Chapter Nine – A Mutsumi Night's Dream
IN TRANSIT BETWEEN MOLMOL AND JAPAN, AUGUST 2001
The charter plane was a bit on the cramped side. Naru Narusegawa sat uncomfortably near to people she no longer felt as close to, save one, who she had finally chosen to spend her life with, or soon would. Her love Keitaro Urashima slept soundly, and she realized he had already elected to forgive every last wrong that had placed them in the insanity that had marked the end of July and the beginning of August. She prayed that September of 2001 would somehow be more peaceful, but her mind was not much on either prayers or peace. She looked at one snuggled up on the left side of her man.
*Okay, Kanako. I get it. He gets it. Do you? At long last, are you even capable of getting it? As far as he is concerned, you are a kid he knew and met, then largely parted ways with. But you remembered his promise, I didn't—and you adored and held him close—while I---damn it! I may not deserve him, but don't you ever again mistake that for him not choosing me! I'll crow it over all of you, if you make me. And if I have to demand of my new husband that he banish his own sister—don't force me to make that demand, Kanako. Even a bludgeon eventually hits the wind.*
In a front row seat was one who looked too self-satisfied, feeling no pain for the pain she inflicted, for the grief she kept on generating, all for kicks and fun. Naru had never before wanted her difficult sister to just go the hell away—maybe even to Hell itself.
*I trusted you. Not to do any chore, or to remember to pick up something I asked for, or to pass up a chance to make us all squirm. No, I trusted you to be there for me when it counted. I wouldn't even have cared if you found a barrel of Molmolian Banana Wine and just sat out the whole thing. But no. You were there to scam for real estate—to use my nature and his to make sure our dream never came true—probably to get the Inn in a quickie divorce, right? Because we both know you never cared one bit for him. You've shown that by word and deed, and he even said so when he showed me his journal. When the fox gets hungry, eh, Kitsune—or is that Brutus? Well, Caesar and Calpurnia survived your dagger in the back. Brutus may find herself out of Rome—or maybe I'll just choose to give you some sake, and then hang you upside down. Maybe, when you need to take a pee I'll let you down—or maybe I'll just laugh evilly, shrug and say 'Hey, I'm in character'.*
More complicated were her feelings for a woman who in theory had the power to end the nightmare they'd found themselves in, save for the love she felt for the land's mercurial ruler—and perhaps for the man Naru now firmly claimed as her own.
*I know you can never bring yourself to shut Su down in any real way, Motoko, but did you even raise your voice to her when she held us all captive? Did you say anything as those grinning ghouls shoved loaded guns in our face, or did you just cave in to pressure from that two-faced little girl? Where's that righteous fury that was just as blind as mine, when the target was a well-meaning idiot, instead of a megalomaniac who saw us all as some kind of—I don't know, some kind of potential harem, or dollhouse accessories? It would cost you too much internally to renege on your claim that you had resolved your feelings for Keitaro, so just what the hell were you doing there? He said you didn't put up much of a fight in that absurd theater Su and Kitsune set up. So why even bother? Su's fight was a dishonorable one, Samurai—so why did you even get on that ridiculous stage?*
The beauty snuggled against Keitaro's left side was someone Naru would have once defined as both sweet and wild, the embodiment of the tale of the strawberry on the branch over the cliff and pit patrolled by two hungry tigers. Covetous and vicious had largely replaced those words in her mind. Naru had actually taken pleasure in forcing one of her bodyguards off the plane, both for lack of room and by pointing out that his firearms were illegal in Japan, unless he were on a plane specifically sent to transport Molmol's rulers. One grinning female guard had her gun kicked out of her hand and her sunglasses broken—possibly along with her nose. Without missing a beat, Naru walked up to the beaten guards and mockingly went 'click-click'. While walking away, she just as mockingly told their arriving back-up to 'be certain' if they also pulled their weapons on her. They did not.
*What's with you, Su? Those guards acted like they were formed from the worst attitudes of all the world's militaries. Remember me? Onee-Chan? If I'd been loose for five seconds on that airship, all those psychos would not have stopped me from tearing one of those three symbols off and putting it back where the sun don't shine. I cannot reconcile the kid I love at home with the dictator who thought grabbing me with a metal turtle was part of a game. Maybe I don't want to anymore. No. Change that. I don't want to ever again. I told the Japanese embassy everything that happened, and they are not pleased about their airspace being violated. So it ends, Princess. No more inventions, except for however you get back home. No more hops, except the one out the door…NO! Su! I love you, kid. But can you really have no notion of what you did—or is that how you skate by, making us believe you don't?*
Naru was about to contemplate another puzzle, when said puzzle woke up and looked at her with pleading eyes, sincere, deep and as confused and angry as her own.
"Sempai—I'm so sorry. I'm responsible for all this."
*The one person I just automatically assumed was not in on this. Great.*
"Explain yourself."
Shinobu looked badly overwrought, like she hadn't really slept much at all.
"We went down to Todai so I could confess my love to Sempai Keitaro. I didn't want to steal him from you—much—but they all went down with me---I don't know why they went down with me, but it wasn't to stand with me as I confessed—and they promised!"
Naru was now officially angry at her friends—if that's what they were.
"They lied to you? I mean, what exactly did they say about why they went down there?"
"For Shinobu. A hand-pledge and everything."
"What about when you got to Molmol? Why didn't you just bail on them?"
Shinobu looked down.
"I still wanted to trust them. And then the explanations for why we were there kept changing. It was the deed. It was to escape Su. It was because we had no choice but to work with Su. I didn't even hear that thing about making it all a challenge for you till Kitsune spouted it."
Naru forced Shinobu to look her in the eye. She had not been told almost any of this, and had been cut out of the loop in several deliberate and manipulative ways. She had been afraid that Keitaro's 'perverted nature' might make him vulnerable to making a mistake. As it turned out, he had been one of the only ones Naru could trust.
"Why did you pull that slimy maneuver with the cab ride, when all of you left the Sou?"
Shinobu winced. That had not been one of her better moments.
"I still wasn't trying to steal him. I was just making sure you two couldn't finalize things before I confessed."
"I could still slap you for that, Shinobu. That was as dirty a trick as I will ever allow, even from you."
The girl showed her sorrow, and Naru wanted that to be that. But questions still remained.
"Why did you hit him?"
"You have the nerve to ask me that?"
"Yeah. Because you've never done it before. I'm working hard on never doing it again. But yours had to hurt more, because there is no way he could be expecting it. Never from you—and from behind? Sure as hell not as part of Su and Kitsune's sick game—and that's what it was, Shinobu. Try and dress it up anymore in romantic clothing, and I will even hate you."
Naru felt horrible on one level, given who she was going after. But the target had presented itself, and she wondered if any of the others would even try and offer up anything remotely resembling an apology.
