Love Hina: Battles of the Heart
A/N: Nothing much to say but probably very OOC in this chapter... Since FF(dot)net has rejected all of my formatting, I am having to change it all as I re-upload this story. The "Scene Change" has replaced the four asterisks which for some reason no longer show up... ah whatever.
Disclaimer: Guess what, I still don't own Love Hina... bet you didn't see that coming...
Chapter 2: Fight to the Death
Motoko was sat in her room with her legs crossed, staring at the suit of samurai armour. She had been meditating for several hours and had still failed to find peace with herself. Every time she managed to forget about Urashima and Naru assisting her in the fight against her sister, the thoughts of loneliness and jealousy arose like some creature from the depths. When she managed to subdue such thoughts the assistance offered by her friends reared its head and continued its assault. To make matters worse she kept thinking of Urashima in the waterfall... how charming he looked with out his glasses... how kind he always was... and finally how Naru didn't deserve his affections. Such views were tearing her apart. Naru was her friend first and foremost, and Keitaro was just some guy who happened to run where she lived. So why do I keep siding with him against her in my head? Motoko thought glumly to herself.
There was a knock at the door which was less a request to enter and more like a statement of intent. This knock said even if the inhabitant was engaged in pages of Karma Sutra with another person, the knocker would enter, and so they did.
"Motoko, you appear a bit... depressed." Tsuruko sat down beside her younger sister.
"Sister..." Motoko replied blankly.
"Hmm... what is wrong with you?"
"You already know."
"I do?" Tsuruko innocently smiled.
"I lost to you! I and Keitaro would have been wedded if Naru hadn't interfered!"
"So... the way you said that makes it seem like you wanted to marry Urashima."
"What? I... I... oh I don't know how I feel any more."
"Good."
"Good?"
"When I first met my husband I too was overcome with uncertainty. Did I really like him as much as I felt I did, did he like me, did my bum look too big in the kendo outfit I was wearing?"
Motoko chuckled and a bit of the flare returned to her eyes. "You're just saying that."
"No, it's true." Tsuruko eyes glazed over as she strolled along memory lane. "I remember the first conversation we shared."
"What was it?"
"Well. I chickened out asking him his name and ended up asking him the time then complementing him on his choice of watch."
"You chickened out?" Motoko looked at her sister shocked. "But you..."
"Everyone gets scared sometimes. I was just like you are now once. Don't worry; things will work themselves out in the end."
Motoko nodded. The fire had returned to her eyes. "Hey! Why are you comparing me and Keitaro to you and your husband?"
"Well I thought it was rather clever." Tsuruko stood up and stretched. "I should be returning home now. If you ask my opinion you should follow your heart. It is seldom wrong."
"What if others get hurt in the process?"
This time Tsuruko paused before answering. When she finally did respond her face seemed to age several years. "Someone is always hurt in affairs of the heart Motoko. All you can hope is that time heals the wounds." And with that she swept from the room, leaving Motoko with her thoughts.
Scene Change
Keitaro greedily guzzled down the bowl of rice that Shinobu had made him.
"Was that alright Sempai?"
"Oh it was fantastic! Thank you Shinobu!" Keitaro smiled at the blushing Shinobu.
"Oh it was nothing…" Shinobu glanced at her feet going bright red.
"URASHIMA!" a voice bellowed throughout the Hinata inn.
In her room Kitsune looked up from the notes she was making on the back of old racing bets tickets. "Sounds like Motoko's back to her old self…" she muttered to herself, "Oh man… now my plan is useless…"
"Please! Motoko... put down the sword!" Keitaro was backing away from a furious Motoko.
"You took advantage of my depression to peak at my naked body!"
"You weren't naked you were wearing those bandages!"
"So you were looking at my breasts!"
"Sempai! You didn't!" Shinobu turned to look at Keitaro with tears in her eyes.
"No! I slipped and grabbed hold of Motoko's robe and accidentally tore it!" Keitaro's eyes were streaming with tears also.
"Likely story!" Motoko brought her blade down sending a wave of Ki energy at Keitaro.
Well at least she is back to normal, Keitaro's thoughts supplied as he dodged and weaved his way out of the kitchen, evading Motoko's furious attacks, that's all that matters... I just hope I am as invincible as I seem.
Naru put down the book she was reading and glanced at the clock. It was time for her to take a bath. She heard screams in the distance and smiled. "It seems like Motoko is back to her old self." She muttered to herself.
"Beg for mercy worm!" Motoko held the blade to Keitaro's throat.
"Please spare me!" Keitaro breathed out as she lowered the blade. "It is good to see you are in a good mood again." He added as she sheathed the blade. "We were all worried about you!"
