Standard Disclaimer

Ew the pool hasn't been cleaned or had chemicals put in it for a few days and now its all…just ew. Anyway this story is up on the docket for today and I hope you're ready for it.

X-X

Or Get Off the Pot

Chapter – 6

It wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to envision Keitaro being off his stride as he gazed across the lawn at his opponent. The cold fall air was sucked in and expelled in huge puffs, but his mind wasn't on martial arts, it was on feelings. Motoko's words the previous night continued to reverberate in his head warring with the knowledge that he was supposed to fight this woman. How could he attack, even in practice, a woman that might care for him?

Seeing her opponent distracted, Motoko's honed skills took over and she leapt at the chance. Darting in close to the man, Motoko spun around, unintentionally rubbing her derriere against his groin, grabbed his limp arm, and flipped him over her shoulder to the ground. "If you are not concentrating you will not be able to improve, K-Keitaro," her tone wasn't the harsh task master it had been the day before.

Gazing up at the beauty standing above him, Keitaro bashfully averted his eyes from the view Motoko didn't know she was offering. So she does where white panties. He tucked that tidbit of knowledge away in his mental safe for later. Taking her extended hand, he pulled himself back to his feet. "Sorry, just a little hard to concentrate after our talk yesterday. I know this is only a spar, but…" he trailed off fearful of Motoko's reaction.

"You cannot attack me because of my feelings for you?" Motoko parroted. Turning to face the inn, Motoko's hand went to her chest and grasped the fabric. "While that is a noble sentiment, if you cannot so much as protect yourself due to my feelings then our training has ended," she took two large strides away from her pupil. "Is that what you are trying tell me, Keitaro, that you wish to end this morning ritual?" she gazed over her shoulder at the stunned man.

Almost running to Motoko's side, Keitaro's eyes were wide with panic and his hands flailed about madly. "No-no-no! I'll try harder, and I don't want to stop this. It's great exercise, and I…well…we never spent much time together before this…I sort of like it," he rubbed the back of his head nervously. Maybe he said to much, exposed too much of his inner feelings regarding his teacher, but Keitaro really did enjoy his time with Motoko. Even if it did often involve him getting a sound beating.

Picking up her cherished blade, Motoko smiled secretly to herself as she did. "Be that as it may, I believe today we'll end early. Your mind clearly isn't focused on sparring. But I will not lie, mine isn't as well," sure turned with an uncertainty that seemed out of place on the graceful warrior. "I'll go so far as to say I agree with everything you said. I found myself less willing to harm you after my confession," she shuffled her feet and mumbled.

She was so cute! Her bashfulness and uncertainty just melted Keitaro's heart and he wanted to hug her. Knowing he'd get propelled out of the time zone if he did, though, kept the man's desires at bay. "I…I've something I need to tell you, Motoko-chan, and I hope it doesn't upset you to much," he forced his lips to comply with his head. One fumbling hand reached out to Motoko's shoulder, and damned if she didn't flinch when his hand made contact.

"Y-you're going to reject my feelings…I understand," Motoko said instantly with crushing sadness. Her face fell, eyes already beginning to moisten, she couldn't break free of the feather light hold Keitaro was administering. Her shoulders sagged, her knees weakened, and she began to sway. "With how I treated you in the past I could hardly expect you to forgive me let alone respond to my feelings," she turned her face away from that dopy yet attractive face.

His body froze, the confession he had sat unspoken on his tongue at Motoko's sudden shift. He could have worded his initial statement better, but he hadn't expected her to leap to such beliefs so quickly, and so dramatically. She actually loved him! He couldn't believe it! Motoko Aoyama was in love with him, her reaction was the same as his when Naru rejected him! "No-no-no Motoko-chan, that's not what I was going to say," her bounce back from near tears to wide-eyed joy nearly made Keitaro think it had all been an act.