"You want to know why I hit him? Not because of their lame plans---whatever those happened to be. I hit him because I hated the both of you. I hated him for choosing you instead of me, and I hated you because I kept wondering why he ever would, given how you've treated him, I---"
Shinobu closed her eyes.
"---I'm a horrible, ungrateful wretch. I am so sorry for---everything. Just knowing you two is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I'm lashing out while lecturing you on doing the exact same thing. That, and I know how they all can be, and I still listened. Sempai, what's happening to me?"
She reached out and squeezed the girl's hand. This wasn't her enemy, and treating her as such was like as not the second worst thing Naru ever saw herself doing.
"I forgive you, and I don't even see that much to forgive you for. He does love you, Shinobu, so he'll forgive the frying pan if you just ask. As to what's happening, Shinobu?"
Naru forced out a smile for one that needed and deserved it.
"Our Shinobu is growing up. It's a wondrous thing to behold."
The girl smiled.
"Maybe—maybe everyone else was driven just as crazy by their love for Sempai Keitaro."
"No! Don't compare our motives to theirs. They had every chance to come out and say to him how they felt. But Su is always playing a game, this time with us as the pieces. Motoko is in torment over her love for him, so she drags everyone else into her torment. Kanako is always hiding something---she cannot be trusted—and you should have known that—sorry. And I honestly don't know if Kitsune feels anything beyond the present moment, if all that drinking didn't numb her even for that. You were led on—to some extent, and Mutsumi was with me. I'm not forgiving anyone else but Seta—Auntie reallllly nailed him hard on that---until they walk up to me and offer it up free and clear. No hints. I am so upset right now, I might even let Grandma have it, back at the Sou."
Shinobu's look turned massively skeptical.
"Uh-huh. Yeah."
Naru shrugged.
"Ok, no one's that brave. But I was angry enough to think about it. No more tests or scams. It's us from now on. Shinobu, I need to hear you say it."
"It is you and him from now on. Perhaps someday soon, you and he will even marry."
As Naru smiled, Shinobu mentally added on.
*Of course, even a happily married man needs a place to go to keep him happy.*
The pilot announced that they were approaching an airfield near Tokyo International. Su stirred briefly.
"Wassat?"
Shinobu spoke softly.
"It's okay, Princess. We're just re-entering the world where, you know, sane people write the rules and can't just lock people up on a whim."
Su fell back to sleep. Naru briefly became concerned that she had given Shinobu the wrong advice, and was feeding something ugly in both of them. Then Kitsune stretched and awoke.
"So---the two crashed and burned lovebirds gonna try for a successful re-entry tonight?"
Very briefly, before angry vengeful thoughts re-claimed her, Naru prayed for this time of troubles and fury to be already passed.
At first, as she stood before a Grandma who seemed more theatrical than usual, Naru thought that time was now gone away.
She was wrong, and her last great self-growth before adulthood was nearing its painful but necessary start. The cost of her life's approach was nearing due, and in this she was hardly alone.
But even huge debts can be paid, and even deep old wounds patched and their healing started after far too much neglect.
We have now spoken enough of the war between the sisters at the Hinata-Sou.
HINATA-SOU, NEARLY ONE WEEK LATER
One or two stiff gusts still remained, but the storm was largely spent, and friends all the stronger for walking through the unforgettable fire now literally prepared to sing of their joy—with the aid of some pop standards and the first safe sane invention to emerge from Kaolla Su's mind in no one knew how long. But one who it would have been thought would be the first to jump on the free-form fun of karaoke shook a hand in the air.
"Look—I wanna do this—hell, I need to do this. But I can't, on the off chance there's any other baggage to be unloaded, any more laundry to be aired."
Naru felt like she had talked her feelings and those of the others to death and back again, with some odd reincarnations thrown in for good measure. Despite this, she said what was on all their minds.
"What happened to us these past few days?"
Shinobu shrugged.
"Our first fight."
Motoko shook her head.
"Until this time, it was always us against them."
Mitsune nodded.
"Whoever the them was—we were always us."
Mutsumi, who had largely avoided the conflict, tried anew in aiding its penultimate resolution.
"You've had two intruders break into your circle these past three years—both named Urashima. One came to stay, and became a part of that circle. Another seems largely to have come and gone—not holding my breath on never seeing her again. Maybe this was inevitable from the moment Keitaro made his choice—or any choice, really."
"Mutsumi, this isn't Sempai's fault! You and he were the only ones who kept their heads during all this."
"She did not say it was Urashima's fault, Shinobu. But his presence, his absence, and then his choice provided the outer conflict for these years. That outer conflict artificially strengthened our unity, and caused us to gloss over a thousand other concerns. Many a strong coalition has collapsed when the fog of war is replaced by the harsh light of day. Happily, we had something more than mere alliance."
Su seemed openly sad.
"I don't ever want to fight like this ever again. I want to learn all I can about the things you told me about, so no one gets angry at me again."
Naru pulled the girl close, and playfully 'noogied' her.
"Silly! Of course we'll be angry with you again, and you with us. We're not going to make the same old mistakes—but we'll make brand new ones. You can't walk away from that."
Keitaro grabbed her up as soon as she wriggled free of Naru.
"See Su, this is another reason why the Sou could never go to Molmol. Even in a closed situation, people change. Sometimes, those changes bump up against each other. When that happens with continental plates, you get earthquakes."
The predatory Su was gone for now and simply seemed like a child who liked being held by a beloved older sibling.
"So this fight was an earthquake?"
"Mmmm…more like the aftershock to a series of earthquakes. The initial quakes weakened the buildings and roads. The aftershock showed us just how fragile what we had was."
Motoko added to this.
"And conversely, how precious the basic structure had become to us. The building is in need of strengthening and now some rebuilding as well. Part of our conflict derived from ignoring the state of disrepair that is now apparent."
Mitsune seemed most sober of all about this.
"Then we have to make a pledge to never let this happen again—by always communicating. Maybe we can't keep it 100%, but I have a feeling we better damn well try. And one more thing we better damn well do."
She grabbed the karaoke microphone.
"Start singing—cause if I can't get blasted drunk, then I am gonna mangle me some pop standards! Su? What does the Japanese selection list on this thing look like?"
Su jumped up, overjoyed to have an invention no one was upset about.
"It's huge—all the classics and a ton of contemporary stuff."
All seemed pleased at this, except a skeptical Shinobu.
"Su? How do you define what a classic is?"
"Huh?"
"I just mean---what are some of the selections on the Japanese list?"
"Well, only the classics, like I said---every anime and sentai theme for the past forty years. Isn't that great?"
Mitsune found the list on the machine's readout.
"People—we have no crooners or idols not involved in television themes. What about say, the American list, Su?"
