Again Love Hina does not belong to me.
The Quiet Man
Chapter 10 If horses were wishes..
It was a curious Shinobu that was fixing breakfast the next morning. She had been wondering were Keitaro was. Motoko also was wondering to the whereabouts of her sparring partner. She had been meditating as usual this morning waiting for Keitaro to show up for their morning work out. Without him there her morning seemed to feel incomplete to her. Motoko had grown accustomed to the young mans presence. After a rough night with Kaolla tossing and turning as well as the embarrassing questions about her new sparring partner and the dreams she had been having, Motoko was feeling a little out of sorts this morning.
At the breakfast table, the other girls were making their way in when Kitsune asked the obvious question.
"Where's Keitaro at this morning?"
"I am not sure. I have not seen him since Saturday." Motoko replied with a curious look direct at granny Hina.
Hina looked at the girls around the table before answering. All the girls except Naru had looks of curiosity. Naru's expression was indifference.
"Keitaro had a long day yesterday. He was pretty tired after taking care of some things for me." Hina started out. "So he will probably sleep in today. I'm sure he would appreciate some breakfast when he gets in though." She finished with a smile.
""I'll make him a plate a put it in the refridgerator Granny." Shinobu eagerly volunteered.
"OOHHH I'll help too Shinobu!" Kaolla piped up.
"Why bother?" Naru quietly complained from the end of the table.
"Naru!? Still bent outta shape from yesterday morning, Hon?" Kitsune asked with a mischievous smile.
"He just got lucky is all!!" Naru said quickly trying to defend herself.
"Right. Here pull the other one, it's got bells on it." Kitsune laughed sticking her leg out.
"Might I ask what happened yesterday prior to my return? Motoko asked with curiosity evident in her expression.
"I'll explain as you girls get ready for school." Hina stated in an effort to get the girls moving.
And with her declaration they proceeded to get ready for school. Kaolla and Shinobu clearing the table and making the lunches as Granny started the dishes. Naru was out the door in a flash so as not to be reminded of her ill fated encounter with the new handy man.
Hina explained what had happened the morning prior with a smile and soon Motoko was both shock and embarrassed by the events for before. But with Hina's calming influence she quickly settled down. Finished with the story, Hina bade Motoko to go off to school.
Finishing up a few lite chores, Hina made her way down to Haruka's tea shop. Kitsune meanwhile was writing another review and relaxing in her room. Looking around she wondered what other things she could get into during the day. Within a few minutes the light bulb went on in her head and dressing for the weather, she made her way to Keitaro's house. Lightly tapping on the door and receiving no answer, she quietly let herself in.
Moving slowly and quietly she heard his light snoring coming from his bedroom. Easing into the bedroom, she soon found the edge of the bed and made her way to his side. Reaching her hand out slowly, she touched his shoulder. Sliding her hand up towards his head, she lightly tickled his ear. Keitaro's breathing suddenly hitched, and his hand came up to brush the offending feeling away. Kitsune smiled as she felt his hand smack hers. She slowly reached out and tickled his ear again.
The next thing she knew, she was flipped over the bed, with a hand on her throat and an angry voice hissing out.
"What are you doing in here?" Keitaro spit out quickly, then sputtering out an apology as he realized who he had in his grasp. "Oh man, I'm sorry Kitsune. Really really sorry. Are you all right?"
Kitsune for her part was still in a state of shock that he had moved as fast he did. "Well I was coming to wake you up, but I guess I went about it the wrong way, unless you like being on top." She said with a grin after gathering her wits about her.
Realising the position he was in, Keitaro quickly got off of her with a blush adorning his face. "Sorry about that but you just startled me for a bit. I guess it'll take a while to realise I'm not in jail any more."
"No, it's my fault for trying to play with you like that. Of course I could say I had a bad dream..." She replied with a kitsune like grin.
Remebering his state of dress, he quickly grabbed a pillow and pulled it in front of him. "Uh Kitsune could you maybe wait in the other room. I kinda need to get dressed."
"Come on shugah, blind girl remember. Can't see a thing, so you shouldn't be embarrassed." She teased.