"You were worried about me?" Motoko looked at Keitaro.
"Yeah," Keitaro grinned uneasily, "We thought you would do something drastic."
"I constantly endanger your life yet you still care for me..." Motoko's voice trailed off.
"Er... yeah," Keitaro frowned. "You are back to normal right? Motoko..." Keitaro waved a hand in front of her eyes, which had regained the distant look.
"Keitaro... I have something to tell you."
"Yes, what is it?" Keitaro stop waving the hand.
"I just want to tell you..."
"What?" Keitaro responded when there was no answer forthcoming.
"I..."
"You..."
"I... really, really..."
"Hey what's happening?" Naru walked passed them on her way to the hot springs. "Is Keitaro bothering you Motoko?"
"She was about to say something until you interrupted." Keitaro sighed.
"..." Motoko turned pale and froze. Damn... it's hard enough telling him how I feel with just him there... but with Naru as well. And if I don't finish the sentence in front of Naru she will get suspicious, sorry Keitaro but I must do this. "I really, really hate you! You Pervert!"
"What?"
"What did he do?" Naru stuck an arm out and clothes lined Keitaro as he tried to escape.
"He tore my robes off while I was at the waterfall!"
"So that's what has caused your distress." Naru turned to Keitaro, "Get lost pervert!" She yelled as she sent Keitaro flying through the Inn with a well-placed punch. "Well that's him taken care of; you want to get a bath?"
"Er... no thanks." Motoko regained her composure. "I should continue with my training."
"Well... if Keitaro tries anything just kill him." Naru smiled and watched Motoko walk away. She is hiding something... usually she would have just attacked him rather than act so weird and speak to him. Naru thought to herself as she turned and walked into the hot springs. I wonder... if it was something more severe... no who am I kidding. He may be a pervert but even he isn't that disgusting... anyway, Keitaro likes me... Naru smiled at the last thought and stepped obliviously into Suu's trap.
Motoko peered over her shoulder. Naru has gone... now if I am right then Keitaro will have ended up at the Waterfall again... I have to tell him how I feel. She thought as she ran out of the inn and in the direction of the waterfall.
Suu nodded happily as she watched Naru fly into orbit. "The turtle mine is a success!" She declared.
"Ha!" Sara grinned, "That was pretty impressive but I thought you were after the dork?"
"Hmm... oh Keitaro... Do not worry. Keitaro will play with us later! I have a whole rack of toys for us to use!"
"How many of them explode?"
Suu turned to face Sara with a hurt expression. "Pardon?"
"I'm sorry."
"So you should be."
"They all explode don't they?"
"Of course!"
Scene Change
Keitaro clambered out of the pool beside the waterfall and gave a heartfelt sigh. Just once I would like to go a day without achieving orbit... is that too much to ask? Keitaro thought to himself. He sighed and sat down facing the pool. There were the sounds of footsteps behind him.
"Naru?" Keitaro turned around, "Haven't you hit me enough for one... oh Hi Motoko. Listen I am sorry about your robes and everything."
"Please Urashima, it is I who must apologise... because of my cowardice you were attacked by Naru."
"Huh?" Keitaro looked at Motoko. The fire was still in her eyes but this... meekness to her was not part of the Motoko he knew and loved. Well maybe not loved... Keitaro's thoughts amended.
"I wished to tell you something but on Naru's interruption I found myself unable to confess."
"Confess what?"
"I wanted to tell you so much. I have done for a while but I was afraid of the consequences... it took my sister for me to realise what I had to do."
"Oh gods no..." Keitaro backed away. She is going to KILL ME! His thoughts screamed at him.
"Urashima Keitaro." Motoko held her sheathed sword across her palms.
"Please... Motoko..." Keitaro's body froze with fear.
Motoko drew her katana and pointed it at Keitaro.
Naru pulled the weeds out of her hair. She had landed in the forest nearby the Hinata and was angry at Suu's trickery. I'll bet Suu asked Keitaro to distract me so I wouldn't see the trap! Yes it is that lousy perverts fault! If her thoughts were a voice they would be hissing. She raked towards the path when she started hearing voices. Curious Naru crept towards the sounds of the voices.
"Urashima Keitaro." Motoko's voice was clear and cold.
Oh no... I told her to attack him! She is going to kill him! I have to do something! Naru tried to get closer to the voices.
"I..."
Damn! Here I come, Keitaro. Naru pulled herself to her feet.
"Love you!" Motoko screamed.
Crazy Kendo girl says what? Naru thought as she slipped back into the undergrowth.