"Their cartoons aren't as interesting—except for that one about the cavemen. So to round it out, I downloaded some weird stuff. People with names like Joel, Streisand, Collins, McLean, and some guys from New Jersey who sing during all four seasons. Lots of others---but---America and the rest of the West is just weird."
Motoko held her hand to her head, but finally smiled.
"If offered a choice between The Monkees and the sugar-raising theme to Steel Angel Kurumi, then I must reluctantly say: Go USA."
"No TV themes?"
Shinobu tried to comfort Su.
"We're gonna leave all those for you alone, Su. We know you'll make them great."
"Oh, we all will, Shinobu. See, I programmed it to cause the singer's voice to merge with the voice of the original artist as it plays back. Nobody needs to feel embarrassed. It's like the angel said: Don't worry that it's not good enough, for anyone else to hear, just sing a song."
Naru shook her head.
"What angel said that, Su?"
"Her name was Karen. I think she was related to the Christian Messiah, because she was a carpenter too. That was the only American music I really understood. I have to go there someday and find out how they recorded an angel's voice like that."
If the princess's astounding naiveté had been infuriating them these past few weeks, in this instance, it could not help but bring tears of joy. Naru went first, and knew well what song she would sing. Her eyes never left her man as she crooned, augmented by the voice of an angel gone too soon.
"Such a feelin's coming over me ; There is wonder in most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes ; And I won't be surprised if it's a dream
Everything I want the world to be ; Is now coming true especially for me
And the reason is clear, it's because you are here ; You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen
I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation ; And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around ; Your love's put me at the top of the world
Something in the wind has learned my name ; And it's telling me that things are not the same
In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze; There's a pleasin' sense of happiness for me
There is only one wish on my mind ; When this day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me ; All I need will be mine if you are here
I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation ; And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around ;Your love's put me at the top of the world."
Keitaro went next, but Naru stopped him.
"Sing one for everybody. You and I can settle up later."
Bypassing the theme for 'ZyuRanger', Keitaro went all the way to Long Island, New York for his inspiration.
"She can kill with a smile; She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies; And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child; But she's always a woman to me
She can lead you to live; She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth; But she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
She steals like a thief; But she's always a woman to me
Oh, she takes care of herself; She can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time; Oh, and she never gives out
And she never gives in; She just changes her mind
She will promise you more; Than the Garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you; And laugh while you're bleedin'
But she'll bring out the best; And the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself; Cause she's always a woman to me
She is frequently kind; And she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases; She's nobody's fool
But she can't be convicted; She's earned her degree
And the most she will do; Is throw shadows at you
But she's always a woman to me."
The women of Hinata-Sou all took turns hugging the perverted intruder after that one. Mitsune chose an odd one—Keitaro would have pegged her for 'Fun Fun Fun' by The Beach Boys, but instead she chose a song covered by a native New Yorker.
"I was born from love; And my poor mother worked the mines
I was raised on the Good Book Jesus; Till I read between the lines
Now I don't believe I want to see the morning; Going down the stoney end
I never wanted to go; Down the stoney end
Mama let me start all over; Cradle me, Mama, cradle me again
I can still remember him; With love light in his eyes
But the light flickered out and parted; As the sun began to rise
Now I don't believe I want to see the morning
Going down the stoney end; I never wanted to go
Down the stoney end; Mama let me start all over
Cradle me, Mama, cradle me again
Never mind the forecast; 'Cause the sky has lost control
'Cause the fury and the broken thunders; Come to match my raging soul
Now I don't believe I want to see the morning; Going down the stoney end I never wanted to go
Down the stoney end; Mama let me start all over
Cradle me, Mama, cradle me again."
Mutsumi helped Mitsune sit back down. Her tears were evident. Mutsumi turned to the others as she saw their concern.
"She just really likes Barbra Streisand."
After a moment for Mitsune to splash her face, Shinobu whispered to Su. Su nodded gleefully.
"Well, really, it's Swedish. But it's in there—along with a song about a fishing village that froze to death."
"We'll---stick with the---other—Swedish songs, Su."
Shinobu then put a finger on Keitaro's nose.
"Time for us to turn the tables, Sempai!"
The two waited for the intro beat to take over, and then began their 'vengeance'.
"You're so hot; Teasing me; So you're blue but I can't Take a chance on a kid like you
It's something I couldn't do
There's that look; In your eyes I can read in your face; That your feelings are driving you wild
But boy you're only a child
Well, I could dance with you honey; If you think it's funny
But does your mother know that you're out?
And I could chat with you baby; Flirt a little maybe
But does your mother know that you're out?
Take it easy: Take it easy; Better slow down boy; That's no way to go
Does your mother know?
Take it easy; Take it easy; Try to cool it boy; Take it nice and slow
Does your mother know?
I can see; What you want; But you seem pretty young
To be searching for that kind of fun; So maybe I'm not the one
Now, you're so cute; I like your style; And I know what you mean
When you give me a flash of that smile; But boy you're only a child
Well, I could dance with you honey; If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out? And I could chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe; Does your mother know that you're out?
Take it easy; Better slow down boy; That's no way to go
Does your mother know?
Take it easy; Try to cool it boy; Play it nice and slow
Does your mother know?
Well, I could dance with you honey; If you think it's funny
But does your mother know that you're out?; And I could chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe But does your mother know that you're out?"
Both girls practically fell onto Keitaro, who looked at Naru.
"They're just out of my league."
Naru nodded.
"You'll have to settle."
"Know anybody?"
"Just this one chick. I hear she's nuts, though. Violence-prone."
"She doesn't sound so ba…."
Each of the young girls seized Keitaro's head in turn and planted a kiss on his lips. Shinobu then bonked him on the head.
"Don't flirt with her while we're flirting with you, Moron!"
"Yeah, Onii-Chan---think of how other people feel for a change!
Keitaro looked at Naru.
"Tickle-fit?"
"It is called for."
"Hey!"
"nooooooo…."
The two would-be Abba members encountered their Waterloo at the hands and fingers of their not-so mature elders. Shinobu yelped.
"Motoko, Mitsune, I'm being molested!"
"It is wrong to brag on your good fortune, Shinobu."
"Besides, our samurai got hers earlier."
As she finally made Su pay—in a mostly playful manner—for all of Molmol and years of antics, Naru looked over at her man and the increasingly not-childlike young woman he was standing over. There was every chance of their relationship going out of control, and there was no chance at all of that happening, all at the same time. Naru came again to realize the ultimate price of her earlier abuse. His most tender relationship would never be with his wife, but with a woman that he, out of profound and deep loyalty to both ladies, would never touch. Her hard feelings softened when she realized their own love seemed tender to those watching it from the outside, and so it was for the love all there felt for one another.
*We've really got something here, and we maniacs nearly blew it up. Damn it all to hell. Mitsune's right—we have to be a lot more careful from now on.*
She looked down to see Su smiling at her.
