Standard Disclaimer
Not much on this end of the internet other than ACEN in two weeks. Hope you're all doing well.
X-X
Or Get off the Pot
Chapter – 3
Sitting around the breakfast table, Keitaro could feel the air in the room get heavier the moment Kitsune sat down. She had chosen to set right next to him and teased him with a light kiss to the cheek as she did. "G-Good morning Kitsune, sleep well?" he managed to rasp out as the other girls gazed on in various degrees of shock. He had written off, mostly, Kitsune's little word-bomb as the effects of the booze, but it still played in his mind.
Loving the reaction from Motoko and Naru, Kitsune was tempted to kiss Keitaro again. "Well I'll admit I hit the bottle to hard yesterday, but after the good news from the doctor I couldn't help myself," she eyed Naru as she spoke. Kitsune could at times be bitter, and when she was for all intensive purposes abandoned by her best friend, it left a very unpleasant taste in her mouth. "What about you, sugar? You look like you're about to faint," she batted at his arm.
"Urashima, control yourself! There are children present!" Motoko yelped at Kitsune's display. While it was Kitsune causing the fuss, Motoko couldn't bring herself to accuse a woman of wrongdoing. Keitaro should have been firmer and more objective to the flirting nature Kitsune was emanating. "It-it is wrong to set such a disgraceful example for them," she tried covering as Kitsune's gaze turned to her.
Well into her fifth post-breakfast banana, Suu's head tilted to the side questioningly. "What is wrong with that? My momma's do that to daddy every morning, isn't it just a greeting?" Suu asked confused. Her parents, and Mol-Mol as a whole, were fairly keen on public displays of affection. If you liked somebody or something why not let others know it? Making one of her trademarked leaps of ideas, Suu's eyes widened and she pointed at the two, "You two played that game together last night didn't you!?"
Dropping her cup on the table, coffee spilling over her food, Naru's face paled. "You bastard! Not even a week after I turn you down you're already chasing after somebody el…se," Naru stopped as her brain caught up with her lips. She had seen Keitaro carrying the unconscious Kitsune to her room last night, and she spied a look on him sleeping from the whole. It was impossible for what Suu had said to happen, and yet she didn't stop to think.
"N-Naru-sempai are you alright?" Shinobu asked as she came back with paper towels. Her frenzied brain was trying to accept what she had just heard. Naru turned Sempai down! That means that he's going to stop…that he and I could… Her face a lovely pink hue, Shinobu was already envisioning Keitaro sweeping her off her feet and carrying her off as he had Kitsune the night before. "And what do you mean 'chasing' after somebody?" she asked as another small pain crept into her stomach.
Sipping her coffee, Kitsune leaned over the table and leered at her friend. "Yeah Naru, pray-tell what are you talking about? I'm just teasing the lug here, and you get all huffy?" Kitsune wanted a little vengeance. Naru was still her best friend, but in Kitsune's mind two wrongs did make a right in certain situations. "And as Suu-chan so elegantly stated, it was all just a greeting and reward for all our charming manager has done for me," Kitsune's tone softened.
Helping Shinobu to clean the mess she created, Naru could feel a returning friend. Guilt was creeping back into her and making itself at home. "I'm fine Shinobu-chan, just didn't get much sleep last night. No Suu I wasn't playing the game," Naru fired off as she saw the excitable foreigner's mouth open. "And what I meant," she glared at Kitsune, "was…nothing. I'm just a little testy right now. Sorry Keitaro," she dipped her head slightly and pulled back from the table.
His heart beating fast, Keitaro didn't know what to make of the scene playing out before him. Naru's accusation left him confused. Since she rejected him, wasn't he supposed to move on, or did she want him to stay alone forever? The two girls, friends, still appeared upset with each other, and the minor fracas only seemed to show more fractures in the friendship than it showed it mending. "N-Naru are you sure you're alright?" he asked his friend with genuine concern.
Watching, mesmerized, as Kitsune and Naru balefully gazed at one another across the table, Motoko didn't know what to do. "U-Urashima is what Naru-sempai said true?" her tone, much like her mind, was unreadable. She was asking if it was true that Naru rejected him. If that was true, technically that meant he was now unattached.
