Disclaimer: Neither I nor anyone else involved in the creation of this story own any part of "Love Hina" or any of its characters. They are the sole property of Ken Akamatsu and/or the respective publishers.
A/N: Chapter 10 has been modified to make the discussion between Seta and Haruka clearer. My son read it and told me it felt like I dropped into an already started conversation. XD
The Price of Our Deeds
Chapter 11
Tsuruko sat in the lotus position in the small grassy clearing behind her family home in Kyoto. She had been there since before dawn seeking inner calm, her attempts failing miserably. The clan council would be meeting shortly and she was expected to report on Motoko. They were aware of the occurrence of an incident involving the Urashima clan but not of its nature.
A heavy sigh escaped her as she arose from her long morning of failure. Hopefully the meeting would meet with more success. Now if only…
"And now for the report on the family heir, Tsuruko is Motoko ready to assume her familial duties?" asked the head council elder.
"Motoko has achieved her goal of mastering the family arts, but…"
"Good, good, when will she be returning?" the elder asked interrupting Tsuruko.
'It's now or never', Tsuruko thought to herself as she bowed respectfully to the elder before turning and addressing the council as a whole.
"As I'm sure you have all heard by now, there has been an incident involving Motoko and the Urashima clan. Motoko has committed acts which have dishonored the Urashima clan. These acts have shown me that Motoko has not yet achieved the necessary inner strength of character to lead the clan. I therefore seek guidance in how to deal with this dilemma."
"How has she dishonored them and have they lodged a formal complaint?" asked the head elder.
"She has used techniques of her art against a member of the Urashima clan who was not only unarmed but untrained."
This drew several gasps from the council members. The Urashima were legendary practitioners of a "secrete" family art. They had all assumed that the incident had been an unplanned duel that had got out of hand.
Tsuruko sensed that her moment had arrived.
"No complaint, formal or otherwise, has been issued by the Urashima. Motoko herself has confessed her transgressions to me personally. She feels that she has shamed the family name and requests the chance to make reparations for her acts against the Urashima family heir."
The silence in the council chamber was ominous.
After several minutes the head elder spoke.
"A transgression of this nature has never happened in clan history. As there is no precedence here the council need not debate the issue but may object to my decision on this matter.
"Motoko, the sole remaining direct heir of the clan, has shamed the family name. Her dishonor of not only the Aoyama clan but also the Urashima clan demands that a price be paid to return honor to both.
"Motoko shall serve the Urashima family as a retainer until this debt of honor is paid in full. The judges of when this has been achieved shall be I, Tsuruko and Motoko herself as confessor of her own dishonor. By coming forward and confessing her transgressions of her own free will shows that she has seen their depth within her soul. As such, only she can truly gage the weight of this debt and the price demanded of her to balance the scales.
"In this manner only shall Motoko yet learn that that to lead one must first learn to serve.
"Until that time Tsuruko shall continue to serve in the role of leader in regency. Are there any objections?"
Silence once again befell the chamber.
"Tsuruko, you shall inform Motoko of our decision and negotiate with the Urashima the terms of her duties" the elder finished with a bow of dismissal.
Bowing deeply to the elder Tsuruko thanked him for his wisdom and turned to leave the council chamber. As the doors closed behind her a large smile broke out on her face.
The old man had responded exactly like she hoped he would. He being the most honorable of all the clan as a whole she expected him to treat it as purely a debt of honor. Though it had been the elder's decision she had to thank Keitaro's unmatched compassion for this decision. Now she must hurry back. She needs to get this started as fast as possible. Only then can she too begin to repay her part of the debt, for surely she is as much to blame as Motoko. After all, was it not her duty to raise Motoko properly in her deceased parent's stead? A duty she had surely failed.
At dinner time, just as the tenants gathered at the table, Motoko entered with their new dorm mate.
"I would like to introduce all of you to Otohime Mutsumi. She will be staying here from now on."
Mutsumi made a polite bow to the seated tenants.
"Otohime –san, I would like to introduce you the tenants of the Hinata-sou, Kono Mitsune, Maehara Shinobu and Kaolla Su. Kono-san is a freelance writer and Maehara- san and Su-san are both students."
Each of the young women inclined their heads politely to Mutsumi as they were introduced.
"I am very pleased to meet each of you. I will be staying here while attending school myself" Mutsumi began with a smile but her expression suddenly turned somber.
"I have also come as a representative of my family to assist in the healing of Urashima Keitaro and anyone else involved in the recent tragedy that has occurred here. I would like to meet with each of you separately over the next few days and discuss the incident and what you feel may have contributed to it. In order to help Urashima-san I will need to understand his living environment and his interactions with each of you. Once there is a clearer picture of what has occurred I will help each of you to be able to interact with Urashima-san in a way that will help him to return to his former stable and happy life. This will not be easy or quick. The trauma that Urashima san has experienced has severely damaged his psyche, self confidence and ability to interact with others. In time I hope help to reverse the damage completely but am unsure if this is possible, for this incident may leave a permanent effect on how he views the world around him and the people he interacts with. Please work with me to help him heal."
An uncomfortable silence pervaded the room after Mutsumi finished speaking. Each of the young women lost in thoughts of their own misdeeds and guilt.
Motoko broke the silence by offering to help Shinobu bring out the food.
After a mostly silent meal they began to get up to leave the table. Mutsumi chose that moment to ask each of them when would be best to speak to each of them.
"I-I would like to do it tomorrow morning if I could" Shinobu said. "I will be hanging the laundry then but I feel the activity will help me to be able to talk about it."
"That would be fine Maehara-san" replied Mutsumi.
"Thank you, and please call me Shinobu please."
"Of course Shinobu-san" Mutsumi replied with a small smile.
"Could we talk in the hot springs after dinner tomorrow?" Mitsune asked.
"Certainly Kono-san, I would love to try out the hot springs too and the relaxing atmosphere should help."
"I am unsure when I will be free tomorrow but if you can catch me between tasks I will be more than happy to sit down with you" Motoko said.
"Thank you Motoko-san" Mutsumi replied.
Since Kaolla seemed to be walking away without any intention of answering Mutsumi's request she called after her.
"Su-san, when might you be available to speak with me tomorrow?"
"I'm sorry Otohime-san but I won't need your help, I already know what I have to do to help Keitaro onii-san." With that Kaolla ran up the stairs and into her room with the rest of them staring at her with bewildered expressions.
