New Dreams and New Promises
Ch 4
Meeting the Family
Disclaimer: I do not own Love Hina wish I did but I don't.
Keitaro was awakened by a loud crashing sound. Trying to sit up he found he couldn't move his right arm. In his sleep induced daze he had completely forgotten that he was no longer alone in his bed. He stared wide eyed at the raven haired woman who was clinging to his side.
Tsuruko was trying in vain to fall back to sleep after the loud crash but finally decided she wasn't going to be able to. She noticed that her pillow was a bit warmer than she remembered. It wasn't until her mind finally cleared the last of the cobwebs that she recalled where she was sleeping. Opening her eyes she saw a slightly blushing Keitaro staring back at her. She had to admit he was an excellent pillow. She smiled and snuggled closer to him.
Keitaro completely froze unsure of what to do. Since every time before when he had awoken in the bed of a female he would have his ass handed to him. However this young woman was apparently quiet happy with his presence. He heard a loud gasp and turned his head towards the open door where he saw Kitsune, Haruka, and Motoko.
Kitsune was giggling. "If you were going to be doing that shouldn't you have locked the door?"
Keitaro rolled his eyes and pointed towards the busted lock still attached to the door. Motoko glanced down and blushed realizing that she had ripped it out of the wall. Kitsune roared with laughter at the sight of a slightly embarrassed Motoko.
Keitaro decided to just lay back down and enjoy what he could. Glancing up he saw the piece of wood that separated his room from Naru's wiggle. 'oh shit…' Was all he could think when he saw the wood move revealing the sleep deprived face of Naru glaring down at him.
Keitaro half expected her to jump down and try and beat the crap out of him however to his surprise he saw tears start to fall before the piece of wood was slammed back into place. Keitaro closed his eyes, this was the last thing he had wanted to do. He could hear her crying.
Tsuruko was unsure of what just happened but she could tell it had hurt her husband deeply. She snuggled closer wrapping her good arm about him trying to comfort him. Keitaro felt her slid closer and wrapped his arms about her seeking comfort in her arms.
Motoko had seen Naru looking in and saw her tears before she withdrew her head and slammed the wood back down. She glanced back at Keitaro expecting to see him trying to apologize but when she saw him wrapping his arms about her sister she reacted once again without thinking. Drawing her blade she charged at him.
Tsuruko felt the sudden spike in ki and realized that her little sister had once again misunderstood the scene before her and was going to attack. She let her instincts take over as she quickly removed herself from Keitaro's arms and met her sister's attack head on.
She side stepped the blade and with her good arm quickly seized Motoko's wrist and twisted it causing her to drop the blade she was holding. Dropping down Tsuruko swept Motoko's legs out from under her. Motoko had not been expecting this and when she felt the weightlessness feeling she braced herself just before the hard floor rushed up to greet her she wondered if maybe she was mistaken. The impact caused Motoko to close her eyes and when she opened them again she could see her reflection from her own blade now being held to her neck. She was about to panic till she noticed that the reversed side of the blade (the dull side) was against her throat. Motoko felt something wet land on her face and as she glanced up at Tsuruko as the tears flowed down the elder Aoyamas cheeks.
"I'm sorry little sister but I can no longer stand by and watch you abuse this kind man. If I did I would have no right to be called his wife." With that she stood up and relinquished Motoko's blade.
Motoko slowly stood up and taking her blade sheathed it and walked out. Keitaro quickly moved to the door he slid it shut and then moved back to his wife. He gently guided her till she was sitting down and once more wrapped his arms about her. Tsuruko was once again surprised by his actions but none the less she relaxed and returned her husbands embrace.
…..
It was late morning when Keitaro and Tsuruko finally emerged from their room. Kitsune smirked at them but a warning look from Tsuruko kept her from saying anything. Motoko was no where around and neither was Naru. Keitaro had wanted to talk with Naru since he still did care for her however now that he was married he had to focus on his wife.
