Motoko Aoyama: Thanks a lot for your support! Here I am, typing up the last chapter of this story before the epilogue, and I feel so excited yet sad...this story had been one of my earliest, and of course longest, and now it is due to end. Well, at least there will be a sequel following so please keep supporting this! Final chapter, here we go!
Disclaimer: By now everybody should know that I don't own LH.
ANOTHER PROMISE
Chapter 35
The man's mask shattered, the black cloths he wore to conceal his hair ripped apart in the power of Motoko's attack. The red hair, the strong features...Motoko recognized them instantly.
" Shinji-san!" Motoko yelled as she dropped her sword and rushed towards the fallen man. Just then, she noticed that the man's sword had a reversed blade, the sakabatou that once belonged to the great swordsman of the Meiji Era, Himura Kenshin.
" I'm alright. I was surprised that you could overcome the Ougi of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Perhaps the sakabatou has chosen its new owner," Shinji said as he got up although the impact of Motoko's attack caused him to ache all over.
Himura Shinji placed the sakabatou back in its sheath as he handed it to Motoko. Motoko looked at it in awe but dared not touch it.
" I...I can not have this! This is too precious!" Motoko exclaimed.
" This blade is only precious because it is a blade of protection, not a blade of killing. Please take it, Motoko-chan, because you would bring the blade to its true power," Shinji said, urging Motoko to take the blade. She touched it, but was still reluctant to take the blade.
" But Kenjiro-san is the rightful owner of the blade, and the rightful successor to the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu," Motoko exclaimed.
" Kenjiro is not ready for it, and I'm too old to carry it anymore. At least take care of it until Kenjiro is ready, will you, Motoko-chan?" he urged once more.
Motoko held onto the fine sheath of the sakabatou. It felt strong and secure, just like a protector should be. It is just like a protector who is strong in order to protect, not to kill. Himura Shinji eyed Motoko once more, his serious countenance slowly revealing a slight smile.
" You are a very talented swordswoman, Motoko. Make sure you put your talents into good use," Shinji said before leaping down to the ground below and quickly vanished into the woods nearby.
Akiko came towards Motoko with the fallen Hina Blade back in its dark sheath. Motoko took her sword in her right hand and compared it with the sakabatou in her left. The sakabatou was light and flexible, the Hina Blade slightly heavier but stronger for ki attacks to be performed. Both blades were formidable for different purposes, and each had the power to cover the flaws of the other. It was just like two people, each with their strengths and weaknesses, and together they would be able to overcome their weaknesses and become stronger. Motoko just stared at the blades before she decided to draw out the sakabatou, only to see that a folded piece of paper dropped out from its sheath.
Motoko unfolded the paper and found out that it contained many drawings of how to perform certain attacks. They were the attacks of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, the style that had accompanied the great Hitokiri Battousai. This must be copied from the scrolls Himura Shinji had told her about, the scrolls that were to be passed down to each successor to the Kamiya Dojo.
" So he wants me to guard them until the true successor shows up..." Motoko thought. As Akiko peered over her with interest, she placed the paper into her sleeve and picked up both swords.
" Let's go, Akiko," Motoko said, taking Akiko's hand and leading her back in the inn. She vowed to be a great swordswoman, for herself, for Shinmeiryuu, for Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, for Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, and most importantly, for the people she truly loves.
It had been a week since the incident. Once again, it was a cheery morning in Hinatasou when Keitaro and Akiko sat on the slanted roof, looking into the calm horizon in the distance. It had been such a long time since they had sat here, waiting to open another of their serious conversations, and they were glad that a time like this had finally come.
" Thank you, Keitaro-san," Akiko started. Keitaro looked at her curiously.
" I'm not aware of doing any favours for you, Akiko-chan," Keitaro answered stupidly.
" I thank you for keeping your promise. Do you remember? The promise we had made a while ago before the kendo competition?" Akiko said.
