Disclaimer: I don't own LH. Don't sue me.
ANOTHER PROMISE
Chapter 6
" Naru?" Kitsune said as she answered the phone.
" Shhhh, be quiet, everyone will know that you're talking to me," Naru's voice came through the phone.
" Okay," Kitsune whispered into the receiver.
" So any news? Is Keitaro changing his mind?" Naru asked.
" Well, it seems to me that Keitaro has really decided to give up since I haven't seen him with a book for the past few weeks. As for news, well, he keeps on talking to the new girl on the roof. I heard him making a promise with her once," Kitsune reported.
" Promise? What kind of promise?"
" I don't know. That day when I went up to the roof to take a breath of fresh air, I saw Keitaro and the new girl shaking their pinkies saying something like yakusoku."
" How could you! How could you miss out the rest of the conversation!" Naru yelled so loud that Kitsune was forced to take the phone away.
" What's the matter, Kitsune-san? I heard someone screaming just a second ago. Is there any problems here?"
" Oh," Kitsune sweatdropped as she quickly hung up, " I was just arguing with my boyfriend on the phone, don't worry."
" Gomen. I won't disturb you then," Shinobu walked away with a blush, all the way thinking about Kitsune's complicated personal life.
Meanwhile, Motoko and Akiko are training on the roof again in the bright summer sunlight. Motoko still couldn't concentrate on chopping the leaves, which kept on flying out of reach. She hadn't spoken much to Keitaro for the past few weeks nor did she send him flying to the other side of the world. She didn't know how to express her feelings for Keitaro, how to tell him that she was sorry for the many times she sent him flying for no reason at all.
" Hey, warriors of Hinata! Try my new power-up drink! It's made from pure fruit juice! I got the recipe from Haruka-obasan," Keitaro yelled as he approached the duo with a tray of fruit juice and some snacks. Akiko took the glass and sipped from it.
" It's great! Thanks, Keitaro-san," Akiko beamed.
" You try some too, Motoko-chan," Keitaro offered.
" Sorry, I'm not thirsty," Motoko answered dully and went downstairs without facing him.
" Motoko-chan," Keitaro said as he reached out to stop Motoko from going, but he was too late. Motoko was already gone.
" Gomenasai, Akiko-chan. I can't cheer Motoko-chan up."
" Oh well, you tried your best. At least she talked to you this time," Akiko answered.
Suddenly, Keitaro pulled out a white piece of cloth and tied it across his forehead.
" What, what are you doing?" Akiko asked in awe.
" I'm determined to make Motoko-chan happy again! The day Motoko-chan becomes the old Motoko-chan will be TODAY!" Keitaro yelled.
" Good luck," Akiko sweatdropped as she held a thumb up.
Everyone assembled at the dining table that morning as Shinobu took out the breakfast of eggs and ham, a more western-styled breakfast compared to what they usually get.
" Motoko-chan, have an extra piece of ham," Keitaro offered as he handed Motoko his piece of ham.
" Sorry, I'm full," Motoko said as she took her empty plate to the sink.
As Motoko turned on the tap to wash her own plate, Keitaro rushed in.
" Let me help you with this," Keitaro said as he grabbed the plate.
" I'll do it myself," Motoko grabbed it back as she reached to get the dish detergent.
" Then I'll get the detergent," Keitaro said as his hand also reached toward the bottle of detergent, touching Motoko's hand.
" If you like to do the dishes, then you can wash all of them," Motoko said in a cold tone as she left the kitchen.
" Motoko-chan," Keitaro yelled but Motoko was already out of sight.
That afternoon, Motoko and Akiko went into the woods to train, leaving Keitaro and the others in the inn.
" Kitsune-san, I've a problem," Keitaro said.
" I know you have a problem, but hey, I don't mind at all!" Kitsune answered with a blink.
" I don't mean that!" Keitaro screamed, " It's Motoko-chan. I don't know how to cheer her up!"
" Oh!" Kitsune beamed as she blew on her whistle, " Everyone to the living room!"
Almost right away we see Kaolla leaping down the stairs followed by Shinobu who was half stunned by Kitsune's whistle noise.
" Girls," Kitsune yelled.
" Hai," everyone answered, then looked at Keitaro who also answered.
" I'm just trying to stand on the same side as you people!" he screamed.
" Anyway, what is the first step to problem solving?" Kitsune asked.
" Understanding the problem," Kaolla and Shinobu answered.
" I didn't know that," Keitaro said as the others stared at him.
" I meant I don't know what is wrong with Motoko," Keitaro replied.
" I think it must be that time of the month for her," Kitsune said.
" You are so perverted!" Keitaro screamed.
" I think she's lonely at night because I have been sleeping with Akiko for the past few weeks instead of sleeping with her," Kaolla said as she sucked on her right thumb.
" Who would want to be tortured by you at night!" Keitaro screamed again.
" Then it must be because I haven't cooked her favourite dishes for the past few weeks! I should make a feast for her today," Shinobu said then left for the kitchen.
" Wait Shinobu-chan! It's not that!" Keitaro screamed to the junior but to no avail. Shinobu had already left.
" We're home!" Akiko called from outside.
" Akiko, I'll meet you at the hotsprings in a moment, okay?" Motoko said as she ascended the stairs to her room.
" Alright, Motoko-obasan," Akiko said as she also headed up to her room.
" Akiko-chan," Keitaro knocked on Akiko's door.
" Nani-ka?" Akiko said as she opened the door.
" Can I come inside for a moment?" Keitaro asked.
" Sure," Akiko said as she stepped aside to let Keitaro in.
The room was extremely tidy, with a few books lying on the desk and a katana and shinai were placed neatly on the drawer. Akiko herself was holding a long bokken in her right hand and a pink towel in her left.
" What's the matter, Keitaro-san," Akiko asked.
" It's about Motoko-chan. I was wondering if you happen to know why she's so unhappy," Keitaro asked.
" Well, I," Akiko stuttered, " I don't really know why she's unhappy, but I know how to make her happy again!"
" Really Akiko-chan! How?" Keitaro asked.
" Here," Akiko said as she handed Keitaro two tickets, " these are the tickets to a National Kendo Competition held in Tokyo. The leaders of many dojos will be competing with each other and the spectators will be able to show their kendo skills in front of these world-famous kendo fighters at the end of the competition. Himura Shinji, the head of the Kamiya dojo and the descendent of the famous Hitokiri Battousai, will be there as well as my own mother, the current leader of the Shinmei dojo. I know Motoko- obasan will love to go to this competition, but these tickets are hard to get. My mother gave these to me since she got them free as a participant in the competition. I think if you go with her, then she'll be very happy!"
" But, but then you won't be able to go!" Keitaro exclaimed as he tried to hand Akiko back the tickets.
" Don't worry, there are many other competitions to watch. The important thing is that Motoko-obasan is happy," Akiko said with a smile.
" Arigatou Akiko-chan," Keitaro said as he neared the verge of tears.
" No problem," Akiko replied lightheartedly as she widened her smile.
Motoko Aoyama: Another 1400 words or so! So tiring! Liked it? Hated it? Have any comments for the way I'm introducing Naru back into the story? Tell me in your reviews! Next chapter, the relationship between Keitaro and Motoko will be resolved! Yay! More romance! Tell me about what you think, especially about Akiko since I'm not so sure if her personality is, how can I put it, right? Just review to express your comments and suggestions or just to show your support, okay? Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