With her free hand, Motoko dabbed at her eyes to clear anything that had the audacity to remain. "Are you taking joy in causing me panic, Keitaro? Please though…continue," she swallowed hard and finally did break free of the calloused hand she had written about so many times in the past.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Keitaro proved himself a man of outstanding moral integrity. "Kitsune asked me out on a date tonight, and I accepted. It was before you confessed, but she did the same. I don't want you to think I'm 'playing the field' or anything. But…" he shrugged not knowing how to continue. He felt it was wrong to try and hide it. They weren't a couple, and Kitsune had shown interest as well so he didn't think it was wrong, just felt Motoko had the right to know.

Nodding to herself, Motoko spun on her heels and set her eyes on the rising sun. "As you and I are not lovers or in a serious relationship, what you and Kitsune do is of course your business," her tone was weak borderline frightened. "I do thank you for being honest with me, however might I make one small request of you?" the hitch in her voice was so out of place it didn't suit the stoic and emotionless guise she oft kept.

Relieved that she hadn't lashed out at him or called him a pervert, Keitaro relaxed his body. "Sure, Motoko-chan, anything you want," he replied as he always would with a willingness to help his friends. He was still so amazed at what he saw, unbridled emotion on the woman he initially thought wanted him dead. Never in his wildest dreams, well the ones that didn't result in him waking up a soiled mess, would he have thought Motoko would show the love she just had.

"Be careful with such comments, Keitaro, or you might be trapped into something you don't want," Motoko criticized. Her hand clenched Keitaro's blade tighter, her knuckles popping from the force, she didn't take her eyes off the blazing orb in the sky. "All I ask is that you do not make a choice in who owns your heart until you have at least one date with myself. I know it is selfish and unbecoming, but I do not wish to lose you without being offered an attempt at winning your heart for myself. Can you do that for me?" such tenderness and softness of voice almost made it impossible to hear.

Dumbstruck, Keitaro nodded to Motoko's request as he stared at the back of her head. It was a simple request, but at that moment he didn't know what to say or how to react. He was being asked not to choose Kitsune until after Motoko was able to try her hand. "I will wait…give you a-a-a chance," he finally forced out of his shell-shocked lips. He just stood their as Motoko walked off without another word. He followed her shapely hips all the way to the door before falling down into the dewy grass.

Laying down upon the moisten lawn, the footfalls of the morning spar still imprinted in the ground, Keitaro let out a long whistle. Life had such a strange way of playing with him it seemed. Naru shot him down, leaving him terribly depressed and contemplating his life and his worth. He thought he'd never find love, be destined to live life alone, but almost as if God itself smiled upon him, two wonderful women confess to liking him.

Keitaro instantly thought of Mutsumi, a possible third woman, but squashed that thought. Unless she told him of her feelings, he'd not believe it. She was different, she was kind, and Keitaro wouldn't ruin their friendship for anything, so until it became clear she did have such feelings he'd not presume. But it was certain that Motoko's feelings were genuine, he'd learn of Kitsune's later in the day. Secretly he still wasn't sure if he deserved such emotion, his battered ego still protected itself, but he was peeking thought the shell that Naru's rejection caused.

"Maybe I…maybe things can get better," he mused as Tama flew over to him and landed on his chest. Picking the turtle up and smiling at the lovable reptile, "I know you love me Tama so don't worry, I won't let anybody take that from you." He smiled at the turtle that appeared to be smiling back at him. But now he had some serious thinking to do. Motoko loved him, Kitsune was a maybe, and that meant he'd have to make a choice. Somebody would be happy, and somebody would be crushed as he had been.

He just hoped…prayed that Mutsumi didn't truly feel the same as either of his tenants, because crushing two women when he eventually made his decision…he cringed at the idea. "I don't want to hurt anybody, but I don't have a choice in that do it?" he asked Tama.

Tama's flippers waggled about trying to pantomime an answer, Tama was loyal to Mutsumi so she had hoped to get Keitaro to accept the melon lover's feelings.

X-X

Her day hadn't gone as smoothly as she wanted, but Kitsune was generally pleased with herself. Standing before the mirror in the bathroom, she tried various hairstyles as she attempted to maximize her appeal. Motoko had the gall to tell her that Keitaro promised not to make a choice until after he had one date with the swordswoman, that ticked Kitsune off a smidgen. Sure she wasn't expecting Keitaro to fall madly in love with her from just one date, so she wasn't mad at him. She actually thought it was a very caring thing he did, give Motoko hope rather than crush her then and there.