"Yeah it is true, Motoko, I guess besides ignoring her best friend she was avoiding all of you as well," Kitsune answered for the man. "Naru wants more out of life, she wants the world, but you know what? I'm glad for her, go Naru get what you deserve," she hissed. A wonderful idea came to her mind, wonderfully wicked. She was going to drive the wedge between Keitaro and Naru deeper, they could be friends but Kitsune would NOT allow a reversal of Naru's position. "Kentaro's been snooping around you at school right? Said so yourself in the baths last week. Isn't that the type you want? Rich, handsome, and willing to give you all you wanted?" Kitsune also thought the man was a pig, but let Naru simmer in the soup she made.
A lance pierced his heart deeper at Kitsune's little tidbit of knowledge. Patting her shoulder, Keitaro aimed to calm the girl, but also give himself a way out of the room. "Kitsune, I think it would be best if you showed me the place in your room where the breeze is getting in. You can eat after that, and I really need to get started with repairs for the day," he sniffed back hard. Naru was free to do whatever she wanted, and since she was officially out of his reach forever that meant dating whoever she wanted. It just hurt to hear she was contemplating others while his confession had still been on the table.
Standing up, taking Keitaro's offered hand, Kitsune fired one last scoff at her friend. "Why thank you, Kei-chan, glad to know I have somebody in this place that cares about me. I mean it's not like my best friend just abandoned me after I had a life altering experience!" she sheathed. Her body pulsated with rage, but she didn't have an outlet for it. Keitaro saved her again though from making her little joke from doing irreparable damage. Once they were out of the room, she put her hand to her face and asked, "I went to far didn't I?"
Nodding as he followed behind her, his eyes straying a bit south of the border at the hypnotic sway of the lovely peach, Keitaro had to agree. "Your teasing was a bit much for her right now, me too for that matter. I almost choked when you kissed my cheek…so um…could you not tease me to much right now? I think both Naru and I are a little testy. But is it true? Was she thinking about Kentaro like that?" he could help but ask. He had to know, was his confession doomed from the start?
Wanting to tell Keitaro that she hadn't been teasing him, that she genuinely cared, she didn't want her confession to be stemmed from an argument with Naru. Leading Keitaro into her room, she gestured to the window sill where they both could see the blinds blowing. "Y-yeah Keitaro she did say something like that. I don't know her feelings about the guy, but she did say he was snooping around her again," she wouldn't lie but she could say things that Naru had tried hiding. "And thanks for stopping me back there from going to far," she fell back into her futon.
Running his finger across a slim break in the wall, Keitaro sighed heavily. So it wasn't as bad as he initially thought, but that didn't make the fact any less painful. He'd have to sit and watch as Naru did find somebody eventually. He'd watch her fall in love with some other guy, and he'd be alone. "I'll get some caulk and fix this, and don't mention it Kitsune. I'd hate to see your friendship ruined because of what happened," his shoulders sank as he left the room and headed to get his tools.
X-X
Watching the other students running around and simply enjoying the reprieve from study, Shinobu dabbed her forehead with a cloth. "I wonder if I'm getting sick or something," she mused as she picked at her lunch without much appetite. Her stomach ached and she felt feverish, but it wasn't a major distraction. "Did you want my lunch, I'm not that hungry?" she asked the one classmate that she was on better terms with.
Aya's nose wrinkled up and she shook her head, "If I eat much more I'll get fat." The red-head hated to admit it, but she'd been gaining a bit more weight than she wanted to. "Any reason you look so happy today?" Aya asked leaning over on the table to get a better look at Shinobu's face. Shinobu was just too cute in Aya's eyes, and the teen knew someday her friend was going to be a real heart breaker.
Blushing ever so slightly, Shinobu fumbled her hands over each other and averted her eyes. "Well I don't know if I should feel happy about what I am so I'm a little upset with myself," she mumbled. It was wrong to feel good about Keitaro being rejected by Naru, she could see it upset him. But if Naru turned him down it meant he was available! "You know my dorm's manager right?" she asked hoping Aya remembered Keitaro from one of the few times she visited the dorm.
Popping a piece of broccoli into her mouth, Aya tried to recall the man. "He was then nerdy looking guy with thick glasses right? The one that tripped and touched that brunette's chest right?" Aya asked picturing the scene. It was a standard Keitaro incident with Keitaro tripping on a power cord and planting his hand on Naru's left breast. "What about him?" Aya asked knowing that Shinobu had more than a pacing fancy for him. Shinobu talked enough about Keitaro to show she was a little enamored.
