Keitaro sat on a swing lightly going back and forth. He was there again, it was there that it all started for him. Looking around the play ground he wondered if it still was around in the real world. He already had this dream countless times and was kind of used to it. He first took notice of the slides where he would climb up excitedly and slide down laughing. Next monkey bars near it where he would swing around and fall down repeatedly. Lastly, he stared at small space covered with sand. It was in that sandbox that had started his life, what triggered him to aim for Tokyo University.

It was in that small rectangular box where he met that mystery girl and made a promised to. He didn't really understand it himself, even though after all those years, when he couldn't even remember her name or face, Keitaro still held on that promise and did all what he could to get into the University.

Then, after finally accomplishing what he thought would be impossible, Keitaro couldn't even find her. He thought about the possibility of her forgetting the promise and what would he do if he never found her. It was a likely scenario being that he himself did not understand why he was so gung-ho about it. It was a promise made by a five year old; children don't usually take things like this seriously.

Keitaro scratched his head and sighed. "My parents always did ask me why I was desperate to get in Todai. I couldn't tell them it was just because of a girl I met when I was five." He laughed a bit.

"I, guess, it's because I thought that if I fulfilled that promise I'll be happy…Whoopee" he twirled his index in the air. "I just wish I can find her, even if she doesn't remember me I just want to say I fulfilled our promise. We can be happy in our respective way anyway." He sighed and looked at the sandbox again waiting for his younger self and the faceless girl to show up again and he would wake up later.

Slowly fading into existence a boy and a girl materialized in front of Keitaro. He looked at himself smiling, happily patting the dirt mound he put up. Across the boy was a girl, Keitaro expected her face to be shadowed over, but to his surprised he had a face.

Keitaro's eyes widened and looked at the girl, he stared at her unbelieving, brown hair and cut short, the mystery girl he recognized her, he had saw her before but how and why only now.

"What the…" Keitaro muttered to himself looking at the kids as the familiar scenario played out in front of him. The girl moved closed to his younger self and kissed him on the cheeks. The children then faded away and were replaced by the girl only she was looking at him.

The girl looked up to him then she took a step and transformed into an adult and Keitaro stared into her face and still can't believe it. It was a dream after all it can't be a sure thing.

"Kei-kun…" The woman said smiling.

Keitaro felt dizzy and he was having difficulty breathing. "Y-your…"

Keitaro's eyes snapped open, Himura and Seta had somehow rolled over on top of him. With the weight of two grown men crushing him Keitaro pushed the two off him and sighed. Looking at the two older men he had to admit they looked a lot more childish sleeping.

Keitaro stood up and looked at his desk clock it was just 5:30 am and by this time Shinobu and Motoko was the only one awake. He yawned and stretched out his arms.

The face of the woman in his dream then flashed in his mind and his face turned into a solemn one. "Is she really the one I made a promise with?" He shook his head and slapped his face lightly.

"I have other things to worry up, like preparing for our expedition. I'll figure this out later. I have waited for fifteen years to find her; another half year isn't that long." He told himself and decided to exercise himself to clear his thoughts.

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Keitaro walked up to the roof deck. It was just a bit before dawn, and the air was still a bit chilly. Wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweat pants he figured he would practice jeet kun do a little.

Light footsteps got his attention and saw Motoko in her usual red and white garb practicing her swordmanship. Keitaro thought of watching her for the meantime, her movements had captured his interest.

As she struck with her sword it was always precise and powerful, her movements were graceful and disciplined, also he felt her emotion in each move she made, and it was heavy and troubled which worried him as to why?

With a final swing, Motoko had finished her routine and looked at Keitaro who was watching her some distance away. She walked towards the railings where a towel hung and she wiped her sweat off.

"Good morning, Aoyama-san." Keitaro greeted as he walked towards her. She looked at him and nodded.

"Morning." She replied. "It's been while that I've seen you up here. We haven't been sparring lately."

"Oh, well I have a lot work I needed done and the expedition and all." Keitaro answered.

"I understand."

"How about after I warm-up we spar?" Keitaro asked.. \

"It is acceptable." Motoko nodded.

Keitaro then walked away from the raven haired swordswoman and started some stretching, breathing control and jumping jacks to make his blood flow. Motoko watched him and her thoughts had drifted to last night's conversation, about Keitaro going away for half a year and with the probability that he won't come back.

