Love Hina – Inheritance
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Fourteen – Beating of the Heart
Saturday Morning
Motoko sits in her room near the small shrine. Outside her window, morning strives with the cold grey clouds to mark the beginning of a new day. The fragrance of burning incense lightly fills the air as the sword master quietly meditates. A single candle on the shrine provides the only illumination in the room, casting dancing shadows on the far wall and ceiling. A soft knock at her door, almost imperceptible, causes her to turn her head.
"Please come in, Keitaro."
The door slides open and Keitaro pokes his head inside.
"Motoko, how did you know it was me?"
She smiles and motions for him to enter.
"Your pacing stopped a few moments ago. You must have walked many kilometers in your room last night."
He slides the door closed and kneels next to her. He gently touches her cheek and turns her head. After a brief kiss, he sits back.
"You didn't sleep either."
Motoko nods her head.
"Amalla-san is a formidable opponent. I do not know if I can defeat her without harming her. However, if I do not use all my skills, she shall most surely be victorious."
Keitaro sighs.
"We can try to talk to her. Maybe she'll listen to reason."
"Remember what Su said last night? This challenge cannot be denied. Amalla-san will continue with this conflict."
Keitaro reaches out and takes Motoko's hand.
"We can run away again. The last place anyone would think to look for us is at Hinata-sou. We can hide out in the underground passages."
Motoko shakes her head as she touches his cheek. She smiles, just for him.
"No, running away will not benefit us this time. Amalla-san will track me to the ends of the earth. We must resolve this soon, somehow."
There is another knock at the door and Motoko looks at her clock, seeing that the hour for the morning meal is at hand. She walks over and opens the door. Amalla, a sly smile on her face, stands in the hallway. Motoko leaps backwards into the room, almost stumbling over her kotatsu table.
"A-amalla-san!"
The tanned woman turns and walks up the hallway. Keitaro peeks out the door.
"It looks like she's heading to the dining room. I guess we should go too, but be careful Motoko. It's almost sunrise."
Keitaro walks ahead, peeking around each corner until they arrive at breakfast. Amalla, Su, Tsuruko, and Kitsune are already seated. Keitaro and Motoko take the seats directly across from Amalla and Su as Shinobu, Naru, and Kanako enter from the opposite hallway. A moment later, Aoyama, Sara, and Mutsumi push the carts in from the kitchen.
Amalla casually watches as the women transfer the trays from the cart to the table. Motoko keeps her eyes on Amalla, looking for any hint of her first attack. As Mutsumi places a bowl in front of her, Motoko nods her head in thanks. When she turns back to the front, she sees that Amalla has a knife in her hand. Motoko leaps from her chair, only to stare as Amalla reaches for a muffin. She calmly dips the knife into the butter tray and spreads it on the muffin. Keitaro touches Motoko's arm and whispers.
"Calm down, it's just breakfast. I'm sure Amalla-san won't do anything here."
Motoko slides back into her chair, keeping one hand on the hilt of her sword. Throughout breakfast, she flinches whenever Amalla reaches onto the table, be it for the pitcher of tea or another muffin. When the meal is finish, Amalla calmly rises and walks to the hallway without looking back. The sword master reaches a shaking hand to her glass of tea.
"That was a most uncomfortable meal."
As she sips her tea, Amalla pokes her head back into the room, causing Motoko to spray tea across the table. Just as quickly, the tanned woman disappears again. Sword in hand, Motoko leaps over the table and rushes into the hallway, only to find that her antagonist has fled. With Keitaro at her side, she returns to her room. He places his back to the door as Motoko kneels at her table.
"Amalla-san doesn't seem intent at confronting you right away. Maybe she thought it over and changed her mind?"
Motoko shakes her head.
"Her aura is clearly pitched for conflict. I just wish I knew when she will strike."
Keitaro looks up and stares at the window. Seeing the look in his eyes, Motoko grabs the tray from under the pitcher of tea and spins around, sending the platter spinning through the empty window.
"Keitaro, did you see Amalla-san in the window?"
He nods his head as he moves to sit beside her.
"Yes, but she moved as soon as you reached for the table. She is fast!"
Motoko jumps to her feet.
"I cannot bear this waiting! I shall force a confrontation with her if I must!"
She slides open the door. Amalla stands in the hallway, smiling at her. Motoko quickly slides the door closed and dives to the side. She waits, expecting the door to crash inwards at any moment. A minute passes. Then another. Keitaro slowly opens the door and peeks into the hallway.
"She's gone again."
