Love Hina - The Butterfly Effect

Chapter 3

When Push Comes to Shove

A minute later

Mutsumi walked down the steps, thinking to herself. If what she says is true... Then what I went through must have been happening at that time... She got the money out for the bus ride and hummed to herself happily. Maybe this way I can remember everything I forgot!

Ten minutes later
Outskirts of Hinata Springs

"Here it is..." She rang the bell of her childhood friend and waited.

"Hello?" The camera in the intercom focused on the unknown guest. "Mu-Mutsumi! Is that you?"

"Of course it is, Miu!" She smiled back. "You'll open for me, won't you?" She asked in a mock sad voice.

"Ye-Yes, come in!" The electric buzz and click signalled that the lock opened, and Mutsumi made her way in.

"Mutsumi!" Miu ran in from the corridor, jumping and enveloping her in a huge hug. "It's been too long!"

"I know... University does ruin friendships occasionally... But it's only been a year, no?"

"A year too long!" Her friend laughed. "You want some juice?"

Oops, I almost forgot how hyper she is... "Sure, but I'm meeting up with everyone from Hinata-sou for lunch in half an hour..."

"Okay, no problem!" Miu ran into the kitchen, arms outstretched like an aeroplane, making Mutsumi giggle.

Soon they were sat in the modest living room with two glasses in front of them. "So what brings you round these parts?" She nudged her suggestively. "Got any deep dark secrets to tell me?"

Mutsumi laughed nervously and sweatdropped. If she only knew the truth... "Ara, I just had a question from what happened long ago..." I'd better not talk about the journal, I might seem mad... "Do you remember when we were around four years old, and we were playing with a ball?"

Miu nodded eagerly. "How could I forget..." She bit her lip at her slip up, but went on anyway. "That's when your memories started getting all foggy. What about it?"

"Well, lately my memory has been coming back, and I remember how I got the bruise, do you know what happened, just so it wasn't a dream for me?"

Miu turned a bit serious. "Does it really matter, Mutsumi? We were just kids after all..."

Mutsumi put on her pure smile, the one the few could resist. "I'm only curious, I want to feel complete, that's all..."

Her friend was dubious, but couldn't beat the sunny beam. "O-okay..." Miu sat up, and her eyes glazed over as she returned to her young days. "Well, it was kinda weird... You came to join us and were playing for a bit of time all happy and having fun… Then you suddenly got dizzy, and looked at your hands... Like you weren't sure where you were. I think you said something to yourself too. I wasn't sure if you were okay, so I shouted at you then threw the ball. You were now really confused, and the ball hit your head." She shook her head and smiled wanly. "That's all I remember, I hope that helps..."

Mutsumi was however reeling. Wait... you mean to tell me that I wasn't remembering...? She looked at her adult hands. In that moment, it came to her. No... Those weren't 'lost' memories... They were created at that moment... She almost fainted, but managed to keep upright.

The journal took me back in time!

Miu was staring with worry. "Mu-Mutsumi, a-are you okay?"

"Y-Yes... Just thinking about what you said..." Mutsumi stood up shakily, her antennae bouncing oddly. "I have to go now, I'll catch up with you another day."

"Uhh..." Miu got up awkwardly, from the unexpected declaration. "O-Okay then Mutsumi, I'll see you around then..." She held the door open as her friend walked through.

"Thanks, Miu, it was nice talking with you." Mutsumi smiled, albeit a pained one. Miu nodded back and slowly closed the door.

Mutsumi walked along on the pavement. The way Miu described it... It's not like I was acting as a child... I was as I am now, an adult, thrown into a strange body, unused to it... She suddenly felt sick. I caused the bruise... I changed history by not catching the ball... She grew determined. I have to destroy the journal, so that nothing like this can happen again...

The train doors opened and she stepped on.

After the meal, I'll burn it forever...

Hinata Springs

"Let's see... Urashima-kun would probably want to go to his favourite place... So I'll try there..."

Walking two blocks, she saw a group of people in the beef bowl restaurant, and she smiled, waving at them from across the road. Keitaro got up and waved back, walking to the entrance.