Keitaro was showing Tsuruko around the dorm when Haruka caught up with them. "Keitaro we need to talk."
Keitaro felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up and that was never a good sign he glanced at his wife embarrassing her by asking if it was ok, she nodded and Keitaro walked down the hall a ways with Haruka till they were out of earshot of his wife.
"What's the problem Haruka?"
Haruka was silent for a few moments then taking a glance back at Tsuruko who was looking out the window over Hinata she turned back to Keitaro. "Keitaro you are going to have to stand up to Motoko and Naru you can't rely on your wife to do that for you."
Keitaro's shoulders slumped slightly. "I know. It's just so hard I prefer everybody being happy but those two have seemed so bent on making trouble." He turned and leaned over the railing of the stairs to look into the common room. "They have made every attempt to hurt Tsuruko and I will no longer stand for it they can attack me all they want but I will not tolerate an attack on my wife." Haruka smiled as she watched his knuckles turn white as he gripped the railing of the stairs.
Haruka placed a hand on his back and smiled. "Now that is the cousin I have loved so much. Now go be with your wife your parents and I will take care of Motoko and Naru for now."
Keitaro grinned before he turned and started walking back to Tsuruko.
…..
It was later on in the evening when Keitaro found his wife meditating in their room. He suddenly had a funny idea come to him and with a grin he decided that it might be worth it. Getting down on all fours he slowly stalked towards his wife knowing full well that she could sense him since as he drew closer he saw a small smile growing on her lips.
Tsuruko was enjoying the feeling of ki washing over Hinata Sou she nearly missed the appearance of her husband's ki and when he started to stalk towards her she felt his ki take on a playful presence and she couldn't help but smile letting him enjoy the little game. She began to fight the blush that was threatening to spill onto her face as he kept getting closer and closer till he was only a few inches away she couldn't help it feeling his ki this close was about to over whelm her with love and caring he had for her to the point where he almost seemed to made entirely out of it. She felt her face heat up as he leaned in.
Keitaro watched as the blush spread across her face and with a small chuckle kissed the end of his wife's nose and whispered "I got you.". Tsuruko couldn't take it and began to giggle like a school girl opening her eyes she saw her smiling husband.
"You look so kawi when you blush like that Tsu-chan." If she wasn't blushing then she was blushing now. Spirits I had to be married to the one guy who knows how to make me blush so quickly.
Before she could make a comeback to his response there was a rattle from above and the two looked up as Naru peered down at them. "I don't care if you just got married but no hentai stuff while here in the dorm there are children about."
Tsuruko and Keitaro looked at each other and grinned as Naru slammed the lid back in place. "Well that certainly ruined the atmosphere." Tsuruko stated calmly.
Keitaro grinned. "What atmosphere?"
Tsuruko loked at him with a touch of annoyance. "The one I was …." She failed to catch the smirk on Keitaro's face as he leaned back in and kissed the tip of her nose again abruptly ending her rebuttal. As the blush once more spread across her face Keitaro stood and walked out leaving the madly blushing Tsuruko behind."
Once in the hall way his smile vanished and he began to walk towards the room his parents were staying in.
…..
Keitaro was once more making his way down towards his room. His talk with his parents had gone better than he thought it would shacking his head he knocked on the closed door to make sure he didn't walk in at an inappropriate moment.
"It's open." Keitaro felt a smile appear on his face at hearing the sound of his wife's voice.
Sliding the door open he saw his wife perched on the small window sill looking out over the small town. Keitaro stopped and gasped. Tsuruko heard him and turned to look at him with obvious curiosity.
"What's wrong Keitaro?"
"Nothings wrong." He felt his face beginning to heat up a bit.
Tsuruko slid off the window sill and walked slowly towards Keitaro. When she was a few steps away she paused and looked at him. "Are you sure Keitaro?"
"Yes I'm sure. We had better get ready for dinner they will be calling for us soon."
