and built more than a few centuries ago, when the Urashimas were a very powerful family. It was an inn after the family suffered much internal strife, and the current manager, Hina Urashima, decided to convert it into an all-girlÆs dormitory. It was built very tall and had a high, swooping roof. The halls were very long; the place easily had twenty rooms for each of its three floors. The cherry blossom trees lining the long stone staircase were in full bloom and the sakura petals made everything look pink and hazy, like a good dream. Shinobu felt very depressed that she left that place, she remembered the first night of her trial week like it was yesterday, even though it was almost five years ago.
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ShinobuÆs first night there was chaotic. She barely had time to put down her bags in the foyer when she found a passing tenant. Unfortunately for Shinobu, she had run into the most rambunctious foreigner ever. The young child was just barely older than Shinobu, but was clearly not anywhere as mature. She was of dark complexion, but with hair that didnÆt quite look blonde, but it was definitely yellow. She had a red dot in the middle of her forehead and when asked about it, refused to speak on the matter. She apparently liked to wear her middle-school uniform all the time, especially since the clothes that the natives of her home country wore offered little protection against the elements.
After introducing herself as Kaolla Su, the young gaijin lead Shinobu to her room. It was literally a rain forest, the carpet was grass and dirt, and there were trees everywhere, except for a small corner that consisted of a worktable and toolbox. It was there that Su led Shinobu. Su told all about how she liked to create various mechanical things and inventions and proceeded to show off most of her work. After the fourth one blew up in her face, Su asked if Shinobu would like to meet the rest of the house. After a very fast, loud, and desperate yes, Su practically dragged Shinobu off to find another tenant.
As Su was flying down the ancient halls of the Hinata Sou, another occupant was awkwardly trying to carry a laundry basket full of clean clothes. Su saw her and she never had a chance.
Su couldnÆt pass up the chance to demolish whoever was hiding behind the clothesbasket. As Su ran to deliver her jumping kick greeting, she let go of Shinobu. Su jumped into the air, foot forward looking like any generic karate master doofus. The unsuspecting victim, who didnÆt seem as unsuspecting as was to first be assumed, stepped to the side of SuÆs special greeting as though she could see Su through the clothes. Shinobu, who managed not to observe the subtle side step, grabbed Su in a futile attempt to get her to stop the drop kick of doom. It would have worked, except for the fact that it didnÆt. Su used Shinobu as an anchor in midair to turn herself back towards the person who was carrying the basket, knocking her down.
In a rain of clothing, Shinobu caught a glimpse of the person who was holding the basket. She had very long black hair and light brown eyes. She was wearing a white gi with red hakama pants, she also had a katana tied to her waist. She was obviously into kendo, but working hard every day hadnÆt detracted from her beauty, it enhanced it. She was slender, but toned. She also appeared irritated, understandable, since the clean clothes she was carrying would have to be rewashed, re-dried, and then refolded. The hallways were very dirty, no one having cleaned them since the manager, Grandma Hina, left a little over a month ago.
ôSu, do you have any idea how long it will take to get all this clean again?ö the kendo girl asked, irritated.
ôNope,ö replied the little middle schooler, ôhave you met our newest resident?ö Su gestured towards Shinobu with a smile on her face as she jumped up.
ôNo I have not.ö The swordswoman stood up and extended her hand to assist the new face to her feet.
ôHello, IÆm Maehara Shinobu,ö stated the young girl, albeit with some hesitation, since she was unsure of what to expect. She grasped the kendo girlÆs hand and let herself be pulled up as the young woman introduced herself.
ôMy name is Aoyama Motoko. I am sorry about Su, she isàexcitable. If youÆll wait, IÆll get everyone together in the living room so you can meet us all in the proper manner. ItÆs too bad that Grandma Hina is away, but Haruka can probably tell you where your room will be. The living room is just to your right as you exit the hallway. Su, can you help me find everyone?ö Su, who had been standing there the whole time jumped onto MotokoÆs shoulders the moment her name was called.