"You tickle a lot better than Motoko!"
The warrior met the princess's stuck-out tongue with the same facial gesture, and a new path began to emerge for both of them. Naru looked at the sweaty, giggling Shinobu.
"Should I leave you two alone?"
Shinobu shook her head.
"You try and run out that door, I won't just hit you with the skillet, I'll fry you up and serve you with fish heads. He's all yours, lady---Sempai is just too high maintenance for a sweet young thing like me."
Naru honked her nose.
"He'd make an old woman out you in a week."
Shinobu turned and looked at Keitaro again.
"Well, we should put that to the test, shouldn't we?"
The two sisters hugged, another honk indicating firmly that this was not an option. Motoko took the mike next.
"I choose to sing from the works of Springfield."
Su raised her hand.
"Negi Springfield?"
Everyone else in the room looked at her, and spoke as one.
"Who?"
"In any event, Kaolla Su, I meant Dusty Springfield. Naru—know that in this, I speak of feelings of the heart, and not warnings or hints of my intent. Our brother is smart, and loyal, and has chosen. This is settled."
Naru shook her head.
"Geez, just sing, would you?"
Mitsune clapped.
"Yeah, get on with it. Belt out 'Son Of A Preacher Man' girl!"
"Not my choice in this matter. I choose something a bit more—effusive."
Motoko began, her grace in motion rarely more in evidence.
"I don't know what it is that makes me love you so; I only know I never want to let you go
'cause you've started something; Oh, can't you see? That ever since we met; You've had a hold on me; It happens to be true
I only want to be with you
It doesn't matter where you go or what you do; I want to spend each moment of the day with you
Oh, look what has happened with just one kiss; I never knew that I could be in love like this
It's crazy but it's true
I only want to be with you
You stopped and smiled at me; And asked if I'd care to dance
I fell into your open arms; And I didn't stand a chance
Now listen honey; I just want to be beside you everywhere
As long as we're together, honey, I don't care; 'cause you've started something
Oh, can't you see? That ever since we met You've had a hold on me; No matter what you do
I only want to be with you
Oh, oh, you stopped and you smiled at me; And asked if I'd care to dance
I fell into your open arms; And I didn't stand a chance
Now hear me tell you; I just want to be beside you everywhere
As long as we're together, honey, I don't care; 'cause you've started something
Oh, can't you see? That ever since we met; You've had a hold on me
No matter what you do; I only want to be with you; I said no matter, no matter what you do
I only want to be with you."
She looked at Keitaro, and then at Naru, who sighed.
"Last liplocks till the wedding, girls."
Motoko then kissed Keitaro for the second time.
"You who are not my destination—thank you for being my journey. Of all the moments we have shared, good and bad---"
She took his hand and squeezed it.
"I shall first remember the feel of the hand that was my lifeline."
Mutsumi's turn had come, but she seemed reluctant.
"I'm---not sure."
Mitsune pushed the mike into her hands.
"C'mon, you sure as hell got the lungs for it."
Mutsumi thought for a moment, then chose.
"You've mostly sung so sweetly of the shy, awkward romantic boy we all seem to have fallen for---but for myself, I prefer---"
She seized Keitaro by the head, and held him into her chest for ten seconds.
"Air!"
"---I prefer to celebrate his fun, perverted side."
Keitaro looked at Naru.
"That was hers."
"Yeah—it was. You get off with an arm punch."
"Looks like he was getting off just then."
"MITSU!"
"Ah, there's the old flavor. Mutsumi—take it away."
The lady with the pipes—not to mention a fair singing voice—started in.
"Told you once before; And I won't tell you no more
Get down, get down, get down; You're a bad dog baby
But I still want you 'round
You give me the creeps; When you jump on your feet
So get down, get down, get down; Keep your hands to yourself
I'm strictly out of bounds
Once upon a time I drank a little wine; Was as happy as could be, happy as could be
Now I'm just like a cat on a hot tin roof
Baby what do you think you're doin' to me
Told you once before; And I won't tell you no more
So get down, get down, get down; You're a bad dog baby
But I still want you 'round around; I still want you around
I don't give a damn; And I'd like you if you can to
Get down, get down, get down; You're bad dog baby
But I still want you 'round
Once upon a time I drank a little wine; Was as happy as could be, happy as could be
Now I'm just like a cat on a hot tin roof; Baby what do you think you're doin' to me
Told you once before; And I won't tell you no more
So get down, get down, get down; You're a bad dog baby
But I still want you 'round around; I still want you around."
She swatted Keitaro across the nose.
"Bad Baby, Bad Dog Baby!"
Motoko once again took up some of Mitsune's former mantle.
"Finally, someone says it!"
Keitaro looked at her.
"What, finally? This is just the first time I've heard it put to song!"
Naru chuckled to herself as Keitaro began to sing the song just for her alone.
*I'm gonna have to watch all of them like hawks—thank you, Kami.*
When Keitaro fell to one knee before her, she thanked that same party yet again.
"Love me or leave me, make your choice but believe me
I love you; I do, I do, I do, I do, I do
I can't conceal it, don't you see, can't you feel it?
Don't you too? ; I do, I do, I do, I do, I do
Oh, I've been dreaming through my lonely past
Now I just made it, I found you at last
So come on, now let's try it, I love you, can't deny it
'Cos it's true; I do, I do, I do, I do, I do
Oh, no hard feelings between you and me
If we can't make it, but just wait and see
So Naru, let's try it, You love me, don't deny it
'Cos it's true; I do, I do, I do, I do, I do
So love me or leave me, make your choice but believe me
I love you; I do, I do, I do, I do, I do
I can't conceal it, don't you see, can't you feel it?
Don't you too? ; Say I do, I do, I do, I do, I do."
He smiled at her, but it was not quite met back. He grew impatient.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Do you?"
She shrugged.
"I'm thinking it over!"
At Keitaro's direction, the two younger girls held her arms while he tickled her.
"Say it!"
"Keitaro!"
"SAY IT!!!"
In an unthinking moment, she moved to end the tickling. Keitaro caught the full of the punch, which immediately had her gasping at what she had again done.
"No—please—I am trying. I—"
Her panicked eyes sought immediate exit—only to find every possible avenue of escape blocked by her sisters.
"Uh-uh-uh! Onee has to answer Onii's question!"
"Don't dream of it Sempai."
"Not happening, girl."
"Face your worst moment, Narusegawa."
Mutsumi struck the hardest blow of all.
"You run off now—he's fair game, and that's not a joke."
Keitaro now grabbed her, and held her from behind, as she sobbed lightly.
"Why do you put up with me? Why can't I ever drive you away, you love-struck idiot?"
He turned her head and kissed her.
"We put up with each other. That's part of the deal. As to why you can't drive me away?"
He pushed her down, back onto the couch and leaned over into her face.
"You're not that strong."
