Chapter 38:
"I'm here with your tea, Regent Urashima," said a familiar voice following the shutting of the main door to the Headmaster's quarters.
Keitaro's brain stalled a moment when he realized whose voice it was. "Motoko?" he asked in surprise as he turned toward the door.
The blushing sword maiden nodded and said, "The First girl decided to have me serve you your tea this afternoon. I hope you do not mind."
"N-No, not at all. Please." The young man said, gesturing to the empty corner of the low table devoid of papers and forms.
Motoko knelt gracefully at the side of the low table and prepared a cup of tea for the confused Regent whom she hoped was watching her. Once finished, she knelt at the young man's feet and gently held up the cup she had prepared. She smiled warmly at his bewildered face and cheered internally as he shakily took the cup from her hands. Once Keitaro took a sip and gave her an approving nod, she gracefully took a spot next to the tea tray and knelt submissively ensuring that the young man's view of her naked body was unobstructed. As she crossed her wrists behind her back, she fought her blush to no avail.
"I'm surprised that you're the one serving me tea today, Motoko. Usually this is Kaolla's responsibility," Keitaro said as he put the cup down on the table.
"Mistress has been teaching me how to serve beverages and the First girl suggested that I practice by serving the Regent his afternoon tea," the slave girl trainee replied.
"Mistress?" the Urashima Heir asked curiously.
"It is how I am instructed to address Mutsumi during training. While awkward at first, I have gotten used to it and now the title actually helps make training easier," Motoko answered.
"I see," chuckled Keitaro. "By the way, where are the other girls? They usually join me for tea."
"Mistress is currently in the First girl's room with Kaolla Su. They are all plotting the next step in their plan to make me expose my body to you more, Regent Urashima," the trainee said with a slight blush.
The young man blinked. "Next step? What was the previous step?" he asked worriedly.
"That I serve you tea this afternoon, Regent Urashima. Alone." Motoko answered shyly.
Keitaro shook his head as he laughed a bit. "I don't understand why they're even doing this. I see you often enough when we're all gathered in here every day," he mused.
"That is true. However, the First girl feels that you spend most of your time looking at either her, Kaolla, or Mistress Otohime. So she decided that if I served you tea alone, you would have nobody else to look at but myself." She answered, blushing a bit.
The young landlord rolled his eyes humorously and said, "Well, I just didn't want you to feel uncomfortable, Motoko."
"For all intents, I am your slave girl, Regent Urashima. I have been for more than 2 months. You are entitled to look…if not more…," the sword maiden answered softly.
Keitaro sighed and said,"I know, Motoko, but it's not that simple for me. I always feel like I'm violating you in some way. Despite all that has happened, you are still my friend. I care about you and how you feel. I understand why you're going through with all this and I'm trying to support you in any way I can."
The trainee shyly looked away and asked, "Am I not…attractive to you, Regent Urashima?"
Caught off guard, the young man responded, "What? Of course, you are!" Where did THAT come from?
"I meant no disrespect, Regent Urashima. But of all your slave girls, I'm the one you look at the least. And right now…even while we are alone…you hardly look at me," Motoko said softly.
"No, wait! It's not like that, Motoko. I honestly find you very attractive! Beautiful, in fact! But like I said, I just don't want to do anything you don't want…" Keitaro babbled.
"And what made you think that I don't…want…?" The blushing slave girl trailed, keeping her attention directed to the wall scroll hanging to her right. Deep inside, she guessed that his hesitation was probably due to her violent past. It pained her to see that despite offering herself, Keitaro still couldn't seem to get past her old ways. Her emotions were a huge jumble. Feelings she had been suppressing for a while were now fighting a war inside her. Mutsumi was right. She had to come clean.
"Motoko? What are you…" the young man asked, looking at his newest slave girl in surprise.
"Y-You have known me for a long time, Regent Urashima. I know your memories of me were not pleasant, but I hope that despite that you were able to see my commitment and devotion to what I believe in." Motoko said with a hitch in her voice.
"Definitely! That's why I don't blame you for anything, Motoko. I had already forgiven you and…"
The sword maiden cursed quietly, then turned angrily toward the young man with tear filled eyes. "But I *am* to blame, Keitaro! I was wrong! I allowed my stubbornness and ignorance to cloud my judgment in order to commit unwarranted assaults upon you. I was a horrible, cruel, and unfair person! I was awful to you! How can you forgive me so easily?" she asked.
"Because you were acting on your convictions, Motoko! It's what I respect the most about you!" Keitaro assured.
"But I don't want to be forgiven! I want to be PUNISHED!" Motoko exclaimed, crying openly now.
The startled young man blinked repeatedly for a few moments and said, "M-Motoko?"