ôOkies! IÆll see you later Shinobu.ö
Shinobu walked down the hallway and wondered who the next weird person she would meet would be. She got in the living room and saw someone sprawled out on the couch. She was dressed in grey capri pants with a similar colored tank top. She had a small cup of sake in one hand, and a bunch of racing tickets in the other. Her eyes were squinting, but it didnÆt look like she stressed to keep them that way. She had short cut grey hair, but it didnÆt make her look old, just mature. She opened one eye all the way and Shinobu found out that they were a lovely shade of blue, just like hers.
ôHello, and who are you, young lady?ö her voice had just a hint of a southern drawl, enough to be cute, but not annoying.
ôMy name is Maehara Shinobu,ö she replied.
ôWell, nice to meet you Shinobu, IÆm Konno Mitsune, but you and everyone else can call me Kitsune, you know, like the fox. Speaking of which, have you met everyone else?ö As she spoke, she set down what she was holding and sat up to shake hands with Shinobu.
Shinobu thought that Kitsune had quite a strong grip to shake her arm like that, but she still managed to squeak out a response, ôI think so. IÆve met Su, Motoko, and now you. Is there anyone else?ö
ôYou havenÆt even met Naru? Where is that girl?ö As if in answer to her question, a voice came out of the kitchen.
ôDarn, not again. Kitsune get the number for that pizza place, weÆre gonna need it.ö
Shinobu walked into the kitchen eager to meet the last resident of the crazy house, when she smelled something burning. Shinobu often had to cook the meals of the house, since her mother would have sore hands, and her father was usually out drinking. Regardless of the circumstances, Shinobu knew how to cook, and how to cook well. She was basically a master and her dream was to open a restaurant. Shinobu took little notice of the auburn haired teenager next to the stove as she ran past and grabbed the skillet from her hand. Shinobu put it back on the stove.
ôItÆs not totally ruined, I can still save it. Do you have any paprika?ö
ôUh, yeah, itÆs over here with the rest of the spices.ö The young woman that one could only guess was Naru pointed over to a cabinet above the stove. Shinobu went to the table and grabbed a chair to stand on to open the cupboard. She fished out several spices, lowered the heat, cut some extra vegetables, and put them into the skillet with the beef and noodles. Naru backed out of the kitchen, a little in awe, a little in fear, and told Kitsune to hold off on the pizza order.
Several minutes later, most of the house was gathered in the dining room patiently waiting for dinner.
ôBut I wanna eat nooooowww!ö whined Su as she was swaying, threatening to topple Motoko.
Ignoring SuÆs protest, Kitsune said, ôSo she just barged in there, grabbed the pan, and started throwing stuff in? That right?ö
Naru shrugged her shoulders and said, ôYeah, thatÆs about the extent of it. But, if sheÆs bluffing, keep the number handy, k?ö
ôOkay everybody, dinnerÆs ready!ö shouted Shinobu from the kitchen entrance, ôWeÆre having the Maehara Surprise.ö
Su climbed down off of Motoko and asked, ôWhatÆs a Maehara surprise? Can I eat it?ö
As Shinobu started spooning up platefuls of her noodle dish, she smiled and replied affirmatively; unknowingly setting off a new habit for the foreign genius. Shinobu looked at everyone there and finally got a good look at the person she essentially shoved out of the kitchen.
Naru had long brown hair, with two unruly bangs in front, framing her face. She wore an orange sweater and short red skirt. It was more than a little difficult to see her hazel eyes behind her round, thick, glasses. Shinobu let out a little giggle, because she could see Naru looking like that really smart girl from Scooby-Doo, Velma.
The girls looked at each other and wondered exactly how the food would taste, since it was burning earlier. Shinobu looked around the room and watched everyone; she was waiting for them to start eating before she did. They were watching for her to start so they knew the food was safe to enjoy. Su finally had enough of all the waiting.