They were not aware of Motoko's appearance as they talked on. She was about to tell them to go downstairs for lunch, but decided to do tell them later after they finished their conversation. Once she heard them talk about the kendo competition, she decided to listen into what they were saying just in case it was about her.
" Oh yes, I remember now. It was really nothing, Akiko-chan," Keitaro answered.
" Although it may not mean a lot to you, I know it helped Motoko-obasan a lot," Akiko said, only to get Motoko more interested in their conversation.
" I have said this before! Taking care of everyone at Hinatasou is my responsibility as a kanrinrin, let alone I had promised you to take care of Motoko-chan! You must not thank me for keeping a promise that I had an obligation to keep," Keitaro replied.
Motoko was stunned. Was this all Keitaro's obligation to Akiko? Did he truly love her, or was it just his so-called responsibility? She could only pretend to have ignored the conversation, but those words bugged her ever so much that she could not even sleep that night. Should she ask Keitaro to give her an explanation? Should she clear this all up so that both of them would have no regrets? She couldn't stand it anymore as she got up from her futon and walked down to Keitaro's room. When she reached the kanrinrin's quarters, she was glad that the light was on, telling her that he was still awake. Just when she was about to enter, she saw that the door was slightly opened and decided to peer in to see what was Keitaro doing so late at night.
Inside the room was the hardworking kanrinrin at his desk, busily writing on the practise exams booklets and flipping over his notes to make sure he had memorized everything. Just then, Motoko remembered that the day after was the Toudai exam that Keitaro had looked forward to for such a long time! She knew that it meant a lot to him, and so she reluctantly headed back to her room, not wanting to disturb his studies.
The next morning when Keitaro was grabbing his breakfast, he noticed an empty seat by the table. It was Motoko's seat.
" Has anyone seen Motoko?" Keitaro asked.
" She didn't come downstairs yet," Shinobu answered.
All of a sudden, Akiko's voice rang through the halls of Hinatasou. She hurried downstairs to see everybody gathered there.
" Motoko-obasan...she...she's gone!" Akiko stuttered.
Keitaro grabbed the paper in Akiko's hand that was apparently a note Motoko had left behind. It read:
Keitaro, when you are reading this note I'm probably already on my way to Kyoto where my future lies. This is what I have always wanted to do, to become stronger and return to my hometown to succeed the Shinmeiryuu Dojo. During my stay at Hinatasou, you have been a very good kanrinrin, teaching me how to obtain true strength by caring for the people around me. Although it was all just a promise you had made to Akiko, I appreciate your kindness during my days here, the happiest days of my life. I would love to be with you forever, but I recognize that you and I have different goals, different paths and futures in life. Toudai have always been your dream, so please work hard to achieve it. No matter where you are, where am I, my best wishes would always be with you. Good luck on your exam. Farewell.
" Motoko!" Keitaro screamed as he ran out of the inn at his top speed, not stopping the slightest bit as he nearly tumbled down the stairs into the main city. Across the bridge over the steamy river he headed, not knowing where he was going as his heart pumped rapidly in his chest. Sweat dripped down his forehead, stinging his eyes as he forced them open despite the pain. On and on he ran, following his blind instincts. He knew he would find her; he would because he must tell her the truth, the true feelings in his heart.
Motoko held onto the JR ticket. Staring at the cherry blossoms blowing in the breeze, she was reluctant to board the train. She took off her hair band, letting the warm breeze of spring catch onto her hair so that they sway in a gentle rhythm. This was best for her, best for Keitaro, best for everybody. Turning, she started walking towards the platform.
" Motoko-chan!" Keitaro yelled just as she turned to leave. He would not let her go again like the time in Hokkaido. He would never let her go.
Motoko Aoyama: Wow, such a long chapter, at least in my perspective. I tried my best to make this good, so please show some support by leaving a review behind. The epilogue should come next week and wrap up all the loose ends in this story, and I'll give you a short summary of the sequel with the next instalment. Thanks a lot! For more info regarding the "Another Promise Project," visit my profile or send me an email! Arigatou once again!