"He is NOT nerdy looking!" Shinobu shouted suddenly and unexpectedly angry at the comment. A rush of heat permeated her body as Aya quickly waved her hands defensively at her. "S-sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, just feeling a little icky today is all. And yeah that is Sempai," Shinobu tried to smooth things over. Taking a sip of her milk, she had heard drinking milk would make her breasts grow, she turned her head at the sound of a loud ruckus. Suu was coming.
Thinking she knew what Shinobu's problem was, she had the same a month ago and would likely again in a week or so, Aya let the event slide. "It's no biggie, anyway what about that guy?" Aya questioned as she spied over Shinobu's shoulder to see Suu flying towards them on one of her inventions. Aya liked Suu almost as much as she liked Shinobu, but some of Suu's excited energy made it harder to get to know the girl.
Feeling more depressed with herself for enjoying Keitaro's suffering, Shinobu felt a stinging sensation in her eye. "Well, the girl he confessed to rejected him. And while he's upset about it, I'm glad. Naru-sempai is always treating him so badly, and I just…I just think he can do better," Shinobu said with full conviction. She would have died of happiness if it was her, but Shinobu like Mutsumi wanted Keitaro happy.
Before Aya could comment on Shinobu's strange confession, Suu crashed the party literally. Flying her hover rider into the table, Suu proceeded to send the girls' lunches scatting across the floor. "Oops, sorry about that I haven't worked out the speed controls yet," Suu announced with a mighty smile that made being upset with her impossible. Helping her friends clean up the mess, Suu leaned in close to Shinobu's ear, "I learned more about the game Kitsune played the other day!"
"Game? What game?" Aya asked as she brushed some stray rice off her uniform. Being observant, Aya had noticed Suu was quieter than normal the past few days. She watched Suu going from girl to girl asking questions in secret, but didn't want to pry. "Why didn't you tell me about this Shinobu?" Aya giggled and tickled Shinobu's side.
Squirming against the two front assault, Suu's face was pressed so close and now Aya's tickling, Shinobu fought to escape. "S-Suu is fixated on some game Kitsune-sempai played in her room a few nights ago. She sounded like she was having a lot of fun, but sounded really winded too. Like she was playing that game where you step in tune to music," Shinobu squirmed away from the onslaught. "I didn't say anything because I didn't think it mattered, not angry are you?" Shinobu had so few friends due to her timid personality she'd hate to lose Aya.
"Of course not, but now I'm interested, what did you learn Suu-chan?" Aya quipped as her excitement bubbled over. Adult games were always so interesting to teenagers, it offered a glimpse into the future where they got to have all the fun adults did.
Waving the two co-conspirators in closer, Suu donned her Sherlock Holmes hat and proceeded to put her mock-pipe into her mouth. "I asked the older girls and they had a lot of answers for me. They said what Kitsune was doing was sex! They didn't say what it was other than it's what a guy and a girl do to have a lot of fun together," Suu's excitement was contagious. She had heard the word before, but didn't know what it entailed. Back in Mol-Mol she had once asked her sister Amalla about it only to see her sister run away.
Gasping loudly, Shinobu pulled away from the other two girls. "Isn't that the thing they talk about in movies and television all the time? What couples do with one another?" Shinobu's face was alight. Like the other two, Shinobu hadn't been enlightened on the facts of life yet, so was mesmerized by the mystery. "So you're saying Kitsune-sempai was having sex with somebody that night…but we never saw a guy," and she had seen Keitaro so it couldn't have been him.
Grinning from ear to ear, Suu was proud of her sleuthing skills. "I asked them about that too…apparently you can do it by yourself! They didn't tell me how, but we can ask Keitaro when we get home all about it! They can't keep the fun to themselves anymore!" Suu beamed. Everything was falling into place and nobody would stand in her way! She was going to learn what exactly happened, and then she'd have all the fun too! But first, "Oh you're not eating? Can I have it?"
Sliding the now messy lunch box to Suu, Shinobu smiled softly. "Go ahead, I wasn't hungry and I hate wasting food," she admitted. Her stomach didn't hurt as much anymore, replaced with a strange warmness and an odd giddy sensation. Sex. It was a strange word, had strange powers over children that didn't know about it. She fantasized about it, without knowing what it was. But if people who loved each other had it, she could imagine Keitaro and her doing it!
"I'll ask my sister about it when I get home today too," Aya added to the forum. "She's had a boyfriend for two years now, so I'm sure she knows about it," Aya hoped to help Suu and Shinobu in their quest. Checking her watch, lunch was almost over, she stood up, "Well we better get going back to class or the teacher will really be upset."