Tsuruko nodded and walked past Keitaro. When she had left the room Keitaro took a deep breath and let out a massive sigh. "I couldn't do it."
"Couldn't do what big brother?"
….
Tsuruko was walking down the hall towards the common room and as she passed the stairs she saw Yuu coming down.
"Tsuruko-san can we speak for a moment?"
Tsuruko nodded and waited till Yuu stepped off the stairs and moved towards the couches. Tsuruko was a bit nervous considering the warning Haruka had given her this very well could be the confrontation she wanted to avoid right now.
Yuu sat down and gestured to the couch across the table from her. "Tsuruko-san I am concerned for my son from the little time I have been with him I have witnessed several attacks on him by Naru and your sister. Attacks that from as far as I can tell are completely unjustified and every one of these attacks which happened in your presence you have defended my son." Yuu stood and before Tsuruko could protest formally bowed to her. Yuu stood up and moved around the table and sat down next to Tsuruko. "Tsuruko I am hoping that I am right that you do care for my son on some level even if it is only a small amount since we know you loved someone else before he fell into your life."
Tsuruko looked Yuu in the eyes and saw the pleading look. 'She is really concerned for her Keitaro, I do really care for him but I still don't know if it is love.' "Urashima-san …" Tsuruko stopped at the look of disapproval on Yuu's face fearing for a moment that she messed up but then she realized how that sounded. "Yuu-san I do care for Keitaro but I cannot say I love him. Over the past couple of days he has shown me so much kindness and love I am overwhelmed by all of it but I made a mistake of falling love with my first crush Tamen-teme and when I married your son that teme attacked me, and I know realize what life with him would have been like. Keitaro is so loving I do not deserve to have someone like him for a husband."
Yuu smiled as Tsuruko finished speaking and glanced towards the stairs and saw Keitaro standing at the top looking towards them with a smile on his lips. Tsuruko blushed when she realized that Keitaro heard everything she had said. Yuu looked towards her son. "Keitaro my daughter in law had better be taken care of as any woman in this family has been taken care of."
Tsuruko turned her head and looked back at Yuu with a surprised look. Then she turned to look back at Keitaro who nodded. "She will be mother that I promise."
Yuu nodded and with a small smile she stood and walked into the kitchen to help Shinobu with lunch. Keitaro moved down the stairs his eyes never leaving his wife's eyes. "Tsuruko I understand that you are not sure yet and I have to agree you are the first girl to treat me with such kindness that I can say I care for you but as to weather or not I love you that still has yet to be decided but for as long as we are married I will do my best to make you happy." As he finished speaking there was only a few inches between them only the couch separated the two newlyweds. Keitaro reached up and gently brushed her cheek pushing the stray lock of hair behind her ear as he smiled. "I couldn't say it earlier but I can say it now. You beautiful Tsuruko so very beautiful your kindness only makes you more beautiful to me. I am happy to be married to you."
Before she could reply to his heart felt little speech the door to the kitchen opened revealing Shinobu who was about to call everybody to lunch but stopped at the sight of Tsuruko and Keitaro sharing an intimate moment. "Ano…I'm sorry sempai I didn't mean to interrupt you and Tsuruko-sempai." The poor girl was blushing a deep crimson and Tsuruko moved off the couch towards the blushing preteen.
"Shinobu-san it is alright." Tsuruko quickly wrapped her good arm around Shinobu and smiled at her. Shinobu relaxed and returned the smile after a few moments.
Shinobu finally calmed down enough to call the rest of the residents to lunch as everyone sat around the table Keitaro once more sat on Tsuruko's bad side to help her out and protect her arm.
