Special 'Thank You' to tsp195, for making me aware of a grammatical mistake :)

So, days passed in the Hinata Lodge. Nothing of much interest took place, and there was a balance in the 'Status Quo' that Motoko had come to expect there. That was, however, except for her. The young woman's mind was abuzz with conflicting thoughts and arguments. There was little she could do about this, except sit back and attempt to unscramble the disarticulated thoughts into something palpable.

It wasn't working too well.

It was in her room, on the day she was too meet with Haitani for their 'Date', that she decided to place them at the back of her mind; to lay dormant there as thoughts of the past once did. She walked slowly to her desk, where she altered the mirror atop it to face her, and proceeded to root through her draws.

"I know there's something...in here" She said, referring to the present Keitaro had gotten her last year. It was a small 'Make-Up' kit, a rather ornate and expensive set; needless to say Motoko had never felt the need to use it.

"Ah!" She said, as she placed the box on the desk. Rather awkwardly, she made a half-attempt at applying mascara and lipstick; but decided against the idea and wiped her face with a nearby cloth.

"Yo Girl!" Came Kitsune's voice, and Motoko turned to her door. Of course, it was already the afternoon, so naturally she was drunk; the beer can in her hand did little to hide the evidence.

"H-hello Kitsune" Motoko replied, trying to hide the make-up "Y-you're already drunk!? It's still early!"

Kitsune smiled and walked sloppily towards her.

"Never mind about me, hun'" She said. "Whatcha doin' with all this 'Sprusing' up?"

Motoko gave up trying to hide them;

"Never you mind!" She said, blushing.

"Aaah, I see!" Kitsune said, her trademark 'Fox' smile appearing on her lips. It was an obvious sign of insinuation. "So, you goin' on a date? I am so proud of you! My little Motoko is finally growin' up!"

"Wha-!" Motoko began. "I-it's not what you think!"

"Oooh, who is it with?! Is it with Keitaro? You gunna' try and steal him off Naru again? I'll help ya out if you are!" Kitsune replied, giggling from influence.

"No! I-if you must know, it's with...H-Haitani!" Motoko said shyly.

Kitsune gave a small look of confusion. "Who?"

Motoko let out a small sigh, and decided not to bother. "Ugh, never mind. Now, could you please get out, and refrain from intruding again. I'm a little busy"

Kitsune smiled once again. "Busy? You mean busy getting ready for your Hot Date? Doesn't matter how good you look, you still gotta make him work for the booty!" She said, grabbing Motoko's shirt and pulling it above her head.

"Ugh! K-Kitsune!" Came Motoko's muffled voice, as she struggled to see again. "Is that all you ever think about!?"

"Ah, whatever!" She retorted, grabbing the small make-up box. "Come on Kendo Girl, let's get you read for this!"

"But I-" She began, but before another word could be uttered, Kitsune grabbed her arm and hoisted her up.

"Ugh, girl; have you put on weight?!" Kitsune said, running to her own room. The captive Motoko said nothing, and just sighed as she was thrown to the floor, as the room owner looked through her own closet.

"Oooh! How about this!?" She said, pulling out a tight leather cat-suit. "Wear this and he'll be all over you!"

Motoko slapped it out of her hands and said; "Kitsune...don't you have anything...A little more...'me'?"

"Hmm..." Was the response given, and after another five minutes of searching Kitsune gave up. "Aaah...Let's go 'borrow' something of Naru's!" She said happily and grabbed Motoko again.

"K-Kitsune! Let me go! I can...get ready myself!" Motoko tried, hands flailing in the air.

"Naaw, you can't!" She said happily, and knocked on Naru's door. "Yo! You in here girl, we need to go through your clothes!"

"K-Kitsune! Can't you be a little more...polite?!" Motoko exclaimed.

"Hmm...Oh that's right, she's out with Mr. Manager at the moment. Come on"

She opened the door, and slid swiftly into the room, Motoko bringing up the rear. 5 minutes later, and Kitsune had trashed the room enough to find suitable clothing for the other girl. Moments later, the pair were in Kitsune's room, a large stack of clothes, bigger than either, stood before them.

A flurry of hands, and one naked Kendo-Girl later, the process of elimination had begun. Dress after garment after fabrics were thrown on, and quickly thrown off after a quick sigh and a 'this won't do!' from Kitsune.

Motoko sighed and look around the room, giving up the fruitless effort of withdrawing, and let the other do her work; the lightning fast hands of Kitsune were little to be trifled with. While she was bustled about, she found herself thinking of Kanako, and the 'odd' dream which she had, and her strange behavior as of recently around Naru. She flushed when she thought of the kiss she shared with Kanako, dream or otherwise and realization crept slowly into her mind.

"Ah! This one is perfect!" Said Kitsune, cutting off her train of thought. She took the dress, and recognized it instantly.

"This...I wore this a while ago, when Urashima first came to the lodge.." Memories of him dressed in it raising the corners of her lips into a smile. Kitsune seemed to be on the same wave-length, as her face crept into a wide grin.

"Remember when you made Keitaro wear this!?" She said laughing, tears coming to her eyes. "Aah, he looked so cute!"

The minutes passed as the two amused themselves with the mental image, and soon after Motoko had changed into her dress in her room; after kicking a slightly drunken Kitsune out. With the light purple and somewhat elegant dress on, Motoko knelt and look in the mirror. The face staring back was nothing unusual. Short, black hair, and a young looking face. Though her eyes seemed different; they were deeper, somehow, almost blank due to her own conflicting and confusing thoughts.

"Could it be..." Motoko said quietly to empty space. "Could it be...that I'm developing feelings for other...women?" Her hand touched her lips, and her mind replayed her dream, over and over. Each time she recalled Kanako's touch, she felt a small shiver up her spine and she realized something.

She had lost what interest she had in Keitaro. She was now in love with his sister, Kanako.

"No! It..It can't be!" She said aloud, her face turning red as she herself knew there was little point denying it. "What will Tsuroko think?! What will everyone here think!? But..worst...How will I tell Kanako!?" It was a Keitrao-like moment, as she flailed on the floor, thinking as hard as she could what to do next. She stopped suddenly when she heard voiced downstairs.

"Oh, hey...You're erm...What was it again?" Said Kitsune, once again forgetting the name.

"It's Haitani! Ha-I-Ta-Ni! Remember it for once!!" He replied. "Anyway, can you tell Motoko I'm here?"

Motoko appeared on the stairs, as if on cue, and nodded slightly to her 'date'.

"H-hello" She said, nervous despite herself. "Um..are you ready to go?"

"Of course! Said Haitani, bowing in a gentleman-like fashion when she drew closed. "You look brilliant"

Kitsune smiled a big grin, and went about her business as Motoko blushed from the compliment.

"Shall we?" Said Haitani, offering his hand to her. She clutched it nervously, feeling smaller than she was.

"O-oh...Erm..Okay!" She said, and the two of them walked off into the distance.

Kitsune watched them leave, grinning her grin still.

"Aaah! My little Motoko has finally grown up!" She said loudly, though there was nobody at the house. "Hmm, but who'd have thought! She likes Kanako!"
She turned away from the departing sun, and flipped on the T.V.

"Aah well, it's none of my business! Now, I wonder if my horse came in today?"