"And she will be crushed, I will NOT lose to her," Kitsune said to her reflection. Running the brush through her hair, her normal style was good enough, short hair did have its limitations she relented. She began applying some eye shadow. "Are you three going to hide behind the door all night or are you going to come in?" she called out to the spy's she heard behind the door.

Bursting into the bathroom, her energy level as high as always, Suu rushed to the sink and Kitsune's side. "What ya doing? Your date isn't for like an hour or something!" the foreigner asked while rubbing her face against Kitsune's cream colored evening gown. "Oh it's all silky and smooth!" she giggled.

Gently pushing Suu away, "Down girl, you'll make me poke my eye out," Kitsune couldn't help but smile. Suu had that effect on people, and while Kitsune feared being the girl's sleeping partner, she couldn't imagine life without the spastic girl around. "And I'm just staking the odds in my favor is all, you'll do the same once you discover boys and dating," she applied a little more to her eyelashes giving them a hefty darkness.

"But why get all dolled up for the dork? I mean he's nothing like poppa or anything so it's just a big waste," Sarah claimed as she sat on the laundry hamper. "Now if he was like poppa I could see you wanting to get all pretty and stuff, but the dork is…a dork!" Sarah sagely bobbed her head.

Lightly rapping Sarah on the head, Shinobu scolded, "Sempai is NOT a dork! You need to stop labeling him that. He takes care of you, gives you a place to stay, and yet you keep making fun of him. That's being very rude." Shinobu's stern visage stayed firm when assaulted with Sarah's 'scolded kitten' retaliation, and in the end won out.

Rifling through her bag of cosmetics, Kitsune couldn't make a decision on what color lipstick would be best. "Shinobu is right, Sarah, Keitaro might look a little bit like a dork, but he's a good guy. Your father on the other hand is more a dork than Keitaro," she found her favorite shade of red and popped the cap off. "And I'm getting 'dolled up' as you claim because I'm not the only one that thinks so. So I'm going to knock Keitaro's socks off," she applied the ruby red makeup and smacked her lips together.

Hopping from Kitsune to Shinobu, Suu balanced herself on the smaller girl's shoulders and clung to the door to keep the weight off. "Are you going to have sex with him? That is what adults do right when they want to show how much they like somebody," Suu asked innocently enough. "You guys said so during that talk we had. Guys and girls have sex to show they love each other, just like my moms and dad do," she continued.

"Suu!" Shinobu yelped as she tried to keep from falling over due to the sudden acrobatic intrusion. Gripping the ledge of the counter for support, "You shouldn't ask questions like that! It's personal…right?" she couldn't keep the blush off her face. Wobbling as Suu jumped off her, Shinobu almost fell over. "Kitsune-sempai and Sempai are just going out for a meal," the young chef hinted at nervousness maybe even jealousy.

Zipping up her bag of beauty accessories, Kitsune grinned at herself. She did look damn sexy, even if she had to think so herself. "I won't strike anything for possibly happening. Sure we're just going out for supper, maybe dancing after if I can get that goof to not fall on me every two seconds. As for the mommy/daddy dance? Have to wait and see what the night brings," she playfully smacked her own rump. She wouldn't lie to herself about the idea.

If things did get hot and sweaty, if Keitaro did fall for her, Motoko's request be damned, she was not against going to a love motel. It would be safer for Keitaro than doing the deed back at the inn where somebody would invariably walk in. it was unlikely, as much as they called him a pervert, Kitsune knew Keitaro was a gentleman and unlikely to screw on the first date. Second or third however, well Kitsune was a modern girl, and seeing how the damage had already been done, she wouldn't mind making dreams into reality.

Sarah on the other hand, wasn't so keen on the idea. "That's gross! You'd actually let him touch you like that?" Sticking her tongue out for emphasis, Sarah was almost visibly sickened at what she was hearing. Jumping off the hamper, "I can't see what somebody like you could see in such a loser," thus said she vacated the room, hot faced and stomping.