Slowly he lowered the pillow feeling a bit foolish. "Yeah but still, it's not quite proper."
Dressing quickly, when she wouldn't leave, Kitsune and Keitaro made small talk on their way back to the dorm. Getting his breakfast, he made short work of Shinobu's wondrous creations. Bidding Kitsune a quick farewell, he started at the top floor checking his list and making notes on materials needed for the repairs. Making his way out to the upper deck he marveled at the view for a moment before checking his list and making some more notes. Figuring he had enough to keep him busy for a while, he started downstairs only to run into Kitsune.
"Hey shugah, where you off to now?" She asked.
"I'm just about to go into town and get some supplies for the repairs I need to make. You want to come with me?" He asked politely.
"You gonna buy me lunch?" Kitsune asked with a grin.
"If you don't mind something quick and cheap." came the reply.
"I think I can live with that. As a matter of fact I know just the place." Kitsune replied with a sly look.
Getting ready, both left the house and made their way into town, unaware that they were being watched.
The small lithe figure, dressed in black, blended into the shadows and watched the couple make their way down the steps. Moving away from the hiding place the person quietly followed the couple as they made their way around the town. Continuing to watch as they had lunch, the person started back for the Hinata dorms and upon finding a suitable spot, waited for the couple to come back from their date.
Keitaro walking along slowly so Kitsune wouldn't have any problems keeping up, was enjoying his time spent with the resident fox. Making small talk he almost failed to notice the small object flying straight at him. Quickly grabbing Kitsune, he spun to his left to avoid the dart shaped object. He steered her to a building and left her with a quick "wait here" and was scanning the area for the person behind the attack.
Kitsune was bewildered when Keitaro suddenly left her. Listening intently she heard the direction he had gone, and slowly moved after him.
As soon as he had left her and started looking for his assailant, Keitaro suddenly found himself at the mouth of an ally. Looking into the gloom he was suddenly face to masked face with a very determined and skilled opponent. Dropping into a defensive stance he asked "Who are you?"
"You don't need to know. Besides, you won't live long enough to worry about it." The figure replied suddenly pulling out two short blades and lunging at him.
Keitaro dodged the thrusts and danced out of the way. His ki suddenly spiked and he lashed out with a palm strike catching his attacker on the left arm. The attacker drew in a hiss of pain and dropped the weapon.
"YOU"RE A GIRL." he cried out in surprise.
Pulling back her mask, while keeping him in her sights, she studied him carefully. "How did you know?" She asked.
"Your ki felt feminine when I struck you." He replied keeping a careful eye on her. "Why are you doing this? I don't even know you and haven't done you any harm."
"On the contrary, you are living on Urashima property and using Urashima funds to survive. That alone is enough, especially when you have been banished from the clan." she explained, slashing her blade at him making him back up.
"What would you have me do? Curl up and die? Become dependant on the charity of the government? Try not to atone for the crime I committed?" he asked while keeping away from her blade.
"YES!! Die and atone for the stain you have brought on our honor." She answered zealously.
"Who are you? You're barely old enough know what I did. And why should it matter to you?" Keitaro asked warily.
"MY NAME IS KANAKO URASHIMA!!" she screamed at him. "I've had to live with hearing all about your actions since my parents adopted me after you were arrested. That's all mom could talk about. Keitaro disgraced us and Keitaro ruined our family standing, and on and on. Dad wasn't much better, but at least he didn't harp on it all the time. Adoptions take a while, I thought I would be getting a nice mom and dad, as well as a big brother to look out for me. But when I finally get to my new home, I find out my new big brother is a killer and my mom is partly nuts. My new dad was ok, but it wasn't enough, and it's all your fault.
Granny was the only one who was really nice to me, but because she was helping you, she was shunned by the other elders and mother couldn't stand that. So what did she do? She forbade me from seeing her. So because of you my life was ruined. I am now fixing my life the only way I know how." Kanako finished with tears running down her face.
'So that's my little sister.' Keitaro thought to himself. 'Mom and dad said they had a surprise for me after I won the regional, but I never thought this would be it.' "Look I'm sorry for all the trouble you think I caused. I'm also sorry for you, if you want I can try to help you. Just put your weapons down and we can talk about it." Keitaro pleaded.