The thought of getting rid of him should have made her happy, then why wasn't she? Sure she would lose a good sparring partner, even though he wasn't at her level, Keitaro still can hold up against her and let her go all out even for just a minute.

Aside from sparring the two never really spoke to each other much. They would talk to each other after the match but only a little, mostly it was Keitaro that did the talking. He had told her of the promise, his school life, expeditions and adventures with Seta.

Truth be told, even though she looked bored or annoyed when Keitaro was telling her of his stories, Motoko was actually very interested.

"Maybe that was when I started to tolerate him…" She thought, she did accept him as the manager after the rooftop-chase-and-saving-her incident but not fully actually she was still very hard on him after that.

"I guess I'll miss his stories also…" She said quietly.

"-san. Aoyama-san?" Motoko was shaken from her reverie when she heard Keitaro calling her name. She looked at him sweating a bit and looking at her.

"Are you ready?" Keitaro asked placing his glasses down on the floor.

"Yes." Motoko replied and took her sword and approached Keitaro to start.

The two bowed at each other and positioned themselves. Keitaro was the first to make the move and he lunged at Motoko with a straight fist aimed for her head.

Motoko avoided the attack and sliced with her wooden sword which Keitaro blocked. Keitaro countered with another punch aimed at the gut, but Motoko jumped up to avoid it. She then landed a hit on his back side and Keitaro hopped and tried reaching the stinging part of his backside.

"Ow… you're not holding back as usual." Keitaro said his face grimacing. He then went back to his stance and again made the first move.

He aimed for her head again and she deflected his attacks dexterously. Motoko saw a small opening after Keitaro threw a punch to her side and quickly slashed Keitaro on the side. Keitaro managed to block the hit and counter attacked with a round house hitting her.

Keitaro quickly put on a worried and terrified look. He felt that he might have hit her too hard. He was thinking of that dream again and didn't mean to hit her with too much force. Motoko staggered a bit and then straightened. She looked at him and her eyes were narrowed, she didn't say anything and only proceeded to get back into her stance.

Keitaro gulped and also took on his fighting stance, he prayed that she wasn't that angry and sends him flying, or worse shish-kabob him where he stand. This time Motoko was the one that made the first move and lunged at him.

Keitaro grimaced at the speed she was attacking and was hardly blocking her attacks. Motoko then landed a solid hit on him at the left shoulder and was going for the finish when Keitaro made his move and came in closer and went for an uppercut.

A gust of wind blew and the two was frozen in place. Keitaro's fist was near Motoko's chin and Motoko's sword about to deliver the final blow. The combatants looked at each other and stepped away from each other slowly still looking at each other in the eyes.

"It's your win today, albeit you were distracted." Motoko said and sheathed her wooden sword at her waist.

"I'm sorry, I had a dream about something and it's was bothering me a bit. But the sparring managed to clear my head now. UH… sorry about the kick earlier." Keitaro apologized.

"We were sparring, it happens." She said.

"Yes, still I'm sorry about that." Keitaro sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

"Don't be, it just shows how much you are improving…" Motoko said and went to their usual spot near the staircase where the two of them rest and talk a bit.

Keitaro looked at Motoko's retreating form like she had just sprouted cat ears and tail. He followed her and kept his confused look on.

"You just complimented me?" Keitaro said surprised.

Motoko already seating on the floor looked up at him and let a minute pass before replying. "Yes, I guess I did…" she replied and started to wipe the sweat off her face.

Keitaro then dropped next to her with a blank look. Motoko looked at him and raised a brow. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"What- oh nothing it's just that it's the first time you complimented me and it's kind of…refreshing. I mean you're a mater of your art and very skilled then out of the blue you complimented me." Keitaro replied.

"It was not out of the blue… you have skills and I can see itand showed it many times. I can also see that aside from Jeet Kune Do you know another style of fighting." She said.

"Oh, you noticed that… " Keitaro scratched the back of his head. "Care to tell me, what that particular style is?" Motoko asked looking at him.

"It's a family style; I was thought part of it focused more in a brawl-type style. I never was that graceful or disciplined so Grandma thought that style would be easy for me to learn so that I can defend myself." Keitaro said looking up in the sky coloring slowly from the suns rays.

"Is that so then why did you not continue to study that style?" Motoko asked realizing that Keitaro actually had training long ago.

