::: Keitaro, The Savant :::
by
- GlazedAndConfused -
DISCLAIMER
What's with pointing out the obvious? I don't own Love Hina or Rain
Man. Ken Akamatsu/TokyoPop own Love Hina, and Metro Goldwyn
Mayer own Rain Man.
This fanfic is inspired heavily by the film 'Rain Man', but it is also based on my own personal experiences, as I myself have an autistic brother. For anyone who is unsure about what autism actually is, it's difficult to explain.
I'm sure I don't have to explain what Rain Man is about, as I'm assuming quite a few people have seen it, correct?
Anyway... I'll just get on with the damn thing.
"..." - denotes speech
"(...)" - denotes whispering
"..." - denotes settings
Italics denote thoughts and Japanese dialogue.
Chapter One ::: Hinata Sou
((Hinata Sou, Front - 10.21 am))
It was a typical spring day in the small hot spring town of Hinata. The cool breeze blew the myriad of falling sakura petals around, adding to the appeal and beauty of the surroundings of the senescent yet still majestic inn. This day was no different to any other at Hinata Sou, with the residents just carrying out their normal daily tasks. Motoko Aoyama, resident swordswoman, with her daily kendo training; Shinobu Maehara, resident cook and cleaner, hanging out everyone's washing; Kaolla Su, the enigmatic and hyperactive gaijin, just... well, being herself; Mitsune 'Kitsune' Konno, slacker extraordinaire, lounging around as usual, with her bottles of saké never too far away, watching the horse racing with bated breath; Naru Narusegawa, the Toudai aspirant, studying non-stop to achieve her goal - to become a Toudaisei; and Haruka Urashima, matriarch of Hinata Sou, running her café.
All in all, it was a quiet and peaceful day, until...
"BAH!" Kitsune, the resident fox and conniver, gave a frustrated cry as she threw her racing paper and betting slips down onto the floor in defeat.
Damn it, I lost another bet... she thought. There HAS to be a way for me to make some easy money, somehow...
Stretching her arms out, she stood up and slowly made her way to the front door.
Hmm... I think I'll go down the bar for a drink.
She slipped her shoes and jacket on, and proceeded out the front door. As she stepped outside, she found a young man around the same age as her, wearing wire-framed glasses, a red jacket, blue denim trousers and black shoes, carrying a duffel bag. Looking lost, he was wandering around, gazing at the area around him. He seemed absorbed in the beauty of the surroundings.
Who is that man? He seems lost.
Instead of approaching him the way she does with any other man, which is normally with a concealed hint of seductiveness, Kitsune approached the young man rather cautiously, then decided to speak to him.
"Um... hi," she started.
The young man didn't reply. He seemed absorbed in the beauty of the scenery around him.
"Excuse me," she said, "can I help you?"
He acknowledged her presence with an emotionless look.
"Hello," he replied in a monotone voice, holding his hand out for a handshake. Kitsune returns the offer by shaking his hand.
Ugh... she shuddered at the deadpan tone in his voice. I've heard zombies speak with more emotion than this guy...
"What's your name?"
"Keitaro... Keitaro Urashima."
"Can I help you?"
"I visit here."
"Here?"
"Yeah. Hinata Sou; Kanagawa prefecture, Tokyo. Landlord Mrs. Hinata Urashima."
"How do you know this place?"
"I visit here."
"Are you sure this is the place you're meant to visit?" Kitsune asked, with a cross between suspicion and confusion in her voice. At this point, Naru came out, having obviously heard what was going on.
"Kitsune-san, who's there? I thought I heard you talking to a guy..." she trailed off as she noticed Keitaro standing there, starting to walk over to him. The look on her face turned into a scowl, her brown eyes narrowing as she stared at Keitaro. "What is this MALE doing here, at an ALL-GIRLS dormitory?" she hissed. "Is he a peeping tom, or a pervert?"
"Visiting. Visiting Hinata Sou." he replied, holding his hand out for a handshake again, not noticing the angry look given to him.
"Agh! What do you think you're doing?!" she exclaimed, swatting his hand away as she stared daggers at him. "Keep your hand away from me, pervert!"
"Hey, Naru... you don't have to be so harsh on him --" Kitsune began as she tried to reason with her, which is more often than not pointless, before she was interrupted.
"A pervert?" asked a voice from the living room. Turning to see who it is, Naru and Kitsune see Motoko, Shinobu and Su coming outside, also overhearing the commotion. She notices Keitaro, and narrows her eyes, a frown appearing on her face.
"Who is this man, Naru-sempai?" Shinobu asked, rather nervously.