"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!! I JUST WANT YOU DEAD!" Kanako screamed out, lunging out at him.
Trying to dodge the wild strikes of his sister, Keitaro was also trying to think his way out of this without hurting his new found sister or getting himself stabbed in the process. His sister was good with her weapons and he had a hard time avoiding it while still trying to disarm her. Seeing an opening, he stepped forward with a finger strike to her temple. He succeeded but she had managed to twist her blade and stab him in his upper right thigh. As soon as he struck, her eyes rolled up into her head and she started to fall. Grimacing he stepped forward on his hurt leg and caught her before she could hit the ground. Balancing on his good leg he hobbled over to the wall and leaned against it, supporting Kanako so she wouldn't fall.
About this time he heard Kitsune calling out to him. "Keitaro are you ok?" she asked fearfully. Where are you?"
Looking up he could see her at the mouth of the ally. "I'm a little in front of you." he called out to her. "Can you give me a hand?"
Moving into the ally, Kitsune found him and quickly asked what was going on. While wrapping a bandanna around his leg, Keitaro gave her an abbreviated version of the events and together, with him carrying Kanako and leaning on Kitsune they made their way back to Haruka's tea shop.
Reaching the tea shop they went through the doors and sat at the nearest table. Calling for Haruka or granny Hina, he tried to make Kanako as comfortable as possible. As the elder Urashima's arrived, Keitaro explained what had happened.
After his explanation granny Hina gave him a thoughtful look. "Why don't you take Kitsune back to the inn and we will take care of Kanako."
"Why didn't you tell me I had a sister?" Keitaro asked.
"We'll talk about that later grandson. For now take Kitsune home and make sure she is alright." Hina replied.
Looking to Haruka for support, she just shook her head indicating to him to follow Hina's instructions.
Taking Kitsune's hand he led her out of the tea house and up to the inn. Once she was at the door he made to leave and she stopped him.
"You wanna talk about hon?" She asked with concern.
"I...I'm not sure what to talk about or even if I would be good company right now." Keitaro replied.
"It's kinda a lot to take in isn't it?" Kitsune started off, leading him to the couch to sit with her. "I mean finding out you have a sister even if she is adopted, and then to find out she hates you? I know I'd be a little shocked."
"Shocked is an understatement. I mean it would of been nice to know about this years ago, and I can see some of granny's reasons for not telling me, but to want me dead. That seems a little extreme to me." Keitaro replied with exasperation.
"Hey now shugah, I heard her screaming while I was looking for you. It seems to me that your mother played a big part in this as well. I mean you take a little kid and subject her to that for years, she's bound to be a little skewed." the fox replied with a huff. "I'm sorry to say this, but it sounds like your mom went nuts after what happened to you."
"Don't be." Keitaro replied with a smirk. "My mom was nice enough, but she was always worried about how every one else saw her. She always had to be proper and respectful to the rest of the clan, and anyone outside of the family...it always seemed to me as if she thought she was better than them."
"I've met people like that before Keitaro. They're called conceited. The world revolves around them and anything that rocks their little boat is bad." Kitsune said grimly, while taking his hand in hers. "I should know. I used to be one of those people until my accident. You ok? It's not the cut you got is it?" she asked when she noticed his hands sweating just a bit."
"Just a little upset stomache I think. I've felt a little blah since lunch. Maybe it was just something I ate." He replied waving off her concern. "How did you know I was injured?"
"I could smell the blood. Ever since my lights went out, my other senses got sharper. Plus your hands are sweating a bit." She replied with a grin.
Pulling his hands from hers, he quickly wiped them on his pants.
"Sorry about that. I think I'll just go lie down for a bit." He said quietly and moved to leave.
"Don't worry about alright shugah? If you need anything just call me on my cell." She replied as left for his home.
Keitaro made his way out of the inn and to his home. Getting himself a glass of water and moving into the bedroom he plopped down on his bed and fell into a light doze.
