Moving Forward
December 1st had come and Motoko had reached her Seventeenth Birthday. To celebrate, Keitaro took her out to a candle lit dinner at the finest restaurant in Tokyo. Sure it was a little expensive, but Keitaro didn't mind. He just wanted to show her how special she was to him. The two were able to sneak out of the apartments under the excuses of 'Kendo practice at a Tokyo dojo' and 'studying late for an exam at the Tokyo Library'.
The two agreed that the meal was incredible. After the waiter came and cleared the empty plates from the table, Keitaro reached down into his pant pocket. He pulled out a small box, covered with gold wrapping paper and tied with a red bow. "Motoko, I have something very special for you." He said, holding it out to her over the table between the two candles. "For me?" she said, taking it from his hand, to which he gave a quick smile and nod. She removed the top of the box to reveal a silver-chain wristwatch with a sapphire face. The polished silver gleamed in the candlelight and she could see her smiling face reflecting back at her in the sapphire.
"Oh, Keitaro. It's beautiful. How did you know that this was exactly the one I wanted?"
"Well, every time we walked by it in the jewelry store window, I always noticed it catch your eye. So I decided to get it for you. Go ahead, try it on."
Motoko removed the watch from its case and fastened it around her wrist. Holding it out in front of her, she admired the shine of the silver in the soft light.
"So do you like it?" Keitaro asked, holding out his hand.
"Keitaro, I love it. Thank you so much." Motoko said, folding her fingers with his.
"Happy Birthday, Motoko." He then said, cheerfully.
After dinner, the couple decided to take a walk together along the water of Tokyo bay. The full moon shown brightly overhead, reflecting beautifully off the placid water. It was a cold night. Hand in hand, Keitaro and Motoko walked slowly down the docks making trivial, but loving, conversation. A cold gust of wind suddenly blew from the north, causing Motoko to shiver and move her coat up around her neck. Noticing this, Keitaro removed his scarf and gently wrapped it around her exposed neck.
"There. Better?" Keitaro said, moving her silky black hair out from under the soft cotton scarf.
Blushing slightly, she said, "Yes. Thank you very much."
Motoko looked up into the sky and saw the moon shining. A pleasant smile came across her features.
"Keitaro?"
"Yes, Motoko?"
"The moon looks so incredible tonight. Doesn't it remind you of a very special time?" she asked, giving his hand a light squeeze and gently massaging it with her thumb.
Keitaro looked into her eyes with a curious expression and then turned his eyes up to the moon. A smile of sweet nostalgia came over him as he remembered exactly what she was talking about.
"How could I forget, Motoko? That incredible kiss that we shared on the balcony under this very same moon." He said, looking back at her. He then lifted his hand and caressed the soft skin of her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "You still look so beautiful in the moonlight, just like an angel." He said, noticing how her smooth, fair skin seemed to glow in the soft blue light. Placing her hand over his, she moved it over her lips, giving it a soft kiss.
Keitaro then took the initiative and slowly moved in. However, he then tripped on a wooden board that stuck out slightly above the rest. Losing his footing and balance, he fell into Motoko. With an "Ah!" and a "Ow!" she landed on her back with Keitaro laying on top of her.
"Oww, that hurt." She whined from beneath him.
"I-I'm really sorry, Motoko! A-Are you okay?" Keitaro said, getting ready to move off of her.
Their faces an inch apart, she looked into his eyes. Keitaro then felt two arms wrap around his waist, gently holding him down. Giving a light laugh she said, "You're still such a klutz, Keitaro." Then, slowly, she moved her head up, giving him a deep kiss, which he eased into instantly. As they continued to kiss, laying there on the dock, Motoko felt something very strange against her pelvis.
'What is that, pressing up against me? It feels hard and seems to be growing bigger.' She thought.