Pouring Shinobu's lunch into her mouth, Suu handed the empty box back and patted her stomach contently. Spitting out bits of food, "This will teach them from trying to hide things from us!" The innocence of childhood was rushing Suu and Shinobu towards the realization of life and the reality of things. The age of hormones and puberty was coming upon them, and Suu was rushing towards it with reckless abandon.
X-X
Her fingers danced furiously over her keyboard. Words streamed from her brain reverberating with the clacking of each key. Her brain was burning, and Kitsune loved it! The sensation she got whenever she had a good idea for a story or article was such a rush, and her recent changes in life fueled her artistic side like never before. "And done!" she cheered as she finished what was to be her best piece to date. Leaning back in her chair, the afternoon sun poured through her window surprised her, it had been noon when she started. A knock on her door further jostled her mind, "Doors open, come on in," she assumed it was Keitaro.
Sliding the door open, Motoko could see the shock on Kitsune's face as she entered. The sword maiden couldn't refute that her previous actions did cast her in a poor light, but Motoko was going to correct this. "Is now a bad time? I have been listing to you type, and when you said you were done I thought…" Motoko felt fear when looking at Kitsune. Not fear of being disliked, but a fear of life she refused to accept.
Spinning in her chair, Kitsune pointed at her futon, "Have a seat. Looks to me like you have something you want to say to me." While Naru was expected to have come to her aid, Kitsune couldn't hold Motoko to the same standards. Kitsune didn't now Motoko nearly as well as she did Naru, and as such couldn't hold a grudge against her. But with her self-admission of liking Keitaro, Kitsune was going to try and help the man in all ways. "So what brings you to the fox den?" she asked as she turned back to her article.
Eying the mattress with disdain, Motoko considered sitting on the floor rather than the contaminated fabric. It was on that futon that Kitsune had performed the deed that left Motoko's mind so disquieted. Taking a deep breath, Motoko sat down as instructed, doing so as a start to repairing the damage she had done. "For starters, I wish to apologize to you for my actions lately. Upon seeing you and that…male…together I will admit I was confused," she set her sword, Keitaro's blade, at her side and shut her eyes waiting for Kitsune's reply.
Her hand reaching for a water bottle, Kitsune stalled at hearing Motoko. "Apologize? Wow, have to admit I didn't expect that coming from you," the fox smiled warmly and finished her journey towards fluid intake. Taking a mighty drink, Kitsune wiped the runoff on the back of her hand. "Before I answer I have to ask you this. Keitaro isn't putting you up to this is he? Trying to smoothing things out between everybody?" she wouldn't have put it past him.
Her mighty ebon hair twirled as she shook her head, "No, Urashima did not request this. I have found myself ashamed of my actions and came to you to seek your forgiveness. Your actions are your own, and while I may not agree with what you have done, I have no reason to treat you differently." She knew when she was wrong, and Motoko didn't like how she felt regarding Kitsune.
Turning back to Motoko, Kitsune for a moment lost her ability to speak. Seeing Motoko bathed in the sun's light was a captivating sight. The black tresses captured the light and shimmered majestically, the way Motoko's garb hugged against her body gave Kitsune a glimpse of the ample figure beneath, and Kitsune recognized Motoko as a rival. "Well I'll forgive you, on the condition that you try thinking more before you act. Not just in relation to my throwing my virginity to the wind, but with your 'pervert punishment' as well," it was a small step towards repaying Keitaro's kindness.
The stoic warrior softened for a moment and smiled in relief. "I believe I can do as such. I regret my hasty actions at times, so that request goes along with my own wishes," Motoko wiggled a little as the next issue she wished to know popped in her mind. "May I inquire on to something else?" she asked the writer. Seeing Kitsune roll her hand over her voice lost its majesty as she asked, "W-what was it like?"
Stunned, Kitsune pinched her cheek to insure she was awake and not dreaming this surreal event. "Are you asking me what it was like to have sex?" she couldn't believe it. The man hater, the woman that thought an accidental grope was paramount to sexual assault was asking her what it felt like to actually do the deed! Motoko's shuffling answered the question for her, "Well I don't know how good it felt, memory is hazy as hell from that night. All I can really remember is walking was a real bitch the next day. My dear Kei-chan's battering ram destroyed the front gate as he pillaged the castle," she joked.