"I think Sarah likes Keitaro and is jealous of you," Suu mentioned as she did a hand stand. "She's always talking about Keitaro and playing fun games with him," being somebody that kicked Keitaro to show her own love, Suu mistook Sarah's vase smashing as just an act of endearment. "And would it be bad if we had sex with Keitaro? I mean I love him and so does Shinobu, would that be wrong of us?" she earned a near fainting from Shinobu for her statement.

Holding her perfume a good two inches from her neck, Kitsune almost dropped the expensive bottle. "Suu-chan, if you say that again when Naru or Motoko around you'll get the poor guy killed. And yes it is wrong of you. He's a grown man and you're still children, no offense," her voice was almost broken due to shock. Suu could be to honest for her own good, and to naive too for Kitsune's mind to take. Spraying the liquid on her neck and behind her ears, Kitsune took some calming breaths. "I know you're just excited because we talked about it, but seriously Suu-chan keep the sex talk to a down low, alright? You wouldn't want to see Keitaro hurt because of something you said right?" she added a frown to her repertoire.

Eyes downcast, Suu nodded slowly, "No I don't want him to get hurt, and I'll stop talking about it. But when we get older can we…" she started to ask but was silenced by Kitsune putting a hand on her shoulder and shaking her head. "Boring," was all Suu said before chasing off after Sarah.

"You really do care for him don't you?" Shinobu sheepishly asked. It was akin to awe and bitter jealousy being in Kitsune's presence. "This isn't just some game or con this time…is it," she averted her gaze, opted to watch the sun setting through the window.

Kitsune knew that look, empathized with the young girl. Shinobu was so clearly in love with Keitaro, her feelings so pure, that Kitsune was covetous. But the girl was just to young, even if Keitaro could overlook her age, nobody else would. "I don't know if my feelings are as strong as yours, but I do think he's something special and I want to see if I can be part of that," she wouldn't patronize the girl. Sticking an arm out, "How do I smell?"

Breathing in the perfume, it tickled the young teen's nose resulting in a sneeze. "It's a little strong, but I like it," she admitted against her wishes. "Just be good to Sempai, alright?" she pleaded.

"Hey kiddo, its not like he's marrying me tonight, but I'll be as good to him as he allows, I promise," Kitsune felt a little bitter. Why couldn't she be as honest as Shinobu? And if Shinobu was a few years older, at a more acceptable age, Kitsune had no doubt Keitaro would have taken Shinobu over Motoko and herself. "Now no more tears alright? You've got a big job ahead of you keeping us all in line. Keitaro's protector shouldn't be seen like this," she did reach out and hug the girl.

Life wasn't fair, life wasn't about giving people what they wanted as it rarely happened. Shinobu was learning that lesson now, it was a bitter pill but the spoonful of sugar did help the medicine go down. Hugging back, Shinobu kept her sorrow at bay. Keitaro would never be hers he would always see her as a sister, never a woman. Kitsune didn't have that; Kitsune could try to earn his love. Shinobu had to give up that wish, had to make peace with her life and all its inherent cruelty. But in learning what she did, she could get what happiness she could.

X-X

She never had this nervousness before, but Naru just couldn't get herself to pull the plank back. Below her, she could hear Keitaro getting ready for his date with Kitsune, he had told her at lunch in the university, but she still couldn't wrap her brain around it. To make matters worse, Mutsumi had heard it too, yet didn't do anything but smile and say 'that's wonderful'. It was infuriating to Naru how laid back Mutsumi was about the whole thing.

"Girl could just snatch him up if she tried at all, but no! I have to be the one to gift wrap him and hand him to her or it'd never happen," she huffed. Pacing back and forth across her room, Liddo-kun in her arms, Naru so wanted to just sit the two together and tell Keitaro point blank that Mutsumi loved him so she could confirm it. But Kitsune was her best friend too, and it was hard to go against that for Mutsumi. Only in Naru's mind, Mutsumi and Keitaro were a better fit.