Then it suddenly occurred to her what it was. Quickly breaking the kiss, she pushed him off of her and sat up, breathing heavily. Her face was beet red. Keitaro, realizing what had happened, became extremely embarrassed. Sitting up as well, Keitaro started to blush profusely. "I'm so sorry, Motoko. I didn't mean…for that to happen, honest." Motoko looked over at Keitaro with an embarrassed look and then turned her eyes back to the docks.
"I-It's just that…I've never been in that position before." She said as her face was still glowing a bright red. There was a quick silence. Sensing the awkwardness, Motoko moved her coat sleeve back from her wrist, exposing her new watch. "Um, it's getting kind of late. Maybe we should head back to Hinata." She said, standing up. "Oh, okay." He said, standing up as well. He turned towards the dock gates with thoughts of worry heavy on his mind of how he screwed up the perfect moment, big time.
Motoko then straightened her sword inside her coat, which hung at her side always. Seeing this out of the corner of his eye, Keitaro stood tense and stiff, as if his body was subconsciously readying itself to receive punishment via kendo blade. Noticing how nervous he had become, Motoko buttoned up her coat and walked up behind him. Moving her arms around his chest, she moved her mouth to his ear.
"Don't worry about it, Keitaro. I don't mind. It just…surprised me, that's all."
Her soothing words caused his body to relax as he let out a sigh of relief. Motoko quickly walked around from behind him, grabbed his hand and showed him a bright smile. "Come on, Keitaro. Let's get going." Matching her smile, Keitaro quickly walked with her and said, "Sure, lets go." The two lovers ran down the docks toward the exit gates, truly happy.
After taking the long train ride back to Hinata, Keitaro and Motoko walked home until they came to the steps leading up to the apartments. After a pause, they turned to each other.
"Keitaro, thank you so much for tonight. You've given me the best Birthday I've ever had. So much better than celebrating it in a Dojo."
"I'm so glad, Motoko. I'm also glad that we've become this close."
"Me too, Keitaro."
"Well, we'd better head back up to the apartments before they start to worry about us." Keitaro said, starting to lead her to the steps.
"Hold on, Keitaro. Let's take advantage of this situation while we're still out of the other's view." Motoko said, taking his wrist and stopping him. "Huh? What do you mean?" He said. Without saying a thing, she slowly pulled him to her, as the look on her face spoke volumes to him. "Oh, I see." He said with a smile, as he turned his lips to hers. They both shared a long, passionate kiss under the soft moonlight. The visible breath from their noses was gently carried away by the constant, light wind. The steamy breath rose into the moonlit sky, which was clear of any clouds for as far as the eye could see.
That Christmas, Keitaro and Motoko decided to come clean and announce to everyone their relationship. Much to their surprise, however, the reactions they had received were much tamer than they had anticipated. Among all the residents of Hinata that stood around them, Kitsune pretty much summed up everyone's thoughts by saying, "Oh, come on, sugah! We've known that for a while. We've just been waitin' for y'all to come out and say it."
Standing behind Kitsune was Naru. Having respectfully kept quiet about the lover's relationship since she first learned of it, Naru let out a giggle in light of the hilarity of the situation: the three of them couldn't keep it a secret after all. "We've seen the way you two have been looking at each other. And the times when you both seem to disappear at same time? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to put 2 and 2 together, you know." Kitsune said, with a teasing smile. Haruka showed an agreeable smile to Keitaro, letting him know that she had known about it since that day they had talked on the lobby couch.
Kaolla and Sara jumped on top of Keitaro and started teasing him. Jumping on his shoulder and hitting him in the head, Sara said, "Of course we knew about it, you super-dork!" Kaolla wrapped her legs around Keitaro's neck and with a big smile started banging on his head, saying, "Especially since we've caught sight of you two kissing in the back courtyard, now and again."
"Yeah, you two were out there all summer long." Sara said. Then the two jumped off, leaving Keitaro dizzy, swaying side to side.