Having met her own Waterloo, Naru never again tried to run away from her own heart. Instead, she embraced and kissed it like never before. She answered his question a second time.
"I Do."
Su jumped up and clapped her hands.
"One more song! All of us this time."
The exhausted group gave in reluctantly as Su pulled out another invention. Their clothes all changed to brightly colored pastel suits straight out of the 1970's.
"I watched this documentary series on the satellite dish. It was about a family that came together like ours did here. After some fighting, they got along so well, they even seemed to forget they weren't a family at the start! It ended kinda sad, though."
Shinobu saw that this had gotten to her friend.
*Wow…maybe she's MY oldest friend. Am I even old enough to have an oldest friend?*
"How did it end, Su?"
"Well, this cousin of theirs came to live with them, and some poor rabbits got chemicals spilled on them—and then they all went away."
Mitsune rolled her eyes.
"Geez—what was their story?"
The LED display projected on the nearby wall the different parts to be sung, and the moves to be emulated. Whatever Kaolla Su did and did not understand—and this was quite a bit—she had chosen her song very well indeed. Appropriately, Naru and Keitaro sang lead.
"Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na
Autumn turns to winter,
And winter turns to spring.
It doesn't go just for seasons you know,
It goes for everything.
The same is true for families,
When love begins to grow.
You gotta take a lesson from Grandma Nature,
And if you do you'll know.
When it's time to change, then it's time to change
Don't fight the tide, come along for the ride, don't you see
When it's time to change, you've got to rearrange
who you are into what you're gonna be.
Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na
Day by day, it's hard to see the changes you've been through
A little bit of living, a little bit of growing all adds up to you
Every boy's a man inside, a girl's a woman too
And if you wanna reach your destiny, here's what you've got to do
When it's time to change, then it's time to change
Don't fight the tide, come along for the ride, don't you see
When it's time to change, you've got to rearrange
who you are into what you're gonna be.
Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na
Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na."
They spun, fell, sung, mistook words, stumbled on each other's parts, and barely averted several wardrobe malfunctions. They proved how really horrendously tired they were, after what would always rank as one of the longest and harshest days of their long and happy lives. But they had fun, almost as much fun as Motoko would have, weeks later, explaining to Su the true nature of the 'documentary' she had seen.
But now the long day was done, and while as was said, a few stiff gusts still awaited, the family of Hinata Urashima was headed for bed. Keitaro gained a sudden nervous look, and spoke quickly.
"Mitsu—you'll be taking over Auntie's old room. With your things gone, some of the stuff she left should fit you till you can go shopping. Naru—upstairs!"
"Hey, cool down, lover. We have time."
He picked her up physically, rapidly ascending the staircase.
"We really don't. Su? How long did you program these clothes to last for?"
They were inside and their bedroom door closed when the Princess responded.
"Twenty Hours, Keitaro! Or was that…"
The ladies looked themselves over. They were all together in the all-together.
"…twenty minutes?"
Motoko smiled. At least she didn't have to undress before bed.
"Urashima may not be able to outrun fate—but perhaps he is learning to anticipate it."
Shinobu chuckled.
"We all know each other pretty well by now—why'd he run off like that?"
Mitsune gave a brief rueful comparative look at Mutsumi, confirming once and for all that the steam of the onsen had nothing to do with Otohime's supremacy in certain matters.
"Our brother's a smart man, kid. He knows we tend to lean on old familiar habits. Sudden Su-induced nudity is just as likely to be blamed on him, in the heat of the moment."
"So we haven't really changed? What was that song we just belted out? What was all of this about then?"
"Change is a slow process, Shinobu. In many ways, we are all still as children…"
Motoko grabbed up the already-napping Su. Lessons and restrictions would begin soon enough.
"…and children need to sleep."
Each headed for their rooms, and upstairs, even the 'happy humpers' as Mitsune had called them were fast asleep, their snuggled presence against each other proving for the moment as great a joy as unraveling the sexual tension that had built since a nude young woman entered the onsen and reached for a washcloth that wasn't.
Motoko wrapped her little heart in one of her own childhood robes and lay down at last.
"To sleep...perchance to dream."
Motoko Urashima awoke to find that her husband had already risen.
*He is enthusiastic about his katas. And I think Tsuruko has warmed to him.*
The smell of breakfast grains awaited her, as did the sight of her husband and sister sparring in the shrine's dojo area.
"You are doing well, little brother! Keep it up!"
"I will shang my chi for the merest hint of my onee-chan's possible approval."
*Already calling him little brother? That's not like---*
"Wife! Stop thought-speaking so loudly while we are in pitched combat!"
"Sorry, Ur—Keitaro!"
Tsuruko looked over at her with contempt.
"Oh, it is *you*. My brother's wife."
"Umm—he's your brother-in-law. I'm your sister."
"Brother! Silence your concubine's sharp tongue before I do!"
"Motoko—The head of our clan has ordered your silence—you will obey."
The two finished, and bowed to one another.
"You did well, my brother."
"I had an excellent teacher, Onee-Chan."
"Brother—have your serving girl clean up the battle area."
"Tsuruko, I am your---"
Tsuruko covered her ears as though in pain.
"Brother, IT'S speaking to me again. Punish its unforgiveable familiarity while you have your oatmeal."
Motoko entered into the toughest battle of her life against the absurdly-trained Keitaro. That is to say, the toughest battle of her life. Not his. With one hand, he battled her to a standstill. With the other, he ate breakfast and looked over the morning paper. Motoko collapsed from exhaustion.
"How—did you—get this good?"
"Oh, I did seventeen movie training montages when I arrived. Nothing better for strengthening mind body and soul."
"That's—that's ridiculous---"
Tsuruko ran in, bowling over the barely-risen Motoko.
"Oh, Brother, A Tragedy! My husband has left this world in some undefined cutaway moment it will take us twenty episodes and an omake epilogue to fully understand. I am widowed and alone."
Motoko reached out to her.
"I am so sorry, Tsuruko. He was a good man."
Tsuruko shook her head.
"We never even had time to hire a seiyuu for him. Brother, will you stand by me in this darkest of all times?"
He held Tsuruko close.
"Of course, Onee-Chan. Were I not your brother, I would offer you more than mere words of comfort."
"Why, Brother—I never knew you returned my feelings. This could even turn into a decent ecchi video, if we play our cards right."
Motoko shook her head.
"He's NOT your brother! He's my husband, and I'm your sister. The only thing making your love forbidden is me!"
The pair stopped.
"She's right—I forgot about all that. Tsuruko?"
"Yes, Keitaro?"
"Wanna kill her?"
"Oh, for a long time now. But what about the ecchi part?"
"Not to worry. Most of those vids don't feature actual brother/sister—just cousin, in-law, step, adopted, or 'grew up raised as'. Very few of them deliver the goods."