Dropping onto her futon, Naru hugged the toy so hard it nearly burst a seam. "Why do emotions have to make things so confusing," she moaned and flopped to her side. Not everybody could be happy with the want was so limiting. "And Mu-chan was acting odd today," Naru bitterly said to herself. Naru spied the aloof girl multiple times reading a piece of notebook paper. No matter how many times she asked about it though, Mutsumi would hide it and say she was studying.

"This sucks," she girl sagely stated as she got to her feet. "Keitaro you better be decent down there or I'm going to punch you so hard you'll travel through time!" she stated more in play than reality. The urge to punish the pervert had almost vanished from her mind, now that Shinobu trained her to stop and look before acting. Sliding the plank over, she dropped down into Keitaro's room with the ease that only practice can do.

Without missing a beat, Keitaro turned to the ex-woman of his dreams. "Do I look good in this?" he didn't sound too sure of himself. In a ruffled shirt with a big red bowtie, he looked every ounce the dork he was often stated at being.

That urge to hit Keitaro came back, but Naru just shook her fist at him instead. "You look like an idiot, you're not serious I hope," she had to hope he wasn't that stupid. He looked like a complete buffoon. Yet it was so in keeping with his character that Naru found herself giggling. "Did you want me to pick out your clothing for you? Kitsune deserves a date that doesn't get her laughed out of the restaurant," she stated already moving towards Keitaro's small stash of clothing.

Pulling off the tie, Keitaro just sighed, "It's not like I have a lot of practice at this. It's not like you and I ever went on actual dates, and that night out with Mutsumi was so sudden I just wore casual." Following close behind Naru, he couldn't help but smell the mellow and soft scent coming off her. "You don't mind helping do you?" he peeked at her hoping she didn't find his small collection of 'personal relief magazines'.

So he moved them from under his futon to his closet, and seems he's got something of a breast fetish. Naru made the mental quip as she did in fact find Keitaro's two articles of pornography. Counting to ten in her head, she kept herself from over acting. It was natural, men had urges, hell even she had urges, its not like the vibrator she had never got used. Kitsune's not quite joke gift on her eighteenth birthday did every so often get used.

Picking out a black and grey heavy short sleeved shirt and black khaki pants, she tossed them to the man behind her. "I wouldn't be down here if I didn't want to help you. And I was right in thinking you needed it," she watched as Keitaro slid the top on over his undershirt. Was he always that attractive and she had just missed it, or was it the appeal of forbidden fruit that made him stand out more?

Taking his wallet out of his jeans and dropping it to the ground, it made a thick thwack when it bounced, he grabbed his two bottles of cologne. "Thanks for helping, which do you think I should use?" he handed the bottles over. "And what should I talk to her about? Kitsune and I haven't really spent a great deal of time together, but I don't want to offend her and say something or ask something that would upset her," he flubbed.

Sniffing both bottles, liking both she handed Keitaro the bottle she thought looked nicer. "You're thinking to hard about this. The purpose of a date is to get to know somebody better isn't it? So just talk about whatever, find out if she's your type, she'll be doing the same. As long as you don't get perverted on her and start asking her about her sizes or something equally stupid you'll do fine," she couldn't believe it. She was actually trying to help him with Kitsune, wasn't she supposed to sabotage this for Mutsumi's sake?

But she couldn't. Not out of respect for Kitsune or even her hope to get Mutsumi at Keitaro's side, but because she wanted Keitaro happy. If she tricked him, gave him bad advice, or some other subterfuge it would only hurt him in the end. She didn't want that, so she'd help him. "How are you feeling, Keitaro? I know I shouldn't ask, but yesterday you shocked me with how you asked if you were worthy of affection. I wasn't prepared to hear that, sorry," she sat down at his small table and idly played with a coin.

Applying the cologne, Keitaro did enjoy the smell that Kanako had picked for him. "I thought a lot about it today. I'm feeling a lot better, but worried at the same time if you can believe that," he admitted and took a seat across from her. "I still wonder if I deserve anybodies feelings, but I won't deny it. That would be selling them short, and I won't do that. So…all I have to do is better myself to the point where I DO feel as if I earned their respect if not love," he stated with a definitive strength.