Motoko was the last one to enter the room and glanced about and seeing that the only open spot was next to Tsuruko scowled slightly but took the seat none the less. Lunch was awkward to say the least Motoko and Naru were purposefully not looking at Tsuruko or Keitaro and went as far as to ask people on the opposites of the table to pass them the food. This didn't go unnoticed by the residents or the visiting family. Keitaro was looking around when he realized that someone was missing. He quickly glanced at his mother who shook her head at him seeing his confusion. Realizing that his encounter in his room was to be kept from the others disturbed him for only a second till he saw the cold fury in his fathers eyes and realized what was about to happen. Keitaro quickly touched his wife's arm lightly, when she turned to regard him he nodded slightly to his father. Tsuruko was confused she had only seen him in passing but right now he looked very much the warrior. Tsuruko couldn't help but be on guard from the way Rashi was sitting at the table in her mind he looked like a large jungle cat about to pounce on his unsuspecting prey when the moment presented itself.
That moment quickly came as Tsuruko rose from her spot and was trying to gather the dishes that she and her husband were finished with. Motoko saw her rise and pick up the plates and couldn't hide the smile that came to her lips. "So Keitaro has chosen to show us his true colors by making his wife clean up even when she is injured. She deserved so much better than you baka if only she had just married Ushero-sama."
Silence reigned then there was a muffled sob and Keitaro acted quickly standing up and hugging Tsuruko to him as she broke down. It was to much for her to take her own sister said she would have been better off marrying a cold hearted bastard who would have used her for a fuck toy and nothing more, she couldn't take it her heart broke and she clung to Keitaro who was trying desperately to comfort the distraught warrior.
Motoko saw this and quickly stood. "It is your own fault sister if you had only shown more honor than to play childish games you would have married a very honorable man… " she couldn't finish her thought as an overwhelming amount of ki flooded the room. Motoko looked about and saw Subarashi standing up and her eyes widened in fear as waves of ki rolled off of him.
Tsuruko was clinging to her husband feeling the waves of ki rolling off of her father in law. She couldn't make a move to protect her sister and they way Keitaro's arms were wrapped about her she was very loath to leave his embrace.
"That will be quiet enough you impetuous child. We have heard just how great this so called Ushero-sama really is." The name was literally spat out with contempt. Seeing the surprised look in Motoko's eyes Subarashi spoke not even bothering to hide the venom or loathing in his voice. "You who speak so highly of honor has no honor and no right to speak badly of my son and daughter in law."
Tsuruko turned to look at the elder Urashima and saw him nod towards her with a smile touching his lips but when he turned back to Motoko his smile faded and once more the cold warrior was back. "If you so much as speak another lie about my family I will take it as a challenge and show you just how powerful our clan is."
Motoko was shocked to say the least but her damaged pride wouldn't let the matter rest and she got to her feet and tried to meet the upset warriors gaze. "I have ever right to show my disapproval of my family accepting such a disgraceful male into ours we have….URK!!!" Her voice was cut off as a long segment of chain whipped out of Subarashi's sleeve and wrapped around her throat.
Her fingers scrambled at the cold steel links now wrapped around her throat her eyes wide with fear. The entire room was silent as Motoko gurgled trying to get air past the links so viciously wound about her neck. Shinobu turned white in fear but she wasn't looking at Motoko but at Subarashi the normally happy individual looked as if his face had been chiseled from stone neither happiness nor joy could be seen in his eyes he was a true warrior only living in the moment there was no future no past only his opponent. A look of pure rage crossed his face as he spun around pulling the chain and Motoko with it over the table and hurled her threw the door and into the living room.
Keitaro watched as the poor girl landed hard and with a muffled cry rolled across the floor where she lay in a broken heap. Subarashi walked through the broken door and into the living room dragging the chain behind him. Motoko seeing him moving towards her tried to stand but cried out and collapsed back to the floor her arm hanging limply by her side. Motoko looked on in absolute terror as Subarashi's chain seemed to take a life of its own and rise up off the ground and hover over his shoulder like a scorpions tail poised to strike. Keitaro moved past his father and stood in between him and Motoko. A slightly raised eyebrow was his only response.
