Authnote: I've just finished reading Red Shift by Alan Garner, which is why this is about 95 dialogue. I've always liked Kitsune X Keitaro, but have often felt the 'softening' of her character toward him is wrong. She seems to remain a sake-guzzling, gambling, manipulative vagrant throughout the manga and anime, so I think I managed to keep her in character while still pairing her up with Kei.

Obligatory Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own anything but a DVD boxset of Love Hina. Akamatsu owns the rest of it.

28 July 2012: Wow, I haven't been here for a long, long time. And of course I have money problems and job problems and life problems, but heck, if you can't take a few hours out to edit and tweak something you like and just give it that layer of polish you've been meaning to for all of these years... what's the point? Accents removed, as they didn't help and I've no idea if I can keep up an accent like hers consistently. A little description added, but not too much. Imagination is key here, at least for the latter half of this Wall of Dialogue. Please enjoy!

A Little Psychology Among Friends
or
Alcohol Makes a Good Lubricant

"Keitaro, I've often wondered. What exactly... drives you?"

"Er..."

"I'll tell you what makes me tick. Winning the game. Making people move in the ways I want them to move. But I've got to ask - what keeps you going?"

"No way am I going to answer that, Kitsune. It's like painting a big target on my ass and handing you a rifle. What about the others? What makes them go?"

"It's all negative. Everyone's driven by fear, eventually. I'm trying to work out if all of your stubbornness comes from the fear of not being able to live up to that one promise..."

Keitaro blustered. Kitsune's eyes narrowed just that little bit - confirmation in the form of denail.

"Negative? I... I mean... Fear? You've got a real nice outlook on the world, Kitsune."

"Heh! Yeah, fear and negativity. Everyone's scared of something. Little Shinobu - her parents. If she goes back to them, she'll have to explain why exactly she chose to stay here instead of going with one of them. She's terrified that they'll renounce her, or something. Su's scared of having power. She goes home, she has to take on her country's throne sooner or later. She knows how often she does bad, so she's scared she'll mess up something awful with all that authority. Everyone's got a reason to keep going, and everyone's reason is based on the one thing they really fear. They build all sorts of crap around themselves to keep themselves going and make sure they don't have to ever face that fear head-on. Cowards, the lot of us."

"What about Motoko? She's not scared of anything!"

"You really don't pay attention, do you?" A smirk from the elegant woman - perhaps even a hint of fondness. "Motoko's scared stiff that she'll screw up when she takes over the clan dojo. She trains hard to try to bring herself up to the standard she reckons she should be at, but she's a major perfectionist. It's going to be hard for her."

She handed him the rice wine. He declined.

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, you. You say everyone's afraid of something. What're you so scared of?"

She let out a long, slow breath. It guttered for a moment, but then she inhaled and inner strength came from somewhere and she started to speak again.

"Getting too close. Don't ever want to be too close to someone. Always feel like I can't breathe, always freak out, and then I always break his heart." She shakes her head, as if to clear away the dust. "What about you, Kei?"

He drained half an ochoko of sake. It seemed to give him strength.

"I fear... what people will think of me if I don't manage to keep my word. And... I think I kinda fear not fitting in. You know. I always had the dream of a wonderful relationship leading to marriage with the girl I pledged to join, and I guess that was because I wanted to be another happy student and I didn't want to let her down... because I can't stand it when people hate me, and I always knew she'd hate me if I couldn't make it in..."

"So that's it, huh? I should have guessed. You're scared of being rejected by Naru when you finally ask her?"

"No, I don't think so. I'm more scared of what she'll think of me when she finds out I don't just see her as a friend."

"Well. Let me... Let me warn you, Kei. She... doesn't love you."

"Wha... huh... what makes you so sure?"

He took another draught of the rice wine. She reached over and tousled his hair.

"She's scared of having to fend for herself when she gets into Tokyo U. She's always been scared of being alone. She lets it confuse her and make her think she's in love. She did it with Set, and she's doing it with you."

"That's... an unhappy thing to happen. She's... not happy, is she? And... it makes enough sense that it makes me really sad, too."

"I'm sorry, Kei. Shouldn't have said it, no sir. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's alright. Sad things have gotta be said. You're an author, so you know. Besides. It's one of those things. Admissions. I guess, ever since I saw her interacting with Seta... I knew. It's just... just a question of whether I can keep that in mind after tonight. Sometimes I bury those things."

"Damn straight. I'm just sorry it had to make you so sad too."

"It's okay."