"The porn industry has no honor! Oh—Motoko?"
"Yes, Onee-Chan?"
"Say hello to my husband for me. Tell him I waited at least six months, for appearances' sake."
Motoko saw both of them raise ki attacks. She saw the swords descend towards her.
"Oh---boy."
The white light faded. Motoko heard a slightly older woman yelling at her.
"Nurse Aoyoma! Doctor Pierce just asked you a question."
"C'mon, Motoko—3-O silk. Snap it up!"
"Sorry, Doctor—Major Houlihan."
Motoko saw the room full of wounded soldiers.
*I hope this is a Henry Blake episode.*
Kessu walked the halls of the star-Sou JSDF Hinata's Journey. As usual, Captain Harukathryn Janeway was arguing a point with her First Officer.
"Mister Setoakay, there is only one Captain aboard this ship—and I say we're having taiyaki every night this week!"
"Careful, Captain—remember, half this crew were trained chefs before we came here, not archeologists like us."
"Sukiyaki then?"
"To break it up."
Naomi MacDougal brought up the rear of her feuding folks.
"Do you guys ever argue about us getting home?"
Kessu waved at her friend.
"Hi. Harriet. How'd your date go?"
Harriet Kitsune did not look happy.
"He turned out to be Galactus in disguise. I told him—we save planets for a living, he eats them. It would never work out."
"What about that other guy you were seeing?"
"He was a Cylon. Damn, I have rotten luck with guys."
Kessu checked out the galley.
"Hi, Shinoblix!"
"Oh, Hi, Kessu. Oh---QaNako erased all my recipe files. Now, Keitom Parishima and I will have to engage in a series of pointless bonding adventures to obtain more. But it beats them grimming up my character, I guess."
"But aren't you hot for him?"
"Yeah—but for some reason it all seems so slashy."
Deciding to see her friend as well, Kessu walked down to Engineering, where he was talking with Be'lannaru Torresegawa, the half-Klingdere Engineer. She punched Parishima.
"Moron!"
She kicked Parishima.
"Fool!"
She threw Parishima bodily.
"Expletive Untranslatable, Sounds Vaguely Yiddish!"
She kissed Parishima full on the lips, finally injuring him with her head ridges.
"Okay—I like that idea."
"What idea, guys?"
"Oh, hi, Kessu. Tuvoko—will you tell her?"
The fiery warrior devoted to emotional control and peace nodded.
"Indeed. Kessu—I have rated that you are no longer needed."
Kessu found herself inside an escape pod. Parishima shrugged.
"Sorry, Kessu. But we need to replace you with Mutseven Of 49DDD and her really tight catsuit."
The busty former MechaniGirl waved.
"With Cat-Ears!"
"Be'lannaru, don't let them do this!"
Torresegawa winked at her.
"Don't worry, Kessu—you get to save us all by blowing up, and then someday you'll come back as an inexplicably murderous, bitter old hag!"
As they prepared to blast her off, Kessu shouted.
"Wait! Is this because I went all Dark Phoenix when we visited MolCompa?"
They all responded as one as the button was pushed.
"Yes!"
As she flew out into endless space, Kessu resolved herself and accessed the food replicator.
"Computer---Bananas."
"Unable To Comply."
Her shriek was somehow heard even through the vacuum of the soundless void. And that's just silly.
Mitsu Konno saw Shinobu walk into the Sou. She looked unkempt.
"What's wrong, Shinobu?"
"Oh, Mitsu Ryobo-San! The evil spirits are out there in the city, wrecking relationships!"
"Wrecking relationships, you say?"
"Yeah. It's a lot like Sae from Peach Girl, only more-so and without any redeeming backstories."
*Sounds like my people are at it again, attacking the Humans. When will they learn?*
Mutsumi walked in, nodding.
"I was only meeting my brother for lunch, but the spirits said I was probably lying about that, so they told him I cheated on him. He thought I meant checkers, and now he won't speak to me!"
Motoko was crying.
"They painted my sword psychedelic colors—because they heard that a warrior's best relationship is with their weapon."
Su looked outside at the swirling chaos.
"Mitsu—maybe you and I should take a look out there—ya know?"
"Great idea, Su."
"Not a great idea! Mitsu, you and I have a date for lunch."
"Sorry, Keitaro—but I won't be long."
"Oh, let her be forever, Keitaro! My fabulously wealthy parents will pay for a faboo lunch at the very best places!"
"I guess I will, Naru—since Mitsu is always doing this to me. Hmmph!"
The pair walked out, while Su and Mitsu went in the other direction.
"She's so cheap, Mitsu! Why do you always let her get so close to Keitaro? He's your boyfriend."
"She's her own worst nemesis, Kaolla Su. Mine awaits me in Tokyo City—or rather it awaits---"
Summoning up energies of the good tricksters of legend, Mitsu took on her even hotter superhuman form.
"KITSUNE KAMEN! THE MASKED FOX!"
"Umm—that's what Kitsune Kamen means—just like Zorro in Spanish."
"No time for that, Su. Now run into the city and be danger bait!"
"Gotcha!"
Flying along, the mighty Kitsune Kamen disrupted the work of the spirits that were part of her tragic mixed heritage.
"No, Sir—your girlfriend couldn't possibly be pregnant right after last night. It takes a while longer than that."
"No, Ma'am—your husband is an empty husk of a man. He can barely satisfy you, let alone participate in an orgy."
"I think you two may be a couple from another manga—misunderstandings like this are just par for the course, when he's afraid of shoes, and she's a dragon cast in Human form."
A voice boomed out.
"So, once again you undo my designs, Kitsune Kamen!"
"Well, if it isn't my evil half-sister Disguisa, Mistress Of Disguises!"
Disguisa shook her head.
"Why do you always add that last part? I mean, I'm already called Disguisa. I think most people just see the next part as implicit."
"Enough talk! We fight!"
"Not so fast, sister! For I have your little friend."
"Good work Su."
"Thanks, KK!"
"Ehhh—you wouldn't dare drop her."
Disguisa did just that. Su plummeted faster than the popularity of a mangaka who bails before finishing the series.
"Now you can save her, or…owww! Aren't you even going to try and save her?"
Kitsune Kamen punched at her half-sister.
"She'll go through a series of humiliating and disgusting mishaps, then complain to me at the end of the adventure, but she'll live. Now, stop disrupting established relationships, Disguisa!"
"I do no such thing. I merely cause people to raise logical questions about their unworkable relationships. Men very often find me a better match for their friends than their current girlfriend."
"But most women consider you an unwanted element in something that was moving along just fine without your ironic commentary."
"You win this round, Kitsune Kamen. But like Elmyra Duff, I'll keep returning despite my lack of popularity!"
Flying back to the Hinata-Sou, Kitsune Kamen resumed her mortal form as conservative Ryobo Mitsu Konno. Su was awaiting her.