"Father I cannot allow you to harm Motoko even if she does deserve it she is still a member of this dorm and as her Konrin it is my place to protect her." Subarashi stared hard at his son pride welling up in him when he saw the fierce determination in his sons eyes. Keitaro didn't flinch when the chain slowly receded back into his father's sleeve. Keitaro then turned to Motoko who was holding her left shoulder. "You may be a resident here Aoyama but if you cannot control your temper I will have to consider you a serious threat to the other residents."
Motoko sneered at him. "I wouldn't hurt any of these girls baka my only goal was to drive you out of our lives."
Keitaro grinned down at her. "Well Motoko did you ever stop to think of what would happen if Shinobu happened to step in the path of one of your attacks."
Motoko's sneer fell as she looked across the room towards the busted doorway where the rest of the residents were watching. She stared at Shinobu who was still white with fear from the way Subarashi had so easily dispatched Motoko. Then a voice in Motoko's head spoke up and she sneered at Keitaro. "My attacks wouldn't have hurt her because she is an innocent soul with no evil corrupting her."
Keitaro grinned down at her and Motoko felt her confidence shatter. "But you have already hurt an innocent with your old blade and just so you remember that you are wielding the Hina Blade so yes your attacks would have easily hurt her."
"My attacks would never hurt her even if they were from this blade. I had to make sure you wouldn't molest her again."
Keitaro's grin fell and Motoko for the first time wondered if she was wrong she had never seen Keitaro so upset before but before she could speak another voice broke in. "Sempai would never do that."
Everyone turned to see a very surprised Shinobu. The poor girl was trembling but she took a step forward with a fierce determined look she stared hard at Motoko. "How many times have you attacked Keitaro when all he was doing was helping me or keeping me from getting hurt."
Motoko was shocked that Shinobu was defending Keitaro. "But he was always all over you like the other day I walk in and he was holding you inappropriately."
"You are as blind as Naru you have never asked what was going on, you just assumed that he was doing something wrong and attacked him without just cause that day I slipped and would have hit my head on that cabinet if sempai hadn't caught me."
"He is a male, all males are vile disgusting beings who only want to sate their lust."
"SHUT UP!!!" Everyone looked surprised at that sudden outburst from Shinobu.
"You and Naru are blind you fail to see what Sempai has done you just believe that he is a pervert and wants to sate his lust that is all you see because you refuse to see anything else. Look at what he has done to our home he has kept it clean, repaired, and operational. He has done that with very little thanks and constant attacks from you and Naru because you two cannot see what he has done for you."
Motoko had to stop and think about that her smirk long gone everyone could see that she was frantically trying to find a counter to Shinobu's argument. "He has to do that he lives here that is his job."
"And with the way you and Naru treat him why hasn't he left us no matter how hard you have hit him or how you two have hurt him he still comes back here to a living hell you created for him. All this time he has only wanted one thing even I could see what he wanted he didn't want sex or a woman he only wanted to be loved he has been rejected all his life he had a dream of being with someone who would love him why do you think he worked so hard to get into Tokyo U."
Motoko just stared at Shinobu before turning her head to gaze at Keitaro who wasn't looking at her anymore instead he was gazing towards Tsuruko with a look of yearning. Motoko was about to speak again but Shinobu stepped closer cutting her off. "Motoko all you have done is show that your heart is as dark as that blade you wield."
The color drained from Motoko's face and she looked down at her side where the black blade was still sheathed a look of pure fear spread across her face. She looked back towards Shinobu who had tears rolling down her cheeks. Her mind went blank as she realized all this reaching down on instinct she grabbed the blade and in her mind she heard the demons dark laughter she cried out as she flung the blade across the room before collapsing to the ground tears coursing down her cheeks.