"Well, when I was a younger I wasn't that confident so Grandma thought that learning that style would also give me a bit of self-esteem aside from protection. And it worked; gaining strength gave me a boost in confidence and that was when it went downhill." Keitaro said sadly.

"It went to my head and hurt a lot of people and got some people I care about hurt." He said. Keitaro had told Motoko the story of when he went power hungry and got his friends in trouble.

Keitaro sighed and spoke;" When everything was over, I unconsciously repressed my abilities regarding that style and went back to normal. I got clumsier actually, always tripping over." He said smiling at his own expense.

Motoko wasn't able to speak for a moment learning something of Keitaro. She had always seen him to be timid and peaceful that it was hard to picture him of what he had said. But then again her sister was also gentle and peaceful until you see the other side of her. Motoko shuddered at the memory.

"But why do you practice martial arts again?"

"It was when I met Seta-sensei, he wanted to teach me martial arts saying I would need it while traveling, well when you're traveling with sensei anyway you'll need to." Keitaro laughed and Motoko smiled remembering the stories he had told about their adventures.

"I learned fast, because of my past, but the old teachings of Grandma resurfaced. I was scared at first and begged Seta to discontinue teaching me; I didn't want to become a danger to people again." Keitaro looked down at his feet.

"But Seta-sensei didn't stop and would attack me out of nowhere. I would fight then run away, one time I was cornered by him and we fought, at first I thought that if it continued I would turn back into my old self, surprisingly I didn't. I asked Seta about it and he explained that it was because of jeet kun do that I was able to balance out my other fighting style. Jeet kun do gave me control, being a calm and disciplined style."

"So now, thanks to sensei I'm not that scared to practice martial arts again knowing I won't be a danger to people but instead be able to help." Keitaro smiled looking at Motoko who was staring at his face. When Keitaro looked at her she was surprised and blushes a bit then whipped her head way.

"I'm…glad that you were able to win over your dark side." Motoko said and stood up.

She was still blushing and was thinking about the side of Keitaro she had now just discovered.

"I think Shinobu-san is finished preparing breakfast, it would be best we go down and clean ourselves then eat as we have a long day ahead of us." Motoko said.

"Alright… I have a few things to do at the university." Keitaro replied and stood up. "Oh and Aoyama-san, here." Keitaro handed the raven haired beauty a small coupon that is blank.

Motoko received the piece of paper and look at it confused. "What is this for?" She asked looking at Keitaro.

"Well, I kind of feel bad bailing all of a sudden on you guys and I haven't been that much of a manager so… I thought maybe before I go I'd give you a chance to ask me a favor and I'll do my best to do it." Keitaro said scratching his head.

Motoko stared at the piece of paper and nodded. "Is it valid until before you go?" Motoko asked.

"Yeah, but I think you should ask me earlier if you want something so I could do it properly." Keitaro replied.

"Okay." Motoko pocketed the paper.

"Well let's go down I'm starving and I think Kaolla-san's about to wake up." Keitaro said. "If that girl get's there before we do we won't have anything to eat."

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The other tenants were already down at the dining area and seated. Shinobu as always had prepared a nice looking spread. She prepared more that usual remembering there were guest that had just come in last night.

Shinobu had hoped that the new guest would like her cookings. Even though the others have always complemented her on her cooking she can't help but think they were just being nice. Of course this was not the case because in all honesty her cooking really was that good and the Hinata gang feels blessed to be able to taste such good food three times a day seven days a week.

Kitsune was slumped on the table still a bit sleepy, Naru was besides her already starting to eat her share. To the redheads left was Mutsumi smiling cheerfully as ever. Next to Mutsumi was Yuu. Across Yuu was Kanako again, dressed in full gothic black, eating while glancing at the girls once in a while as if measuring them. At Kanako's right was an empty chair for Motoko, next to that was Sarah eating quietly and wondering when Keitaro will come down already and next to her was the energetic Kaolla. Keitaro's seat was at the left end of the table and Shinobu got the other end.

Seta and Takeda were still out like rocks because of their heavy drinking last night and so were still inside Keitaro's room.

All the girls have started eating when Motoko had come down dressed in her highschool uniform followed by Keitaro. When the manager went to the dining area immediately he felt something really wrong there. He couldn't tell if it was the way his sister was looking at the girls, Sara's heated glare/glances at Yuu or Yuu's nonchalant disregard of the glares.