Motoko grabs a scarf from a peg on the wall and ties her hair back.
"I have had enough! This will end now!"
The sword master charges into the hallway and turns left. Keitaro runs close behind her, looking over his shoulder occasionally for any sign of Amalla. They exit the building and rush into one of the training yards. A group of the young female trainees practice with their training swords in the center of the courtyard as a light rain falls. Amalla sits on the far wall observing them. Keitaro steps in front of Motoko and then turns around.
"Amalla-san isn't armed right now. In fact, she doesn't look like she's trying to get ready for a fight at all. Something is strange about this, but I can't put my finger on it."
Motoko draws her sword from its scabbard.
"I care not! I will not sit and wait for her to choose her own time to attack. I will end this! By the spirits I swear it!"
Motoko looks to the far wall, but Amalla has disappeared again. Slender fingers touch Motoko's right shoulder, causing her to drop her sword and leap into Keitaro's arms.
"AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"
Keitaro quickly reassures her.
"Motoko! It's okay! It's only Su-chan!"
Motoko opens her eyes as Keitaro lowers her to her feet. Su smiles wanly at her as Amalla walks out the door.
"I'm sorry Motoko, but ya lost the first contest. My sister beat ya fairly and squarely."
Motoko looks from Su to Amalla and back.
"Lost? That cannot be! We have yet to confront each other! And, what do you mean by the 'first' contest?"
Amalla tilts her head.
"Don't ya know? This is just a standard challenge. Any idiot knows what the rules are!"
Keitaro moves to place himself between Amalla and Motoko.
"I don't understand? Su-chan, what's going on?"
The rest of the women exit the building as Su crosses her arms.
"There are five contests and that was the first one. Nerves of Steel!"
A few minutes later, Keitaro and the women sit in the dinning room again. Amalla looks over at Motoko.
"Ah'm really sorry. But, I didn't think ya was so ignorant as to not know something as common as the Molmol Challenge."
"How was I supposed to know about that? I am not from your homeland."
Amalla tilts her head.
"Don't they do it everywhere?"
Motoko stomps her foot.
"No! They do not! Su, will you please explain what is going on? What is this Molmol Challenge?"
Su jumps up on the table and starts pacing its length.
"The Molmol Challenge is the way we resolves personal issues in my homeland. That is, when they aint covered by any law, or the parties involved can't reach a mutually agreeable settlement."
She starts counting off on her fingers.
"Firstly, there is the Nerves of Steel contest. Whoever can make the other jumps out of their skin first wins."
Motoko stands up and places her hands on the table.
"I did not know that was a contest! It is not fair to award the win to Amalla-san!"
"Sorry! Them's is the rules. Being ignorant aint no excuse."
Motoko returns to her seat.
"Very well. What are the remaining challenges? Let us bring this contest to a conclusion so that Keitaro and I may be married. I will surely win the next three."
Su shakes her head.
"Ya haves to complete all five contests."
Motoko stares at her.
"But, three victories would ensure a greater total than the other could win. Why not stop there?"
"Those is the rules. Ya could win the first four and die during the last one. Gotta give the other guy a fair chance."
Keitaro grabs Su's hand.
"Is the last contest that dangerous?"
Su stares at him.
"Nope. But, ya never know if ya might get runned over by a truck."
Motoko nods her head.
"Very well. I shall win the remaining contests, and Keitaro!"
Amalla shakes her finger.
"Don't ya'll go counting your eggs before they hatch into ostriches!"
Su holds up two fingers.
"The second challenge is Dodge Ball!"
A few minutes later, back outside in the training yard, Motoko and Amalla face off thirty meters apart. The others stand under an overhang to stay out of the rain. Holding Amalla's quarterstaff, Su stands between the two combatants.
"This game ends when one of ya's takes a hit. It's that simple."
Motoko looks around.
"Where is the ball?"
Su spins the staff in a furious circle above her head.
"Ball? We don't use balls! Ya haves to dodge the lightning!"
"WHAT?"
Su leaps back and heads for the overhang.
"On the counts of three begin!"
She raises the staff to the sky.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Five!"
Keitaro leans over.
"Three, Su-chan."
"Oh, right! Three!"
Lightning begins striking randomly across the courtyard, hitting multiple targets at almost the same time. Motoko and Amalla leap from one spot to another, eyes watching the clouds for any indication where the next bolt will strike. The air is torn with crashing thunder, causing the others to cover their ears. From other doors and windows, the students of the Shinmei School watch, fascinated by the brilliant display and the two women's agility in avoiding the lightning. Rain, softly at first, but becoming stronger by the minute, continues falling. The wind swirls through the courtyard, turning the shower into a tempest. Keitaro places a hand on Su's shoulder.