Motoko, who was blushing as deeply as Keitaro, said, "What? You mean…you've all known about us this entire time?" Kitsune cracked a mischievious smile. "Well, not the whole time, sweetie. But let me tell ya, we did have our suspicions towards the beginnin'." The two lovers then looked at each other with a clumsy, embarrassed smile. Then that smile converted into a pleasant one. In front of everyone, they slowly put their arms around each other and shared a long, passionate kiss. Shinobu, her eyes big and shiny with shock, said, "S-S-Sempai is k-kissing an adult kiss?" Naru just folded her arms and shook her head with a smile. Haruka, shaking her head with her, said, "Now that's a sight I'm gonna have to get used to."
"Woo-Hoo! Keitaro go! Yea, Motoko!" Kaolla yelled, cheering them on and poking at Keitaro's side. "Easy there, champ. It's not like you're digging an excavation with your tongue, you moron!" Sara teased. "Alright everyone, lets celebrate!" Kitsune said, pulling out an unusually large bottle of Sake from nowhere. Kaolla and Sara continued to poke at them and tease. The two lovers simply ignored all of them and escaped into their own world. Not after long, the two gently broke the kiss and joined everyone else in a toast to one of the most memorable Christmases to grace the Hinata apartments. From that day on, Motoko and Keitaro had no reservations on openly showing their love for each other, nor did anyone else have contempt for it. One day went into the next, forming weeks and then months.
Now, the cherry blossoms are flying through the air once more as the warm sea breeze has returned to the area. For the month of May has come yet again to the Hinata Apartments. As a result, its inhabitants are a year older and a whole year wiser since the last time it came around. Sitting on the railing of the balcony where the freshly hung laundry dries slowly in the spring breeze, we find Sara and Kaolla idly watching something of interest below in the back courtyard.
Sara, with a smug look on her face said, "Jeez, how long can those two stay at it? One of 'em's gotta come up for air sooner or later."
"I am not sure. Maybe when you kiss like that, you don't need to breathe." Kaolla said, while leaning forward in an attempt to get a clearer look.
They were obviously referring to a certain glasses wearing and sword wielding pair, sitting together down below, on the fine-carved wooden bench of the back courtyard. Motoko and Keitaro had been doing much of this since the outside air had become seasonably warm. They would just sit there together and (for lack of a better word that would come to mind) make-out for almost an hour at a time. At the same time, they would enjoy the spring breeze. Well, maybe. You ask me, I don't think they would notice if bombs were dropping around them.
They had retreated into their own world like they often do, a place where they love to be, more than anywhere else. For it is a peaceful, magical place where it's just the two of them surrounded by whatever they can imagine. Above, Sara nudged Kaolla with her right elbow. "Hey, watch this." Sara picked up a can and threw it straight for Keitaro's head. Sensing this immediately, Motoko sprung to life. Leaving Keitaro's lips and leaping high into the air, she unsheathed her sword and swiped the metal can once. Motoko touching down lightly on the ground, the can landed next to her. Suddenly, the can broke apart into 25 evenly cut pieces as she slid her sword back into its sheath.
"Darn it! Can't have any fun no more." Sara pouted with the snap of her fingers. Keitaro, very confused, said,
"Um, what just happened?"
"Oh, nothing. Just showing a certain blonde-haired archeologist's daughter that she shouldn't interrupt." Motoko said, sitting back down next to Keitaro.
"Oh, I see. She's been doing that a lot lately, huh?" Keitaro said, turning his eyes up to the balcony. Sara quickly ducked her head out of view, whereas Kaolla simply smiled and waved at him saying, "Hello, Keitaro!"
"Heh heh, those two." He lightly laughed, rubbing the back of his head.
Motoko then moved close to him again. "Now, where were we?" She said, as their noses slowly moved past each other. "I think right about here." He said, before continuing where they had left off. Above, Naru walked up the steps onto the balcony to collect the laundry. Setting the basket in her hands down next to her, she turned her head to see the blond-haired pair still looking over the railing. "I bet she can't save him twice." Sara said, picking up another can.