Keitaro took a step towards her only to watch Motoko crawl away from him, her choked cries made his heart ache. True she may have been vindictive and hated him but he could not hate her. Keitaro felt a hand on his shoulder and saw his wife standing there. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears reaching up he covered her hand with his and as one they turned to the sobbing woman on the floor. Keitaro moved closer and caught her before she could crawl away again pulling her into his arms he picked her up in his arms. Motoko felt him pick her up and without thinking she wrapped her arms around him and cried. She could see it all every strike every time she so called punished Keitaro she was the one who was wrong. She felt a cool hand on her forehead and glanced to her side and saw Tsuruko standing there next to her husband.
"I'm sorry sister I have failed." She wanted to say more but Tsuruko shushed her.
"Hush Motoko, you made a mistake but you have admitted it. Now your choice is to stay the way you are or to move on and improve your life."
Motoko could only stare at Keitaro as Tsuruko spoke those words she felt his ki and realized that how wrong she had been, he was no weak, perverted or lecherous man why couldn't she have seen this before. She felt her sisters touch once more and felt her fear and anguish subside. Before she could speak however she felt Keitaro start to move deciding to trust him she didn't speak. Was she nervous yes but if she had misjudged him once then most likely she had misjudged him in other ways as well. Tsuruko followed them as Keitaro moved up the stairs leaving the other residents and his smiling father behind.
Motoko never looked away from Keitaro's determined face as he walked down the hallway, her tears long since stopped flowing only leaving the slight trails as the only proof that they were ever there. Keitaro was surprised that Motoko hadn't even voiced a protest at his carrying her. He could hear Tsuruko moving down the hall behind him. He sighed mentally not realizing that he may have made the wrong choice he only hoped Tsuruko would understand that he only wanted to help Motoko and nothing more.
Tsuruko watched as Keitaro moved down the hall way carrying her sister. She couldn't help it her caring for her young husband only grew deeper. When Keitaro stopped Tsuruko helped him by opening the door to Motoko's room and followed them in. Keitaro knelt down and placed the young woman he was carrying down on the futon. He stepped back and moved to the door turning once more he looked at the two sisters. "I'll be right back."
Tsuruko nodded and Keitaro disappeared from sight leaving them alone. Motoko kept her head down refusing to look at her sister she felt so ashamed all this time she had thought she was doing the right thing by attacking Keitaro yet now she could see that she was doing the worst thing possible. Shinobu was right she could see how much Keitaro just wanted to be loved she remembered how happy he was when she had thanked him for helping her achieve the advanced evil banishing strike. Her mind then brought up the image of the dorms game night it was no surprise that she now saw the pained look in Keitaro's eyes as she and Naru kept him separated from the rest of the group.
Her inner thoughts were interrupted as the door slide open to reveal Keitaro carrying several items. Motoko was surprised and she couldn't hide that surprise as Keitaro placed the items down next to her futon. Tsuruko recognized the jar of salve that Keitaro used on her arm. Keitaro settled himself down and gently gripped Motoko's bad arm pushing the sleeve of her hakem up he saw the slowly forming bruise around her shoulder. Realizing what he would have to do he cursed softly under his breath and looked at Tsuruko who realized what was bothering him. Before any of them could react Tsuruko stepped forward and pulled on the belt of Motoko's hakem and a very startled cry from Motoko as the cloth fell away Tsuruko didn't stop their and eased the cloth off of Motoko leaving the poor girl in only her chest bindings. Motoko turned to glare at Keitaro for looking at her but saw that his eyes were closed Tsuruko moved to Keitaro's side and placed a gently hand on his shoulder. Keitaro opened his eyes and looked up at her and at her nod Keitaro picked up the pain killing salve and placed it over the bruise gently rubbing the slightly pungent stuff on Motoko's arm. Motoko couldn't help but sigh as the pain subsided and she relaxed under the gentle ministration of Keitaros' fingers.