"Su-chan, this looks too dangerous!"
She shakes her head.
"Nah! These bolts are just little ones! They'll shock ya a bit, but no real harm'll be done! Amalla and I used to play this game all the time! Ya ought to try it, Keitaro!"
After about thirty minutes, and without either woman showing any signs of tiring, Su stops waving the staff. Almost immediately, the lightning and winds cease, though the rain continues falling in sheets. Shinobu holds out two glasses of hot tea as Motoko and Amalla join them under the eaves of the building. Naru and Kitsune rub towels through their hair while they drink. Refreshed, the warriors return to the yard for the second round. As Su starts swinging the staff, Motoko holds up two umbrellas and tosses one to Amalla.
"I would not wish you to catch a cold while we fight. This will afford you at least some protection, if it is not against the rules."
Amalla smiles as she catches the umbrella.
"Ya is a real sport, Motoko! Ah'm honored that ya is my friend and rival!"
Motoko bows to Amalla and holds her umbrella above her head. Amalla opens hers and shields herself from the rain. Immediately, a half dozen bolts of lightning spring from the clouds and curve towards Amalla. She leaps for safety, but the daggers of light track her every move. Unable to avoid the bolts, she shudders as the electricity courses through her. Keitaro forces Su's arm down, causing the lightning to stop. He rushes to Amalla, followed by the others. Motoko, already at her side, helps her to sit up. Amalla places a hand to her forehead and looks at Motoko.
"Ya sneaked me a metal umbrella, didn't ya?"
Motoko smiles at her. Amalla points at Motoko's umbrella.
"And ya used a wooden one for yourself?"
She spins her parasol.
"Of course."
Su lifts Motoko's right arm.
"And we haves a winner! Ya sure that ya haven't played this before, Motoko?"
Amalla stumbles as she tries to regain her feet. Keitaro lifts her in his arms and carries her back inside. She peeks over his shoulder and sticks her tongue out at Motoko as the sword master follows closely behind. Motoko clenches her fists.
"Vile trickster!"
End of Chapter Fourteen.
Fanfic by Steven Biggs
Chapter Fourteen – Beating of the Heart
Saturday Morning
Motoko sits in her room near the small shrine. Outside her window, morning strives with the cold grey clouds to mark the beginning of a new day. The fragrance of burning incense lightly fills the air as the sword master quietly meditates. A single candle on the shrine provides the only illumination in the room, casting dancing shadows on the far wall and ceiling. A soft knock at her door, almost imperceptible, causes her to turn her head.
"Please come in, Keitaro."
The door slides open and Keitaro pokes his head inside.
"Motoko, how did you know it was me?"
She smiles and motions for him to enter.
"Your pacing stopped a few moments ago. You must have walked many kilometers in your room last night."
He slides the door closed and kneels next to her. He gently touches her cheek and turns her head. After a brief kiss, he sits back.
"You didn't sleep either."
Motoko nods her head.
"Amalla-san is a formidable opponent. I do not know if I can defeat her without harming her. However, if I do not use all my skills, she shall most surely be victorious."
Keitaro sighs.
"We can try to talk to her. Maybe she'll listen to reason."
"Remember what Su said last night? This challenge cannot be denied. Amalla-san will continue with this conflict."
Keitaro reaches out and takes Motoko's hand.
"We can run away again. The last place anyone would think to look for us is at Hinata-sou. We can hide out in the underground passages."
Motoko shakes her head as she touches his cheek. She smiles, just for him.
"No, running away will not benefit us this time. Amalla-san will track me to the ends of the earth. We must resolve this soon, somehow."
There is another knock at the door and Motoko looks at her clock, seeing that the hour for the morning meal is at hand. She walks over and opens the door. Amalla, a sly smile on her face, stands in the hallway. Motoko leaps backwards into the room, almost stumbling over her kotatsu table.
"A-amalla-san!"
The tanned woman turns and walks up the hallway. Keitaro peeks out the door.
"It looks like she's heading to the dining room. I guess we should go too, but be careful Motoko. It's almost sunrise."
Keitaro walks ahead, peeking around each corner until they arrive at breakfast. Amalla, Su, Tsuruko, and Kitsune are already seated. Keitaro and Motoko take the seats directly across from Amalla and Su as Shinobu, Naru, and Kanako enter from the opposite hallway. A moment later, Aoyama, Sara, and Mutsumi push the carts in from the kitchen.
