Disclaimer: Love Hina is owned by TV Tokyo. The characters in this fanfiction are also the property of TV Tokyo. Lucia Brynes is my own creation. Takes place in volume 6 of the manga if Keitaro actually asked Shinobu on a date.

Chapter 1: A Special Gift

The party at Hinata Sou was in full swing. Keitaro had just finished giving gifts to everyone. Lottery
tickets for Kitsune, an odd talking clay disc for Sara. But, by far, the strangest gift of all would be the
bra he gave to Motoko. Kitsune proceeded to sit on Keitaro's lap, exerting her diabolical charm on
him.

" Sempai, here's another cup of champagne. " Shinobu said as she handed him a glass, a tray of food
in the other.

" Thank you, you make a really cute santa person, Shinobu-chan. " Keitaro said.

Everyone already had a gift from Keitaro, with the exception of Shinobu. But this didn't seem to
bother her at all. Keitaro then noticed Motoko's reaction to her gift.

" I didn't really know what to get, so i just got you that....." he said nervously as he looked at
Motoko's bewildered facial expression, he began to expect a beating.

Apparently, Motoko was too confused and shocked to do anything about the gift, much to Keitaro's
relief. Then he noticed Shinobu, standing in the corner, the only one he didn't have a gift for.

" I'm so sorry Shinobu-chan, i'll give you your gift tomorrow. I promise. " he said as he placed his
hands on her petite shoulders.

Shinobu knew how important promises are to Keitaro. After all, one of the reasons he was in Hinata
Sou, if you really think about it, is a promise. She felt a loving tingle go through her body as she
listened to Keitaro's words. Her curiosity though, to what her gift was, constantly pounded at her,
asking what it was.

" Sempai made a promise to me! ME!! " she thought to herself, giggling as she thought of it. " I
wonder what he's going to give me though......"

Shinobu slept like a rock, moving only every so often. She certainly didn't notice Keitaro, watching
her as she slept. He smiled as he looked at her endearingly cute face, lovingly.

" Sleep well, Shinobu-chan...."

Shinobu looked around as she stretched her arms. As she looked at her alarm clock, she realized it
as late. She looked out her window, just to make sure. She then began to panic, her hands in her
blue hair, frantically running around her room when Keitaro knocked on her door.

" Shinobu-chan? Shinobu-chan? It's me. Keitaro. " he said, knocking on her room's door.

" Sempai?!?! " she answered worryingly, as if she was talking to herself rather than Keitaro.

Shinobu rushed towards her door, almost as if she was ramming Keitaro. She was worried about
breakfast. And lunch. She woke up late and hadn't prepared anything yet. Keitaro quickly grabbed
her, stopping her in her tracks.

" Sempai!!! I....i have to prepare breakfast......and........and......" she stuttered.

" Don't worry, Shinobu-chan. It's just the two of us. Narusegawa's visiting her family. Su-chan's just
gotten on a flight back to her homeland. Sara-chan and Seta-san just left for another expedition.
Kitsune's gone off somewhere. And Motoko said she's be at the shrine, training. It's just the two of
us, Shinobu-chan. " he explained.

Shinobu froze as Keitaro spoke. This was the kind of stuff her dreams were made off. She had always
fantasized of this, just her and Keitaro, alone together. For her, everything she could ever want was
starting to fall into place. Everything she had ever dreamed off was coming true in front of her cute
blue eyes.

" Come with me, Shinobu-chan....." Keitaro said, taking Shinobu by the hand, leading her downstairs
to the dining room.

" Huh? Why? "

" You'll see. "

When they came down, she saw a lovely meal set before her very eyes. All her favorites, prepared
by none other than Keitaro himself. Even though it was obvious that the meal was ill prepared, she
didn't care. All that mattered was that Keitaro made it for her. He had never done anything like this
for anyone else, not even Naru. She felt truly special because of this loving act.

" I know this isn't exactly up to your standards, you being a wonderful cook and all, Shinobu-chan,
but, i tried my best.........." he excused.

" You.........for me..........i........i.......arigato......arigato sempai....." she said before crying into
Keitaro's shoulders. " It's wonderful, sempai. "

" I'm happy you're happy, Shinobu-chan.....but it's just the start. " he said, moving his hands with
utmost care through her shining blue hair.

" Nani? " Shinobu asked, blinking. She could ask for nothing more.

" Eat first, Shinobu-chan. " Keitaro answered, directing her to the table like a gentleman.

