More Trouble in Hinata House
Disclaimer and other bull: Okay, I apologize for the dryness (and maybe poor storyline) from Chapter 1, but as of now I promise it will get better. Also, I do not own Love Hina and am only writing this for my fun and your enjoyment. Enjoy.
Pre-read by Yin-Yang 175
Chapter 2: The DuelIt was a warm, sunny day. Shinobu had decided to take the opportunity to hang up laundry on the balcony. Motoko was also up there, practicing her skills for tomorrow's duel.
"Motoko, may I ask you a question?" Shinobu asked while she hung up a bed sheet.
"What is it?" Motoko replied, feeling annoyed that her training was being disrupted.
"Why don't you like guys? Are you a…" Motoko glared at her.
"How dare you insinuate such a vile thing about me? I simply distrust men for my own personal reason!"
Shinobu looked at the ground. "Well…I was just wondering. You've never explained why you hate Keitaro, so I had just assumed…"
"Do you want to know why?"
"Huh?"
"Do you want to know why I distrust men?" Shinobu nodded. "It is because of my sister. She passed on her swordsmanship to me and ran off with a man to get married. Ever since that day I have distrusted men because one stole my sister away. By the way, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention this to the others."
"I'm sorry, I never knew." Shinobu looked rather saddened.
A smile appeared across Motoko's face. She was glad for her friends at the Hinata Sou, even if they did meddle in her business every once in a while. However, she was not glad for the two strangers who had entered the Hinata Sou. She was determined to defeat the swordsman Phoenix and have things back to normal. She quickly returned to her training while Shinobu finished with the laundry. "Well, I'm done. I'll see you later, Motoko." She walked down the steps, leaving Motoko alone.
Continuing with her training, she pictured Phoenix in front of her. For no reason, her mind slipped and she suddenly imagined him with a warm smile, making Motoko blush.
"What am I thinking?" She slashed out with her sword and immediately dissolving the thought.
***
Meanwhile, while Motoko was training, Phoenix and Yoshi were eating a breakfast that was specially prepared by Shinobu after she realized that neither of them had eaten.
"Thank you, but why are you being so nice to us? The others don't seem too pleased," Phoenix commented, leaning back in his chair.
Shinobu looked at her feet. "Well, I couldn't let you starve and…I really don't mind the extra company, especially if Urashima-sempai let you in."
A small smile creased Phoenix's lips. He looked over at Yoshi, who was completely inhaling everything.
"I'm sorry for my friend's table manners," Phoenix said as Shinobu giggled.
"It's okay, would you like some more?"
"No, thank you, I need to prepare for the duel tomorrow. I just wish that Ms…um…well, I don't know her name, but I wish that she'd be more accepting of us." Phoenix rose from his seat and began to leave the kitchen.
"It's Motoko."
"Excuse me?"
"Her name, it's Motoko, Aoyama Motoko."
"I'll remember that." Phoenix smiled, leaving Shinobu and Yoshi alone in the kitchen.
***
Keitaro, even with everything that was going on, still managed to find time to study. He was alone in his room, testing himself on his English material. He would normally be studying with Naru, but she was royally pissed with him at the moment and he thought it better not to bother her. Then again, maybe she's not that mad he thought, walking over to the hole in his ceiling. He knocked on it twice. "Hey Naru, I'm coming up." No response. "Hm? The cold shoulder?"
Keitaro popped his head through the hole. "Hey Nar…u?" Like on so many other occasions, he'd stuck his head up while Naru was changing. She looked at him with flames surrounding her.
"Kei…tar…o!!!" she shouted in a low, heavy voice. She violently kicked him in the face, which would normally have sent him falling through the hole. However, this time his shirt had caught on the edge of the wood.
"Oh great…" Keitaro muttered as Naru continued to kick him until his shirt finally ripped and he fell back through.
"Pervert," Naru growled, covering the hole back up.
Keitaro moaned, rubbing his back. "Well that really helped things," he said sarcastically, getting up and taking off his shirt. He pulled out a blue T-shirt and put it on just as he heard a knock at his door. "Come in."