The slave girl turned away and said, "You may be able to forgive me, Keitaro…but I cannot forgive myself! The same stubbornness and commitment I had which you respected is the also same that prevents me from absolving myself of blame. I cannot live down what I have done without penance. This has gone beyond my honor as a Shinmei-Ryu warrior. Now, it is much more than that…"
"Much more? What are you talking about?" Keitaro asked.
Motoko sobbed for a few moments, and then asked, "Would you be able to forgive yourself if you PURPOSELY hurt Kanako and Su?"
"Never! I'd feel so horrible that I'd probably kill myself! They're the best thing that's ever happened to me…and…" The young man blurted, slowing down as he saw Motoko's eyes soften as she stared at him. He had seen that look before. It's how Kanako looked when…
The sword maiden sniffed a few times, then turned back to Keitaro and said, "I love you, Keitaro! I have for a long time but tried very hard to fight it. Despite how much I hurt you and despised you for your perversions, my heart couldn't help but fall for the wonderful, kind, and forgiving man that you are. I even lied to myself, trying not to believe what I knew deep inside. Instead of vengeance, you just took care of me and accepted me for who I was. You became impossible not to love. You're the only man that I've ever felt that way for, ever. But instead of giving you love back, I gave you pain! Repeatedly! For so many years! How can you expect me to live with myself after that?"
Unable to stand it anymore, Motoko covered her face with her hands and began to cry openly as her guilt finally overwhelmed her. Keitaro rushed from the couch and knelt in front of the sobbing girl, taking her in his arms. For several minutes the Heir to the Shinmei-Ryu school cried into the young man's shoulder. Wave after wave of emotions poured out of her, each bringing on memories of what happened in the past, and thoughts of what could have been. It really wasn't about honor or the family style anymore. It was about her heart and how she hurt someone she loved.
Keitaro didn't care that his shirt was getting drenched with tears. Motoko needed him. He could feel how much she needed him, and he'd be there for her. She wasn't just his tenant and his friend at this point. She was also his slave girl. He held her well past when her sobs finally subsided.
"Are you okay, Motoko?" He asked carefully as he stroked her hair.
"Y-Yes. I'm fine. I'm sorry…" Motoko said as she tried to disentangle herself. Unfortunately, Keitaro was having none of it and held her fast. She just looked at him in surprise, and saw a warm yet stubborn smile in response. They regarded each other for a few moments until she finally gave in and allowed herself to be held. It actually felt rather nice...
"Nothing to be sorry about, Motoko. I'm sorry for misunderstanding you." Keitaro said as he gave her a loving squeeze. He struggled not to lose himself in the sweet smell of her hair.
"I hope this does not lower your impression of me..." She said, slightly embarrassed.
The young man chuckled and asked, "What makes you think it would?"
"I have been crying. It is unbecoming of a warrior of the Shinmei-Ryu," Motoko replied.
"Pft…I don't care about that right now. All that matters to me is that you're my slave girl and I'll be here for you." Keitaro said smiling.
The sword maiden looked up him hopefully and asked, "Am I really…your slave girl?"
"Of course you are. Got papers and everything." He said with a smile.
"But you hardly look at me, and you never touch me…" Motoko said sadly as she pressed her face back against his chest.
"Do you actually want me to do those things to you?" Keitaro asked seriously.
"I-I wouldn't be here if I didn't, Regent Urashima. I knew what I was getting into, especially after speaking with Granny Hina, Tsuroko, and Su. I was hoping that once I was legally yours, you'd at least try to do perverted things to me. While part of me was relieved that you did not do so immediately, part of me was also both sad and disappointed..." The sword maiden said quietly.
"Sad and disappointed?" The young man asked, gently caressing her hair.
"I was sad because I thought you found me unattractive, and disappointed that you were preventing me performing my penance with you." Motoko said, enjoying the sensation of his hands in her hair.
"But aren't you already doing penance going through your training?" Keitaro wondered.
The sword maiden cuddled into his chest a bit more and said, "While the training is rigorous and demanding, it has nothing to do with you. I am meant to serve YOU in penance, Keitaro. What I do under Mitsune's care does not change matters. Both my honor and conscience will not be satisfied unless I start applying what I learn from my training toward giving you happiness and pleasure to offset the pain and suffering that I have rendered you in the past."
Before he could reply, Motoko leaned into Keitaro's face and looked at him pleadingly. "And besides," she said, "I love you. I know you have Kanako and Su, and I do not intend to disrupt what you have. But I wish to try and love you in whatever way I am allowed…if you will have me. Despite my past behavior, I really do wish to be closer to you…maybe have a physical relationship…and…"
Unable to stand it any longer, the sword maiden leaned forward and pressed her lips firmly upon Keitaro's. While she had little experience in kissing, she tried to make up for it with exuberance, passion, and willingness. She held him close, pressing her body against his, hoping that perhaps the feel of her naked body would entice him to at least react. She need not have worried.