Moved, Naru was honestly moved by the resolve she saw radiating from Keitaro. I really missed a fine one. But the past was the past, and she saw he had moved on. They were friends now, and friends they would always remain, just friends. "Glad to hear it, you don't do depressed well. Was afraid you'd run away and we'd have to hunt you down. And I do not want to get lost in the desert again, though finding Nyamo again would be nice," she pushed herself up and off the ground. Jumping up and catching the side of the hole, she pulled herself back into her room. "Finish getting changed, Romeo, your Juliet will be ready to go soon," she sealed the hole before he could respond.

She didn't know if she liked what the change had brought. Unknown to her, she was feeling the same as Shinobu. Keitaro was never going to think of her the way she wanted. But unlike Shinobu, Naru had only herself to blame, not fate. "Whoever gets him, I hope they make each other happy," she sniffed back hard and felt like sleeping.

X-X

The beat playing in the small club was eclectic and pounded loudly, but Kitsune loved it anyway. The meal had cost a pretty penny, but she stayed firm when Keitaro asked if he could pay instead. She hadn't left as big a tip as she should have, but the waiter had the gall to hit on her and mock Keitaro at the same time when it came time to pay. He had eaten a Spartan meal while she splurged, it was her own money so why not. She had a single glass of red wine, she wanted to be sober and enjoy the evening.

After they walked out of the restaurant, a three star, they took a leisurely stroll around the park and eventually ended up at the dance club. It took some finagling, and a promise she wouldn't smack him if he fell against her, but in the end they hit the dance floor. He was such a goober, but a lovable one that despite his lack of moves they danced until they were sweating. When he did stumble, which was a lot less than she expected, Kitsune got a rush when his hands would touch her. Twice he groped her breast, once her left buttocks, and several shoulder and sides were gently and accidentally caressed.

All in all it was a wonderful evening, but they had to take a seat for a breather, Keitaro forced her to let him buy them some drinks, non-alcoholic, and catch their breaths. Sipping on the fruit juice Keitaro bought for her, "Motoko's training must be having an effect on you. You're not nearly as uncoordinated as you used to be," she batted her eyelashes at the smiling yet winded man.

Not so much as sitting but sprawled on his seat, Keitaro pounded his drink in one gulp. "I guess, but you're something else. I don't know HOW you can move like that out there, its something else," his tone was reverent. "And I don't know if you noticed, but you've caught more than a few guys eyes out there," his eyes did a shameful pan over Kitsune in her alluring attire.

"I know that hun, but I'm your date Kei-chan, so they can look all they want, but only you can touch," Kitsune teased and pawed at Keitaro's arm. Oh how she loved seeing him got excited and bothered by her flirtations. Her worries about being bored with him, that actually spending time with him would destroy her illusionary version of him in her mind were baseless. He wasn't the most skilled charmer, but Kitsune didn't want that in a man. She wanted Keitaro. Honest, caring, occasionally funny, occasionally frantic, and never boring. "You've got a few lookers too, but they can't have you," she reclined in her seat and popped off her shoes.

Sparing the dance floor a quick glance, Keitaro did in fact see two women looking at him. They weren't the bells of the ball, but they were far from ugly stepsisters. "I think they're more interested in why a beauty like you would be with me. I bet they think I'm rich and you're my trophy wife," he smiled sheepishly. Popping one of the ice cubes from his glass into his mouth he crewed it.

Scooting around the semi-circled booth, Kitsune snuggled up close to Keitaro's side. "Well if I'm the trophy wife I need to act my part don't I?" she nuzzled against his neck and saw the same two girls Keitaro had. Her tactic was as open and transparent as the glass her drink came in. 'He's mine so don't you try anything.' It was unfair, teasing Keitaro as she was, but this was war and Kitsune had the guns to bear. "So what do you want to do next?" she pulled back from the man but sat less than a foot away.

A trickle of sweat oozed down the side of his face, his glasses fogged up and his breath was raspy. "D-did you want to dance some more? It is getting late though so maybe we s-should head back home?" he was off his stride, Kitsune's actions had struck a vital and deep spot.