The door slid aside and Phoenix stepped in. "Hello, Urashima-san," he said before bowing.
"Just call me Keitaro. What's up?"
"Well, I need someone to train with and since Yoshi is busy feeding his face, I thought you could help me, if it wouldn't be too much trouble." Phoenix indicated the extra sword in his hand.
"You aren't going to hurt me, are you?" Keitaro gave him an uneasy look.
"Now why would I want to hurt you?" Phoenix looked bewildered. "I simply need to practice for tomorrow's duel."
Keitaro decided that he could trust him and agreed to help. Phoenix tossed him the extra sword, which the hilt and sheath were both blue. His sword, Dante's Blade, was black.
"You must be very happy, living in a building full of girls," he said, giving a look of envy. Then, much to Keitaro's shock, Phoenix cracked himself across the head with his own sword.
"What was that about?"
"Well you see, before my grandfather passed away, he told me that my training was complete, except that I needed to learn to 'follow my heart'. I decided that until I figured out what he meant by that I will deny myself sexual pleasures, even dirty thoughts."
"Wow, that must take some discipline," Keitaro mused as they walked down the hallway.
Phoenix shrugged. True, it was sometimes hard to control his urges, but the pain of hitting himself with a solid wood sheath quickly drove away those urges. In all his years of training, he'd never had trouble deciphering his grandfather's riddles, but follow your heart was getting to be a pain. "Follow my heart," he muttered.
"Excuse me?" Keitaro asked.
"Nothing."
Keitaro was beginning to have a high level of respect for him, even if he'd been at the Hinata Sou for less than a day. He knew that he'd never be able to subject himself to such pain and discipline, and that was where the majority of his respect came from. Keitaro then realized that Phoenix reminded him of Motoko, though he was much friendlier. As for his traveling companion Yoshi, well, Keitaro didn't have much of an opinion on him.
***
Phoenix charged at Keitaro, sword raised, ready to strike. Keitaro cowered down and held his sword over his head. When Phoenix struck, Keitaro was sent flying backwards. "You have to fight back, this is training!" Phoenix barked.
Now he reminds me more of Motoko Keitaro thought as he stood.
"Come at me!" Phoenix angrily yelled.
"Huh?"
"Charge at me and try to hit me!"
"O-okay…" Keitaro stammered, running at Phoenix with his sword raised.
Phoenix smirked. He'd hoped that Keitaro would be creative, but this would still work. As Keitaro got within a katana's reach, Phoenix turned his sword blade so that the edgeless side was toward his opponent. He quickly ducked low and took Keitaro's legs out from underneath him, causing him to fall hard on his face. He smiled a smile of satisfaction as he sheathed his katana.
"Thank you for all your help, we'll call it a day," he said as he helped the wounded Keitaro to his feet.
"Yay," Keitaro said, feeling dazed and confused.
Phoenix looked at the sky and watched the sun as it began to set. "Well, we been at it for a while, haven't we?"
Keitaro replied with a grunt. He just wanted to lie down and sleep. He couldn't remember the last time he had taken that kind of pounding…no, wait. He could, but couldn't remember the last time he taken a pounding from another guy. He didn't even realize what was going on until he was laid down on his futon.
"Where…"
"I brought you back here, I guess I kinda went a little too hard on you," Phoenix laughed.
Keitaro wanted to talk, but was just too tired and passed out. Phoenix stood and prepared to leave, but he turned and noticed Motoko standing in the doorway.
Hello there," Phoenix said kindly.
Motoko gave a small smile, that he wasn't sure if he'd imagined it or not. "I observed you training with Urashima. I must say, your skills were very good," Motoko commented.
"Really now? I didn't sense you; guess I was too focused on training. Don't think that's all I've got though because that was only a small sample of my skills." She extended her hand.
"May the best person win tomorrow's duel," she said as he took her hand.
"Well, what brought about this sudden change of attitude Ms. Aoyama?"
" I now see that you are a serious swordsman, and though I may not be happy with your presence here, I have to commend your commitment."
Phoenix nodded, letting go of Motoko's hand. "May the best person win, as you said." He walked past her and out of Keitaro's room. As he left, Motoko looked over at Keitaro.