Her eyes fluttered at the rather whimsical explanation of the events, Motoko coughed loudly as the shock worked through her. "That was somewhat poetic way of saying the man defiled you. But I must say if you are still in pain I have some salves you might use," though Motoko wouldn't help in the application of it as that wasn't something a warrior wanted to touch. "How do you feel…emotionally about the events with the male?" she couldn't stand to say his name. While Keitaro was a man growing in standards in her mind, the other was a wretch that wasn't worthy of a name.
Smacking her stomach lightly, Kitsune chuckled. "I'm fine now, a dip in the onsen was like heaven. And I wasn't defiled or violated or any thing else. Even though it was a mistake I walked down that path voluntarily. Emotionally however," Kitsune's head craned back and she gazed up at the ceiling. "That still hurts. I felt stupid the first day, horrified of being pregnant the next, and now with how things are with Naru and me a little lost," she confessed.
"You two did seem rather animated this morning over breakfast. Had Urashima not acted things might have escalated," Motoko was loath to admit again she was in Keitaro's debt. Anybody could see a brewing fight, but she only watched while Keitaro doused the flames of hostility. "If it is not too much to ask, could I inquire as to why you…why did you do such an act with a stranger?" her mind kept going back to sex. It wasn't that she wanted to have it, but it was an annoying itch she couldn't get ride of.
Finishing her water bottle, Kitsune wanted a drink so bad now but she was going to try and scale back. "For a prude you like asking me about sex, Motoko-chan. But then again who else are you going to ask, Naru sure isn't getting any," Kitsune spat out. Sighing, Kitsune was to far vested into the conversation to back out now, and if she couldn't admit it to another girl she'd be just like Naru and running from it. "I thought the guy at the bar was Keitaro," Kitsune saw the subtle change in Motoko's demeanor from interest to shock.
Nobody wanted to know they had a rival for the person they might love.
"Urashima, but a woman of your qualities could have any number of better men," Motoko tried deflecting. Nobody would confuse Motoko for a woman with a lot of experience judging men on their virtues. "W-why would you wish to engage him in such acts?" her mind filled again with the mental projection of Keitaro claiming her the way the stranger had Kitsune.
Patting Motoko's shoulder, Kitsune opened one eye fully and bore down on the would-be samurai. "Keitaro is a man that none of us are worthy of, and you know that my dear writer," she slipped Motoko the hint. Kitsune wasn't going to hide her feelings much longer, and she wasn't going to let Motoko sneak up on her unprepared. Expose Motoko and get the battle started in earnest rather than inefficient subterfuge. "And while he isn't the softest on the eyes, even you have to admit he can be cute at times," she grinned sheepishly.
Having her secret so painfully exposed, Motoko didn't know what to do. Kitsune was holding all the cards, and Motoko wasn't skilled in mental combat as the fox was. "I see my stories have more than me as a reader. I admit that part of me is confused by this because of that. I will not lie, as you know the truth that my feelings regarding Urashima have changed over time and yes he can be…cute...at times. Though I do not know the true depth of my feelings," she lowered her head. "Might I ask what you thought of my stories?" she asked as any author wants to know how their stories are received.
Reclining back in her chair, Kitsune was stunned at the admission. She had thought Motoko would deny it, cover up her feelings as Naru had, but no. Motoko was going to be a legitimate threat. "Well they started off being really robotic. I doubt anybody had sex like you wrote. But after the protagonist changed it became pretty steamy, more so than I thought you capable of. Though I have to question why none of the 'noble sword maidens' were ever virgins," Kitsune recalled never reading of bloody sheets.
Releasing a breath she hadn't voluntarily kept, Motoko adjusted her legs as they started going numb. "That is because I will never know what that feels like," Motoko clenched the Hina blade tightly. "All women of the Aoyama clan, upon aging enough that it will not be a threat, have their hymen ruptured by the matriarch of the clan. Being trained in the art we cannot allow for an accidental tear to cause an accident in battle," but as her sister confessed it did take something away from their feminine side. It was the price to pay for honoring the ancient ways.
"Damn that sucks," Kitsune slipped out. Ancient ways were abolished because they were stupid. A feeling of sadness overwhelmed Kitsune upon hearing Motoko's little narration. She had dreamed as a younger girl of giving herself to the man she loved, not some drunken fool, but she at least could dream. Motoko had that dream taken from her because of family tradition she was born into. "I guess things are never as easy as we think they are, are they?" she asked the woman before her. A woman Kitsune saw in a new light.