"Mitsu! I fell into sewage, was attacked by dogs, and got mistaken for an eco-terrorist!"
"Oh, that wacky Su!"
"Hello, I'm right here."
Inside, Naru was her usual self.
"Hmmph! Look who bothered to show up, after missing all the excitement."
Keitaro hugged his true love.
"Oh stop it Naru. Sure she's a bit unreliable and inattentive, but we all can't be like the wondrous beautiful Kitsune Kamen."
Mitsu turned and winked. Keitaro stared.
"Who were you winking at?"
When all had left but her, Mitsu received a phone call.
"It's Disguisa, sister dear. You want a happily ever after? Check the writing credits on this piece."
Mitsu opened up her own manga, looked where she was bid, and then shrieked in purest horror.
"Go Nagai and Yoshi Tomino?!!!!"
The young girl again heard those heartbreaking words.
"Shinobu Maehara will not be my mistress."
But now those words were changed as well.
"She will be my wife."
They were back at the Sou, not the restaurant.
"But what about Naru?"
He laughed.
"Naru Narusegawa? You mean that crazy violent girl who was placed into an insane asylum, before I ever came back here?"
"Yeah. That would be the one. What about Kanako?"
"My sister who works in Hollywood doing special effects? Haven't seen her in years—her or her husband."
She asked about the others, and one and all, they were nowhere to be found or seen.
"Why are you asking me all this, Shinobu? It's been you and me since we were kids. Now, on our eighteenth birthday, no law can hold us back any longer."
"Our eighteenth birthday?"
Delighted, they walked upstairs together, and it happened. Her mind fought against the limits of imagining something she had never actually done before. In the afterglow, she further imagined their lives together.
"This is so wonderful. I am so happy. Just wait until I tell—until I tell---"
Who would she tell? Who would she talk to? Who would she seek advice from? Who could she rely on to always come through for her? Who could she feel good and safe around? After all, this man was not her Sempai. He was just a boyfriend, a lover--, maybe a husband. All great things, and surely she loved him dearly and truly and forever. But did gaining the one she loved mean forever losing him in the very special way that she had come to love him?
"I—want him back. I don't want the perfect uncontested boyfriend. I want a sweet awkward fool who never gets how much I really care, because he's too busy thinking of helping me, and too damned forgiving of my flaws and weaknesses. I want the infuriating guy who makes me blush, and who falls into my boobs, and who apologizes far too often when he's the one who's owed an apology. So---please bring him back."
She closed her eyes, and the young woman again heard those wonderful words.
"Shinobu Maehara will not be my mistress."
She smiled and felt tears of joy fall from her eyes as she responded.
"I understand completely---Sempai."
Mutsumi led them all into the onsen, where their man was waiting for them. The towels dropped. He was theirs, and they were his, with no dominance or selfishness, and no limits on behavior. Everything was allowed, and flesh met flesh in endless combinations.
No questions were asked, and no one was shamed. The youngest were among the boldest, and the oldest the most patient as things built to a crescendo—not of sex, but of their love—though sex was had a lot, to be certain.
When all was done, they rose from an onsen that now really needed cleaning, dressed and ran outside to the sandbox. There they reverted instantly to five year olds, all at the same time, and their innocent play was as joyful as the joining of their more mature bodies had ever been.
*But we're still fighting over Keitaro.*
Even that was fun and playful, and he was far less nervous than normal. Naru was hale and hearty, and Shinobu not intimidated by an age difference. Among rambunctious five year olds, Su hardly stood out at all. Motoko was not yet of age to be tasked, and Mitsune's touchy-feely grabbiness was just par for the course.
*Kami, let this moment last forever.*
Yet one by one, their parents came for them. Finally, three remained, and they stood to make that fateful promise—only to have the Urashimas and Narusegawas snatch their children up before it could be done. Sad faces were seen and little waves receded in the distance as little Mutsumi was left alone in the sandbox, her only wish being to see her friends again. The world grew cold as they left her, and the little girl began to cry. Finding the courage to rise from the sandbox, she became an adult again, willing now to live in a world where feelings so deeply felt can't always be expressed, but are nonetheless very real. In the distance, she glimpsed preparations for a wedding. She smiled wickedly.
*Well, this is MY dream, after all…*
Naru tiptoed toward the one she had offended. She adjusted her spectacles, and wished she could manage contacts, like him.
"Ummm—Urashima?"
"What is it now, idiot? And at least try calling me Keitaro."
"I'm realllly sorry—for sliding into the onsen like that."
She felt herself fly back from a casual punch. She never even saw him form a fist, nor did he look up from his studies to do it.
"That's for reminding me of it. You plan these things, don't you?"
"No! I just---just—"
The indignant look on his face was both terrifying and alluring at the same time.
"You just keep pushing me further and further away from the kind of pure status a woman of means and culture wants maintained in her future husband. Is that your plan, pervert? To make sure I have to settle for a future salarywoman like yourself—if you even do that well?"
*'A woman is the place the world begins.' So why do I always feel like the other end?*
Naru felt a blow to the back of her head.
"Is this voyeuristic monster bothering you again, Keitaro? I should make her incapable of pumping out potential hellspawn."
The young man was lithe and tough, almost looking like a samurai's bow and arrow in one being. Keitaro waved him off.
"I can handle this molest-happy fool, Moto. By the way, your brother called. Said he was coming over."
"Noooo---not Tsurito! Narusegawa—do I terrify you?"
"Alll---the time---errrr, Moto. I live in fear of life and limb because of you."
"Oh, why am I asking? A cowardly Peeping Godiva like you jumps at every last shadow."
As Naru tried to walk away, she heard one young boy talking to another.
"It wasn't until 1920 that American Men were finally granted the vote, and only in the past decade has their military even allowed men into combat, for fear of reproductive injury leading to a population decline…oh, hi, Sempai!"
The fresh, sweet smile of cutie Shinobi Maehara was a rare bright spot in this place.
"Hi. Shinobi! How's your stud…"
Two feet bounced off of Naru's skull amid gleeful laughter.
"Wow, you're tough. How are they hanging, Onee-Chan?"
"Konga Ru! You shouldn't speak to Sempai like that—especially not about her---ooohh."
"It's—okay—Shinobi. They're hanging well, Ru."
"Can I see them? I'll bet my sister the queen has bigger ones. I wish I'd been born to her. Hey—maybe I can make that happen!"
The boy with the wild look and sun-bleached hair pulled an invention from his loincloth.
"This device will either regress me back to before my current incarnation—or---"
Naru saw Shinobi's and her own shirt disappear. Shinobi shrieked.
"Eeekk! Do not gaze in lust upon that which feeds the world! Ohhhh—I'm looking!!"
Naru tried to calm the young boy.
"Shinobi—they're just boobs. Help me find something to cover myself—"
Konga Ru shrugged.