"I guess serious training is something Urashima is not cut out for," she muttered before leaving.
***
After an extremely spicy dinner (Su had volunteered to cook) and a dash for water, everyone turned in for the night, anticipating the next morning's duel. Haruka had just heard about the duel from Kitsune, and was not happy with the idea. She had marched up to the Hinata Sou and, much to Keitaro's dismay, chewed him out for allowing something like this to happen. He only half listened to her, and when she finally left he gladly turned in for the night.
***
The next day dawned bright and early. The Hinata residents shuffled out to the front of the Hinata Sou to observe the duel. Haruka also showed, though mainly to make sure that no one got killed. Kitsune volunteered to be the referee. "And now, in the right hand corner, the fan favorite, Aoyama Motoko!" she shouted, causing only the girls to cheer.
"And in the left corner, the stranger, Phoenix!" Yoshi jumped and whistled.
"Would the two contestants please step up to me and bow?" Phoenix, who was again dressed in his kimono, and Motoko, who was dressed in her usual attire, approach each other and bow. "Now for the terms of the fight. If Phoenix wins, then he and his friends will be permitted an all expense paid stay at the Hinata Sou. If Motoko wins, they'll be out on their asses. In either case, the loser will do whatever the winner says for a week!"
Both fighters looked shocked. "Wait, how will that work if these two are going to leave?" Naru asked.
"I guess we'll permit them to stay a week to do what Motoko says," Kitsune answered with a shrug.
"Kitsune, those weren't the terms we agreed on!" Motoko said angrily.
"Don't question the ref or you'll be disqualified!" she hissed. "Now, let's start this duel!"
As soon as she said this Phoenix jumped backwards, landing several feet away from Motoko. She decided to use this chance to take the first strike. She drew her sword and sent an air attack at him. As the attack drew near, he quickly drew his sword and deflected her attack. The Hinata girls gasped.
"Did you see? Did you see? He stopped her attack by drawing his sword!" Su shouted.
Motoko charged at him, sword held in striking position. Phoenix quickly did a one armed cartwheel to avoid her attack. However, before he could return to his feet, he felt himself being thrown to the ground. She had quickly performed another air attack on him.
"You are quite agile," Phoenix commented as he pulled himself to his feet.
"Arigatou," Motoko replied as she locked swords with him.
They came very close to each other, feeling the other's breath on their face. Phoenix gave a small laugh, allowing himself to drop to the side, and went into a roll. He sprung to his feet close to Kitsune.
Motoko was caught off guard by the sudden loss of Phoenix's sword and stumbled forward. When she regained her balance, she noticed where her foe was. "That was rather clever," she commented.
Phoenix gave a small nod. He knew that the constant acrobatics would begin to take its toll on his body, but since he was not yet able to pinpoint Motoko's style acrobatic dodging was his best hope. Then, something clicked in the back of his mind. "Gods' Cry School," he said triumphantly.
Motoko looked shocked. "H-how could you possibly know? Seta is the only other person to ever pinpoint my style, and I don't know how he knew so how…"
"I'll explain some other time," Phoenix said, not wanting to waste time talking now that he knew his opponent's style. He knew now how to win. "I think I'll end this duel now."
Phoenix stuck his sword into the ground and began to breath in a slow, constant rhythm. Motoko quickly unleashed another air attack. He looked up and quickly slashed forward with his sword, causing a great eruption of dirt and energy. His attack collided with Motoko's causing a large "BANG", which threw both contestants to the ground. Neither Motoko nor Phoenix moved. "So who won?" Shinobu asked.
"I…don't know," Kitsune said in a low voice. "I really don't know…"
Notes: Yes, yes, I left a cliffhanger. Don't worry, you'll find out in chapter 3 who won. Notice how I set it up so that either one of them could win and my two OC's would still be around. Anyway, does anyone have some good ideas for pairings? I realize the obvious Phoenix/Motoko pairing, but if anyone has Yoshi ideas, Keitaro ideas, or even more ideas for Phoenix, let me know. I like to play with ideas and other people's suggestions, that way the story gets more interesting. Well, until next time then.