Amalla casually watches as the women transfer the trays from the cart to the table. Motoko keeps her eyes on Amalla, looking for any hint of her first attack. As Mutsumi places a bowl in front of her, Motoko nods her head in thanks. When she turns back to the front, she sees that Amalla has a knife in her hand. Motoko leaps from her chair, only to stare as Amalla reaches for a muffin. She calmly dips the knife into the butter tray and spreads it on the muffin. Keitaro touches Motoko's arm and whispers.
"Calm down, it's just breakfast. I'm sure Amalla-san won't do anything here."
Motoko slides back into her chair, keeping one hand on the hilt of her sword. Throughout breakfast, she flinches whenever Amalla reaches onto the table, be it for the pitcher of tea or another muffin. When the meal is finish, Amalla calmly rises and walks to the hallway without looking back. The sword master reaches a shaking hand to her glass of tea.
"That was a most uncomfortable meal."
As she sips her tea, Amalla pokes her head back into the room, causing Motoko to spray tea across the table. Just as quickly, the tanned woman disappears again. Sword in hand, Motoko leaps over the table and rushes into the hallway, only to find that her antagonist has fled. With Keitaro at her side, she returns to her room. He places his back to the door as Motoko kneels at her table.
"Amalla-san doesn't seem intent at confronting you right away. Maybe she thought it over and changed her mind?"
Motoko shakes her head.
"Her aura is clearly pitched for conflict. I just wish I knew when she will strike."
Keitaro looks up and stares at the window. Seeing the look in his eyes, Motoko grabs the tray from under the pitcher of tea and spins around, sending the platter spinning through the empty window.
"Keitaro, did you see Amalla-san in the window?"
He nods his head as he moves to sit beside her.
"Yes, but she moved as soon as you reached for the table. She is fast!"
Motoko jumps to her feet.
"I cannot bear this waiting! I shall force a confrontation with her if I must!"
She slides open the door. Amalla stands in the hallway, smiling at her. Motoko quickly slides the door closed and dives to the side. She waits, expecting the door to crash inwards at any moment. A minute passes. Then another. Keitaro slowly opens the door and peeks into the hallway.
"She's gone again."
Motoko grabs a scarf from a peg on the wall and ties her hair back.
"I have had enough! This will end now!"
The sword master charges into the hallway and turns left. Keitaro runs close behind her, looking over his shoulder occasionally for any sign of Amalla. They exit the building and rush into one of the training yards. A group of the young female trainees practice with their training swords in the center of the courtyard as a light rain falls. Amalla sits on the far wall observing them. Keitaro steps in front of Motoko and then turns around.
"Amalla-san isn't armed right now. In fact, she doesn't look like she's trying to get ready for a fight at all. Something is strange about this, but I can't put my finger on it."
Motoko draws her sword from its scabbard.
"I care not! I will not sit and wait for her to choose her own time to attack. I will end this! By the spirits I swear it!"
Motoko looks to the far wall, but Amalla has disappeared again. Slender fingers touch Motoko's right shoulder, causing her to drop her sword and leap into Keitaro's arms.
"AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"
Keitaro quickly reassures her.
"Motoko! It's okay! It's only Su-chan!"
Motoko opens her eyes as Keitaro lowers her to her feet. Su smiles wanly at her as Amalla walks out the door.
"I'm sorry Motoko, but ya lost the first contest. My sister beat ya fairly and squarely."
Motoko looks from Su to Amalla and back.
"Lost? That cannot be! We have yet to confront each other! And, what do you mean by the 'first' contest?"
Amalla tilts her head.
"Don't ya know? This is just a standard challenge. Any idiot knows what the rules are!"
Keitaro moves to place himself between Amalla and Motoko.
"I don't understand? Su-chan, what's going on?"
The rest of the women exit the building as Su crosses her arms.
"There are five contests and that was the first one. Nerves of Steel!"
A few minutes later, Keitaro and the women sit in the dinning room again. Amalla looks over at Motoko.
"Ah'm really sorry. But, I didn't think ya was so ignorant as to not know something as common as the Molmol Challenge."
"How was I supposed to know about that? I am not from your homeland."
Amalla tilts her head.
"Don't they do it everywhere?"
Motoko stomps her foot.
"No! They do not! Su, will you please explain what is going on? What is this Molmol Challenge?"
Su jumps up on the table and starts pacing its length.