As Shinobu finished eating the meal, he volunteered to clean the dishes.

" Go upstairs and get dressed. We're going out, Shinobu-chan. " he said.

It was only then she noticed Keitaro was pretty well-dressed. He wasn't in his usual house clothes.

" Alright, sempai. " Shinobu answered, her excitement overcoming her.

Once she came down, dressed in the cutest outfit she could find, Keitaro was there, waiting with
arms wide open. He smiled as he looked at her walk down. Shinobu blushed as she walked down.

" She's grown up a lot....." he thought.

The two slowly walked out, all smiles. They decided to walk around town, to enjoy the lovely park
in town. The quiet environment was soothing to them. The birds chirping in the trees, the sunlight
passing through the leaves of the trees. The path was quite romantic, to Shinobu's mind.

They enjoyed the atmosphere of the park, quite different from the one at Hinata Sou. It was peaceful,
calm. They sat down on a bench by some trees. Shinobu loved the warmth of Keitaro's soft touch, the
caring she felt when he looked into their eyes. She loved every moment of it, a dream she could
never imagine. She glanced every so often at Keitaro, their eyes meeting. Sure, he wasn't perfect,
he wasn't handsome, but Keitaro was the only one for Shinobu. The only one she'll ever love.

" Do you want to have lunch sempai? It's getting close to lunch time, and you seem hungry. "
Shinobu asked.

" Alright, Shinobu-chan. Let's eat. " he said, placing his hand on Shinobu's, the other caressing her
smooth, cute face.

It was almost as if the two were about to kiss. The two decided to eat in a nearby cafe. The cafe was,
by coincidence, very romantic. With a slow romantic song playing in the background, the lighting
almost perfect for love. Shinobu blushed and smiled as she remembered enjoying many dreams of a
moment just like this one. But this time, this moment, was no dream. It was real. Keitaro ordered for
both of them, asking them for the best meal they have for Shinobu.

" Isn't this a bit much, sempai? It's so costly. " she asked after seeing the price of what Keitaro
ordered.

" Nothing's too good for you, Shinobu-chan. " he answered, softly placing his hand on hers, smiling,
staring into each other's eyes.

The two ate the meal slowly. They didn't really taste anything, they were too busy enjoying the
moment. The music, the candle lit cafe, the meal, the atmosphere, all seemed to make them forget
everyone else. Shinobu could only make sense of this with one thought.

" Sempai.....he loves me......." she kept repeating to herself during the course of the meal.

Once they finished their meal, Keitaro paid for the bill and the two left, hand in hand, smiling at each
other. Shinobu's dreams were coming true. No, this was better than a dream. This was the real
world. And Keitaro was there to enjoy it with her.

The two went to an aquarium, upon Keitaro's suggestion. They held tightly, lovingly at each other's
hands, not paying attention to the whispers of the people who saw them. The whispers saying
Shinobu was too young for him, or that they looked like a father and daughter. All they thought of
was that they were together, it was all that mattered. They didn't say a thing. They didn't need to
talk, didn't want to or need to say anything. Their eyes betrayed the emotions they were feeling. Of
mutual love and admiration.

The two decided to go home hours later, it was already late in the day. They took a taxi to Hinata
Sou, hoping to get there before anyone else does. It seemed romantic to Shinobu that they were
keeping this little date a secret.

" Thank you, for today, sempai. " Shinobu said, placing her head slowly on Keitaro's chest.

It was obvious she was tired, but Keitaro could feel she enjoyed the day's events. As he put Shinobu
to sleep in Hinata Sou, he ran his fingers through her pretty blue hair. He kissed her on the cheek,
placing a blanket over her.

" Go to sleep, Shinobu-chan. " he whispered into her ear.

As he walked away, he left behind beside Shinobu, one last gift. A gold, heart-shaped locket with
their names etched into the inside. He had one last look at little Shinobu, the young lady he spent a
lovely day with, and smiled, running his fingers through her face one last time.

" You are special to me, Shinobu-chan......more than you'll ever know...." he whispered as he
walked away.

Little did he know, Shinobu as still awake. She waited patiently for him to leave, before taking the
locket he left behind. She tightly held it to her heart, putting it around her neck and kissing it before
going to sleep.

" Thank you sempai. I love you. " she said, holding the locket tightly in her hands. Shedding tears
down her cheek, her heart beating for Keitaro.

END CHAPTER 1