"Maybe I can adjust this thing to do dry cleaning."
"Waahhhhhh!! I've disobeyed one of Kami's laws! She'll send me to Hell with Lilith and all her fallen angels!"
A burp and the smell of beer came through. Naru, who had just found a t-shirt, felt her hand placed on something bumpy. A sly, well-muscled man smiled. Only the friendly if clumsy 'Mutt' Otohime had a bigger overall package—not to mention accessory. Matsui 'Loki' Konno had one of his wanton eyes hidden, as always.
"Okay. I've just allowed you to handle my area of true worth. That's good for a month's rent, right?"
Cries echoed all around Naru.
"Loki—hold her!"
Shinobi was crying his pretty little face off.
"I saw them! I SAW THEM!!! SEMPAI'S A JERK!"
Moto pulled out his sword.
"Is that how you get off? Exposing your 'power' to babies?"
Loki was no longer smiling.
"That poor kid may never recover."
Keitaro ground his fist into his hand.
"You think that just because this is a boys' dorm, you can come in here and do whatever you want?"
She found herself to be quite durable, but all these boys were insanely strong, able to hit with skill and speed rather than just being able to lift heavy weights and supports. Konga Ru just kept jumping on her head, not in anger, but that didn't seem to help much.
"YOU MADE SHINOBI CRY!!"
"Please—Urashima—you have to understand!"
Seemingly disinterested in her torture, her Uncle Noriyasu sat back in the distance, smoking a cigarette while chastising his girlfriend (but never call her that to his face) for her horrendous driving habits.
"What do I have to understand, Naru, huh? That we used to be able to walk safely in our own home, till Grandma made her only mistake ever and placed you and your pervy hands in the midst of our happy lives?"
"Grandma?"
"Yeah, that doesn't change. It's always Grandma."
She reached out to him, the boy she still felt closer to than many of the friends that had mocked her lack of dominance over what they had crudely called the 'hairballs'. Sadly, as she tried to get herself back up off the floor, a tug caused Keitaro's pants to come down.
"You're not wearing any---"
A kick sent her flying through the roof. As she flew ever further into the sky, she looked up at the heavens.
"O-kay! I GET IT! I think I kind of got it already…"
She awoke in her bed, next to Keitaro, who looked at her very sadly.
"I still can't believe you stayed, after all we put you through—especially early on. Why, what with Ru and Sam McDougal alone…"
Naru smiled. Tasked with the burden she had placed upon Keitaro, she now got to reap its ultimate reward.
"It's like I told you, Urashima—you're not that strong. None of my boys are. Now get ready for some good lovin."
And for the moment before the dream ended, she felt a bit of the good side of seeing things from another perspective.
*Cultural Dominance. I could come to like it.*
He saw her rise from the bed, just a little scared.
"I want to have it. It is ours."
Keitaro reached to take Naru's hand, but it turned into Motoko's as she rose.
"Both our lives will change. Mine will only be the most obvious."
As she stumbled but did not fall, she shifted into Mitsune.
"Kind of should have been more careful. Not that I actually would have been."
As she turned to look at him, she became Mutsumi.
"It may have to become his or her dream instead of ours now. They do cost money."
She pulled him close, and became Shinobu.
"We didn't do anything I didn't want to. I'm scared, but I can't not treasure the result."
He cupped her cheek, and that cheek now belonged to Su.
"You will be the greatest father ever. Can I still call you Onii-Chan?"
All of a sudden, they were all there, and all pregnant. The evidence of his huge irresponsibility and thoughtlessness stared him in the face. He grew badly frightened, and he saw the ladies rise up as though to punish him. But this he stopped.
"Even if this is all real—three years ago, I thought that entering Todai and gaining your acceptance were both impossible. If those things can be done, then I vow to make this work. Because we will make it work. It won't be a dream at first—but it can become one. Will you stand with me, fool and jerk though I am?"
Shinobu rose up, her stomach already visibly larger. She handed him a document.
"This is your quest. If you want our love and forgiveness, fulfill it."
Keitaro took the document, and found a place that could aid him in fulfilling the quest his wives had demanded as penance.
"So---you want 10 barrels of pickles, and 100 gallons of Butter Pecan Ice Cream?"
It was the year 2100. The old woman in the bed smiled at the young woman before expiring. The woman, somewhere around her late 20's, tried her best to sob. After so many goodbyes, it was getting hard to manage it, even for one she had held when the old woman was brand new to the world.
"Goodbye, Sarah."
She walked over to another room where someone else she knew was leaving this world, and there saw a handsome young man standing by another elderly lady's bedside.
*She still has the sweetest look.*
It obviously hurt the younger man to see the dying woman this way, but he kept as much of this back as he could.
"I will always think of you as you were that first night we met."
"And—to me---you will always be---sempai---ohhh—I feel—"
The two funerals were held the same day. The survivors walked off together.
"Keitaro, do you dye your hair?"
"Hydrogen Peroxide. It's too hard to explain why I'm buying silver dye."
Back at his apartment, she lay back in bed and waited for a moment that had been a century in the making. Keitaro looked at her. They had first discussed this thirty years before, when Naru's old illness had suddenly kicked up again. It had seemed at the time too much like a desperate option, based on their common status, which was rapidly leaving them alone and having to lie as a matter of course. Sarah's granddaughter thought her long dead, and her daughter in turn thought her just an old family friend.
"You sure you wanna do this?"
It was at Su's 'investiture as Goddess' that Grandma pulled them both aside and said that their happiness was more important to her than any law—except writing her more often.
"I'm sure. It's too hard hooking up, only to watch them age. Besides, everyone who might to know to object is gone—and I think that I have always loved you."
They kissed, and his delight in simply being around her was apparent. As he prepared to finally consummate a very old love, she held him back for one last question.
"Keitaro?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think—sometimes---?"
"Yeah?"
She smiled.
"---just for fun, do you think that sometimes, you could still call me Auntie?"
Haruka Urashima-Seta awoke in her bed, next to her husband, who was not her nephew, despite the comparisons she had made. Her dream had been a disturbing one for her—and it was not even the first one she'd ever had on the subject.
"What happened?"
She broke down and told him, and he smiled.
"Hey, you're only eight years his senior, and at times you've been very close. Look, if it really bothers you, go and see your friend. You were talking about it anyway."
"You're right. Hey, sorry to wake you."
He kissed her.
"Just to get myself tired again, I'm gonna take a brief walk. You okay?"
"I am now. Thanks, Nori-Chan."
Noriyasu Seta got dressed, and walked out into the early morning air by his home. He kept walking, judged the distance by the sound of his footsteps, and when he was far enough away to be 100% sure, he offered up an extra, more privately kept opinion on the subject matter of his new bride's dream. This opinion was concise and to the point.
"Eeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww!!!"