"The Molmol Challenge is the way we resolves personal issues in my homeland. That is, when they aint covered by any law, or the parties involved can't reach a mutually agreeable settlement."
She starts counting off on her fingers.
"Firstly, there is the Nerves of Steel contest. Whoever can make the other jumps out of their skin first wins."
Motoko stands up and places her hands on the table.
"I did not know that was a contest! It is not fair to award the win to Amalla-san!"
"Sorry! Them's is the rules. Being ignorant aint no excuse."
Motoko returns to her seat.
"Very well. What are the remaining challenges? Let us bring this contest to a conclusion so that Keitaro and I may be married. I will surely win the next three."
Su shakes her head.
"Ya haves to complete all five contests."
Motoko stares at her.
"But, three victories would ensure a greater total than the other could win. Why not stop there?"
"Those is the rules. Ya could win the first four and die during the last one. Gotta give the other guy a fair chance."
Keitaro grabs Su's hand.
"Is the last contest that dangerous?"
Su stares at him.
"Nope. But, ya never know if ya might get runned over by a truck."
Motoko nods her head.
"Very well. I shall win the remaining contests, and Keitaro!"
Amalla shakes her finger.
"Don't ya'll go counting your eggs before they hatch into ostriches!"
Su holds up two fingers.
"The second challenge is Dodge Ball!"
A few minutes later, back outside in the training yard, Motoko and Amalla face off thirty meters apart. The others stand under an overhang to stay out of the rain. Holding Amalla's quarterstaff, Su stands between the two combatants.
"This game ends when one of ya's takes a hit. It's that simple."
Motoko looks around.
"Where is the ball?"
Su spins the staff in a furious circle above her head.
"Ball? We don't use balls! Ya haves to dodge the lightning!"
"WHAT?"
Su leaps back and heads for the overhang.
"On the counts of three begin!"
She raises the staff to the sky.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Five!"
Keitaro leans over.
"Three, Su-chan."
"Oh, right! Three!"
Lightning begins striking randomly across the courtyard, hitting multiple targets at almost the same time. Motoko and Amalla leap from one spot to another, eyes watching the clouds for any indication where the next bolt will strike. The air is torn with crashing thunder, causing the others to cover their ears. From other doors and windows, the students of the Shinmei School watch, fascinated by the brilliant display and the two women's agility in avoiding the lightning. Rain, softly at first, but becoming stronger by the minute, continues falling. The wind swirls through the courtyard, turning the shower into a tempest. Keitaro places a hand on Su's shoulder.
"Su-chan, this looks too dangerous!"
She shakes her head.
"Nah! These bolts are just little ones! They'll shock ya a bit, but no real harm'll be done! Amalla and I used to play this game all the time! Ya ought to try it, Keitaro!"
After about thirty minutes, and without either woman showing any signs of tiring, Su stops waving the staff. Almost immediately, the lightning and winds cease, though the rain continues falling in sheets. Shinobu holds out two glasses of hot tea as Motoko and Amalla join them under the eaves of the building. Naru and Kitsune rub towels through their hair while they drink. Refreshed, the warriors return to the yard for the second round. As Su starts swinging the staff, Motoko holds up two umbrellas and tosses one to Amalla.
"I would not wish you to catch a cold while we fight. This will afford you at least some protection, if it is not against the rules."
Amalla smiles as she catches the umbrella.
"Ya is a real sport, Motoko! Ah'm honored that ya is my friend and rival!"
Motoko bows to Amalla and holds her umbrella above her head. Amalla opens hers and shields herself from the rain. Immediately, a half dozen bolts of lightning spring from the clouds and curve towards Amalla. She leaps for safety, but the daggers of light track her every move. Unable to avoid the bolts, she shudders as the electricity courses through her. Keitaro forces Su's arm down, causing the lightning to stop. He rushes to Amalla, followed by the others. Motoko, already at her side, helps her to sit up. Amalla places a hand to her forehead and looks at Motoko.
"Ya sneaked me a metal umbrella, didn't ya?"
Motoko smiles at her. Amalla points at Motoko's umbrella.
"And ya used a wooden one for yourself?"
She spins her parasol.
"Of course."
Su lifts Motoko's right arm.
"And we haves a winner! Ya sure that ya haven't played this before, Motoko?"
Amalla stumbles as she tries to regain her feet. Keitaro lifts her in his arms and carries her back inside. She peeks over his shoulder and sticks her tongue out at Motoko as the sword master follows closely behind. Motoko clenches her fists.
"Vile trickster!"
End of Chapter Fourteen.