Tsuruko smiled watching her husband work a small blush spread across her cheeks as she recalled his touch. She watched as Motoko was fighting down the urge to strike Keitaro and of course Keitaro the kindest and most gentle young man she had ever met was completely oblivious to the fact that Motoko was sitting in front of him with only her chest bindings around her. Tsuruko continued to watch him as he picked up one of the rolls of medical tape and began to wrap it around the bruise then rub more salve over it. As he finished he then seemed to realize the state of Motoko's undress his eyes bulged out and his cheeks went crimson then just as quickly the color drained from his face as he turned to look at Tsuruko she saw the fear in his eyes as he quickly scrambled out of the room. Tsuruko tried to grab him but he managed to pull from her grasp and disappeared out the door.
Motoko watched and saw the look of grief on her sisters face as her husband bolted out the door for fear of punishment. Motoko gathered her hakem up and with a little discomfort secured the belt back around herself. She looked over at her sister and saw her staring out the door with a pained expression on her delicate features. Motoko realized that despite the fact they were not married under the best of circumstances her sister was falling in love with the young man who was now her husband.
'I have made many mistakes, and it is time I corrected them.' She moved to her sisters side and took her hand pulling her out the door. Tsuruko was about to protest but stopped when Motoko started to speak. "He was afraid you would punish him for seeing me like that since Naru and I would punish him every time he saw us in that state of undress. He only has a few spots he will go to escape us so if we hurry we can catch him."
Tsuruko was dragged along behind Motoko as she was raced down the hall. Motoko lead her to the stairs leading up to the platform where she practiced her katas in the morning but before she stepped out the door she turned to look at her big sister. "Sister I have made a horrible mistake and I need to make amends for it Keitaro will just forgive me it is the way he is but I don't want that so I am asking you to be the one to take my blade." Tsuruko nodded before stepping past her sister and out onto the platform. Blinking as her eyes adjusted to the bright light she glanced about and saw Keitaro sitting on one the roof a short distance away looking out over the city below. She didn't need to be there with him to tell that he was in deep thought. She moved quietly and made her way to where her husband was sitting her skills as a warrior allowed her to approach him without a sound till she was standing right behind him.
"Keitaro?" Her voice was soft and soothing but she still saw the flinch in her husband as he heard her voice. Tsuruko wasn't sure what to do this was something she had never expected to have to deal with. Suddenly and idea came to her and she hesitated for only a moment but she was married to young man might as well enjoy all that the title of wife brings her.
She reached down and slipped her fingers into his hair gently running her fingers along his scalp. She smiled as she felt him shudder slightly her smile only grew bigger when she saw the goose bumps racing along his arms. Tsuruko found herself enjoying this it was fun to see her husband in such a spot she could tell he was enjoying this immensely but he was trying very hard to stay put and not run. He finally got to his feet and turned to face her and without thinking she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss upon his lips she felt him flinch and she couldn't blame him but after a moment he hesitantly started to return her kiss. When the two broke apart their lungs screaming for air she knew her face was equally as flushed as his was.
He froze startled to the bone and needed nearly a half minute to recover and she grinned at his blushing face. After a moment longer Keitaro seemed to rejoin the land of the living. "wow." It was the only word that came to mind. True he had been kissed before but nothing even remotely close to this kiss.
"You did truly deserve that kiss." she said happily but now she froze as she saw his face changing from bliss to indifference. But she had become to know him and saw that he was not indifferent but slightly hurt… at least.
"What? Didn't you like it?" she teased him.
She became concerned as she saw that this comment only deepened his hurt.
"Yes, I did." He admitted, "But, please, don't do it again. I don't want to be kissed in that way, if there are no feelings behind it." he added quietly and turned away.
Her eyes widened in realization as she hesitated she watching as he slowly made his way back to the patio and disappeared from view . He had feelings for her! And she had hurt him, with her meaningless comments degrading the kiss to some kind of payment for his helping.
But what brought her to kiss him in the first place? She asked herself. What did she feel for him? She cursed inwardly. Like him she never learned the true meaning of love.
But she knew for sure, that she didn't want to hurt him she moved to the patio but when she stepped off the roof her legs gave out and she sank to the wooden deck and started to cry..