"Then..." Mitsune Konno did not often look sad, but then and there she simply could not help it. "...why are you crying, Kei?"

"It's... it's just... what you said before. About fear, I mean. It always drives people?"

"Every time I've looked, Kei. Every damn time. So many lonely people, all because they're afraid to do the right things; take the important risks."

"So that means... none of the Hinata girls really like me? Looks to me like they're all here because they're afraid, they all look up to me in some way because I run this place now, and they all feel kinda obliged to be interested in me because that's what pop culture says they gotta do, and they're scared to fly in the face of public opinion. Am I... am I about right?"

"Sounds like it to me. I'm sorry it's all so sad, Kei..."

"It's very sad... why does it have to be that way? The whole situation is, you know. Every bit of it."

The rice wine was passed back and forth.

"Hey, Kitsu. Don't you think all this fear... has got to be fought somehow?"

"You're sounding sensible again, Kei. Is that what happens when you get drunk? You go straight out through the other side?"

"Yeah, I think fear should be fought. But you already know what I'm afraid of. Are you suggesting something?"

"Yeah, I guess I am. What do you think... about pairing off? You and me? I can announce it, fight my fear of opinions, and you could face-off against your intimacy thing."

She looked at him, then her ochoko, then back to him. Another deep breath, and she stared at the ceiling as she spoke.

"Any other guy, I'd be making like Naru right now and freaking the hell out. But you? You've been a responsible guy around here for a couple of years now, and here's the thing. I... I kinda feel like I can trust you. I'd never through about it like that before. I don't think you'd ever let anyone down, now, would you? I can let you in. And that's... what the hell is that. It's me, not freaking out at the concept of closeness. Well, maybe that's just the alcohol talking. Yeah."

Her eyes fell away from the ceiling, landed on him, and she grinned.

"Get your lap ready for it's sexiest burden ever, Kei. And remember, you ain't to be afraid of what I'll think of you, either."

"I know. You're even curvier than you look, Kitsu. Your waist's perfect! And... wow, you're soft and everything!"

"Mm, just you keep treating me this way, Kei. Much appreciated... very much. God, I can feel your six-pack. I'm impressed! All those sit-ups, yeah?"

"And all the walking. Trams are too expensive. What's this?"

"Always wear stuff like that. Guess it's part of the fear of intimacy. Self-objectification, maybe? Ugh, doesn't sound so good now."

"It's nice on you, but I always kinda hoped you'd just wear white or pink. Something a bit more innocent under the foxpelt."

"I'll buy some. For me to wear when I'm with you. Hey, Kei, intimate's sounding kinda nice to me now."

"Sounds nice to me too, Kitsu. And I know a good test for us."

"Are you going to show your wickedness yet?"

"I'm not abnormally wicked, you know. Maybe about half as twisted as one of those really timid businessmen. But I'll show that if you want."

"Yes please."

"Alright. But then I tell you the test."

The rice wine went ignored for a while. Kitsune's full ochoko spilt a little.

"So... what's this test of yours, Kei?"

"When we're both ready to really fight the fear, we say so the others can hear, 'I love you.'"

"Fwee. You're confident with booze in you. Hope that doesn't die away too badly come morning. We've gotta have a rule for that test. We've gotta feel it, honest-like. Then we can say it. Deal?"

"Deal. You're still thirsty?"

"Yeah. Gonna see how much more I can get outta this before I gotta give up for the night."

"Maybe two more rounds, I reckon. You're very bouncy this evening."

"Comes of what I'm doing, Kei. You're standing pretty straight, considering the booze."

"I'm good at concentrating when there's a beauty involved."

"Heh, cute line. You're sounding pretty lovey-dovey there, Kei. Feeling it?"

"Yeah, definitely feeling it. You?"

"Mm-hmm. It's warm. I'm not afraid of letting you get close, I think. Might take me a while to get used to it."

"Kitsu. You're a foxy gorgeous girl, and you're damn clever when it comes to people. I should have let you abuse me more before tonight."

"I'm gonna try to never abuse you, Kei. It's not my best habit. But please... forgive me if I do, yeah?"

"Okay, Kitsu. And you forgive me if I get scared of what the others think, yeah?"

"Okay. I'm gonna have to snuggle up against you now. Feeling real tired. Wanna be warm."

"If we were at the Inn, we'd be dead come morning."

"We're safe. Now lemme snuggle. Tired..."

"Goodnight, Kitsu. Always dreamed of what it'd be like to wake up with you next to me."

"Glad to hear it..."

"Sleep well, beautiful girl."

"You too, cute guy."