Getting to her feet, grabbing her beloved sword, Motoko turned her back to Kitsune. "No, it never is a simple matter. Again I wish to apologize for my actions, and I wish you well," but she would not wish her luck with Keitaro. Motoko had her own plans for Keitaro and it would start with her asking if he wanted to train with her in the mornings. During the battle with her sister he proved very capable, and she could use that as a guise to getting to know him better, and to know her own feelings.
X-X
Supper was strange, Keitaro thought. Kitsune grabbed her plate and retreated to her room to eat in peace. Afterward Motoko abruptly fled the group leaving just the younger girls and Naru with him at the table. He was getting better at talking to Naru again, but he doubted it would be anytime soon that they returned to the natural way of talking. Once he finished his tour of duty on dishes he retired to the common room with one of his study aides only to have Naru plop down on the couch to watch television.
The atmosphere was thick, but not wholly unpleasant. The peace was not to last long however, as Suu came into the room with Shinobu in tow. Suu's expression promised horrible things to those that knew her, she was bouncing on her feet and her eyes wide and showing excitement. It was a bad day to be in her path. "Keitaro! Shinobu and I have a question for you! Naru can help you answer if you need help or don't know all the details!" she proudly announced as she sat down at the foot of the chair Keitaro occupied.
Absently gazing at Naru as the college student flipped from a cooking show to a drama, Shinobu sat down next to Suu. "If you're not busy that is, Sempai. Suu-Suu has something she wants to know," she gushed. She wanted to know too, it was something of a mystery amongst the other students, but she was to shy to ask herself. Sex was one of those topics she was afraid of, and with only Aya and Suu talking to her at school the issue never came up till now. The darker recesses of her mind kept reminding her that in two months her class was up for sexual education, not something she looked forward to. That and an embarrassing call from her mother warned her that any day now she could have her first visit with adulthood.
Shutting his book and putting it on the stand by the chair, Keitaro should have known better than to agree to anything from Suu when she looked like she did. "Sure, what's on your minds?" he never wanted to push them aside. They were charming young women, and Keitaro always wanted to help when he could, but this time it wasn't a smart move.
Turning to Shinobu, Suu nodded quickly before facing Keitaro with that lovable yet insane smile. "What is sex really?" she asked innocently enough. Suu had her own beliefs but never substantiated it. It was never something she cared to know about before, so she paid it no mind. When she had her sex-ed class she made a mecha-tama as it was more enjoyable for her. Plus if it wasn't for Motoko forcing her, she would never use a tampon for her monthlies. The moment the question left her lips however, Suu could see Keitaro's complexion change from normal to ghastly pale and his eyes darted around the room finally settling on Naru.
"W-w-why are you asking about that for?" Keitaro screeched out in tones typically reserved for women. He knew Naru heard the question, the remote falling to the ground was evidence enough of that, but her reaction was unreadable. "D-did somebody put you up to asking me that? It-it-it's not something you should be asking me about, right Naru?" he pleaded to the only other adult in the room.
Swiveling on the couch to face the teenagers and the man, Naru's face was a blank slate. "Yes, why are you asking HIM about such things, Suu-chan? He hasn't been doing things with you has he?" she could feel her anger growing. It was unreasonable, likely a misunderstanding, but Naru couldn't contain herself. She envisioned Keitaro doing something unsightly to Shinobu or Suu and them hearing the word for it and coming back to him. Cracking her knuckles she slide down closer to Keitaro's end.
"No he hasn't, but nobody else answers my questions besides him, so why shouldn't I ask him?" Suu stated plainly. Keitaro was always going out of his way to help her, and Suu loved the man like he was truly family. He played with her, answered her crazy questions, and let her play with toys that most nations would pay millions for. "I asked the girls at school about games adults play at night and they said it was sex! So I want to know what it is so Shinobu and I can play it, I'd even want to with Keitaro!" Her parents had sex and they loved each other, why couldn't Keitaro and she?
Acting again before her mind had the chance to tell her not to, Naru launched into action. "YOU PERVERT!" she roared as she applied fist to face and sent the poor man bouncing out of the dorm and into the night sky! Her fist smoking, Naru turned back to the newly formed teenagers, "Never, and I mean never do such a thing with that pervert. Do you hear me? If he tries it you kick him right between the legs and yell for one of us, understand?" Naru put a hand on each girls shoulder.