"Good morning guys" He greeted and the other's greeted him also. Suu would have given him the kick greeting but she was busy eating her breakfast so she settled with a small wave …of her right foot.

"Good morning, onii-chan" Kanako greeted.

"Where is Seta-sensei?" Naru asked.

"He's still asleep up there with Takeda-san." Keitaro replied.

Up in the room

Takeda and Seta still asleep were awkwardly…hugging each other as they sleep dreaming of something. Keitaro's sensei was mumbling something concerning relics and proposal's and Takeda, dreaming of something about a road trip with certain chain-smoking tea shop owner.

Back in the dining area

Kitsune quickly up to tease her friend commented. "Ohh…I see Naru's thinking if she still got a shot at the Professor…" Kitsune said grinning.

"Wh-what no I w-was just asking." Naru quickly dismissed the idea but it was hard to take her seriously being her face was redder when she ate Kaolla's cooking.

Kanako looked at Naru and again she told herself that Naru was not a threat to her in getting Keitaro. On the other hand, moving her eyes around the table the others were surely something of a threat, especially the fox, the blue haired girl, the little gaijin and the bubbly-big-busted lady.

"Hahaah, I was just teasing you Naru-chan." You're so cute. Kitsune poked Naru on the cheeks and the irate redhead swatted her friends hand away.

After the meal, Keitaro thought that it was a good time to give the others their coupon.

"Hey guys…here." Keitaro handed Naru,Kitsune,Shinobu, and Kaolla their blank coupons and they all had that confused expression on their faces like Motoko earlier when she received her coupon.

"What is this, sugah?" Kitsune asked looking at the blank piece of paper.

"It's a K-coupon. Because I will be going in two weeks all of a sudden and I feel bad not being a good manager…" He scratches the back of his head. "You can write any favor on the coupon that you would like I will accomplish it if possible." Keitaro said.

The girls look at the coupons suddenly like it was made out of gold. Shinobu was overwhelmed and almost fainted. It was just too good to be true, anything she asked of her senpai and he would do it…

Kitsune would have preferred a blank cheque but this was just as good. Naru was thinking of what the hell was Keitaro thinking of when he said anything. Kaolla was examining the piece of paper in both her hands and up in the air.

"Keitawo would do anything???" the tanned girl mumbled and smiled.

While the girls were thinking about what to ask of Keitaro. The other girls that did not receive the said coupons were jealous to put it mildly. Kanako had this look in her eyes that would have scared a delusional sociopath killer. To her, her beloved brother had just given those…girls a chance to get him and she will be damned before she let's anyone else snag her onii-chan. (isn't she scary).

Sara was pouting and obviously jealous that she didn't get one. It would have been a perfect opportunity to ask him on another date. Yuu didn't mind much being that she had known Keitaro only for a little while and thought that she couldn't ask him of anything so soon. Mutsumi was just as envious as the rest but hid it perfectly.

The okinawan smiled at the others and said nothing.

"Wait a minute… I didn't see you give Motoko-chan one." Naru said looking at Keitaro.

"Oh, I already gave it to her earlier." Keitaro replied and looked at Motoko who nodded.

"Yes, Urashima-san had given me the coupon and I have already written my request." Motoko said and walked to Keitaro and gave the coupon.

"Really? You already have something for me to do?" Keitaro said smiling. Keitaro did not think much of what Motoko would have asked him. He thought it would probably be a sparring request again or something.

"When will you want me to do it Aoyama-san?" Keitaro asked before reading the coupon.

"I would like it to be as soon as possible if you could, maybe tonight." Motoko answered and walked away and out the dorm quite hastily.

"Ok…uh" Keitaro was confused at to why she was such on a rush, it was still early so she wasn't going to be late.

"lets see.." Keitaro looked at the coupon and stared at it. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes and wiped his glasses. He blinked; he blinked again and still couldn't believe at what was written on the coupon.

The girls noticed his strange reaction and asked what was the resident swordswoman request in the K-coupon. Kitsune quickly moved to Keitaro's side to peek at coupon and her eyes opened from surprised while reading the two words.

A DATE

"She wants to go on a date!" Kitsune exclaimed and after what she said Keitaro fainted.