"Hiyas! Are you here to play with me?" Su chirped loudly, bouncing around as usual.
"Keitaro, Keitaro Urashima. Pleased to meet --"
"You're a male." Motoko interrupted, "Males are not allowed here at Hinata Sou. What business do you have here?"
Keitaro stands there fidgeting with his hands, a blank look on his face.
"Hinata Sou. Visiting Hinata Sou."
"I shall now ask you to leave," Motoko replied, coolly, "if you do not comply, I shall show you no mercy."
Seemingly oblivious to everything she has said, he holds his hand out for a handshake for the third time. Motoko's frown turns to a scowl. Unsheathing her sword, she bats his hand away somewhat harshly. She then notices what looks like a camera in his other hand as he goes to walk inside the building.
"So..." she hissed threateningly, blocking his route with her katana, "...you ARE a pervert."
"Uh..." was the only coherent reply Keitaro could come out with.
"Motoko, don't you think you're being a bit too harsh on him?" Kitsune asked, with a hint of worry for the young man in her voice.
Naru stomped towards him, then grabbed him by the back of his neck. The reaction she got was one neither of the residents expected. Keitaro batted her arm away before pulling away rather vigourously, then raised his arms to his upper body in defence, dropping the camera in the process. Naru stared at him with her eyes widened, while Motoko narrowed her eyes to look even more menacing.
"You dare strike out at Naru-sempai?!" Motoko hissed in a low tone.
"That pervert... he just touched me with his hands!" Naru yelled, the look of rage etched all over her face. Both young women proceed to advance towards him with intent to harm, Naru with her fist raised and Motoko with her katana at the ready. Noticing his camera on the ground, Motoko breaks it by slicing it in half with her katana. Just as Naru goes to grab him, Keitaro breaks away once again, but his reaction was different this time around. He then dropped to his knees, facing away from the two as he does so. He starts to rock back and forth, making loud, screeching sounds out of fright. Kitsune looks on in disbelief, Shinobu looking on with worry, and Naru and Motoko getting ready to attack the hapless young man. Su just drops to her knees and mimics Keitaro's movements.
"What's going on here?" came a voice from the top of the large stone steps leading towards Hinata Sou. The voice belonged to Haruka. She looked at each tenant questioningly; Naru and Motoko in particular, as they prepare to attack him.
"Haruka-san," began Naru, "we found this peeping tom trying to make his moves on Kitsune-san!"
"You need not worry," continued Motoko as she pointed her sword at him, the tip of the blade looming close to his head, "we will take care of him."
"Hey, he wasn't making any mov --" Kitsune tried protesting again.
"Hold it you two; I know who this man is." Haruka interrupted without looking at either at them. She then walked up to Keitaro, and placed a hand on his back, rubbing it soothingly. This seemed to calm him down, as he began to remove his arms and sit up lightly. "Keitaro," she cooed, softly, "it's ok. It's only me. It's Haruka."
Slowly but surely, he stood up, looking around, confused and worried, as he does so. When he notices that Naru and Motoko are still there, angry looks present and all, he runs and hides behind Haruka, peeking over her shoulder.
"Haruka-san..." Naru started to speak, confused.
"...Who is this pervert?" finished Motoko, equally confused, glaring at Keitaro.
"This 'pervert'," Haruka said, emphasising the word 'pervert' by staring icily at both Naru and Motoko, which made them both inwardly shudder, "is my nephew. His name is Keitaro. And I'd watch what I say about him in future, if I were in either of your shoes." She then turned to face Keitaro. "Keitaro, go into the lounge and watch some TV. I need to talk to everyone first, but I'll be with you in a minute." she said, speaking in the same soft tone.
"H-Hai..."
Keitaro pulled his sleeve up a little and looked at his watch to make sure.
"Uh oh, 1.28 pm... two minutes to 1.30. Time to watch TV..." Keitaro said, a slight hint of panic in his voice, trailing off as he enters the building. Naru and Motoko just stood there, looking at Haruka with stunned looks on their faces.
"Your nephew...?!" Naru and Motoko asked simultaneously, with disbelief, "You never mentioned anything about having a nephew..."
"I don't have to tell you everything, do I?" Haruka retorted, retaining that icy glare.
The tenants could only stand and look as Keitaro walks inside the building, proceeding to switch on the TV before sitting down on the sofa, slowly rocking back and forth as he flicks through the channels.
::: END CHAPTER 1 :::
::: AUTHOR'S NOTES :::
Ok, not the best or longest of opening chapters but it'll have to do...
As always... please R'n'R. It helps, 'kay?
Till next chapter...
- GaC -