ôIf no one else wants to eat, I will start.ö Su lifted the chopsticks to her mouth and took a bite. It only took a few seconds for her to register the foodÆs taste as really really really really gooooooood. She started inhaling the food. Everybody except Shinobu blushed furiously at the embarrassment. Shinobu just smiled and started eating.
During the dinner, Shinobu received many compliments on her culinary talent, ranging from SuÆs near endless repetition of the word æreallyÆ before finally tacking on a good, and MotokoÆs eloquent mention of how the young lady transformed a nearly ruined dish into a gourmet masterpiece. Shinobu blushed to such a shade of red that a stop sign would turn green with envy. Once her raging blush calmed down to a minor tinge on her cheeks, Shinobu asked some questions about the house, where the manager was, who was running it since Grandma Hina was gone, where here room was, and so forth. She was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening.
Standing there was a woman in her late twenties, she wore a khaki apron with the works ôHarukaÆs Tea CafÚö across the top, it covered an olive-colored, long sleeved shirt and blue jeans. Her eyes were brown and seemed to convey a sense of calm aloofness, which were barely obscured by the white smoke wafting up from the cigarette jutting from her crimson lips. Her hair was the color of dark wood and cut short. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up to her elbows and she looked disappointed.
ôThe first time you gals donÆt order out in a week, and you donÆt even invite me to dinner?ö As she asked, the corners of her mouth turned up in a playful smile, ôWhoÆs this? A new resident?ö asked Haruka as she finally noticed Shinobu collecting everyoneÆs dishes.
ôI am Maehara Shinobu, and IÆm pleased to meet you,ö answered Shinobu cordially, ôAre you Haruka? If so, could you please show me to my room so that I can unpack?ö Haruka was taken aback a little; she hadnÆt expected a child so young to be so formal.
ôYeah sure, uh,ö she looked about in the pockets of her apron for a slip of paper, once she dug it out, she exclaimed, ôOh, yeah, your grandparents were in here a few days ago to set everything up. YouÆll be in room 201.ö
ôThank you very much Haruka-san,ö said Shinobu as she picked up her two small bags and dropped them off in her room, promptly after which, she returned to the dining room to wash the dishes from dinner.
And everything was fine. She didnÆt have any more questions about love; her time was occupied by cooking, laundry and school. She didnÆt really like any of the boys in her classes, mostly because they were still kids. But one must remember, while Shinobu is still a child physically, she has done an enormous amount of mental maturing.
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Shinobu was jarred back to reality by the rough hands of Sean hoisting her up from the floor.
ôDid you think that I wouldnÆt care since you went further away? Did you? Why did you go so far huh? Did you want to hide it from me? Well?ö he shouted at her. The veins on his neck stood out, every muscle in his body was tense. He was having a fight-or-flight response and he decided on the former. He lifted her up to her feet and raised his right hand, which held the belt. He looked at her and swung the belt in a wide arc, aiming for her arm.
The pain Shinobu felt from hitting the wall was dull around her back, him picking her up was only a light discomfort. She knew what was going to happen. She felt a mix of fear and joy. The hurt lasted, but it was the only way for him to love her. This time was no different, and like every other time, Shinobu cried, the tears streaming down her face.
She thought, I must be strong, like Senpai. When they hit him he didnÆt cry, he knew that it was love. ThatÆs why he couldnÆt love me. To distract herself from her boyfriendÆs painful love, she thought about the person who taught her the most about love, her Senpai, her first crush, her Keitaro.
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Yeah, it's dark and kinda twisted. Forgive me. It began as wondering exactly what kind of thing Shinobu would have thought of love if she observed what was going on at Hinata. It expanded from there. After this (and very likely this itself) needs some re-writing before I post it.
I'm just looking for what you guys think. Please correct me on anything that stands out, or any tips you have. Most everyone who writes here writes like pros, so I figure that you all will have something to say about this. Fire away.