The sudden motion of her waving brought back a familiar sense of light-headedness, the blood draining from her head too quickly for her body to cope. She began to fall, collapsing in slow motion, as her eyes watched another slow moving figure run for her.

She lost consciousness before the sounds of screeching began.

Several hours later
Hinata Health Centre

"She's waking up now..."

Mutsumi slowly opened her eyes to a group of familiar people and doctors. "Otohime-san." One began. "How are you feeling?"

"Still a bit light-headed..." She felt a small dizzy spell as she sat up. "I don't think anything else is hurt..."

They were quiet for a few seconds. "No, just some light scratches from hitting the pavement... However, I must inform you that Urashima-san is in critical condition."

"What?" Mutsumi tried to think back to just before her fainting. "Why?"

"Aoyama-san here saw him run to you to prevent injuring yourself, despite throwing away his crutches. In doing so he ran across a busy road..." He paused here for a few moments to let this sink in. "He was hit by a car travelling over legal speed limits, and despite our attempts, we're unable to save his body from going into shutdown." The doctor readjusted his glasses. "I'm afraid that he hasn't much longer to live, we can only make him comfortable in the hope that you would reawaken in time to say goodbye."

Mutsumi could now see the Hinata residents, after waking up properly. Each had tears, and forms of sadness and shock in their features. "Wh-where is he?"

"I'll take you there, your friends can come too."

Two minutes later
Intensive Care Unit

Mutsumi gasped at seeing Keitaro, his body was mostly covered by the blanket, but his arms were torn and scratched, the blood having already been wiped away by the nurses. He was on a non invasive respirator, the mask was only over his mouth, no tubes travelling into his windpipe. Several IV's were hanging nearby to give him vital fluids.

"U... Urashima-kun..." She walked closer and touched his hand, which had a heart monitor attached to one of the fingers.

His eyelids flickered open and shifted to her. "Mu-Mutsumi-san..." He croaked.

She smiled. "Thank you for saving me." A little white lie should cheer him up, I hope...

"I-I did?" He looked to the ceiling, puzzled. "I thought I didn't make it in time..."

She leaned in closer, almost kneeling by the bed. "Yes, you did." She sniffed back her tears. "Y-You were very brave, Kei-kun..."

Now he grew tears in his eyes, as the heart monitor began to beep erratically. "M-Mu-chan..." He coughed for a few seconds, taking off his oxygen mask, as Mutsumi held his hand tightly. "I... I..."

Ignoring her own tears, she put a finger lightly to his lips. "I know, Kei-kun." She smiled. "I love you too..." She moved in closer. "I'll miss you so much..." Their eyes stared into one another's for what seemed like a long time, though it only lasted five seconds. "We'll meet again on the other side."

He smiled, a true one this time, one that he gave her when they first met, one that he never gave again in their relationship.

She kissed him fully on the lips, and he kissed back, tears pouring over their cheeks. I love you, Keitaro, now and forever...

It lasted for a few minutes, despite the constant tone in the background and lack of response from Keitaro. It registered immediately, but she never wanted the moment to end.

Feeling a pair of strong arms behind her, she had no choice but to pull back and let go of his hand. Looking at his face, she smiled sadly. He looks like he's sleeping, and having a nice dream... Slowly being led out of the room, she saw the person escorting her was also crying.

"Naru-chan..." Mutsumi started growing sadder again. "Kei-kun is..." She trailed off, and was warmed by a gentle hug.

"We know Mutsumi, we know..."

Soon, more hands and arms joined in, and the Hinata residents mourned the loss of their former manager, friend, brother and lover.

One week later
Hinata-sou

Things might never return to normal. The shock was still coursing through the household. Mutsumi had taken her leave from university on compassionate grounds, and was helping around with removing his old clothes and items from when he left them in storage.

Motoko was spending as much time as possible in the police station, using her connections to have the driver prosecuted as soon as possible, and for the highest available penalty. Her eagerness and near obsession led to the precinct boss sending her home, as she was too emotionally involved in the case.

Mutsumi smiled at the raven haired girl opposite her, who was still reading law books on obscure rules that could still be used today. "Motoko-chan..."