…..
Motoko had been moving back up the hallway towards the door where she had parted way with her sister carrying what was left of her first blade when she had passed Keitaro at first she was going to present her blade to him when she felt something was off. She watched him move towards her not even noticing her she had only recently delved into his ki and found it to be very happy and upbeat but when she opened herself to his ki now it was filled with sadness and despair. When he passed her by she quickly rushed up the remaining steps and out onto the platform she was about to look about when she heard a chocked sob. She turned quickly and saw her sister slumped against the roof her legs drawn to her chest. Motoko was torn her anger roared to life and she almost ran after Keitaro to punish him for making her sister cry but a small voice in the back of her head stopped her fury cold. 'Are you sure he caused this?'
Motoko moved to her sister's side and settled herself beside Tsuruko and wrapped an arm around her. Tsuruko flinched at the touch and looked up to see her sister the last person she expected to be there comforting her. "Tsuruko what happened?"
Tsuruko sobbed softly she hiccupped trying to get control so Motoko decided to ask questions that her sister could answer by nodding or shacking her head.
"Did Keitaro hurt you?"
Tsuruko shook her head and Motoko sighed in relief that she hadn't gone off to punish him. "Did he say something to hurt you?"
Again Tsuruko shook her head feeling frustrated Motoko decided to try something different. "Did you do something to him?"
Motoko expected her sister to shack her head but when Tsuruko nodded Motoko faltered. "What did you do sister?"
Tsuruko chocked up again and then whispered something Motoko couldn't hear. Leaning closer she finally heard her sister with a look of pure shock she sat straight up then wrapped her arms tightly about Tsuruko holding her as she cried.
…..
Naru had watched the Tsuruko and Keitaro move down the hall carrying Motoko she was furious that Keitaro was getting away with this. She stormed down the steps of the dorm enraged that he had managed to fool Shinobu into believing that he was harmless and now Motoko was fooled. 'There all blind why can't they see that he is nothing but trouble. Can't they see by getting rid of him it will make life better?'
She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she failed to see where she was going she failed to notice the other pedestrians parting before her as if afraid to get to close to the sickening aura pouring of the girl. After what seemed like an eternity her temper had cooled enough for her to look about to see where she was only to find to her surprise that she was on the Tokyo U campus.
"Naru!" She whirled around and saw a dark haired girl running towards her.
"Hey Nazume." She called back as the young woman moved towards her.
"Where were you the past few days you missed school that isn't like you at all?"
Naru smiled she knew that she could tell Nazume anything without fear of it getting out. "Not much just had to suffer through my dorm managers wedding to my friends older sister."
Nazume stared at Naru. "You mean that guy who wears those horrible glasses and had his leg broken at the start of the semester."
Naru nodded. "yeah that's him he some how managed to get this poor girl married to him through on of their families weird traditions."
Nazume stared at Naru. "Your kidding!"
Naru shook her head and gave her friend a very abbreviated story of what happened between Tsuruko and Keitaro, and as she talked the two girls made their way to the campus coffee shop. Their talk turned to more pleasant things and they settled down with their cups of coffee.
Nazume started laughing softly and Naru looked at her. "What's so funny?"
"Sorry I was just thinking of what that Tsuruko woman would think if she knew of her husbands streaking habits and how he likes to flash that teenage girl who lives in the dorm."
Naru stared at her before she started to laugh with Nazume. "Not to mention how small he looked while he was flashing all the girls."
They were laughing so hard they failed to see another student get up from his table and move to the phone near the back wall. He spoke quickly and hurridly into the receiver and after wards hung up the phone with a very satisfied grin as he looked back at the two laughing girls.
Kentaro was happy as he let his plan quickly unfolded soon Keitaro would be removed allowing him to purchase the Hinata dorm and maybe then he will get the girl that had ignored him for such a loser. Yes he was very happy everything was coming together perfectly.