His reaction wasn't lost on Kitsune either, and she loved it. Oh you liked that didn't you? Liked having me close to you. Which was exactly why she did it. "I'm getting a little tired, so unless you wanted to stay I guess we could go back," she half pouted. No trip to the Love Hotel tonight, but in a way Kitsune liked it better that way. No need to rush, not as long as Keitaro was thinking of her. Poking Keitaro to get the man moving, she wrapped her arm around his, and let him lead her out of the club. "You're a lot more interesting than I ever thought you'd be Kei-chan," she admitted once they were out in the night air.

Breathing in deeply, rubbing at his ears, Keitaro blushed. "I have to admit there is so much more depth to you than I thought too, Kitsune," he confessed as he stuffed his free hand into his pocket. Walking in silence for a good block, he would occasionally flex is arm as Kitsune's grip remained warm and inviting.

She liked that, liked how he had steered the conversation during the course of the night. It had been a whirlwind of reveals for both of them. She learned about Keitaro's family and business, was shocked to learn Keitaro had an adopted sister. Revealing why she got into writing, her friendship with Naru in school, and her first crush on the same man Naru cared for had opened avenues of conversation that kept them talking and gabbing all night.

One sour point was garnered on each side of the field, but was quickly smoothed over. Kitsune made the first foul by asking why Keitaro stopped training in martial arts with his family, but allowed Motoko to train him. Keitaro's mistaken question came as the pair walked from the restaurant to the club, he asked how her family was. Kitsune avoided the question completely. Her mother made it clear her entire life that she was an unwanted child, Kitsune did not want the evening ruined by thinking about that bitch that had the audacity to be her mother.

It wasn't a perfect date, but Kitsune did learn one thing. She was one hundred percent certain that she loved Keitaro. It wasn't a doubt anymore, it wasn't a crush like with Seta, it wasn't just a rebound from her lost virginity. Walking up the stairs towards the inn, Kitsune stopped and in doing so stopped Keitaro.

"Something wrong, Kitsune?" he asked instantly seeing a troubled look on her face. Freeing himself from her hold, he gently grabbed her shoulders. A cold wind blew and ruffled his hair and he saw her shiver. "Kitsune?" he asked again after a few pregnant moments of silence.

She didn't want the date to end. Once they got to the top of the stairs it's was back to being uncertain about the future. Motoko and Mutsumi weren't just going to sit back and let her steal Keitaro from them. She was going to have to be ready for whatever came from it. Be it Keitaro chosen her or somebody else, she would have to accept it. But right now, after learning the truth of her own heart, she didn't want to think about it.

Leaning in, Keitaro giving her the golden opportunity, Kitsune stole her first kiss from Keitaro. Her tongue slid in effortlessly as his shock opened his mouth. He wasn't a bad kisser, was Kitsune's first reaction. He was damn good she realized as the kiss deepened. Her arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him closer, she felt his little friend poking her, which was a nice barometer that he liked it too. How long it lasted, Kitsune would never be able to know, time stood still.

But eventually it did end; she couldn't help but giggle at seeing her lipstick smeared on his face. Reaching into her purse she pulled out a tissue and handed it to him. "Clean up or you'll go flying, lover boy. And for a good night kiss, you get an A+," she kissed his cheek again applying more of her lipstick, and left the man speechless on the stairs.

The battle hadn't been decided yet, but she had made a huge stride in claiming the territory that was Keitaro's heart. It was a blitzkrieg attempt at gaining as much ground as she could before the others entered the battle earnestly. Was she ready for it? No, but nobody ever is truly ready for matters of the heart. Tomorrow would be another day, and she was going to go at it with as much gusto as possible. Because to the winner went the spoils, and it was well worth fighting for.

X-X

Notes

Lil short but I like ending the chapter after the date. I was going to have a scene with Naru talking to Motoko but it would detract from the feelings I wanted this chapter to end with. Hope you enjoyed this. Kitsune is always fun to write, she was such a blank slate in the manga, with so little past given to her, that I keep reinventing her in my stories.

Anyway, have a wonderful rest of summer, its already August so its running out ;_;

Oh and I'm playing Starcraft 2 like half of this planet so if you get into a match with Zentrodie don't crush me to quickly…I'm not to good

LATER!

Mercaba