Back at the tea house Haruka and Hina had taken Kanako upstairs and put her in the guest room next to Haruka's room.
"What should we do with her when she wakes up granny?" Haruka asked lighting up a smoke.
"I'll take care of her when she does. I think I need to have a talk with my daughter until then though." Hina replied with a grimace. "Keep an eye on her and I'll be back in a bit."
Leaving the room, Hina made her way downstairs to the office and dialed a long unused number. After a few rings her daughter answered the phone.
"Hello daughter in law." Hina started off.
"Mother." came the biting reply. "To what do I owe this displeasure?"
"I just called to tell you your daughter Kanako found Keitaro today." Hina stated.
"Really!" Came the pleased and condescending response. "And how is the disowned?"
"Keitaro is quite well. Thank you for asking. As for Kanako, she is resting comfortably after her defeat. Really daughter in law, training her in your style and sending her after Keitaro? That is quite a surprise as well as a disappointment. I had expected better from you." Hina commented snidely.
"I did not send her after him. That was her decision and hers alone. That she failed is a disgrace she will have to bear. Since she cannot complete a basic task such as this tell her until she succeeds she will not be welcome here." came the scathing reply followed by a click as the phone was slammed down.
Hina put the phone back down slightly shocked at how far her daughter had sunk into madness. Going back upstairs she found Haruka talking quietly to Kanako. Pausing at the door she listened.
"I don't care what you say, he is the reason for all this." she heard Kanako say.
"True he may have been the start of all this, but he paid for his crime in the eyes of the government. He is also not the same boy from then either, and knowing my sister in law the way I do, she has probably told you he will continue to be a stain on the families honor until he is dead." Haruka replied quietly.
"Isn't that what we are taught. To put the families honor first. He should have done the honorable thing and ended his life." Kanako started.
"And who taught him that? Tell me just how responsible is a thirteen year old boy supposed to be? He has not had the broad experience of life to make those kind of decisions." Haruka spat back. What of your mother and father who raised and taught him that. There is enough responsibility to go around, shouldn't they accept blame as well for letting him go that far? Think well on this kid, he made his choices and he accepted the punishment. I may not like what he did, but I do like the man he has become. Before you judge him, at least get other opinions, not just the one point of view from a bitter, self righteous woman."
With that Haruka stood and left the room, leaving Kanako to her thoughts. As Haruka passed her, Hina patted her on the shoulder and whispered a quiet "thank you" to her. Hina then entered to find her granddaughter with a petulant look on her face.
"I just got off the phone with your mother. She seemed quite pleased that you went after Keitaro. However since you didn't accomplish your goal, she told me to tell you that until you succeed your are not to come back home." Hina told her watching her closely. Kanako's face fell at the latter part of Hina's news. "It's ironic isn't it, Keitaro can never go home because he killed someone and you can't go back until you do."
"You're lying. Mother would never say something like that. She would let me come home. I know she would." Kanako responded hotly.
"Then how about a little wager? If you are allowed to go back, I won't interfere in your business with Keitaro. But, if your are not, you will come and live here and get to know your brother and see what kind of man he has become." Hina said slyly.
"DEAL!!" Kanako shouted. "I know mother will let me back in."
"Then you're free to go. If she doesn't take you back you will live here with Haruka for a time while you get to know your brother." Hina replied with a smile.
Kanako slowly stood up, wobbling a bit as she did, and made her way out of the tea house and down the street. When she had left, Haruka came up to her.
"Are you sure about this granny?" she asked.
"Pretty sure." Hina replied. "After all you know your sister in law fairly well, and you know how she is. Prideful and arrogant. As a matter of fact, if left unchecked, I imagine Motoko would be a lot like her."
"Is that why you take an interest in the girls lives so much?" Haruka asked.
"Well you got me Haruka. I was actually training them to be musicians." Hina snorted. "Of course it is. This world needs more tolerance and it all starts with the children.
While all this was happening, Keitaro was defiantly not having a good day. Laying in his bed, sweating and feeling nauseous, he was praying he wouldn't throw up. Knowing how these things usually turn out though, he made his way to the bathroom just in time to see his lunch and breakfast come up. After about five minutes of puking, he felt a little better and washing his face and rinsing his mouth out he stumbled back to bed to pass out for the remainder of the day.