While the young man was taken aback, he began to respond to the kiss in earnest. His hand quickly found her face and neck, gently cradling her head properly as he savored the sweet taste of her tongue. She mewed happily when he deepened the kiss, and she willingly allowed her mouth to be invaded by his probing tongue. He kept his hand behind her neck as his hands wandered along her sides, barely touching her chest, and then up and down her back. As their tongues danced, she desperately wished he'd let his hands wander more.
Eventually the need for air forced them to break apart, and they looked at each a moment before the finally relaxed once more. Keitaro smiled slightly as Motoko unwrapped herself from her beloved Regent. She blushed furiously as she turned away, returning her hands behind her back and kneeling submissively for him once more.
"I-I'm sorry Keitaro…I just…" Motoko stammered, only to be silenced by a pair of fingers pressed against her lips.
"Stop. Don't worry about it. I'll let it slide since I've been so awful to you," the Regent said as he stroked Motoko's hair gently.
"No, you haven't!" The sword maiden blurted out. "You've been nothing but wonderful to me! In fact, maybe you should just avoid me since I've been so horrible to you. That would be fitting punishment and…"
"Motoko…" Keitaro said in a warning yet friendly tone. The slave girl quickly shut up.
"All right, since I've been neglecting you for a while now…I'm willing to let go of most of this afternoon. However, you still need to be punished. I think I have an excellent way to do that, and make up for lost time," he said as he gave her a sly wink.
Motoko merely watched as her beloved Regent slid the kotatsu toward the couch. He hummed happily as he arranged papers in stacks on the table and moved the tea tray accordingly. Once done, he sat down on a spot on the floor, shifted slightly toward the table, and then leaned against the couch. Satisfied that everything was in its proper place, he waved the slave girl over to him.
"Now then Motoko, I want you to sit here on my lap," Keitaro instructed.
"O-On your lap?" Asked the shocked sword maiden.
"Yes, I want you to sit straddled on my lap," he repeated…patting his lap invitingly.
Slowly, Motoko crawled over and slid her leg over the young man's slap. She blushed, realizing that she probably gave him a very good flash of her womanhood. Suddenly, she was glad she took the time to make herself presentable…down there. She quickly settled, adjusting her position as instructed by her beloved Regent.
And then she noticed it.
Keitaro smiled and said, "Now then, Motoko. Your punishment will be to help me with my paperwork by handing me whichever document or form I ask for. Occasionally, I might even ask for my tea. You are to hand me whatever I ask for, understood?"
"Y-Yes, Regent Urashima," she replied…unable to believe that she was actually sitting on Keitaro's lap. Naked. He actually ordered her to do it, and she complied. It amazed her how a simple request could turn out to be so meaningful.
"Now, since you're on my lap, there's no way for me to avoid looking at your body, is there? I'm afraid I'm going to be looking at you from time to time. And unfortunately, I won't always be looking at your eyes…" he sighed theatrically.
Motoko merely blushed and smiled. "Whatever pleases you, Regent Urashima," she said, straightening up a bit to make her body more…viewable.
"In fact, I've been looking at you a lot already. And there are no other slave girls in this room so you currently have my complete and total attention. Now, do you still doubt that I find you attractive?" The young man said with a grin.
The sword girl blushed even deeper despite the very happy smile. "N-No, Regent Urashima. I'm very sure I know what you think of my body now," she said as she shifted on the young man's lap.
Motoko had felt his erection the minute she sat down and it thrilled her to no end. It was physical and tangible proof. The look in his eyes already assured her that his feelings were sincere, and the unmistakable rigidness of his member pressing against her left no room for doubt. He did have desires for her, and this knowledge was extremely intoxicating for the enslaved sword maiden.
With the position of her legs, she couldn't help but open herself up causing her to brush his stiffness against her moistening womanhood. It was an unusual feeling for her and she found it quite erotic…especially when she rubbed it against that ONE spot. She desperately tried to push down the urge to grind against his lap by thinking of other things. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept coming back to how Keitaro was FINALLY between her legs and her arousal was threatening to overwhelm her. Before she knew it, she felt herself getting hot and moist just by being in such a provocative position. She wondered if she'd be able to keep herself from humping the young man until Mutsumi came in to check up on her.
"Oh, and by the way, Motoko," Keitaro stated, interrupting her musings. "When I concentrate on something, my hands tend to wander…" he said with a wink.
Motoko swallowed audibly and could only respond with a nervous smile…