"Hmm?" She didn't look up from her book.

"You have to stop now. It's not going to bring Urashima-kun back..."

Hearing that stunned her. She snapped her head up. "But... I'm doing this for him!"

"Are you sure?" Mutsumi smiled knowingly, and got up to sit next to her in the sofa. She laid a hand on top of Motoko's. "I think there's more to it than that." Seeing the expression, she went on, kindly. "I think you're doing this out of guilt, because of what happened in the past."

Motoko paled, not having thought of that. "N-No... It's not like that..." As she stared down at the book, she realised it was true.

"I know that your honour was important to you. When Urashima-kun was hurt by you, you decided to cut your hair and seal your sword for many years..." Mutsumi looked down. "He wasn't angry at you, just sad at his weak body." She stared into her eyes. "He'll be happy that you're doing this for him, but not that you're going overboard with getting involved in every process... Let it go, U-Urashima-kun is gone, there's no need to feel guilty anymore."

"I..." She dropped the book in her lap, and stared to bawl into her hands. "I only wanted to help!" Her wails were heard throughout the house. "All this time he never allowed me to apologise... I was sure he hated me..."

Mutsumi let her cry for a few minutes. "It's okay. He forgives you, he always did, and he never hated you. It was you who hated yourself."

Motoko looked at her with pleading eyes. "Y-You're probably right... I couldn't get over the fact I injured him so badly..." She looked down at her tense hands. "My only hope is that I can meet up with him again, and this time become a friend to him..."

Mutsumi smiled. "I'd like to think that too..." She looked to the stairs and saw someone peeking out and hiding again. "You should be able to share your grief with the person you love, and..." Mutsumi nudged her. "She has been feeling a bit neglected lately, and also misses Urashima-kun..."

Motoko followed the glance and saw Suu looking at her, the sadness obvious in her face. "Suu-chan..."

Motoko got up and gave her the special smile, resulting in a familiar toothy grin from the princess. She walked to her and Suu popped out and jumped on her lover and partner, catching onto her in her usual fashion, legs around the waist, arms hooked around the back of the neck.

"Heya Motoko-chan..." She grinned again. "Miss me?"

The kendo champion smiled back unreservedly. "Always have, Suu-chan..." She searched the eyes for forgiveness, and found it immediately.

Suu pressed in and gave Motoko a full, passionate kiss, which the elder girl returned wholeheartedly.

Mutsumi blushed a little at the intensity. "Ara, ara..." She walked off to leave them be, moving on to another part of the house.

Seeing the depressed Kanako lowered her mood, and seeing the bottles beside her ruined the image, as also Mitsune seemed to have dabbled in them.

I can't be here any more...

Choosing to leave, she pondered the events of the day.

Tokyo University Dorms
Mutsumi's Room

Glasses resting atop the bridge of her nose, she skimmed her textbooks, not really taking anything in, and ignoring the quiet talking from Anko and her boyfriend of the week behind her.

Might as well throw that journal away, it is too dangerous to keep...

Looking for the volume she read to Anko, she smiled and prepared to put it in the burnable rubbish bins outside. She opened their door and starting walking past all the people.

Mutsumi started thinking.

The doctors all said that Keitaro was ill and sick. His body has been weak for most of his life, the bones never reached the normal density of people his age.

She went down the steps one at a time.

He's been trying for Toudai for so many years, but he never succeeded. After the medical bills his parents didn't want to spend any more on him attempting to fail exams...

She opened the front door to the outside.

He had a problem, always making simple promises, then breaking every single one of them. Soon they grew larger and larger... There was no way he could keep it up...

The bin lay ahead, and Mutsumi raised the journal.

In the end, nothing changed...

She paused, another memory coming to mind. A much more recent one.

Motoko was speaking about the time when she met Keitaro in the inn. About what he said...

She spoke the words out aloud. "The past can't be changed..."

Angling the journal at her, the setting sun reflected off it, a glimmer of hope returning to her features.

"I have to destroy the journal, so that nothing like this can happen again..."