Her hand formed a fist as she brushed off Naru's hand. "Naru-sempai why did you hit Sempai for what Suu said? We just want to know more about this besides gossip! That was such a mean thing to do," she finally did it! She stood up to the abuse her beloved Sempai received for things that weren't his fault. Tears forming in her eyes, "Suu-chan asked him because we knew he would try and help us, if we asked you I bet you'd have brushed us off or told us the same thing the other kids say!" she half-shouted.
Realization dawned to late again in Naru's mind as Shinobu's simple words rang like church bells. Shinobu was right, whenever Suu asked her bizarre questions the other girls and she brushed her off or told Suu they were busy. Keitaro however tried answering them. Suu didn't know what she was saying regarding sex, hence the question, and yet she launched him again. She was no better than before, abusing the man she said she wanted to be friends with. Keitaro deserved better than her, and she knew somebody that would fit the bill, as much as she was reluctant to facilitate Mutsumi into action.
Her body shuddered, Naru reached in and hugged the reluctant Shinobu. At first she felt Shinobu resisting and fighting back, but eventually the blunette relented. "I'm sorry, Shinobu. I really am. I just heard Suu-chan's question and then her statement about Keitaro and I couldn't stop myself," Naru felt herself starting to tear up. "You know we act this way because we want to make sure you're safe. If Keitaro was doing something to you and we didn't stop him we'd never forgive ourselves," but that didn't let Naru off the hook for attacking.
Suu's finger was pulling down her lip as she watched Keitaro get punted and Naru's admission. "Was I not supposed to ask about it? Was I bad?" she didn't want Keitaro to get hurt. He was invincible, but she didn't like seeing the unneeded punishments of her beloved quasi-brother. "I didn't mean to do wrong," she looked like a scolded kitten. She was just enthralled by her new passion, albeit a strange one. It was finally a topic Suu wanted to know more about, and thought Keitaro would be a great starting place.
Bringing Suu into the hug, Naru clutched their heads closer to hers. "No Suu-chan you didn't, and we'll fill in the gaps about it for you two, but just not right now alright?" she apologized as she hugged the teenagers. So much of Keitaro's punishments came due to Shinobu and Suu. Everybody wanted the younger girls to have the best lives possible, and they feared something traumatic happening to them. Naru knew Keitaro would never hurt the girls if he could help it, but the fear was so paralyzing that she couldn't help it. She feared for herself and the others, and that fear was unwarranted with Keitaro but she just couldn't think some times.
Wrapping her slender fingers around Naru's waist, Shinobu could tell that Naru meant well this time, unlike the others. "Naru-sempai, just try thinking next time please? Sempai doesn't deserve what happens to him, so please…" she buried her face in Naru's hair and just let the moment continue. It was time to put a stop to the abuse. Calling a spade a spade meant accepting the truth that Keitaro was being abused by the hands of the residents of the dorm. If Naru was serious about making sure those who lived at Hinata were safe and protected that wish had to extend to Keitaro as well.
Eventually Keitaro walked back through the door with his goofy smile on his face and found the girls still hugging. "I take it things have been smoothed over?" he asked having forgiven Naru for the punch. He had to admit Suu had presented a loaded gun with her statements, and he couldn't fault Naru for her lapse in judgment. Keitaro had expected Shinobu one day to ask Naru or Kitsune about the topic, but for it to come from Suu puzzled the man. But then again Suu was never one to shy from shocking anybody.
Pulling away from the two teenagers for a moment, Naru turned to face Keitaro while still holding the girls. "Yeah and I'm sorry, Keitaro. Sorry for a lot of things, and we can talk about it later. But yeah I'm sorry for so much," she turned back to the girls and with one last umph let go of them and got up. She would try her best to make amends for her aggressive nature, but it would take time and likely more love taps.
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Notes
As you can see I'm not going for the standard 'lets hide our emotions from everybody' story because I don't think life works that way. People are more open about things when they want something. Hope that makes sense…oh well hope you enjoyed.
LATER!
PS
I've gotten a few PM's about Shinobu and Suu not knowing about sex being confusing. I was going to address it in later chapters but I'll put a small blurb here. I'm using the ages from the Manga meaning Shinobu just turned 13 and Suu…well Suu's brain doesn't work normally. So if it bothers you, sorry it is going to be address, if not…you'll get to see the results later anyway.