Keitaro blinked dazedly. "Pardon?" He asked. His throat had suddenly gone dry despite the liberal hydration it had so recently received. Did she just say... no it must have been the waterfall's noise that caused me to mishear... she can't have said 'love'
"I... Love... You." Motoko sheathed her katana and sat down. "There I said it."
"You love me?" Parts of Keitaro's mind had seemingly fused together with shock.
"Yes..." Motoko picked up a stone and sent it skimming across the water.
"Since when?" Keitaro sat down beside her. Motoko's face was flushed but her eyes were full of the fire she had before the fight.
"Since... we first met. I tried to convince myself that this was just a fever... but after the fight with my sister... I felt so alone. You and Naru had each other... my sister is married... it seemed I was destined to be alone... but then I started to recall the time we spent together when we were training. I felt so alive and happy..." Motoko's voice trailed off.
"I see..." Keitaro frowned. "I appreciate you telling me this but... you must know I love Naru."
"I know." Motoko turned to face Keitaro with tears in her eyes. "I know... but I will not surrender. I will fight for you until the end! If Naru loves you then she better start showing it otherwise I will win your heart Keitaro!" The last sentence was barely uttered in more than a whisper but carried the force that Keitaro had come to associate with Motoko's Ki strikes.
"I... don't know what to say..." Keitaro looked at his reflection in the water.
"There is nothing that you need to say." Motoko stood up and turned to walk back to the Hinata Apartments. She stopped directly beside the concealed Naru. "Oh but there is one more thing."
Oh no... She knows I am here! Naru offered a silent prayer to any gods that happened to be listening at the time.
"Please do not tell Naru about what happened. If she is to show you her love then she must do it in her own time, not because she feels threatened by me."
Threatened by her? Hah! Keitaro and I were destined to be... study partners... Naru cursed herself for not being able to admit her feelings to herself.
"Oh and another thing." Motoko stopped closer to Naru now. "Sara has your glasses. She and Suu were doing something to them so I would be careful."
"Thank you Motoko."
"You're welcome Kei-Kun." Motoko smiled and strode away leaving Keitaro and Naru with their thoughts.
Kei-Kun? Was she being serious? Or is this some kind of prank by... Kitsune. Naru smiled to herself. She could easily imagine Kitsune setting this up to get her to confess her feelings. It didn't seem coincidental that the mine planted by Suu happened to send her towards the waterfall where Motoko confessed her love. Kitsune must have got Motoko drunk... and told Keitaro... but wait... didn't you punch Keitaro to the waterfall?
Well... Kitsune must have known I was going to... Naru argued.
Out of the whole selection of destinations where you have sent Keitaro with your fist, Kitsune just happened to know you would hit him here?
Shut up! Naru screamed at herself.
Similar thoughts were going through Keitaro's mind. He could imagine Kitsune pulling some kind of elaborate prank to embarrass him so much he would forget about her overdue rent. Come to think of it how did Motoko know I would end up at the waterfall? She, Naru and Kitsune must have all got together to plan this... oh well ha ha what a big laugh at my expense... Keitaro thought glumly as he pulled himself together and hobbled back to the inn.
Naru waited several minutes before following the other two back to the inn. She had a lot on her mind, trying to bring some kind of common sense, some rationality to a world which had just taken a turn for the pure strange.
Random Daydream #2
There was a clash of blades. The dark armoured samurai parried the lighter armoured one's furious attacks. In a tower nearby a pink dressed figure watched bemusedly.
"You are indeed talented but the princess is mine!" the dark warrior cackled.
"You lowered your guard!" The light armoured Samurai struck how cleaving the armour of the opponent in half, leaving a naked Naru stood defeated.
"I lost... I must now follow your every order and the princess is yours."
In a flash of light the princess appeared in a bright pink dress.
"Oh come on! Whose dream is this?" Keitaro moaned. "Pink is not my colour!"
Motoko removed her helmet. "Come Keitaro. Now nothing stands between us."
"If it gets me out of this dress then sure," Keitaro walked towards Motoko when an earthquake split the ground between them. A large monstrosity towered over Motoko and stood between her and Keitaro.
"MI!" Said the giant Tama. It towered over Motoko and blocked out the sun.
"Be gone giant Turtle!" she bellowed.
"MI!" The giant Tama picked up Naru and Keitaro, swallowing them whole.
"This dream really sucks!" Keitaro complained, and then glanced at naked Naru. "Oh then again..."
"Pervert!" She screamed as they plummeted into Tama's stomach.
"ARGH!" Motoko sat upright breathing heavily. There was no way she'd be able to get back to sleep now. "Might as well get Urashima his glasses and get in his good books..." she muttered as she clambered into her clothes.