"Sara, Su. What are you two doing up here?" Naru asked curiously. The two quickly turned to
Naru in surprise. Hiding the can behind her, Sara said, "Oh, hello Naru. I didn't see you there."
"You know, Shinobu almost has lunch ready. You two should hurry and wash up." Naru said, taking down the clothes one by one.
"Right, gotcha." Sara said as she made her way for the stairs. Kaolla cheerfully followed behind her yelling, "Woohooo! Foooooood, yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" as she extended out her arms, imitating an airplane. After the blonde duo disappeared down the steps, Naru turned her head to where they were standing. "Hmmm." Without a second of hesitation she ran over to the railing and called out as loud as she could, "Okay you two lovebirds, time to breathe again because its lunchtime! You don't want to make Shinobu upset by being late again!"
Suddenly being pulled back to reality, they broke the kiss and realized what time it was. "Right, thanks Naru!" Keitaro called back. Naru turned back to her laundry and thought to herself, 'Honestly, those two should go and get a room…' her thoughts paused for a second. 'Uh, then again, maybe not.' She then thought after a slightly graphic scene entered her mind. Shaking her head and clearing her head, she went back to taking down the laundry.
Motoko and Keitaro got up from their seat. Motoko straightened her robe to look presentable for the lunch table, as did Keitaro, fixing his hair by brushing his fingers through it. Seeing the result of Keitaro's self-styling technique, she said, "It's still not working for you, Keitaro. Here, let me fix it for you." Using her fingers, she straightened his hair and parted it down the middle. "There. You know, I think I like the way that looks." She said with a satisfied smile. "Thanks, Motoko." He said, returning the smile. "Come on," Keitaro said, taking Motoko's hand and leading her back inside. "Naru's right. We don't want to upset Shinobu again."
Walking along side him, she said, "Yes, I agree. I wonder what she making for us today?"
"I think she mentioned making spring rolls and Somen." He said, almost sounding excited.
"Oh, that sounds perfect for such a hot day like today." She said, feeling the very warm wind against her skin.
"Yeah, I don't think I remember it being this warm last May. But just watch, with my luck it'll cool right back down tomorrow. Heh heh"
The two walked down the halls, heading toward the dining room. Even though Keitaro's mouth spoke trivial things to continue the conversation, his mind was thinking something much different and more serious. 'What am I going to do? Our anniversary is in two days and I still don't know how I'm going to ask her the question. I'm starting to feel nervous just thinking about it.' Motoko started to notice how distant Keitaro had become as they walked further down the hall.
"Keitaro, are you okay? You seem a bit withdrawn." She asked, looking over his expression.
"Huh? Me? Oh, I'm fine. Just can't wait to taste Shinobu's great cooking, hehehe." He laughed clumsily.
"Oh, alright." She said, becoming a little suspicious, but then setting it to the back of her mind.
Keitaro's thoughts continued, as they entered the dining room and even as they sat down next to one another. 'How am I going to make this work? Should I just take her to that restaurant we went to for her birthday and do it there? No! This is important! It has to be special. Maybe I could take her to Kyoto or Osaka. It's so hard to decide. What'll I do?'
Author's notes: To be continued soon. So what do you think so far? I know this has a slightly different feel from my usual writing. I thought I'd try something new by adding a little more comedy. Anyway, this is a continuation on my Motoko/Keitaro Saga, which consists of the two previous stories I wrote, 'Compassionate Swordplay' and 'Love's Sharp Blade'. Rights to Love Hina are owned by Ken Akamatsu, Xebec, and Bandai. So anyway, as of today this is definitely not going to be the last story I write in the series. Yes, the ideas are bubbling to the surface as we speak. Look forward to more and enjoy for now.
And in case anyone was wondering: Somen is a dish consisting of very fine wheat noodles served immersed in cold water with ice cubes and accompanied by sauces and relishes. Perfect for a hot spring or summer day.