Those were her previous words, but holding it close to her, realised what they could bring her.

It can bring Urashima-kun back to me... She thought of everyone else at Hinata-sou. Motoko would not be working herself to death to fix her guilt, Kanako would not lose all hope... and poor Mitsune would not start on the drink again...

She walked back inside. I'll do this to save him... I have to!

Five minutes later
Mutsumi's room

A new look adorned Mutsumi's face as she entered, and it scared Anko.

"Y-Yo, Mu-chan, what's up?"

The strangely smiling girl turned to her roommate. "Oh, nothing much. I just need you to get out of here..."

"Wh-what?" Anko had never heard that cool tone of voice from her ever-pleasant friend. "Why, what's going on?"

The fanatical Mutsumi turned to her friend, the stress finally getting to her. "I said get out..." She asked, calmly but with a note of finality.

Anko, completely perturbed by this, jerked up suddenly and pulled her boyfriend with her. Not stopping to question her, she left the room, slamming the door.

Mutsumi breathed out and silently cursed herself. I shouldn't've talked to her like that, she's been nothing but a friend to me...

Mutsumi locked the door and sat down on the bed to be comfortable. She pulled out the relevant book from the shelf.

Keitaro's illness came about the same time we met as kids... I had that sickness at that time too...

"If I weren't ill, I wouldn't faint so much, and he wouldn't have run out to save me..." She thought further. "Maybe he too won't be so weak with his bones."

Opening the book to the required page, she began to cry. "I'm sorry, Urashima-kun, I want this to happen, I want us to be together..."

I'm sorry, everyone...

She began to read.

-
A Brief History

- Keitaro arrived in his usual manner
- After a few months of torment, his body gives in and suffers pelvic fractures, and has to use crutches to walk properly.
- Motoko, in her shame, cuts her hair and refuses to let it grow out (similar to the later volumes of the manga). Suu cries over the loss of the long hair, and starts to hang around her more often.
- Because of his injury, he is confined to his room, and thusly does not interact as much with the residents, aside from Shinobu who tends to him often. He loses his crush on Naru since his injury.
- After failing the exam for Toudai in 1999, he meets Mutsumi at the same board, and falls in love at first sight. Naru passes with flying colours.
- Shinobu has trouble with the parents and has to spend weekends with separate ones as part of the divorce. During the week, she stays in Hinata-sou.
- The relationship grows between Keitaro and Mutsumi, and in 2000 they repeat their exams, both fail. Keitaro stops trying for Toudai as parents refuse to pay any more money, and his lack of will.
- During this year, Mitsune begins to drink uncontrollably, as the appearance of Seta with Haruka unsettles her. Her debts to Keitaro for rent increase.
- In 2001, Mutsumi studies hard and makes it into Toudai on her fifth try. She meets Naru and surprised at knowing Keitaro, they start to form a friendship.
- As Mutsumi starts studying in Toudai, Keitaro leaves Hinata-sou and rents a cheap place nearby, and tries to look for work, with little success.
- Kanako arrives in 2002, and takes over the manager's job from Keitaro, as he moves from part time job to part time job, unable to stay in any place too long.
- Motoko and Suu quietly declare that they are together. Motoko starts work as a policewoman, Suu is doing administrative work for her kingdom.
- Mid 2002, Mitsune is sent to hospital, from alcohol poisoning, her liver suffered immensely. Kanako appoints herself, from Keitaro's idle comment, to be her keeper and wean her off the drink.
- 2003, Naru begins her Masters after graduating from the Bachelors. She starts going out with the top medical student, Kentaro.
- Mid 2003, Mutsumi rooms with Anko after a building fire.
- 2004, Mutsumi starts work on her dissertation, and they prepare for the big reunion with the Hinata residents in the summer.

Author's Notes

Thus beginneth the returns to the past, alternate realities and problems to fix. I hope you liked the alternate history. It is time to say goodbye to this timeline, the next one will be filled with problems.

If you didn't like the mini-history above, let me know and I won't include it for the coming timelines, as sometimes, things are better left unsaid.

Hope the characters weren't too OOC. Let me know what you think!

- J