At the table for supper that evening, the tenants were quick to note their new handyman was absent again.
"What is with Urashima? Sleeping in and slacking off. Its a wonder the dorm is still standing." Naru groused. "If it was up to me I'd fire his lazy butt."
"Actually he wasn't feeling well after lunch, so he went to lay down." Kitsune piped in. "Maybe I should go see how he is doing?"
"Actually, I will go Kitsune. It is dark out there and...my mistake." Motoko started as she blushed when she realised what she was actually saying. "I am sorry about that Kitsune, but still I will go and check on him."
"Why Motoko dear, so nice to hear you say that. You're not getting sweet on him are you?" Kitsune teased as Shinobu turned red and Kaolla looked on in confusion.
"No. I am however worried if he does get sick, it might spread to us, and I for one do not relish the prospect of spending the next few days with a cold." Motoko responded coolly while slightly blushing.
"I'll go too." Kaolla chirped in with a bright smile. "I like relish and want some if Motoko is going to get it. Especially if I add it to curry."
At this most of the group smiled. Finishing their meal, Motoko then made her way, minus Kaolla, to Keitaro's home. Knocking on the door, she heard a garbled response and entered. As she entered she noticed how quaint the interior was. Looking around for a moment she noticed the sketches and artwork he had done and was surprised at how good he was. Moving to one of the doors she quickly found Keitaro laying on his bed looking like death warmed over.
"I was going to ask how you were, but looking at you I think I can tell. Is there anything I can do for you?" She asked with concern.
As he was about to answer her, his face suddenly winced and like a shot he was past her and in the bathroom. Motoko had heard the sickening sounds of the young man dry heaving. Following him in she found him hunched over the toilet and gasping for breath. She got a washcloth and wet it for him then handed him the wet towel. As he took it from her she could feel the heat radiating off of his hand.
Using her inner senses she studied his ki and found it fluctuating wildly. Putting her hand on his head she almost pulled it away in surprise. The man before her was burning up. Standing up she told him to get back in bed as soon as he could and left saying she would be back in a moment. Going back to her room she gathered some herbs a mortar and a pestle. Once she had the items she had sought she quickly left and returned to his home. Inside his home she used the mortar and pestle to grind up the herbs. Moving to his sink she added some water and put the mixture in a bowl. Warming it in the microwave she brought it to his room and once he was comfortable, she helped him sip it slowly.
"Try and drink as much as you can. It will help settle your stomach and bring down the fever." She explained.
To Keitaro, who felt like he was in hell, The mixture had a mint smell and a not unpleasant taste. He managed to get most of it down, and after a few moments his stomach felt a little better, but his body was starting to shiver. His face and body felt like it was on fire and he had trouble focusing his eyes.
"Your body is trying to heal itself but the fever you have is very high. You need to get into bed and try to stay warm." Motoko explained. "Here let me help you."
Blushing and looking away she helped him undress and get into bed. Then she pulled some more blankets out of the closet, and covered the sick man.
"Why are you..." Keitaro started to croak out.
"Helping you?" She finished for him. He nodded his head yes. "Because even though you are a man, your grandmother has been very kind to me. She has also help me to understand some things as well. You are not as bad as I had believed all males to be. So I am trying to look at things with a more open mind."
"How do you..." He started again.
"Know how to help you?" she asked with a small smile. At his nod she continued. "My clan family are mostly warriors, but we also practice herbalism so we can treat fevers and illness. Also we treat minor injuries such as scrapes, burns and other small ailments associated with training in the martial arts. It also saves on doctor bills."
"You made a joke." he whispered as the medicine she had given him started to take effect. With that said he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
With a small smile, Motoko went to the bathroom and soaked another cloth to put on his forehead. Taking care of this and placing the cloth on him, she then settled into vigil to watch him for the night to make sure he would not get worse.
Later that night, Haruka was awakened when she heard someone knocking on the front door to her teashop. Getting up, she made her way to the door and when she opened it there was Kanako in tears.